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Archive for year 2011
Finding social media success in regulated industries like banking and healthcare
May 3rd
- I met my new friend Jeff Reed through a LinkedIn group. Jeff works as a wealth adviser for a large national company but has been hamstrung in his attempts to use social media.
"I am forbidden to use it," he said. "The company is trying to figure out what to do, but in the mean time I feel like the world is passing me by."
This is not an unusual situation. Regulated industries like banks and healthcare have to pay attention to the legal ramifications of how they share information. Still, I think they are missing a bigger opportunity by not exploring how social media can be used on a very personal and human level.
I asked Jeff: "Does your company forbid you from attending a business networking meeting?"
"Do they keep you away from going to a chamber of commerce function?"
"Then what's the difference? This is just another business networking opportunity. You don't have to sell, you don't have to advise. You don't even have to identify your employer. Why not just be yourself and meet cool people and learn from them. Who knows … they just might turn into clients some day."
This got Jeff's attention. He was interested enough to enroll in one of my college classes and from that point on he has been on fire with this stuff, exploring several strategies to connect with people in meaningful new ways. And it's working!
This is what most businesses — even regulated ones — miss. Social networking is not about B2B or B2C marketing. It's P2P — person to person. And isn't that what personal services is all about?
If you are expected to grow your business through time-consuming live networking meetings or expensive advertising programs, doesn't it make sense to unleash the powerful, cost-effective potential of the social web … before your competitors do?
In addition to the networking opportunities, there are several ways businesses like financial services and healthcare can employ social media within their industry regulations:
Social as a PR initiative. There are many ways to use social that avoids privacy issues. Why not apply social to your PR efforts? JPMorganChase has been able to help over two million Facebook fans focus on the good the organization is doing by engaging users its Chase Community Giving page. A Knoxville medical practice effectively used an eBook and video contests to build awareness for their services … and eventually get clients in the door.
Connection through education. A big part of marketing for financial and medical practices is education. Why not use social as an extensions of current efforts? Vanguard took a leap this year by launching a Twitter handle and a Facebook program that embraces engagement within regulatory limits. Morningstar is appealing to investors by providing a series of blogs ("Real Life Finance") and forums where investors can learn and compare their portfolios right on the Morningstar website.
Mobile on the rise — Forget about social. What about the next wave — mobile? Mobile is going to have a huge impact on banking, and it's almost impossible to watch TV or Hulu without seeing a commercial for the latest mobile banking offering. In a recent survey financial services is dominating other industries in term of iPad use (36.8%). While some financial services professionals take tablets into the field as a sales tool, Google and Bloomberg have developed apps for professional or individual investors to keep track of the market.
Customer service — Neither banking nor medical are known for their efficient processes or paperless service features. There must be some ways to copy what other industries are doing to use social to cut waste, reduce paperwork and streamline service. Chase Bank in New York is allowing customers to deposit checks by uploading a snapshot of the check on their cellphone.
Geo-location — I am the Foursquare "mayor" of my local bank branch. When I walk through the door, the tellers announce "Hello Mr. Mayor," or "The Mayor is in the Building." I must say, I enjoy walking into that bank. As mayor I'm still waiting for my free money, but in the mean time, the bank is creating an emotional connection with me. Isn't that remarkable?
Many customers, patients, and investors expect you to be there. Not participating sends a strong message and leaves a practice vulnerable to competitors. It's becoming expected and preferred method of communication by many constituents. Ignoring physician review sites such as Vitals.com, HealthGrades.com and RateMDs.com won't make the comments go away.
Those are a few ideas but I'm sure there are many more. How are you seeing regulated industries such as banking and healthcare use social media effectively?
Debating the future of social media leadership and strategy
May 2nd
This is a video of me sleeping. Holy crap what a lousy picture.
Nevertheless, you are going to love this video. Jay Baer and I usually see eye-to-eye but when we were on a panel at the recent Social Slam event we discovered we had radically opposing views of the future of how social media is integrated into a company. We decided this was such an interesting topic that it would make an interesting debate … so here it is in video form.
It's a short video but it covers a lot of ground!
Will social media marketing be absorbed into the every day workplace or will it stand alone as a distinct career? Or both?
What is the future of social media consulting?
What is the most economical way for companies to deal with the frenzied pace of change in social media?
What do we make of Chris Brogan's prediction that social media consultants will be irrelevant in two years?
I think you're going to love this video, and of course it's OK to disagree.
With Jay.
No seriously … I enjoy dissent and hope you know that by now. How else will we learn and grow? This is a GREAT discussion. Let me know what you think!
The Business Case for Social Media Mystery
Apr 30th
Even if you were not caught up in the Royal Wedding frenzy, if you were a breathing human being you couldn't help but catch a glimpse of the event this week.
In a world of connection, transparency, ubiquitous communication, and an emphasis on being "humanized," isn't it interesting that at least for a week, the world's biggest brand was characterized by being aloof, detached, and elite? This struck me as I watched a demonstration on the various nuances of the royal curtsy.
I think there is something to be said for mystery. Apple falls into this regal category too, don't they? No social media presence, an operation cloaked in secrecy, dominated by a black-clad leader who is not exactly an open book. Seems to work for them.
For many premium products, a social connection might even work against the brand. I would probably fall over if I walked into a Maserati showroom and saw "follow me on Twitter" pasted to the car.
I am probably the anti-mystery man. The other day, somebody said to me "You seem to be everywhere."
This is not an intentional, proactive strategy on my part, but when somebody asks me for an interview or a blog contribution, my attitude is "what the heck?" And I have been doing a lot of interviews! So maybe I am on the brink of over-exposure and a back-lash?
At the end of the day, it gets back to strategy doesn't it? It would be very uncomfortable for me to switch direction and be inaccessible, elitist, and aloof. It's inconsistent with my personality, and by extension, my brand. I'm helpful. I'm accessible. That's the way I was before the social web and the way I will be after the social web.
But there is a place for scarcity and mystery, isn't there? I wonder … is having an air of mystery and participation in the social web mutually exclusive? What do you think? Are there any exclusive or "mysterious brands" that work on the web? What about you and your brand? Do you even think about this subject of exposure?
8 Big Ideas to Drive B2B Buzz
Apr 29th
A guest post from {grow} community member Joe Chernov:
I've been running in word-of-mouth (WOM) marketing circles since, well, since such a circles existed. Yet despite the existence of an active industry association and a cluster of WOM-related innovative companies, we, as an industry, still haven't produced something elemental — a repeatable, measurable model for B2B word of mouth.
Why? B2B is a unique beast. For one, a company typically buys the product, which reduces an individual's visceral drive to applaud (or pan) the purchase. Also, our social groups tend to be a patchwork of people from all corners of our lives, not just work associates, creating fewer opportunities to "buzz" professional products than there are for consumer goods.
Yet despite these challenges there are several fundamentals that are sure to generate WOM buzz … even for B2B marketers. Here are eight big ideas:
1. Make promotions sharable. Running a contest isn't inherently WOM, nor is starting a Facebook page. But creating a contest that inspires participants to pass along the promotion (especially on social channels) is WOM. Group buying (Groupon, LivingSocial) and group messaging (Beluga, GroupMe) are red-hot categories. Why not group referring?
2. Point of service is the new point of sale. In his aptly titled book, Word of Mouth Marketing, author Andy Sernovitz talks about the importance of point-of-sale as a WOM trigger. It's the moment when the brand/consumer relationship is consummated. Since the buying process in B2B markets is more protracted (what IS the point of sale?), that same intimacy doesn't necessarily arise when the contract is signed. Instead, it shows up at the point of service – the moment the user's need is the greatest. Rackspace recognized this opportunity and built a major Web hosting brand on the simple principle that unconventionally fast support yields unconventionally chatty customers.
3. Speed doesn't slump. Being quick to comment has always been a vital ingredient of public relations. But the social web rewards speed disproportionately. For example, respond first on Quora and your answer is 60% more likely to be talked about than others' answers, regardless of quality. WOM, guaranteed.
4. Make your content share-worthy. Of course your content should be valuable and timely. But that's no longer enough to ensure it spreads. Your content has to compel people to share it. Think about any of HubSpot's "Grader" widgets. It's impossible to grade your social presence without urging your friends to do the same.
5. Think: Spheres of influence. BzzAgent CEO Dave Balter coined this term after his company ran a WOM marketing program aimed to persuade business travelers to switch to an upstart airline. Balter found that it wasn't the executives who generated the most buzz, but rather their administrative assistants. Turns out, those who booked the travel reaped the biggest benefits. In other words, don't forget to consider the messenger when you craft your messaging.
6. Do the unexpected. Rackspace exhibited at this year's SXSW Interactive event (their booth staff donned fake "sleeve" tattoos to poke fun at themselves for being the big B2B player at the hipster conference). Salesforce.com shocked the B2B world by bookending the Superbowl halftime show with television ads, an unconventional move for an enterprise SaaS company. Doing the same things in the same places ensures the same people will talk about you. New venues yield new conversations.
7. "Consumerize" your enterprise application. Yammer and Chatter make internal communications feel like a Twitter client. 37signals makes project management feel like an iPhone app (come to think of it, the company actually offers a Web app). For our part, Eloqua is trying to make B2B marketing feel creating a PowerPoint deck with our Eloqua10 product. Nobody has ever celebrated doing chores, so the more your products can feel like recreation, not vocation, the more WOM you'll spur.
8. Own an issue. Tap into something customers care about — an issue. Think of Radian6 and "listening." The company and the cause are synonymous. Own an issue that you care deeply about, and you'll unearth more opportunities for WOM than your products ever could.
These are just a few of the can't-miss ways to increase buzz for your B2B business. If they can be effective techniques for CRM, lead management, and infrastructure companies, then they certainly can work for your organization as well.
This is a difficult topic for B2B but ripe with opportunity. What do you think?
Joe Chernov is the VP of Content Marketing for Eloqua, a revenue performance management company, and the co-chair of the WOMMA ethics panel.
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Lafarge, Holcim, Cemex, and HeidelbergCement have all announced divestment plans for 2009. It has been just a little more than two years since Heidelberg, in one of the biggest deals in the industry's history, bought Hanson Inc. for more than $13 billion. And the economy already has forced it to sell the company off in parts. In August, Heidelberg put Hanson's UK building products division up for sale. This news came only days after Heidelberg sold Hanson-Israeli to Israel's IDB Holding Corp. for $120 million.
All of the major cement producers lost money in the first quarter of 2009. " e decline that we're seeing is global," Ed Sullivan, the Portland Cement Association's chief economist, says of the current industry.
Lafarge, not only the world's leading cement producer but also a leading producer of gypsum, aggregate and concrete, and North America's largest producer of cement, announced a $1 billion divestment plan in 2009. That has resulted in the sale of interests in Turkey and Italy. Divestments already total more than $200 million.
Until 2007, Cemex was the fastest growing cement company in the world. But since its $15.3 billion purchase that year of the Australian cement company Rinker, Cemex has been selling assets to pay down the $14.5 billion debt it owes to the banks over the next three years. This year, Cemex has $5.7 billion worth of debt coming due.
Cemex was trying to strengthen its presence in the U.S. But the acquisition came shortly before the collapse of the U.S. housing market. Florida, home to many of the former Rinker concrete plants, was ground zero in the housing collapse.
Holcim Ltd., the world's second largest cement producer, introduced a "cost-cutting program" and a "rapid-reduction in [production] capacity," according to its 2009 first quarter report. This included shutting down two mills in the U.S.—one in Dundee, Mich., and the other in Clarksville, Mo.—and cutting 1500 American jobs.
In 2006, Lafarge moved to acquire all of Lafarge North America, and thus own 100% of the company. Like Cemex's Rinker purchase, the move was meant to bolster the company's position in the burgeoning U.S. housing market. Lafarge was hurt by the collapse of the residential market, but because of its relative lack of debt, the company was able to, at least momentarily, weather the downturn.
Lafarge spokeswoman Serene Jweied says that its pre-emptive cost-cutting and divestment have satisfied investors. This has helped Lafarge avoid a plunge in profits and allowed it to acquire companies in developing nations, according to Jweied. In early 2008, Lafarge bought Egypt's Orascom for $12.8 billion.
Just two years after Cemex aggressively sought to increase its share of the American market, North America seems to have fallen out of favor.
All of the major companies' first quarter reports highlight growth in Latin America, Pacific Asia, and the Middle East as strengthening areas of the globe as the decade nears an end. Conversely, all except Heidelberg reported losses in North America.
Vulcan Materials Co. announced new division leadership and changes to its...
Patrick Smith
