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I used to work with a programmer who whenever the conversation turned to marketing would say "There just aren't enough monkeys in advertising". When one of our suppliers gave me my own Flying Monkey, I immediately thought of Randy and named my monkey the Marketing Monkey. He still sits on my desk. (The monkey, not Randy.) I take him to all of my marketing meetings. And I occasionally shoot him across the room just to hear him scream his monkey sounds.
My children have often attempted to steal my monkey.
The Flying Monkey wears a cape that can be custom imprinted with your logo and promotional message. It includes a sound chip that when activated makes monkey sounds. And it's stretchy arms allows it to be shot like a slingshot. It's a great gift. Just ask me!
|Retailers know all about the business of promoting their products before, during, and after holidays and also for various seasonal events, like going back to school. Whether it is for college, high school, or elementary school, major retailers focus on the "back to school season" quite early in advance!
In the world of promotional gifts, the initiative of shopping early is like gospel to some consumers. Purchasing these products early not only enables buyers to avoid rush charges, but it can have a distinct impact if the item is a seasonal giveaway.
So think ahead and shop before the big crowd - the "Back to School" market doesn't have to be beneficial just for retailers. As they capitalize on the revenue brought in by lap desks, bean bags, chairs, and dorm accessories, figure out a way to target this market to your advantage as well.
As larger merchants and vendors launch their college bound seasonal departments and advertising campaigns at the end June, they put their summer merchandise on clearance. This may seem premature as many elementary and high schools just start their summer vacations at this time. But, it shouldn't come as such a big surprise. Everyone knows that in the retail market 'Merry Christmas' is posted all over stores and malls before kids have even chosen their Halloween costumes.
The average family with children in school will spend several hundred dollars on school supplies each summer, even though they don't want to. Branded rulers and calculators are simple items and though they may seem boring from the wide variety of items available, they are practical and will very likely get used. Aside from being classic, they're sure to be on many back to school shopping lists!
Also try to think long-term; the items that students have at the beginning of the year won't typically last throughout the entire year. Giving out a promotional planner to students can give you twelve months of branding on a daily basis. There are so many choices and possibilities, so get on board early, plan ahead, and promote your business before the back to school market disappears!
|If you need to promote your business, think about ordering printed mugs that have things like your logo, company name, and website name imprinted on them. Promotional coffee mugs are popular in company kitchens, and unless they break, they are a gift that will be used over and over again. How can you go wrong with a gift that keeps on giving?
As far as promotional items go, mugs are an affordable and fairly inexpensive way to get a company name out there to a target market. They present a very economical path for long term marketing effects.
There are usually new employees coming on board and joining companies; having printed mugs in the kitchen will help the new employees with company name recognition and messaging. Everyone spends time in the company kitchen and the mugs are always there displaying your information. There are many vendors or sell and customize such mugs, and they're even more inexpensive when purchased in bulk quantities.
The company you choose to make your mugs should provide you with many choices of colors, shapes and sizes - the possibilities may seem endless. They also can use a company logo file that you email to them for the printing portion. This way they can get them produced and sent out to you fairly quickly.
Whenever there is an opportunity to be part of a client meeting, donate a couple of mugs to their kitchen. That's a gift that will last a long time, and they will appreciate it. Also, your name will be in front of them all on a repeated and regular basis. Pushing the extra mile for your clients requires handing out promotional products now and then. So go online and allow the specialists to assist you with their extensive inventory. Promotional gifts are always appreciated and can yield great results!
|You're the boss. You're the main manager. You have a lot on your plate and now you have yet another project or task - deciding on corporate gifts. This is a difficult one since you're dealing with your employees, which are your main assets. There are no guidelines and you have no direction on what to do. It seems every year you tend to push this to the bottom of your "to do" list and procrastinate. You always seem to get something boring and not very valued by your employees. So what are you to do?
These days there are so many different items that can fit your budget. Get creative and search online; you will surely be pleasantly surprised as to how many different options you have available at your fingertips – literally, you can buy everything you need and find everything you want via a few clicks of your mouse.
So this year don't hold back - go online and start your search.
You can find gifts that will work wonderfully in various events for all of your employees. Whether you are giving gifts for employee recognition rewards, holiday presents, retirement, birthdays, or new births, you will be successful in your online search.
Corporate gifts are great as well for a Sales team that attains a major sales goal, or for a Marketing team that launches an awesome campaign that brings great results or that increases revenue. Shopping on the internet not only saves you time, but it can save you money as well, especially if you purchase in bulk. You can possibly get a bulk discount; be sure to ask for this as it may not be stated or specifically promoted on the website. Just make sure to do your research and find a good vendor. Look for customer feedback or comments to see if others who have previously shopped there have had a positive experience. Watch out for those fake sites and just use your discretion. Once you go online you'll never go back to waiting in line!
The Eco Water Saver™ Shower Timer is a fun way to promote water conservation. This eco-friendly product is a twist-action five-minute shower timer with suction mount. Perfect for hotels, water districts, cities, schools, plumbers and conservationists. Made from a shatter-resistant timer and 70% recycled plastic body.
Click here to view the embedded video.
|Companies usually give business gifts to advertise and promote what they offer. However, gifts can also be given to people other than customers and clients. They can be presented in many types of business affairs, such as trade shows, conferences, recognition and award days, anniversaries, and holidays. And there are so many to choose from, whether you want something simple or elegant.
If you want to thank a colleague who has been a good partner and helped you a lot throughout your career, you can give something to show that you really appreciate it. This is where personalized gifts really come into action and serve a meaningful purpose. But it can be quite challenging to find a gift that stands out and is suitable at the same time.
Personalized gifts can make a one of a kind gift for your colleague. You can find different kinds of ways to personalize and customize various fabrics, leathers, wooden or metal items. Some popular choices you may want to consider personalizing include a leather business card case or holder, or a leather bounded business journal or planner. These business gifts are important and very useful accessories for a business professional.
In business, technology may reign supreme, but there's always room for the elegance of actually writing! Giving a personalized black leather journal to friends who have innovative and intelligent ideas enables them to conveniently write down and preserve their spur of the moment thoughts. It is also great for writing down contact information and jotting down an ever growing to-do list so that nothing is forgotten. This is a sophisticated gift that can make a perfect solution to scratch paper.
You can find these sophisticated business gifts online. Other unique gifts you may consider are personalized bags, magnetic money clips, personalized photo albums, and monogrammed desk accessories. Personalizing your gift is a great and effective way to show how special the person is to you. So make the smart choice to personalize your gift, whether it is for colleagues, friends, or relatives. They will value and appreciate it and who knows, you may get something special in return!
Q. What looks like a blanket, has sleeves, keeps you warm from head to toe, and has sold more than four million units worldwide?
A. The Snuggie.
And now you can order the Snuggie decorated with your logo. A fun gift for your employees and favorite clients. It certainly will get them talking.
If your budget doesn't work for the Snuggie, remember to ask us about the Hugme and the Couch Cozie!
According to PPAI (Promotional Products Association International):
• 72% of trade show attendees who received a promotional product remembered the name of the company that gave them the product.
• 76% of attendees had a favorable attitude toward the company that gave them the product.
• Including a promotional product with a pre-show mailing increases the likelihood of an attendee stopping by the booth.
• As a rule, promotional products of greater value generate more sales leads than products of lower value.
What is the number one complaint customers make about salespeople? According to a survey conducted by the Purchasing Manager's Association of America, it's that salespeople talk too much and listen too little.
Poor salespeople dominate the talking. Top sales people dominate the listening.
Here are some tips for active listening:
1. Avoid distractions. Listening is best done in a quiet and relaxed atmosphere.
2. Interact through body language. Stay alert and interested in the conversation.
3. Don't interrupt. Sounds easy. It's not.
4. Don't be afraid of silence. If you ask a question, wait for the answer. Don't feel as if you have to fill every void in the conversation.
5. Make sure that you understand what the customer is saying. Paraphrase and repeat what the customer has said to make sure that you're both on the same page.
6. Ask pertinent questions, and don't be afraid to clarify.
7. Avoid arguing and stay focused.
8. Summarize points that have been made at key moments.
Your customers want to feel like they are the most important thing in your world. They deserve your undivided attention, even if it's only for a few minutes.
|Tradeshows can be a very overwhelming experience as there is a ton of information to absorb. Each booth offers guests an opportunity to see different exhibitors and to get the latest news and updates on new and exciting products and services. If exhibitors are smart or experienced they will have various pamphlets, brochures, and promotional giveaways to attract attendees and to provide them with details about their goods and services. However, in the end, all these informative handouts are gathered and placed into the tradeshow bag.
Tradeshow bags that are custom made and imprinted with a company logo are an advertising dream for sponsors. Each attendee gets their own bag and repeatedly sees the logo as they walk around the tradeshow.
Everybody likes free stuff, and they need something to lug that stuff in! Bags that are used as tradeshow items are known to deliver more logo impressions over all the other items.
There are various elements to consider when choosing the right tradeshow bag, such as cost, logo size, logo placement, bag features, and bag functionality. Consider what size to make the logo and where on the bag you want to imprint it. Tradeshow bags have advanced and are now much more than just plain and simple tote bags. These bags now come equipped with anything imaginable for keeping your things organized. The best bags typically have feature key rings, pen slots, various compartments, and even headphone ports! These bags have been designed by tradeshow experts who know the importance of having a functional bag when browsing the aisles.
So if you're planning to spend money on brochures and tradeshow gifts, make sure you also have enough marketing dollars to sponsor the tradeshow bag. Having your logo on a tradeshow bag is a time-tested and proven advertising method that is useful and effective. Brand awareness is a key objective at tradeshows - and there really is no better way to spread your brand name!
|Using imprinted promotional items to increase revenue, sales, and brand awareness is not at all a new idea. In fact, this type of marketing has been around for years! Just look around your home and you'll see a bunch of promotional free stuff stashed in drawers, magnetized to your fridge, or attached to your keychain ring. You may have magnets on your fridge with a company name, a calendar from your real estate or insurance agent, and pens from your auto shop.
So, how can you utilize such items to draw attention to your business, products, or services? You can hand them out in your lobby, at the counter, or during an event. You can give them away to customers that sign up to receive mail outs, news, company updates, or notifications about product discounts. You can also send them to clients that want to receive news on events your company has planned. How many people will turn down an umbrella, t-shirt, or other promotional logo item just for filling out a form?
Another great outlet for distributing your items is at school functions such as educational funded carnivals or other money making events. You can donate small branded products as prizes for the kids to win, or you can even donate larger items to be auctioned off by the school. You can send out promotional gifts for any holiday or event – even for your company's anniversary. Your clients, vendors, and business associates will like the fact that you remembered them and will likely use the product repeatedly.
On your list of those to gift, be sure not to leave out your employees. You can give them small or large gifts for various reasons, such as number of years of service, highest sales for the month or year, their birthday, holidays, the birth of a new baby, wedding, an anniversary with your company, and so forth. Last but not least, you can use them for contests. Realistically, you don't have to try hard or do much to get people to enter a contest to win prizes. There really are tons of ways to use these items. So no matter how, where, or when you do it, make sure you do it right!
|Unique corporate gifts are a great way to convey your appreciation to your co-workers and colleagues. They are a way of maintaining goodwill at work and giving best wishes on festivals, holidays and other special occasions. These gifts can include a wide variety of items ranging from stationery to gourmet gifts. There are some innovative ideas for unique corporate presents!
When it comes to corporate gifts, stationery may be the first thing that comes to mind. However, ensure that you add a personal touch to the stationery by personalizing it. For example notepads, organizers and even pens with the names of your employees can be a great idea.
You can also include bookends and paperweights in this category. Another interesting addition to corporate stationery gifts can be some great reference books or novels that you think will be useful and/or enjoyable. Pen holders or pen-stands have also been very popular corporate gift items. Table clocks or calendars can be useful corporate gifts as well. Knickknacks like key chains, CD covers, bottle openers; water bottles can be great corporate gifts as well.
