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Last week saw the completion of the Nonviolence and Just Peace Conference, co-sponsored by the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and Pax Christi International with the help of the Justice and Peace Commission of the UISG/USG, CMSM, LCWR, Maryknoll, and the Colombans. One purpose of the conference was to reexamine the Catholic Church's long-held teachings on the just war theory.
At the opening session, the president of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, Peter Cardinal Turkson, delivered a message from the Holy Father which called "on all people of good will to recognize what Christians profess as a consequence of faith: that it is only by considering our peers as brothers and sisters that humanity can overcome wars and conflicts".
Over the course of two days Catholic peace practitioners, members of various NGOs, women and men religious and academics from around the world listened intently to the lived experience of those responding non-violently to war and conflict. They reflected on the Gospel call to follow Jesus' way of unconditional love, nonviolence, and peace. In dialogue, participants challenged the centrality of the just war tradition and affirmed pro-active, nonviolent approaches to peace-making at all levels. In the end, the conference recommended displacing the centuries-old just war theory as the main Catholic response to violence.
The result of the conference produced a singular document: An Appeal to the Catholic Church to Recommit to the Centrality of Gospel Nonviolence. It is a commitment to further Catholic understanding and practice of active nonviolence on the road to just peace, calling on the Church to:
- continue developing Catholic social teaching on nonviolence, including an appeal to Pope Francis to share an encyclical on nonviolence and Just Peace;
- integrate Gospel nonviolence explicitly into the life and work of the Church;
- promote nonviolent practices and strategies;
- initiate a global conversation on nonviolence within the Church, with people of other faiths and with the larger world;
- no longer use or teach "just war theory"
- lift up the prophetic voice of the church to challenge unjust powers and to defend those nonviolent activists whose work for peace and justice put their lives at risk.
You can read the document in its entirety by clicking the attachment below. Additionaly, the National Catholic Reporter posted an article about the conference.


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Quote of the Day - In the business world, the rearview mirror is always clearer than the windshield.
The Little Costs Of Doing Business?Last week, Wal-Mart announced that it has agreed to pay $11 million to settle federal allegations that the chain used illegal immigrants to clean its stores. The settlement also requires Wal-Mart to develop procedures that require that its stores, as well as its contractors, to comply with federal immigration laws.
Interestingly, Wal-Mart also announced an increase in excess of 15% in its annual dividend today as well. As large as $11 million is, it apparently hasnt affected the financial situation of the company too significantly. Im no math expert, but if my Excel calculations are correct the fine works out to approximately twenty minutes worth of sales to the company. Frightening in so many ways isnt it? First, that any company can generate that type of cash in twenty minutes and second that the largest civil immigration fine in history amounts to little more than a drop in the bucket to such a massive organization.
Without the stipulation that Wal-Mart develop measures to ensure its future compliance with immigration laws, I wonder how much impetus would exist to enact such changes in light of the settlement amount and the decision by US Immigration not to pursue criminal charges.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dr Kalim Siddiqui was a prolific writer. A selection of his writings is given below. More will be added in due course, therefore please check back later.
Please note that some of these papers are published as PDF files. These will automatically open in most browsers, or can be downloaded and opened using Adobe Acrobat or another PDF reader.
- Eid Milad un-Nabi Address, London, 1958
- Writings on Pakistan 1971-72
- Conflict, Crisis and War in Pakistan (1972)
- Functions of International Conflict: A Socio-economic Study of Pakistan (1975)
B. The 1970s: The early years of the Muslim Institute
- Towards a New Destiny (1973)
- The Draft Prospectus of the Muslim Institute (1974),
The Draft Prospectus of the Muslim Institute was written by Kalim Siddiqui but authored by the Preparatory Committee of the Muslim Institute. For an account of its origins and a discussion of its significance, see Zafar Bangash, In Pursuit of the Power of Islam: the Life and Work of Kalim Siddiqui (1996), pp. 7-10.
- The Islamic movement: a systems approach (1976)
- Beyond the Muslim nation-states (1977)
C. The 1980s: Islamic Iran and the global Islamic movement
- The Islamic Revolution: achievements, obstacles and goals (1980)
- The state of the Muslim world today (1980)
- The Islamic movement: setting out to change the world again (1982)
This was written as the introduction to Issues in the Islamic movement 1980-81 (London: The Open Press, 1982), the first compilation of articles from Crescent International. In it Dr Kalim lays out his understanding of the nature and impact of the Islamic Revolution in Iran in terms of world history.
- Integration and disintegration in the politics of Islam and kufr (1983)
- The struggle for the supremacy of Islam – some critical dimensions (1983)
- Primary goals and achievements of the Islamic Revolution in Iran (1984)
- Nation-States as obstacles to the total transformation of the Ummah (1985)
- Muslim political thought and behaviour under colonialism (1986)
- Processes of Error, Deviation, Correction and Convergence in Muslim Political Thought (1989)
This is one of Dr Kalim's key papers. In it he argues that the developments of both the Sunni and Shi'i understandings of politics were based on historical errors and deviation, and that Imam Khomeini's ijtihad on Valiyat-e Faqih has begun a process of correction and convergence towards the real meaning of khilafah.
D. The 1990s(i): Muslims in Britain and the Muslim Parliament
- Generating 'power' without politics: the future of Muslims in Britain (1990)
Speech by Dr Kalim Siddiqui at the Muslim Institute conference on 'The Future of Muslims in Britain', London, 14 July 1990.
- The Muslim Parliament of Great Britain: political innovation and adaptation (1992)
Leader's Address by Dr. Kalim Siddiqui at the Inauguration of the Muslim Parliament of Great Britain, London, 4 January 1992.
E. The 1990s(ii): Looking back and looking forward
- The global Islamic movement: outline of a grand strategy (1992)
- The Seerah: a power perspective (1996)
- Stages of Islamic Revolution (1996)
This was Dr Kalim Siddiqui's final work, published just day's before his death. The file provided here is a scanned PDF of the first edition.


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U.S. Pending Home Sales Rose 4.6% in January
WASHINGTON—The number of existing homes that went under contract in the U.S. rose strongly in January, a sign of improvement for the housing market at the start of the year.
An index measuring pending home sales—a gauge of purchases before they become final—rose 4.6% to a seasonally adjusted reading of 103.2 in January, the National Association of Realtors said Wednesday.
Economists surveyed by The Wall Street Journal had predicted a 0.8% increase in January's sales. The index was down 2.3% in January from a year earlier.
December's reading was revised slightly lower, to 98.7 from an initial 99.0.
Pending sales offer a forecast of the housing market because they measure purchases at the time a contract is signed rather than at closing. Contracts typically take weeks to become final, and some are ultimately canceled.
"A change in Federal Reserve policy and the reopening of the government were very beneficial to the market," said Lawrence Yun, the trade group's chief economist.
He added that rising incomes, a strong labor market and steady mortgage rates should help January's positive trend to continue.
Still, the NAR reported earlier this month that its more closely watched index—final sales of existing homes, which measure purchases after closing—fell in January.
News Corp, owner of The Wall Street Journal, also operates Realtor.com under license from the National Association of Realtors.
Contact The McLeod Group Network at 971.208.5093 or [email protected] for all your Real Estate needs!
By: Realtor.com,


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Volunteers Organisation
One of the core principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is performing volunteer services. The Iran Red Crescent Society Volunteers Organization was formed in 1959 in order to materialize this principle with the aim of attracting, organizing and consolidating more and better volunteer and benevolent activities and services at the time of incidents in order to protect the victims of various accidents and injuries in the ordinary course of time to provide services to the needy and vulnerable people by tapping the ability and assistance of the able social strata. Since its inception, the organization has embarked on charity and community-based services to those in need of them; and has provided invaluable services such as protecting abandoned children, establishment of nurseries, collection of public donations for sending to the battlefields, collection of public donations for those affected by incidents and disasters inside and outside of the country and collecting public donations for the victims of international disputes.
The organization's core missions include:
- Helping to provide the financial and human resources required by the Red Crescent Society in line with its objectives and missions;
- Collection and directing of cash and non-cash donations from the public to support victims of domestic and international accidents;
- Providing support and social services to patients, the needy and the sick in deprived areas, as the states helper (trustee), by tapping the capacity and potentialities of the benefactors and volunteers in order to utilize and organize people's support in the form of Jihadist management in the field of economics and culture including health, welfare, protection and prevention services.
IRCS' Volunteers Organization serves as the support of the IRCS Relief and Rescue Organization, that is responsible for disaster operations. The body is regarded as the most active public network that currently enjoys services of over 700,000 volunteers in guidance, support, skill and partnership groups and 4,000 Helal Volunteer houses. All activities of IRCS' Volunteers Organization are performed through national humanitarian schemes.


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How do automated teller machines know the amount of a deposited check without me entering the numbers on the keypad?
Most bank A.T.M.s automatically scan a high-resolution image of the check when you insert it into the deposit slot. This check image is processed with optical character recognition (O.C.R.) software, which reads the amount of money printed on the check. The A.T.M. also reads account and routing numbers encoded in the magnetic ink on the check. This is why checks printed with standard home inkjet printers are usually rejected.
Mistakes can still happen due to smudged originals and other issues. If the check's amount does not match the amount on your receipt, contact the bank's customer-service department.


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Woodland manager fits right in
BEACON FALLS — Nick Oliveira shouted both encouraging and not-so-uplifting messages toward his teammates on the soccer practice field before Woodland's Class M second-round tournament game last Monday.
The Woodland senior is the manager of the boys soccer team. And he's only the manager because he can't play the sport he loves.
Oliveira has cerebral palsy, which requires him to either walk with crutches or use his electric wheelchair. But his physical limitations haven't kept him from being as much a part of the team as anyone else.


