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Gryffindor Common Room (edit)
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Created by: noushiegoddess
Gryffindor Common Room (edit)
Took bits and pieces of the other common rooms. Less pub ambience, more fireplace.
Comments for "Gryffindor Common Room (edit)"
License details for "Gryffindor Common Room (edit)"
This atmosphere sound has been released under the
Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 License.
Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 License.
List of audio files used:
- Fireplace by dobride from http://freesound.org +)
- Quiet British Pub by Fogma from http://freesound.org +)
- Thunder And Rain At Evening by freesound *)
- Ominous Owls by George Vlad of Alchemy Audio Design +)
- Creak by n3xia from http://freesound.org +)
- Writing by sportygurl37 from http://freesound.org +)
- Burning Torches by www.soundsnap.com *)
- page flip by www.soundsnap.com *)
+) Creative Commons Sampling Plus 1.0 License
*) Soundsnap.com license
*) Soundsnap.com license


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National Overview
The total number of officially reported hostile incidents nationally increased very slightly from 112 to 115. Once again hostile activity in Baghdad accounted for approximately half of all incidents, making Baghdad by far the most dangerous part of the country for five weeks running. Assassination attacks against Iraqi Security Forces and Government of Iraq personnel continued to blight the security situation, though there was a decrease in targeting of United States Forces.
The number of hostile incidents in the north central region remained relatively low again this week, as Al Qaeda in Iraq and Associated Movements are still likely to be re-grouping following heavy Iraqi Security Forces attrition. However, the assessment that their capability will be restored in the near future remains pertinent.
Hostile incidents in the south east region increased this week and included the first indirect fire attack against Basra Contingency Operating Base since 22 August. Activity in the south central region largely focused on U.S. Forces, with the number of incidents remaining consistent with expected activity levels. Insurgents in the northern region continue to be frustrated by national security forces activity as the discovery of a vehicle borne improvised explosive device in Mosul illustrates.
Political Overview
Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki's success in winning over key factions of the Iraqi National Alliance, namely the Iranian influenced Sadrists was confirmed on 01 October, as Falih al-Fayadh, an INA lawmaker announced Maliki's nomination for the position of Prime Minister by the INA at a news conference. However, Maliki did not secure support from all of the INA factions, notably the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (ISCI) and the Fadhila Bloc rejected the nomination, as the head of the latter group, Hassan al-Shimari, stated "this announcement does not represent all INA parties… This is a deal between Sadrists and the State of Law." Iraqiyyah have been quick to cite this lack of overall consensus across the INA factions as a sign of weakness. Senior Iraqiyyah member Osama al-Nujaifi referred to the fate of the INA stating, "It's finished… It is disassembled," seeing an opportunity provided by Maliki's nomination for Iraqiyyah to join up with INA dissenters who are reluctant to support the incumbent.
Regardless of Iraqiyyah's claims to a constitutional right to rule derived from their success at the polls, the odds are now stacked in Maliki's favour. Iranian support of his candidacy for the role of Prime Minister, embodied in the Sadrist Bloc's backing, has given Maliki command of somewhere between 124 – 135 seats. He needs to secure 163 seats for his extended tenure to reach ratification. The Kurds will now come into play in their role as kingmakers as their support could give Maliki the seats he requires to rule and no other bloc would be able to provide these seats.
The only chance the opposition has of obstructing Maliki's rule will be to assemble a credible alliance between Iraqqiyah, the Kurds, the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq and/or Fadhila. These groups combined would number about 158 seats, requiring them to win over some fence sitters to make up the rest. This anti-Maliki option faces some significant difficulties. It would be difficult to achieve an alliance between Iraqqiyah and the Kurds due to underlying issues between the two, whereas the Kurds are part-way to accepting a humbled Maliki. There is now both Iranian and U.S. pressure on members of this alternative bloc, namely the Kurds and the ISCI to link up with the Maliki bloc. Should Maliki succeed, Iran's role in Iraq will definitely expand throughout the country, including in the Kurdish Regional Government area. This will subtly affect regional dynamics and could potentially stall some Gulf investment in Iraq.
The political negotiations are now in endgame, though the agreements may take another month to reach ratification, possibly even longer. Following on from ratification will be the ministerial negotiations which may be drawn out, but the government formation process is reaching conclusion now.
The number of officially reported incidents in Baghdad remained at 59 for the second consecutive week. There were no mass casualty attacks in Baghdad during the reporting period, although attacks could have been planned. A cache of suicide vests were discovered in the Adamiyah district on 28 September and open sources reported the discovery of several vehicles prepared as vehicle borne improvised explosive devices in Tarmiyah on 29 September. The review period was characterised by a series of targeted assassinations utilising under vehicle improvised explosive devices and small arms fire, which accounted for more than half of the attacks.
The threat from close quarter shootings has steadily risen in recent months and the use of silenced weapons has become more prevalent. Open source reporting has even claimed that the problem is so severe that a representative of Grand Ayatollah Sistani addressed the issue in a recent sermon. Such attacks are difficult to prevent as pistols and silencers are easy to smuggle through check points. There is a possibility that these attacks are not being perpetrated solely by Al Qaeda in Iraq and associated movements. Assassination attacks against the national security forces and government personnel require target selection and reconnaissance and traditionally Al Qaeda in Iraq and associated movements are far less discriminating. It is therefore assessed that these attacks may be perpetrated or aided by the disaffected members of the Sunni community and former Ba'athist elements.
The number of improvised explosive attacks against the U.S. Forces dropped significantly, as have attacks on the International Zone during the reporting period. Only one known indirect fire attack took place against the International Zone on 29 September. The decrease in attacks is probably due to a combination of factors; Shia insurgents may be awaiting a re-supply and secondly the U.S. Forces have increased air patrols. While continued indirect fire attacks against the International Zone are expected, in the short term it is unlikely that they will reach the frequency achieved between 19 – 25 September this year. The success of the Shiite blocs in forming the next government should also see a decline in Shia insurgency, as the cause for their resistance will be diminished.
The number of incidents in south east region increased to ten in this reporting period. On 01 October Contingency Operating Base Basra was targeted with two rounds of indirect fire. One round impacted within the base; however no casualties or damage to assets was reported. The indirect fire attack consisted of two 107mm rockets and the point of origin was located approximately five kilometers to the south east of the base where one metal rail, two tubes and a digital timer were found. One individual was also detained in connection with the attack. Although this was the first attack against the base since 22 August, rockets on rails were discovered on two separate occasions during September and were believed to be targeting the base.