The first half of this year has already been witness to several mergers and...
Vulcan Materials Co. has completed six acquisitions that expand the company's footprint...
U.S. demand for cement products is expected to grow by 5.8% annually through 2019.
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Ableton Push Controller
with Upgrade to Ableton Live 9 Suite
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Bundle offer: Upgrade to Suite 9 for less! When you buy this bundle, you will get an Ableton Push controller (which includes Ableton Live Intro Software) and an upgrade to the full version of Ableton Suite 9! Bought separately, this bundle would normally cost £988, but take advantage of this special limited time bundle deal to get a great discount!
What you get in this bundle
- Ableton Push Hardware Controller
- Ableton Live Intro 9 Software
- Free upgrade from Intro 9 to the full version of Ableton Suite 9!
This bundle is the ultimate hybrid of hardware and software, featuring both Ableton's flagship performance controller Push and flagship software package Live 9 Suite which features a huge wealth of content including 40 effects, 9 Instruments and loads more loops and samples!
The Ableton Push controller takes performance using Ableton to a whole other planet! Centred around a core an 8x8 grid of both velocity and pressure sensitive pads (that are also multicolour-backlit1), 9 rotator knobs with lcd labelling and a whole host of function buttons, Push has the flexibility to handle anything you could throw at it. In fact if you're use to using traditional 4x4 push button grids think about this: you separate Push into four zones and have four different 4x4 grids performing different functions simultaneously! The multicolour backlit push buttons provide a wealth of visual feedback and when combined with Play's unique diatonic melody creation you'll find yourself rethinking how you making music!
Here's what Ableton say about the Push Controller
Push is a new instrument that solves an old problem: how to make a song from scratch. With hands-on control of melody and harmony, beats, sounds, and song structure, Push puts the fundamental elements of music making at your fingertips - and it fits in a backpack alongside your laptop.
Play and sequence beats 64 pads give you multiple ways to make beats. Play, step sequence, and navigate your loop - all at the same time.
Play beats live with velocity-sensitive pads made by Akai Professional, and adjust sounds and kits while you play with eight touch-sensitive endless encoders. Hold a pad to repeat notes in time with your track while adjusting swing or the repeat divisions in real time.
Step Sequence
Step sequence beats directly using the pads for precise control. Select any step and tweak timing and velocity individually for each cell. See velocity and accents for each step shown on the Push's pads.
Select which bar of your loop you want to sequence or adjust the length of the loop.
A new way to play notes and chords Play in every key using the same finger patterns. Move between keys at the touch of a button. Explore new harmonies and phrases across 64 velocity- and pressure-sensitive pads.
Packed with sounds Make music with a studio full of instruments and effects. Control them all with Push. Push uses the power of Ableton Live running on your computer. Live provides Push with a comprehensive collection of instruments and effects. All of your sounds are ready to be played, tweaked, and personalized. Fine-tune parameters in your instruments and effects using Push's touch-sensitive encoders and see everything from Push's display.
Improvise and play with song structure. Capture all of your musical ideas. Duplicate and create variations. Trigger, re-arrange, and create new combinations. Capture everything you play with Push's unique recording workflow. Overdub new notes or create variations of phrases, moving quickly between your song materials with just a few buttons. After you've created ideas, switch to another mode to try them out in various combinations. When you're ready to get into arranging, detailed editing, and exporting your finished song, switch from Push to your computer to find your music already laid out in Ableton Live - the software that was powering your work the whole time. Push gives you the best of both worlds for making music: inspiring hardware for hands-on control at the beginning, and full-featured music creation software for fine-tuning the details at the end.
Push is ONLY compatible with Live 9
Ableton Live has for years no stood out as the DAW that went against the flow: streamlined and optimised for live use Live is an entirely new way of thinking. Whether you're on stage or just composing in the studio Ableton Live 9 lends itself to a creative workflow that encourages you to build and tweak on the fly, experiment and become immersed in the music you're creating!
- Unique Session View for quick, intuitive composition, flexible performance and improvisation
- Multitrack recording up to 32-bit/192 kHz
- Nondestructive editing with unlimited undo
- Powerful MIDI sequencing of software and hardware instruments
- Advanced warping and real-time time-stretching
- Unlimited Instruments, Audio effects and MIDI effects per project
- Group tracks
- VST and Audio Unit support
- Time signature changes
- Multiple automation lanes
- Track Freeze
- Automatic plug-in delay compensation
- MIDI remote control instant mapping
- MIDI output to hardware synths
- MIDI Clock/sync
- ReWire
- Multicore/multiprocessor support
- WAV, AIFF, MP3, Ogg Vorbis, FLAC file support
Here's what Ableton say about Live 9
Record automation into clips. Edit automation with curves. Session View automation lets you capture your performance or add movement to your loops. Use curves to make automation more musical. Live's unique Session View makes it easy to improvise with musical ideas. In Live 9, you can now record parameter changes directly into Session View for even more flexibility. Edit automation curves with the mouse to create smooth mix transitions or radical parameter changes in your clips. In one click, create new Session View scenes from your Arrangement tracks, or drag and copy individual clips from Arrangement to Session. The automation comes with them, making it easier than ever to move from improvising to arranging and back.
Find sounds fast. With Live's new browser, spend less time finding sounds and more time making music. Live's new browser puts all of your instruments and effects, samples, Packs and VST/Audio Units plug-ins in one easy-to-navigate view. Drag and drop folders into the browser from anywhere on your computer. Search as you type, navigate from the keyboard and sort items by various categories.
Browse by type: your samples, devices, presets, and VST/Audio Units plug-ins are all available from the same viewExternal storage: store your sounds and Packs on any hard drive you like, even multiple drivesInstant search: Live's browser filters as you typeSort by rank: view items by how frequently you've used them in the pastInstant preview: all Ableton Packs come with instant audio previews
Live's library includes new Instrument Racks and sounds to get you going fast. Live 9 Suite comes with more than 3000 production-ready sounds that give you the full range of vintage synthesizers, drum kits and one-shot samples, acoustic instruments and loops - all powered by Live's built-in synthesizers and effects so they can be tweaked and personalized. All sounds are organized for Live 9's new browser and work seamlessly with all common hardware controllers. See the full list of Packs included with Live 9 Browse the Pack store at ableton.com to find even more amazing sounds - signature drum kits by Daniel Miller, Soniccouture, Flatpack and Puremagnetik, new tempo-synched loop collections and high-end multisampled instruments specifically designed for Ableton Live. Get your sound right. The new analog-modeled Glue Compressor and redesigned studio effects help you get a better sound in less time. Live's new Glue Compressor, developed in collaboration with Cytomic, is modeled on a classic 80s console bus compressor, both for its great sound and also to provide musical results with a simple set of controls. Live's studio effects - Compressor, Gate and EQ Eight - have been improved with new displays, enhanced controls and better sound, making it easier to see and hear your changes.
The Glue Compressor is an analog-modeled compressor based on the bus compressor from a classic console from the 80s. EQ Eight now has a breakout display, an Audition mode for soloing frequencies, an analog-style adaptive Q option, and improved filters. Compressor's new display makes it clear what's happening. And improved sound means better results with less effort. Gate - a new display and enhanced controls make it easier to dial in the right sound.
Reclaim the music in your samples.... Live 9's new tools for converting audio to MIDI give you unprecedented flexibility to extract musical ideas from your samples and build upon them. Convert your favorite drum break with the Drums-to-MIDI feature and reuse it with your own sounds. Speed up your remixing work by using Harmony-to-MIDI to get the notes and chords from the original audio stems. Or simply seed your creativity with inspiring, natural-feeling MIDI grabbed directly from the most exciting parts of your music collection.
...or sing the music in your head. Sketch out ideas quickly by singing (or beatboxing) into Live and converting your recording to MIDI. Your voice is the new keyboard: sing, beatbox, tap a rhythm on your desk, or play any solo instrument to capture your musical ideas as they come. Then use the Melody- or Drums-to-MIDI feature to turn your recordings into MIDI clips that you can edit and reuse with any sound.
- Capture guitar chords and use them with a synth
- Beatbox your drum loop
- Record any instrument to create melodies
Powerful MIDI note manipulation tools and an improved editing workflow help you create new musical ideas fast:
- Transform MIDI notes: New controls in the MIDI editor let you quickly invert, reverse, transpose and speed up or slow down selected MIDI notes in a single click.
- Move notes on and off the grid: Beats are easier to see when editing, and editing grids are now "sticky," allowing notes to be freely moved and resized while still snapping when close to grid lines.
- Stretch MIDI notes: MIDI Note Stretch markers let you speed up, slow down - or even reverse - selected MIDI notes.
- Warp clip automation: Audio clip automation is warped alongside the audio itself. Envelopes in MIDI clips can be stretched using MIDI stretch markers.
- Edit automation more easily: Add or remove breakpoints with a single click. Hover the mouse near envelope segments to select and drag them without using a modifier.
- Add curves to automation: Hold a modifier while dragging to create and edit curves in automation envelopes.
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Passing this along from Tina (the Mom in the story) - a breech baby does not always have to be a caesarean birth. It can be an empowering, inspiring experience.
From week 32 my pregnancy became a roller coaster. I was on a business trip in Germany where a guy pushed me against a pole on a train because it was so full and he wanted to get out.
Immediately after the push drops where running down my legs and I was scared it could be my water. But it stopped when I came to the hotel and so I thought it might have been sweat or urine. This business trip was so exhausting for me and so stressful. I had to carry my bags because the airport there had no elevator and there was nobody there to help me and I almost missed my connection flight as I had to run with two bags. It was a nightmare. The next day after this business trip I flew with my husband to Austria (our hometown) to attend an ante natal class.
I thought I would like to hear everything in my mother tongue so I could remind better when I go into labour. The midwife told me to go to the hospital in Austria before I fly home just to check if my amniotic sac wasn't damaged. I had to stay 4 days in the hospital in Austria. The amniotic sac was not damaged and the water was not broken. But I had a small amount of fluid. They gave me steroids for Baby's lungs just in case I went into labour. I stayed 3 more days in Austria and returned then to Dublin on a Sunday.
The next Thursday I had an appointment in my hospital in Dublin (Coombe) and was immediately admitted and they treated me like my waters had broken. After a full week in hospital my Consultant who is German discharged me because he could read the diagnostics from the Austrian hospital. But I had to come twice a week to the hospital for a CTG on Mondays and Doppler Scan on Thursdays to check my amount of fluid. On week 36 I was there and I went on a Monday to the CTG and the baby was doing perfectly fine. They always had to call the OB to tell how my baby was doing. So the OB came and looked again how the baby was lying and said it was still breech and next week we would decide if we could turn the baby or not due to the lack amount of fluid.
I went mad and was a bit loud when I said to her that I would not going for a c-section. A woman in the waiting room heard me and told me her story that she had a c-section and felt terrible. It was a emergency c-section and she was so upset and felt horrible afterwards. And she said I should look for a Doula and recommended Tracy Donegan from GentleBirth.
Thanks for the iPhone I started immediately to send an email to Tracy and she responded not even after 30 minutes. So we were in contact now and I told her my story and asked if she would know a hospital which would do the vaginal breech birth. Tracy was hugely supportive. She told me everything she knew about vaginal breech birth and recommended a forum where they talked about breech positions.
I joined this group and was now in contact with midwifes from UK where every woman has the right to choose how she will give birth to a breech baby. So it is very common to have a vaginal breech birth there but still the doctors do recommend c-sections. Tracy also showed a video to me of a woman who gave birth to a breech baby and she was also a first time mom. All these things motivated me so much that my husband and I made the decision to refuse the c-section. Breech is just another variation of normality. This was my motto. And I was so confident in going for a vaginal breech birth. I knew I could do it. My self-confidence was so strong. And my husband trusted my instincts.
The OB came in with terrible horror stories. She really tried to scare me and I think that this is very very unfair. Instead of just telling you the risks they try to scare you. But I felt strong and I looked in her eyes and said "Well, and now tell me all risks about having a cesarean and also the afterwards risk for the Baby and the mother." And I think that made my point very clear.
So week 37 started and between week 36 and 37 I drank so much water, relaxed all day long but did researching researching researching and got so much help from Tracy. This week I had on Tuesday the CTG, on Wednesday my scan and on Thursday my appointment with my Consultant because he was back from his holidays. I felt good this week. CTG was perfect as usual and my scan was a surprise for everyone. The water was back, fully back not even on the minimum line. No it was fully back. So I went on Thursday totally thrilled to my appointment. The doctor and I decided to try the turning on the next day at lunch time. He was very positive because the water was back. I told him that we would refuse the c-section and he said that he would totally understand my point but he would have to go through all risks with me. I told him that I know the risks and also what it would mean to have a disabled child. As I come from a family where 3 siblings had muscular dystrophy and know exactly what a disabled child would mean. And I also told him that I was not scared and that I was so confident in my decision that I know I can do it. He said that we should first wait for the turning tomorrow and if this didn't not work he would write down for me all risks and it would be my decision. Fair enough. I left the room, emailed my husband that we would try to turn the baby tomorrow and wanted to leave the hospital. I went down the stairs and felt like having to go to the toilet.