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When the Wright Brothers telegraphed the world over 100 years ago from this very building, little did they know that through the power of flight we would be able to experience the flavors of the world. Now, you too can taste those exotic flavors in Black Pelican's Global Cuisine.
GF = Gluten Free
Fresh Fishes – Tastefully Grilled 21.00
Choose one of our fresh cut fish filets served with garden rice and sautéed seasonal vegetables. Select your choice of:
Tuna, Salmon, Mahi or Our Fresh Catch of the Day
At your discretion, choose one of our four tasteful options to flavor and enhance your selection this evening.
Ala Oscar Asparagus, crabmeat and hollandaise add 7.00
Ala Maui Sesame seared with mango rum pineapple chutney, sweet chili and wasabi aioli add 3.50
Ala OBX Blackened with Carolina roasted corn salsa add 3.25
Ala Amandine Toasted almonds with a delicate white wine butter sauce add 3.25
Pelican's Housemade Crab Cakes 25.00
Delicately fried jumbo lump crab cakes with Tuscan remoulade,
garden rice and fresh steamed green beans.
Bacon Wrapped Sea Scallops 28.00 GF
Succulent seas scallops wrapped in maple pepper bacon and grilled
with caramelized onion sweet thyme sauce, Kahlua mashed sweet potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Southern Fried Flounder and Shrimp 23.00
Lightly breaded fresh NC flounder and plump shrimp fried to
perfection, served with garden rice and fresh steamed green bean medley.
Add crab cake for 8.00. No substitutions please.
Tuna Nagano – A House Specialty! 19.25
Thinly sliced Cajun sesame seared chilled ahi tuna served very
rare with Napa cabbage slaw, pickled ginger, soy and wasabi with
crisp wontons and micro greens.
"Dixie's Finest" Shrimp & Grits 20.00 GF
Plump shrimp sauteéd with garlic, onions, tomatoes and Tabasco
butter sauce served over jalapeno cheese grits.
Baked Shrimp and Crab 25.00 GF
A boat of fresh shrimp and jumbo lump crabmeat baked to
perfection and topped with a beurre blanc sauce, served with
garden rice and fresh steamed green beans.
Wanchese Fishermans' Risotto 25.00 GF
Scallops, shrimp, jumbo lump crabmeat and bacon sautéed with
tomatoes, sweet corn and baby spinach folded into creamy
roasted garlic risotto topped with crispy sweet potato nest.
Pecan Crusted Mahi 23.00
Fresh Gulf Stream mahi finished with red wine fig reduction,
Kahlua mashed sweet potatoes and seasonal vegetables.
Scallops St. Jacques 27.00
Sweet Atlantic Sea Scallops, oven roasted tomatoes and mushrooms in a delicate cream,
baked with smoked gouda mashed potatoes and golden puff pastry.
Shrimp on the Barbie 20.00 GF
Barbequed skewers of shrimp over garden rice and fresh steamed green beans,
finished with mango rum pineapple chutney.
The Frogmore Clambake 21.00 For 2 39.00 GF
A Kitty Hawk tradition featuring steamed shellfish and vegetables
that include plump mussels, clams, oysters, spicy shrimp, and
Andouille sausage plus steamed corn on the cob and red potatoes.
Slow Roasted Pork Shank 24.00 GF
With ancho raspberry reduction, Kahlua mashed sweet potatoes
and fresh steamed green bean medley.
Classic Filet 32.00 GF
8 oz. beef tenderloin served with housemade mashed potatoes and
fresh steamed green bean medley.
Classic Filet Oscar 39.00
Topped with lump crabmeat, asparagus and rich hollandaise sauce.
Rack of Ribs 24.00 GF
Slow roasted baby back pork ribs, char grilled in our own
Black Pelican barbeque sauce, served with smoked gouda mashed
potatoes and fresh steamed green beans.
Black and Bleu Strip Steak 28.00
Blackened New York Strip Steak crusted with Bleu Cheese and
zesty fried onions, served with demi glace, smoked gouda mashed
potatoes and fresh steamed green beans.
Add a Shrimp Skewer . . . . . 34.00
Prime Rib GF
Captain's (16 oz.) . . . . . . . 27.00 • 1st Mate's (12 oz.) . . . . . 23.00
Served with smoked Gouda mashed potatoes, fresh steamed green beans and au jus.
OBX Chicken and Ribs 24.00
Blackened chicken breast topped with grilled fresh corn salsa
and BBQ glazed baby back ribs served with Kahlua mashed
sweet potatoes and fried okra.
Chicken Marsala 22.00 GF
Grilled chicken breasts with mushroom marsala demi glace, smoked
Gouda mashed potatoes and fresh steamed green beans.
Carolina Combo 22.00
Eastern Carolina pulled pork barbeque and golden fried oysters with
grilled fresh corn salsa, southern coleslaw and butter grilled
jalapeno corn toast.
Down South Meets Down Under 29.00
Grilled New York Strip and barbequed shrimp skewer with smoked gouda mashed
potatoes, mango rum pineapple chutney and fresh green beans.
Marinated Grilled Portabella Mushrooms* 16.00 GF
Over smoked Gouda mashed potatoes topped with sautéed
mushrooms, spinach, roasted tomatoes and feta cheese, finished
with aged balsamic reductions.
Vegetarian Pasta* 16.00
Today's Pasta tossed with the freshest seasonal vegetables and a
tomato basil cream sauce.
* Denotes vegetarian
For Your Enjoyment…
Black Pelican dinner guests receive a complimentary basket of hearth baked, fresh pita bread.
Additional baskets are available for 2.00. Enjoy!


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This summer, Palgrave Macmillan Higher Education is publishing four new texts in the illuminating Great Debates in Law series. Providing an engaging introduction to some of the more advanced concepts in law, the Great Debates in Law series offers a cutting edge for students who are looking to gain additional insights with which to excel.
In each text, readers are introduced to the many debates surrounding each core area and presented with the key tensions and questions underlying each topic.
Click on the links below for further information about the books:
Great debates in company law
Great debates in Equity and Trusts
Great debates in Jurisprudence
Great debates in Medical law and Ethics
Anglo-American Asian Bi-Jural Chthonic Civil Common Community Comparative Continental Culture Customs Development Diffusion Formants Germanic Hegemony Hindu History Humanities Hybridity Hybrids Interdisciplinary Irritant Islamic Ius Law Law-in-Action Legality Lex Living law Philosophy Plurality Micro-jurisdictions Mixed legal systems Mixity Native Nordic Norm Normativity Polyjural Praxiology Reception Roman Society State Stateless Talmudic Traditions Transplant Transsystemic
20 June 2014
BOOKS: Four new book on the Great Debates in Law series
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Offshore Emergency Medicine offers relevant and practical training for the largest and most remote wilderness on earth.
Offshore First Aid
The NOGEPA 2.2A Basic Offshore First Aid course teaches the participants to render first aid to victims of accidents or persons who suffer from acute sickness. Besides that the participants receive training in accompanying the sick and injured when transported ashore. On top of that the participants receive training in managing offshore first aid equipment, assisting and coordinating multiple victims, communicating with a back-up doctor ashore and performing first aid with directions from a back-up doctor.
Offshore Oil & Gas Medicals & Assessments
Offshore workers need to pass an Offshore Medical Examination if they wish to work offshore.
The OGUK Offshore Medical is valid for two years and allows an employee to work in the UK sector or the North Sea.


