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New Photos of Construction at Wizarding World of Harry Potter Online
Apr 02, 2009
New photos of the construction taking place in Universal Orlando, Florida of the upcoming Harry Potter Theme Park have been posted online over on ThemeParkReview.com. These photos appear to show the beginning construction of the main entrance to the theme park as well as various other shots of the work being done around the attraction. The photos can be viewed right here.
The Wizarding World of Harry Potter Theme Park is slated to open next year.


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Business Issue
In an industry in which negotiations are critical to business success, a global fine art auction house's top specialists were challenged by the wide range of negotiation scenarios they faced. It was a top priority for the company to maintain strong customer relationships as their reputation relied heavily on the positive experience of their customer and vendor base.
To maximize their relationships and the success of their negotiations, Wilson Learning worked with the company to provide a principled negotiation program that focused on the interests of both their customers and their own organization. This initiative was supported by senior managers and incorporated a robust follow-up and reinforcement system to ensure understanding and application of the new negotiation approach and skills.
The fine art house experienced strong results, including improved customer/vendor relationships, better negotiations, and increased revenue. They realized an increase of 18% in revenue that was attributed to the skills learned in the program. Additionally, 100% of the participants said they were able to negotiate more positive outcomes due to the skills they acquired.
See more client success stories like this one.
Request a call with a consultant to discuss your sales development needs.

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Aix-en-ProvenceEarth : Europe : France : Southeastern France : Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur : Bouches-du-Rhône : Aix-en-Provence
Aix-en-Provence (usually simply called Aix) is a small, classically Provençal town, famous for being home to Cézanne; the addition of the TGV (high-speed train) station has brought lots of vacationers from the north, and Aix has turned into a shopping town with high variety and representation considering its small size. Three universities and several French-language schools for international students produce a very strong student presence.
Aix has always been a rich city. There is a high contrast between Marseille (only 30 km and half an hour away). Whereas Marseille is one of the poorest French cities (but still a unique and not to be missed town), Aix is perhaps one of the richest. People seeking for budget or popular places should continue to Marseille. Still, Aix has a lot to offer. It is a quiet, clean and comfortable city. The city center is mostly pedestrian and, though it is quite small (you can cross the centre in 15 min by foot), offers long hours of nice walks. As in all Provençal towns, the city centre consists of narrow streets, lined with interesting buildings from 17th century hotels to paved plazas.
Get inEdit
By planeEdit
Fly into Marseille or Nice. Marseille is nearer (just south), but budget airlines such as EasyJet prefer Nice. There is a navette (shuttle bus) that can take you from the airport to the bus station near the center of town.
By trainEdit
Aix has both a TGV and a regular station and is well connected both to the Paris - Marseille line and (via Marseille) to the Genoa - Nice - Barcelona line. The same shuttle that runs from the airport to Aix also services the Aix TGV station. The regular train station is at Place Victor Hugo, a 5 min walk from the center of town.
By carEdit
If you come from anywhere up north you will most likely use the A7 motorway (Route du Soleil) that runs from Lyon to Marseille (whether you come from Switzerland or from the UK via Paris). At exit 27, take A8 (La Provencale) to Aix. From Spain, you'll take A9 (La Languedocienne), then turn onto A54 through the city of Arles (you might consider stopping there), then turn onto A7 and A8 respectively, as described above. From Italy, just take A8 passing Nice and all the posh Côte d'Azur resorts.
Avoiding toll roads can be slow but highly pleasurable, many of the routes nationales offer wonderful scenery that motorways can't deliver (save maybe some parts of the A8 east of Nice).
Parking in Aix can be quite difficult. There is at least one free car park but allow plenty of time to find a space (and the spaces can be quite tight to get into!).
By busEdit
There is an express coach from Marseille (St Charles station) to Aix, which takes 30-40 min.
Get aroundEdit
Aix is a fairly small city and can be easily navigated by foot. The bus system is also very efficient and has numerous stops within the city as well as connecting Aix with nearby villages, towns, and Marseille. The city bus also runs to Carrefour Les Milles, a large shopping center. Discounted tickets for frequent bus users can be purchased at the main bus station, as well as bus schedules. The ticket office also sells discounted multi-pack tickets for the bus from Aix to Marseille and the new TGV station (located between the two cities).
Aix is famous for its fountains. The largest and most famous is on the Cours Mirabeau, the main avenue through town, as well as a moss-covered fountain which draws its water from a hot spring.
Along with searching out the dozens of fountains sprawled around the city, Aix is known for its architecture. The varied and often intricate doors are a key feature, as well as the bell towers. The bell towers throughout Aix-en-Provence, and Provence more generally, are made of wrought iron. This allows the strong winds of the Mistral to flow straight through them, since solid stone would be destroyed by the force of the winds.
The city market runs multiple days a week, but the largest and most colorful is the Saturday market which includes a flower market at the Place de l'Hotel de Ville and the main food market is at Place Richelme.
It has also become known as the home of Cézanne's later works. You can see his atelier with some of the original objects he painted into his still lives. The Bibémus Quarries allow you to see Mt. St. Victoire, the mountains he captured in many of his paintings. You can also visit the Manor of Jas de Bouffan, which houses many of his masterpieces. To see all three, you need at least two days in Aix.
- Granet Museum. editset in the old Priory of the Knights of Malta, keeps works by French painters of the XVIth to the XXth centuries and different schools of Dutch, Flemish and Italian art. The archaeological rooms allow you to discover the origins of Aix-en-Provence and the Celto-Ligurian civilisation of Entremont.
There are plenty of things to do in Aix en Provence. Most of it involves meandering around the small streets of the inner city observing the crooked Roman architecture, elegant fountains and beautiful boutiques, or watching the world go by as you sip on an Aixpresso or, for an authentic taste of Provence, Le Pastis.
Many pivate drivers offers excursions or just shuttles to see the holy victory mountain (painted by cezanne), avignon, les gorges du Verdon (lagest canyon europe). Capeo Shuttle offers these services[2]
The more modern activities include bowling, billiards, pubs, clubs, cinema, etc.
Another possibility is renting a bicycle for €10 for five hours and ride around Aix. This is a very good way to see the town that is outside the center. You can find many interesting places and buildings that you wouldn't have seen otherwise. Be careful riding in the center ville, since it is very crowded most of the time.
There is also a bus that leaves off the rotonde headed for St. Victoire and you get there in ten minutes. Pack a lunch and put comfortable shoes on to do a nature walk or to climb the mountain. At the top there is a monastery where you can stay overnight, make sure to bring firewood and water.
Aix is home to the Université d'Aix-Marseille.
Founded in 1956, Sciences Po Aix is one of the nine Political Studies Institutes in France, and the only one situated on the Mediterranean coast. Sciences Po Aix has numerous exchange programs through partnerships with close to 100 different universities in the world: the school welcomes 120 foreign students a year.
Aix has many major fashion boutiques, as well as a plethora of small clothing stores, perfumeries, and touristy souvenir shops. They are complemented by a few open-air markets in large squares, offering home made and grown goods and cafes.
For everyday items, look for various convenience stores. Downtown consider Monoprix (a chain throughout France) on the Cours Mirabeau. It offers clothing/sundries at street level, and a decent selection of groceries, bottled beverages, etc. on the level below, prices slightly higher than local markets.
Aix has an incredible number of restaurants compared to its small size. Most of them are gathered in a small area in the old city, between Place des Cardeurs and the Rotonde (Cours Mirabeau). Restaurants and bars on the Cours Mirabeau tend to be more expensive though, while some might be considered tourist traps, others are amongst the best places to eat in the city. L'Authentique is an excellent burger place in that area (walk past the Hermés boutique when heading towards the fountain, make a left at a wide open space, and it's the third shop).
Try "Le farinomanFou" or Emile Bec, which has five locations in Aix-en-Provence for quality breads.
You can also try Calissons, a specialty of the region consisting of a smooth, pale yellow, homogeneous paste of candied fruit (especially melons and oranges) and ground almonds topped with a thin layer of royal icing. Calissons have a texture not unlike that of marzipan, but with a fruitier, distinctly melon-like flavour. Calissons are often almond-shaped and are typically about two inches in length.
"Chez Charlotte" on rue des Bernardines is a very good restaurant very famous for locals. It proposes simple and reasonably cheap French food in a friendly atmosphere. Around €15 for a usual menu.
If you really want to eat like a local and save a couple of euros the best place to eat is the many corner restaurants that offer Doner Kebabs. For four euros you get a "sandwich" wrapped in a gallet or you can get it in a circular bread, that includes lettuce, tomatoes, onion, meat, french fries and be sure to ask for sauce blanche. This is very delicious and cheap. There are many restaurants that do their Kebabs differently so be sure to try
Aix en Provence is home to the Erasmus students' food of choice. Pizza capri located at the top of the Cours Mirabeau is perhaps the best pizza you will ever eat.
In combination with patisseries and bakeries, convenience stores (noted under "Buy" above) also offer good opportunities for economical self-catering, even for day visitors.
La Maison des Fondues offers a wide range of delicious fondues. he Normande, made with apple cider instead of kirsch, is lovely, and the Provençale is sublime.
Le Clos de la Violette, in the northern part of the city near the excellent Villa Gallici hotel, is extremely deserving of both of its Michelin stars. The menu changes seasonally.
A nice and relatively cheap place to have a drink is the Bar de La Mairie on Place de la Mairie.
Au P'tit Quart d'heure Possibly the most original bar in Aix, they sell 1 euro glasses of wine and people sit in the place rather than in the bar. Shuts early around 9pm on weekdays and later on weekends.
Bar Sextius Nice bar, nice barmaids, and seating area. Generally a good vibe with good music, especially on a thursday. Open til late.
Bar Brigand The 'young persons pub' in Aix, expect an overspill on to the streets on the weekends, and plenty of old and new characters. 2am close, happy hour 6 - 8.30
Pub Oshannons The pub in Aix, nice outdoors opposite excellent fast food, beer and kebab go hand in hand. Bar maids are pretty and buy your beer tower for 22 euros. Sports shown here also. Open til 2am
Wohoo The American bar in town. Find other expats or travellers and a wall of exotic money. Have a downstairs Cave thats blasts music on the weekends and beer pong competitions on Mondays, 2 a.m. close, beer-only license.
Bar Ptt Aix's cheapest bar in town, on the place de Richelme. Find locals in the bar itself while you enjoy sitting on the place. Plays sport on outdoors TV. Open til late.
- Hotel des Arts Tel (0)442381177 good Quality/Price in center aix en provence
- Hotel Paul, [3].
- Formule 1, [4].10 km
- Etap Hotel, [5].10km
- Ibis, [6].not center
- Grand Hotel Mercure du Roi René, [7].
- Novotel Beau Manoir les Trois Sautets, [8].
- Novotel Pont de l'Arc Fenouillères, [9].
- AquaBella. Nice three star hotel with pool, garden and hammam. Breakfast included normally, served on terrace looking into gardens and pool area. Drinks fairly expensive. Nice flat easy walk to town centre.
Vacation rentalsEdit
- L'Atelier Monclar **** 4 stars appartement in the city center. Calm, design and full equipped, the hostes will do their best to make your stay unforgettable.
Premium Villas Provence [10] "Specialises in holiday rentals of selected villas with pool for 2 to 20 people, in the Aix en Provence area and coastal Provence in South of France."
Aix en appartements [11] rents its own apartments in Aix-en-Provence, for the tourists all the year. It is not a rental agency. It is not a classified ad website.
- Vendome-Rotonde, 90 avenue Napoleon Bonaparte.
- Courteissado, 20 rue Courteissade.
- Le Beffroi, 2 Forum des Cardeurs.
- Clovis, 7 rue Clovis Hugues.
Stay safeEdit
Aix is a safe city to visit, but as with all French cities, tourists in Aix should be conscious of the risk of pickpockets and theft. Be aware of your surroundings. Do not leave valuables within view in parked cars. Exercise increased caution at night, and use the taxis that leave from the Rotonde fountain if you are going to the outlying neighborhoods late in the evening. Avoid public parks after dark.
Get outEdit
Some of the most beautiful villages in Provence are located nearby Aix en Provence:
Les Baux de Provence : listed as one of the most beautiful villages in France, standing on a spur of rock in the heart of the Alpilles, this village dominates Arles and the Camargue and offers and exceptional panorama. Superb medieval stone fortress.
Roussillon : classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France, facing the Luberon Mountains, Roussillon is famous for its magnificent red cliffs and ochre quarries.
Bonnieux : built on a plateau above the valley, Bonnieux is one of the most beautiful villages of Luberon.
Saignon : peaceful and serene village perched high atop a hill.
Ansouis : charming perched village in Luberon dominated by a magnificent medieval castle.
Lourmarin : nestled amid the vineyards, olive and almond trees, Lourmarin is one of the most beautiful villages in France.
Château La Coste : Wine Art Architecture: A vineyard just before the Luberon Valley, near Le Puy Sainte Réparade. It boasts a walk of site-specific art works from the likes Tadao Ando, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder and Richard Serra. Visitors can also have lunch in the Ando restaurant, visit the Jean Nouvel winery and taste the vaious wines.
Le Plateau de Valensole : kingdom of lavender, this area offers typical landscapes of Provence with its lavender and wheat fields.
Gordes : lovely village perched on a rock, facing the Luberon mountains, Gordes has been classified as one of the most beautiful villages of France. Narrow cobbled streets and magnificent castle whispering the tales of a thousand legends.
Arles : this town which has a history of 2500 years, is also known as "Gaul's Little Rome". It has some impressive Roman monuments, of which its famous arena. Arles is also the first city which Van Gogh discovered when he settled in South France in search of this light so unique to the South.
Occitania Provence Tours offers tours to visit these sites.[12]
|This is a usable article. It has information for getting in as well as some complete entries for restaurants and hotels. An adventurous person could use this article, but please plunge forward and help it grow!