And then I felt it. It was like in a movie. In the reception of the hospital my water broke. I wasn't scared at all. I was laughing and said to my Baby "Okay, so you don't want to get turned!" I called my husband "Hi Honey, my water broke. It starts now, can you come to the hospital?" it was 4pm on the 7th July. I went back to the admission and they checked everything. I asked them to contact my consultant because he knew my decision and we would have to go know through all risks and the refuse of a c-section. My husband arrived and was very calm and happy. The consultant came in and said that this was not the plan but he smiled as well. He was very sorry that he could not be there in the night because he already had night shift the night before and was totally wrecked. But the good news the doctor who was on this night shift was very experienced in breech birth and there was also a midwife who was also very experienced.
So at 4.20 pm the contractions started. Very soft but they started to come every 6 minutes. Around 6 pm I came to the ward. At 7.30 pm I had contractions every 3 minutes. I was so hungry that I had to eat something. And I ate a lot. You need energy for the birth so if you are hungry, eat! It was 10 pm when the contractions were every 2 minutes so the midwife checked how much I was dilated and I was 3 cm. She asked me if I would like to have any pain killers but I said that I didn't want to have anything. I wanted to be fully there to get the full experience. I was absolutely not scared of what would come next.
The doctor who had the night shift came to the ward and told me how I would have the vaginal breech birth. She knew from my birth plan I would like to choose the position when the pressure waves start. But she told me I had to lie down on my back with the feet in the air and under my bottom nothing. Because I got what I wanted I wasn't complaining. I thought this doctor seemed to be so calm and so relaxed when she talked to me that I trusted her completely. At midnight they brought me to the delivery ward. The midwives were very very nice and they were so excited to support my birth plan as they had never seen a breech birth. They went through my birth plan with me (4 pages long) and except of a few little things they told me that they could do everything on it. They asked me again for pain killers or gas but I didn't want anything. So the contractions were every minute and came very intense. I wasn't able to sit and lying is not good. Let the gravity work for you.
So I started to walk around, danced a little bit (circled my hips) and breathed deep in and slowly out with a AAAHH or an OOOHH sound. This helps you to breathe much slower out. At 2 am the midwife checked again how many cm I was dilated and it was still 3 cm but something was really good with my cervix. I think it was very thin or short already. So around 3 am the contractions were so intense that I felt the urge to push. But I knew I had to wait until I was fully dilated. They checked me again and here it was. I was 9 cm dilated so they called the doctor. My contractions were very intense and I could still only stand on my feet. But my legs were already so tired from all the walking and standing so I started to fall asleep after every contraction for around 20 seconds or so.
And I always focused on my baby. I thought all the time that every single contraction will bring me nearer to my baby. My husband was so supportive. He pressed acupressure points on my back and forced me to drink after every contraction. So I would not get dehydrated. He also motivated me in how strong I was and how proud he was. When I could no longer stand the urge to push because it was so intense the doctor checked how many cm I was dilated and said "Well then lets start and follow now your instinct when you need to push then push." The midwife said to me that I should push into my back. I said I couldn't when I was lying on my back and the doctor allowed me for the first pushes to kneel. I did so and the first pressure wave came and I pushed with all my strength and after three times pushing the little bottom of my baby appeared. Now I had to breathe away the urge to push because they needed me to move on my back as already discussed with the doctor. They helped me and I saw the room was full with all the night shift because everybody wanted to see my special vaginal breech birth. It is so rare that they were all excited. I had absolutely no problem with that. This made me just stronger in showing them that it will go easy and good. I waited for the next pressure wave and as it came I started to push with loud AAAHH's and OOOHH's. This helps you to keep your jaw relaxed. I could feel how the bottom came out followed by the legs. It was amazing.
This feeling made me stronger and I started to push again and I could feel that much more was coming. The doctor didn't pull on the baby. This is very important in giving breech birth. Nobody should pull the baby. Just let it come. She just helped with the arms that they didn't get stuck with the head. This is one risk on breech birth. But if you have someone who is experienced then they know how to help baby's arms. Now there was only the head which needed to come out. This is one of the scary moments because you need to wait for the next pressure waves and it feels like an endless time in waiting. The hard thing was that the baby was hanging down and I could feel the weight of the baby. And here it came the next and final pressure wave. With all my strength and a very loud AAAHH I pushed the head out and the doctor grabbed the Baby and gave it to my chest. I was crying and so emotional.
It was just unbelievable to hold my little stubborn which wanted to come out with the little bottom first. It was a boy and my husband and I were so full of love. Everybody in the room was amazed and thrilled. It was a record time in giving a vaginal breech birth with the first child. That's what they told me. Our little man started to search for my breast after 20 minutes and he drank for fully 25 minutes. The whole experience was so amazing and I never felt more love in my life. We called him Vincent William and he is our love, our world and our happiness. I myself felt so strong and I felt like I can do everything. Vincent is totally healthy. The Orthopedic and Pediatrician checked him and everything is fine. He is a very good drinker and so nice to Mommy and Daddy. He only cry when we change the nappy and he wakes us up only two times per night. A wonderful little star.
You will hear a lot of horror stories around vaginal breech birth. But think twice. In the past it was just normal in having a vaginal breech birth. And look at all risks not only the risks in a natural birth. A cesarean is an operation on your tummy. It is not only risky while the operation there is also a risk after it. The Baby can have problems with the lungs, metabolism, breast feeding problems etc. And Mommy can have problems afterwards as well. You will have a scar in your uterus for your life time. I am not against cesarean if they are necessary. I just think that a breech position does not always need a cesarean. I know that for a vaginal breech birth you need someone who is experienced. But how can they be experienced when all breech babies are cesarean?
If you feel so confident as I did in having a vaginal breech birth. If you feel that you can do it and it's very deep in your heart and your instinct. If you have absolutely no fear then fight for having a vaginal breech birth.
A head down baby can also ended up as an emergency c-section. I met 5 women in one week with a case like this. So every birth is with a risk that something can go wrong. I think we all should choose in how we would like to have our birth and the women voice should be heard. We are the ones who are giving birth to a child.
Tina-Maria and little Vincent
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Droid fonts from Google (Android SDK)
Update 10Feb2009: The Droid fonts are now available from android.git.kernel.org (Download tar.gz archive), under the Apache License, Version 2.0. Ascender (the company who created Droid), has now a dedicated website at http://www.droidfonts.com/ (thanks Rex!). At this dedicated website, Ascender presents the Droid Pro family which has several additions to Droid. For the open-source crowd, it is important to have the initial Droid font family dual-licensed under the "OpenFont License", which would enable the best use with the rest of the OFL licensed fonts.
Two years ago, Google bought a start-up called Android in order to deliver an open platform for mobile applications. A few days ago the Android SDK has been released and you can develop now Android applications that can run in the emulator. Android handsets are expected at some point next year.
Even if you do not plan to develop applications for Android, you can still run the emulator which is functional, includes quite a few samples, and comes with a browser shown above. To get it, download the Android SDK for your system, uncompress it and run
An interesting aspect of Android is that it comes with a set of fonts that have been specially designed for mobile devices, the Droid fonts. The fonts are embedded in the Android image, in android_sdk_linux_m3-rc20a/tools/lib/images/system.img, a clever guy managed to extract them and a modest guy corrected me (Damien's blog to download).
The fonts are probably licensed under the same license as the SDK (Apache License), however it is better to hear from Google first.
In the meantime, here is a screenshot of Ubuntu 7.10 with Droid.
Update: To extract the fonts from the SDK, run the emulator with the -console parameter. The emulator starts and at the same time you get a shell to the filesystem of the running emulator. You can locate the fonts in system/fonts/. Once located the full path of a file, you can extract with ./adb pull system/fonts/DroidSans.ttf /tmp/DroidSans.ttf (thanks cosmix for the tip).
Localisation issues in home directory folders (xdg-user-dirs)
In new distributions such as Ubuntu 7.10 there is now support for folder names of personal data in your local language. What this means is that ~/Desktop can now be called ~/Επιφάνεια εργασίας. You also get a few more default folders, including ~/Music, ~/Documents, ~/Pictures and so on.
This functionality of localised home folders has become available thanks to a new FreeDesktop standard, XDG-USER-DIRS. xdg-user-dirs can be localised, and the current localisations are available at xdg-user-dirs/po.
A potential issue arises when a user logs in with different locales; how does the system switch between the localised versions of the folder names? For GNOME there is a migration tool; as soon as you login into your account with a different locale, the system will prompt whether you wish to switch the names from one language to another. This is available through the xdg-user-dirs-gtk application.
Another issue is with users who use the command line quite often; switching between two languages (for those languages that use a script other than latin) tends to become cumbersome, especially if you have not setup your shell for intelligent completion. In addition, when you connect remotely using SSH, you may not be able to type in the local language at the initial computer which would make work very annoying.
Furthermore, there have been reports with KDE applications not working; if someone can bug report it and post the link it would be great. The impression I got was that some installations of KDE did not read off the filesystem in UTF-8 but in a legacy 8-bit encoding. This requires further investigation.
Moreover, OpenOffice.org requires some integration work to follow the xdg-user-dirs standard; apparently it has its own option as to which folder it will save into any newly created files. I believe this will be resolved in the near future.
Now, if we just installed Ubuntu 7.10 or Fedora 8, and we got, by default, localised subfolders in our home directory (which we may not prefer), what can we do to revert to non-localised folders?
The lazy way is to logout, choose an English locale as the default locale for the system and log in. You will be presented with the xdg-user-dirs-gtk migration tool (shown above) that will give you the option to switch to English folder names for those personal folders.
Clarification: It is implied for this workaround (logout and login thing), you then log out again, set the language to the localised one (i.e. Greek) and log in. This time, when the system asks to rename the personal folders, you simply answer no, and you end up with a localised desktop but personal folders in English. Mission really accomplished.
If you are of the tinkering type, the files to change manually are
$ cat ~/.config/user-dirs.locale
$ cat ~/.config/user-dirs.dirs
# This file is written by xdg-user-dirs-update
# If you want to change or add directories, just edit the line you're
# interested in. All local changes will be retained on the next run
# Format is XDG_xxx_DIR="$HOME/yyy", where yyy is a shell-escaped
# homedir-relative path, or XDG_xxx_DIR="/yyy", where /yyy is an
# absolute path. No other format is supported.
XDG_DESKTOP_DIR="$HOME/Επιφάνεια εργασίας"
XDG_DOWNLOAD_DIR="$HOME/Επιφάνεια εργασίας"
Personally I believe that having localised names appear under the home folder is good for the majority of users, as they will be able to match what is shown in Locations with the actual names on the filesystem.
There will be cases that software has to be updated and bugs fixed (such as in backup tools). As we proceed with more advanced internationalisation/localisation support in Linux, it is desirable to follow forward, and fix problematic software.
However, if enough popular support arises with clear arguments (am referring to Greek-speaking users and a current discussion) for default folder names in the English languages, we could follow the popular demand.
Also see the relevant blog post New Dirs in Gutsy: Documents, Music, Pictures, Blah, Blah by Moving to Freedom.
StixFonts, finally available (beta)!
The STIX Fonts project (website) has been developing for over 10 years a font suitable to be used in academic publications. It boasts support from Elsevier, IEEE and other academic publishers or associations.
A few days ago, they published a beta version of the font in an effort to get public feedback. The beta period runs until the 15th December.
|STIX Fonts Beta showing Greek (Regular), from STIX Fonts Beta
STIX Fonts Beta currently support modern Greek. An effort to get support for Greek Polytonic did not work out well a few years back.
|STIX Fonts Beta showing Greek (Italic), from STIX Fonts Beta
The main benefit of STIX Fonts is the support for mathematical and other technical symbols. This helps when writing academic publications and other technical documents.
|STIX Fonts Beta showing Greek (Bold), from STIX Fonts Beta
STIX Fonts have extensive support of mathematical symbols, symbols that exist in Unicode Plane-1.
|STIX Fonts Beta showing Greek (Bold Italic), from STIX Fonts Beta
If there is any modification that we would like to have in STIX fonts, we should do now. Once they are released, they will be widely distributed. Currently, Fedora has packaged STIX Fonts and made them available already.