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My now husband and I were on the fence about getting a DJ for our wedding. After working with JD and Delta Disc Jockeys, we can't believe we considered going without them. JD made the whole planning process fun and easy. He was also perfectly flexible throughout the process. My husband and I were planning the wedding from different states. JD came out to meet us when we were in town for a short week a month before the wedding to talk about what we were looking for and to offer some ideas about the flow of the reception. Leading up to the event communication was so easy with phone calls, texts, and emails – you would have thought that we were the only event on their agenda! JD continued to perform professionally and with great charm on the day of the wedding. We honestly had no idea how important a DJ was to the flow of an event, and we were thrilled with how everything worked out, how flexible he was, and how receptive he was to both us and our guests. The volume was also perfect! Guests could enjoy the music throughout the room while still engaging in conversations with ease. We would recommend strongly for any wedding or celebration. Thank you for all of your help in making our wedding day better than we could have dreamed!
I would just like to say that JD was phenomenal from the get go. We only met w/ 2 DJ's because JD make the other guy look like an amateur, I almost felt embarrassed for him. JD lived extremely far from us and our venue but never griped once about coming to meet us to go over everything a couple weeks before the wedding. If you are worried about being stressed out before the wedding, I would highly recommend JD because he made everything very simplistic and accommodated all requests. Of course, the night of was phenomenal and our event planner even added him to her vendor's list because of his excellent performance. Thanks again.
Delta Disc Jockeys played great music at my wedding! They played all the songs that I requested. They were professional and got people up and dancing. They even played a few extra songs beyond their scheduled time because people were having so much fun dancing!
I am a volunteer for a not-for-profit organization called Indian Princesses (a father/daughter group). We have used Delta Disc Jockeys for several events from Sweetest Day Dances, Halloween Haunted Hallways Events, Valentine's Day Dances and even a end of the year party at a YMCA Spring Camp Out. Every time we have used Delta Disc Jockeys they never cease to amaze our organization. JD Mason is an outstanding person to work with. He really takes the time to see exactly what our organization would like and has additional ideas or suggestions to make our events a lifetime memory. Their energy is amazing and they really get the crowd going, as well as, involved with the event to make it really fun. I would never use any other professional DJ again.
Everything was ran every smoothly! Set up and take down went quick and clean. The music choice was great and got changed up a lot which was effective for the crowd around. JD was very kind and funny, he knew how to socialize with those who would walk up to him and request songs. Overall, this company is great and I AM hiring them for future events!
JD was probably the best DJ we've ever hired for this event in the 15 years I've been planning it. He was very professional and played great music all night. I will be sure to hire him again next year for this event! He came highly recommended and now I know why! Great job!
I am a music lover! The only portion of my wedding that I dreamed of was the music…the moments and memories made while listening to a good song. So, asking Delta Disc Jockeys to make this happen for me was an important wedding decision. JD delivered! We had a wonderful time! All ages enjoyed the day, and we made memories together to the soundtrack of our wedding. JD handled the sound for both the ceremony and reception. Everyone could hear our vows, and the music was at a perfect level. Flawless. Thank you for making this day amazing for me, my husband, and our loved ones!
We have worked with JD & Delta Disc Jockeys for 15 years – in that time he's DJ'd nearly all of our July 4th events, as well as our New Year's Eve celebrations. And because he does such a great job, in recent years we've hired him to do our employee holiday parties, as well. JD has always been the ultimate professional and our guests love him! Many of them are repeat guests for these events and we often hear that one of the reasons they come back is because they know they'll have a great time if JD is there. What I love about working with JD is that he is always organized, he always puts on a great event, and he's flexible if we need to make a last minute change. JD always has his clients in mind and will go out of his way to make sure everything is perfect. I would recommend Delta Disc Jockeys to anyone who is interested in having an amazing event. You absolutely won't be disappointed because you'll be hiring the best!
I truly want to thank you for an amazing job you did at our event!!!! A true professional and will definitely use your company again!!!
Our Pub Crawl ended at The Cottage in Crystal Lake where we were met with a full blast of Irish music by JD who rocked the place for 3 hours non-stop! JD knows his music and how to get the crowd involved. Great job JD!
What a wonderful event this was for our Mom. She enjoyed the music tremendously. JD was at our venue already setting up before we arrived. He always responded to my email questions before the event. The loudness was appropriate for the cocktail hour,dinner, and then dancing. JD even got my Mom out on the dance floor with great music choices! He definitely knows what he is doing. We would recommend Delta Disc Jockeys, and use them in the future.
The dance floor was packed all night long! Guests were telling me they wanted to request something, but everything they wanted to hear was being played already. Delta Disc Jockeys also supplied up-lighting for the room, which really added to the ambiance and made the venue even more beautiful. Definitely a 5 star vendor who we would refer to any friend of family member.
Services Used: DJ, Lighting & Decor
JD was wonderful! Very easy to get a hold of and helpful when we were choosing a first dance song. We received many compliments on our music and what a great job our DJ did. We definitely recommend JD! Couldn't have chosen a better DJ/emcee to make everything run so smooth at our wedding. He's very professional and easy to work with…and knows how to get everyone out dancing! JD won't disappoint.
We had JD from Delta Disc Jockeys as our DJ for our wedding and he was AMAZING! We basically gave him a list of songs we liked and said we want the dance floor to be packed the whole time and he definitely complied! Everybody said our DJ was awesome and he did an amazing job! Everybody was dancing from the first song to the last! I HIGHLY recommend JD!
JD was awesome! He really made us feel special on our wedding day and he for people ready to jam on the dance floor. He has great energy and really tailor makes his playlists to highlight what the bride and groom want but is also open to so many different ideas, we would totally use him again.
JD was the best!!! Easy to work with, and very professional. we had a list of 60 songs we wanted played during the reception, he played every one of them! He had all of them in his library (some of the songs were VERY obscure)! We got so many compliments from our guests about him, both at the reception and after. If you want a great DJ, book JD!
JD was awesome! He was everything we were looking for in a DJ! During our planning call he was able to take us through the whole day and helped guide us through some pieces we were overlooking. He kept the day moving flawlessly and we had people on the dance floor the entire night! We loved all the music he played and couldn't have asked for anything else!
We were running a bit behind, so he worked with the caterer to make sure that everything went smoothly and with no problems. He listened to our requests and made sure that our night was a blast. I highly recommend Delta DJ and JD for any wedding!
My now husband and I were on the fence about getting a DJ for our wedding. After working with JD and Delta Disc Jockeys, we can't believe we considered going without them.
JD made the whole planning process fun and easy. He was also perfectly flexible throughout the process. My husband and I were planning the wedding from different states. JD came out to meet us when we were in town for a short week a month before the wedding to talk about what we were looking for and to offer some ideas about the flow of the reception. Leading up to the event communication was so easy with phone calls, texts, and emails - you would have thought that we were the only event on their agenda!
JD continued to perform professionally and with great charm on the day of the wedding. We honestly had no idea how important a DJ was to the flow of an event, and we were thrilled with how everything worked out, how flexible he was, and how receptive he was to both us and our guests. The volume was also perfect! Guests could enjoy the music throughout the room while still engaging in conversations with ease.
We had JD for our wedding. He has an awesome personality for a DJ and kept our dance floor packed the whole night! He did a great job recommending songs throughout the planning process. Everyone had a fun time dancing all night and commented on how great the music was. I can`t say enough about how good of a job he does. The only negative we experienced is we paid extra for up-lighting and it was somehow forgotten?
JD was amazing to work with! We got married in July 2015 and I thought the hardest vendor to pick would be the DJ because you can't hear or see their work beforehand. I am sooooo glad we decided to go with him because he definitely kept people on our dance floor the entire time! He is great at reading the crowd!
JD was the best!!! Easy to work with, and very professional. we had a list of 60 songs we wanted played during the reception, he played every one of them! He had all of them in his library (some of the songs were VERY obscure)! We got so many compliments from our guests about him, both at the reception and after. If you want a great DJ, book JD!
Delta DJ service was very professional before, during and after our wedding. Not many places call after the fact to follow up on the service. I would highly recommend Delta Disc Jockeys to anyone who wants a stress free wedding musical atmosphere. As a matter of fact I already have.
He kept the party going and everyone was on the dance floor the entire night. He played a great assortment of music and I feel like he truly got to know the crowd and what they would want to hear. I only wish I had another occasion to have him DJ!!! He met with us several times to get a feel for what we wanted and was friendly and easy to work with. I would recommend him to everyone!
JD was awesome! He really made us feel special on our wedding day and he for people ready to jam on the dance floor. He has great energy and really tailor makes his playlists to highlight what the bride and groom want but is also open to so many different ideas, we would totally use him again.
We had JD from Delta Disc Jockeys as our DJ for our wedding and he was AMAZING! He was very flexible with meeting at an unusual time due to the odd schedules my husband and I have. He emailed us a very easy to follow rubric of what songs we wanted for what dances/introductions/etc. We were able to give him a "don't play" list and a "definitely play" list. We basically gave him a list of songs we liked and said we want the dance floor to be packed the whole time and he definitely complied! Everybody said our DJ was awesome and he did an amazing job! Everybody was dancing from the first song to the last! I HIGHLY recommend JD!
Having worked with J.D. Mason of Delta Disc Jockeys frequently over the course of the 4 1/2 years that I was the Event Manager at Anderson Japanese Gardens in Rockford, Illinois, I was well aware of his superior expertise, professionalism, work ethic, and attention to detail (not to mention his incredibly friendly demeanor, perfect radio voice, and classy style). So when it came time for my sister to choose a D.J. for her wedding reception, there was no question who I recommended. J.D. was extremely organized, kept us all on task, catered to the bridal couple's every request, and delivered a flawless set of music that had the whole crowd up & dancing! Hands down, one of the best experiences of my life!
He played all the songs we asked and charged a reasonable fee. I would definitely contact him again for future events.
From the very beginning, JD was so helpful in planning our day and picking our music. We were able to meet several times before the wedding. He offered up his advice and listened to what we had to say. We could not have asked for a better DJ and DJ service. He even called my wife the day of and came early just to see if she needed anything or if he could be of any help. His service was above and beyond what we expected.
His introductions were great and he really kept everyone intrigued. The music was fantastic and I can't tell you how many people came up to us afterwards and said what a great job he did and what great music he played. I don't think there was a single moment that people were not on the dance floor having a blast. They were even dancing during the cocktail hour! And the song he helped choose for the last song, "We Are Young" by Fun, made the night so memorable. I couldn't think of a better way to end the night. I would recommend JD and Delta Disc Jockeys to everyone. Thanks again for everything...JD definitely kept us dancing!
After talking to many DJ companies I was able to talk to JD from delta disc jockeys. From the moment we first sat down and met my wife and I were totally satisfied and felt real comfortable. JD was always professional returned phone calls fast and was always on time for appointments. At the actual wedding JD was on time,set up, and ready to get our party started and did a great job keeping everything on schedule. Don't waste time looking for a DJ that will rip you off hire these guys and you won't regret it one bit!!!!!! JD thank you for all you did and a great job making our day special. Mr. And Mrs Harrison
you were awesome thanks again for doing a great job :)
I experienced any bride's nightmare when I received a call from the owner (JD) that he had undergone emergency surgery and would not be able to DJ for my wedding. Luckily, we met another DJ from the company (Mike) and chose him to step in. He handled the situation with utmost professionalism. He was obviously prepared and followed my very detailed list of reception songs as I had planned. Mike ran the show without a hitch and I was dancing the entire night!
Delta Disk Jockies performed the music at our wedding and it was one of the very few things we had to worry about. We were impressed by there professionalism and attention to detail. We would highly recommend them for any of your musical needs.
He is professional and enthusiastic and made everything super easy and comfortable. He played great music and handled my stress in stride. Our guests had a great time! I would definitely recommend him!
JD did an AMAZING job at our wedding! He made it a night to remember and never missed a beat! We didn't have some things picked out near the end and he made everything come into place. He was awesome with the crowd and VERY professional! I would recommend him to anyone anywhere!
JD was absolutely awesome! He was extremely professional and made our wedding night easy and unforgettable. He was willing to help out with any questions or issues we had throughout the night, such as making sure the lighting in the room was just to our liking. The dance floor was packed all night long. Multiple guests came up to us during the night as well as after saying how great the DJ was and how fun the dancing was. Guests were telling me they wanted to request something, but everything they wanted to hear was being played already.
JD was also very accommodating in meeting with us before hand to tailor the music exactly to our liking. Being a big fan of indie rock JD was willing to work with us and put together a totally custom playlist for cocktail hour and dinner. Throughout the night the music was outstanding and we couldnt have imagined anything more.
Delta Disc Jockeys also supplied uplighting for the room, which really added to the ambience and made the venue even more beautiful. Definitely a 5 star vendor who we would refer to any friend of family member seeking out DJ or uplighting services.
JD was great to work with and getting us started and leading us through the process. Even though he couldn't do our wedding, he set us up with Michael who did an amazing job. We had an indoor/outdoor wedding and kept the dance floor alive all night. He was well dressed and great communicating with us on requests and being flexible with the timing of anything and everything. So many people raved about Michael's job and when I came back from our honeymoon we had all sorts of emails and FB posts asking about and complementing Michael. We couldn't have asked for better service for our wedding.
JD was wonderful! Very easy to get a hold of and helpful when we were choosing a first dance song. We received many compliments on our music and what a great job our DJ did. We definitely recommend JD! Couldn't have chosen a better DJ/emcee to make everything run so smooth at our wedding. He's very professional and easy to work with...and knows how to get everyone out dancing! JD won't disappoint.
JD Mason was our DJ and he was very flexible and accomodating to our needs! I would abosultey recommend Delta Disc Jockeys LLC. Everyone at our wedding said that it was by far the best wedding they had been to in a long time and I attribute most of that to the quality entertainment that was provided by our vendors. Thank you, JD!
JD was absolutely amazing! We met a few times, talked through everything that would happen on that day, and he reassured me that if I wanted to change anything we had set up, I could do it whenever, including the day of the wedding! As I was sitting at lunch the day before the wedding, JD called to see if I needed anything at all! The Wedding music was perfect! JD was on top of everything and did exactly what we wanted, played everything we wanted, and checked with us throughout the night to make sure we were happy! Not only were we happy, our family and friends were super happy! We had a blast and the music was great!!!! I would highly recommend anyone to use JD for his DJ Service!
We hired Delta Disc Jockeys for our wedding, and we would definitely hire them all over again! JD worked with us starting a year prior to our big day; he did such a fantastic job getting to know us and our music taste. He is so flexible, personable, and easy to get along with--we and our guests LOVED him. The evening flowed seamlessly thanks to his incredible experience with emceeing and hosting large events. Best of all, JD was super at communicating, both by email and phone. We highly recommend Delta Disc Jockeys for your event!
We attended our niece's wedding and reception this past weekend. We were entertained by Mike from Delta Jisc Jockeys at the reception. I must say, that we loved the show! The D.J. Mike was dressed to the nines in a tuxedo, and was VERY professional. He played everything that should have been played, and took requests, even from the children. He was very personable, and anticipated what we all wanted to dance to. Being a former D.J. and, was paying for the D.J. service, I was very impressed with the way he performed his duties. He had top notch equipment, including light bars and strobes. I asked him what he had for music and he replied, " I have over 250,000 songs available, what do you want to hear? I can also hook you up to a microphone for a little kareoke?" I had him play a song that my wife and I danced to our first dance as husband and wife 20 years ago. Mike not only made the day memorable for our niece, he brought back great memories to everyone in attendance. I would highly recommend Delta Disc Jockeys for any event.
Delta Disc Jockeys and DJ Mike did a wonderful job at our wedding reception. Mike was easy to work with and flexible. All the music was well coordinated and well timed. The music that was playing during dinner was very soft and easy to listen. People were able to carry on conversations with out being overwhelmed by the music. Many people commented to my wife and I about how good the music was and who was the DJ that we were using. Mike and DDJs did an outstanding job and we couldn't be happier! Highly recommend to anyone looking for a good DJ. thanks guys
JD Mason with Delta Disc Jockeys was a pleasure to work with!! He was very accommodating and responded to my questions quickly with great advice/suggestions!! We didn't want to plan every song of the night so all we had to do was give him a few suggestions of some of our favorite songs and types of music and he kept the dance floor PACKED the whole night!! Our friends love to dance and it was a party all night long. JD was very organized in keeping the night flowing with toasts, first dances, etc. We did have a list of songs we didn't want played and he was very good about steering clear of that list! I would definitely recommend Delta Disc Jockeys!! We had an unforgettable wedding and he was great to work with!! Thanks JD for making our night a complete success!!
I planned my entire wedding from California, and never even met up with him before hand. He was so professional yet fun, worked around my schedule, and the weathers schedule the day of(it was about to storm!) ! All of my music was played and more, and he even found the karaoke version of a song my best friend could not find so she could sing to it. He put up with my neurotic state over finding the perfect version of my song to walk down the Aisle to as well! And he has a wonderful announcing voice.My only sadness is that I want to get married over now so he can DJ my party again!hahaha I miss him already. JD you ROCKED my wedding! Thank you!
Quinn was helpful from the very beginning of our planning stages of the wedding. He was knowledgeable and offered any advice that he could. It is always helpful to have knowledgeable vendors they go to weddings weekly...
Our wedding was beautiful and fun... Thanks to Quinn he made sure that the music was just right. He took requests and was professional. Everyone said that he was a great dj, I must agree... Thanks Quinn...
Delta Disc Jockeys were wonderful! They were so good with making my husband and I feel at ease at our wedding!! They are also very helpful with finding the right songs for every moment of your wedding. They definitely know how to keep the party moving!! Everyone at our wedding had something good to say about the DJ! I would absolutely recommend them for your wedding or any other event you may have.
JD was a great vendor to work with. Not only did I feel comfortable with the service I was getting but i felt he went the extra mile to be sure my fiance and i were comfortable with him, that he knew us and our style along with being sure we did not worry about a thing the night of our wedding!
The right DJ can make or break the party. JD from Delta Disk Jockeys made ours. They helped us pick the right songs and played a variety of music that kept the dance floor full all night. Our DJ had a great personality which made our special night even better. Everyone at Delta Disk Jockey was a professional and you can feel comfortable trusting them with your special occasion. We would highly recommend using Delta Disk Jockey.
I can't say enough GREAT things about JD. He was so helpful, professional and patient from the first time we met him till the very end of our wedding night. He had great ideas and made our most special night so much more than we ever imagined. We received so many compliments from our guests throughout the whole and we're still hearing how awesome our DJ was. I wouldn't change a thing and I would recommend using Delta Disc Jockey's to any and everyone I know. JD made our night and I couldn't have asked for more!!! Thank you so much JD, we'll never forget you and hope to see you again :)
JD did a fabulous job. My wife and I consider him more then just a vendor, we consider him a friend! By the end of the wedding we felt JD was our 8th Groomsman. Hats off to him veryone had a great time and people have been calling us to get his number becuase he made the party what it was, th e best night of our lives. Thanks JD for all you did!
On one of the most exciting days of your lives requires a lot of stress to plan it... Thank goodness I had Delta Disc Jockeys to help us through it all! Everything from the planning process of what to play, to what not to play. What is traditional, contemporary, or unique they seemed to have it all dialed in for us. Then the day of our Wedding they were right there, keeping a perfect flow of music to compliment our day! Everything from the background music before our party arrived to our announcements. Then I don't believe the dance floor emptied until the party ended! They kept the floor busy with every generation of our family out there at one time or another.
Thank you Mike Dean from Delta Disc Jockeys for making our experience better than we hoped!
JD of Delta Disc Jockeys was amazing to work with! He accommodated our busy schedule to meet with us and make sure we were 100% comfortable going into our wedding day. He was always easy to reach if we had any questions. We knew that he would honor our few music requests, and that we could leave most of the planning up to him. He made sure that our reception progressed as according to plan, and most importantly, kept our dance floor packed for the entire night! The dance floor was literally shaking throughout the night because everyone from our friends to little cousins to grandparents were out there dancing. We have received so many compliments that our wedding was the most fun wedding our guests had ever been to, and I know a big part of that was thanks to JD. I would recommend Delta Disc Jockeys to everyone I know because you can 100% trust they'll make your day perfect, and they'll get even your unlikely guests out there dancing to keep the dance floor packed all night!
Absolutely amazing! We had some very original music choices that they pulled off perfectly and because our minister "forgot" to show up for our wedding--J.D phoned his father and his father ended up being our minister! We will forever be grateful to J.D and Delta DJ for helping to make our wedding not only possible, but unforgettable! If you're on the fence about which DJ service to choose, do yourself a favor and pick Delta DJ. Their professionalism and prices were unmatched, the quality of service was outstanding and the whole night ran SMOOTHLY. We did a lot of shopping around, but were truly blessed with this decision we made!
JD did a great job! He was always available when I had questions, he helped us figure out things that we weren't sure of, and he kept everyone dancing and having a great time! I definitely recommend using Delta Disc Jockeys. Thanks so much!
JD was very helpful in planning the music for our wedding. He took time to meet up with us b4 the event to make sure everything was good to go. The music at the reception was exactly what we wanted. Everyone had a great time dancing at our reception!
As a stressed out bride I could have not been happier with this company! They made me feel so comfortable and always worked with my crazy schedule. I am so happy with Delta Disc Jockeys. I will definitely be recommending them for any and every service!!!
Great Job!
Thank you sooo much
Our DJ was JD Mason from Delta Disc Jockeys. He was wonderful in every way. Very flexible, friendly, professional...did just what we asked him of and made our wedding night incredible.
JD from Delta Disk Jockeys was a pleasure to work with from beginning to end! He was super professional (and funny) and took a lot of time to sit down with us to discuss music selection. He kept the dance floor full all night long at our wedding and always double checked with the groom if all requests can be played. Could no ask for a better DJ company!
highly recommend, great company, 5 stars anything I needed it was done
JD was our DJ for the wedding and he is a great guy to work with. He was accommodating with our initial meeting and was able to answer all our questions/concerns right from the start. We knew he was the right person for our wedding. The day of the wedding we made a last minute song change and he handled it with ease. He played all requests and kept the dance floor filled all night long which showed he was playing music everyone could dance to and appreciate. He knows how to keep the party going. He was very professional in every aspect from his attire to announcements, etc. Thanks JD for a great night.
JD showed to our wedding wearing a Tux looking suite and the best part was he didnt even know our colors and he showed up wearing our color. JD was FANTASTIC!!!!!! We will be contacting JD again for future events. He was very nice, he knew what he was doing, he kept the music going, kept our guest intertaned and if out guest had a song that they would liked played he had it. All we have to say is you will not find a better DJ out there.
Our experience with Delta Disc Jockeys was outstanding!! Quinn was very professional and easy to contact. He answered any questions and offered suggestions when we asked for advice. He played all the music that we wanted and was very flexible with our guests. He made the dance floor a great attraction for our guests, keeping the music appropriate for the energy that was presented on the dance floor. He seemed to know exactly what to play, when to play it, and how to keep the guests happy. He also made sure that requested songs were okay with us before playing them. Quinn worked extremely well with our photographer, making sure to communicate when the important dances would be. My wife and I would highly recommend DDJ for any couple looking for professional DJs that know what they are doing and do it very professionally with plenty of open communication. Thank you DDJ!
JD is amazing! He delivered so much more than what we could have ever imagined! We are still receiving feedback from our guests whom had a fabulous time. JD had our reception rocking all nite long! The CD he gave to me at the end of the night with all our music was so cool of him & unexpected. I have it in my car for the great memories of our wedding day! The ceremony was flawless & the music was right on key. He even held up his end of the bargain and did not play the electric slide when it was requested! Thanks JD lol We are looking forward to having you for next BIG event!
JD was a WONDERFUL DJ! He made our planning very easy (no stress!). We really enjoyed all of our meetings with him prior to the wedding to discuss our special day. At the wedding, he was very professional and really knew how to keep the party going! He was very helpful in making sure we got everything done in order (even when we forgot - when do we cut the cake? when do we do the bouquet toss?). He even rolled with surprises we threw at him in the middle of the night. The music he played was PERFECT for all ages! EVERY GUEST LOVED HIM and we would absolutely give him our HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION!
Thanks JD for everything!
We already had a DJ set for our wedding but we weren't very happy with the service we were getting while trying to get things in order for the big day. We searched around a bit and came across Delta Disc Jockeys web page and contacted them. Within a few min the owner himself called us and answered all of our questions without us having to even ask anything. We set up our appointment with Quinn, who made us so comfortable and relaxed that we ended up booking with these guys even though we hadn't planned on doing this right away. These guys are great!!!!