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Give us a call!
Steven A. Crawford
(816) 728-7360
Rob Kimmons holds a 3rd Degree Black Belt in American Jujitsu. Rob was also an All-Kansas wrestler. Rob has a 21-3 record as a professional fighter, and is
2-2 with a win in the U.F.C.
As an amateur Rob was the KC Hook 'N' Shoot Light Heavyweight champ, the Clash of the Titans heavyweight super fight champ, and the St. Paddy's Day Rumble lightheavyweight superfight champ.
Trained by Master Steve Crawford in American Jujitsu, Rob has a full comprehension of stand-up fighting like boxing and Muay Thai, as well as ground fighting techniques of wrestling and Jujitsu. As good a student as Rob Kimmons is, he is an equally impressive instructor. Rob is capable of getting you fit and strong via conventional training, or getting you into fighting shape through hand-to-hand combat oriented workouts.
Rob is a Synergy Fitness Certified Personal Trainer. If you need a personal trainer, are a novice who wants to learn how to be a fighter, or a fighter who wants to refine his game, you can benefit from Rob's experience.
Rob is one of our belt testing instructors.


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New birthday, new presidential term … new 'do for First Lady Michelle Obama!
The POTUS' wife debuted the look – straight, shoulder-length hair with bangs and some face-framing fringe – on Thursday (her 49th birthday) in a photo she posted on her new Twitter account. Mrs. Obama, who normally sports a sleek style with a side part or a swept back look, also donned a red-and-pink Zac Posen creation in the shot, a candid of her chatting with Inaugural citizen co-chair David Hall about Monday's Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
And the people have spoken! The majority of those who replied to @FLOTUS on Twitter voted that the new look was quite an improvement with more than 300 retweets and favorites. "Happy Birthday, and great hair," tweeted @lea_artz.
Monday, of course, will also be busy for the First Family since it's the inauguration of President Barack Obama. Nearly 800,000 people are expected to descend upon Washington, D.C.'s National Mall to watch him be sworn in for his second term. Also on hand for the festivities will be Beyonce, who will sing the national anthem, and Kelly Clarkson, who will serenade the president and first lady with "My Country 'Tis of Thee."
Wonder what will Michelle will wear to the Inauguration to go with those new bangs?
More Celebrity Features on Yahoo!:
- Michael J. Fox Tells Taylor Swift to 'Back Off' His Son
- Is Britney Spears Headed to the Las Vegas Stage?
- LeAnn Rimes Opens Up About Suicidal Thoughts, Cheating Fears
Follow @YahooOMG on Twitter


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A sequel to my favourite Austen novel, Sense and Sensibility. This is a well written novel, but it felt like Ms. Barrett was so concerned with writing like Jane Austen, that she ignored important elements like plot and character development. Margaret was a really boring character- Austen would have given her much more sparkle. The story itself, moreover, was quite boring and predictable. I wanted to like this, but it just didn't do it for me.
There are no age suitabilities for this title yet.
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Farmers take notice to heavy rainfall
The Heavy rainfall could be the first steps to ending the drought. Local farmers are taking notice. 40/29 went to find out how farmers are making the best of the sudden rainfall.
Farm Owner Marlin Wallace grows fresh raspberries and blueberries at Blue heaven farm in Springdale. Wallace said he uses a rain gauge to measure how much rain he gets and said every bit helps
"Obviously right now the crops are starting to bud out and come out with fruit and the drought being as dry as it's been this rain has been real beneficial," said Wallace.
This time of year is usually dry. Last year around this time The U.S. Drought Monitor shows Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley were in a severe to moderate drought. Marlin Wallace said that any farm who's familiar with the nature of the area will irrigate as much as possible to keep the crops from dying.
"I have irrigation that will water the plants especially during the drought times. So all though I lost some plants, I didn't lose as many as some other farmers who don't have irrigation," said Wallace.
Wallace said irrigation is good but natural rain water replenishes his berry crops.


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Thousands of families have already been moved from their homes in the centre of the capital Phnom Penh, and more evictions are set to follow.
The authorities say this is a necessary part of Cambodia's development.
But in its report Amnesty disputes this, and says there has been a lack of accountability and consultation with local communities.
Members of threatened communities from across Phnom Penh are fighting on, although their homes may soon be reduced to rubble.
They have held a series of meetings to express solidarity and plead for help from outsiders.
The site of the latest gathering illustrates the size of the challenge they are facing.
'Legal title'
Dey Krahom was once a vibrant slum community. Now there are empty spaces where some residents have given up and abandoned their homes.
The gaps are filled with rubble, razor wire and garbage. Bulldozers belonging to the property developers park nearby.
Many residents say they hold legal title to their land and that threats and intimidation are being used to force them to leave.
Brittis Edman from Amnesty International says developers should adopt a cooperative approach instead.
"There should be discussions with the communities before an eviction is decided and the best option would obviously be to develop while the community is here, and develop the community as it is."
But that seems unlikely to happen. The Phnom Penh authorities have said they are committed to developing the city in partnership with private companies.
So far, that has meant relocating residents to sites that are in most cases a long way from the city centre, while developers build high-end housing and shops.
What are these?
Most Popular Now | 56,514 people are reading stories on the site right now.";


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Is Your Crib Mattress Really Organic?
Is Your Crib Mattress Really Organic?Have you ever seen the word 'organic' on a product you bought only to find out later that it is not actually organic? I've had that happen plenty of times. The label says organic, I read the ingredients or materials list – if there is one – and see that it contains a certain amount of organic materials but, otherwise, is basically the same as any other product I could have bought for half the price.
Sometimes the label correctly reflects the ingredients and is not misleading; and at other times the manufacturers are trying to take advantage of the selling potential of organic products by making things look a little more organic than they actually are – this is known as 'greenwashing.'
Figuring out whether or not a manufacturer is greenwashing can take quite a bit of research. But even with those manufacturers who are right up front about their products, we can still be confused. That's because we don't actually know the definitions and legalities of labeling terminology or the various certifications required by different types of products.
To make a very long story short, here are the basic labeling requirements for food and other agricultural products:
- If something contains less than 70% organic ingredients, it cannot be labeled organic.
- Products containing between 70% and 95% organic ingredients can use the phrase "made with organic ingredients."
- If the ingredients are 95% to 99.99% organic, they can be labeled "USDA Organic"
- If everything in a product is organic, the label can state "100% USDA Organic"
However, both the USDA Organic and 100% USDA Organic seals only apply to agricultural products in a relatively raw state. When cotton is harvested, cleaned and formed into cotton balls, it's still considered an agricultural product. But to turn that cotton into fabric, various processes are used that are beyond the USDA certification limitations.
That's where a different type of certification comes into play – Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
So, with a Naturepedic crib mattress, for example, the USDA organic certification would apply to the cotton interior, but not to the steel used for the springs or the food-grade polyethylene used for the waterproof covering, and so on.
Truth be told, both USDA and GOTS certification standards are full of a lot of little details we don't really need to know – like whether or not it's necessary to sew a product using organic cotton thread. Suffice it to say that if you're talking about crib mattresses, the only certification that really says organic is GOTS.
Naturepedic is proud to display the GOTS seal. And, I must say, we are on a very, very short list of manufacturers who can say the same.