Calculators and typewriters are history; make way for the new age gadgets that make for excellent gifts. There are a large number of electronic gadgets and gizmos that can be excellent ideas, starting from beverage coolers to laptops and iPods. Beverage coolers or beverage warmers that can be connected via the USB port are quite popular these days. You can also go with pen-drives or flash drives that are easy and convenient options for data storage. If you're looking for some high-end products, then a sleek laptop might be the thing for you.
Good quality bags are great for corporate gifting. This can include wallets, purses, briefcases or even luggage bags in cases where jobs include a lot of traveling. Stylish leather bags in colors like black, off-white, or maroon can be great options. Sleek briefcases in jet-black or silver are quite in vogue. For the ladies stylish purses and handbags might be great options. Fashionable travel bags that can be used for business travel are a good idea. For an organization that has a very informal and open working atmosphere, backpacks can be a great idea as well!
|In recent years, gift baskets have become extremely popular, with an increasing number of options available. Quite a number of specialty baskets exist, such as baskets for golf lovers, new baby baskets, as well as gourmet baskets. Another type of basket in great demand is the corporate gift basket.
In choosing gifts for business purposes, a company has to decide what it is trying to achieve in giving the gift at all. Like any marketing decision (and let's be honest, this is marketing), the choice needs to take into account costs, purpose, and benefits, as well as any possible adverse reaction if a bad choice is made. So, your gift basket, if that is the general choice you make, should be appropriate not just to the recipient but to the level and importance of the business relationship you have with them.
I am stating the obvious in saying that the corporate gift basket you send needs to both please the recipient, and further your business relationship with them. But it should also be kept in economic proportions. When you are deciding on your choice of gift basket, and what to include in it, then think very carefully. The best marketing and the best customer relationships are built on an individual basis. Ask yourself: do I not prefer to be treated as an individual, and receive gifts that are personalized?
Deciding what to put into corporate gift baskets requires a bit of thought, which benefits from the "know your customer" rule. Once you have decided on the budget for each basket, and the type of gift that would be appropriate, it is then a matter of being selective within those criteria. For Christmas gift baskets, some advance planning is definitely needed so you can source the best value and quality of products.
You can find suppliers of various gift baskets online who appreciate the need for personalization and will offer a range of options for you. So, if you choose appropriate quality products to fill the basket, and they are suitable for your gift "target", you can then have one or more items personalized. The types of gifts you can put in the basket are really only limited by your imagination. The more you use your imagination, the more individual your gift basket will be!
As Earth Day quickly approaches, we continue to look for interesting items that fit well within an eco-friendly promotional campaign. This week we'll focus on products made from recycled content.
There are two types of recycled material available for manufacturing: post-consumer and post-manufacturing. Post-consumer is previously used material that comes directly from products such as used water bottles that have been shredded, purified and reformed into another product. Post-manufacturing material comes from scrap raw material left over from producing another product. This material otherwise would be thrown away.
Did You Know: Recycling plastic saves 70% of the energy used to create new plastic. Paper recycling saves 40% of the energy required to make a new product.
Recycled Piggy Bank
A fun promotional novelty, take your pick from piggy banks made partially from retired currency, denim scraps, yellow pages or electronics.
Recycled Notebook Jotter Set
Take note – on recycled paper, that is! The natural, 60-page, top spiral bound mini jotter and matching pen are held neatly in a transparent snap pouch.
Recycled Duffel Bag (made from water bottles)
Carrying this black duffel will feel so natural! Eco-friendly, the overall bag is made of 90% recycled material, 80% post-consumer recycled pet, has 26″ handles, 56″ adjustable webbed shoulder strap, zip closure, and a front pocket.
Recycled 4" x 6" Photo Frame
Eco-friendly frames are as meaningful as the photos within them. This one is 4"x6" and has a hinged easel back made from recycled Kraft paper and backing board.
Recycled Messenger Bag (made from water bottles)
Be the messenger for going green! This black messenger bag is made of 90% recycled material, Fabric: 80% post-consumer recycled PET. The removable/adjustable webbed shoulder strap makes it easy to carry all the items you tuck into the front flap pocket with Velcro closure, zippered front pocket, side elastic pocket and side pen holders.
Recycled Sport Bag (made from recycled PET)
A bag worth sporting! Perfect for the gym, sports field or any adventure, it features a drawstring closure, front pocket, and comes in black, blue and red.
Recycled Notebook Journal Set
Writing has never felt this natural! This eco-friendly spiral notebook, equipped with a matching pen and transparent snap pouch, is filled with 60 pages of recycled paper.
Recycled Note and Flag Set
Post it again! Made of recycled paper, this flag and note set appeals to an eco-friendly lifestyle. It comes with five colors of flags (20 each) and a 65×65mm light yellow note pad with 20 sheets.
Encore Recycled Pens & Pencils
A great line of pens and pencils made from at least 30% post-consumer waste. These items are made from recycled denim, currency and newspapers. Get write on it.
Made from 75% recycled newspaper and 25% new paper, five colors to choose from and brass-colored ferrules with green erasers make this an ecological sound investment in our future. Easy to sharpen and splinter free. Taper reveals recycled newsprint!
Recycled Tote (made from water bottles)
Promote the three R's with this eco-friendly tote! Reduce, reuse and carry around this bag made with 98% recycled material. Fabric: 80% post-consumer recycled PET. It has 26″ handles, 4″ gusset and comes in classic black or white.
Still need more ideas? Just give us a call. We're full of them!
|If you are thinking about distributing branded promotional items, then now is the time to go for it! There are virtually limitless opportunities to meet potential customers and to acquire new ones. By giving away branded items that have your logo imprinted on them, you can advertise and promote your business like a pro. There are some time tested and proven marketing strategies that can be used to advertise a business via promotional products.
Have you ever thought about hosting a raffle, giving out door prizes, or holding an auction? There are always fundraisers that offer perfect opportunities to give away your branded promotional products. Advertising through fundraisers is a multi-faceted strategy that should not be overlooked or underestimated.
What about fair or bazaar booths? Booths are a fabulous way for you to hand out promotional tote bags. The attendance at these kinds of events is usually high, so there can easily be thousands of people that will walk past and see your booth throughout the event. Have you ever hears of guerilla marketing? Promotional items fit in nicely with guerilla marketing. This is the kind of advertising where people are drawn to your business right off the street. You can give out promotional things like tote bags, pens, mugs, and magnets, along with coupons that must be redeemed on that day only.
There is virtually no end to the number of ways that you can advertise with branded promotional products. And these products are inexpensive when compared to other methods of advertising. Just think about it - for the price of just one newspaper ad, you could purchase hundreds of items that keep on advertising for as long as they are being used.
So, if promo products are currently not a part of your marketing campaign, then you need to take initiative and make some changes. Setting aside a small amount of your budget and using it to buy some promo items can really boost your business and yield you great results!
Founded by U.S. Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970, Earth Day was created to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's environment. On April 22nd we will celebrate another Earth Day and recognize there is still much work to be done. We continue to strive to protect our planet and our resources. We've been happy to watch our industry move towards utilizing more eco-friendly materials and renewable resources.
The key to sustainable resources is that they naturally replenish at a quicker pace than other resources. Good examples include products that are made from bamboo and cotton.
Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant on Earth. It has been clocked surging skyward as fast as 121 cm (47.6 inches) in a 24-hour period. Here are some of our favorite bamboo products:
Turkish Bamboo/Cotton Robe
Environmentally friendly bamboo has many qualities that make it an excellent choice for fabric. More absorbent than cotton, bamboo is soft to the touch and exceptionally durable. A choice that is certain to make a lasting impression.
Bamboo Pen
Write down more ways to recycle, reduce and reuse with this eco-friendly pen! The bamboo gives it a natural feel, while the black, blue or green plastic parts are completely biodegradable.
Bamboo Keyring
The key to being eco-friendly! Give any set of keys a natural, earthy feel with this rectangular bamboo keyring.
Bamboo USB Drive
USB drives have been among our most popular corporate gifts these last few years. And this Bamboo USB Drive is a great addition to our bamboo line of products.
Bamboo Frame and Clock
Candid – a natural moment of time! Capture that idea with this bamboo photo frame and clock. With its neutral appeal, it will look lovely anywhere you put it.
Bamboo Kitchen Set
The natural way to cook! This eco-friendly, 4-piece bamboo kitchen utensil set will keep you cooking for years. It includes an FDA compliant fork, spoon, spatula, and tongs in a matching bamboo holder.
Bamboo 4-Coaster Set
Any drink will sit naturally on one of these bamboo coasters. This eco-friendly set includes 4 coasters and a matching holder.
Bamboo Card Holder
Your business cards will fit naturally in this eco-friendly, arch design desktop business card holder. It is carefully constructed from sustainable bamboo.
Bamboo BBQ Set
Fire up the grill and cook el natural! The utensil handles and even the case in this eco-friendly, 5-piece BBQ set are made of bamboo and steel. It includes a serrated-edge spatula with bottle opener, BBQ fork, tongs, knife, and a basting brush.
Bamboo Pen Holder
A natural look! This eco-friendly, two-tone striped desktop pen holder is made of sustainable bamboo. Your favorite writing instruments will be sure to stay secure.
Cotton is another great example of a sustainable resource. And like bamboo, there are plenty of great promotional items made from cotton.
Natural Cotton and Organic Cotton Totes
Lots of natural cotton and organic cotton totes available in many shapes and sizes. The Pulire Organic Cotton Tote is one of our favorites. This lovely tote has 29″ strong rope handles secured with durable metal eyelets, an extra wide 8″ gusset, and a nice black trim.
All Cotton Oven Mitts
No need to play hot potato with this oven mitt! It has a thick quilted texture and a small hanging loop for easy storage. Available in classic black, blue and red.
All Cotton Aprons
Keep clean while you whisk around the kitchen or grill! This eco-friendly indoor/outdoor apron has two front pockets, a neck strap and waist tie straps. Choose from three great colors: black, blue and red.
Cotton Canvas Messenger Bags
Military inspired messenger in more ways than one! Durable and eco-friendly, it has a zippered pocket on under the front flap, several more pockets with Velcro and zip closures for accessories, and a large main compartment.
Organic Cotton T-Shirts
There's nothing more comfortable than a good cotton t-shirt. And apparel is still the most purchased of all promotional merchandise.
These are just a few of the unique and innovative earth-friendly products you can tie into your next promotional campaign. Next time we'll talk about some great products made from recycled content!
|Giving out business promotional items during tough economic times may not seem like a top priority for many companies. But think about the long term implications of this advertising and promotional method. You can gain more returns and benefits than you're able to imagine.
When choosing what items to hand out to your prospective customers, you should find things that tie in with your products or services.
Since the attention span of customers is quite short, you can increase product retention in the minds of your customers if you give them a specialized item. Select one that is easily identifiable with your company and complements your business. That way you will be easily remembered when receivers have a need for your products or services.
Carefully choose business promotional items that your customers will find worthy. Also, select ones that will last over a long period of time. Seasonal giveaways may be a nice fit for your target market, but they limit your company's exposure. The same thing goes if you give out edible products or fragile items. So go for something that can be used throughout the whole year, such as calendars.
The business promotional items should give your customers a positive impression and should reflect what values your business is made of. So make sure that your giveaways represent the strength and competence of your company. To guide you even more regarding what items you should distribute, think of something that makes people smile. Give out something people will like, use, and enjoy. The more they use it and the longer it lasts, the better! The success of your promotional campaign will be improved even more if you are able to relay a positive impression to your consumers. Show them that despite difficult and touch times, you still think of them and find ways to give them something back. Let them know that you are thankful for their ongoing support and patronage, which builds loyalty that will last.
With the first bit of snow falling this week in northeast Kansas, it reminds me that it's that time of year. Yep. Time to let your customers, staff, suppliers and potential clients know how much you care. And while you're at it, make sure you reinforce your brand in the process!
Here are just a few great ideas to get your wheels turning.
USB Drives
Available in dozens of styles, USB Drives are popular and useful gifts. These drives can also be preloaded with your catalog or company information.
Puzzle Globe
This extraordinary 72-pice Puzzle Globe features a high-polish globe with matte silver world map. Use the matte silver magnetic base to remove the puzzle pieces from the globe.
Office Dirt
One of the most unique personalized gifts available – Office Dirt. Your clients will love the gift of life.
Activo Insulated Totes
Made by Picnic Time, these insulated totes feature multiple pockets and an expanded main storage area. Features water resistant lining and is available in several colors.
18 oz. Stainless Steel Mug with Car Warmer
Millions of Americans drink coffee. So make sure they're drinking coffee out of mug with your logo printed on it. Features a car adapter and a temperature indicator on the handle.
Equinox Wine Sack
An insulated, single bottle wine duffel with adjustable should strap. Includes stainless steel corkscrew. Made by Picnic Time.
Bamboo Photo Frame
Utilizing bamboo saves trees and improves the atmosphere. Show that you care about the environment and your staff with these Bamboo Photo Frames. Holds a standard 4" x 6" photo.
Grill Master Traditional BBQ Set
Many of us grill year round. And these are the ultimate set of tools for any Grill Master.
Deluxe Grocery Shopper
This is a durable and reusable shopping bag. Ideal for quick trips to the grocery store. These non-woven bags are eco-friendly and uber-popular.
Cotton Cinchpack
Made from 100% cotton, this cinchpack is a great value. A useful gift for people on the go.