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Thursday, 03 November 2016 04:50 PM
Stocks retreated for an eighth consecutive day on Thursday as nervous investors remain transfixed on the potential outcome of next week's U.S. presidential election, which has become too close to call.
The stock market is now on its longest losing streak since the depths of the 2008 financial crisis.
The Dow Jones industrial average dropped 28.97 points, or 0.2 percent, to 17,930.67. The Standard & Poor's 500 index lost 9.28 points, or 0.4 percent, to 2,088.66 and the Nasdaq composite index fell 47.16 points, or 0.9 percent, to 5,058.41.
With five days left until the election, Hillary Clinton maintains a lead in national polling in the U.S. presidential race but Donald Trump has significantly narrowed the gap, particularly in swing states. Investors pointed to polls released in the last two days from Florida, New Hampshire and North Carolina where the two candidates are either statistically tied or Trump holds a small lead.
Investors like certainty, which means they generally favor a Clinton victory as she is seen as maintaining the status quo. Trump's policies are less clear, and the uncertainty has caused jitters in financial markets. The last time the S&P 500 fell for eight straight days was early October 2008, the depths of the financial crisis. However the losses over this period have been modest, nowhere close to the losses racked up in 2008.
"It's a pretty simple equation: uncertainty goes up, stock market goes down," said David Kelly, chief global strategist with JPMorgan Funds.
The Mexican peso, which has become an indirect proxy among investors for Trump's chances at the White House, advanced 1 percent against the dollar on Thursday. Investors have speculated that a Trump administration would be negative for the Mexican economy, and would cause the Mexican peso's value to fall as a result.
The VIX, a measure of volatility that is called Wall Street's "fear gauge," jumped 16 percent this week to its highest level since June. The measure is up 36 percent this week alone.
Kelly said that Clinton is being considered a continuation of the Obama administration, which is mostly priced into the market, whereas Trump would represent a significant departure from current policies and would introduce a great deal more uncertainty into the economy. He expects the stock market to drop sharply if Trump wins.
In other parts of the market, generic drug makers plunged after news reports came out at the Department of Justice was looking to file charges, alleging price fixing, against the companies by end of year. Mylan lost $2.53, or 7 percent, to $34.14, Teva Pharmaceuticals fell $4.13, or 9.5 percent, to $39.20 and Endo International plunged $3.54, or 19.5 percent, to $14.63.
Facebook fell $7.22, or 6 percent, to $119.95. While the company reported third quarter results that easily exceeded analysts' estimates, it also acknowledged that growth in advertising revenue was slowing.
Fitbit, the maker of wearable fitness trackers and other devices, plunged $4.30, or 34 percent, to $8.51 after the company slashed its outlook for the year, citing weak demand for its products. The company also cut its sales forecast for the holiday shopping season.
The price of crude oil extended a losing streak into a fifth day. Benchmark U.S. crude slipped 68 cents to $44.66 a barrel in New York. Brent crude, the international standard, fell 51 cents at $46.35 a barrel in London.
Heating oil fell 1 cent to $1.45 a gallon, wholesale gasoline fell 2 cents to $1.43 a gallon and natural gas fell 2 cents to $2.769 per 1,000 cubic feet.
U.S. government bond prices fell. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note rose to 1.81 percent from 1.80 percent a day earlier.
In currency trading, the dollar fell to 102.99 yen from 103.28 yen, while the euro edged up to $1.1099 from $1.1096 the day before.
In metals trading, gold fell $4.90 to $1,303.30 an ounce, silver fell 28 cents to $18.41 an ounce and copper fell 2 cents to $2.249 a pound.
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Luxury Bean Bags
The beanbag is known for all its comfortable and quirky magnificence. The classic bean bag has been around since 1969 in its current form. It took the concept of fully adaptable furniture to its fullest potential. The original idea of the beanbag is that it moulds to your shape, supports your torso exactly where it needs supporting, making it a very comfortable and cushioned addition to your living space.
In the UK the beanbag has become a staple in many homes, especially as its lightweight making it easy to move around and ensuring tight spaces are adaptable. The beanbag was never launched as a conservative and practical piece of furniture because it lends itself to a trendier and more modern image. That said, it is one of the most versatile, practical, and cost effective items on the market so it's no surprise why beanbags are so popular in UK homes.
At Shopisfy our beanbags range from giant beanbags to children's and baby bean bags patterned with princess, cars, space, aquarium and dinosaur themes to name a few. We also stock plain assorted colours for our more mature customers!
There is always room for a bean bag chair and with multiple colours to choose from they quickly inject a serious dose of fun and functionality into any space. Imagine yourself sinking into a large bean bag chair and watching the telly, reading a book, or just socialising with friends – check out our collection of the best classic beanbags in the market. Find out more about the classic style with our handy bean bag guide.
Ambre' Shiny Crushed Velvet Indoor Large Floor Slab Bean Bag Lounger£54.97
Palais' Shiny Crushed Velvet Indoor Classic Bean Bag Seat£44.97
Rhino Jumbo Cord Gaming Lounger Bean Bag Chair£34.99
Luxury Velvet 'St.Clair' Classic Bean Bag£99.99
Luxury Jumbo Cord 'Walrus' Classic Bean Bag£89.99
Luxurious Scroll Design Faux Leather Bean Bag Chair£119.99
Luxury Scroll Velvet Bean Bag Lounger Chair£119.99
Soft Luxurious Jumbo Cord Bean Bag Lounger£79.97
Contemporary 'Finley' Bean Bag Chair£59.97
Small 'Lucas' Bean Bag Tub Chair£39.97
Large 'Logan' Bean Bag Tub Chair£49.97
Luxury Faux Fur 'Wolf' Classic Bean Bag£269.99
Bijou Shiny Crushed Velvet Indoor Gaming Chair Bean Bag Lounger£89.99