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Oxygen Scores Best Monday Night Performance in Prime Time in Network History Powered by Premiere of Season 2 of "Love Games"
Channel is #1 Cable Network in 9PM Hour Among W18-34
NEW YORK - April 19, 2011 - Oxygen Media announced that it scored its best Monday night performance in prime time in its history. Additionally, the channel was the #1 cable network in the 9PM hour among W18-34. Fueled by the strength of megahit "Bad Girls Club" and its dating competition offshoot "Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too," Oxygen Media earned its best Monday traditional prime (Mon 8p-11p) ever among A18-49, W18-49, A18-34 and W18-34. At 9PM, "Bad Girls Club" earned A18-49 (1.033 MM), W18-34 (599,000), and 1.613 MM total viewers, up +18%, +10% and +19% respectively from last week. In the 9PM hour, Oxygen was the #2 English language television network, behind only ABC, and the #1 cable network among W18-34. At 10PM, the season two premiere of "Love Games" earned A18-49 (713,000), W18-34 (397,000), and 1.255 MM total viewers. Compared to the prior four week time period average, the season premiere of "Love Games Season 2" was up +126% with P18-49, and +166% on a total viewer basis, and +122% among W18-34. On Oxygen.com, compared to the premiere of "Love Games Season 1," unique visitors to the "Love Games" show site showed positive growth of +47% yesterday.
A spin-off of "Bad Girls Club," the dating competition series "Love Games" features former Bad Girls vying for the man of their dreams. The ladies bring their feisty ways back to the airwaves in search of love from a pool of eligible suitors. Each week, the Bad Girls have the group of bachelors competing for their attention in a series of challenges and entertaining group dates. The men that don't catch their eye and win their hearts are eliminated. "Love Games: Bad Girls Need Love Too" is produced by Bunim-Murray Productions with Jonathan Murray and Gil Goldschein serving as executive producers.
** Source: Nielsen Explorer, LS. Adobe SiteCatalyst powered by Omniture
About Oxygen Media
Oxygen Media is a multiplatform lifestyle brand that delivers relevant and engaging content to young women who like to "live out loud." Oxygen is rewriting the rulebook for women's media by changing how the world sees entertainment from a young woman's point of view. Through a vast array of unconventional and original content including "Bad Girls Club," "Hair Battle Spectacular," and "Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood," the growing cable network is the premiere destination to find unique and groundbreaking unscripted programming. A social media trendsetter, Oxygen is a leading force in engaging modern young women, wherever they are, with popular, award winning features online including www.OxygenLive.com, the real time social viewing party that is also available as an app for the iPhone and iPad, as well as innovative tools shopOholic, makeOvermatic and tweetOverse. Oxygen is available in 76 million homes and online at www.oxygen.com, or on mobile devices at wap.oxygen.com. Follow us on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/OxygenPR. Oxygen Media is a service of NBCUniversal.


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United Kingdom
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What can Oliver, a cartoon character, find in a week's worth of rubbish?
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Young Reading Series 2
The story of rubbish
Katie Daynes has written oodles of books for Usborne, from lifting the flaps on germs and poo, through things to spot in the sea and at school, to the life stories of Nelson Mandela and Marie Antoinette. She wrote My First Chess Book after being taught by her son, Joe Birks, who became the British Under 9 Chess Champion in 2017. She now lives in Yorkshire with her architect husband, two inquisitive children and a hamster called Toffee. When she's not writing books, Katie likes walking on the blustery moors, meeting friends for coffee and playing competitive board games.
This is a great little book about the history and science behind rubbish, with some wonderful illustrations by Uwe Mayer. It makes a good introduction to the subject and wider environmental issues.
ecozine website - www.ecozine.co.uk
A humorous book that follows the history of rubbish. While the text of this book may not be accessible to very young children, it nonetheless has a wealth of information that is made all the more easy to assimilate through the wonderful illustrations that accompany it.
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Amazon started telling consumers today, who visit Endless.com, that it will be shutting down next week.
The site, which sells high-end clothing, shoes, handbags, jewelry and watches, will become a part of Amazon.com/Fashion, according to a statement that appeared on the front page of the site.
Reuters, which first reported the news, said Amazon launched Endless.com in 2007, and that the closure is part of a big push by Amazon to expand further into fashion and apparel this year.
In an recent interview with AllThingsD, Amazon's CEO Jeff Bezos said he is spending a lot of time thinking about the apparel, and that its clothing business was getting "very exciting."
"I think there's a tremendous amount of invention going on there, especially in the Web presentation of apparel," he said.
A spokesperson confirmed that the transition was taking place and said that other non-Amazon branded fashion properties, such as Zappos or Shopbop, would not be affected.
"Between Amazon, Shopbop and Zappos, our customers have easy access to an assortment of quality brands and a variety of shopping experiences for any fashion need, so we are shifting our Endless business to Amazon in order to focus on the Amazon Fashion experience," the spokesperson said.
Amazon also operates MyHabit.com, a fashion site that sells items at a discount.
Apparel is one of the fastest growing categories online, according to eMarketer, which is predicting that the category will grow by 20 percent to $40.9 billion this year, up from $34.2 billion in 2011.
On the Web site, Amazon billed the changes as "exciting news."


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State Agencies |
Online Services
Find more...
Apryl Ealy
Regions: Northwest, Southwest, Central
Tom Rounds
Regions: Northeast, Central
Cathryn Shaw
Regions: Southeast, Southwest, Central
The COVID-19 ordered school-building closure affects educator evaluation systems. Specifically, this impacts decisions around completion of 2019-2020 educator evaluations and implementation of the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System (OTES) 2.0. Please access additional information here.
A major percentage of each teacher's evaluation comes from how much their students learn throughout the year. Student growth measures are a method for determining how much academic progress students are making by measuring growth between two points in time.
The challenge for measuring student growth is that not all teachers can use the same assessment. For the purpose of teacher and principal evaluations, there are three ways to measure student growth.
List of approved assessments for 2020-2021 school year
State law, Ohio House Bill 64, made adjustments to the Ohio Teacher Evaluation System for the 2015-2016 school year and beyond. Districts will choose between the original teacher evaluation framework (based on teacher performance rating and student growth rating, each at 50 percent) – and the alternative teacher evaluation framework. The alternative framework includes teacher performance at 50 percent, student growth at 35 percent and an additional measure as 15 percent of the evaluation.
The percentages for student growth measure components in both the original and alternative framework are pictured below. These diagrams are from the large graphic charts for the complete original and alternative frameworks that are posted here.
The electronic Teacher and Principal Evaluation System (eTPES) is the required accountability system for conducting and documenting educator evaluations and calculating ratings. Click here for more information.
Last Modified: 9/7/2020 3:47:18 PM


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Yeah, he's been in some decent platformers, but I never thought much of Rayman as a character. He's just too 90s. So it's a little surprising seeing him paid tribute in one of the biggest and best pieces of gaming graffiti I've ever seen.
The piece, by estaphette, can be found in Saint-Étienne in France. You couldn't miss it. It's enormous.
You can see the whole thing below. Don't be fooled by the tiny thumbnail.


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MasterChef Junior: This 10-year-old cooking phenom hangs on
Dear America, don't feel bad.
We can't cook as well as 10-year-old Gavin Pola and the other pint-size chefs on Fox's "MasterChef Junior," either.
Of course, if we stayed up practicing recipes till 3 a.m. like this particular, ebullient San Francisco sixth-grader, perhaps our handmade tortellini would turn out like his.
It's week three of Gordon Ramsay's newest cooking show, and Gavin is one of 10 kids, ages 8 to 13, still in the race, cooking out of mystery boxes and racing through elimination challenges with the kind of savoir faire you expect from the pros. And any expectations that Ramsay would unleash his notoriously fiery temper on children have been utterly dashed. Instead, the judging has been a veritable respect fest between adorable, stunningly talented kids and smitten judges.
Naturally, we had questions, and Gavin was happy to dish. He's always loved to cook, and his on-air aplomb is probably helped by the classes he took in the American Conservatory Theater's education wing. He played a Dickensian lad in last year's big holiday production at ACT.
"In 'A Christmas Carol,' " Gavin says. "Have you heard of it?"
Q: How did you start cooking?
A: When I was really little, I played with food - assembling sundaes, wondering what shall I do first? cherry on top? - just experimenting. This plus this equals that. It was fun. I like making cheesecake, salmon, all kinds of pasta - tortellini, fettuccine.
Q: What did you do to prepare for the show? Practice on your family?
A: Yeah, we cooked a lot at home. We tried lots and lots of recipes. One day, I stayed up until 3 in the morning!
Q: Had you seen these cooking shows before? Or did they do some kind of orientation? All the kids seem to know all the traditions: the clapping and yelling, "Yes, chef!"
A: Almost all of us had watched "MasterChef." On the first day, Gordon Ramsay asked a question and we said yes. He said, "No, never say yes. It's 'Yes, chef!' " We thought it was a joke, but it wasn't. (Laughs)
Q: So tell us - for real. What do you think of the judges?
A: The judges are really nice. They definitely criticize you, but it's because they want you to get better.
Q: But what about
A: I'd watched Gordon Ramsay on "Hell's Kitchen," "MasterChef," "Kitchen Nightmares." I was scared! We've all seen Gordon Ramsay yell! But (here) it's never a real yell. it's a mellowed-down yell.
Q: What has been the best part of the experience?
A: Learning to cook so well. It teaches you so many things. And I always wondered about what it's like backstage at TV shows.
Q: So when this is all over, what's next for you? Will you go back to being a regular kid?
A: Hopefully not! I definitely want to be in more cooking shows, and I've always wanted to be in commercials. That would be cool - Come get your bananas! They're a dollar off!


