text:
Hello, Internet. Brian Dennis veterans, welcome back. Newcomers, nice to meet you. A long time ago, I hosted a mystery create-your-own-adventure type of thing called "Brian Dennis." It's back again, and just to see if it'll work out after all this time, I'm doing a warm-up. Here are the rules.
Every one of you are collectively a detective named Brian Dennis in fictional Climax City. You control him by giving me instructions, and I will tell you how your decisions impact the case. You can ask for autopsies, interrogations, whatnot. Your main goal is to quickly catch the criminal. You have an iPhone, a lie detector, a pistol, and his trademark taser. (Seriously, guys, please don't go overkill with the taser)
Please note that there may be violence. All events, locations and people are completely fictional.
11:06 PM, December 25th, 2012
Wellesley Manor
You walk into the rustic hallways of Wellesley Manor.
"Another murder, eh?" you say to Officer Harrison. He's been with you for most of your big cases.
"Yes, sir. Mr. John T. Wellesley. He's the man of the house. His wife saw him on the 2nd floor hallway, sword through his heart. No other bodily damage, so far as we can tell. But the curious thing is, there was a rusty old suit of armor kneeling by his side, holding the sword. The suit itself had no one inside, and there were no fingerprints, or any sign that someone had been inside it at all. It's as if the suit of armor killed Mr. Wellesley."
"Any sign it could have just been carried over?"
"Sure, it could have. But there's no way we can carry on from that, there is evidence inside."
"Here's the list, sir."
He hands you a list of names and descriptions. You smile and thank him.
I'll start you off with a few options. You may:
1) Interrogate the suspects.
2) Observe the scene of the crime.
3) Call for an autopsy.
4) Anything else you can think of.
- Mary Wellesley, 65, Mr. Wellesley's wife. The two had an unhappy marriage, but they started great humanitarian programs together. First met Mr. Wellesley by being his secretary. Retired and was trying to convince Mr. Wellesley to retire as well.
- Arthur Green, 53, the butler. He was Mr. Wellesley's most trusted man in the mansion. He knew all of Mr. Wellesley's secrets, and devoted his life to serving him. He's been working for Mr. Wellesley for 14 years.
- Michael Kaufman, 72, owner of Kaufman and Co.. Successful lawyer that's been vying for the Wellesley mansion. He and Mr. Wellesley were friendly competitors until Mr. Wellesley sued Kaufman and Co., and they became vicious rivals.
- Rick Wayne, 28, CCN (Climax City News) reporter. Has been trying to get an interview in with Mr. Kaufman and Mr. Wellesley about the lawsuit. Mr. Wellesley lately told him that "his paparazzi network can go f*ck themselves." Mr. Wayne was almost fired because of this statement, unless he can get this interview.
Best of luck. Go!
Edited by Cavenglok


text:
Call for Pack Artists 2011-2012
Deadline April 29th 2011
We're excited to be able to work with new artists again for next year! Please follow the guidelines to make sure your submission is accepted.
Mediums: All mediums are accepted except photography. We are always looking for new mediums that have not yet been part of the collection including but not limited to quilting, carving, assemblage, stained glass, etching, handmade paper, seed mosaic, plant material collage, wood burning, metal work, clothing, functional pottery.
Geographic home: This year we are also expanding our geographic range and accepting artwork from artists in New York State, Hudson Valley, Metro NY, and areas that border New York State including western CT, western MA, western VT, eastern PA, and northern NJ.
Submissions:Submit two images of pieces that you feel best represent your style. These do not need to be garden related. We are looking at your work- originality, craftsmanship, composition, medium, consistency, not necessarily the subject.
Submission checklist:
Name, Address, Phone, Email
Short bio and resume
Link to website (if you have one)
2 images 300dpi, no bigger.
1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice for plant category: Flowers, Vegetables, Herbs.
Send submission to email@example.com.
NOTE: Your subject line must read "Art Pack Submission 2012" We get too many emails to find them all if they have different subject lines. Emails with the correct subject line will be filtered into the correct folder. Emails with subject lines other than "Art Pack Submission 2012" may be missed.
Also, we do not have time to respond individually to emails or questions. Please do your best to follow the submission guidelines. If you don't have a website or resume, don't worry, we will consider anyone who submits images. Semifinalists will be contacted beginning of May.
Thank you for offering your creativity to the Seed Library!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Matt Read scored two goals, Steve Mason made 36 saves, and the streaking Flyers beat the New York Islanders 5-2 on Saturday night.
The Flyers are 10-10-2 after their sixth win in seven games. They are 6-0-1 in that span and 9-3-2 since a 1-7 start.
"When we were 1-7, one of our goals was to get to .500," Read said. "We have to continue to build off this and keep going."
Claude Giroux, Wayne Simmonds and Brayden Schenn also had goals for Philadelphia.
The Flyers fired coach Peter Laviolette after three straight losses to open the season. Craig Berube took over and went 1-4 before getting things turned around.
"It's a great effort by the players," Berube said. "They've listened, they believed, they bought in and they work hard."
John Tavares and Eric Boulton scored for the Islanders, who have lost eight of 10, including all three games on their road trip.
"As coaches, if we were looking at it and it was structurally or systematically, we would change it for sure," Islanders coach Jack Capuano said. "When you talk about battle level or when you talk about protecting the wall and not protecting the danger area, that to me, you don't change that, that's hockey. There's nothing you can do about that.
"You have to win your battles. We've played many systems since I've been here, but systems don't work unless you battle. I'm not faulting on the battle level tonight, but a couple of plays we broke down because we were on the wrong side of the puck."
After scoring just 22 goals in their first 15 games, the Flyers have 26 in the last seven.
They netted their first three goals against the Islanders in a bunch. Read and Simmonds scored 59 seconds apart to put the Flyers ahead 2-0 early in the second period. Giroux made it three goals in 3:02 for a 3-0 lead.
"We're playing better, but we have a long way to go," Giroux said. "Everybody is contributing. It's a lot more fun."
Read scored his third goal in two games with a slap shot from the slot off passes from Sean Couturier and Steve Downie. The trio, the Flyers' third line, has combined for 13 points in three games.
"They work hard as a line, they don't get out of position and they play the system to a tee," Berube said.
Simmonds then took a pass from Vincent Lecavalier on a rush up ice and wristed a shot that beat goalie Kevin Poulin to the short side over his glove.
Giroux scored a power-play goal with a one-timer from the left circle off a behind-the-back pass from Simmonds. That goal ended Poulin's night. He was lifted for Anders Nilsson.
After the Islanders got within 3-2, Schenn scored with 7:39 left to give the Flyers a two-goal cushion. Schenn lifted a shot over Nilsson's glove just under the crossbar.
Read scored an empty-net goal in the final minute to seal it.
Despite playing their second game in two nights, the Islanders - following Friday's loss at Pittsburgh - made the Flyers look like a tired team in the third period.
"The second half of the game, I think we were the better team," Nilsson said. "I think as long as we can play like that for the full 60 minutes then we can win some more hockey games."
Tavares scored on a backhander off a perfect pass from Thomas Vanek to cut it to 3-1 late in the second. It was just the second even-strength goal allowed by the Flyers in seven games.
Boulton scored his first goal in 73 games to get the Islanders within one goal 2:39 into the third. Boulton was alone in front when the puck trickled through off a faceoff, and he backhanded it past Mason.
Tavares had a chance to tie it a few minutes later but Mason made the save. The Islanders had several chances before Berube called a timeout and calmed his team down.
"We were on our heels, but we did what we needed to do to get the win," Berube said.
NOTES: The Islanders, 14-6-4 on the road last season, are now 3-9 away from home this season. ... The Flyers are 16-1-2 at home vs. the Islanders since the 2007-08 season. ... The Islanders are 0-11-1 when they score fewer than three goals. ... Giroux's goal gave Philadelphia power-play goals in six straight games. He has three in seven games after starting the season with no goals in the first 15.