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I know! It's been so long been since I posted but life has been CRAZY since the release of Just One Week.
So, for the record:
JUST ONE WEEK is now available on
Thank you to everyone who has read it already and left a review. Thank you for the messages and comments and emails I have received, DAILY!
It blesses my heart and impacts me in a way that I simply can't describe to know people are not only reading, but connecting with my work.
Thank you - you're amazing.
And now - on to some more good stuff! And the reason for my silence.
I have been a busy little bee :)
Part of the craziness of being a writer is that once you start an idea, more ideas just do. not. stop. coming. I am constantly writing down notes about new characters who pop into mind, conversations, a quick sentence here or there, and sometimes, an entire story line for a new book will pop into my head and refuse to leave until I put pen to paper, and finger tips to keyboard keys and type out the story as fast as I can.
And because of that, I will be revealing a new cover to you soon.
REMEMBERING US will be released in January, 2014. Originally, I thought it was going to be the 14th, but it might come sooner. *shrug* who knows. It'll be done when it's done, I guess.
This is my first attempt at a NEW ADULT ROMANCE and I love the story. I love the characters and I can not WAIT to introduce you to Adam and Amy and hopefully, fall in love with their story.
So what's it about?
Well, I'll talk more about that soon. The cover reveal is scheduled for the 21st so in TEN DAYS you'll be able to see the cover and the synopsis and I'll start posting teasers like a mad woman.
Until then, you can add it on goodreads:
but there's not much to see :)
AND. Not only that, but I have an entire SERIES screaming at me. Working on a standalone is tough enough with the characters constantly speaking to me, often keeping me awake at night or waking me in the middle of it to write something down.
But this is my first series, and I can't wait. I'm 100 pages into the first draft of the first book, and it's getting GOOD folks.
This will be at least three books. Maybe four - who knows. We'll see what happens. But I have the first three books plotted out for the most part, and yesterday, one of the characters surprised me and started giving me hints about what he might have to say in the future, so like I said - I hear lots of voices and I'm trying to get them down as fast as I can for you!
I haven't ever planned a series before, so I'm nervous and excited and having lots of fun figuring it all out.
So what's it about? Or who?
Daemon and Olivia. Biker children. Born into the life, children of the President and VP. They were all planned to leave the club, the life and their town behind. But then, you know, shit happens and plans change :)
I can't say much more than that. But Olivia is my favorite character to write so far. She's tough. She could kick your ass. Seriously. And mine, too, so I have to be careful with her.
But there's BIKERS. And Motorcycle hotties. And tattoos and hot SEX. Guns and murder. Mayhem. Mischief. Tough men and the strong women who aren't afraid to fight for what they want and put their tough men in their place every once in awhile.
I'm HOPING that the first book of The Nordic Lord series, "Point of Return" will be ready by March.
So that's it. Anything else you want to know?
Follow me on facebook.