Basra's police chief has been subject to interrogations following a series of security incidents in the province. Basra council will make a decision regarding the Chief of Police by 04 October, following a session held on 30 September where General Adel Daham submitted his answers to the committee. Vice President of Basra council, Ahmad al-Salieti, said they were questioning the Basra Police Chief in light of the lack of protection afforded to the council members during demonstrations held in protest at the lack of electricity.

subset: commoncrawl


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- Applications
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|Library-2013 Design Competition Review
ET Foundation's 2013 Aluminum Extrusion Design CompetitionDominic Atibil of Purdue University captured first place, plus a sustainable design honorable mention (a total of $3250 in scholarships), for his "Solarboard" in the ET Foundation's 2013 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition.
The Solarboard is a semi-permanent solar-powered bulletin board for outdoor use in both urban and rural settings. "It harnesses the power of the sun and powers LED lights to illuminate the posters on [the] bulletin board, as well as provides minimal security lighting in the night time," wrote Abitil in his entry materials.
The judges liked the design because of how it incorporates the use of eco-friendly aluminum along with solar power and LED lights. "I can see it on bike paths, in parks, and so on," said Design Competition judge Todd Boyer, Director of Sales and Marketing at Mid-States Aluminum in Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Design Competition inspires creativity and new uses
For designers and engineers, the possibilities are nearly endless when designing with aluminum extrusions. Aluminum profiles can provide the solution to many design challenges — you don't have to compromise by using standard shapes.
To recognize the best in aluminum extrusion design, the ET Foundation is once again conducting the International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition. The ET Foundation will be accepting entries from both students currently studying design and engineering, as well as professional designers, engineers, manufacturers, and fabricators for the 2014 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition.
Get a glimpse of the 2013 Student winners.
View the 2012 Professional winners.
Note the Professional competition is conducted only on even years, while the Student competition is held annually.
Do you have a great design using aluminum extrusion that you want to enter in the competition? Details regarding the entry deadline, student scholarship and professional cash awards and categories for the 2014 International Aluminum Extrusion Design Competition will be available soon. Visit www.ETFdesign.org for details.


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We've reached the midway point of the year. It seems like only yesterday we were ringing in 2014 and now we're half way to 2015. I've compiled (what I believe is) a great list of things you can do (yes YOU) in the second half of this year to make it AMAZING.
Print today's blog. Stick it on your refrigerator, bulletin board or wherever you need in order to see it. If you'll get these ten very easy things done, I guarantee you you'll finish 2014 with a smile!
Write your goals: I hope you wrote them down in January. However, I'm a realist I know many of you didn't. So, I'm going to ask again: what are three things you want to accomplish before the end of the year. Make sure they pass all the goal tests and make it happen. Period.
Schedule you time or family time first: Guilty! Right here! I have my hand up waving! In his book, First Things FirstFirst Things First, Stephen Covey talks about the "big rocks". These are big rocks. Put them in first. Get them on your calendar before anything else. You'll be glad you did.
Volunteer once a month: Find a worthy cause and volunteer your time. Not your money–your time. Work with homeless shelters, animal shelters, senior citizen centers. Do something every month for someone less fortunate. You will soon see how blessed you really are.
Have coffee with someone different every week: I got this idea from a coaching client. She is on a trek to have coffee with a different person every week this year. I LOVE that. I'm adopting it and will fill my calendar with lots of trips to Starbucks. Invite people you know, people you don't know or people you want to get to know better. Go in with no agenda other than to just learn more about the person. This one has me very excited about the second half of the year.
Write one handwritten note every month: Here's a tip: Go ahead and have paper, stationary and six envelopes already in your briefcase, laptop case or your car. When you are waiting somewhere just jot off a quick note. And, it's OK to tell the recipient, "I've made myself a promise to write at least one handwritten note a month through the end of the year and wanted to just tell you hello." Let them know what you're doing. How many do you think will pick up the phone with a call that starts, "That's so cool!"?
Say thank you ever day: "God gave you a gift of 86 400 seconds today. Have you used one to say thank you "~William Arthur Ward
How easy it is to forget this. Make a note to say the words, "Thank You". Thank the person at the grocery store with a great attitude. Thank the person who handles the janitorial duties at your office or complex. Thanks a serviceman or woman. Thank someone who deserves it, but probably doesn't hear it enough.
Read one book a month: This is the easiest one for me. I challenge you to read one book a month. Don't tell me you don't have time, I know people who work full time and read several books a month. My niece works full time and goes to school full time and reads an average of…wait for it…18 booksa month! (Don't believe me? You can join her on goodreads.com where she is hd1090i). You can read one. And if you're looking for a good one to start, you can get mine here (Shameless plug). Oh, and Thank You!
Anonymously buy someone's meal every month: This is a fun one and doesn't have to cost much. Just pay for the car behind you in the drive thru. Pay for a table near you at lunch. Spend a few dollars and change YOUR world. Little things make a big impact.
Put aside a fee dollars every month to bless another at Christmas: $10 a month for the rest of this year would give you $60 to spend at Christmas on a family in need. Children who may not otherwise have a Christmas. Want to feel good during the holidays? Do this one if you don't do any of the others!
Do one thing every month just for you: Finally, do one thing every month just for you. Manicure, pedicure, massage, a round of golf, splurge on a nice meal. Do something for you. This works great as a reward for doing the other nine. Check them off the list and then celebrate a little. Have a great rest of 2014. It's going to be a lot of fun! I would love to hear some of your stories on how these go for you.


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Specialized accommodations take over Columbus; may threaten Convention Center lodging
The boutique hotel business established a foothold in Downtown Columbus 17 years ago when the owners and management firm of the Crowne Plaza on E. Nationwide Boulevard retrofitted a five-story historic property next door. The tony Lofts Hotel was designed to attract leisure and business travelers who wanted something a bit less cookie-cutter than the typical chain-hotel room.
The Lofts, at 55 E. Nationwide Blvd., pretty much had the cool, eclectic market to itself until the Pizzuti Cos. launched Le Meridien Columbus/The Joseph just north of the Greater Columbus Convention Center in 2015. And since the arts-focused, lifestyle hotel of 135 rooms opened at 620 N. High St., other Columbus developers have clamored to join the market for boutique lodging.