24 oz. h2go Stainless Steel Bottle
Stainless Steel and Aluminum Water Bottles have been among our most popular promotional items this year. Tons of styles and colors available, but the h2go Balance Bottle is definitely one of our favorites.
Cutter & Buck American Classic Wine Set
Set includes stainless steel wine pourer, drip ring and wine opener in a 1-piece flap-over carrying case. Cutter & Buck branding on case and opener. Includes a 2-piece Cutter & Buck presentation box.
Bell Ornament Set
Help your customers ring in the holidays with the Bell Ornament Set. This fine holiday gift features six bells.
Fall is quickly approaching. And with Fall comes time for School Spirit! The smells of tailgating. And the sounds of crazy fans at football games.
Included here are ten of our most popular School Spirit Items. These can all be custom imprinted with your team's mascot or company logo.
1. Megaphones are excellent giveaways at games or rallies. Some are available with caps so that they can be sold filled with popcorn.
2. Sports Pennants are popular giveaways and are typically displayed with pride for many years.
3. ThunderStix Noisemakers offer an effective way for your fans to make a lot of noise. Blow them up, bang them together, and intimidate the other team.
4. Nalgene Water Bottles are our most popular drinkware items, and are great to display school spirit or for fundraisers. Other popular Sports Water Bottles include Camelbak Bottles and the very popular Aluminum Sports Bottles.
5. Football games can seem long when sitting on those hard bleachers. Make your fans comfortable with Stadium Seats and Stadium Cushions.
6. For some protection against rain, make sure you've got Rain Ponchos imprinted with your school's mascot.
7. Whether you choose the dense foam footballs, plastic replica balls or authentic leather footballs, Sports Balls are ideal giveaways at rallies and other outdoor events.
8. Pep Rags and Rally Towels are great to wear, and great to wave. Available in many colors and styles.
9. How can your team ever be number one unless your fans are equipped with Foam Number One Hands.
10. Plastic Stadium Cups are perfect for concessions, and your fans will collect them.
|Typically, most people associate corporate gifts with large companies. However, these days that paradigm has definitely changed. Small companies are just as likely to give out gifts to valued employees, customers, and clients. Even some departments within a larger corporation give out their own gifts.
It is common for people to assume that all of the gifts handed out are worthless trinkets. The problem becomes: who wants another engraved pen, key chain, or refrigerator magnet? And who wants one more of those annoying imprinted calendars? We carry PDA's and cell phones now with calendars and electronic appointment schedulers; they are virtually extensions of ourselves.
Still, corporate giveaways can excite people and make a longer lasting impression if they are considered to be "hot" items. Baseball caps with your product or corporate logo are a welcome addition to most everyone's wardrobe, both male and female. Items that have a lengthier use life puts your brand in front of people longer and in more varied settings.
A great opportunity for corporate promotional gifts is during recruiting at job fairs. At a job fair, you are likely to find a very nicely presented portfolio that includes a business card, company history, quarterly report, pen, tote bag, and perhaps even a specially designed mug or insulated cup holder. No matter what negative comments you may have heard about that company, it will not be obvious as you browse their table at the job fair. Their corporate gifts speak of a company that has the utmost respect and compassion for those in its employ, and unless you know otherwise, you will be taken in by the charm that these simple, useful gifts imply.
Online promotional gifts stores have gained great popularity since they save a lot of time and can be found in an instant. Imprinted promotional gifts have virtually unlimited options and possibilities and can come in mix and match themes. Business events and company parties are perfect venues for distributing these gifts. Coming in various styles and designs, they are a good way to help achieve new business goals. After all, it is better to give than to receive when it comes to promotional giveaways.
|A large percentage of business marketers are cutting their budget. They are looking to get more "bang for their buck" and are looking for longer lasting effects from their expenditures. They are researching much more before investing in various campaigns and projects. These practices are becoming essential for surviving in our current economic downturn.
Whether they are putting smaller ads in newspapers and magazines, giving out cheaper promotional gifts, or cutting back on office and supply expenses, people are really working to stretch their dollars to stay within budget. However, while doing so they are still trying to enhance brand awareness, increase online traffic, and maximize their public relations. It is necessary to creatively spend money to grow a firm's market share during this economic storm.
Remember, the budget provides guidelines for spending and saving. So if work has been put into the creation of a budget or expenditure plan, it is important to stay disciplined and follow it. Although it is clear how budgeting can help reach goals, there are common problems that arise once there is an established budget, so it is important to follow solutions to help stay within budgetary guidelines.
Budget projections are just a guess and everyone is bound to miss their estimates. It does not indicate a bad or unintelligent businessperson. The more practice and time put into it, the closer the estimates will fall to actual numbers. If revenue is more than what was forecasted then it may be a good idea to invest in better equipment, resources, or strategies. Just make sure that the inflow of cash is greater than the outflow.
Overstate the expenses and underestimate the expected revenue. This is a strong, solid tactic for ensuring cash flow holds up. Search for money savers such as getting a better telephone plan, buying less expensive supplies, ordering non-personalized promotional items, and other ways to reduce the burden on costs. Remember, money not spent is money that doesn't have to be earned.
|If you are looking for inexpensive advertising for your small business, then you will be satisfied with the affordable cost and great exposure that promotional logo items offer. There are many items that you can use for promotional purposes and fortunately, finding the items that are perfect for your business is easy because of all the choices available on the market these days.
There are a few different factors that you will want to take into consideration when you are deciding which items to use for your business. It is very helpful to choose an item that has a specific use and is practical for your target market. This will make it more valuable and appreciated by the people receiving them. However, what you will be doing with these things does make a difference. For example, if the items that you are distributing are meant to be tossed to people that are watching a parade go by, then you will want to purchase things that are very inexpensive. This could be plastic items or beaded necklaces with logo medallions.
What you end up choosing to give away should also depend on how you will be using the item. Many companies will make donations to local charities and this is a good way to get positive exposure and to create a good impression among people. Instead of giving money, you could donate things that you are certain people will actually need.
The nice thing about buying promotional logo items is that you can actually have some things with your name or logo on them for sale at your business too. If you have t-shirts made for a grand opening of your boutique, you don't have to give them all away. Give them to the first 50 people that come through the doors and buy something. Then have them for sale later on for future visitors and customers. If they look great with nice colors and a cool design, then people will love them and pay for them. That way you will have both a nice revenue stream and effective advertising!
|A gift basket is a great gift idea that is suitable for so many different occasions. There are a number of online vendors and brick and mortar gift shops that have made this a popular trend. Gift baskets are simply more stylish and sophisticated when compared to ordinary gifts.
Aside from occasions and events like birthdays, weddings, and house warming parties, gift baskets have now found a place in business workplaces and in the corporate world. Exchanging gifts has become an important part of both formal and informal business related events. It doesn't really matter what the purpose or occasion is; you will be able to give a gift basket that is perfectly suitable and appropriate.
Though there are not any specific rules that are set in stone and there is no official list of do's and don'ts to follow regarding what the contents of a gift basket should be, people should make sure to be both thoughtful and considerate about what items they choose to pack into a basket. This is even more crucial if it is a corporate gift basket. So what kinds of things can you put into a these gift baskets? The assortment of items should be chosen according to the type of event or occasion. Corporate food gifts are great for filling the baskets and can be packed in varying amounts and combinations.
Selecting gifts for your colleagues is definitely more challenging than picking gifts for family members or close friends. Things like guidelines, workplace culture, and office policies need be taken into account when you are deciding on your gift. There is no doubt that the stakes at a workplace are higher and the factors to take into consideration are greater and more complex.
The aim of giving gifts in a corporate or business setting is to help stimulate goodwill at work and to cultivate relationships with your colleagues or boss. Even though things you gift should be unique and distinguished, make sure your gifts are at the same time appropriate and professional. This is why a nice assortment of corporate food gifts packed in baskets may be the smartest and best option!
Utilizing promotional products is a great way to build brand awareness for your organization. There are thousands of products available at virtually every price point imaginable. So where do you start? How about leaning on somebody else's brand to help build your own brand awareness. When a name brand product is used as part of your promotional campaign, the good will of the name brand will help support your own brand. And a name brand product typically provides for a higher perceived value than other promotional gifts. Here are a few of my favorite brands available through promotional marketing.
This is a company with a great history of innovation beginning in 1902. 3M invented a number of interesting products from waterproof sandpaper in the early '20s to Post-it Notes in 1980. You know that a product has achieved a great level of success when the name of the product is ingrained into our consciousness like Post-it Notes. We offer some less expensive alternatives such as BIC Sticky Notes, but in our opinion, 3M's Post-it Notes are still the best adhesive notes on the market today. They come in all shapes and sizes, and can be imprinted with your company information.
Nalgene and Camelbak
Two of the most recognizable brand names in drinkware, Nalgene and Camelbak produce the best water bottles available. They're nearly indestructible and are now made from BPA-free materials. Durable water bottles are also eco-friendly. Did you know that 8 in every 10 plastic water bottles end up in a landfill? And that we use more than 1.5 million barrels of oil annually to make these water bottles? Just imagine if we all started using refillable water bottles instead. And then imagine if everyone had a refillable water bottle with your logo on it.
Buck Knives and Swiss Army Knives
There are a number of name brands available, but when it comes to knives, give me a Buck or a Swiss Army every time. Buck makes a great assortment of hunting knives and folding pocket knives that can be engraved with your logo. And haven't we all had a Swiss Army Knife at some point in our lives? Their multi-function knives make awesome gifts. I've got a couple of them. They are still among the most popular knives in the industry.
Fossil Watches
Another name brand I have a personal fondness for is Fossil. I wear a Fossil watch, as does my wife. At my last business, we used to give Fossil Watches to our employees on their fifth anniversary with the company. They offer a nice variety of high-quality watches. Most brands of watches including Timex and Callaway are available and can be decorated with your organization's logo.
Yes, that Coleman. The makers of Coleman coolers! Coleman was founded more than 100 years ago in Wichita, Kansas. Originally a manufacturer of lanterns, Coleman expanded into leisure and camping products when they introduced a galvanized steel cooler in 1954. By the '60s, Coleman had become the biggest name in the camping business. A great and trusted brand. And a great promotional gift that can be imprinted with your brand.
In our book, Nike is a winner all the way. The brand carries more oomph than virtually any other brand on the market today. The Nike swoosh is possibly the most recognizable logo ever created. And there are a number of Nike products available to the promotional products industry including apparel, golf balls, golf bags, sunglasses, golf shoes and golf clubs.
Edibles are often overlooked as promotional gifts, but there's typically no faster way to a client's heart than through their stomach. And it doesn't stop with the M&Ms. We've got Skittles, Jelly Belly, LifeSavers and much more. Yum. Great packaging and decoration ideas. All you've got to do is ask.
All of this is just the beginning. We've got Alicia Klein, Baden, BIC, Case Logic, Cutter & Buck, FootJoy, Jockey, Munsingwear, Pinnacle, Prang, RCC Koozie, Sharpie, Slinky, Tervis Tumbler, Thermos, Titleist, uni-ball, Wilson, Zippo and much more. Utilizing a name brand will help you build your own brand awareness.
|Promotional merchandise is all over the place. It only takes a look around to see that they are used all over, especially in your own life. Generally, there are tons of products that can be used in this way, but it is the handy items that you will see more often. These things are not expensive and that is yet another reason why they are popular and work well for companies. Simple things that can be used are the best.
The main reason that these items work so well is because of cost. They will not take too much money to buy and distribute, and that is a big plus. It is a lot cheaper than alternative advertising methods. These products work to keep the company name and logo in front of people and help them keep those companies in mind. It really is a simple idea.
While cost certainly plays into the effectiveness of promotional products, their usefulness is important as well. It is also important to bear in mind that promotional products seen by others are also more effective than those that might be tucked away in a desk drawer, eaten, or taken home. Sure, gift baskets or boxes of chocolate with the company name on them might be nice items to give to a customer, but once the items inside are eaten, they cease to serve the purpose for which they were intended - acting as marketing devices. However, with a calendar, you could get a year's worth of advertising, a pen might last years, and a clipboard could last a decade or more and be seen by dozens of people.
Promotional product marketing is a proven way to improve sales and promote a company's branding. A key factor to a successful promotional marketing campaign is choosing a product that is not only eye catching and of high quality but also practical. A promotional item can be any customizable item that represents a company's or business' brand. However, some promotional products are more practical than others and so with that in mind – get out there and choose the right products to market your business!