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The Red Rock Record (Red Rock, Okla.), Vol. 2, No. 44, Ed. 1 Thursday, January 28, 1915
Description: Weekly newspaper from Red Rock, Oklahoma that includes local, state, and national news along with advertising.
Date: January 28, 1915
Creator: Hubbard, Ernest L.
Item Type: Refine your search to only Newspaper
Partner: Oklahoma Historical Society


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Are you enthusiastic about local foods but having a hard time finding them in your community? Perhaps you've considered starting a farmers' market to spur economic development in your downtown, create a social gathering space, or support local growers. Whether you are a potential farmers' market vendor, active community volunteer, or local government office, a farmers' market may sound like the solution you've been craving. They offer a vibrant atmosphere that supports local agriculture, fun free entertainment for children and adults alike, and bustling foot traffic wherever they are located.
|A farmers' marker vendor at Farmers on The Square
However, it is important to remember, farmers' markets are a unique and complex business structure and for anyone looking to open a market there are many considerations. Markets are created for a variety of reasons, therefore it is pertinent to investigate why you are looking to open the market to determine its best format. There are seasonal outdoor markets, indoor markets, market districts, and public markets just to name a few. Each comes with their own specific set of requirements to establish the market, attract customers and maintain a sustainable business structure.
Top considerations before you begin a market:
- Market Research - Who is your customer? Is there enough demand to support your market?
- Contact your local borough or municipality where your market is to be located. If they have a Main Street office, they may be able to use their resources to provide you Claritas demographic data through the PA Downtown Center. A simple way to use this data is to determine a reasonable driving radius for customers to reach your market and pull data within that given radius. You can then easily see psychographics of your potential customers to show you shopping habits and customer values. For example, if the majority of the customers within driving radius of your market place emphasis on low cost goods, you'll know you will have to concentrate on educating shoppers as to the true value of local foods, even when some may come at a higher cost than at a larger retailer. This data is particularly important because it may be able to be combined with additional information to form a clearer view of your potential market customer, and in some cases, may lead you to conclude that the chosen location is not the right spot for you new market.
- In combination with the use of demographic data it is also pertinent to assess the area in person. Spend some time at the location of your future market and take note of the amount of foot or vehicle traffic, look for safe and lit walkways, parking lots and public transport stops near your desired location. All of these details can combine to give you a clearer sense of potential shoppers and the sustainability of your market.
- Depending on the location, you may be able to include liability insurance to cover the market under an existing policy associated with its location or market ownership.
- Be sure to not only insure yourself as a market but that your vendors have adequate insurance as well. This will protect you in the chain of liability should an accident or other unforeseen situation occur. Talk with an insurance agent to determine minimum levels of insurance for vendors to carry. Be sure to have the market named on vendor policies and request a copy of their insurance when they register to become your vendor. Keeping everyone safe mitigates your risk and helps to ensure a pleasant market environment for everyone involved.


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Hotels in Șendriceni, Romania
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What are the closest airports to Șendriceni?
- • Suceava (SCV-Stefan cel Mare), 17.6 mi (28.3 km) from central Șendriceni
- • Chernovtsy (CWC-Chernovtsy Intl.), 28.3 mi (45.5 km) from central Șendriceni
When is the best time to visit Șendriceni?
- • Hottest months: July, August, June, September (average 73°F)
- • Coldest months: February, January, March, December (average 22°F)
- • Rainiest months: June, July, August, and May (average 4.67 inches of rainfall)


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Friday, February 22, 2008
Speak No Evil!
Posted by Anonymous at 1:15 AM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
The Weight
Posted by Anonymous at 11:40 PM 7 comments
Thursday, February 14, 2008
February 14th
Posted by Anonymous at 6:12 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Jesus loves me
This is great because I have never felt more ugly and unloveable than I do today. Thank God we walk by faith and not by sight!
Posted by Anonymous at 5:43 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Righteous judgement
Lord forgive me for the times I've dealt harshly with my fellow yokefellows in Christ. Who am I to judge another man's servant???I long to see people through the eyes of God....not my past, pain or predjudice...my hangups.
I'm speaking simply of preconceived notions of what I believe a person is like based simply on ABSOULUTELY NOTHING. When I think of how many times I may have let my little hang ups about people over ABSOULUTELY NOTHING keep me from receiving something God was trying to get to me I am deeply saddened.
I WILL judge righteous judgement, in the name of Jesus.
Posted by Anonymous at 1:21 AM 0 comments
Sunday, February 10, 2008
God and "The Churchpolice"
It feels good to know that it is possible God can still use me in spite of all my issues. But can I really stop hiding from "the churchpolice"?
Posted by Anonymous at 7:47 PM 0 comments
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Do you think I'm stupid???
My significant other has been cheating on me for 10 years....With different women.
Sometimes when I ask the people that pray for people at church concerning this they look at me funny. I don't talk about it much anymore because I'm beginning to think the church people think it is a waste of their time to even speak of it anymore.
I still love him.
Posted by Anonymous at 10:38 PM 0 comments
Well since I am the only person posting I will post til my heart is content. Just last week I deleted an anonymous blog. I felt like a punk and a weasel for not being upfront about my issues.
go figure.
Well my brother's bm never called like she said she would. I guess she can't stand the thought of looking me in the eye. I don't know why...All I ever did was love her. I am angry at all parties but I must admit I understand her pain. Her father was addict all his life until he died last year. Most of her life he was in and out of prison. She has several brothers all whom have been in and out of prison, drug dealers and drug users. Someone close to her who had been with her all her life died last year in a questionable manner. Her mom is a meek and quiet kind of woman. She's been going to church since dad died, but I don't know if she has been truely born again. I care about her. She was always nice to me and my children and especially my brother.
Momma and Daddy are in a world of hurting. Daddy can't really see to drive to see brother. He was recently moved to a prison which is quite far away. Momma has issues with the express way. They won't get to see him anymore.
Sometimes I feel like it's all my fault. I was an alcoholic, drug addict, sex addict, ect.....I really could go on.....but I'll save some for later. Anyways, I used my influence to teach him bad behaviors. What I struggled with has almost killed him. I remember leaving him with my kids while I went to go clubbing and pick up men. When he got his first child he did it at my house. When he smoked his first blunt he was at my house. When he drank his first drink He drank with me. Then....I got saved.
After I got saved I was instantly delivered from all those things even from cigarettes. Nobody understood. I got married soon after that. It was a marriage from hell. I was ashamed and embarrassed. I lost him in the transition. I let go of him when he needed me. I was numb to the fact that I had been cut off from him after salvation and marriage until one day my moms called and asked me what did crack cocaine look like. I was going through sooooo much. I had heard the rumors that brother was smoking but it didn't quite register. Even knowing he had been stealing from her and writing checks on her and staying at the neighborhood dope house day in and out. I wasn't clueless. I was preoccupied. While I was sleeping the enemy was stealing my brother's life.
I'm sick. I miss him so much. He is but a shell of the person he once was. I want him back:)
Jesus nothing is too hard for you.
Posted by Anonymous at 3:38 AM 0 comments
First of all i would like to applaud this site. I have a frustration i am longing to release. I am very mad at a relative. He is incarcerated at the present for crimes committed in order to get drugs. He lost custody of children before going to prison. I absoulutely abhor the person that was awarded custody. This person will not allow our family to be a part of their lives. She is a relative to the mother of said children. She has two of them. Now another relative on her side has the other two. I am angry with mama because she verbally abused us. I am angry with my parents because they fought all the time. When we were kids brother would bite his fingernails down to the quick and chew on his clothes. I'm angry at my dad because he was a weak man that let my mother run him. She didn't respect him neither did we. Especially me. It made me a borderline dyke and both of my brothers weak men. I'm angry with babymama cause her family robbed stole and sold drugs. My bother hooked up with her and followed suit. Now that he is in prison she wants nothing to do with him. She can't she's on crack too. I guess when you started this blog you didn't think you would get something like this as the first entry. Well, this is the life that I'm dealing with. Pray for my brother that he will find God and not just because he is hoping to get a "get out of jail free card." Okay so one of bm's relatives has two of their kids. Now another relative has the other two. He was already calling my mom from prison crying and whining and begging for money. Now he is wanting us to get the youngest two kids so that he will be able to see them . I don't thing this would be such an issue to him if mommy dearest hadn't talked him into getting a vasectomy. He can't have anymore kids. So controlling she is. Pray for our family please.
Posted by Anonymous at 12:34 AM 1 comments