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*the 'hrit padma', (the 'lotus of the heart' or 'sacred heart'), is placed energetically in between the heart and solar plexus chakras.
Rachel Goodwin is a channel, hypnotherapist & energy healer who works with the Angels & Ascended Masters, especially Lady Sarah, and also works profoundly with the energies for ascension held around the sacred isles of Hawai'i.
Sarah is an ascended master guide for the Age of Aquarius and is working with the Earth and humanity to assist us in our process of ascension, and in manifesting our Higher Selves here on earth.


text:
Invading "Afraq" is like having a bad day at work and kicking the dog and/or shouting at the missus and/or kids when you get home.
The US and UK did all of the above and are now finding that the dog needs to be taken to the vet, the missus is filing for divorce and the kids have reported you to Social Services for child abuse.
Anger is indeed a deadly sin.


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|Narcotics Anonymous
Our primarypurpose.....to carry the message to the addict who still suffers
are visitor
Sign up for our daily meditation "Just for Today" in your email.
Click here for today's Daily "Just for Today" Meditation
Sage Region of Narcotics Anonymous
This site is the official Sierra Sage Region (SSRNA) website and is the property of the Sierra Sage Regional Service Committee of Narcotics Anonymous. This website is maintained by the Public Information Subcommittee. The names, trademarks, service marks, and logos of the Fellowship of Narcotics Anonymous are owned, in trust, by NA World Services, Inc. All such marks appearing on this site may not be used by anyone except as stated in Intellectual Property Bulletin #4, Revised. Such marks may not be used in any advertising or publicity, or otherwise to indicate NA or NAWS sponsorship or affiliation with any product or service without NAWS' prior express written permission. For further information about vendors wishing to use the marks and logos, refer to Intellectual Property Bulletin #3, Revised. (c) 1988 by NA World Services, Inc. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.