"Small and eclectic is what's going on here," says Charles Lagarce, the Columbus Hospitality Management president who operates the Crowne Plaza and The Lofts for Arena District developer Nationwide Realty Investors. "They're all the rage today, whether for leisure or business travelers."
Pizzuti Co. President Joel Pizzuti calls the Short North advantageous for the development of upscale, boutique lodging because the arts and entertainment district is a top destination for tourists and other visitors to Columbus. "The Short North is one of the first things people ask about Columbus," Pizzuti says. Le Meridien is priced well above other Columbus hotels, whether Downtown or in the suburbs. "But we're offering a unique product," Pizzuti says. "We've tried to raise the bar in hotel development and offering."
All told, Columbus developers now have more than 600 rooms planned just for the three-quarters of a mile area between Nationwide Boulevard and Hubbard Avenue.
Columbus hotelier David Patel and his Indus Hotels affiliate plan to start construction this year on a 167-room Canopy by Hilton at 77 E. Nationwide Blvd., a site that had served as the headquarters for the HER Realtors brokerage. It's next door to The Lofts.
Columbus-based Continental Real Estate Cos. and North Carolina-based partner Concord Hospitality Enterprises have a 163-room tower planned at 515 Park St., at Spruce Street across from North Market.
Continental and Schiff Capital Group, also of Columbus, separately have plans to transform the Bollinger Tower low-income senior housing complex at 750 N. High St. into as many as 190 guest rooms under the Cambria Suites banner.
Crawford Hoying Development Partners, perhaps better known as a developer of suburban apartment complexes and the $300 million, mixed-use Bridge Park development under construction near downtown Dublin, has plans for 119 rooms under the Moxy by Marriott flag as part of an office-and-lodging project on the site of the shuttered Haiku restaurant at 800 N. High St.
"That's pretty dead center of the Short North action," says Crawford Hoying principal Brent Crawford. "With all that's happening in the Short North, that's where people want to go on weekends." For business travelers, he adds, "the Short North is a fun place to stay."
While some may disagree, many believe the hotels—all set for construction later this year—will benefit the once-sketchy neighborhood that has attracted restaurants and retail development since its rebirth in the 1980s. "Adding those hotels," Crawford says, "only creates more vibrancy for the restaurants."
The hotel developers also can attract the upper echelon of the travel and tourism market. "They can make money at that," Lagarce says of the newcomers seeking to tap the higher-end hotel market. "The hotels can demand a higher rate because they're considered luxury hotels, but without having the overhead of the public (meeting) spaces convention hotels offer."
Boutiques also for Capitol Square
The boutique hotel growth close to the convention center isn't the only addition of rooms in the North High urban corridor. Closer to Capitol Square, Chicago-based First Hospitality Group expects to open the 149-room Hotel LeVeque, affiliated with Marriott's Autograph Collection lifestyle lodging brand, by mid-February on nine floors within the LeVeque Tower at 50 W. Broad St.
Meanwhile, Mississippi developer Dawn Properties still wants to build out 117 rooms within the Hayden buildings at 16-20 E. Broad St., even though the company has been denied state historic preservation tax credits three times for the property next to the Rhodes State Office Tower.
And a boutique hotel is rumored for part of the PNC Plaza south of E. Broad Street between 3rd and 4th streets, but new owners of the property, Edwards Cos., would not comment.
While other buildings will be converted into hotels, the LeVeque Tower is reclaiming a piece of its past. Opened in 1927 as the American Insurance Union Citadel, the building included not only offices but a 600-room addition to the neighboring, since-demolished Deshler-Wallick Hotel. The hotel portion later became offices, but two residences remained at the top levels.
Michael Shannon, sales and marketing director for the new Hotel LeVeque, says the select-service, boutique hotel just a block from Capitol Square will offer upscale service to visiting business executives or those attending shows at the Palace Theatre and events along the Scioto Mile.
The hotel "will be exactly like nothing else. The level of service needs to match the quality of the interior and exterior of the building," Shannon says. "Our competition is in the Short North, which is more of an arts district. We're in the central business district," he adds.
With "a starry night" as the hotel's theme, the lobby features a sculptured chandelier and plans for a daily light show of projected stars on the ceiling at dusk as guests are invited to drink "Prohibition cocktails." Guest rooms will have light projectors on bedside tables projecting an image of a galaxy, while the suites offer a wet bar. "It's all about setting the mood so you can relax," Shannon says.
A 150-seat, mezzanine-level lounge and restaurant dubbed "the Keep" will have a speakeasy feel and be open to the public. Autograph Collection regulations mandate that the Keep must be ready before guests can book and check into the hotel. A spa also will be open to the public, but a fitness room is just for hotel guests. Hotel LeVeque will have two conference rooms/private dining rooms as well as a large, executive style conference room.
Undercutting convention efforts?
The prospect of all these new hotels has raised significant concerns about overbuilding. Brian Ross, CEO of tourism and convention promoter Experience Columbus, says that with the completion of a $125 million expansion and renovation of the convention center, the addition of too many boutique and select-service hotels will undercut efforts to build more full-service convention hotel rooms.
Those rooms, he says, are essential to attracting the larger conventions that the expanded convention center was designed to attract as Columbus seeks to better compete with cities such as Cleveland, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, Pittsburgh and Nashville.
"We're very fortunate we have this expansion and renovation of the convention center," Ross says. "To maximize that (facility) and the increase in interest in Columbus for conventions and trade shows, we need to increase the convention hotel inventory."
In fact, an industry consulting firm in 2015 advised the city's civic leadership and stakeholders in the convention and hospitality industry that Columbus needs a convention host hotel of up to 1,000 rooms to attract the major gatherings possible for expanded and refreshed convention halls. That could be accomplished through expansion of the 36-year-old Hyatt Regency Columbus or perhaps remote expansion of the Hilton Columbus Downtown, which opened across the street just four years ago with 532 rooms.
Ross cautions that the boutique and lifestyle hotels in the pipeline not only lower occupancy and average daily rates in a market, but they also typically don't participate in marketing of the convention center by committing guest rooms for conventions at discounted rates. Ross says those lodging packages must get committed four to seven years in advance when Experience Columbus and its travel and tourism competitors bid on the larger conventions, meetings and trade shows.