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Clinical Applications of Learning Theory
- $114.99
- $114.99
Publisher Description
This book examines a variety of psychological disorders from the perspective of the psychology of learning. Grounded in the study of classical and instrumental conditioning, learning theory provides an explanatory framework for the way in which humans acquire information, and when applied, how abnormalities in learning may give rise to clinical conditions.
This edited volume addresses a wide range of clinically relevant issues in chapters written by international experts in each field. Individual chapters present experimental research into the neuropsychological basis of the acquisition of fears, phobias and clinical aversions, the placebo and nocebo effects, the psychology of drug addiction and relapse following clinical treatment, as well as the role of learning in Tourette's syndrome, depression and schizophrenia.
This book will be particularly useful for undergraduate and postgraduate students of clinical psychology, behavioural neuroscience and those studying the applications of learning theory to clinical or psychiatric research.


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We finally have gotten a hold of Megan's softball schedule for the rest of the season. There may be some additional makeup games added in here and there but for the most part this should be it. She loves to have a fan base so if you want to enjoy some good old fashioned fun at the ballpark, pick a day and come join us at East Side Little League.
Wednesday, June 7th 5:30PM
Saturday, June 10th 12:00PM
Saturday, June 17th - 9:30AM at South Side Little League
Saturday, June 24th 4:00PM
Friday, June 30th 7:30PM


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Our real estate and hospitality clients include the large name hospitality companies, large and small commercial developers, REITS, property managers, home builders and large construction companies. Our search consultants have the expertise, industry contacts, client knowledge and credibility expected by top-tiered real estate organizations. We have completed hundreds of searches ranging from property accountant to CFO. SpectrumCareers' recruiting team has an impeccable track record and reputation in the real estate community. We are a proven source for superior talent and innovative human resource solutions.
Project Accountants
Property Accountants
Real Estate Analysts
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Real Estate Controllers
Job / Cost Accountants
Accountants with Real Estate specific software (Timberline, Yardi, and others)


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People in Great Britain and in many other countries have already started preparing for Easter. You are probably among those who want to hpresent something very unusual as an Easter gift for their special someone, am I right?
Nowadays the most fervent Easter lovers have a chance to buy a very unique Easter egg weighing five-stone (about 30 kg) that has gone on sale at London's Selfridges store. read more »


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$7.95 Flat-Rate Standard Delivery via UPS or USPS.
$7.95 Flat-Rate Standard Delivery via UPS or USPS.
Forward Impact:
Proceeds from each CHOOSE JOY item benefit our TSF Cancer Care Fund - supporting those in their fight against cancer. We hope to ease the financial burden this disease can put on those in their treatment and recovery, while encouraging them and their loved ones to choose joy during a challenging time.
Shirt Description:
100% cotton crew neck tee in tie-dyed in the USA, printed with white printed 'CHOOSE JOY' graphic on front. Red, White, and Blue spiral tie-dye. This is more of stiffer cotton fabric than our usual crazy soft tees so it has a different feel-- we love it and LOVE these tees, but want to make sure to let you know!
Unisex Adult sizes S - 3XL.
- Machine wash cold separately. Do not bleach. Tumble dry low.


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While a lot of motherboards have some RAID controls built into them, if you're looking to set up a more complex RAID (or use a level not supported by your motherboard) then a controller card is a very important piece of hardware. The basic purpose of a RAID controller card is to let you connect multiple hard drives together in one of several different configurations, and use them as part of a larger total unit. Since a RAID is usually set up for data backup and speed, a good card is important to ensure your information is properly distributed and saved for either the fastest performance possible or for accurate backup in case of corruption or hardware loss. Although the prices on these cards can vary quite a lot, you'll typically find that overall value (in terms of what you're trying to set up) is really more important than just cost.
With that in mind, we've chosen these best RAID controller cards because they give you the most options for RAID setups, since they all support at least RAID 0 and 1 types as well as other types like 10 and JBOD. You get at least two SATA or SAS ports on each of these cards, so not only do they offer RAID control, but also give you connections for additional hard drives in your system. Additionally, these cards come with software utilities you can install along with the included drivers to manage your RAID setup more efficiently.
SYBA SI-PEX40057 4-Port SATA III Marvell Chipset Raid Controller
For a straightforward, inexpensive RAID controller that just works without any extra hassle, this card is pretty much impossible to beat. It is easy to install in a PCIe port and provides four additional SATA ports with support for 3TB and 4TB hard drives. It supports RAID 0, 1, and 10 setups and includes management software that makes your RAID setup easy. Read Full Review
While not a great choice for a complex setup on a server rack (or if you need half a dozen hard drive connections) there's still a lot to like about this card. Quite affordable and easy to find, its small size makes this card easy to fit into just about any computer. You get four SATA 6Gb/s ports on this card and they support up to 4TB hard drives. If you want a particularly exotic RAID setup, then this might not be a great choice, but it does support RAID 0, 1, and 10 setups which should be sufficient for most personal and small business setups. The included software makes it easy to install this card into your system and setup and manage your RAID without a lot of unneeded extra features.
HighPoint RocketRAID 2320 8-Port Controller Card
This is a great choice if you are looking for a somewhat more complicated setup or simply need to support more physical connections than some other cards offer. It has eight SATA ports directly on it and connects through a PCIe ports on your motherboard. You get a lot of RAID options with this card, including 0, 1, 5, and 10. Read Full Review
If you are looking to just quickly put together a simple RAID for a home computer or entertainment system, then this is probably more card than you really need. It installs through a PCIe port on your motherboard, and includes eight SATA ports for physical hard drive connections, a great plus for small businesses which need additional options. The included software is pretty straightforward to make RAID setup easy, and it includes a number of management tools including email notifications and event logs to assist with monitoring your setup. Perhaps the best feature of this card is it supports many different RAID setups: RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 50, and JBOD, giving you a ton of different options in how you want to set up your system.
Adaptec RAID 6805E Storage Controller
This is another great option that is comparable to the HighPoint RocketRAID 2320 in many ways, but it's just not quite as ideal for as many situations. While it supports quite a few different RAID levels and a lot of different drives, this one does not have quite as much support. The included utilities and management tools with this card are excellent, but if you need RAID 5 or 50 support, then look elsewhere. Read Full Review
If you need a professional-level RAID controller card for a small business, then this is another great option comparable to the RocketRAID 2320 from HighPoint in many ways. This model from Adaptec supports many different RAID levels, including 0, 1, 10, 1E, and JBOD, so it works great for a lot of different computing environments. However, the RocketRAID 2320 gives you a couple more options so keep that in mind if you might need a RAID 5 or 50 setup. This model has eight SATA ports and supports Hybrid RAID setups with both solid state and hard disc drives, which is something to consider if you might need to put together a Hybrid setup. It installs through a PCIe port and the included utilities give you tools for remote configuration, monitoring, as well as BIOS level configuration.
Syba Controller Card Sd-Sata-4p 4 X Port Sata Raid 0/1 Card
This is an excellent choice if you want a simple RAID controller card for a very basic, personal RAID setup. You don't get a lot of options with this card, and it's not particularly fast, but it's very inexpensive and works great for a RAID 0 or 1 setup. It gives you four SATA ports and connects through a PCI slot, but it won't be as fast as many other cards on the market. Read Full Review
The first thing to keep in mind with this RAID controller card is it's intended for simple setups only. You don't get a ton of options with this model, but if it works for what you need, then it's a great option. This card only supports RAID 0, 1, and 0+1 levels, so keep this in mind if you plan on setting up a more complex RAID. However, if you only plan on using one of those levels then this is a great controller card which does just what it's supposed to do. The speed on it is a bit slow with 1.5 Gb/s transfer rates as well as only four SATA ports, but that's probably enough for a simple setup. You can't beat the price on this model if you just want a simple RAID setup, especially since more complex cards typically sell for four times the price.
SYBA SD-VIA-1A2S Combo IDE + SATA PCI Controller Card
This is a great option if you're looking for a RAID controller for an older system or a legacy setup that you need to support. It uses a PCI connection and has a pair of SATA ports along with an ATA port, which gives you some good options for an older system. Speeds with this model definitely cannot compete with what you can find elsewhere, but it still works quite well. Read Full Review
If you want a RAID controller for the latest hardware in a new computer, then you 're certainly better off choosing a different model. However, for older hardware (or a legacy system) this is a great choice offering solid performance and ease of use as long as you keep its limitations in mind. It installs into a PCI slot on your motherboard and offers a pair of SATA ports along with an older ATA port. This is a great way to build a simple RAID in an older computer or to add some SATA ports to your system, and it also supports RAID 0, 1, 0+1, and JBOD types so you get some decent flexibility. The included software is pretty good, giving you some decent tools for setup and managing your RAID. Plus, this model supports Linux and versions of Microsoft Windows going all the way back to Windows 98.