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Launching in March, Elie Tahari's "Emmy" canvas-lined leather bucket bags bring to fruition the collaboration between the designer and practical young actress.
Tahari has dressed Rossum for years, and, WWD reports, listened to her real-girl critiques of what she needs in a handbag. Being the savvy designer he is, he offered: "You come in and design it like you like."
What she likes, as it turns out, is an oversized, textured-leather bucket bag with plenty of interior pockets to keep iPod cords and lip gloss separate (an important factor, Rossum told WWD). Tahari seems pleased with the results. "I think that she created a very beautiful bag. It's very exciting and interesting." The bags will retail between $398-$798.
U.S. & World
The actress cited her experience with Met Opera costumers during her tenure there as a young girl as inspiration for wanting to get involved with the design process, but doesn't plan on jumping into fashion full-force just yet. "One thing at a time," she said. "I want to get really great at what I do first, then maybe later I'll branch off. Right now I'll leave it to the people who do it best."

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, we have reason to assume, that the lower market proceeded till nowadays. The Rosenwald Tarocchi or Minchiate didn't make it so long. Naturally one cannot conclude, that the Rosenwald Tarocchi was from 1463, but one should see the possibility.mikeh wrote: Huck wrote:Yes, but "since c. 1463" covers quite a number of years. We cannot conclude that the Rosenwald is c. 1463.1. An expensive game develops for the noble rich buyer: first phase 1440-1443
2. It's sold for the middle market, still too expensive for the low-price market: 2nd phase since 1449
3. The lower market is focused with cheap decks: 3rd phase since c. 1463
Thanks to the international success of Tarot our major topics are mainly about Tarot, not about Minchiate (let's assume 97% or so, just an estimation). So there seems to be the assumption, that Tarot has the major story already in 15th century, and about Minchiate one might forget. Tarot history (according the results of earlier research) took place in Milan-Ferrara-Bologna, and nobody thought of Florence ... beside Franco Pratesi.
Things have changed recently. Minchiate had a longer time more success than Tarot, at least in Italy. And Florence was in the early times of 15th century a hot place for playing card production. For the current state of research Florence seems to be the most probable place for the earliest decks with the name Trionfi. And Florence decided once against Tarocchi and pro-Minchiate or pro-Germini, at least in 1638, and after that till mid 19th century, there was no Tarot in Florence/Toscana. Franco Pratesi has proven that with many numbers and articles.
So there are reasons to study possibilities, even if they are only possibilities.
We've the Angel higher than World ... as in Minchiate.I am not against your speculations about the Rosenwald. I just don't find them any more reasonable than other people's speculations that the Rosenwald is a tarot, It still seems to me as reasonable as not to speculate that the fourth sheet had four repetitions of six cards.
We've a X for Chariot (following the common counting) ... as in Minchiate.
We've no high virtues, but virtues in sequence ... as in Minchiate.
We've animal knights ... as in Minchiate.
We've female/male fante ... as in Minchiate.
We've a few things, which disturb the idea, that it is a Minchiate. Well, this naturally tells us, that it should be an early Minchiate or a Trionfi deck in Tarot form, which developed into Minchiate. But then it would be also rather early.