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Hulda Regehr Clark (1928-2009) claimed to cure cancer, AIDS, and many other serious diseases. She described herself as an "independent research scientist" with bachelor and master's degrees from the University of Saskatchewan and a Ph.D. degree in physiology from the University of Minnesota (1958). The Register of Ph.D. Degrees conferred by the University of Minnesota of Minnesota July 1956-June 1966, states that (a) Clark received her degree with a major in zoology and a minor in botany, (b) her thesis was titled, "A study of the ion balance of crayfish muscle; evidence for two compartments of cellular potassium," and (c) her University of Saskatchewan degrees were bachelor of arts in 1949 and master of arts in 1950 [1].
Clark also listed a naturopathic (N.D.) degree from the Clayton College of Natural Health [2]. Clayton is a nonaccredited correspondence school founded in 1980 and located in Birmingham Alabama. In 1985, when this school was called Dr. Clayton's School of Natural Healing, its "Doctor of Naturopathy" course was described in a magazine article as a "100-hour course" for which the tuition was $695 [3].
For several years, Clark's treatment was administered at Century Nutrition, a clinic in Tijuana, Mexico, where the basic fee for two weeks of "treatment" was $4,500 (plus 10% tax). This figure did not include the cost of a motel room (approximately $210/week); meals ($250/week); blood tests ($70 each); standard diagnostic imaging tests ($40 to $400); dental x-rays (at least $206); "individually tailored" supplements ($400 to $1,500 for a month supply); equipment (about $350); tooth extractions ($80 each); and partial or full dentures ($450).
Bizarre Claims
Clark claimed that all cancers and many other diseases are caused by "parasites, toxins, and pollutants" and can be cured by killing the parasites and ridding the body of environmental chemicals. In a videotaped presentation, she said that all diseases were caused by a combination of a parasite and a pollutant [4]. Her book The Cure for All Cancers states:
All cancers are alike. They are all caused by a parasite. A single parasite! It is the human intestinal fluke. And if you kill this parasite, the cancer stops immediately. The tissue becomes normal again. In order to get cancer, you must have this parasite. . . .
This parasite typically lives in the intestine where it might do little harm, causing only colitis, Crohn's disease or irritable bowel syndrome, or perhaps nothing at all. But if it invades a different organ, like the uterus, kidneys or liver, it does a great deal of harm. If it establishes itself in the liver, it causes cancer! It only establishes itself in the liver of some people. These people have propyl alcohol in their body. All cancer patients (100%) have both propyl alcohol and the intestinal fluke in their livers. The solvent propyl alcohol is responsible for letting the fluke establish itself in the liver. In order to get cancer, you must have both the parasite and propyl alcohol in your body [5:1-2].
Clark further alleged:
- The adult liver fluke—which she misspells as Faciolopsis buskii –– "stays stuck to our intestine, (or liver, causing cancer, or uterus, causing endometriosis, or thymus, causing AIDS, or kidney, causing Hodgkin's disease)." [5:4] Or the pancreas, causing diabetes; the brain, causing Alzheimer's disease; the prostate (causing prostatitis; or the skin if you have Kaposi's sarcoma [5:35].
- As soon as there are adults in the liver. . . . a growth factor, called ortho-phospho-tyrosine appears. Growth factors make cells divide. Now YOUR cells will begin to divide too! Now you have cancer. . . . Having propyl alcohol in your body allows the fluke to develop outside of the intestine [5:8].
- When the fluke and all its stages have been killed, the ortho-phospho-tyrosine is gone! Your cancer is gone [5:9].
- Clearly, you must do 3 things: (1) Kill the parasite and all its stages; (2) stop letting propyl alcohol into your body; and (3) flush out the metals and common toxins from your body so you can get well [5:10].
- It is not unusual for someone to have a dozen (or more) of the parasites I have samples of. You can assume that you, too, have a dozen different parasites [5:10].
- Three herbs, used together, can rid you of over 100 types of parasites: black walnut hulls, wormwood, and common cloves [5:11-12]. But the amino acids ornithine and arginine improve this recipe [5:15].
- Use of these five products will kill the cancer-causing fluke in the first five days and the remaining parasites in another two weeks [5:19].
- It takes 5 days to be cured of cancer regardless of the type you have. Surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy can be canceled because, after Clark's recipe cures the cancer, it cannot come back [5:introductory passage].
- All metal (fillings, crowns, bridges, etc.) should be removed from the mouth, and all teeth with root canals should be extracted, because their presence damages the immune system [5:46-48].
- To prevent recurrence, stay on a maintenance program of killing parasites and give yourself a high-dose program at least twice a year. Also treat all family members and household pets [5:23-26].
- The method is 100% effective in stopping cancer regardless of the type of cancer or how terminal it may be. It follows that this method must work for you, too, if you are able to carry out the instructions. [5:120]
- No matter what kind of cancer you have (or HIV or pains or weakness), a complete program of lifting the burdens on your immune system will miraculously clear it up. [5:372]
All of the above notions are absurd. In a 1999 talk that attacked widespread misbeliefs about parasites, the president of the American Society of Parasitologists noted that if Clark's pseudoscientific claims were correct, "the medical establishment and . . . professional pathologists are guilty of a gigantic and cruel fraud on the public." [6] The U.S. Centers for Disease Control states that Fasciolopsis buski is "found in Asia and the Indian subcontinent, especially in areas where humans raise pigs and consume freshwater plants." It is not a problem in the United States or other developed countries.
Patients who "cleanse" their intestines with Clark's recommended herbs may excrete what they think are parasites. However, in one instance I know of, a specimen of "parasites" turned out to be citrus fibers, presumably from grapefruit juice used for the "cleanse." In another, reported in a medical journal, the "parasites" turned out to be ordinary fecal material [7].
Phony Devices
Clark used and promoted two medically worthless devices. She claimed that her Syncrometer could identify diseased organs and toxic substances by noting whether the device makes various sounds when "test substances" are placed on a plate [5:373-427]. The device is simply a galvanometer that measures skin resistance to a low-voltage current that passes from the device through a probe touched to the patient's hand. Various models for home use can either be commercially purchased or made by the patient. Clark's "Zapper" is a low-voltage device that supposedly kills parasites, bacteria, and viruses with electrical energy, but does not harm human tissue. Its use is based on Clark's notion that all living things broadcast a characteristic range of radio frequencies and that the device can issue counter-frequencies that kill unwanted organisms [8]. Neither device has any genuine diagnostic or therapeutic value.
Clark's books, herbal products, and "Zapper" devices said to be built to her specifications have been marketed through many Web sites, one of which was the Self Health Resource Center, administered by Clark's son Geoff. The Self-Health Research Center's "Testing Division" has offered "syncrometer classes" twice a week, "scheduled as needed," for $175 [9]. Geoff also issued certificates for Zapper devices that are "within specifications found in Dr. Clark's books." The devices range in price from about $10 for a simple model to more than $200 for devices that also make colloidal silver. Her ideas are also advocated by the Dr. Clark Research Association, an entity founded in 1998 by David P. Amrein, a Scientologist who describes himself as a freelance consultant in finance and taxes. In 1999, membership in the association cost $40 per year and included a subscription to the Dr. Clark Research Association Bulletin, which Amrein edited. The November 1999 issue stated that the Bulletin had a circulation of 1,500. Amrein also markets products of the type Clark recommends.
In November 1999, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission announced that it had stopped an Australian company (Raylight Pty Ltd) from advertising that its "Parasite Zapper" passes an electric current through a person's blood and is effective against the AIDS virus, parasites, hepatitis, herpes, obesity, and other serious conditions. The company also agreed to provide refunds to consumers who felt they had been mislead [10].
|The picture to the right shows some of the paraphernalia purchased by a couple who reported wasting more than $30,000 in a desperate attempt to cure their child after Clark promised to "determine the true cause of the disease" and "clear this up completely." The items include a book, a videotape, 2 syncrometers, 2 zappers, 5 boxes of microscope slides, and 24 vials of substances that Clark falsely claimed would treat various parts of the child's body. The large box is a Radio Shack kit used to make a home-made syncrometer. Most of the other items were purchased from the Self Health Resource Center. The white box is labeled "SyncroZap Pulse Generator: For research only. Not approved for use on humans."
In 2004, the New England Journal of Medicine reported that a 52-year-old man with a cardiac pacemaker had experienced episodes of dizziness and near-fainting when he used a "Zapper" device. His doctors found that the device caused the pacemaker to malfunction and disturb the patient's heart rhythm. The device had been sold with a warning about pacemakers, but the patient ignored the warning [11].
Case Histories
Pages 119-372 of The Cure for All Cancers contain "case histories" of 138 cancer patients, of whom 103 were "cured" and 35 who "did not carry out instructions or could not be followed." The standard way to determine whether a treatment is effective is to carefully record the nature of the patient's disease before treatment and to determine the patient's condition indefinitely. Clark's reports contain little information about the patient's history and no indication that Clark performed any physical examinations. The only follow-up reports are for a few patients who returned for further treatment—usually a few weeks later. Cancer treatment results are normally expressed in terms of cancer-free status or survival over periods of years. Five-year survival rates are a common measure. Clark claims she can tell that patients are cured as soon as their ortho-phospho-tyrosine test is negative—within days or even a few hours after her treatment is begun. This claim is preposterous.
Thirty-eight of the 103 reports indicate that the patient had been medically diagnosed with cancer, and most of these 38 had received standard treatment. In 59 other cases, however, there was no indication that the patient had undergone any medical test or treatment that would indicate the presence of a cancer. (In 10 other cases, which Clark diagnosed as HIV infection, there was no history suggestive of AIDS. In the rest, it was not clear whether the patient had been medically diagnosed with cancer.)
Judging from the reports, Clark's judgments were based entirely on the results of her own peculiar diagnostic tests. If "ortho-phospho-tyrosine" was found in the blood, the patient had cancer. If a "protein 24 antigen" was found in the blood, the patient had AIDS. And, anywhere from a few hours to several weeks later, if these tests became negative, Clark considered the patient cured. The book describes how some of the patients who had consulted Clark for other problems were startled to hear they had cancer or AIDS.
None of the reports provides any basis for concluding that Clark's treatment has the slightest value. The majority of the people described in the 103 case reports did not have cancer. Of those that did, most had received standard medical treatment or their tumors were in their early stages. In these cases, Clark pronounced them cured but did not follow what happened after they left her clinic—so she could not possibly know how they did afterward. In some cases, she counted patients as cured even though she noted that they died within a few weeks after she treated them.
Two people who seem knowledgeable have informed me that Clark's brother, Henry Regehr, died of cancer despite treatment by her.
Legal Trouble
In September 1999, Clark was arrested in San Diego, California, based on a fugitive warrant from Indiana, where she faced charges of practicing medicine without a license. In November, a former patient filed suit accusing her of negligence and fraud.
The criminal case originated when Clark lived and practiced in Indiana [12,13]. In 1993, after a former patient complained to the Indiana attorney general, a health department official visited accompanied by a deputy attorney general visited her office and was diagnosed with AIDS and sent to a laboratory for a blood test [14]. Clark—apparently tipped off by the lab—found out she was being investigated and left Indiana a few days later. In 1999, Clark was apprehended in California and returned to Indiana to stand trial. However, in April 2000, an Indiana judge dismissed the charges on grounds that too much time had elapsed between the filing of the charges and Clark's arrest. The judge's verdict did not address the merits of the charges but only the issue of whether the delay had compromised Clark's ability to mount a defense and her right to a speedy trial [15].
The civil case was filed by Esther and Jose Figueroa of New York City against Clark, the Dr. Clark Research Association, Century Nutrition, and several associated individuals. Mrs. Figueroa, who had been medically diagnosed with breast cancer, sought treatment in September 1998. The court papers state that she was told:
- Dust from her apartment was responsible for her breast cancer.
- Returning to her apartment would place her at special risk to develop leukemia because of her blood type.
- She had asbestos, lead, and a lot of copper in her system.
- The Syncrometer detected a parasite called "rabbit fluke" inside her breast.
- She also had E. coli, asbestos, and salmonella due to improper food sterilization.
- Several teeth should be removed and "cavitations" in her lower jaw should be scraped out.
The suit also charged that:
- Clark subsequently arranged for all of Mrs. Figueroa's front and molar teeth to be removed, prescribed more than 30 dietary and herbal supplements to be taken during a 12-week period, and badly burned her breast while administering treatment with a "Zapper" device.
- During the 3-month period of treatment, the tumor increased from 1.5 cm to 14 cm.
- Despite this fact, Mrs. Figueroa was falsely told that she was getting better, that tests for "cancer markers" were negative, and that pain she was experiencing did not reflect persistence of her cancer.
In 2001, the Figueroa family indicated to their attorney (Christopher Grell) that undergoing a deposition would be too stressful for Mrs. Figueroa. Mr. Grell therefore petitioned the court to withdraw from the case, and the case ended shortly afterward. One of the defendants (Self Health Resource Center, operated by Clark's son Geoffrey) then sued Grell and two associates for malicious prosecution and abuse of process. Grell responded with a motion to dismiss, which was granted and upheld on appeal, with an award of costs and attorneys fees to Grell. The Court of Appeal concluded:
The evidence amply supports a reasonable belief on the part of these defendants [Grell and associates] that plaintiff [the Self Health Resource Center] was part of a network of persons and entities who acted recklessly, at best, luring Mrs. Figueroa into a bizarre, grotesque, and extremely expensive regimen of "alternative" cancer treatments which has no effect other than to exhaust the Figueroa's life savings and divert Mrs. Figueroa from conventional treatments, thereby reducing her prospects for recovery and survival [16].
Libel Campaign
Various Internet postings indicate that in September 1999, Geoffrey Clark hired Tim Bolen to assist her after she was arrested. Bolen and his wife Jan do business as JuriMed, an entity whose stated purpose is to assist "alternative" health practitioners faced with regulatory action, criminal prosecution, or other matters that threaten their financial well-being and/or license to practice. Bolen refers to JuriMed as a "public relations and research group." In November 1999, the Bolens began distributing false and defamatory statements to the effect that:
- I am arrogant, bizarre, closed-minded, emotionally disturbed, professionally incompetent, intellectually dishonest, a dishonest journalist, sleazy, unethical, a quack, a thug, a bully, a Nazi, a hired gun for vested interests, the leader of a subversive organization, and engaged in criminal activity (conspiracy, extortion, filing a false police report, and other unspecified acts).
- Terry Polevoy, M.D. (a Canadian pediatrician who operates anti-quackery Web sites) is dishonest, closed-minded, emotionally disturbed, professionally incompetent, unethical, a quack, a fanatic, a Nazi, a hired gun for vested interests, and engaged in criminal activity (conspiracy, stalking of females, and other unspecified acts) and has made anti-Semitic remarks.
- Attorney Grell is professionally incompetent and has filed a false report with the FBI.
Many of the messages were republished (sometimes with embellishment) on Web sites, in news group postings, and in other e-mail messages by other Clark allies and supporters.
After Clark's arrest, Geoffrey Clark set up a defense fund to pay for expenses associated with defending her against "legal attacks." A description of the fund states that the covered expenses would include attorney fees, publicists, expert witnesses, court costs, and appeals and that Goeffrey would administer the money without compensation. The report also stated that by May 31, 2000, the fund had raised $113,943.76, earned interest of $665.96, and spent $27,900.51 for legal expense, $327.65 for "Acct/Copies," $56,408.43 for public relations, and $714.30 for Hulda Clark's travel. It did not indicate how much of the public relations payment went to the Bolens. This information was published on the Web site of New Century Press, which Clark owned and used to publish her books until a few months before her death.
To defend against the libel campaign, I and three others have filed several libel suits against Bolen and various others who have spread his false messages [17].
More Legal Trouble
In February 2001, Mexican authorities inspected Century Nutrition and ordered it to shut down. According to a report in the San Diego Union Tribune, the clinic had never registered and was operating without a license [18]. In June, the authorities announced that the clinic would be permitted to reopen but could offer only conventional care. The clinic was also fined 160,000 pesos (about $18,000). Both the order and the fine were appealed through the Mexican courts [19]. Clark's attorney told me that the fine was rescinded. However, I was unable to locate any documents to this effect.
The FTC has taken action against Marvin and Miguelina Beckwith, of Blaine, Washington, who had been selling Zappers and herbs through their "cancercure.com" Web site [20]. Court documents state that the Beckwiths, doing business as Western Dietary Products, Inc., had claimed that their "Zapper Electrical Unit" is effective against Alzheimer's and HIV/AIDS and that various herbal products—including Black Walnut Tincture, Wormwood Tincture, and Cloves Tincture—can treat and cure cancer, Alzheimer's, diabetes, arthritis, and HIV/AIDS and would make surgery and chemotherapy unnecessary for persons with cancer [21].
The FTC's case was supported by three lengthy affidavits that dissected and thoroughly debunked Hulda Clark's theories and treatments. Among other things:
- Aron Primack, M.D., a cancer specialist who is Associate Professor of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics at the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland, stated that, Hulda Clark's books "do not provide competent and reliable evidence" to support her claims [22].
- Peter W. Pappas, Ph.D., a prominent parasitologist and Professor Emeritis at the Ohio State University, stated (a) although cancer and AIDS are found worldwide, the parasite Clark blames for them is limited to South East Asia; (b) "Clark's 'case histories' represent an egregious example of a highly biased experimental protocol, and her theories are based on bad science"; and (c) "She clearly does not have a basic understanding of the most fundamental parasitological principles." [23]
- Joseph Pizzorno, N.D., the nation's top naturopath, stated that, "No research is presented demonstrating that the Zapper has any physiological effects, let alone ability to kill parasites or cure cancer. The claim that mild electrical shocks to the skin can eliminate intestinal parasites is, frankly, preposterous." [24]
In December 2001, the case was settled with a consent agreement that prohibited the defendants from making any unsubstantiated claims that their products are effective in treating or alleviating any disease or condition or that use of their products in the treatment of cancer makes surgery or chemotherapy unnecessary [25]. Although Clark and her family were not parties to this action, it might discourage others from marketing what she recommends.
In January 2003, the FTC charged the Dr. Clark Association, Behandlungzentrum GMbH (a Swiss company), and David Amrein (the sole director of both) with falsely advertising devices and herbal products related to Clark's theories [26]. The complaint, filed in an Ohio federal court, alleged that the defendants made unsubstantiated representations that:
- The Super-Zapper Deluxe device is effective to kill bacteria, viruses, and parasites in the human body, and is effective against chronic infections, cancer, and AIDS.
- The Super-Zapper Deluxe, used with the Complete Herbal Parasite Program, is effective to cure all forms of cancer in humans and to cure AIDS.
- The Super-Zapper Deluxe, used with the Complete Herbal Parasite Program and avoidance of pollutants, is effective to cure diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, endometriosis, asthma, and many other diseases.
- Dr. Clark's New 21 Day Program for Advanced Cancers is effective to cure all forms of cancer in humans; has cured many people diagnosed with advanced cancer; and when used with the Super-Zapper Deluxe, make surgery and chemotherapy unnecessary.
- The Syncrometer device is more accurate than the best testing methods at diagnosing all forms of disease; and can detect the presence of any substance at specific points in the human body.
In November 2004, the case was settled with a stipulated judgment under which customers could request refunds and the defendants are prohibited from making ten types of unsubstantiated claims:
- Use of the Super-Zapper Deluxe is effective to kill bacteria, viruses and parasites in the human body;
- Use of the Super-Zapper Deluxe is effective against chronic infections, cancer and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS);
- The Super-Zapper Deluxe and the Complete Herbal Parasite Program are effective to cure all forms of cancer in humans;
- Dr. Clark's New 21 Day Program for Advanced Cancers is effective to cure all forms of cancer in humans;
- Dr. Clark's New 21 Day Program for Advanced Cancers has cured numerous people with advanced cases of cancer;
- The Syncrometer device is more accurate than the best testing methods at diagnosing all forms of disease;
- The Syncrometer device can detect the presence of any substance at specific points in the human body; I
- The Super-Zapper Deluxe, used together with the Complete Herbal Parasite Program, is effective to cure AIDS;
- The Super-Zapper Deluxe, used together with the complete Herbal Parasite Program and avoidance of pollutants, is effective to cure diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's, endometriosis, asthma, and many other diseases;
- Dr. Clark's New 21 Day Program for Advanced Cancers and Super-Zapper Deluxe, when used by persons with cancer, make surgery and chemotherapy unnecessary; unless, at the time of making the representation, Defendants possess and rely upon competent and reliable scientific evidence that substantiates the representation.
Clark Dies of Cancer
On September 3, 2009, Clark died of complications of multiple myeloma, a form of lymphoma in which plasma cells become overabundant in the bone marrow. As their volume increases, they destroy the surrounding bone, which releases large amounts of calcium into the blood stream. They also suppress the formation of other blood cells, which leads to severe anemia [26]. The diagnosis is usually easy to make because the affected areas appear on x-ray images as "holes" in the affected bones. The disease eventually kills by producing hypercalcemia, anemia, decreased resistance to infection, and/or several other problems. No cure is available, but most people benefit from treatment, and recently developed drugs have significantly increased survival times.
Immediately after Clark's death, her supporters claimed that she had died of "complications from a spinal cord injury." But a few weeks later, the Dr. Clark Information Center Web site revealed that she had multiple myeloma. The site states:
- Clark's symptoms began with arm pain due to deterioration of a neck vertebra, but she was "unable to use her Syncrometer techniques to investigate, because her hands and arms did not work well enough.
- The blood tests showed that Clark was anemic, and she "saw that she had reduced kidney function," "but her health deterioration was a mystery."
- After "living with severe hip pain for several months, she underwent hip replacement surgery but continued to have pain for more than six months before finding a medication that could control the pain.
- Later she was scheduled for neck surgery, but preoperative blood tests found hypercalcemia and further evaluation led to the diagnosis of multiple myeloma.
The site further comments that Clark "suffered more than she should have because she wanted to solve her problems herself, even in the face of her severe physical limitations" and that, "Perhaps if she had known what to look for earlier she could have better helped herself. But it was too late. In her last few months, Dr. Clark was physically unable to function well." [28]
Although details are lacking, the above information suggests to me that Clark's life was shortened because she failed to seek timely and appropriate medical care.
For Additional Information
- A Response to Clark's "Publicist" (Tim Bolen)
- How Hulda Clark Victimized My Parents
- A Visit to Clark's Mexican Clinic (1996)
- <a href="http://web.archive.org/web/20010720184009/www.uoguelph.ca/