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Sweet Luna's
139 Main Street
Old Saybrook, CT 06475
(860) 391-8194
Monday - Sunday Noon - 9pm.
Delicious, healthy, self-serve frozen dessert shop, frozen yogurt, sorbet, gelato, and teas. The perfect treat for kids, families, grandparents, and anyone who just needs a little happy in their day.
We are conveniently located at 139 Main Street in Old Saybrook. We are beside Cozy Nail, across the street from Walt's Market.


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If you require assistance in finding classes or breeders in your area, check the information listed in those sections on Canuck Dogs and contact the club or people directly.
PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU ENTER YOUR **CORRECT** EMAIL ADDRESS. Many email addresses are mis-typed and bounce when we try to reply to you so to avoid this, please double-check that you have entered your email address correctly.
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For Statesman photo gallery with pre-race coverage, click on:
A line of thunderstorms associated with a cold front is moving through Austin early Sunday morning, as expected, but it shouldn't pose any kind of scheduling problem for today's Formula One United States Grand Prix.
There is no rain behind the current line of storms, and the forecast for Sunday afternoon in Central Texas is for dry, cooler weather with partly sunny skies.
It is raining hard at Circuit of the Americas at 8 a.m., but that should clear out in the next half hour. Temperatures have dropped more than 10 degrees, from the low-to-mid-70s overnight to the low 60s. Winds have switched direction from the south/southeast to the north.
The Masters Historic race, which kicks off Sunday's activities at 9:30 a.m., could be affected by the weather, but most race-day activities do not get going until late morning. That will give the track several hours to dry, and the F1 race itself does not start until 2 p.m.
What also helps is there hasn't been much rain in Austin recently, so the ground was dry.
Some things that will be affected by the rain:
- Traffic. The weather likely is keeping some fans from venturing out early to COTA, so now there will be a smaller window for approximately 100,000 people to get to the race track.
- Parking: Although COTA has put in much more paved or gravel parking since the mudfest of 2015, there will be more wet areas in some of the outer lots. A bigger issue could be the off-site fields used by individual entrepeneurs.
- Hillside seating: Haas Hill and some of the hilly areas of the track where fans like to view the race will be damp. Fans should bring extra blankets or towels to stay dry.


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States use 'virtual queuing' to tackle hold times and reduce phone bills.
The poor economy and an accompanying increase in citizen demand have spurred government agencies to adopt more advanced customer service technologies in their call centers.
One reason the agencies have been able to invest in improvement projects in their call centers, despite state budget cuts, is that they meet strict standards for ROI and effectiveness, state officials say.
"This growth has been fueled by high unemployment and questions about unemployment extensions that have overwhelmed call centers," said Eric Camulli, vice president of marketing for Virtual Hold Technology. "These state agencies are highly visible and need to provide excellent service to taxpayers who are already under stress from job losses."
Virtual Hold Technology based in Akron, Ohio, provides a solution that allows callers to receive a callback without waiting on hold or losing their place in the phone queue. The company has added several new state labor departments to its list of government clients.
Washington State Employment Security Department Commissioner Paul Trause said "virtual queuing" helped his department reduce its phone bill by about $500,000 in the first year of implementation. Unemployment claimants in the state spent about 15 million fewer minutes — about 28 fewer years — holding phones to their ears as a result.
Trause said about 75 percent of callers are choosing the option to receive a callback without losing their place in line rather than wait on hold. On average, customers receive that return call after about 20 minutes. The agency also extended call center hours by one hour per day to better handle the dramatic increase in claims, and more people are now using the state's recently upgraded online claims system.
Unemployment offices tend to be busiest during the winter months, when industries such as construction and agriculture are in their off-season. "Virtual hold saves cell phone minutes for our clients and reduces our phone bill as well," said Nan Thomas, Washington state's assistant commissioner for unemployment insurance.
New York state was awarded $1.1 million by the federal government in 2009 to launch its UI Will Call program, which is expected to save its Department of Labor more than $370,000 in phone bills a year while enhancing services for New Yorkers.
With more than 900,000 New Yorkers jobless, about 680,000 are collecting unemployment benefits. In a given week, the Department of Labor answers 60,000 calls at its Tel-Claims Centers — more than double the call volume from two years prior. The labor department estimates that UI Will Call will lead to a 48 percent decrease in hang-ups and 19,500 fewer repeat calls in its first year of operation.
The state's Labor Commissioner Colleen C. Gardner said the program will dramatically improve service to claimants and employers.
"How many times have you called a customer service hotline, pressed button after button, and after many minutes of wasted time and energy, just given up?" Gardner asked. "Now add to it the fact that you're unemployed and calling about your livelihood. UI Will Call makes waiting on hold a thing of the past."
Unemployment offices are not the only government agencies making call center improvements. The California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), headquartered in Sacramento, Calif., is the nation's largest public pension fund. CalPERS provides health benefits to 1.3 million members and retirement benefits to more than 1.6 million public employees, retirees and their families.
The CalPERS Customer Contact Center typically fields more than 650,000 phone calls a year with 80 full-time and 20 part-time agents. The center's aggressive customer service goals include an abandon rate of less than 5 percent; 95 percent of calls answered within 2.5 minutes; and a maximum hold time 2.5 minutes.
Calls to CalPERS peak at various times throughout the year. Prime time is the first two weeks of January when retirement checks change with tax and health premium deductions. Tax season, open enrollment periods, Mondays and the days following holidays are other peak periods.
"We're a state agency, so we definitely don't have an unlimited budget to hire for peak call volumes," said Debbie Hanson, assistant division chief of the CalPERS Customer Contact Center. "However, we also can't let our members wait on hold — that defeats our mission to provide quality service. Long wait times impact the callers' perception of the service we provide, and it's reflected back to our agents when they answer the phone."
When Virtual Hold Technology began working with CalPERS, its business case analysis revealed the benefits of increasing part-time staffing a bit and adding the virtual queuing solution. When these steps were taken, CalPERS immediately saw positive results in its customer service goals and operational efficiency.
"We are consistently meeting and exceeding our customer service goals," Hanson said. "We're way below our 2.5-minute wait time goal, and we're actually looking at lowering that goal now." Hanson also noted morale among call-takers is up, while vacancy is down. Instead of hearing complaints about hold time, agents are hearing, "thank you."
Callers don't mind waiting when they're not on the phone, Hanson said. And happier callers mean allowing call-takers to do their jobs in a more pleasant environment. "Virtual queuing balances out our phone volumes," she said. "Plus, our phone bill was cut by a third in just part of the fiscal year."
Virtual Hold Technology's Camulli said there's a misperception about virtual queuing that it's just another name for callback technology that has existed for decades. Callback typically describes a manual process of reviewing voicemails, dialing phone numbers, hoping for a connection and rescheduling when there isn't one.
"Basic callback technology fails to provide an adequate solution for quality-conscious contact centers because it generally launches callbacks after the peak is over, yielding both poor return-call expectations with customers and low callback hit rates," he said in a Virtual Hold Technology white paper. "In contrast, the customer reconnection rate for virtual queuing solutions is 93 percent according to a 2007 report by Forrester Consulting."
Paula DePasquale is an accredited public relations professional and technical writer.


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After you find the source, whats next? In the case of Fanga, the answer is to navigate another stream. On their own, the French ensemble has mastered the form well enough to challenge Antibalass spot at the head of the Afrobeat revival line, and their brisk touring schedule attests to their enduring popularity in Europe and around the Mediterranean. In 2007, they made a record with drummer Tony Allen, the beat scientist who drove Felas great 1970s recordings; you cant get any closer to the styles headwaters.
This collaboration began at a Moroccan festival in 2011, when they performed with a Gnawa troupe led by Maâlem Abdallah Guinéa. Its not an obvious combination; although Gnawa music has roots in sub-Saharan Africa, it and Afrobeat are at best very distant kin. One is a centuries-old tradition that uses chants, drumming and the visceral bass lines of the guimbri (a three-stringed, camel-skin-covered lute) to supplicate for the intervention of divine entities for the purposes of healing, while the other is a much more recent invention which infuses highlife with American funk and jazz. Where they meet, according to their video mini-documentary, is in their shared devotion to the trance. Each wants to induce an altered state, and while the musical elements are different, the common goal turns out to be enough to make this a successful collaboration.
Apparently neither party speaks much of the others language, so the records six pieces evolved out of the one that they have in common playing. The process involved each sharing something to the other, who in turn figured out what they could add to it, and this additive method is quite evident throughout. The album opens with echo-veiled baritone sax and electric piano swirls, then a tough funky groove kicks in; its a classic Afrobeat gambit, only slightly updated for the new century. And then, two minutes in, the game changes as Guinéas guimbri rides in on a carpet of clattering metal castanets. Even though theyre synched right into Fangas beat, they seem to hover above it. Then Fangas singer, a fellow from Burkina Faso who goes by the singular name Korbo, throws down with an almost too Fela-like declamation, striding atop both ground and carpet. When hes done, Guinéa and crew take his place for some call-and-response chanting; then an organ solo comes in to nail that Egypt 70 shimmy. If this is fusion cooking, theyve balanced the spices well enough to come up with a dish that tastes mighty good.
By Bill Meyer