text:
Thursday, February 06, 2014
Please find me at my new home!
Hello! This is my VERY last post here on blogger!
You can now find me at:
Come on over!
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
(second to) Last Post on Blogger... Housekeeping for RSS subscribers
Hi there! I am SUPER excited to unveil my new blog + site
(and NAME!! New name to go with everything else NEW)
to you. I'll post the links right here when it's up.
I am in the home-stretch now and I wanted to give a quick heads-up to those awesome possums that email-subscribe to my RSS feed. Here's the news on that: I will have a new RSS-subscribe (and an altogether new RSS feed) when my moved blog goes live.
when that happens, I'll post all of that information here. Since you are still subscribed to this blog URL, you should get it in your email like usual... and I hope that you will re-subscribe to my NEW URL, when I am live at the new address. :)
More soon!!
Friday, November 22, 2013
Change is good. (And imminent.)
This post has been a long time coming.
A little back story first... I've been
busy over the past couple months. I've been working on, well,
the machine, so to speak.
The inner workings of WellerWishes (and also on a nothing-short-of-meteoric, pinching-myself collaboration with a d-r-e-a-m partner that I c-a-n-n-o-t W-A-I-T to share the news with you, when I have clearance to.)
If you visit here with any frequency, you know that I took two classes in October.
(Whaaaat? Yup.)
The first one was Monica Lee's
Smart Creative Style
. The second one was Lilla Rogers'
Make Art That Sells
. Both of these— or I should say
of these—B-L-E-W my mind, in completely different ways. But together, okay... they were like THE BEST peanut butter cup. EVER. Do you know the old
"Heeeyyy, you got YOUR chocolate in MY peanut butter!" "Heeeeyy, you got YOUR peanut butter in MY chocolate!"
YUP! It was like I was poured into a beaker and put on the bunsen burner in the most extraordinary + remarkable art + branding laboratory EVER. But I was the experiment AND the scientist.
The classes totally—and I mean TOTALLY—complimented each other, in just about every way. Needless to say, I also had to maintain the status quo of daily activity, so it wasn't exactly smooth sailing. Opposing parts of my brain were fighting for alpha position some weeks, and truth be told I'm still playing catch up a little bit.
But this is where it got really interesting: one class would pose some peripheral questions that were complimentary to your learning in the class, but were not really covered in the class, while the
class was magically putting me to work on them at the same time. Then, the
class posed some peripheral questions complimentary to the curriculum but
not primarily covered in class, and—Ta-Da! — those questions were part of the curriculum of the first class.
For instance, whereas MATS touches upon branding and identity as a very important part of your package, but does not cover the details of that in the class, in SCS I was totally deeper than I have EVER been working on identity, brand and style and core values and brand traits and business plan, and... I could go on and on. But isn't this post getting long already? And guess what? I'm leading up to something else here to share with you.
(This is where it would not be out of scope for me to ask you to hang onto your hat.)
During SCS class, it became quite crystal clear that my brand identity, was something I was FINALLY ready to revise. To who I am NOW, TODAY. (And believe me when I say, this has been a long time coming.) Today, I am Kathy 3.0 and it is time for me to lead that parade. Like, with a tutu and a tiara. (Or, maybe more realistically, in black boots, knee socks, and a hat with a pom pom.)
Hey... I am still the same Kathy! I am still the same me. I am just a little MORE... More evolved, more focused, more distilled. MORE ME. (YOU'LL SEE!) And it feels
so good
to be in this place.
The name WellerWishes, as the UMBRELLA name for ALL of my work, will be changed to a name/title that is more real and true to who I am, on the whole. But the happy news for the WellerWishes name is that it will remain my brand name for my greeting card work that I do. This is truly how the name it started out so many years ago. But at that time, I produced my own cards and sold them wholesale to stores. At the time, I was only WISHING to work with the likes of Recycled Paper Greetings and RSVP. (So, do you see how well the name worked out? :D Pretty good, I'd say!)
Along with this change is another brave, bold, BIG step. Something I have wanted to do for a VERY LONG time, but was, bak-bak, kind of chicken. Well, no more... (drum roll...)
I'm moving to Word Press! For my web site and my blog. So after eight (EIGHT! eighteighteight!) years of blogging here on Blogger, I'm migrating to WordPress.
(Dear Blogger: I LOVE you, THANK you. YOU ROCK. Now this little bird needs to spread her wings and fly!)
This is the last OR the second-to-last post I'll be doing here on the Blogger platform. When I launch Kathy 3.0 (no, I PROMISE that is not my new name) my current links will take you there (except for this particular blogger link, of course - wellerwishes.blogspot.com, because it is native to Blogger).
You'll be able to find my site/blog/shop at the usual places:
http://www.wellerwishesblog.com will redirect to my blog in it's new location.
Social media: For now and at least until the last speck of dust settles on my rebrand,
I'll still be
on ALL social media
for the time being. (One earthquake at a time.)
This is happening... and I'll have updates (and, if I can still post here after the migration, I'll post a last good-bye and links here.)
THANK YOU for reading my blog whether you're new here or have been reading since the beginning. I honestly don't know what I did before blogging. It's changed my life for the better and started some real amazingness rolling in my life—creativity, experience, experiments, trying new things, above all, sharing, writing and community. It's kind of hard to articulate it all. But let's just leave it at this: Let's Go, 3.0!
Monday, October 28, 2013
Make Art That Sells Week 3: Children's Illustration
So I'm gonna be honest here. Taking (1) two intense classes, (2) working my day job and (3) prepping a DREAM PROJECT for launch, all at the same time, is a bit of a challenge. (More on (3) down the road!) That said, I could not be more excited and thrilled by the level and the QUALITY of my busy-ness at the moment. This is high-level, high-quality busy-ness!
This week, in
Make Art That Sells
class, we tackled Children's Book illustration. I had a tremendously busy week between (2) and (3) and my beloved (1) 's did take a hit. I'm glad that
one of my classes
has a little more flexibility every week in regards to assignment due dates, and I will be concentrating on some major catch-up tomorrow and the rest this week on that score. (By the way,
is an *amazingly awesome* class for those interested in personal branding and I highly recommend it!)
However each week our MATS assignment has a hard deadline. Sunday, 5 pm. You either get the work in on time, or you don't! So I worked really hard to get my piece in on time. But I did get it in on time!! :D Wahoo!
For our assignment, we illustrated either a cover or an inside spread of the Russian folk tale
The Language of the Birds
. I did some initial sketching on the Monday that the assignment was posted, but I did not have the ability to pick it back up again until (gasp) Saturday.... Eek?
Luckily my sketching on Monday was high quality work, and the later sketches I created didn't quite capture the same magic and gesture as my first ones from Monday. This is something not uncommon to me when I'm working on an illustration project. It's also part of why I found it so unusual and oddly exciting to sketch
to exhaustion before I started my final assignment for Week Two (to see some of those sketches, see my Facebook album
). Anyway, with the Bromeliads, I felt like the more I drew them, the more interesting the results were getting. So that was a good thing! But I didn't have the same experience this week, and I know when to say "when"... so, I knew "when" it was time to get busy!
I powered through my piece on Saturday and Sunday. I finally got my composition set on Saturday. I'd sort of been piecing it together in my head over the week, truth be told! I completed about half the line work by the end of Saturday night. I picked up on Sunday with half the line work and ALL of the painting to do (gasp). This made the possibility for any "new technique experimentation" a non-issue.
But to be honest, I was cool with that! Because (1): I strive to continually mini-experiment in my regular work anyway, so even though I love to experiment, and this class is a big "permission to experiment" for me, it was really, really okay for me to stick with my signature techniques because I in no way feel they are stale and I always seem to find new ways to shake them up! And (2): Since I had an incredibly enjoyable (and challenging!) experience doing my Bromeliad plates for Home Decor week, last week, and I definitely pushed myself out of my comfort zone in a big way, I really maxed out on experimentation last week! So I feel like as long as I'm pushing my comfort zone in some way, it's okay to mix up the HOW, week by week. And this particular week, my comfort zone was pushed by the race against the clock!
Ta-da! So that's the story of MATS Week 3. If you are so inclined, please share your favorite little detail in the comments!!
Monday, October 14, 2013
Make Art That Sells Part A Week One
This month, I am taking Lilla Rogers'
Make Art That Sells
e-course. When I heard the class was being offered for the second time, I had a gut feeling that I just HAD to take this course, no matter WHAT, and regardless of the business angle. From a personal standpoint of being a commercial artist who needs to continuously grow and step outside my comfort zone, I knew it was WHAT I needed. It was just a matter of WHEN.
The first time the class was offered back in June, I was very deep in personal stuff: our six-month-long home renovation was coming to a close and our move was imminent, PLUS, I was recovering from a surgery. NOT the best timing. But then, in August, it was announced that the class would be running again in October. Zing! I knew that THIS time, I simply HAD to find a way to make it happen. If I did not seize the opportunity NOW, I figured it would be at least an entire year until I could take it again, and that's before factoring in WHEN it would even be offered again. I thought, "a LOT can happen in a year. A year is a LONG time to wait... and I CAN'T wait. My future growth is waiting for me!" Well, the stars seem to have agreed with me on that because I actually won the pre-class giveaway, awarded to one student who social media'ed about the class. Hey, I won my course fee back! This was definitely a gut-check gone right. The universe was giving me a big, giant pat on the back for taking the leap.
Here is some of the work I've been doing from the first week.
You know what? I never drew Pyrex before this. It was really fun. I was kinda surprised I'd never drawn Pyrex before. I am definitely getting the sense that I'm going to have surprises like this during every single week of the MATS class. :D And I am so, so excited about it. And ready for it.
Really want to show you the details...
...of course...
I'd love to hear what you think.
I hope to post more about the MATS class! Right now I'm taking it one day at a time though. :D And I am glad to be doing that. I'm putting learning and creative experimentation first right now, and it feels so good.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Halloween Heirlooms
Hell-ooo and TGIF! So... Big news today! I currently have eight original, super-special
from the vault, so to speak. (That story is
) They are now finally seeing the light of day, and getting all sparkly, just like
. These are m
antle candy of the highest order. O
ne-of-a-kind mixed-media works of art, varnished & constructed on sturdy wood panel. Guess what? NO FRAMING NEEDED. Just prop it or place it and you're set.
Five of them are 12"x12" , $70 each+$10 shipping worldwide (or FREE shipping on this item with another purchase- yay!). Three of them are 5"x5", $35 each+$5 ship US or $8 worldwide (same deal on the shipping-double yay!). And, if you buy more than one of these pieces, free shipping on your entire order. Can I get a triple-yay! (That makes things a lot simpler, eh?)
Trick or Treat
Halloween Rag Doll
Yikes Jr.
Trick or Treat Jr.
see them all here.
Wednesday, September 25, 2013
Crafty Christmas ornaments using Studio M DrinkBlots by Magnet Works Ltd.
Hi guys! Guess what? I have a video for you today! My
studio updates videos
from a couple weeks back inspired this one... namely, the segment about my
Winter Whimsy DrinkBlots
Studio M / Magnet Works Ltd
. Of course I had to immediately get crafty with the coasters. Take a look at the cool ornaments I made with them! So much fun.
Here they are close up...
The one above I crafted from one of the DrinkBlots in
Katie Daisy's
set. Isn't it cool?
Which is your favorite?
Thursday, September 19, 2013
SOWA Open Market: Elizabeth Benotti Pottery
At Sunday's SOWA Market, one of the first booths I was drawn to was that of potter Elizabeth Benotti. I got to the show fairly early, and her booth seemed to have a steady flow of traffic, every time I looked...
I'm lucky I finally took my chance and edged my way into the booth and could take in all the eye candy up close. What a cool drink of water, her booth was!
Any time I see line art work on pottery, I am so there. I just LOVE line on pottery....
and the palette
Raw wood... little cacti... Clouds with rain drops. (Hmmm
I'm humming a tune now
...) GREAT display with beautiful work. (This girl has got it going ON!)
Ooh, a real Lady tea cup! I love a fanciful, hand-crafted tea cup like this...
Elizabeth's style is so fresh. I'm feeling a minimalist Japanese aesthetic (in fact these really remind me of my stepmom) mixed with some Native American elements, a little seafaring style, a dash of boho hippie in there.... So organic in form and in the line and the glazing. I love the rustic quality, the functionality and the hand of it.. this is what makes a handmade piece so special-
the hand!
I talked a bit with Elizabeth and I learned that she is originally from New England. She went to school at the University of Colorado in Boulder. (I found out later from her
Etsy bio
that she went on to study at the Mendocino Art Center in California, too). Once she mentioned Colorado, it really clicked for me. Her work feels infused by Colorado. But now that I have learned that she also spent time in California, it's clicked even more. I can really see it and feel it in her work five times over! I never lived in Colorado, but I did live in (its state neighbor) Utah for a time. And once you spend some 24/7 time in that part of the country, you really do experience it inside out, and it is a special sort of mood and feeling to life out there. I was also born in California and I lived in the Hollywood Hills (like,
in the hills
- canyons, the Hollywood sign, succulent shrubs, long dusty hikes, coyotes, lightning storms) for the first 9 years of my life so I really do understand that 'West Coast' feeling ... I have it a little bit deep inside of me and I can really just feel it throughout her work.
No wonder
I was so drawn to her stuff (you know, aside from the fact that it's
just plain awesome
(Aren't we lucky she moved back?)
You can find Elizabeth and her pottery here:
Web site
Tuesday, September 17, 2013
SOWA Open Market: BENDYWHO Jewelry
I fell into a fluffy cloud of flowery joy immediately when I first came upon Wendy Baker's booth at
SOWA Open Market
. Wendy's jewelry business goes by the name
. I am not sure how the name came about -- I'm sure it's a fantastic story... perhaps involving Dr. Seuss... but I digress.... The JEWELRY!! Now this is RIGHT up my alley. I felt like there was a magnetic force field that would not let up until I purchased something fabulous...
...and, it is ALL fabulous!
In fact, and this
sound trite, but honestly, these photos do not do this jewelry, or the displays, justice...
Wendy sometimes uses junk to make treasures! Here is an old brass belt buckle. Or, it might be a cabinet pull. Regardless, she rescued it and created this stunning focal point necklace.
Look at all of these fancy brooches! I don't think these photos do them justice, either. The details and the paint color gradations are really nice on these. And really, they are weathered 'just so'!
Wendy has a great selection of accessories to choose from. It was fun to really mull it over and decide on the perfect accessory for me.... Or rather, wait for the perfect accessory to scream at me, once I laid eyes on it. (And eventually, it did.)
Look at these cuffs! these are cool and quite on trend right now, yet they fit right in with Wendy's visual story. It's perfect synergy when a trend merges so well with your brand that is truly a seamless marriage... Like these cuffs!
Some gorgeous brooches here. I like how Wendy takes her philosophy of trash-to-treasure upcycling and applies it to her entire display. these brooches are packaged on old paint chip samples from the hardware store. Kinda perfect!
These were a delight to see. Here, Wendy has these neat multi-charm necklaces on ball chains. These were a less expensive price point than her other items at $18 a pop. I love it when an artist really considers ALL of their potential customers, and works to find ways to cover all of the price points that they can with their offerings, WITHOUT short-changing the integrity of their work OR their artistry and effort. These necklaces do this successfully. I really loved these necklaces.
Here is one of Wendy's major masterpieces. A chunky and spectacular crown for your neck!
How adorable are these items displayed? Don't you want to eat up the whole table? I do...
OOH! I see my soul-mates!
..and they now live on my ears! Like 'em?
Want to check out some BENDYWHO jewels for yourself?
Follow her
FACEBOOK Page
and her
Etsy shop
Sunday, September 15, 2013
What I saw at SOWA: Antique Market
Went to
SOWA Market
today with my fabulous artist friends
Gina Perry
Vita Mechachonis
. I've been to SOWA so many times yet I have actually NEVER visited EVERY part of the market in one day (Open Art Market, Antique Market, Farmers' Market and Food Trucks@SOWA). Well today I (
) finally did. I'll sprinkle posts about a few of the markets and artists, over my next few blog posts. First up is the Antique Market. :D
Door knobs. I've lived in old houses for most of my life, and vintage door knobs have just creeped into the big pile of disorganized creative inspirations that live in my brain.... not unlike this big pile of disorganized door knobs.
Ah I love old novelty travel souvenir postcards! (Wyoming=Wyomin'. Awesome.)
These old western-flavored ones are just perfect and remind me of ye old
Gold Rush bubble gum
from my childhood.
Always love these old printed frosted glass drinking glasses. How neat are these with the hand line art, lettering, map art, compass, and anchors.. hey, these are right on trend!
Hello, creepy bartender man!
Mannequin figure with lots of costume jewelry. (Workin' the look! She owns it!)
OH GLOBES! How I love globes. Globes, globes, globes. Wish there were more. Shelves and shelves FULL of globes. (...on second thought, it's probably a good thing there weren't.)
Pile of random stuff... Except for the itty bitty bunny-rabbit-and-chick metal egg in the deep right bottom corner. That is definitely NOT random. (At least it's not random that it's in this photograph.)
Old glass bottles!
Do you find clowns creepy? So many people do! I sometimes do, and sometimes don't, but I am just plain fascinated by the whole clown-phobia thing. Which makes them all the more curious of a subject for art! Cute clown? Creepy clown? You decide. (As an aside, the little taggie sticking up on the middle one looks like a candle wick... these would make magnificent candle holders! Imagine the flickering light behind the clowns head on "creepy movie night"! Cool...)
I am koo-koo for vintage postcards. I used to collect them. Not officially. I just sort of acquired them over time by default. They would be the thing I was drawn to buying in an antique store. I have never repurposed the ones I collected in the past, and now, I'm really into not acquiring stuff that doesn't scream at me loudly. So I was easily able to resist these...
Ok. These two were harder to resist. I still resisted though... For today, at least.
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text:
Halfway through a decade of investment promised by Governor Deval Patrick's 10-year, $1 billion life-sciences initiative, launched in 2008, the state has spent only about a third of the money targeted to promote the biotechnology and medical device industries in Massachusetts.
But the authors of a report set to be released Tuesday by the Boston Foundation, a philanthropic group, say the effort has helped stimulate a key sector of the state's economy, creating more than 8,000 jobs through capital grants, tax incentives, and business loans.
They urge state government leaders to continue funding the initiative in the face of stepped-up competition from other life-sciences hubs, such as California, Maryland, and New Jersey.
Northeastern University economists Barry Bluestone and Alan Clayton-Matthews, who wrote the report, noted the Massachusetts approach has focused on building an "ecosystem" of start-ups that can work with the state's research universities and teaching hospitals.
They said the $300 million spent by the state so far has spurred more than $1 billion in spending by private companies. Those businesses include eight of the world's 10 largest pharmaceutical companies that have set up shop in the state — and created thousands of additional jobs — to buy what Bluestone calls "a front row seat" in the arena of cutting-edge biomedical research.
"Here is a sector that grew right through the recession," Bluestone, the director of Northeastern's Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy, said in an interview.
"If we're competing with all the other life-sciences regions, the question is, 'Has the life-sciences initiative succeeded in getting us to the top of our game?' And the answer is yes."
The report comes as the Patrick administration seeks the next annual round of funding from the Legislature to bankroll the initiative. It is likely to renew debate on the effectiveness of economic development incentives in encouraging businesses to expand or move into the state.
While the data are nine months old, the report shows the state distributed $301.5 million in grants, loans, and tax breaks through the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center between 2008 and June 30, 2012. At that pace, the state would have to pick up the pace of investments in coming years to hit the $1 billion target — requiring lawmakers to authorize additional annual funding. The center has spent about $359 million as of this week, according to officials.
The 8,000 jobs created, as cited in the report, are fewer than the 8,750 estimated by the center last year, a figure that included temporary construction jobs. In 2008, when the initiative was launched just before the economic slowdown, the governor suggested it could generate 250,000 jobs over 10 years — a projection that was not mentioned in the Boston Foundation report.
Susan R. Windham-Bannister, president of the Waltham-based center, said the initiative's job-creating performance should be assessed in the context of the economy.
"Given how quickly everything changed in the recession, we all had to recalibrate our expectations," she said. "We have grown, and grown very aggressively, despite the bad economy. That's something we should feel very good about. And we're not done yet."
Critics of government incentives say it's hard to gauge how effective they are because some jobs created in a state thanks to such incentives move elsewhere later, and others may have been located there without grants or tax breaks.
"From a national perspective, this makes no sense," said Arthur J. Rolnick, senior fellow at the University of Minnesota's Humphrey School of Public Affairs. "You're just taking jobs from one state and moving them to another. It's diverting public money from roads and bridges."
Rolnick acknowledged that "from a local perspective, if your governor is good at stealing jobs, it may be that the economic benefit outweighs the costs. But you don't know if these jobs are coming anyway. If I'm a business and I know I'm coming to Boston, I'll call up your state officials and say, 'I'm thinking about coming to Boston' and see if I can get some incentives."
Donald Klepper-Smith, chief economist for DataCore Partners, an economic research firm in New Haven, said state officials should recognize that life-sciences jobs are portable.
The drug giant Pfizer Inc., for instance, has moved research jobs to the Boston area from Groton, Conn., while the British pharmaceutical company GlaxoSmithKline PLC last week disclosed that it is moving research jobs from Cambridge to Philadelphia.
"The question is: Do these economic incentives have staying power?" Klepper-Smith said.
At the same time, he conceded, "In this economy, every job counts. When you look at biotech and pharmaceuticals, these are important jobs because of their direct and indirect economic impact."
Bluestone has been a critic of government incentives to lure energy, video game, and film companies to Massachusetts.
But he said interviews with more than a dozen life-sciences executives and scientists convinced him that this initiative made sense for the state. While life-sciences employment has increased 12 percent nationally in the past 12 years, Massachusetts has seen a 27 percent growth in the biotechnology and medical technology sectors, he said.
"We've now eclipsed all other states — and that has happened in the past five years — in terms of employment growth," Bluestone said. "This was making a bet not on an individual company but on an entire industry that has the potential for becoming a major supercluster. It was like betting on the auto industry in 1910."
Robert Weisman can be reached at email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @GlobeRobW.