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Newegg.com - A great place to buy computers, computer parts, electronics, software, accessories, and DVDs online. With great prices, fast shipping, and top-rated customer service - once you know, you Newegg.
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3/8" gas connector. Non A.G.A. approved. 3/8" O.D. (1/4" I.D.). Flexible appliance connector with fine thread 9/16-24 nut on each end. 58" long
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text:
Jordi Vinyals' men will start their NextGen Series bid on Wednesday, August 15, at 20.00 (Barça TV). The Azulgranas will host the Belgian team at the Miniestadi
Two meetings in the Otten Cup
Barça's U-18 team beat Anderlecht in the final of the Otten Cup (0-1) this past weekend un Eindhoven, Holland. Previously, in the group stage, both teams tied (1-1) which saw both teams qualify for the semi-finals.
FC Barcelona's U-18 team, trained by Jordi Vinyals, will be the first FC Barcelona football team to take to the field in an official tournament. Vinyals' men will kick off their NextGen Series bid on Wednesday, August 15, at 20:00 (live on Barça TV) against Anderlecht, a team that brought up the likes of Vincent Kompany and Romelu Lukaku, at the Miniestadi.
Just days before the tournament, on August 11, the U-18 team will make the trip the capital of the Balearic Islands to play a friendly against RCD Mallorca in the Tournament of Light.
Second year in the NextGen Series
It's worth mentioning that Barça have been placed in Group 1, along with Tottenham Hotspur and Wolfsburg, besides Anderlecht, of the NextGen Series.
After a pre-season stage in El Montanyà, the Azulgranas travelled to Holland to play in PSV's summer tournament. The Dutch team's summer tournament showed a preview of what spectators can expect in the first match of the NextGen Series. Vinyals' men won the tournament over stiff international opposition that will also feature in this season's edition of the NextGen Series, like Ajax, Zenit St. Petersburg, AZ and Copenhagen, as well as Anderlecht.
From 16 to 24 teams
The NextGen series has increased the number of teams from 16 to 24 for the 2012/13 season. The teams have been divvied up into six groups of four. The U-18 teams will play a Champions League style format, where each team will play against their opponents both at home and away in the group stage. The Azulgranas, therefore, will play a total of six matches in the first phase of the competition.
The two best teams of each group will progress to the Round of 16, along with the four best third-place finishers.
Last season, Barça's U-18 A team fell 0-3 in the quarter-finals to Ajax Amsterdam. The Dutch team made it to the final but lost to Inter Milan in a penalty shootout.


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Media staff will verify that you are trained to use the clickers by checking a list provided by CIT. If you are not teaching in a smart classroom, you will also need to check out a PET station when you check out the clicker set.
Bergen Community College
400 Paramus Road
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 447-7100


text:
Mexico defender Rafa Marquez stuck his foot out and Netherlands winger Arjen Robben went down for an injury-time penalty that took his team into the World Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 win.
Did Robben dive or was he fouled by Marquez?
Or - to ask the fashionable question that evades the issue of whether it was actually a foul - was there 'contact'?
If there was contact, was it the result of the Mexican's movement or Robben's ability to connect with the defender?
Those are the judgments Portuguese referee Pedro Proenca had to make in the final seconds of an intense game played in baking heat in Fortaleza with a last-eight place on the line.
Who would be a referee?
Of course, the partisan took predictable positions on the incident but it was hard to find consensus among the neutrals.
It does not help that Robben has dived frequently in the past and had been clearly looking for a penalty in this game.
But then the Dutch could argue, with some justification, that he should have had a spot kick earlier in the game and also highlight how, not long before the penalty, he had skipped over a lunging Marquez as he tried, in vain, to score.
Of course, it could be pointed out that what happened previously should have no bearing whatsoever on Proenca's evaluation of the incident.
Critics would say Marquez was reckless or naive to stick out his foot with Robben moving away from goal, leaving Klaas-Jan Huntelaar to score the spot kick and put the Dutch through.
But the question now being asked is: Has the game reached the stage where a defender is not allowed to even attempt a tackle in the penalty area because it may risk 'contact' that would justify a penalty kick?
The answer to the last question is yes, a defender, in modern football, cannot risk contact with an opponent in the penalty area because if it results in a fall, even an embellished one, the referee will probably give a penalty.
In the NBA it is called 'drawing the foul' and is universally accepted, but modern football has not found the vocabulary for it nor the acceptance of the 'dive after contact'.
The crucial difference is that in basketball the punishment for such fouls is a couple of free-throws with two points available in a game with a total of about 200 points scored.
In football, 'drawing the foul' can - and does -


text: Stay productive and enjoy a comfortable typing experience with this EasyAccess! 104-Key PS/2 Keyboard! The ACK-295W features a 104-key layout and a PS/2 interface! WWW and Email hot keys provide one touch easy access to your favorite web browser or email applications. It also includes a sleep key for power saving features. Num lock, Caps lock and Scroll lock LEDs are also provided. Plus, the built-in fold out feet rest provides comfort while you work or play. Order this EasyAccess! ACK-295W 104-Key PS/2 Keyboard today!


text:
This Numbers are calling all the time, but when i answer there is nobody there.
Who the f*** is this?!
Nån Engelsman söker min man och vill ha mobilnummer eller kontorsnummer till hans jobb
Have these answers been helpful? Have you had a different experience with this number? Just tell us your problem with the 004420704877. Describe your experience, the frequency of the calls, timing... Everything! Every single detail is important! We have a huge community with problems like yours, they will be willing to help you!
At unknownphone.com we have more than 40000 numbers already identified by our users: phone operators, lawyers, or just regular internet users! Ending those nuisance calls is up to you!


text:
Depot de Pain
616 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, VIC
Rich, smooth and slightly sweet Romcaffe coffee (from $3.30) is easy to enjoy in the light-filled Depot de Pain space. Order a quiche with house-made chutney and salad, croque-monsieur or madame, or an eclair and kid yourself you're in gay Paree.
616 Glenferrie Rd, Hawthorn, VIC
- Opening Hours - Sat-Sun 12pm-12.01pm Contact establishment for hours


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Librestream, Livecast top ABI enterprise video collaboration list
Librestream and Livecast topped the list of vendors supplying enterprise mobile video collaboration for business operations support examined by ABI Research.
The two firms were selected by ABI because of their high ratings in market implementation and product innovation capabilities. Other firms assessed by ABI included Streambox, AT&T (NYSE: T) and Polycom.
ABI evaluated the companies' mobile video collaboration products and services when applied to business operations support. The research firm said that operations-focused use of mobile video collaboration represents a much larger market than the traditional person-to-person use of mobile video collaboration, perhaps as high as 500 million users.
Examples of mobile video collaboration for business operations support include a technician showing a remote expert a live video feed of a defective part or machine, a reporter capturing an event on a mobile device rather using a camera operator, and a real estate agent showing a new property to a potential buyer.
"Librestream has done a great job making video collaboration interactive; such as the ability to telestrate on both the camera and desktop applications; and remote control of camera from the desktop application including zoom, freeze frame, image capture, and lighting," commented Dan Shey, enterprise practice director at ABI. The firm scored well in vertical market expertise and partnerships, and recently introduced an iOS application, he added.
Last month, Winnipeg, Canada-based Librestream released version 6.1 of its Onsight Connect operations-driven video collaboration platform. New features include tighter enterprise controls over Onsight guest user licenses, simplified PC software development, and better integration with enterprise video infrastructures.
Livecast's smartphone mobile video collaboration product dates back to 2005, ABI noted. The firm supports a range of smartphone operating systems, including apps for Android, Blackberry, Windows Mobile and Symbian platforms.
For more:
- check out ABI's data
- see Librestream's release
Related Articles:
Aberdeen analyst sees future of corporate innovation in video collaboration
Verizon, LiveCast Media launch HD mobile video service for businesses


text: How does one go about balancing a life with both pool and a non-pool playing girlfriend? We've talked about it and all and she knows that eventually I'm going to start playing again. Do you guys hatchet out an agreement? Is there a schedule? Is it just a mutual understanding?


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Ross was adjudicated on 03/21/2001 for lewd and lascivious on a child under 16 in Okaloosa County and on 12/12/2005 was adjudicated for failure to register as a sexual predator in Walton County. Ross's new address is 9962 Hwy 183 South, Ponce De Leon.
Ross is a 34 year old white male with brown hair and blue eyes, 6'00" and 220 lbs
There are currently 152 registered sex offenders/predators living in Walton County.
The WCSO encourages families to visit www.flsexoffender.net to subscribe to receive e-mail alert notifications when registered sexual offenders or predators move into neighborhoods. WCSO also encourages citizens to use the neighborhood search feature prior to signing up for alerts to identify registered sexual offenders and predators currently living in neighborhoods.