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Triangle Offense (D. Stephens, Fedel, & Young Mooch) - Zoomin'
Mixtape Available NOW at
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Hope your Halloween is full of splendid treats and glamorous pumpkin designs. Mental note, next year I must attempt the insanely fabulous ikat number like below.
Images:Row 1: Jose Villa via Once Wed, Houzz, iDiY, Row 2: Better Homes and Gardens, These Tings Take Time, Country Living, Row 3: Robbie Moriarty, Annie's Eats, 30 Media
Painted Pumpkins: Alisa Burke


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AIT provides a fresh slant to television broadcasting with a unique programming theme that shares the African experience with the global community. AIT's technological base is remarkable and revolutionary, coupled with state-of-the-art equipment in line with global standard. These have effectively positioned Africa Independent Television (AIT) in the league of global broadcast brands.
The programmes exclusively on AIT have universal appeal and have impacted remarkably on the lives of the citizens of Nigeria particularly and the entire human race. Programmes aired on our station are listed in the page below:


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I'm going to give you the distilled version, so we can have fun with the cover.
I mean, what is with that expression? She looks like she's just seen one of Jessica's dead boyfriends. Or walked in on Collins and Ms Dalton in the staffroom. Either that or it's Margo. The deadpan eyes give it away. Anyhow: –
Todd wants to date other people. [At least he's being up front about it.] He takes up with a hot junior called Peggy, who Elizabeth thinks is silly and frivolous which probably means she is cool and more fun than yours truly.
After about four chapters of Liz moping and sloping around and pretending to listen to Enid prattle on, Liz accepts a date to the 137th school dance of the semester. The lucky sod is Kris Lynch, a cartoonist from the Oracle. Elizabeth is clearly disinterested and using the poor boy as a weapon to get at Todd, which fortunately doesn't seem to be working.
Kris spends the next fortnight trying to get into Elizabeth's freshly ironed Bermuda shorts [or are we at the chino stage? It's 1992, after all]. He also has a tanty, John Pfeifer-style, when she cock-blocks him at Miller's point. Don't ask me where Penny Ayala drags up these staff members from.
Anyway, Kris comes to school on Monday with blue balls and a white rose, and Liz is all forgiving. How lovely. I would be insulted myself, given that white roses usually mean death. But whatevs.
Later that day, rumours start flying around that Lizzie lost her V-plates in the back seat of Kris' Cadillac. She is the laughing stock of the entire school, except for one person……after hearing about Elizabeth's wild night of passion, Todd wants her back!
This makes me laugh. Poor Todd. He is so hard up.
But that's not all – mysteriously, Elizabeth's diary goes missing temporarily for a few days.
In the meantime, Kris starts telling the entire school the "intimate" details of Liz and Todd's relationship, and all of Enid's boring secrets that were kept by wondertwin. I wonder how he found all that out?? So to does Liz, the supposed genius of the fucking Wakefield family.
So Liz now has no boyfriend, and no annoying auburn-haired hanger on. She feels very puzzled and alone.
Until Jessica realises what has happened, and goes and forces Kris to fess up to Todd and Enid, and all is forgiven and everyone goes to Guidos and eats pizza like Robin Wilson when nobody's watching….
I was kind of disappointed by the ending. Surely Jessica could do something slightly more creative and vicious to publicly humiliate Kris? A twin switch wouldn't have hurt in this situation.
But I will leave you with this, a quote from Lila Fowler: "Just the idea somebody reading MY DIARY gives me the creeps".
Wait, Lila has a secret diary? Magna edition, anyone? What I wouldn't give to read that.
But let's get on with the memes:
If you also want to mock Liz head over to http://memegenerator.net to make your own captions.
Love you long time, Winston.


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Gaming Heads will next year be releasing a replica of the Shrine of Talos, giant statues found in the Elder Scrolls games. These aren't tiny little desktop ornaments; they stand around a foot tall, or 14 inches.
Only 1100 will be made across two versions ($180 for a standard, $200 for collector's), with each detailed and painted by hand.
Note: will not cure disease or reduce your cool-down time.
Exclusive Edition [Gaming Heads]
Standard Edition [Gaming Heads]


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I've been writing about and commenting on the plight of healthcare IT students for a few months now, and the recent HIT job fair I spoke at gave me a great chance to talk one-on-one with folks finishing up their course work and getting ready to enter the job market. One – Helen Murphy, who is currently Director of Sonographic Education at Worldwide International Emergency Medical Services in Atlanta – was nice enough to share her experience with me first-hand.
What educational program are you in right now?
I have recently completed the Health Information Technology (HIT) Workforce Development Program Trainer Role being offered through the Atlanta Technical College. Atlanta Tech is one of the Community College Consortia designated to educate HIT professionals.
What prompted you to enter a healthcare IT curriculum?
I understand the value of Healthcare information technology, and the benefit EHRs will bring with regards to patient safety, workflow efficiency and return on investment. The opportunity to use my healthcare education along with my training experience was a perfect combination to me. Educating and/or training have been a part of all of my work experience, and this program is an opportunity to be a part of a profession that is in its infancy.
What did you find to be the most challenging in your studies?
My background is healthcare-based, so understanding some of the IT areas are challenging to a degree.
When do you anticipate graduating?
I have completed the course and I am now studying to take the competency exam.
How is your program helping you with system training? Apprenticeships/internships/co-ops, etc.?
Atlanta Tech has initiated a six week program/internship where students who have completed the curriculum will have the opportunity to work with Pristine Technology Solutions – an Atlanta-based technology company that focuses on EHR application sales, implementation, training, support and understanding the steps to help providers reach the goals of Meaningful Use.
How has your school helped you in looking for a job?
The school has had one job fair that I attended prior to me completing my curriculum. The internship that I am currently in made us aware of the Technology Association of Georgia Health IT Job Fair where I met you, and where the students from the Atlanta Technical College program were able to see what companies are looking for in a health IT workforce graduate. This is helping me to understand how to align my education and experience with the needs of the employers to create a tailored perspective that will show the immediate value I can provide for them in health information technology.
What do you anticipate your chances of finding employment to be right after graduation?
I anticipate employment in the very near future because the Atlanta Tech program has provided us with an internship that gives us direction in the job search.
Do you get the feeling it's a competitive field?
I do not think there are enough trained HIT workforce individuals. Employers in some cases at this point are not completely sure what they need in potential employees, and until the field of healthcare IT has developed further, there will be a continued need for HIT trained professionals.
What are you doing to stand out from the pack?
I am developing a presence on Twitter, upgrading my LinkedIn Profile, and starting a blog about my process of becoming a health information technology professional. I am also gaining as much knowledge and experience as possible through the internship that is being provided by Atlanta Technical College. I also understand the importance of training, and am building a strategy that will allow me to understand the needs of the providers so that I can learn to create targeted engagement methods to meet their individual needs.
Do you have any other tips for those seeking employment in HIT?
Of course, updating your professional profile to highlight your HIT experience and education is critical. Attend job fairs where a job seeker can become aware of the types of positions that are available and how they would best qualify for those positions. It is also crucial that the job seeker understand the HITECH Act and be able to speak knowledgeably about Meaningful Use.