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Wade Robson -- 'Michael Jackson Was a Monster' and Sexual Abuser
Wade Robson 'Michael Jackson Was a Monster' And Sexual Abuser
The lawyer for famed choreographer Wade Robson tells TMZ, Michael Jackson was a "monster" who sexually abused Wade for seven years as a child ... and threatened him if he ever went public.
Robson's lawyer, Henry Gradstein, tells TMZ, "Last year, on a career trajectory that was off the charts, he [Wade] collapsed under the stress and sexual trauma of what had happened to him for seven years as a child."
Robson spent many weekends with Jackson at Neverland Ranch and his other homes in L.A. and Vegas between ages 7 and 14.
Gradstein goes on ... "He [Wade] lived with the brain washing by a sexual predator until the burden of it all crushed him."
Gradstein says Michael would tell Wade, "If anyone ever finds out about what we did we will go to jail for the rest of our lives" and "our lives will be ruined forever."
Gradstein tells us the threats worked, and Wade kept his mouth shut, adding, "This kind of intimidation of a child by a sexual predator is tragically characteristic and effective, keeping them quiet about the abuse - often for a lifetime."
Wade was steadfast for years that MJ did NOT molest him and indeed became Jackson's star witness at his 2005 molestation trial, adamantly denying any untoward conduct.
The lawyer says, "Michael Jackson was a monster and in their hearts every normal person knows it."
TMZ broke the story ... 30-year-old Robson has filed a creditor's claim against MJ's estate alleging the singer molested him as a child and asking for damages. Sources tell us ... Wade is claiming the reason he didn't file the claim on time is because he repressed the memories of the abuse.
Gradstein says they have not asked for any specific amount of money in their legal docs, although that's clearly the point of filing a creditor's claim. He then trashes what he calls "the Jackson money machine" which he says is "at it once again to keep the truth from coming out." But he says, "This time it won't work."