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Ahead of the proposed 5% disinvestment in ONGC, the government may partially relieve the state-run oil explorer from its mounting subsidy burden by allowing it a net price realisation of $65 per barrel from the sale of crude oil.
In FY14, ONGC realised a net price of around $41 per barrel from sales of oil even as its average pre-discount price was $106.7 a barrel. That translated into a debilitating subsidy burden of $65.8 per barrel or an all-time annual high of R56,384 crore.
The government is also weighing the option of using the Kirit Parikh formula that would result in the total subsidy share of ONGC and the two other upstream oil PSUs (Oil India and GAIL) becoming smaller although it would see a graded increase with global crude price.
Sources said the oil ministry is discussing the proposals with the finance ministry, which is relying heavily on divestment proceeds to meet the budget numbers and will look to mop up about R17,500 crore from the ONGC stake sale.
After coming to a conclusion, the matter would be taken to the (CCEA) Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs for its nod, a senior petroleum ministry official said.
The proposed formula of assured minimum realisation from oil sales would work out to an annual subsidy share of R31,400 crore for ONGC (assuming a rupee-dollar exchange rate of 60 and a crude oil price of $100 per barrel).
n Continued on Page 2
The use of the Parikh formula would lead to a similar figure if the price of crude oil and the rupee are assumed at the same levels. The Indian crude basket is hovering between $104 and $105 per barrel right now.
The petroleum ministrys move is prompted by the need to enable ONGC to invest meaningfully for exploration and production (the oil major has paid a whopping Rs 2.72 lakh crore as fuel subsidy over the past 11 years and its share of subsidy has skyrocketed in recent years).
Of course, the periodical increases in diesel prices and the planned roll-out of the direct benefit transfer scheme to disburse cooking gas subsidy are expected to pare the under-recoveries of oil marketing companies this fiscal without straining its own finances.
ONGCs ever-increasing subsidy burden is a major concern among investors (from Rs 2,690 crore in FY04, it surged to Rs 56,384 crore or 40% of the total OMC under-recoveries in


text: |"As a Marquette graduate, I know firsthand the transformative power of a Jesuit education. I have a special passion for working with adult learners, since I too returned to school as an adult and know the challenges and rewards that come with an adult learning experience. Having been with CPS since the first class opened, I have a deep passion and love for the college and the students. Our adult students bring a diverse array of talent and life experiences that make each day in the classroom a learning experience for me as well as the students."


text:
UK Traffic Law
Ask an UK Traffic Law Question, Get an Answer ASAP!
it is a bit obscure Ticket says Central Parking XXXXXXXXXX /p>
says company is Concept Parking services Ltd company no.06840503
AddressPOBox465 Lavender Park Road Surrey KT14 9BS
Yes I have been issued a parking ticket at a Railway Station where it is free parking.
My car was issued with an obstruction ticket
When I have gone to appeal to the company that issued the ticket, it states the offense is against Contavention 14
When I look up that Contravention up it says the offense is ........... Parked in electical vehicle charging place etc
Good. This is a private land fine. They are unenforceable. This is not a parking fine however it may look. These companies are private firms that have no more right to punish you for the manner of your parking than your neighbour does. Only the police or the local council can do that. These are issued on the basis that you have accepted a contract by parking there and breached it by staying too long. To make that work they would have to hang signs over almost every bay and anyway, they still cannot show loss. The way to stop them dead is to write back refusing to give them the name of the driver. They have no power to make you as they are not the police. They only have a 'contract' with the driver and not the registered keeper. That will not stop them writing to you but it will put a stop to any real action being taken. They won't know who to sue. Nothing will ever happen over this.
If I have answered your question please click on 'Accept' so that I can get feedback, thereafter I will happily deal with your follow up questions for free. Jomo
DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. JustAnswer is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response to propose specific action or address specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances must be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on these general principles, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains.
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Disc Title: Siegfried
Disc catalog: UNITEL CLASSICS 701004 Recording Date: 2008/9 Program Length: 256 + 27 mins extras mins A live Valenciana Opera house Production
Cast: Siegfried Lance Ryan; Mime Gerhard Siegel; Der Wanderer Juha Uusitalo; Alberich Franz-Joseph Kapellmann; Fafner Stephen Milling; Erda Catherine Wyn-Rogers ; Brünnhilde Jennifer Wilson ; Waldvogel Marina Zyatkova ;Valencian Community Orchestra (Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana) Zubin Mehta, conductor ; La Fura del Baus, staging; Carlus Padrissa, stage director
Video rating: 5/5 Audio type: DTS HD MA 7.1, PCM Stereo No mention of bitrates Audio rating: 5/5
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Summary comment: Another dazzling production - but overdone in Act 2
Author: Tassie Devil Date: May 18 2010
Detailed Comment: Friends came over last night and we tackled this 3rd Ring 4 3/4 hour Wagner opera. Maybe I was less receptive and too tired, but I found it VERY long and it did not engross me as much as the previous two in the cycle. We all felt the background efforts in Act 2 were overdone and distracting and certainly did not project an image of a tranquil forest scene.
But we remained impressed by the brilliant singing of the part of Wotan by Juha Uusitalo and the good effort of Lance Ryan in the very long and exhausting role of Siegfried. Then there is Jennifer Wilson who thankfully took off the ugly enormous breast plate early in the piece. Her singing is rivetting and very powerful although it was hard to see how she appeared so sexy to Siegfried but I'm getting picky. The singing and acting is what opera is about and she performed the Wagnerian role brilliantly.
Overall no, it was not as enjoyable for me as the first two in the cycle and there remain puzzlement at the symbolism of shadowy bods sweeping the floor and writhing on the floor with some of the background confusing and distracting. So do I recommend it? I guess the answer is yes if you want a consistent set of all the ring operas, but no if you expect "Siegfied" to be as good as the first two.
Viewing the final Ring opera will have to wait quite a few weeks until we can get together again. But at least we are at home in comfortable lounge chairs where we can enjoy the superb audio & video of Blu Ray at our leisure. No doubt attending live performances of The Ring would be unique experiences but I'll opt for home viewing when dealing with operas as long as these.
Edited by Tassie Devil, 13 July 2010 - 11:45 AM.


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Bug 64970 created.
I don't have an Exchange account and am still in the process of collecting logs from users which I will add when I have them.
I have also come across another possible bug related to signature syncing which I might create another bug for when I have more details


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As an Athena myself, I have always been so frustrated by not being able to find clothes to fit my curves in once place, picking through collections to find a couple of token jerseys. And I refuse to wear men's jersey's and dart them.
If someone were to specialize in "Athena Wear" what would be on your wish list? Can you tell me what clothing brands and styles and accessories have worked best for you?
I have my own list but I am looking for more feedback
Lisa - the unlikely cyclist (I have a blog too at that address)


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UK Family Law
Ask an UK Family Law Question, Get an Answer ASAP!
I think the answer I received is probably it. I have bank statements and a signed but undated letter which proves how much he used to pay but there is no legally binding agreement. I am so angry with myself , why did I take pity on him when the CSA got involved. Why did I agree for him to pay a lesser amount without them being involved! My being reasonable and doing what I thought was best for my daughter and for him has cost me approximately £2500. Gutted!
DISCLAIMER: Answers from Experts on JustAnswer are not substitutes for the advice of an attorney. JustAnswer is a public forum and questions and responses are not private or confidential or protected by the attorney-client privilege. The Expert above is not your attorney, and the response above is not legal advice. You should not read this response to propose specific action or address specific circumstances, but only to give you a sense of general principles of law that might affect the situation you describe. Application of these general principles to particular circumstances must be done by a lawyer who has spoken with you in confidence, learned all relevant information, and explored various options. Before acting on these general principles, you should hire a lawyer licensed to practice law in the jurisdiction to which your question pertains.
The responses above are from individual Experts, not JustAnswer. The site and services are provided "as is". To view the verified credential of an Expert, click on the "Verified" symbol in the Expert's profile. This site is not for emergency questions which should be directed immediately by telephone or in-person to qualified professionals. Please carefully read the Terms of Service (last updated February 8, 2012).