"When you have too many select-service hotels," Ross says, "you create a problem attracting those new conventions to a city."
Ross and Lagarce express confidence, though, that a plan for more convention hotel rooms will emerge this year. Lagarce suggests adding 370 rooms to the Hyatt—in which Nationwide Realty Investors controls a 55-percent stake—"is the best option." That's because the anchor convention hotel already has the meeting space and other amenities in place, he says. "You just poke another tower right up there."
Lagarce also has a measured reaction to prospects of the new hotels. "I'm not terribly concerned," he says, "because of the timing and the size of the (individual) hotels."
Still, Crawford says he is eager to complete the zoning and variance approval process and get his hotel and office tower on the old Haiku property under construction as early as April 1, a few months before his competition gets underway.
In an increasingly competitive market, time is of the essence.
"If you wait too long," he says, "you may reach a saturation point and lose your opportunity. Certainly, we want to be first to market with all of those other competitors out there."
Brian Ball is a freelance writer.


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A Heart Attack with a Divine Appointment
We had been praying for a friend to accept Christ, but he was struggling. Sometimes an answer to prayer requires a dramatic life storm that puts us in the boat with Jesus crying out for help. This is the storm we found ourselves in on Christmas day.
Mark 4:37-40: A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?" He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, "Quiet! Be still!" Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?"
Karen and I were opening Christmas presents with family when we got a frantic call from a dear friend. He called to tell us that his mother was having chest pain.
After hearing his mother's story, it sounded like a cardiac emergency and recommended she go immediately to the ER and I would call ahead to alert them she was coming. My partner said he would also ask the Cardiologist and the cardiac team, who had just finished a case, to wait for her to arrive. While in the car her pain became worse, and the EKG in the ER showed that she was in the process of having a massive heart attack. They took her immediately to the cardiac lab for a procedure to open the blood vessel. The blood vessel that was blocked supplies most of the heart muscle and without immediate intervention survival is unlikely.
As the body of Christ when one suffers, we all suffer and we could not imagine the fear and anxiety they must be feeling so we all headed to the hospital.
I have been inspired by our travels with Teach To Transform when we have seen powerful humbling acts of love. Our partners are courageous even when they face persecution with the possibility of imprisonment, beatings or even death.
Do you show Compassion when it's not convenient?
When was the last time you missed an opportunity to visit a friend in the hospital?
When was the last time you made a call or brought food to a neighbor who was sick?
We arrived to find her husband quietly sitting in the waiting room. He was struggling with his faith and despite his wife and son speaking to him about Christ he was still searching to know Jesus.
He was about to have a "Divine Appointment" that would change everything.
We anxiously prayed and after about twenty minutes, which seem like hours, we got the news that the cardiologist was able to open the blood vessel and prevent the heart attack.
The Final Divine Appointment
After hearing the news, we thanked God.
When she came out of the procedure, I prayed with her in the hallway and thanked the cardiologist and team for staying. I shared with her that she almost had her final divine appointment that would have her looking into the eyes of Christ and I asked her, "Do you know Him?"
She tearfully said she was going to deepen her relationship with Christ.
I then turned to her husband and shared what had happened through the eyes of Christ.
Do you see your storm through the eyes of Christ?
I explained that he could have been going home alone tonight without the hand of Christ calming this storm.
Where was Jesus in the storm, was this coincidence, good luck or the hand of God?
You called on Christmas and despite us celebrating our Christmas with family, we picked up the phone call.
The cardiologist just happened to be in the hospital doing a case on Christmas evening. If the cardiologist and cardiac team had to be called in, there would have been an unavoidable delay possibly costing her life.
When my partner asked the cardiologist and cardiac team to stay even before he saw her in the ER. They graciously agreed despite wanting to get home with their families for Christmas.
I shared with him that there were too many events that had to happen to explain this by chance or coincidence. I prayed with him that Christ would open his eyes to see that Jesus Christ changed everything.
The story continues as she recovered, and her husband began seeking Christ. He committed his life to Christ and was eventually baptized months later with a celebration that we have added one more to the Kingdom of Heaven.
For His Glory,
Dr. Tom is a Board Certified Emergency Medicine Physician in the USA with over 25 years of experience and an ordained minister by Southeast Christian Church in Louisville Kentucky. His true passion is world missions and he and his wife Karen are the founders of Teach To Transform, an organization that exists to equip partners around the world with medical and vocational skills they can use to share the gospel of Christ. You can subscribe to Dr. Tom's weekly blog, Divine Appointments, to read more stories and learn more about the mission of Teach To Transform.
1 Comment
Just posted this one on my FB page for my non-believing friends. You just describe it all so well, Tom. Grateful God uses you to help me spread His word through these powerful testimonies. Blessings to you, Karen, and the whole TTT team.


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ALBINONI: Oboe Concertos, Vol. 1 8.550739
ALBINONI: Oboe Concertos, Vol. 2 8.553002
ALBINONI: Oboe Concertos, Vol. 3 8.553035
The London Virtuosi use modern instruments, but their playing is fresh and refined and the digital recording is natural and beautifully balanced. The calibre of Anthony Camden's solo contribution is readily shown in slow movements, matched by Georgiadis's rapt, sensitive accompaniments. On the first disc Camden's excellent colleague is Julia Girdwood, but for the two other collections Alison Alty takes over, and the partnership seems even more felicitous, with the two instruments blended quite perfectly. Also included is a Sinfonia arranged by Camden a Sinfonia concertante. This series can be strongly recommended on all counts.


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Facebook Overhauls News Feed and Friends, Users Revolt
Don't want a live ticker of friends' activites? Too bad.
If you've been on Facebook today, you've probably noticed some big changes—and a lot of pop-ups attempting to explain them. The social network says that the new features will improve users' experience on the site, but, as usual, the users themselves aren't responding too positively to the changes.
The most obvious differences are on Facebook's homepage, where there's been a complete overhaul of the News Feed that's supposed to turn it into "your own personal newspaper." Instead of choosing between "top news" and "most recent," you'll see a permanent "top stories" section at the top of the News Feed that contains what Facebook deems to be the "most interesting stories" and photos (now in a much larger format) posted since the last time you logged on. The section is supposed to help users catch up on their friends' activities if they haven't been on the site in a while.