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When the popular CBS show Survivor launched its 26th season on February 13th, Sherri Biethman gave Wetzel's Pretzels fans and Idaho residents a reason to cheer. Biethman, a Boise resident and owner of two local Wetzel's Pretzels, is a competitor on this season's Survivor: Caramoan, "Fans vs. Favorites."
Wetzel's Pretzels Franchisee to Star on Survivor: Caramoan
Biethman, who is part of the "Gota" tribe, and whose favorite Wetzel's item is the Pepperoni Twist, opened her first Wetzel's Pretzels at the Boise Town Center in 2004, opening a second location in the mall in 2011. Along with the two Wetzel's she currently operates, Biethman has an additional location in development.
"Leveraging my management and team-building skills acquired from owning and operating two Wetzel's Pretzels was an attribute during the competition," says Biethman. "I'm looking forward to putting on a strong showing and making both Wetzel's fans and Idaho residents proud."
Like Biethman, Wetzel's Pretzels can relate to the "Survivor" theme. Launched in 1994, the company was the ninth player in the soft pretzel category when it launched, and has since thrived. Today, Wetzel's is the number two player in the category, achieving growth through operational excellence, and by introducing products such as Wetzel Bitz and the Wetzel Dog, a 100-percent beef hot dog wrapped in a fresh, soft-baked pretzel.
Both Biethman's Wetzel's Pretzels are located at the Boise Town Square Mall on the second level, the first by JC Penny and the second just outside of Macy's. The Boise Town Square Mall is located at 350 North Milwaukee Street.
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Create a Website Account - Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more.
Not all information is public record. Information pertaining to the case, such as dispositions, hearing dates, etc, is public record on adult cases.
Personal information such as social security numbers or phone numbers may be confidential. Cases dealing with juveniles are strictly confidential. The Respondent and his/her parent or guardian may have only limited access to the records. The respondent's attorney may have access to the complete file.
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Seldom. County Court at Law Number 1 primarily handles Criminal Cases. The Court Coordinator for County Court at Law Number 1 may be contacted at 940-627-5005.
Visit Wise County All Courts/Sheriff's Department Records.


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Note: EPA no longer updates this information, but it may be useful as a reference or resource.
Hurricane Quick Finder
- Advisories
- Air sampling data
- AL: EPA response
- Asbestos
- Boil water
- Children's health
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- LA: EPA response
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- Mold
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- Playground sampling
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- Superfund issues
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- Water sampling data
- West Nile virus
EPA emergency response personnel worked with FEMA and state and local agencies to respond to the hurricanes in 2005. In emergency situations, EPA serves as the lead Agency for the cleanup of hazardous materials. We no longer update this Web site; we provide the information for reference purposes only.
- Anniversary Reports
- Where you live: information by region and by Louisiana parish
- Frequent questions: commonly asked questions and answers
- Health issues: children's health, mold, West Nile, and more
- Potential hazards when returning to homes and businesses
- Dealing with debris and damaged buildings
- Precautions when exposed to flood water
- Environmental
testing results
- Summary Results Of Sediment Sampling Conducted By The Environmental Protection Agency In Response To Hurricanes Katrina And Rita (August 17, 2006)
- Summary Assessment of the Results of Sampling of Localized Areas Identified For Focused Investigations Following Hurricane Katrina (March 2006)
- Environmental Assessment Summary for Areas of Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, and Plaquemines Parishes Flooded as a Result of Hurricane Katrina (December 6, 2005)
- Summary of Sediment Testing from September 10 – November 27, 2005: Hurricanes Katrina and Rita (November 2005)
- Public outreach materials
- handouts: English | en Español | Tiếng Việt
- public service announcements: English | en Español | Tiếng Việt
- Superfund site assessments: sites in the path of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita
- Murphy Oil spill: EPA's response, data evaluation, and recommendations
- General information about preparation for and recovery from hurricanes
Other highlights and general information
Funding Brochures on Water Infrastructure Damage in Louisiana and Mississippi
Newsroom: news releases, press conference materials, and testimony
Fuel waivers: temporary waivers have been necessary to help ensure that an adequate supply of fuel is available, particularly for emergency vehicle needs
Vendor inquiry list: vendors who've expressed interest in working on recovery efforts
Related links: links to information at other federal and state agencies


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Skip to Main Content
Community Development
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Temporary Outdoor Sales
Temporary Seasonal Outdoor Sales
Temporary seasonal outdoor sales operations include Christmas tree sales,
firewood sales, crafts, new and/or used merchandise and food sales such as
snow-cone stands, and food trucks, when such temporary operations
exceed seventy-two (72) hours in a twelve (12) month period.
Operation Requirements
Such temporary sales operations may be a principal use on a property or an outdoor operation in conjunction with, and subordinate to, any existing permitted permanent indoor retail establishment.
Only one (1) temporary seasonal outdoor sales operation is permitted on a tract or lot.
Portable signs may be approved for the duration of the temporary outdoor sales
operations when such sign is included in the approved operations site plan.
A temporary outdoor sales operation on a single site shall not be approved for
more than three (3) occurrences in a calendar year, the total of which shall not
exceed one hundred fifty (150) days.
Approval Requirements
Such temporary outdoor sales operations shall require the submittal of an operations site plan for approval by the Planning Director, prior to setting up operations. At a minimum, the operations site plan shall show the following:
Proposed location of sales areas
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Fencing and signage in relation to existing improvements on the property
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text:
With the package \pinyin
, it is possible to write pinyin using commands such as \bu4
. This package produces much better tone marks than are provided by \'
, \v
, etc.
The package \pinyin
includes all of the pinyin for full words, as well as \a
and \o
(because by themselves these can be words), however, I need to typeset the remaining finals individually:
ē é ě è ī í ǐ ì ū ú ǔ ù ǖ ǘ ǚ ǜ
It is rare for these to appear on their own, hence, I have not been able to locate any commands which will print them, provided by the pinyin
package, so I think the authors left that out.
I have found a copy of the source code on CTAN, however, it does not appear to be using LaTeX code to define things. I believe somewhere in this code much of the answer, but it is filled with these strange @
and #
\ifcase #4
\or\py@macron #1{.3}\or\py@acute #1\or\py@hacek #1\or\py@grave #1\or #1
\py@kern #1{#3}}
\def\py@a{\py@@ a}
\def\py@A{\py@@ A}
\def\py@e{\py@@ e}
\def\py@E{\py@@ E}
\ifcase #3
\or\py@macron\i{.3}\or\py@acute\i\or\py@hacek\i\or\py@grave\i\or i
\py@kern i{#2}}
\def\py@I{\py@@ I}
\def\py@o{\py@@ o}
\def\py@O{\py@@ O}
\def\py@u{\py@@ u}
\def\py@U{\py@@ U}
How can I replicate the results of the pinyin
package, but only displaying the finals (ending vowels) on their own?
Update: Just to clarify, I don't need all of the finals (i.e. -ue, -ing), as I can typeset those with a combination of letters.