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Sweet and Low
This story appears in the August 2000 issue of . Subscribe »
It sounds like a great idea: starting your own business, being your own boss, charting your own destiny, coming to work in bright red high-tops whenever you feel like it. In spite of all the talk lately about multimillion-dollar venture capital deals, it is still possible to start a business for less than the cost of a new car, even a cheap one. For the price of 285 movie tickets, 200 pizzas, one good mountain bike or a spring break trip to Florida, you can hang out your "I'm the boss" shingle and get started. In fact, all the entrepreneurs spotlighted here started up for less than $10,000-in some cases, a lot less-and you can, too.
10 Hot Businesses to start for less than $10K
1. High-Tech PR
"Right now, [anyone] could get rich," says Tony Greene, senior vice president of account services with Sterling Hager Inc., a Watertown, Massachusetts, public relations and marketing firm. He's referring to the booming demand for public relations agencies that cater to high-tech clients.
While you should have some knowledge of cutting-edge technology to be effective in this field, your business itself doesn't necessarily need to be highly sophisticated at start-up. In fact, Dennis Chominsky, 28, and his partner, Jason Miletsky, 28, started PFS New Media Inc. in Wayne, New Jersey, under humble circumstances: While working as a bartender, Chominsky started a production company in his garage, and Miletsky toiled as a waiter while running a PR firm out of a one-room home office. In 1996, the two decided to join forces and target the high-tech market, later adding a third partner, 34-year-old Deirdre Breakenridge. They brought in $3.5 million last year.
With growth of the high-tech industries running at an astounding 300 to 400 percent a year, clients will find you, Greene assures entrepreneurs. In fact, his firm turns away business because it already is operating at capacity. Beginners can get the word out about their services by contacting industry associations and advertising their Web sites.
The PFS partners do offer a few caveats, namely, the proclivity of high-tech clients to offer payment in stock options rather than cash. Proceed with caution when choosing your clients, and make sure you have plenty of stamina. "The biggest challenge," Chominsky concludes, "is that everything changes so quickly. To keep up with our clients, we need to be two steps ahead of other public relations firms."
The basics: a high-powered PC, software that lists media contacts (such as Bacon's MediaSource Software, 800-621-0561), a copier, a solid postage processor for bulk mailing, a few phone lines, a fax machine, business cards and letterhead.
Total cost: $4,500
What they spent: Chominsky and Miletsky started their separate businesses for about $3,000 each and needed little additional equipment when they merged. They worked full-time jobs after the merger, then slowly built from that base.
For details: Public Relations Society of America, (212) 995-2230, www.prsa.org
2. Accessory Design
Anita Ko was 22 and jobless the day she walked into a Los Angeles fabric store and found herself smitten with a bolt of '70s vintage upholstery fabric-the kind once used to line the interiors of RVs. "I thought it would make a cute handbag," recalls Ko, whose house had just been robbed, leaving her purseless. Determined not to let a limited budget stand in the way of her overwhelming need to accessorize, Ko bought the retro upholstery fabric for a little less than $100 and whipped up a few handbags for herself and her eager friends.
When Ko realized she might be on to something, she made a few designs and took them to a sample-maker. A friend who was a clothing rep showed the samples to local boutique owners, who liked the funky, retro designs and fabrics. Almost before she realized it, Ko, who has no formal design experience, was in business with Los Angeles-based Trash Bags.
This is not the usual course of events for young designers, acknowledges Barbara Bundy, vice president of education at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Most of them have some formal training and have worked for established designers, at least for a while. But, in the end, most entrepreneurs need a unique idea and an endless supply of emotional fortitude to make it as an independent designer. For Ko, launching Trash Bags was remarkably easy. "I got a lot of immediate orders so soon," she says, "I thought getting business came naturally to everyone."
The relative ease of that first year, in 1997, in which Ko and her team of contract workers turned out 1,000 handbags a month from a warehouse and earned $200,000, made the second-year growing pains a bit harder to bear, Ko admits. Moving out of the warehouse and into her own downtown Los Angeles studio, juggling new expenses, and continuing to expand the business took a toll on her nerves. "I busted my butt. I cried. I bled," recalls Ko, now older and wiser at 25. "I wanted to quit a million times."
Those who buy her $65 to $165 handbags-great retailers like Macy's and Bloomingdale's and celebrities like Claudia Schiffer and Cameron Diaz-are glad she didn't. Now that the business is earning more than $300,000 and Ko is experienced, she's proud she toughed it out. Says Ko, "My life has changed because of this business."
The basics: fabric, a pattern, a sewing machine and other related sewing tools, a business phone line, a standard PC, a printer, basic software, and Internet access. Marketing expenses will cost about $2,000.
Total cost: $5,000
What she spent: Ko initially spent $2,500 for fabric, the production of her first samples, showroom fees and travel expenses. She did most of her early marketing by word-of-mouth and visiting local boutiques.
For details: Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, (213) 624-1200, www.fidm.com
3. Web Site Consultant
T. Renee Wilson was only 19 and working as an intern at AT&T when she dreamed up a consulting company that could meet her clients' every technical need, from research to implementation (including Web site design and development of CD-ROMs and DVDs) to eventual follow-up. The business was not to stay a dream for long, however. Wilson started and ran Communications Management Group Inc. (CMG) for six months before letting her parents in on her secret. "I had classes all day [at two Georgia universities], and I worked all night," says the 25-year-old Atlanta entrepreneur. "I remember sleeping for the first time in two days while waiting for my [business cards and brochures] to be printed at Kinko's."
Her determination was boundless: She networked; she cold-called; she did free presentations. People assumed she was in her early 30s when she was just 22-and it helped land clients. Word spread among major corporations that Wilson's firm delivered on its promises, and despite CMG's relatively small size, the big fish bit. "We don't take no for an answer," Wilson says, perhaps unnecessarily. "No is just a second chance to make a better impression."
"It's harder today for a small shop to get large clients," says Andrew Q. Kraft, executive director of the Association for Internet Professionals in Los Angeles. "There is a growing number of established companies, and it's no longer enough for a company to be able to do the technical work. They need someone who can work with clients."
CMG does that and more. "We do a lot of clean-up work and repair," says Wilson, who brings in $5 million a year and projects $95 million for 2000, thanks to the e-commerce addition. "We ask clients not only what they want now, but where they'll be in six months."
CMG now has over 100 employees working in offices nationwide. Wilson's best advice for young entrepreneurs? Do what you say you're going to do.
The basics: a computer with at least 8GB hard-drive space, a 17-inch monitor and a minimum 350MHz processor with a graphics accelerator ($1,500 to $2,000). Add a scanner, a laser printer, graphics software, a Web management tool, file-transfer software, a digital camera and space for your Web site. Toss in a handbook on HTML, XML and Javascripting.
Total cost: $3,500 to $4,500
What she spent: Wilson already had most of the equipment she needed, and she created her own marketing materials. She spent $3,000 on office space, furniture and phone lines.
For details: Association for Internet Professionals, (877) AIP-0800, www.association.org
4. Internet Radio Broadcaster
Decades ago, before merger mania and the homogenization of America's radio stations, disk jockeys were the cowboys of the airwaves, playing and saying what appealed to them and their listeners. The era of indie radio is now resurfacing, thanks to the Internet.
A new breed of radio renegades is broadcasting to computer users, free of FCC regulations because, so far, there aren't any. "Anyone can do it," says Lynne Margolis, associate editor of RadioDigest.com Inc., of starting an Internet radio station.
Jon Buck, 28, got hooked on Internet radio after listening to a pirate station in London. He linked up with Mark "Frosty" McNeill, 24, who gained experience with Internet radio at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles. The partners launched dublab.com LLC from Los Angeles in September 1999.
The biggest challenge for Net radio entrepreneurs is standing apart from the buzz. Fast-growing technology will likely give Internet radio a boost in the near future. Dublab.com operates on the lean side, publicizing the station through word-of-mouth and e-mail. Sales are generated from sponsorships and e-commerce. Buck predicts the business will earn more than half a million during its first year. "[Sales] aren't as important as establishing our brand name and usership," he says. "Money doesn't matter as much as who has the best game plan and the most perseverance."
The basics: a standard PC and software, a Web site, broadband transmission capability (cost: $1,000 a month to support 1,000 listeners) and RealAudio (downloadable at www.realaudio.com) or similar software.
Total cost: $5,500 to $6,000
What they spent: Buck and McNeill pooled $25,000 for basic gear, a few months' rent and staff.
For details: Association for Internet Professionals, (877) AIP-0800, www.association.org
5. Image Consultant
A booming economy and the need for a competitive edge are contributing to the demand for professional image consultants, according to Elaine Stoltz, a consultant in Fort Worth, Texas. "Now that [people are] educated about what image consulting is, [they] realize they could use our services," she says.
Corporate clients are turning to certified image consultants like 34-year-old Michelle Damiano, owner of Impressions in State College, Pennsylvania, for help in presenting a powerful image. Damiano assists clients with everything from marketing materials to business etiquette, but her specialty is trade show advising. "There are high-tech companies whose trade show booths look like they were put together by the Brady Bunch. That sends an inconsistent message," says Damiano, who launched her business full time in 1997. Before venturing out on her own, however, she worked (for free) with several New York City image consultants who proved to be invaluable mentors.
Working with two subcontractors, Damiano lands clients by attending trade shows, conducting workshops and advertising in business publications. Her annual sales in the past three years have grown from $20,000 to nearly $80,000.
Damiano's biggest challenge is helping her clients present a consistent professional image. "Image consulting is not rocket science," she says, "or I wouldn't be doing it. On the other hand, if it all were all just common sense, everyone would be doing it."
The basics: a standard PC and software, a business phone line, a fax machine, and e-mail. Marketing the business costs up to $2,000.
Total cost: $4,000 to $4,500
What she spent: Damiano spent less than $3,000 to start the business because she worked from home and had most of the basic equipment.
For details: Association of Image Consultants International, (800) 383-8831, www.aici.org
6. Carts & Kiosks
She calls herself an accidental tourist in the land of entrepreneurship. But even though she had no previous business experience, 33-year-old Alexis Abramson's success is hardly a random event. Combining her compassion for seniors with a growing demand for products to help them live independently, she has created a thriving business.
In 1995, Abramson, who holds a master's degree in gerontology, knew she wanted to make a difference in the lives of older Americans. "I felt as if they had been put out to pasture," says the owner of Atlanta-based Mature Mart Inc. "I wanted to take away the negativity surrounding them."
With a $2,000 loan from family members, she launched a Web site selling products geared toward seniors. It logged 40,000 hits in the first month. The following year, around the Christmas holiday season, Abramson tested a kiosk in a nearby mall, and it sold out five times before Christmas Eve. "It told us what we wanted to know about price points and who our customers are," Abramson says. "Actually, we saw that everyone wanted the stuff."
The kiosks helped fund Mature Mart's growing Web site, which features more than 20,000 items. Point-of-purchase displays appear in grocery stores, and products are sold on QVC and through the company's catalog. Sales are increasing 500 percent every six months, and franchise requests are pouring in. As good as it is, Abramson, who employs 15 and outsources to 125 others, is ensuring it will get even better by spending $20,000 on a site facelift.
Like Abramson, many entrepreneurs find carts and kiosks are a low-cost way to launch a retail business or to supplement an existing business. Patricia Norins, publisher of Specialty Retail Report, a publication focusing on carts and kiosks, says they're particularly good start-ups for young entrepreneurs due to the low investment required and their ability to thrive even during economic downturns.
Abramson says she's driven by her commitment to older citizens. "I keep doing this," she says, "because with every new product I offer, another senior becomes independent."
The basics: a cart (buy your own for about $3,000 or rent one from a mall), a cash register, $1,000 for initial advertising and $4,000 in inventory.
Total cost: more than $7,100
What she spent: Abramson's start-up inventory and first month's rent at a mall cost less than $5,000.
For details:Specialty Retail Report (800) 936-6297, www.specialtyretail.com
7. Virtual HR
When Ian Delisle and his partner, David Tanguray, were employed by a start-up that was rapidly going bankrupt, they spent hours job-hunting on the Internet. They found the task to be frustrating because the job sites were scattered everywhere.
Rather than wait for the inevitable sinking of their employer, the men, now both 27, started a client application that would allow job seekers to do a metasearch of the online help-wanted ads. "We were just aiming to do this as a sideline, a weekend job that we could do while working at regular day jobs," Tanguay says.
In 1997, they launched Wanted Technologies from the kitchen of Tanguay's two-bedroom apartment in Quebec. A year later, they had developed the first job metasearch tool, Wanted Jobs 98, which allowed users to query more than 40 job sites, accessing 2.5 million jobs throughout North America.
The start-up made its money from advertisements for human-resources-oriented sites; much of the marketing was done using free services. Now much more than a weekend gig, the company employs 20 people in its Quebec and Los Angeles offices. They received their first infusion of venture capital, $500,000, in early 1999 and, at the end of last year, scored a round of $3 million. Sales are projected at $1 million for this year.
The virtual HR industry is broadly defined; it can mean anything from creating job-search or training companies like Wanted Technologies to acting as a cyber-HR department for companies wanting to outsource those tasks.
Nevertheless, the opportunities for entrepreneurs are great because, at this point, they're ahead of the curve. Says Tanguay, who advises people to find a unique position and to start small but grow quickly by building partnerships: "You can't do it alone."
The basics: a high-powered PC, a Web site, a few phone lines, a fax machine, business cards and letterhead.
Total cost: $5,000
What they spent: Tanguay and Delisle used $5,000-half of it borrowed from a bank-to set up the business at home.
For details: Society for Human Resource Management, (703) 548-3440, www.shrm.org
8. E-Zine Publisher
An e-zine publisher is like "one tiny star in a universe," according to Steve Outing, CEO of Content Exchange LLC, a digital marketplace for online publishers. Outing contends that the stars that will shine the brightest-and the ones that will make money-are the publications that cater to a niche market.
With the 1999 launch of their e-zine, Jade, Audrey Panichakoon, 30, and Ellen Hwang, 30, caused the online skies to glow a bit brighter. Hwang, an editor, and Panichakoon, an information architect for an Internet company, wanted to read a magazine targeted to Gen X Asian American women with professional careers, but the pickings were slim. The partners conducted a survey and found that others were looking for the same thing-a publication focusing on relationships, fashion, beauty and personal experiences.
The first issue of Jade was e-mailed to 1,200 readers, but by the beginning of this year, the number of readers leaped to 5,000 per issue, some as far away as Singapore and Japan. Sales are generated by advertising and e-commerce.
The partners say the benefits of launching an e-zine rather than a traditional magazine are obvious: shorter production times, lower costs (no office and no staff) and quick feedback from readers. "We use laptops, so having a concrete office isn't necessary," Hwang explains.
After one year, the business is breaking even. And they soon hope to pen a business plan, find investors and more advertisers, then devote themselves to running Jade full time.
The basics: a standard PC or a laptop, a printer, basic software, a Web site, a database of target subscribers' e-mail addresses, and a P.O. Box.
Total cost: $3,000 to $4,000
What they spent: Hwang and Panichakoon invested $1,000 on incorporation, an ISP, a P.O. Box and miscellaneous extras. They developed the Web site and got the e-mail list for free, and they already owned all the other equipment.
For details: Content Exchange, (303) 543-7810, www.content-exchange.com
9. Parent and Kid Tech
In the old days, families gathered around their TV sets for entertainment and news. Now it seems the computer has become the focal point for parents and kids alike-and there's a demand for interactive sites designed for both older and younger generations.
Melisa Cowden's got it all covered. The 35-year-old mother of four launched her new parent-oriented site, coolparents.com, for less than a vacation at Disneyworld, and her next project is the development of a site just for children called coolkids.com. Coolparents.com, launched in June, features helpful ideas on parenting, links to parenting sites, a message board for parents to get advice on everything from potty training to mealtime ideas, motivational stories, and ideas for games and crafts they can do with the youngins.
In the future, this busy Austin, Texas, Sunday school teacher and aerobics instructor, who also owns kid-oriented littleloveletters.com LLC (parent company to the other two), plans to add a review of children's movies by volunteer parents, inexpensive birthday party ideas, a link for single parents and tips on child-proofing the home.
While Cowden, who earns revenues through paid advertisements and sales of littleloveletters Napkin Notes, has learned a great deal about the business world, she says her example is also giving her three daughters and a son a valuable lesson in entrepreneurship. "From watching me, they can see how hard it is," she says.
The basics: a computer with at least 8GB hard-drive space, a 17-inch monitor and a minimum 350MHz processor with a graphics accelerator ($1,500 to $2,000). Add a scanner, a laser printer, graphics software, a Web management tool, file-transfer software, a digital camera and space for your own Web site. Toss in a handbook on HTML, XML and Javascripting.
Total cost: $3,500 to $4,500
What she spent: about $1,500. Cowden already owned most of the equipment necessary because she operates another Web business, and she was able to design the new site herself. The start-up funds were used for additional software, programming, consulting fees, new business stationery and other basic office expenses.
For details: Association of Internet Professionals, (877) AIP-0800, www.association.org
10. Personal Concierge
If you're resourceful, energetic and you love people-really love them-there are millions of time-starved Americans willing to pay you to fulfill their needs and whims. A growing battalion of personal concierges is springing up to do everything from planning romantic weekend retreats to locating a plumber at inconvenient times.
While harried individuals are finding a need for personal concierges, even more corporations are hiring them to help ease busy employees' loads. The services performed by personal concierges before landing corporate clients often include grocery shopping, taking pets to the vet and ironing. Many work from home and gain larger clients as they pick up experience.
As a personal concierge, it's essential to be a good online researcher, because many client requests can be fulfilled by performing a Web search. Concierges must also be efficient and committed to providing great customer service-even if someone asks you to plan a birthday party for their cat.
The basics: a basic computer, Internet access, a business phone line, a fax machine, business cards and letterhead.
Total cost: $3,000
What they spend: Make sure you don't squander all your start-up capital on unnecessary business consulting fees. Even with basic office equipment and a limited budget for extras, you can build a growing business. Market yourself through personal letters, networking and word-of-mouth.
For details: The National Concierge Association, (312) 782-6710, www.conciergeassoc.org
Contact Sources
- CMG Inc., (404) 287-2700, www.cmg-inc.net
- Impressions, (888) 923-8323, email@example.com
- Sterling Hager Inc., (617) 926-6665, www.sterlinghager.com
- Trash Bags, (213) 748-8709
- Wanted Technologies Inc., (213) 624-5061, www.wantedtech.com