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Vocab activities for your classroom
Debunking the Great Reading Myth
One of the most persistent myths about word acquisition is that students don't need to be taught words; they just need to read more and their vocabularies will magically expand. This theory — which I like to call "learning words by osmosis" — doesn't hold much promise for your average or struggling reader. While it may hold true for a select group of students who are strong, avid readers possessing a curiosity about words, most students don't learn words by simply encountering them in reading.
Don't get me wrong. There is a strong, positive correlation between amount of reading and vocabulary size. And, of course, getting students to read more is a worthy goal in and of itself for students. However, teachers cannot assume that students are learning unfamiliar vocabulary words in the course of their reading, and they therefore have a responsibility to ensure that all students gain vocabulary knowledge, not just "the readers" of the class.
What the Research Says
—Bringing Words to Life (Beck at al., 2002)
Why are students only picking up 5-15% of the unfamiliar words they are encountering? One reason is that most writers are not using words to "teach words" but rather to tell a story or to make a point. Authors do not usually and intentionally seed their works with contextual clues to lead their readers to infer the meanings of words, nor should they; that would make for stilted and inauthentic writing. For example, read this climactic scene in Jane Eyre — when, after years of painful separation, Jane returns to her true love Rochester, who has been crippled and blinded by a fire. As you read, identify any vocabulary words that might stump young readers and consider any contextual clues that could help readers infer their meanings.
[Rochester] put out his hand with a quick gesture, but not seeing where I stood, he did not touch me. "Who is this? Who is this?" he demanded, trying, as it seemed, to see with those sightless eyes—unavailing and distressing attempt! "Answer me—speak again!" he ordered, imperiously and aloud.
"Will you have a little more water, sir? I spilt half of what was in the glass," I said.
"Who is it? What is it? Who speaks?"
"Pilot knows me, and John and Mary know I am here. I came only this evening," I answered.
"Great God!—what delusion has come over me? What sweet madness has seized me?"
"No delusion—no madness: your mind, sir, is too strong for delusion, your health too sound for frenzy."
"And where is the speaker? Is it only a voice? Oh! I cannot see, but I must feel, or my heart will stop and my brain burst. Whatever—whoever you are—be perceptible to the touch or I cannot live!"
He groped; I arrested his wandering hand, and prisoned it in both mine.
"Her very fingers!" he cried; "her small, slight fingers! If so there must be more of her."
The muscular hand broke from my custody; my arm was seized, my shoulder—neck—waist—I was entwined and gathered to him.
"Is it Jane? What is it? This is her shape—this is her size—"
"And this her voice," I added. "She is all here: her heart, too. God bless you, sir! I am glad to be so near you again."
—Jane Eyre (Bronte, 1847)
If you are a student who has made it to page 400-something in Jane Eyre, are you pausing to consider the meaning of imperiously in this scene? Has Charlotte Bronte provided you with the context clues to figure it out? Was Charlotte Bronte even thinking about context clues as she wrote? Of course not. Bronte was not writing sentence completion questions for the SAT; she was writing a love story, and using the words that came naturally to her to convey that story.
As a reader, if you were to revisit the sentence "'Answer me—speak again!' he ordered, imperiously and aloud," you might be able to infer the meaning of imperiously as "in a commanding manner," but you could also inaccurately conclude the word as meaning "desperately" or "in a pleading manner." All three meanings would make sense in the context. But more to the point, as a reader, are you even thinking about the meaning of imperiously in this scene? Or, are you so swept up in the moment of Jane and Rochester's reunion that you are oblivious to the unfamiliar words you are encountering?
When it comes to literature, most readers tend to be plot-driven. If you are truly riveted by a story, do you really want to pause to interrupt the ride to look up a word? Fiction fans are usually reading to find out what happens next. They might not even consciously realize that they have encountered unfamiliar words in the story. That would be a small crack in the sidewalk, not disturbing them on their path to discover if Harry Potter will ultimately conquer Voldemort or if Atticus Finch will win his case.
As a point of contrast, read the following excerpt from the children's story Charlotte's Web:
"Are you awake, Charlotte?" [Wilbur] said softly.
"Yes," came the answer.
"What is that nifty little thing? Did you make it?"
"I did indeed," replied Charlotte in a weak voice.
"Is it a plaything?"
"Plaything? I should say not. It is my egg sac, my magnum opus."
"I don't know what a magnum opus is," said Wilbur.
"That's Latin," explained Charlotte. "It means 'great work.' This egg sac is my great work—the finest thing I have ever made."
— Charlotte's Web (E.B. White, 1952)
E.B. White goes well beyond providing contextual clues for the meaning of magnum opus; he has woven in its definition through the dialogue between Wilbur and Charlotte. A young reader exposed to this scene may remember the meaning of magnum opus after this one exposure, but chances are still unlikely. If you poll the second grade class who is exposed to this scene the day after hearing it in a class read-aloud, the term may be familiar. If you ask the students what it means, one or two students may respond "an egg sac." If the teacher, while collecting students' homework the next morning, had referred to Billy's short story as a magnum opus, students would have an even better chance of recalling the term and may generalize its meaning to "any great work" instead of only associating it with Charlotte's egg sac.
The Rich Get Richer and the Poor Get Poorer
Returning to the excerpt from Beck's Bringing Words to Life, the incremental nature of vocabulary growth is reliant on multiple exposures to a single word. Wide readers will receive those multiple exposures through the many texts they encounter. And, some of those readers are lucky enough to be surrounded by friends, family members and teachers who act as "word mentors" and use those same words in their daily conversations. Strong readers also commonly possess the reading skills to figure out a word's meaning from context, if those contextual clues exist.
Struggling readers, on the other hand, tend not to challenge themselves with complex readings, have trouble making sense of contextual clues, and may not be surrounded by "word mentors" who use academic vocabulary in their daily lives. As a result, these students can't catch up in the word acquisition race without interventions.
The Teacher's Role
It's not realistic to expect that teachers can single-handedly compensate for students' lack of exposure to vocabulary from wide reading and oral reinforcement, but teachers can institute certain practices to help struggling readers experience multiple encounters with words and to become more word-conscious.
Previewing the vocabulary of a particular text before reading is commonly thought of as an ELL practice, but all students can benefit from being exposed to a group of words in isolation before reading them in context. Previewing a vocabulary word does not interrupt the reading process and students may experience a heightened awareness of the word and its meaning when they encounter it in the context of the reading. Previewing vocabulary does not necessarily have to take up valuable class time either. In a blended learning format, teachers can send students to Vocabulary.com via their computers or mobile devices to preview vocabulary by assigning lists based on popular works of literature, founding documents, speeches, or news articles.
Even though students may skip over—consciously or subconsciously—unfamiliar words in their reading, teachers can revisit pivotal passages in class and model word inference strategies that can expose students to the "habits of mind" most helpful for word learning. For example, students could be asked to highlight contextual clues present in the Jane Eyre passage that they most likely overlooked during their initial reading, such as demanded and ordered that are consistent with the meaning of imperiously. This exercise could also be extended to a discussion of characterization, since Rochester is consistently seen as having an imperious manner throughout Jane Eyre, even during his crippled state at the end of the novel.
As esteemed vocabulary instruction researcher Michael Graves candidly puts it, "You might as well not teach a word if you're not going to bother to review it." Because research has shown that students usually require between 10 and 16 encounters with a word before they learn it, it is necessary to have a systematic mode of vocabulary review. Just as Vocabulary.com can help students preview words before reading, it can also help students to review words after reading. Once a word has entered a student's learning program, it will periodically reappear based on the students' performance history of answering questions about that word in multiple contexts.
National Louis University professor Camille Blachowicz uses the analogy of the dimmer switch on a light to illustrate the incremental process of learning a word. The dimmer switch may start to move when a reader first encounters a word in the course of reading, but it can take multiple encounters in multiple contexts — oral or written — before the "light" goes on and the reader is able to use it with precision and accuracy. With this in mind, teachers can play a vital role in making sure that the light keeps getting brighter.


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Campus receives Tree Campus USA designation
The University of Colorado Boulder is being recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation as a Tree Campus USA for excellence in tree management, as well as student and community involvement.
The Arbor Foundation issues the Tree Campus USA designation to campuses that meet five requirements including convening a tree advisory committee, creating a tree-care plan, implementing a tree program, holding an Arbor Day observance and offering a service learning project.
"Not only do the trees on campus complement the architecture and support the ecosystem," said Frank Bruno, vice chancellor for administration, "they've brought our community together since 1888 when students and faculty started planting trees on Arbor Day."
CU-Boulder will be presented the Tree Campus USA designation and will celebrate Arbor Day with the planting of two Sweet Gum trees from 11 to 11:30 a.m. Friday, April 15, on the grounds across University Avenue from the Armory Building. Speakers will include campus leaders as well as forestry representatives from the state of Colorado and the city of Boulder.
The event is free and open to the public, and will be followed by refreshments and the opportunity to speak with professionals about tree care. Attendees are advised to wear comfortable shoes appropriate for potentially moist grounds.
From the late 1880s, when one of the first trees, a Plains Cottonwood, was planted near Old Main, CU-Boulder's tree population has grown to more than 4,100 trees comprising more than 100 species.
Senior Grounds Specialist Alan Nelson credits the stone construction, size and positioning of many campus buildings for helping to create microclimates conducive to a variety of trees that would not typically grow in Colorado.
"We've got some really unique things here on campus," Nelson said. "In many ways it's a tribute to my predecessors, in that they were willing to push the envelope and try things that on paper may not grow here. They were able to have success with some of these exotic things."
Nelson leads tree walks on campus in conjunction with the CU Museum of Natural History and the CU Heritage Center, educating participants on the history and significance of CU-Boulder's trees.
The next two tree walks, which are free and open to the public, will be at 5 p.m. May 17 and 18 on the west steps outside of Norlin Library. Participants do not need to register ahead of time but should wear comfortable walking shoes.
For details on CU-Boulder's tree-care plan, contact Megan Rose of facilities management. To explore tree-related and other volunteer opportunities visithttp://ecenter.colorado.edu/resources/get-involved. For more information on Tree Campus USA visit http://www.arborday.org/programs/treecampususa/.