text:
Derek Kilbourn
Sounder News
The children of the couple who died in the plane crash on Gabriola Island on Dec. 10 have come forward and identified the couple as Allan and Katheryn Boudreau (both aged 53) of Saltair, on Vancouver Island.
Jeffrey (28), Rae (23), and Bridget (25), contacted the Gabriola Sounder newspaper on Saturday, Dec. 14 to provide a statement regarding the tragedy in which their parents died — and who their parents were as they lived out their lives in the Cowichan Valley. Jeffrey currently lives in Lake Louise, Alberta; Rae in Victoria, and Bridget in Kelowna.
Allan and Katheryn grew up, met, and were married in North Bay, Ont.
Twenty-eight years ago they moved out to Vancouver Island, settling into the Cowichan Valley. In 2004, they became owners of Island Hothouse, a two-acre hothouse in Saltair which supplied most of Vancouver Island with sweet bell peppers, as well as farmer's markets. They retired in 2018 and were able to spend their time enjoying all the hobbies and activities they loved.
They had just enjoyed a great trip to Mexico, and were on their return trip home after a stop in San Diego when their plane crashed on Gabriola Island.
Jeffrey, Bridget, and Rae were in touch with their parents throughout Allan and Katheryn's trip to Mexico, talking with them, while their parents sent them photos.
Bridget said when they heard the news, she and her siblings were, "heartbroken, shocked, absolutely devastated, broken, and lost."
As the news of the crash started to break on the night of Dec. 10, Jeffrey said he and his siblings knew it was their parents. Bridget describes it as being, "just a really really horrible nightmare that we cannot wake up from."
While the various authorities have not released the Boudreaus' names as victims of the crash, Jeffrey said, "it's safe to say those in the Cowichan Valley are aware of it. They can put two and two together. We've had a lot of support."
Gabriolans have stepped forward, asking how they can support the families of those who died in the crash. Questions of whether a memorial at the crash site, or donations to a particular cause in the Boudreau's memory would be appropriate have been broached.
Rae said that will be a discussion they would love to have at a later date, "when it's not so fresh. "
Bridget said, "We really appreciate the people on Gabriola being so supportive — showing love towards people that they don't even know.
"That must have been really horrifying to see and experience — we appreciate all the support."
Jeffrey said, "it really speaks to the community islanders share wherever we are. We're all on the same island."
Jeffrey described his mother Katheryn as a lovely person, very caring, who would do anything for anyone.
Both Jeffrey and Rae spoke of Katheryn being a huge part of the St. Joseph's community, a lover of art, and her family.
Bridget said, "she was a devoted mother and daughter, selfless to anyone she met, compassionate."
They said Allan would wake up and say "it's a brand new day."
Jeffrey said, "he was very optimistic, and loved anything that was difficult."
Rae said, "he was very smart. He loved challenges, so he took on woodworking and created various pieces for his children, he loved flying, sailing, and dirt biking."
Jeffrey said Allan was friends with Alex Bahlsen, the owner and pilot of the plane that crashed. Allan had his non-commercial pilot licence, and had owned two planes of his own. Jeffrey said Bahlsen had been working to prepare Allan for his commercial pilot licence — a goal Allan was very close to achieving when he died.
Jeffrey said his dad had his hand in everything.
"He had a lot of hobbies, and he loved talking to people."
Bridget said her father, "once told me his passion was learning."
Rae said, "my dad was really funny. He had really good jokes. Our mom had a secret humour, it was very hilarious."
Bridget said her parents, "supported their children and all of their academic and non-academic adventures."
"When we went away they would always check up on us. My mom and dad would always call to make sure we were doing OK, living away, they were really proud of their children."
Jeffrey said, "they taught us to be selfless, compassionate giving people, and to treat everyone with love and respect."
The family appreciates the support and love from the community and also requests that they are given privacy during this difficult time.


text:
Jimmy Walker left the booming, highlight-reel drives to his playing partner. A low score was good enough for him.
Walker shot an 8-under 62 on Friday to take the lead at 12-under 128 after two rounds in the Wyndham Championship.
Defending champion Webb Simpson (63) was one stroke back. First-round leader Carl Pettersson (68), Tim Clark (67), Sergio Garcia (63) and rookie Harris English (64) were at 10 under.
Tim Herron matched the tournament record with a 61, but was still nine strokes back.
Play was halted for 1 hour, 17 minutes late in the day when a system of thunderstorms passed through the central North Carolina Triad.
Walker, who began the day four strokes back, had eight birdies in compiling one of the best two-day scores in event history. Only Pettersson at 125 in 2008 was better than Walker through 36 holes at Sedgefield Country Club.
''I was playing with J.B. (Holmes), and he was bombing the driver everywhere, and I was just kind of bunting the 5-wood around and hitting good approach shots,'' Walker said. ''It was pretty boring-looking golf - not a lot of drivers, not a lot of 3-woods. There's a lot of 5-woods and some irons, and it's just kind of placement around the golf course.''
Walker hopes his strong round proves that he's getting back to the form from earlier this year, when the winless 33-year-old Texan finished in the top 10 in three of his first six tournaments.
Things went south when he tore his left meniscus, so instead of going to the U.S. Open, he went to the doctor for a cortisone shot to reduce the swelling.
Now that he can bend down and read greens again, he can do some damage with his putter. He used it just 26 times Friday, and didn't even need it on No. 2 because he chipped in from 50 feet.
''If it wouldn't have gone in, it probably would have rolled over the back of the green,'' he said.
Pettersson, who shot a 62 on Thursday while playing in the morning, found his familiar Sedgefield course to play tougher in the afternoon. The Raleigh resident and member of the country club's board of directors had two bogeys in a three-hole span midway his round, then came on strong with consecutive birdies on Nos. 9-10 and an eagle on the par-5 15th.
He broke his driver on the next-to-last hole of the first round, used his backup driver Friday and will stick with it the rest of the weekend.
''I struggled today,'' Pettersson said. ''Didn't have much today, but I thought it was a good comeback. ... Two-under par was OK for the game that I had, and hopefully I can hit the ball better on the weekend and have a chance.''
Simpson, a native North Carolinian and U.S. Open champ who's defending a title for the first time in his career, got hot on the back nine with birdies on four of his final five holes to rocket up the leaderboard.
''To play a round on a golf course this tricky without a bogey is always a good thing,'' Simpson said.
Herron rebounded for a first-round 76. He became the fourth player in five years here to shoot a 61 and the first since Kevin Na in 2010.
''I didn't really have anything to lose,'' Herron said. ''I kind of zoned in a little bit today and just kind of kept rolling and making putts.''
It might have been just the strong round he needed to secure himself a spot in the FedEx Cup playoffs. Herron arrived at No. 133 on the points list and has to crack the top 125 to qualify for The Barclays next week.
The field is littered with players trying to prolong their seasons for at least one more week. Among those on the borderline who made it to the weekend were No. 122 Trevor Immelman, No. 129 Y.E. Yang and No. 133 Chez Reavie.
No. 126 Brendan Steele appeared to be in trouble before a run of four straight birdies pushed him to 3 under.
For others, there was bubble trouble. No. 121 Boo Weekley and No. 125 Jhonattan Vegas missed the cut of 1 under.


text:
Laws, Regulations and Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide – Revision 2024
Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law
Revenue and Taxation Code
Division 2. Other Taxes
Part 2. Motor Vehicle Fuel Tax Law
Chapter 5. Determinations and Payments.1
Article 5. Jeopardy Determinations and Weekly Payments
Section 7705
7705. Penalty for nonpayment; expiration date. If any supplier fails to pay any weekly installment of tax shown to be due by the supplier's return on the Tuesday when required to be paid, a penalty of 5 percent shall be added thereto. In addition, if any weekly installment of tax remains unpaid on the last day of the month following the month during which the last of the removals, entries for sales occurred on which the weekly installment was levied, a penalty of 10 percent of the installment, exclusive of penalties, shall be added thereto. The weekly installment shall be deemed not paid or unpaid on any particular day:
(a) If not paid prior to 5 p.m. of that day, when paid in person.
(b) If the envelope in which the remittance is enclosed bears a post office cancellation mark dated later than that day, when paid by mail.
1Added by Stats. 2000, Ch. 1053 (AB 2114), operative January 1, 2002.


text:
Kyphoplasty and Vertebroplasty
Topic Overview
Kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty are surgeries that are done to try to relieve pain from compression fractures of the spine by stabilizing the broken bone with a substance that works like cement. These surgeries are not done very often, because most fractures heal on their own. Fractures can happen because of osteoporosis, tumors, or other conditions.
Your doctor may numb the area, or you may get medicine to make you sleep. The doctor makes a small cut in your back and puts a balloon device into the fractured vertebra. The doctor inflates the balloon and then deflates it. Then he or she puts a substance that works like cement into the space created by the balloon. It takes 1 to 2 hours to treat each vertebra.
You may go home that day, or you may spend the night in the hospital.
After giving you a local anesthetic, the doctor puts a needle into your vertebrae and injects the cement substance.
The doctor guides the needle using fluoroscopy. This is a test that can be used to position a needle for a procedure. Vertebroplasty takes 1 to 2 hours. The injection usually takes only about 10 minutes.
The cement mixture hardens in about half an hour. You likely will go home the same day. You may take some pain medicine for a couple of days.
How well do these surgeries work?
Experts looked at a large group of studies of kyphoplasty and vertebroplasty. They found that there is no strong evidence that either kyphoplasty or vertebroplasty is better than nonsurgical treatment, such as pain medicine, rest, and exercise. These experts believe kyphoplasty may be an option for some people, but they do not recommend vertebroplasty.footnote 1
Possible problems from the surgeries include:
- Allergic reactions.
- Nerve damage.
- Infection.
- A blot clot that travels to the lung (pulmonary embolism).
Problems are more common when more than one vertebra is treated at the same time.
Talk to your doctor about how these surgeries compare with other treatments you might have.
Current as of: November 7, 2018
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Kathleen Romito, MD – Family Medicine & Martin J. Gabica, MD – Family Medicine & Carla J. Herman, MD, MPH – Geriatric Medicine
Topic Contents
This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.