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Give U.S. troops time to win, generals say
Questions mount over Afghanistan
As skepticism mounts over President Barack Obama's plan to quell the insurgency in Afghanistan and begin withdrawing combat forces next summer, military leaders from San Diego to Kabul are urging Americans to give the troops enough time to prevail.
Marines are used to long odds, and the fight in Iraq once seemed unwinnable before U.S. forces — including thousands of troops from Camp Pendleton — helped pacify Anbar province, Maj. Gen. Anthony Jackson said Wednesday during a meeting of the San Diego Military Advisory Council.
"We are not there to tame Afghanistan. That is for the Afghan people to do. We are there to ensure that our homeland is not attacked again and that the Afghan people have the opportunity to make choices not based on terror," Jackson said.
Jackson noted that Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the British and the Russians didn't last long in Afghanistan. Now, again, it appears that time is on the side of the insurgents.
"They have 100 years, the Taliban does — in their mind — to win. We've been given a timeline for our combat troops: a year. Don't believe it," Jackson said. "I think I can say that fairly, you don't accomplish those things in a year."
Congress appears to be losing patience six months after Obama called for a surge of 30,000 more troops, many of them Camp Pendleton Marines sent to the Taliban stronghold of southern Afghanistan.
On Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates told a Senate panel, "I think that we are regaining the initiative."
But some legislators cast doubt on Gates' view that U.S. forces are "making headway" in Afghanistan. Several Senate Democrats expressed frustration over the military campaign there. They included Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, who questioned whether it would ever be possible for the Afghan government to rein in tribal leaders, and Patrick Leahy of Vermont, who said, "We've committed so many lives, so much money here, and we've neglected so many things inside the borders of the United States."
Obama has directed that combat troops start pulling out from Afghanistan by July 2011. A growing chorus of people inside and outside the military say that timeline could prove unrealistic.
In a separate hearing Wednesday, Gen. David Petraeus, head of U.S. Central Command, said he might recommend a push-back in the timeline if security in Afghanistan has not improved significantly by next summer.
"I did believe there was value in sending a message of urgency — July 2011 — as well as the message the president was sending of commitment: the additional, substantial numbers of forces," Petraeus testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"But it is important that July 2011 be seen for what it is: the date when a process begins, based on conditions, not the date when the U.S. heads for the exits. We're doing all that is humanly possible to achieve those conditions."
Jackson commands Marine Corps Installations West, which includes Camp Pendleton, Twentynine Palms and other Western bases where Marines train for advanced combat operations.
He drew a parallel between the counterinsurgency fight in Afghanistan and Marine efforts to pacify the western region of Iraq, where the insurgency had been most violent.
"You lose good people in those wild places. But the Marines were tenacious. They stuck to their mission," Jackson said.
With help from soldiers, aviators and Navy Seabees, the Marine Corps became the "20th tribe" in Iraq and eventually the strongest tribe, he said.
All the other generals living in his Fallbrook neighborhood are serving in Afghanistan now because the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force took control of Marine operations there this spring.


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Now in Simons Green, Lincoln
|Some years ago I was requested by the Historic
Monuments people to investigate reports that Simons
Monument in the garden of a house in St. Peters Avenue
had been painted with white paint, and if true, to
request that the paint be removed.
I visited the houseowner who explained that he did not want to remove the paint as it had been applied to cover some filthy graffiti which was on it when he took up residence. He was hoping that when the paint wore off it would remove the graffiti. I was also informed that he wished it could be removed from his garden altogether.
The monument is in fact a Vista monument, meaning to be viewed in the distance, in this case on the skyline from the Ellisons house (Boultham Hall, demolished in 1959) on the other side of Boultham Park Lake. By tradition it was always known as Simons Monument, and that Colonel Ellisons horse, Simon, which he brought home from the Crimea (one of very few that were), was buried beneath it. This proved not to be the case on investigation when the monument was moved.
|A couple of years after my visit I was informed that
the monument was to be removed and that someone had
offered money for it. Horrified that this piece of
Boulthams History was about to disappear, I
consulted Councillor Mrs. Baldock who felt the same way
as I did, and she brought the matter up in council. The
monument was subsequently moved onto Simons Green
on the Simons Hill Estate (Lakeview Road, St. Peters
Avenue, Simons Green and at a later date Grainsby Close,
built on the old cricket field).
On 3rd April The Gossiper, Lincolshire Echo, featured an article on this monument and Peter Brown suggested that a plaque be attached to explain its history, and that it should be mentioned in the city's tourist guides.
I agree that a plaque stating what it is would be ideal, but I did not press that point at the time, my concern being that the monument should not be allowed to leave the parish.
I even offered that if nowhere else could be found, it could be placed at the bottom of my own garden, built on another part of the old Ellison Estate near the Skellingthorpe Road junction.
This site is a work in progress. This page last updated 3rd April1999.
Back to the Main Page.


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No results found.
No results found.
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David Duchovny
Special Agent Fox Mulder
Gillian Anderson
Special Agent Dana Scully
Alex Bruhanski
Angleo Pintero
Guest Star
Sydney Lassick
Chuck Forsch
Guest Star
Nancy Fish
Nurse Innes
Guest Star
In the scene where Harold recites the bowling scores, one of the sets is 122 131 166 178 201. How did that bowler jump from 131 to 166 when you can't score more than 30 in a frame?
Mulder: Hi, I wanted to know if anyone had used the pay phone in the hallway there on Friday night, because somebody called the police and reported a murder.
(The room is silent)
Doctor: (Whispers) Sloppy joe night.
Mulder: It was sloppy joe night.
FBI Agent: The guy claims he saw the victim.
Mulder: No, not the victim. The victim's apparition, what the Irish call a fetch, what is more commonly known as a wraith.
FBI Agent: Oh, okay.
Mulder: What is a death omen if not a vision of our own mortality?
Mulder: What is that look, Scully?
Scully: I would have thought that after 4 years you'd know exactly what that look was.
Mulder: What, you don't believe in ghosts?
Scully: And that surprises you?
Mulder: You can believe what you want to believe, Scully, but you can't hide the truth from me because if you do, then you're working against me... and yourself. I know what you're afraid of. I'm afraid of the same thing.
Steven M. Porter, playing Harold Spüller, is a college friend of The X-Files co-executive producer Frank Spotnitz.
Mulder asks Harold Spüller about one of the victims, a woman named Risa Shapiro. The real Risa Shapiro is David Duchovny's agent.
This episodes name changed from 'Tulpa' to 'Revenant' before becoming 'Elegy'. A 'Tulpa' is a ghostly manifestation of a thought-form produced by the mind. 'Revenant' is one that comes back following an absence or one who returns after death.
An elegy is a poem expressing grief for someone who is dead.
Although there are many actors who have played several different parts on the show within its 9 seasons, Christine Willes is one of the few to have a small recurring role as the same character. She returns in this episode playing FBI counsellor Karen Kossoff, who previously appeared in season 2's 'Irresistible' and 'The Calusari'.
Film reference: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
The scenes in the mental hospital are reminiscent of the film especially since the actor who portrayed Chuck Forsch also played Charlie Cheswick in the famous movie, and the character of Nurse Innes is similar to that of the sadistic Nurse Ratchett.
S 10 : Ep 6
Aired 2/22/16
S 10 : Ep 5
Aired 2/15/16
S 10 : Ep 4
Aired 2/8/16
S 10 : Ep 3
Aired 2/1/16
User Score: 510
User Score: 2170
User Score: 1925
User Score: 1641
User Score: 491
User Score: 340
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User Score: 119
User Score: 96
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User Score: 67


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Showing off your talent, experience and skills is an ongoing process for any creative professional. Whether you are a photographer, illustrator, author, interior designer, copywriter, stylist or what not – you need to create an online portfolio that grabs people's attention and emphasizes your creative strengths.
Your online portfolio is the platform where you can showcase your best works, highlight all of your achievements and establish yourself as an expert in your field. But a great online portfolio is more than just a gallery of previous works, it also functions as a business card. You want people who visit your portfolio to further engage with you, so don't forget to add an "About" section, as well as contact information.
Here are 15 prime online portfolio examples, all created with the Wix website builder. Check out how these portfolios offer a great display of the creator's unique talents and also how communicative they are. They vary in their style and atmosphere, but they all perform their duty successfully – presenting the creator's works in a captivating and inciting way.
If you need to create an online portfolio and you're searching for inspiration – look no further.
Steven Diller, creative director >>


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Reality check on my last full day in Telluride: you can't see everything. If I go to see Geoff Dyer's last pick as Guest Director, "Unrelated," a debut film from director Joanna Hogg from 2007, which was not only the sole film of the six he chose that I hadn't seen before, but hadn't even heard of before, I'll miss seeing Madds Mikkelsen in person with Thomas Vinterberg's "The Hunt," a repeat of the Telluride Silver Medallion Tribute from last night – which I missed because I went to the unique performance of Serge Bromberg's program of early film rarities, "Retour du Flamme." I figure I can see "The Hunt," which I also managed to miss in Karlovy Vary, at 6 p.m., when it's playing without the clip show and interview that is part of the tribute.
Dyer chose an eclectic array of fairly contemporary films – i.e., nothing from the Golden Age of cinema such as the Sight and Sound Top 50 Greatest Films of All Time list that so occupied the hearts, minds, and blogs of international cinephiles recently (Stop the presses! "Vertigo" topples "Citizen Kane"'s reign at the top after 50 years! – that included Tarkovsky's "Stalker," subject of Dyer's most recent book, "Zona: A Book About a Film About a Journey to a Room,"; Claire Denis' "Beau Travail"; Lukas Moodysson's "Together"; a double dose of Werner Herzog documentaries, "Lessons of Darkness" and "The Great Ecstasy of Woodcarver Steiner"; and "Baraka," by Ron Fricke, shown in a glorious new 70mm print, which I managed to catch at its technical runthrough the night before the festival opened – in preparation for the imminent opening of his follow-up film in the same genre, "Samsara," after nearly twenty years.
Dyer mentions, in passing, that one of the cast of "Unrelated," Tom Hiddleston, has gone on to bigger things, mentioning "Thor," which confuses me – wasn't that one of the Hemsworth brothers, the buffer one? I do recognize him as both F. Scott Fitzgerald in Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" and the caddish lover of Rachel Weisz in Terence Davies' "The Deep Blue Sea," two of my favorite movies from last year. (It takes a quick trip to IMDB to learn that he played Loki in "Thor," which I should have known, since I saw "The Avengers," in which Loki appeared, along with the well-muscled Chris Hemsworth as Thor. In my defense, Hiddleston's makeup and costume were somewhat more extreme as Loki than as Fitzgerald and feckless lover Freddie. And, it turns out, "Unrelated" was his debut film, after graduating from RADA, alma mater of "Thor"'s somewhat surprising director Kenneth Branagh, whose directing career it neatly revived.
I'm modestly charmed by "Unrelated"'s modest charms: I get a vicarious vacation in the glorious Tuscan countryside outside of Siena, watching the Jamesian or Fosterian interactions of two vacationing English families of parents and adolescents, the "olds" and the "youngs," whose psycho-sexual balance is mildly upset by the visit of a female friend on a break from her lover, who is drawn to the slender young Hiddleston.