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ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Ralph Wilson, who brought professional football to western New York in 1960 and has been the guiding force behind the Buffalo Bills for more than five decades, died on Tuesday.
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Ralph Wilson, who brought professional football to western New York in 1960 and has been the guiding force behind the Buffalo Bills for more than five decades, died on Tuesday.
He was 95.
"He passed away peacefully at his home with his beautiful wife, Mary, and his daughters by his side," said Bills team president Russ Brandon in a statement. "No one loved the game of football more than Ralph Wilson. I speak for everyone within the Bills organization when I say that we are all suffering a deep and profound sadness with the passing of our Hall of Fame owner. We have lost our founder, our mentor, our friend, and this is a very difficult time for us all. We extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Mary, his daughters Christy and Dee Dee (Edith), his niece Mary and his entire family."
Since joining his seven fellow compatriots, led by Lamar Hunt, in getting the American Football League off the ground, Wilson has overseen the development of a franchise which can boast 17 playoff appearances, 10 division crowns and four AFC championships along with two AFL titles (1964-65).
Buffalo, the dominant club in the AFC East from the late 1980s through the mid 1990s, failed to win a Super Bowl despite four consecutive appearances from 1991-94.
"More than anything, he wanted to bring a Super Bowl Championship to Western New York. He wanted it for the players, the coaches and the franchise," Brandon added. "But mostly he wanted it for the fans. No owner has wanted a title more for these reasons than Mr. Wilson. In the end, he was extremely proud that his Bills are the only team to have played in four consecutive Super Bowls. Our organization, our league, our community has lost a great man."
Wilson was instrumental in the construction of a new venue to replace the old War Memorial Stadium, located in downtown Buffalo, whose capacity was less than required following the 1970 AFL-NFL merger. Opened in 1973 and originally called Rich Stadium, it was renamed in Wilson's honor in 1998.
With Wilson's passing, Barron Hilton, founder of the Los Angeles (now San Diego) Chargers, remains the only living AFL owner.


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ON MENTAL ILLNESS: Is Forced Treatment Okay?
In most scenarios of medical treatment other than for mental illness, the adult patient has the final say concerning accepting treatment or not accepting it. In the case of a DNR for example (it stands for Do Not Resuscitate) the patient's choice is to pass away naturally instead of facing life as a "vegetable" hooked up to life support machines. In most medical scenarios, the exception to someone having a choice concerning treatment is when the patient is in a coma or in shock and can't be consulted. Even if a person is having a heart attack and needs to be treated urgently, it is my understanding that, if the person is still conscious, physicians will try and get a signature.
In the case of forcing medication on someone with mental illness, the presumption is that the patient has lost the ability to judge, and thus is unable to make a rational decision concerning treatment. It would be nice if a person with mental illness could have more of a choice concerning their treatment options. The problem with us having such a choice is that, when psychotic, a person tends to believe that they don't have a problem and that everyone else is acting crazy.
The existing laws (and the structure of various agencies) are designed as much to protect society from us as they are to protect us from ourselves. Thus, in the case of persons with mental illness, doctors have an agenda other than just the wellness of the patient. Medication is an expedient way for hospitals to get people under control. Trying to explore other options would be extremely expensive, would be time consuming, and probably would be unworkable in general.
Had I been given an option to go off of medication when I was younger, I probably would have done so. If so, I might have become increasingly ill and could have reached a point of no return. I would be living in a vegetative state (but in this case due to untreated psychosis) similar to the one that people avoid when signing a DNR order.
When I attempted to quit medication when younger, I became acutely ill, was hospitalized, and was involuntarily given medication once again. I did not have the opportunity to try to recover without medication in a supervised setting--and this probably wouldn't have worked.
Do I think it's fair? No. I think that in an ideal society, people could be given more of an opportunity to recover without being forced to take these awful drugs. Do I think it's constitutional to force drugs on a person in the name of treating their mental illness? It might not be. So far as I know, there is no clause in the U.S. Constitution that takes mental illness into account. Rights should not be taken away without due process.
Psychiatric drugs can deprive a person of their liberty, their self-directed pursuit of happiness, and sometimes their life (when someone has a fatal reaction to these drugs.) And yet, untreated mental illnesses can deprive a person of the very same things.
When the U.S. Constitution was created, antipsychotic medication, ECT, and psychotherapy did not exist. There was no need at the time to safeguard the rights of persons with mental illness or, on the other hand, to advocate for our treatment, since, at the time, persons with mental illness became the town drunk or the town idiot, or were in shackles at a primitive insane asylum.
I know that medications seem to work for me. It apparently isn't practicable or practical to give a choice to a delusional person concerning being medicated. This is a complex, thorny issue that doesn't have a simple answer. We have an imperfect system of government and medical treatment. Any attempt at a solution to protect society's orderliness and people's perceived safety or to protect persons with mental illness from ourselves is going to be imperfect. Mental illnesses are complex diseases.
To the quandary of involuntary treatment or not, a simple answer isn't appropriate. There is naturally a dilemma to this, and any solution will be unacceptable to someone. The compromise that currently exists, in which persons with mental illness still have some rights, is probably the best that can be done under current social circumstances.


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On June 9th elements of fashion and fantasy merged for MYTH Masque at the historic Vibiana, downtown LA. Myth Masque is an elaborate costume ball and high-end production that infuses art, fashion and music for the ultimate adult indulgence.
The evening commenced with honored guests arriving in a beautiful Unicorn-drawn carriage, and welcomed by royal fanfare with a trumpet announcing their arrivals. Dressed in intricately luxurious costumes arrivals walked a sprawling amethyst carpet, before mentally transporting to a mythical world. The elite were ushered into an intimate garden courtyard to first entice their minds and stimulate their senses. Upon entering the garden guests were met by The Angels of Venice; one sat strumming whimsical music on a harp, and a woman with a magnificent voice stood singing at her side.
Guests satisfied their inner desires for indulgence while mingling with other aristocrats in a visually captivating environment. Lavish tents with crystal chandeliers housed decadent gourmet bites for exquisite palates. Custom MYTH cupcakes, fruit, chocolates, Absinthe, Champagne, Vodka and Bourbon tempted those with even the strongest of will power.
Displaying their luxurious attire, member's of high society strutted throughout the courtyard like proud peacocks. Costumes were derived and inspired by Medieval, Renaissance, Rococo, Gothic, Victorian, Edwardian, Steampunk and Post-Apocalyptic periods.
As the sun departed and the moon took to its stage, guests were escorted into the Cathedral of St. Vibiana. Extraordinary ivory and marble columns lead to vaulted cathedral ceilings that created an unimaginable ambiance. The debonair Master of Ceremonies, Mr. Dammit took to the stage to officially welcome all and to introduce his entourage of performers. Esza Kaye performed with a sound which was a lush blend of human and machine, hypnotic and bright.
Attendees waltzed to medieval music before Elysium Dance Theatre parted the crowd for a dynamic performance. The dancers communicated boundless passion and creativity through innovative choreography and imaginative costume designs that mesmerized the audience.
Energy and excitement hovered over the crowd, while many anxiously awaited the performance of Prince Poppycock. Well-known for his rousing performances as a Top 4 Finalist on NBC's 'America's Got Talent,' He is best described as a Rococo Rockstar. Three women appeared on stage creating billowing cold smoke which announced the arrival of Prince Poppycock. His performance was dramatic yet superb and left the crowd in awe.
MYTH was built around the concept that fantasies are to be actualized, that creative expression is to be encouraged and celebrated. Without a doubt, MYTH explored fantasies of the human mind and provided an environment for endless possibilities.


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New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan has been deposed in connection to accusations of sexual abuse in the Archdiocese of Milwaukee.
New York Archdiocese spokesman Joseph Zwilling says Dolan's deposition started Wednesday afternoon in New York City. It is unclear how long it is expected to last.
Dolan led the Archdiocese of Milwaukee before he was appointed to the New York position in 2009.
The Milwaukee archdiocese is facing numerous lawsuits over how it handled clergy sex abuse cases. It filed for bankruptcy in January 2011.
Dolan has been mentioned in some church circles as a potential - albeit longshot - choice to succeed Pope Benedict XVI, who is resigning next week.