text:
Give your gifts a delightfully retro look and feel with this yarn shag gift wrap tutorial from Martha Stewart!
Inspired by the brilliant colors and textures of Moroccan rugs, the technique works with just about any color combination and can be applied to gift tags, fabric, and anything else you can think of.
Head over to Martha Stewart to see the full how-to!
[Via Dude Craft]
Join Make: Community Today


text:
Zodiaque medal Scorpii (Scorpio)
Zodiaque medal Scorpii (Scorpio)
CONTACT US Book an appointment
The pieces in the Zodiaque collection draw their inspiration from Van Cleef & Arpels rich heritage to reinterpret some of its iconic designs. In keeping with the Poetic Astronomy® theme dear to Van Cleef & Arpels, these pieces combine jewelry expertise and precious materials to offer a poetic version of the signs of the zodiac. The pieces are part of the tradition of medals and charms designed by Van Cleef & Arpels since the 1950s.
Chain sold separately.
Zodiaque medal Scorpii (Scorpio), 18K yellow gold.
Final price, actual shipping costs and applicable taxes will be reflected on your order page before you are asked to confirm and place your order. For further details, please refer to our Conditions of Sale.
Please note that each Van Cleef & Arpels creation is handmade. As a result, carat weight, stone quantities, and length of chain may differ slightly from one creation to the next.
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Get seamless access to driving directions, check-in instructions, push-button contact information, and the key features of your rental. You can even browse and book your next trip on the RedAwning app too! If you take photos on arrival within our app, you'll save $50 on your next reservation! Download the app for free, now!
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New Member
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OffshoreDedicated bring simplicity and freshness to keep your website up and running. We are committed to provide reliable anonymous offshore hosting with protection from any encroachment, maintaining our client's rights to full freedom of information and independence.
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This page has been archived and is being provided for reference purposes only. The page is no longer being updated, and therefore, links on the page may be invalid.
ARS, Mexico Work to Develop New Breeds of Lesquerella
By David Elstein
July 15, 2003
An Agricultural Research Service laboratory in Arizona and a research university in Mexico are working together to develop breeds of lesquerella that can tolerate and grow in the saline soils of Mexico and the southwestern United States.
The ARS U.S. Water Conservation Laboratory's Environmental and Plant Dynamic Research Unit in Phoenix, Ariz., is testing its lesquerella plants at the Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, in Coahuila, Mexico.
Lesquerella is a wild flower of the mustard family. ARS researchers at several locations across the country are investigating different uses of the crop such as using it as an oil, like castor oil, or as a gum to thicken certain foods. Lesquerella has traditionally not grown well in soil that is irrigated with salty water, but the researchers think they have created a new version that can withstand the salinity.
The lesquerella seeds that are planted in Mexico were developed a few years ago in conjunction with the ARS George E. Brown, Jr., Salinity Laboratory in Riverside, Calif. ARS scientists are trying to develop a more diverse group of lesquerella plants that can grow in different regions and withstand certain pests or pathogens.
The Mexican scientist Diana Jasso de Rodríguez is responsible for the planting and experimenting in the Coahuila region of northern Mexico. ARS geneticist David A. Dierig, of the Phoenix lab, chose that region of Mexico to do the research because he successfully conducted a lesquerella germplasm collection with Jasso de Rodríguez there a few years ago.
The Specific Cooperative Agreement lasts through September 2007. The researchers hope by that time to develop a more suitable variety of lesquerella that can be harvested in Mexico. They have also planted similar experiments in the Pecos region of Texas in cooperation with Texas A&M University, as well as another planting in Phoenix. The ARS Riverside lab is analyzing all plant samples from the experiments.
ARS is the U.S. Department of Agriculture's chief scientific research agency.


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'Time to market' will be future key for Indian clients: Sidel
Citing growing market demand for the latest bottle packaging technology, PET liquid packaging specialist Sidel (a division of Tetra Laval, it also has expertise in glass bottles and cans) said it opened its seventh such center worldwide to provide global expertise on a local level in India.
Since it opened in December, Sidel's center has provided expertise in areas such as bottle design, line engineering and life cycle management.
Sidel said that Indian soft drink sales were rising at an annual rate of 9%, and that per capita consumption of soft drinks rose from 2.9 liters in 2006 to 6.4 liters in 2011.
Rising incomes, health consciousness
"Rising incomes and health-consciousness are pushing sales of bottled water, as well as low-calorie carbonated beverages," the company said.
"In future, time to market will be key for customers and Sidel's new packaging and tooling center can now help to provide the right solutions," it added.
The firm said that it wanted to be close to Indian customers, in order to meet their specific expectations, offer them optimized solutions and services and shorter future delivery times.
Ravi Prasad, Coca-Cola Wada, said that visiting the center allowed him to witness Sidel's global packaging and tooling expertise.
"It was also enlightening to hear of new developments taking place, as we are naturally interested in any energy-saving and quick-changeover opportunities," Prasad added.
The Pune mold shop has a capacity of 1,500 units per year, and Sidel said this meant it had the potential to significantly cut the time needed to introduce new products to market.
Sidel's six other packaging and tooling centers are based inChina(two),France,Mexico,Brazil and the US.


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- ESC/POS Command for TM Printer
- Character Code Tables for TM Printer
- ESC/POS Command for Customer Displays
- Character Code Tables for Customer Displays
- Epson ePOS SDK for Android
- Epson ePOS SDK for iOS
- Epson ePOS SDK for JavaScript
- Epson ePOS SDK for Universal Windows apps
- ePOS-Device XML
- ePOS-Print XML
TMUSB Device Driver (for OS earlier than Windows 10) Software
Version | Ver.7.10b |
Uploaded date | 2019/11/13 |
File size | 616KB |
Explanation | This download page is for TMUSB Device Driver Ver.7.10b that can be installed on OS earlier than Windows 10.
TMUSB Device Driver Ver.8.00b can be installed on Windows 10 or later. -> Link to TMUSB Device Driver Ver.8.00b This is a USB device driver for EPSON TM/EU/BA Series. This module is a revision program for the USB communications department of OPOS, OPOS.NET, APD, JavaPOS, TM-J9000/J9100 Driver, TM-S1000 Driver and some utilities. The TMUSB Device Driver is installed automatically when installing the Advanced Printer Driver. [Changes from Ver.7.10a to Ver.7.10b/8.00b] [New support OS] Windows server 2019 [Function change]- Ver.8.00b supports the Device Guard of Windows 10. - Ver.8.00b supports Windows 10 or later OS. - Ver.7.10b cannot be installed on Windows 10 or later OS. [Support OS] Windows 8.1 (32/64 bit) Windows 8 (32/64 bit) Windows 7 SP1 (32/64 bit) Windows Vista SP2 (32/64 bit) Windows XP SP3 (32 bit) Windows Server 2012 R2 Windows Server 2012 Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 Windows Server 2008 SP2 (32/64 bit) Windows Server 2003 R2 SP2 (32/64 bit) [Environmental Conditions] Environmental Conditions for Using USB [Note] - You can check the version of TMUSB Device Driver installed in PC by one of the following methods. -> Able to check from device manager of PC if PC is connecting to the printer.
-> Able to check from the property of the below file in PC.
- When some problems occur under the USB environment with the TM-S1000 Driver, TM-J9000/J9100 Printer Driver For Bank, OPOS ADK, Advanced Printer Driver, JavaPOS ADK, OPOS.NET ADK the problem of the USB environment can be cleared by using this program. - Please do not install TMUSB device driver in the environment that uses TMCOMUSB serial emulation driver. Please reinstall TMCOMUSB serial emulation driver if you install TMUSB device driver. |
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TMUSB Device Driver (for OS earlier than Windows 10) Ver.7.10b
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From Popular Science:
The future of touchscreen interfaces is: you? A project between a Carnegie Mellon researcher and a couple of creative thinkers over at Microsoft Research have created Skinput, a Bluetooth-enabled device that allows you to use your own skin as a peripheral input device for devices like cell phones, MP3 players or gaming consoles.
This is one of those things that's better shown than explained:
It's clearly a long way off from commercialization. But as they've demonstrated, this has a lot of potential for keeping devices in pockets and out of hands, allowing people to stay focused on their activity rather than on operating their devices. This also seems like one component of a potential future system that converts sign language communication to synthesized speech.


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Rula Masannat
I'm Rula Masannat of Mazzei Realty, and I look forward to helping you with your real estate needs. I serve the community in and around Clayton, a region I know well.
My website contains properties from all over the area. If you're interested in one and would like to visit it in person, please let me know, and I will make the arrangements. I can help you identify neighborhoods and homes that might be a good fit for you. If you'd like assistance with your search, I can walk you through every step of the home-buying process.
I'm also an experienced home seller, which enables me to list and market your home so that it sells as quickly as possible for its full value.
Regardless of what stage you're at in the process, I'd be honored to represent you. My experience and expertise working specifically in the Clayton home market ensures that you will have professional results with a proven track record. I understand that buying or selling a home is a major life event, which is why I've taken the time to provide you with the tools on my site, so that you can move forward with the information you need to make a confident decision.
Please feel free to browse the Mazzei Realty, site and use the tools as much as you like. If you have questions or would like to get started, please contact me at 415-310-2905.