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אנחנו בפייסבוק
City of lights dedicates annual Nuit Blanche art festival to Tel Aviv. Event first in a series celebrating city's legacy, culture
Daniel Edelson
Published: 10.05.09, 08:30 / Israel Culture
Daniel Edelson
Tel Aviv centennial celebrations take the city of lights: Paris' annual celebration of cultural opulence was marked with the traditional Nuit Blanche (White Night) Saturday, but this year, the celebrations also honored Tel Aviv's 100th birthday.
Dozens of the French capital's museums and galleries featured the works of 31 Israeli artists, storefront windows featured video-art exhibits by Israel's own Sigalit Landau and Michal Rovner and several book stores held readings of the works of noted Israeli authors.
"Things went extremely well, we were definitely the talk of the town," Ziv Nevo-Kulman, the Israeli Embassy's cultural advisor told Ynet.


text: A 2013 Butler graduate, Spieth now joins the athletic department as an external operations intern. The Fort Wayne, Ind. native worked as an intern with the Butler sports marketing department as an undergrad (Fall of 2012 - Spring 2013) while going to school full-time. Spieth earned multiple degrees while attending Butler including a Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and criminology, a B.A. in recording industry studies, and a minor in digital media productions.


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4 Entrepreneurial Cities To Keep Your Eye On
by Tim Jahn on July 11, 2011
Two years ago, the Chicago startup/entrepreneur scene looked nothing like it does today.
Excelerate Labs, a local startup incubator, is currently in their second summer class of startups. Resources like the Chicagoland Entrepreneurial Center, TiE Midwest, and SCORE Chicago provide tools and advice founders need to get their ideas off the ground.
Companies like Lightbank, Hyde Park Angels, OCA Ventures, Sandbox Industries, and New World Ventures invest in great ideas. Sites like Technori, Tech.li, BuiltInChicago, and Midventures keep a constant pulse on the activity buzzing in this old town.
If there was ever a time to be building a business in Chicago, that time is now.
In my regular interviews with creative entrepreneurs and meeting new people with new ideas, I've noticed a bunch of other communities popping up all over the US, outside the traditional Silicon Valley.
Durham, NC
Durham is part of the Chapel Hill-Raleigh-Durham triangle area in North Carolina. From the folks I've spoken with out there, Durham seems to be the hub of activity. They have an old tobacco factory that has been converted into startup offices and meeting spaces.
Events include Startup Weekend, Big Top (a new kind of career fair), Launch Madness, ExitEvent, Hackers and Founders, happy hours, Meetups, user groups, and more. Companies including ShoeBoxed, iContact, ChannelAdvisor, Lulu, ReverbNation, and Alexa call the triangle area home.
Indianapolis, IN
After I attended The Combine conference in Bloomington, IN last fall, I became more and more aware of the growing startup scene in the Indy area. Bloomington is home to Sproutbox, an innovative take on the traditional startup incubator by founders Mike Trotzke and Brad Wisler.
Matt Hunkler created the Verge Meetup group in Indianapolis about a year ago and now gathers hundreds of local entrepreneurs monthly to pitch their ideas, drink beer, and chow on some pizza.
There's the Orr Entrepreneurship Fellowships and Indy is also home to names like Angie's List, ExactTarget, ChaCha, and FormStack.
Kansas City, MO
Home to the renowned Kauffman Foundation, Kansas City is a force to be reckoned with.
With the recent Think Big Kansas City conference, startups like Zaarly setting up shop in town, and groups like the Cowtown Computer Congress, there's enough energy to go around.
Several sites such as KCSourceLink, Entrepreneurial Exchange, and Kansas City IT Professionals keep the community connected and aware of everything that's happening.
Omaha, NE
I first discovered Omaha, Nebraska in 2010 when I attended the Big Omaha conference. Coming up on its fourth year, this amazing conference surrounded around innovation and entrepreneurship attracts hundreds of the most innovative minds from all over the country, with an emphasis on the Midwest.
Jeff Slobotski, Danny Schreiber, and the entire Silicon Prairie News team shine a spotlight on the Omaha scene every day. There are plenty of events like Startup Weekends, Silicon Prairie News meetups, Cornstalks, and many more.


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Airplane leasing giant ILFC boosted Airbus's single-aisle jet strategy by ordering 100 new A320s with the new engine option, with Pratt & Whitney's geared turbofan as the engine of choice. ILFC ordered only 33 of Boeing's rival 737 jets for nearer term delivery. However, ILFC also canceled an order for ten of Airbus's superjumbo A380s.
International Lease Finance Corp. (ILFC) announced large jet orders Tuesday that give a big boost to Airbus' plans for new engines for its A320 family, while it offered a smaller, consoling order to Boeing for the rival 737.
The giant airplane-leasing company ordered 100 of the new Airbus single-aisle jets — known as A320neos, for "new engine option" — validating Airbus' decision in December to go forward with a new engine.
Those planes won't be available until 2016. For the nearer term, ILFC also ordered 33 Boeing 737-800 single-aisle jets, with deliveries beginning in 2012.
The Airbus order is worth $9.5 billion at list prices, although after typical discounts estimated by aircraft-valuation firm Avitas the actual value is just over $5 billion.
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However, ILFC also dealt a large-jet blow to Airbus by canceling a previous order for 10 A380 superjumbos. The cancellation slashes almost $3.8 billion off that list-price total or about $1.9 billion off the real value.
The Boeing order is worth $2.7 billion at list prices; based on Avitas-estimated discounts, its actual value is just over $1.5 billion.
The mismatched single-aisle orders clearly represent a win for Airbus' strategic decision to go for new engines and push development of an all-new single-aisle jet into the next decade.
In contrast, Boeing executives have signaled emphatically they likely won't put new engines on the 737 and will instead go for a new airplane before the end of the decade.
Boeing's leadership still hasn't firmly made up its mind, and a final decision is expected at the Paris Air Show in June.
For now, Airbus has the momentum.
ILFC's Airbus order is split between 75 A320s and 25 larger A321s.
"We are delighted to welcome ILFC as the first lessor to order the A320neo," said Airbus sales chief John Leahy in a statement.
The planes will be powered by new Pratt & Whitney geared turbofan engines, which promise more than 10 percent better fuel efficiency than the current engines on Boeing and Airbus single-aisle jets.
That's just the latest boost for the Pratt & Whitney engine, which already is set to power the new Bombardier CSeries and Russian MS-21 single-aisle jets.
With the addition of winglets, which Airbus marketing refers to as "sharklets," the plane maker claims the A320neo will deliver a 15 percent improvement in fuel efficiency over the current A320s.
That will leapfrog the 737, which Boeing claims has a 5 percent fuel-efficiency advantage today over the current A320s.
The 737s that ILFC will take from 2012 will have additional performance packages that improve fuel efficiency by a further 2 percent.
They will also feature the new 737 "Sky Interior," a redesign of the passenger cabin that gives much more headroom to passengers.
The downside of ILFC's announcements for Airbus was the cancellation of the double-decker A380 jets.
Leahy minimized the significance of that move.
"The A380 is a long-term program," Leahy said. "This year we've already won two new A380 customers and there are more queuing up."
ILFC is a subsidiary of insurance giant AIG, which was bailed out by the U.S. government in 2008 after a liquidity crisis, initially with an $85 billion package, with later loans and lines of credit boosting its financial backing to more than $180 billion.
Before and through that crisis, ILFC — which was founded and run by aviation entrepreneur Steven Udvar-Hazy — was profitable.
The financial pressure on AIG made it impossible for ILFC to borrow to finance airplane orders at competitive rates, and Udvar-Hazy left to form his own airplane leasing company.
New ILFC chief Henri Courpron, a former Airbus executive, has worked on turning around the company's position.
In the past year, it regained ability to buy airplanes through more than $14 billion in financing and aircraft sales, followed by a $2 billion revolving unsecured line of credit from 11 banks.
ILFC owns about 930 jet aircraft.
Dominic Gates: 206-464-2963 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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Here's what the end result will be:
I started with the unbalanced shot (by the way, the footage was shot on a Red Epic and graded natively in Resolve):
The first step is to balance the image. The raw is a little on the brown side and low contrast:
Now I want to bring focus to the actress a bit with an edge vignette, so I'll make a new node with a circular power window set to outside the mask:
I want to bring a little more attention to her face, and also bring her skin tones just a little bit cooler (to compensate for what I know my final look will do), so I'll make a new outside node:
Now to create the look itself. I want a lower contrast, darker look with mix of greenish shadows and warmer highlights to work with my location and give that air of class. By the way, this color combination is inspired by a classic 30's and 40's office. Think of the hazy private detective's office with the rich wood furniture and green lamp, chair, etc.
Now that we've made the image darker, we need our detail back in the blacks!
Now to start getting those warm highlights:
Now to pull back a little in the mids:
The last step is to make the image just a little bit more "hazy" by pulling back the saturation:
Well there you go. The first of a series of posts I'm planning to do on some looks I created for various projects, and my first post using Resolve. Hope you get some use out of it!
Attached is the Resolve PowerGrade for this look. Use it just like suggested above, don't forget to adjust the first node to balance your specific shot, and it should be a great base for you. As usual, feel free to use this look in your projects all you want, but please don't share or distribute this preset. Instead, send them here to get it.
Classy Look (5.5 MiB)
To install, right click in an empty space in your PowerGrade window and import the DPX. As long as the .drx is there too, the node tree will import as well.