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What will it take for youth to get better jobs?
Last week, we launched a global conversation on what will it take... to end poverty? ....for your family to be better off? .... for all to get an education? This week, people from around the world joined the discussion with their own question: #whatwillittake for youth to get better jobs?
- Tags:
- employment
- jobs
- unemployment
- Youth


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|View out the front door of, My Old Historic House.
|Every morning I peak out the window and see what the Mississippi is up to.
|Clarksville,Mo. Mississippi River front park.
|Steps to the Mississippi where you can touch it or dangle your feet in it.
Right in front of ,My Old Historic House, about 100 feet away ,is the Mighty Mississippi River. It is the largest river system in North America,flowing entirely in the United States. The River rises in Western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwest for 2,320 miles to the Mississippi Delta, at the gulf of Mexico. With it's many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains into all , or part of, 31 US States. The Mississippi River is the 4th longest and 10 largest, among the world's rivers.
For 10,00 years Native American's have lived along the Mississippi. Most were hunters,gathers and herders. A few were mound builders. The Indians depended on the River for many things, water, fish,furs and travel.The Mississippi River Valley is one of the most fertile agricultural regions of the country,formed from thick layers of the Rivers deposits of enriched soil. There has been a saying for years, that the soil along the Mississippi is so rich, all one needs to do, is throw down a seed and it will grow. We have a large burial ground of Early Native Americans ,here in my town , Clarksville.
|One of the many amazing views as you approach our town.
White settlers were soon settling along the river banks as well as the Indians. This brought trouble and tribulations to both parties. The Indians having been there for many years, felt the land was there's. The leaders of the United States felt different. War soon came and many lives were lost. The White man won in the end and the Indians were soon ran off the land. With the White man came the Steamboat.A giant on the water. It changed the travel of the river for ever. Soon it was discovered that the river bottom was not always deep enough for the steamboats, so dredging had to be done. This fixed the river depth problem, but opened a whole new can of warms. FLOODING. You know the old saying,"Don't mess with Mother Nature."After the steamboats came barge traffic and then Locks and Damn. And the biggest problem yet, LEVEES. When Levees are built to hold the water back, the river has to expand where it can, often in small towns , that were built on the river banks ,to take advantage of the river travel. Even with out, all the man- made problems, the Mississippi River would flood. It is a right of passage and almost sure to happen in the spring, especially after a long hard winter, filled with heavy snow amounts. Because of all the dredging, levees and locks and damns, the Mississippi River has moved forward and this brings the river closer to towns than it was originally. My Old Historic House, is one that through the years, has been burdened by the ever changing River banks.When my house, The 1845 Historic Elgin/Cottrell house was built in 1845, the Mississippi was a good mile and a half away from the front door. Today it is only about 100 feet. Records show that since 1873, floods have been all around my home. In 1873 the flood crest was 36.70 feet. Flood stage in Clarksville is 25 feet. To get into my house the river has to flood to 38 feet. Other floods on record are: 1983-33.24 ft.1866-33.24 ft.-1993-37.50 ft.(largest yet) -1973-36,70 ft.-2001-34.70 ft.-2008-36.70 ft. I have owned the house since 2006, so I have been through one major flood. I have learned a lot since then and know a little more about what to expect when that old river begins to swell. My town, Clarksville, purchased a temporary flood wall since the flood of 2008. We put it up this spring, when there was a threat of flooding. We did not get to test it, and for that I am happy. Plans and drawings are in the works for a real flood wall. I can only hope it will happen soon.
|The River bank as it looks today, minus this years flood water.
|Boat docks dot the banks of the Mississippi.
For years there has been a Romance connected to this old Mississippi. Books, plays, musical and movies have all been written,produced and filmed about the river and its people. Some as early as 1835- when Samuel Clemens,better known by his pen name, Mark Twain , wrote The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, in 1886.Twain grew up in Hannibal,Missouri, about 35 miles from me here in Clarksville,Missouri. That town and the Mississippi River provided the setting for his Tom and Huck books. Twain became a master riverboat piolet as well and often traveled up and down this river. Twain is often called, "The Father of American Literature." In the book, Adventures of Huck Finn, Huck and Old Joe, a slave, run away -to find Joe's freedom. They travel down the Mississippi on a home made raft. They leave Hannibal and are headed to Cario,Ill. Illinois was a slave free state. To get from Hannibal to Illinois, they had to travel right through Clarksville,Mo. I am sure, had the story been true, they would have spotted, My old Historic House, right there on the banks.Millions of people, especially students, make a trip to Hannibal every summer to see where this story took place and Mark Twain lived.
|Missouri home boy, Mark Twain.
The second Romantic chapter in the Mississippi River fame is with a Musical called;"Showboat". Showboat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern, and words by Oscar Hammerstein.It was originally produced in New York in 1927. Based on the 1927 novel with the same name.. The plot chronicles the lives of those living and working on the,"Cotton Blossom", a Mississippi River showboat in 1880. The shows dominant theme include racial prejudice and tragic enduring love. Showboat is widely considered one of the most influential works of the American Musical theater.Show Boat won a Tony award for best revival of a musical in 1995. There were no awards on Broadway in 1927. The song, "O'l Man River',music by Jerome Kern, words by Oscar Hammerstein, from the musical, "Showboat", expressed the African Americans hardships and struggles on the Mississippi River.The song is from the point of view of a riverboat dock hand, "Joe".
|A luck fisherman and is grandson on the Mississippi River bank in Clarksville.,Mo.
|I find these little fishermen shacks all up and down the banks. I think it would be fun to spend the night with only an oil lantern . Wonder if there is any spirit?
|A view from Clarksville,Mo. town hill,
Many other famous movies, musicals and plays have been written and produced about the Mississippi River, far to many to mention. A small list include; The Flame of New Orleans, 1941.--- Naughty Nineties, 1945----The Skeleton Key, 2000. Frankie and Johnny, Elvis Presley.---- Tammy,1967, with Debbie Reynolds,------And, Mississippi -the musical on Broadway.
Today the Mississippi is alive with many activities. Fishermen make there livings fishing for: Cat Fish, Carp and Buffalo. Weekenders bring out the boats and skis on beautiful days. Barges travel every hour or so, locking through Locks and Damns all the way, carrying grain, coal and other needed supplies. Riverboats carry passengers as they travel from port to port. The activity on the river in endless and is assuring that that Old Man River is alive and well. People come and just set on His banks and watch the River Roll By. There is a suttle peacefulness about it's waters. Sunset comes and we never want to go home. I often set on my upstairs porch and listen, late at night ,as the water slaps the banks. In the distance a light from a barge or boat. I always feel at home, right there on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi, the Father of all Water. Come by any time for a tour. I will fix us a glass of sweet tea, we can set on the porch, catch a Blue Heron fly by and hear the steamboat music in the distance,. And, Sissy Dog will be waiting with a jump and a kiss.
"Rolling, Rolling on the River."
|I guess is does! Want to try it and see if the road really ends?
|2008 Flood downtown Clarksville,Mo.
|Sandbags in front of, My Old Historic House, Mississippi River flood 2008.
|This is the view my visitors have as they approach ,My Old Historic House.
|This was taken last night from my side porch .
|This is how, My Old Historic House, looks as you pass by on the river.
|The Mississippi at sunset!


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Explore Ontario's Archaeology
Welcome to the Museum of Ontario Archaeology. ?We are dedited to enriching the lives of nadians through the creation and dissemination of knowledge about the archaeology of Ontario.
Archaeology brings the stories of how people lived to life. These stories connect us to our shared human heritage and give us a sense of place in the world. At the Museum of Ontario Archaeology (MOA), we believe that archaeology?is first and foremost about people and that by connecting with and sharing our stories we will understand and appreciate each other more.


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Photo: Joe Cavaretta/Sun SentinelJack Stumpff says he's spent hundreds of thousands of dollars trying to get the state to update its inspection forms.
Business Profile of Secure Door
Fortifying his position
In 2003, Jack Stumpff and his partners bought a controlling interest in Secure Enterprises, which makes a brace system called Secure Door that reinforces garage doors. The $300 price for protecting the door for a two-car garage is just a fraction of the cost of buying a new hurricane-resistant door.
The code-approved system fits with the legislative goal of encouraging homeowners to harden their homes by offering discounts on premiums. "It's an extremely viable product that does the job it's supposed to do and would benefit many Floridians," Stumpff says.
What Stumpff, a retired U.S. Coast Guard captain who holds a master's from MIT, didn't factor into the business plan was "hundreds of thousands" of dollars in legal costs crusading against the state over forms used to calculate discounts on storm insurance. Stumpff contends state-approved forms used by inspectors and insurers don't follow state law. They fail to account for garage reinforcement such as the type he provides.
Indeed, says Stumpff, there's a long list of storm-protection products — just get him going on roof protection, for instance — that innovators have created but that don't get premium discounts because "the form is stuck in 2002." The result statewide is plenty of homeowners overpaying for insurance. In October, a state administrative law judge ruled the forms invalid.
The state Office of Insurance Regulation is appealing the ruling, saying that it drew up the rules and forms properly. Meanwhile, Stumpff is being efficient, outsourcing nearly everything, and growth-minded: Sales of his door protection system for commercial buildings are growing, and he's licensed products for use in Australia and New Zealand. Still, according to the judge's fact finding, the business had revenue of only about $500,000 annually from 2005 to 2011.
At the Pompano Beach distribution center where he leases space, Stumpff, 65, takes a moment to reflect on his struggle. He can't recoup most of his legal costs even if he ultimately wins. "From a business perspective, was this a smart thing to do?" he asks. He answers with a different question: "Was it the right thing to do? I still think it was."


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All these crooked clowns push the plan to toll public highways AND have ignored the laws.
Rep. Krusee Arrested for DUI
Austin Freeway Tolling
Mayor Charged with Assault!
Judge Sam Biscoe DWI Arrest Photo
(YUP He's still the Judge today!)
Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe Arrested
for DWI, gets special treatment
Dwight Dallas Thompson Felony Arrest Photo
(Former Mayor of West Lake Hills)
Mayor Dwight Thompson Arrested for
trying to board a plane with a .38-caliber handgun.
Criminal Connected to TxDOT
Freeway Tolling Scheme
Sen. Kirk Watson Works Hard to
Shift Austin Freeways to Tollways
While Making $450 an Hour from Taxpayers!
My Formal Letter to the DA's Office and More