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Researchers at the University of Washington have uncovered how the bacterium Staphylococcus aureus, including the notorious MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staph aureus) "superbug" strains, resists our body's natural defenses against infection. The work, which was featured on the cover of the March 21 issue of Science, could lead to new ways to fight the bacteria.
Dr. Ferric Fang, UW professor of laboratory medicine and microbiology, and his UW colleagues Dr. Anthony Richardson and Dr. Stephen Libby set out to determine what makes Staph aureus a better pathogen than other bacteria. They focused on a chemical compound called nitric oxide (NO), a natural antibiotic that our cells excrete to protect us from pathogens. For most bacteria, NO creates an environment that keeps invading microbes from undergoing respiration or fermentation, vital chemical processes that allow bacteria to grow.
The researchers found that Staph aureus has a mechanism that allows it to produce lactic acid in the presence of NO, which allows it to maintain its chemical balance and keep growing and thriving in the harsh host environment. When Staph aureus is exposed to NO, it produces the novel enzyme responsible for lactic acid production, along with another enzyme that converts NO to non-toxic products. NO is commonly found in the nose and nasal passages, and is meant to protect people against disease-causing microbes. But Staph aureus is commonly found in the nose despite the presence of NO, the researchers explained.
When the researchers modified Staph aureus to take away its ability to make lactic acid, the bacteria could no longer tolerate NO. The modified bacteria also lost their ability to survive in host immune cells and cause lethal disease in mice.
"MRSA has become an enormous public health problem, by causing both hospital- and community-acquired infections," explained Fang. "Staph aureus has already colonized about one-third of the world's population, so traditional antibiotics will probably not be the complete answer to the MRSA problem."
However, the researchers added, trying to make Staph aureus more susceptible to our natural defenses might lead to new strategies to de-colonize the population and prevent staphylococcal infections.
Source : University of Washington


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The angle of our snowplow blades is fixed to the right to plow snow from the centerline of the street to the curb. When there is an opening, such as a driveway, some of the snow is released into that area. It is the resident's responsibility to remove the snow in the end of the driveway. The snow should not be pushed across or into the street or neighboring yard. You can be a good neighbor by finding a place to locate snow within your property. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining clear, safe streets in our community!
If you have an unusual amount of snow or large portions of ice pushed into your driveway, please call Public Works at 763-572-3566.
Show All Answers
Our priority routes (redlines) are cleared first after any snowfall. Redlines are routes identified by Public Safety and Public Works to ensure emergency vehicles can get within one or two blocks of every home in the city. During a routine snow event it takes approximately 2-4 hours to clear these routes.
After the redlines are cleared, our local routes are plowed with rotating starting points. Fridley is split into 12 districts, and each district has four different starting points. Each time there is a snowfall, the plows begin at a different starting point within each district. If your area was last to be plowed in the previous event, it will not be last the next citywide plowing. Plowing the districts takes approximately 6-8 hours during routine snow events.
We plow virtually all City trails and walks, and many County trail segments so that you can walk in the winter. Trails and walks are plowed in conjunction with streets, with two routes covering the City. For heavier snow events, trail and walk plowing may be delayed a day or two behind street plowing. A priority is placed on plowing near schools, and additional plowing is often required continuing days after snow events as County and State plowing may recover trails. When walks and trails are completed, the City assists the Metropolitan Council and MnDOT by removing snow from bus stops on state, county, and local roads.
By City policy, plows will go out after two or more inches of snow accumulation, following the end of a snowfall. This can change depending on the type of snow and rate it is falling. For example, if we have a snowfall of less than two inches but the snow will freeze overnight and create a great amount of de-icing after the fact, we will most likely go out and plow.
Typically, plows will begin clearing the redlines around 3:30-4:30 a.m. following a snowfall. If there is continuous snow that accumulated, they may begin the night before and plow again in the early morning. Our goal with normal snowfalls is to clear main roadways (redlines) in time for the morning commute. Of course, timing, amount, and type of snowfall, as well as preceding and future conditions all factor into scheduling and type of response for plowing and de-icing.
Our Public Works staff will also be using an anti-ice trailer for the first time this year. This trailer will allow staff to spray a diluted brine mixture on the road before a snowfall to prevent ice from forming, which reduces the amount of road salt needed after the snowfall event.
If your mailbox is hit by a plow, please call our Public Works main line at 763-572-3566. If it was damaged or knocked over by the plow blade, we will replace it or reimburse you. We encourage you to inspect your street side mailbox and post before the snow season to make sure it will hold up to thrown snow and avoid disruption in your mail delivery.
Trash and recycling bins should be placed in the area within the end of your driveway. We ask that you refrain from putting your bins in the street or sidewalk route. When you place them in the street or within the sidewalk, it slows the plows down and creates a hazard they must navigate around. Plows can be much safer and more efficient when the bins go in the end of your driveway. If a walk or trail is adjacent to the curb, please place your bin just behind the curb at your driveway.
Due to the size of our plows and their equipment, it is very difficult to navigate around obstacles in the roadway. Vehicles left in the street prevent our plows from removing snow to the curb line which results in large snow piles deposited in the road. These piles can quickly freeze, creating a hazard and inconvenience for other vehicles. This also limits snow storage for future storms, which can compromise roadway safety during exceptionally snowy winters.
The City ordinance prohibits vehicles from parking on City streets during snow removal operations. Vehicles left on the street may be ticketed and towed, which can cost you $45 for the ticket and over $200 for each calendar day the vehicle is in the tow lot. If certain vehicles are repeatedly ticketed, fees may increase.
Road salt, or chlorides, are a known pollutant that can permanently impact our waterbodies, leading to decreased freshwater fish populations and salty-tasting drinking water. The City is committed to decreasing the amount of chlorides applied to our roads, while still maintain safe driving conditions.
Last year, the City received a grant from the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization to purchase brine application systems for some of our plow trucks. The brine application systems allow the City to use "pre-wetted" salt, which works faster than dry salt and doesn't bounce outside of the application zone, allowing the City to use less salt more effectively. Over the next few years, the rest of our fleet will add this equipment and transition to the brine system as vehicles are scheduled for replacement.
The City also installed electronic application systems which will allows the drivers to better control how much salt is applied. It is expected that these improvements will allow the City to reduce salt use by at least 30 percent. Our snow plow drivers are Level 1 Smart-Salting certified by the MPCA and our department is Level 2 Smart-Salting certified.
You, too, can make a difference in reducing chlorides in our water bodies by doing your part to minimize salt usage or using salt substitutes. Tips are available by visiting FridleyMN.gov/Stormwater.


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Question: In high school volleyball, how many players are needed to begin the first set of a match? 9, 8 or 6?
Answer: Team is required to start the initial set with six players; three in the back row and three in the front row (Rule 6, Sec. 2, Art. 1).
Question: During the first set, Team R is playing with only six players. Player on Team R is injured and cannot continue. Is set terminated?
Answer: After the start of a match, team is permitted to play with less than required number. The set is continued with a loss of rally/point awarded to opponent each time vacant position rotates to serve (Rule 6, Sec. 2, Art. 2 and Rule 6-4-5).


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Architectural Overview
One of advantages that Sensu provides over other monitoring solutions is its architecture, which facilitates the execution of service checks, collection of metric data, and event processing at scale. This architecture is comprised of the following components:
Architectural Diagram
Secure Transport
Sensu services use a message bus (e.g. RabbitMQ) to communicate with one another (technically speaking, the Sensu services don't actually communicate with each other – they only communicate with the message bus). As of Sensu Core version 0.13 this message bus communication in Sensu has been abstracted as the Sensu Transport, making it possible to leverage alternate transport solutions in place of RabbitMQ (the default Transport). Sensu services requires access to the same instance of the defined Sensu Transport (e.g. a RabbitMQ cluster) to function. Sensu check requests and check results are published as "messages" to the Sensu Transport, and the corresponding Sensu services receive these messages by subscribing to the appropriate subscriptions.
Data Store
Sensu leverages a data store for data persistence. Only the Sensu server, API, and dashboard services require access to the data store — the Sensu client (monitoring agent) does not. By storing data in Redis, the Sensu services themselves can remain stateless. Although Sensu is designed to route telemetry data to external time-series databases (e.g. Graphite, Librato, InfluxDB, etc), Sensu does store the following state data:
- Client registry
- Check history
- Event registry
- Stashes (a key-value store provided by the Sensu API)
Check Execution Scheduler
Sensu offers two distinct check execution schedulers: the Sensu server, and the Sensu client (monitoring agent). The Sensu server schedules and publishes check execution requests to client subscriptions (via a Publish/Subscribe model). The Sensu client (monitoring agent) schedules and executes "standalone" checks (on the local system only). Sensu's execution schedulers are not mutually exclusive, so monitoring checks may be configured for both of Sensu's schedulers (the Sensu server and Sensu client), and Sensu will ensure that the corresponding checks are executed on the appropriate systems.
Monitoring Agent
The Sensu client is a fully featured monitoring agent which provides the following features:
- dynamic self-registration
- client subscriptions (for monitoring checks configured via the Publish/Subscribe model)
- a local check execution scheduler
- an execution platform for monitoring the local system & services and/or external resources
- an input socket for accepting input from external services.
Event Processor
The Sensu server is a scalable event processor that processes event data and takes action. Sensu's event processing capabilities include:
- Registering and de-registering clients
- Processing check results
- Processing monitoring events using filters, mutators, and handlers
Sensu's event processor is designed to scale along with the applications and infrastructure it is monitoring. Although Event Handlers are executed locally by the Sensu server, multiple instances of the Sensu server can be run without any additional configuration. Sensu provides built-in task election to avoid scheduling conflicts between Sensu servers, and the Sensu transport distributes (via round-robin) check results between Sensu servers for processing, which provides load-balancing.
RESTful API
Sensu provides access to monitoring data and core functionality via a RESTful HTTP JSON API, including:
- A Clients API for accessing Client data and adding/removing clients
- A Checks API for accessing Check configuration data and publishing check requests
- An Events API for accessing event data and resolving events
- A Results API for accessing check result data and publishing check results
- An Aggregates API for accessing aggregated check result data and deleting aggregate data
- A Stashes API for providing read/write access to Redis' underlying key-value functionality