To the right of the News Feed is another new feature, the Ticker. It shows a live feed of everything your friends are doing in real time and lets you comment on their posts without leaving your current page. You can change the size of the Ticker, but you can't get rid of it completely.
Then there's the "improved" friend lists. Facebook now automatically sorts your friends into separate lists based on things like who went to school with you, works with you, or lives in your city. When you add friends, you can manually pre-insert them into one of these lists. There's also a "close friends" list that you populate yourself.
When you share something, you can choose from these new lists to limit the post to just those people. And if you want to see every post from another user—which doesn't have to be someone you're friends with—you can use the "Subscribe" button. (Does this all sound suspiciously similar to a certain newer Googly social network? The bloggers at DailyTech think so too.)
So how are Facebook's users reacting to the new and improved features? Not too well, it turns out. Responses to the changes on the official Facebook Blog have been almost completely negative, with users taking special offense at the "top stories" feed. (In the words of one user: "Quite frankly I don't want Facebook deciding who is most important in my life . . . You're becoming MySpace and I left there for a reason." Ouch.) The reaction is also spilling into Twitter, where #NewFacebook is trending, along with some more angry commentary.
But perhaps the most terrifying comment, as far as Facebook is concerned: "Seriously thinking of moving to Google Plus."


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Imagine This Growing up With My Brother John Lennon – a Book Review
It's no secret that I'm a huge John Lennon fan. When I saw this title, written by Lennon's sister, Julia Baird, I had to have it. Check out the photo on the back cover. Is she not John in feminine form? There's no doubt she is who she says she is.
Wait until you read the book. Only a sister could pen the emotional pain to which the Lennon children were subjected. That pain has driven all of them throughout their lives.
Julia carries on despite having suffered so many losses in her life. You'll learn how she turned that pain around and now works with troubled adolescents.
John tried to carry on, but Mark David Chapman snipped his search for personal peace when he was just forty years into his journey.
This is not about John Lennon's death, but about his life, as told by his sister Julia Baird.
John Lennon Was a Brother
Long before he became a star, John Lennon was a brother. He was the first born child of Julia Stanley and Alfred "Alf" Lennon. Birth date: October 9, 1940. Birthplace: Liverpool, England.
Julia came third (March 5th 1947), when mom Julia hooked up with John "Bobby" Dykins. Sister Jacqueline "Jackie" entered the world in 1949.
It wasn't until John and most of the family had died that it was discovered there was a child born between John and Julia, the result of an affair their mother had while John's dad was away at sea. Her name was Victoria, mother Julia's favorite female name. However, she was forced to give her baby girl up by her stringent family. Julia Baird didn't learn of Victoria's existence until after John's death; that she, John and Jackie had another sister. She was renamed Ingrid by her adopted family. John never knew.
John was taken from his mother when he was only five years old and forced to live with one of Julia's older sisters, Mimi. She and the rest of the Stanley family were very strict, never accepting of Julia's free spirit. This devastated John and Julia. John remembers his mom as being a musical soul who loved to dance and sing. In fact, she taught him to play the banjo. Her favorite singer was Elvis Presley, whom John would later have the honor of meeting once The Beatles hit fame.
Young John Lennon resented being kept from his mom and sister. He often skipped school to sneak visits behind Mimi's back.
Life was tough.
John grew up striving for acceptance by his extended family; even more so when Julia was struck by a car and killed. John, (sister) Julia, and Jackie were not told that their mother was dead. They were never invited to her funeral. In fact, it wasn't until sister Julia's daughter thought to look up her grandmother's burial plot under the name of Julia Lennon that the girls were ever able to visit the gravesite; they had no idea where she was buried. Julia looked for years, assuming Mom's burial site was under the name of Julia Dykins. After Mom's resting place was discovered, Julia was saddened that there was no headstone – just a ceramic cat and lots of weeds.
John never got to pay his respects.
Julia Baird Talks About Her Mother, Alf Lennon, And Brother John
An Emotional Plea by John Lennon
Are You a John Lennon Fan?
Emotional Scars
Julia Baird gives us a naked look into the life of John Lennon and his siblings. Very little is about The Beatles. Yes, we get a behind-the-scenes look into how they came to be, but this book is about John Lennon, the person. The human being. His love for family and how it affected him when family was taken away. It explains why he succumbed to Yoko's ruling nature. He needed a mother figure and she was that. Whether or not he realized it will never be known. However, she defined and outlined his every movement.
John was a lost boy who needed to be found, but his family- his sister Julia- never gave up on him.
It would be twenty some-odd years after his death that it was discovered Yoko was instrumental in keeping John's roots from nurturing his life. Baird's book goes into detail about the control Yoko had over not only John, but the entire family.
Towards The End of This Interview, Julian Lennon Speaks of His Father And a Message Received After His Death
History Repeats Itself
Cars killed too many members of the Lennon clan. It all started with John and Julia's mom being hit by a car while walking to the bus stop after a visit with John. She was never to be seen again. John and Julia weren't to know of their mother's demise until sometime later. It was hidden from them. Why? They weren't told the truth. They weren't invited to the funeral. They weren't allowed to grieve.
Why was mother Julia's life not afforded the memories of the only three people on Earth who saw her as an inspiration rather than a disgrace to the family? Julia loved her children more than life itself. It's a pity her father and sisters made it their mission to keep her apart from the people she cherished the most.
And later, Yoko did the same, unbeknownst to John.
Ironically, John would eventually forsake his own first born son, Julian. Once Yoko came into the picture, very little contact was shared between John and Julian (named after John's beloved mother), then dwindled to nothing. Years passed before Julian once again became a part of his father's life.
After Sean was born in 1975, all communication between John and his sisters came to a sad halt. Then, the day before John Lennon was killed, he contacted Julia to inform her he'd be traveling to England to spend some time with his siblings in the New Year. He missed his family and wanted to come home. But it wasn't to be. The family was torn apart once again – this time forever.
John Lennon's Legacy Lives On
John Lennon's music lives on to inspire us. He has a place in our hearts and will never be forgotten. Imagine This brings the reader into the life of a little Liverpudlian boy who had big dreams and even bigger demons.