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Motor Group Enjoys Bumper Year of National and International Recognition
30 Nov, 2012, 09:32 GMT
DUBLIN, November 30, 2012 /PRNewswire/ --
In testing financial times, people are always keen to see their money go further. This is certainly the case for motorists who often bear the brunt of cuts by shelling out for vehicle excise duty, more expensive repairs and maintenance, increased insurance premiums and more challenging NCT tests and other necessary expenses.
The one thing that all motorists expect is a fair deal when they buy new and used cars, because they are aware of the financial ramifications of using the road. The great news for drivers in Ireland is that one new and used car retailer has this year been showered with recognition for its outstanding performance.
Joe Duffy Motor Group presides over a number of franchises in order to deliver an excellent service in quality car sales. The company specialises in popular and executive marques such as Audi, BMW, MINI, Porsche, Opel, Mazda, Land Rover and Volvo and 2012 looks all set to be a bumper year on the awards front.
The company has already enjoyed recognition from the Irish Motor Industry Awards this year, having come out on top in the categories of Dealership of the Year and Aftersales Operation of the Year. It is now looking to add a prestigious European honour to its list of achievements.
Joe Duffy Motor Group is up for a gong in the European Business Awards 2012/13 after being listed among the national finalists for Ireland. The company joins a select group of organisations that have shown exceptional standards in their respective fields in the last twelve months.
All this is primarily good news for the customer. National and international recognition often acts as evidence that an organisation is doing right by its clients and customers and providing the level of service required to earn success. Award winners tend to have a track record of going beyond the call of duty on the behalf of the people they serve.
In the motor industry, an excellent level of service is particularly prized by customers who face weekly, monthly and annual challenges in their bid to remain safe, law abiding and economically sound drivers. Visitors to http://www.joeduffy.ie can learn more about the services offered on used and new cars.
Jennifer Cullen, +353(1)864-7777, firstname.lastname@example.com
SOURCE Joe Duffy Motor Group