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Far out: The Duggars go to the Far East
The Duggars have traveled from Arkansas to Asia: A three-part special on TLC follows the reality family of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar and their 19 kids and grandkids as they navigate Tokyo, Kyoto, and Beijing.
The below teaser of the special, "19 Kids and Counting: Duggars Do Asia," which follows the family on its trip to the Far East, shows Jim Bob asking, again and again, "Do you speak English?" Says Michelle Duggar, "We couldn't communicate at all." Not that anything like a language barrier would stop this family from jumping in.
Eyeing an entire fish brought out with a flourish on a platter at a restaurant, one of the Duggar children says suspiciously, "It looked like it might still be alive."
On its blog, the conservative Christian family recounts how everyone tried a traditional Japanese breakfast of seaweed and seafood, took a rickshaw ride, and learned how to make -- and eat -- a sushi hand roll. In China, the family visited the Great Wall and Tiananmen Square, attempted to figure out the crowded Chinese subway system, sampled Peking duck and something a little more exotic: live scorpion.
The Duggars seem game for anything. The boys tried out Samurai swordplay, and the girls dressed up like geishas. Just your typical trip for a family of 25 carting 40 suitcases.
This is not the first time TLC has transported one of its reality-show families to foreign lands. The network took Kate Gosselin and her brood of eight to Australia, back when the show "Kate Plus Eight" was a hit. Clearly, with the Duggars easily the size of a tour group, the network has upped its ambition. That is, after all, a lot of fish out of water.
On a more serious note, the family ends its tour at an orphanage in China, which promises to be memorable.
Part 1 of "19 Kids and Counting: Duggars Do Asia" airs on TLC on Tuesday, 3/12 at 9 PM.


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Votto added to Team Canada roster for Classic
Whether Reds star plays for his home country remains to be seen
GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds first baseman Joey Votto has been added to the roster of Team Canada for the World Baseball Classic. Whether Votto actually plays for his country remains unresolved.
Votto was left off of the original provisional roster submitted last month. The deadline to be added to a team roster was Wednesday.
"They'll put me on the roster and we'll decide in the future based on what myself and the organization decides," Votto said Thursday. "The games will be able to tell me whether or not I'll be ready to go. All of this practicing is just practicing."
Votto, 29, missed 48 games from July 16-Sept. 3, when he needed two arthroscopic surgeries to repair torn cartilage in his left knee. Because of his injury status, Cincinnati could have blocked his participation.
Team Canada will train for the Classic in Goodyear, but Votto will stay with the Reds at least until Canada's first game.
"Joey is a big boy. Joey knows what's best for him," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He also knows what's best for us. He's been in contact and communication with [general manager] Walt [Jocketty] and myself. Joey is also a kind of a private dude -- he's not going to tell you. You have to respect that. He'll let you know."
So far at Reds camp, everything has been normal for Votto. He does not wear a brace on his knee and has shown no outward signs of problems.
"I feel very good," Votto said.
Unlike Votto, Reds ace Johnny Cueto learned on Wednesday that he would not get to participate in the Classic for the Dominican Republic. Cueto respected the decision and said it was "no problem."
"I wanted to pitch for the Dominican, but the team [the Reds] said no," Cueto said Thursday. "It's a normal spring. I'll get ready for the season."
Because Cueto ended the 2012 season on the disabled list with a strained oblique, the club also had final say in the decision. Cueto came down with a shoulder injury during the '09 season after he pitched in that year's Classic.
"I don't know if happy is the word, I'm more relieved than anything," Baker said of Cueto. "I understand the pressure that's on him being from Latin America. If he's a 10-game winner, he wouldn't have the pressure of a 19-game winner."


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Alternate browsers are becoming increasingly popular, even though Internet Explorer still has a stronghold when it comes to market share. Some of the most popular alternate web browsers available include Mozilla Firefox, Safari, Opera, and Google's new Chrome web browser.
Still in beta, Google's "Chrome" has attracted less than 2% of the Internet browser market at its peak, but Google engineers are working to enhance the software to make it more appealing and useful to its users. One very popular idea for improving Chrome is the addition of an extension system, which will enable third-party developers to produce plugins for any number of add-on features, ranging from browser enhancements to RSS readers, calendar/reminder extensions, etc.Chrome users can then install the plugins to complete tasks that Google did not integrate into the web browser.
Mozilla Firefox, a browser that holds the record for the most downloads in a single day, has the ability to integrate third-party plugins, which has been perhaps the greatest factor in achieving its 20% web browser market share.
One of Google's developers made the announcement that Google is looking into integrating third-party browser plugins for Chrome. They also released a design document that provided an outline for what needed to be done in order to add plugin support. This functionality is certainly at the top of the wishlist for most Chrome users, and Google seems to be working on providing the support as quickly as possible. The first plugins planned for integration include Flash and an ad blocker (ironic), which are some of the more popular plugins for Mozilla Firefox.
Unfortunately, Google has yet to announce when this implementation will be complete, but at least we know that they plan on offering extension support in the near future.


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Children are the future citizens. Children also have the unique advantage of having 'un-conditioned' mind and have the potential to change the world around us. We believe that when one of us changes our behaviour, this has a ripple effect in our community, encouraging others to do the same. In this way, we all have the power to lead the world by building an active civic society. It starts with the simple acts of standing up and doing the right thing.
What is so exciting about the concept of 'Angel of Humanity' is that it shows us how to do the right thing. It takes the ideals of humanity and turns them into practical guidelines that we can use in everything we do. The program contains the values and morals that we all need in order to move the world ahead in sustainable manner.
The program is targeting children in particular because we believe that by instilling a strong moral foundation in our children, we reach a far larger audience as the message spreads to their families and communities. If our children have the right values, we can change the future.


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I've been quite priviliged through the years to be able to observe, within my global blue chip client base , some of the fascinating innovation strategies that market leaders have pursued.
What is it they do?
Many of them make big, bold decisions that help to frame their innovative thinking and hence, their active strategies.
For example, they:
- make big bets. In many industries, there are big market and industry transformations that are underway. For example, there's no doubt that mobile banking is going to be huge, and its going to happen fast with a lot of business model disruption. Innovative financial organizations are willing to make a big bet as to its scope and size, and are innovating at a furious pace to keep up with fast changing technology and even faster evolving customer expectations
- make big transformations: I'm dealing with several organizations who realize that structured operational activities that are based on a centuries old style of thinking no longer can take them into a future that will demand more agility, flexibility and ability to react in real time to shifting demand. They're pursuing such strategies as building to demand, rather than building to inventory; or pursuing mass customization projects so that they don't have to compete in markets based on price.
- undertake big brand reinforcement: one client, realizing the vast scope and impact of social networking on their brand image, made an across the board decision to boost their overall advertising and marketing spend by 20%, with much of the increase going to online advertising. In addition, a good chunk of existing spending is being diverted as well. Clearly, the organization believes that they need to make bi broad, sweeping moves to keep up to date with the big branding and marketing change that is now underway worldwide.
- anticipate big changes: there's a lot of innovative thinking going on with energy, the environment and health care. Most of the organizations that have had me in for a keynote on the trends that are providing for growth opportunities have a razor sharp focus on these three areas, anticipating the rapid emergence of big opportunities at a very rapid pace.
- pursue big math: quite a few financial clients are looking at the opportunities for innovation that come from "competing with analytics," which offers new ways of examining risk, understanding markets, and drilling down into customer opportunity in new and different ways.
- focus on big loyalty: one client stated their key strategic goal during the downturn this way: "we're going to nail the issue of customer retention, by visiting every single one in the next three months to make sure that they are happy and that their needs are being met." Being big on loyalty means working hard to ensure that existing revenue streams stay intact, and are continually enhanced.
- focus on big innovation: one client stated their innovation plan in a simple yet highly motivating phrase: "think big, start small, scale fast." Their key goal is to build up their experiential capital in new areas by working on more innovation projects than ever before. They want to identify big business opportunities, test their potential, and then learn how to roll out new solutions on a tighter, more compact schedule than ever before.
- thinking big change in scope. One client became obsessed with the innovation strategy of going "upside down" when it came to product development. Rather than pursuing all ideas in house, they opened up their innovation engine to outsiders, looking for more partnership oriented innovation (with suppliers and retailers, for example); open innovation opportunities, and customer-sourced innovation. This lit a fuse under both their speed for innovation as well as their creativity engine
- innovate in a big way locally: we're in a big, global world, but that doesn't mean that you can't innovate locally. One client in the retail space pursues an innovation strategy that allows for national, coordinated efforts in terms of logistics, merchandising and operations, yet also allows a big degree of freedom when it comes to local advertising, marketing and branding.
- share big ideas. One association client pursued an innovation that was relentless on community knowledge sharing. They knew if they could build an association culture in which people shared and swapped insight on a regular basis on how to deal with fast changing markets and customers, that they could ensure their members had a leg up and could stay ahead of trends. Collaborative knowledge is a key asset going forward into the future, and there's a lot of opportunity for creative, innovative thinking here.
- be big on solving customers problems. Several clients have adopted an innovation strategy that is based on the theme, "we're busy solving customers problems before they know they have a problem," or conversely, "we're providing the customer with a key solution, before the customer knows that they need such a solution." That's anticipatory innovation, and it's a great strategy to pursue.
- align strategies to the big bets. There's a lot of organizations out there who are making "big bets" and link innovation strategies to those bets. WalMart has bold goals for the elimination of all packaging by a certain date; this is forcing a stunning amount of innovation within the packaging sector. Some restaurants aim to reduce food and packaging waste by a factor of dozens; this is requiring stunning levels of creativity in the kitchen.
These are but a few examples and the list could go on; the essence of the thinking is that we are in a period of big change, and big opportunity comes from bold thinking and big creativity!