Although Julia Baird's book is about growing up with John Lennon, it's dedicated to their mother. John would have appreciated that. In his own words, "I lost my mother twice: once as a child of five and then again at seventeen. It made me very, very bitter inside. I had just begun to establish a relationship with her when she was killed. We'd caught up on so much in just a few short years. We could communicate. We got on." (It sends shivers up my spine to know that Julian lost his dad when he was seventeen, shortly after they reunited, as well.)
If you're a fan of John Lennon, do yourself a favor and read IMAGINE THIS Growing up with my brother John Lennon. You'll see a side of John that the media never brought to our attention. The book includes several pages of photographs of John as a child and through The Beatles years. You'll come face to face with his siblings and the aunt who made it her mission to keep the children and their mother apart. You'll learn of the strength that is borne of struggle. You'll be surprised. You'll be angry. And you'll cry.
In the end, you'll love him even more.
Rest in peace, John Lennon. May you and your beloved mother continue to dance and make music for the angels to enjoy.
We miss you.
Shauna L Bowling
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author's knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.
© 2015 Shauna L Bowling
Good read, Shauna. John turned his pain into beauty.
I never knew about this aspect of John Lennon's life. Seems like an inteesting memoir!
Came back for another read, shared.
This sounds like a really good book. I'm not a huge fan of him, but I do like his music. I think I'd enjoy reading this book.
Thank you for this illuminating book review. I never knew much about John Lennon's family. This provides so many clues about his later life and music.
Very interesting and I will definitely look for this book. (Might check the library first.) I never really liked John until the last few years of his life and I think then seeing how Yoko controlled him made my heart go out. He also got so very handsome in his last years too, and well of course his beautiful voice could never be denied.
Hi, what an interesting read! I was too young to appreciate the Beatles at the time, and by the time I was getting into them or should I say John, he was of course, killed. Which was such a shame as his music was amazing. Yoko, I never liked, even when I watched them back on old film, there was just that something you know? now I know what! if I do come across this book it does sound like my kind of reading, thanks for the review, nell
What a great read . loved it , so interesting and great to be back .
Shauna as I read your review I just kept thinking, no wonder John sang songs that would resonate through the years...all of the pain and sadness found a voice in his works.
I will have to read this for sure.
Angels are once again winging their way to you ps shared g+
Awesome review looking forward to reading more of your reviews :) I am now following awesome awesome awesome!
Yes, we got a look at all of them. It was great even though my cousin and I got in big trouble for jumping the fence. Great time to live. stella
Bravewarrior, I love John Lennon and probably all his music. I was in Chicago in 1965 OR 1966 to see him at Midway Airport. Yes, that was a 100 years ago. Great article, stella
Oh, wow, Sha, what a great book review from you here! I write mostly non-fiction, so I love non-fiction. I had no previous knowledge of John's life before the Beatles. This breaks my heart for all. I'm so glad his sister has written this book. I have been listening to John Lennon here of late on my commutes into the city. One song that really hits me hard for its message is Real Love, and especially when he is singing about all the little girls and boys just needing a little love from us …so true. I will want to read this one.
Thank you, again, for the wonderful review.
Happy New Year
His story is interesting. It is a shame he had to suffer so much as a young child and to alienate his own family later. His song "Imagine" is one that perhaps tries to mend those broken fences. Great review of the book, Shauna.
This is definitely going on my booklist. Thank you for the review. You've done well without revealing that much.
I hope you had a wonderful holidays Sha and I wish you and yours a very happy New Year.
Love from the sky~
Your review of this book is brilliant! I learned so much that I was unaware of. How very sad that John's life was unfilled. His song ' Imagine ' will always be a favorite of mine. Merry Christmas Shauna.
Dear Shauna - What a lovely book review about a tragic story. You never know what goes on in families, even those whom you think you know. I never heard of this book, but it certainly must be a best seller. You reviewed it with passion and all the right words. Thanks for sharing. Also sharing. Blessings, Audrey
Shauna, this was very touching, and I look forward to reading the book.
I hope I can do half as good a job on the book review I am in the middle of writing.
Blessings and hugs
What a great review, Sha. I didn't know he had a sister. It's so sad that people repeat their family patterns (e.g., alienating themselves for years, in his case). Sharing and G+ing.
No kidding aside, this is one of the best book reviews that I have ever read. Your passion for John Lennon comes through on this. Maybe YOU should write a book about him, as I think it might be a best seller to be.
You speak like me, or should I say, you speak to me. You know what I mean. Hari Om! (Alleyuia! Praise be!)
I guess 'Hub will probably do also, but I meant 'book. Of course I read your Hub. Just correcting myself here.
My genre for the last 33 years have been Spirituality or Ancient Wisdom, but I'm sometimes captivated by excellent and touching stories or writings, this very Hub being one of them, my Sweet Shauna. John Lennon is not only a legend but spiritual too, and he, like his sister, suffered some indignities. All my life I've empathized with such Souls. Happy Christmas!
This is the first time I read about John's son, Julian. The post would be interesting to look at. Thanks Shauna.
A most necessary and passionate read. Poignant, interesting, revealing and flowed excellently.
I like hearing his sister speak on the video. So much of life teaches us in so many different ways! More and more I feel that God is not only the best Judge, He is the only Judge. All is His plan and Consciousness.
I have not read this appropriately titled Hub, but I feel that you have done it much justice. Happy Christmas!
Now, I don't know much about John Lennon, or his music, but I am a big fan of popular music so I have heard his name mentioned a couple of times. I love reading inspirational true stories, and Imagine This definitely sounds like one I should take a look at. Thanks for the wonderful review, Shauna!
I understand that Julia never divorced her first husband, Lennon. John's song, Julia, is a favorite of mine; beautiful lyrics. As your article so well conveys, this family led a traumatic and sad life. It also explains Yoko's controlling influence over John. I've heard that a headstone was finally placed on Julia's grave, May both she and John rest in loving peace.
You tell John's story very well. I wouldn't mind reading the book myself. His sister makes us know the man and his struggles apart from him being a star. Interesting and appealing! Thanks for the review.
Excellent hub Shauna. I didn't know anything about John's sister Julia. I am sure her book would be a very interesting read. Great review.
Wow! What a review! What a story! What a life that we might not have ever known about if John's sister didn't share this with the world. Very interesting indeed. I will read this book, one day! What kept going through my mind while reading his history is that poor John definately had bad luck with women controlling his life...mostly what's her face. Yucky Yoko! Fabulous review, you along with Julia did John proud.