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Horse racing is a big deal in my family, so every year we look forward to the annual Run for the Roses. I always have wanted to host a Kentucky Derby Party, but since everything else seems to happen this time of the year as well, I can't ever make it happen! Well, this year I managed to plan a little party to take on Great Day Green Country for one of Prairie Hive's guest segments. It's always fun to go on the show, and today it was especially fun with delicious traditional Derby food and famous Kentucky bourbon!
I started with traditional Derby dish like these Kentucky Hot Browns. They were surprisingly very easy to make and they are DELICIOUS! To finish them off, I just cut out some horseshoe clip art and glued it to toothpicks to make cute little food picks.
Instead of making the traditional Mint Julep drink, I found a wonderful recipe for these Mint Julep cupcakes at Baked Perfection. Again, easy to make and so yummy!
And to drink…a Bourbon Smash. Surprisingly light and refreshing! I took only a sip this morning as I had to drive myself home and stay awake for the rest of the day, but I can't wait to enjoy one later! The ingredients include raspberries, sugar, lime, mint and of course, bourbon. How can you go wrong?! I asked Elliot Nelson, proprietor of McNellie's in Tulsa for a bourbon recommendation and he suggested Basil Hayden's. When it comes to things like bourbon, I've got to consult the experts!
When it came to setting the table, I wanted to put a little twist on the traditional Kentucky Derby party. To achieve a southern feel, I pulled out any silver (or silverish type serving pieces) that I had. I laid out a linen tablecloth and then used a light blue and white awning stripe Fishs Eddy runner that I found at Sideways here in Tulsa. You can see the runner under the drink tray! The first picture is an arrangement with roses of course. I used more of a coral red rose instead of the traditional deep red and mixed them with ranunculus and other seasonal flowers that were available at the store (I usually like to buy my flowers at Whole Foods- they have a great selection!). I used an old silver trophy as a vase. I've had mine for years, but it would be a great thing to search for at the flea market! Silver Mint Julep cups were also filled with roses and vases of hydrangeas were added to the mix – just for a little extra dose of southern charm. And if you'd like to add some official Kentucky Derby race day pieces to your party, the official classes and programs are available to order.
Happy Kentucky Derby Day! If you're off to the races, have fun! And if you host your own Kentucky Derby Party, send us some pics at Prairie Hive. We'd love to see them!