Wonderful overview of this book about such an interesting historical figure from a compelling perspective.
I am amazed as well at the family resemblance between brother and sister.
I'll be most interested in checking this out based on your comprehensive review.
Wonderful job, dear Sha. Love, mar
Imagine and Mother are two of my favorite John Lennon songs. What a sad childhood he must have had! May Julia's book open the eyes of many who don't believe in the importance of a core family and the bonds between siblings.
Excellent review, Shauna!
What a lovely review of the book, Sha, as well as a tribute to John Lennon. And such a sad story. I can understand John a little bit more regarding his attraction to Yoko Ono after reading your fascinating prose.
Pretty grim, Sha. I'm glad you wrote the review; there's no way I could handle the entire book. I can deal reasonably well with coming face to face with extreme family trauma in all its myriad forms, but never in the written word. My mind has no defensive filters when I'm reading; the impact in my psyche is far too destructive.
Very touching truth of John Lennon, Shauna, I appreciate knowing more of what his life was like. Yes, his music lives on in our lives. Of course, I enjoyed him more so as a Beatle. I admire that he loved his mother so much. Maybe one day, someone will write about his father as well. Thank you for presenting such a legend of a man here.
As a huge Beatles and John Lennon fan, I was surprised to learn the things you wrote about in this intriguing review and will go on to read the book. Thanks for sharing this info.
Hello Sha. The meatgrinder of creativity seems to be pain. John Lennon produced creativity in abundance, and here you explain the source. Many family backgrounds would not hold up under even the slightest investigation. Here again Julia proves that.
All who read your review will be interested in reading the book. Your interview piqued my interest, though my reading list is closed until further notice - that is many book have to be removed by reading them.
Thanks for the offer GF, but I'll get a copy. What I usually do is get my books from the library. If I love it, I'll buy it to add to my collection. Sounds like I will definitely enjoy this tale.
I never liked Yoko at all either.....is she just generally an unlikable person or what? Actually, I thought she was ugly, untalented, nasty and not good enough for John Lennon. LOL (who am I?)
I get goose bumps when I hear "Imagine." It's a powerful song and with him having been assassinated, it's worse. Thanks for all the info!
Sha.....Interesting as all heck! I knew none of his background or family life. Kind of messy, eh? I nearly lost track of who was who and how! LOL
I can't even imagine realizing I am JOHN LENNON'S SISTER!! He's such an enormous musical icon. There are those very rare "one of a kind" huge name celebrities.....Marilyn, Elvis, The Beatles....
I'm a loyal non-fiction fan so I know I'll love this book! Great review GF! Merry Christmas, Paula
What a fascinating read that would be. I had no knowledge of his life prior to the Beatles. I think this is a book that belongs on my shelf. Thanks for the review, Sha! Great info!


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What Is Nervous System Disease?
Table of Contents
The peripheral nervous system is further divided into the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system. The autonomic nervous system includes the sympathetic and parasympathetic system. The autonomic nervous system helps to control unconscious activities of the organs and glands within the body; while the somatic system helps to transfer information from the eyes, ears, muscles, and skin to the central nervous system. It also helps to move the body by contracting and relaxing muscles.
The primary organs of the nervous system include the eyes, ears, sensory receptors of the skin, muscles, and joints, as well as the sensory organs for smell and taste.
While symptoms of nervous system diseases can vary, the most common general symptoms include sudden onset of headache, a headache that is different than normal, altered sensation (numbness or tingling), muscle weakness, muscle wasting, vision changes (loss of sight or double vision), memory loss, impaired mental functioning, muscle rigidity, lack of coordination, seizures or tremors, radiating back pain, and slurred speech. Individuals experiencing any of these symptoms should consult with their physicians to rule out underlying nervous system disease.
Causes Of Nervous System DiseaseThe nervous system is delicate and is therefore susceptible to numerous diseases and disorders, including:
- Vascular disorders such as stroke, transient ischemic attack, and brain hemorrhage
- Infections such as meningitis, encephalitis, epidural abscess, and polio
- Structural disorders such as Bell's palsy, carpal tunnel syndrome, peripheral neuropathy, Guillain-Barre syndrome, and brain or spinal cord injury or tumors
- Functional disorders such as neuralgia, headache, and epilepsy
- Degenerative disorders such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease, Huntington's disease, and Alzheimer's disease
The nervous system can be damaged by trauma, degeneration, infection, tumors, structural defects, autoimmune disorders, and disruption of blood flow.
Treatments For Nervous System DiseaseTreatment for nervous system disease is based on the underlying issue. Patients are generally referred to a neurologist, which is a physician that specializes in diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The neurologist will conduct a detailed medical history and physical exam and may order a variety of additional tests, including:
- Lumbar puncture or tap: This test allows the cerebrospinal fluid to be analyzed to look for bacteria that may be causing meningitis, proteins that are specific to multiple sclerosis, or blood cells.
- Brain scan: Brain tumors can be visualized by introducing a radioactive element into the bloodstream.
- Electroencephalogram (EEG): This test measures brainwave activity and can be useful for diagnosing various conditions including epilepsy and brain tumors.
- Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): Both of these imaging techniques can be used to visualize different areas of the body in detail looking for signs of disease.
Depending on the type of nervous system disease, treatment may be focused on curing the condition, managing the symptoms, or slowing the progression of the disease.
For patients who are suffering from nervous system diseases that are the result of infection, such as meningitis and encephalitis, treatment with antibiotics will be initiated to help fight off the infection. The type of antibiotic used will be dependent on the bacteria that is causing the disease.
Neuropathic pain may be treated with a combination of analgesic medication and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Additionally, some patients may be prescribed anticonvulsant or antidepressant medications to treat their neuropathic pain symptoms.
Patients suffering with functional disorders such as headache and epilepsy may be managed with prophylactic therapy to help prevent headaches and seizures. Prophylactic treatment for epileptic patients may include anti-convulsant medication. Prophylactic treatment for migraine sufferers may include a variety of medications, including propranolol, timolol, amitriptyline, divalproex, sodium valproate, or topiramate. The goal of prophylactic treatment is to minimize the frequency, intensity, and duration of symptoms in an attempt to improve the quality of life of sufferers.
Patients suffering with degenerative disorders including multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease are usually treated with a combination of drugs that are specific to their condition, as well as a rehabilitative program that may help to maintain function and sustain an optimal quality of life.