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Business leaders warn UK PM on EU
Top U.K. executives are warning Prime Minister David Cameron that he could damage the country's economy by inadvertently taking the country out of the European Union.
In a letter published Wednesday in the Financial Times, Virgin Group's Richard Branson, London Stock Exchange head Chris Gibson-Smith and eight other business leaders are challenging Cameron's plan to renegotiate the U.K.'s membership terms of the 27-country EU and put the matter to a referendum. The executives warn that such a plan could fail, pushing the U.K. out of the EU and hitting business.
Tough economic times are forcing the 17 EU countries that use the euro to move ever closer - creating a more powerful union that could affect how much non-euro members spend - something Britain's leaders are against.


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1999 Mazda MPV Car Audio Upgrades
The Mazda MPV is a minivan manufactured by Mazda. Here at HifiSoundConnection.com we have a wide selection of 1999 Mazda MPV Car Audio Upgrades. These car audio upgrades are made from top of the line materials by the most trusted names in the industry. Purchase your 1999 Mazda MPV Car Audio Upgrades here at HiFiSoundConnection.com for big savings and super low prices!


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Interview- Tapes 'n Tapes back to basics-- even releasing
Minneapolis rockers Tapes 'n Tapes took off in 2005 when they self-released their energetic but slapdash debut album The Loon, which was heavily indebted to indie icons like Pavement and the Pixies without seeming redundant.
Minneapolis rockers Tapes 'n Tapes took off in 2005 when they self-released their energetic but slapdash debut album The Loon, which was heavily indebted to indie icons like Pavement and the Pixies without seeming redundant. After a couple years and a few metric tons of blog buzz, they recorded the more polished Walk It Off with Flaming Lips producer Dave Fridmann for XL Recordings, the British label which is also home to M.I.A. and Sigur R³s. But now they've returned to their DIY origins–- self-recording, -producing, and -releasing their new album Outside, which retains the production skills of the sophomore album while returning to the looser feel of the debut. The combination suits them well.
The Hook: What were you going for with the production on Outside?
Josh Grier: Because we spent more time demoing, we realized these songs would benefit from having more space and clarity, and that was our main focus–- that you could pick out everything that was going on. Less of a wall of sound. There was no force in the song of "you have to listen to this."
The Hook: How does it feel to be back to self-releasing?
Josh Grier: It's been very positive. Since recording and self-producing went so well, it made sense to take that path to the logical extreme of releasing it ourselves. We learned a lot when we were with XL about things we liked or didn't necessarily like about being on a label, so we tried to take away from that how we wanted to do a release. It's been a very rewarding process.
The Hook: Would you do it again in the future?
Josh Grier: Right now, it'd be my first choice. We've always been a band that operates one thing at a time. We put The Loon out ourselves, and things took off. We were kind of overwhelmed by handling the distribution so it worked out great that we were able to pair up with XL.
The Hook: There's a 1950s vibe on "People You Know." Where does that early rock 'n' roll influence come from?
Josh Grier: I definitely grew up listening to doo-wop, old school R&B, Roy Orbison, and Elvis. There was a lot of that on the turntable in the house, and I've always been a fan of the melodies and the overall vibe of that. We definitely talked about the vibe on "People You Know." It was halfway between a more old-timey song and a drunken singalong.
Tapes 'n Tapes perform at the Jefferson Theater on February 8. Oberhofer and Astronomers open. Doors open at 8pm, and tickets run $14-16.