Patients who have structural or vascular disorders may require a referral to a neurosurgeon to discuss the possibility of surgery to manage their nervous system disease.
ConclusionThe nervous system is a complex system in the body that is responsible for coordinating all of the body's functions. Damage to the nervous system can result in various diseases, which may be vascular, infectious, structural, functional, or degenerative in nature. Symptoms of nervous system disease varies from one disease to the next; patients experiencing any concerning symptoms should consult with their physician to rule out nervous system disease. Treatments for nervous system disease can be geared towards curing the disease, managing and preventing symptoms, or slowing the progression of the disease. Patients suffering from nervous system disease should consult with a neurologist to help determine the best course of treatment for their case.
Also make sure to check out our blog post on "How to Take Care of Your Nervous System."
- Backonja MM. Use of anticonvulsants for treatment of neuropathic pain. 2002;59(5):S14-S17.
- Better Health Channel,. Nervous system – better health channel. N.p., 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
- Des Moines University. Nervous system diseases – Des Moines University. N.p., 2015. Web. 15 Mar. 2015.
- French JA, Kanner AM, Bautista J, Abou-Khalil B. Efficacy and tolerability of the new anti-epileptic drugs I: treatment of new onset epilepsy. 2004;62(8):1252-1260.
- org. Overview of nervous system disorders. Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library. N.p., 2015. Web. 16 Mar. 2015.
- Modi S, Lowder DM. Medications for migraine prophylaxis. American Family Physician. 2006;73(1):72-78.
- Saarto T, Wiffen PJ. Antidepressants for neuropathic pain: a Cochrane review. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2010;81:1372.1373.


text: David Bowe's last album Blackstar transformed in Instagram miniseries Unbound "David Bowie's last album Blackstar has been transformed into an Instagram miniseries approved by the singer months before his death. InstaMiniSeries said Bowie gave them "unique pre-release access" to Blackstar, allowing them to create their "own visual interpretations of his songs, with no limits or preconditions on his part". A preview of the 16-episode series, Unbound, was released on Instagram overnight." - Read more here. Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook


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Top Coat…
#1 must have for winter: A great coat. One that makes you feel like a million $ (without the price tag).
Make sure it compliments your body shape. I normally gravitate towards a beautiful structure with clean lines. It's a much safer choice ;).
Ensure it's in a colour that works well with your skin tone. I have discovered cream goes well with my tanned skinned and I'm not getting off that bus!
It HAS to be the right size. Yes ladies, fit is very important – It can make or break your look ;pLastly, choose a classic style that will stand the test of time.
Have a great week!


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Module code: POPP 3406
Module description
This module analyses contemporary debates and issues in the field of health strategy, policy and management. It will benefit students who wish to gain a firm understanding of the issues facing the health and social care system, the policy and management processes involved, and the wider political and management context. It explores the nature of health and wellbeing, the origins and history of the NHS, and the health policies and programmes of recent governments. It also explores in detail a wide range of specific issues and topics, including: NHS funding, the rationing of health services, primary care, public health, and patient and public involvement. The module will appeal particularly to students interested in career opportunities in government, the health service, local authorities, and the voluntary and private health and social care sectors.
Contact hours per student per year
Additional costs: No extra costs other than the purchase of books
At DMU there is always something to do or see, check out our events for yourself.
DMU is a dynamic university, read about what we have been up to in our latest news section.
Read about our mission and vision and how these create a supportive and exciting learning environment.


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Professional In-home Oklahoma City Dog Training Programs for ALL dogs no matter what the behavior challenge!
Big Friendly Dog Training OKC is designed to help your behaviorally troubled dog, and to address your specific needs and goals. Following a reward-based training philosophy, your dog will be set up for success at the get-go, and our Oklahoma City dog trainer will work with you and your dog until we achieve success together!
We Resolve ANY and ALL Behaviors
- Separation anxiety
- Hyperactivity
- Leash pulling
- Aggression (including human)
- Lack of commands
- Counter surfing
- Destructive chewing
- Potty training
- Excessive barking
- General bad manners and disobedience
Our Oklahoma City dog training programs can help bring you the change that you and your dog deserve! Our training is both reward-based AND commitment-based, which means we stay by you and your dog's side until we're finished with the job! We are dedicated to helping you and your dog, and ensuring that your dog has a forever home with you and remains a happy, well-behaved family member!
Potty Training – It's Not That Difficult
Potty Training – It's Not That Difficult Potty Training is one of the most common things we get called about here at Big Friendly Dog Training. Whether clients have a brand new puppy or older dog, any dog can struggle from housebreaking issues. It can be frustrating...
Why Does Your Dog Behave Like This?
Why Does Your Dog Behave Like This? When you call our Oklahoma City dog trainer to inquire about OKC dog training services, you will first speak to our office staff that will address all your questions and then connect you with our trainer for an initial in-home...
Why Do We Recommend Crate Training?
Why Do We Recommend Crate Training? At first thought, it's easy to see crates as intimidating and mean. Don't they look like too-small cages for your dog? Isn't it wrong to keep an animal in a cage like that, and won't it cause separation angst and loneliness? These...
Why Big Friendly Dog Training?
Does your dog rule over the home, causing mayhem and stress for you and your household? We can help you regain the leadership role and give your dog a structure that he/she will thrive in! Have other trainers told you your dog is beyond help, and is better off in a shelter or in line for euthanasia? Don't give up without contacting us first, for we take pride in our success, even with severe behaviors like anxiety or any form of aggression! Do you just want your puppy or dog to learn the basics and get started on the right foot? We can help with ALL of these!
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What makes our dog training so unique is that it is customized to the dog and the owner. We believe every dog is different, and there are individual issues and needs for each dog and their family. The training regimen we map out will be created based on what the problems are and what it is that the owner is trying to accomplish through dog training. This is why before any training commences, our trainer will meet with you and your dog initially for an in-home behavioral consultation. This allows the trainer to meet the dog, and gives the trainer and owner the opportunity to ask questions and formulate the best training strategy together.
Get Started!
If you're needing some professional guidance for your canine companion, contact us immediately! You can call our offices at 405.493.6490, or e-mail us using our contact form! We look forward to talking with you and bringing you and your dog some peace of mind!
Office Hours
Monday through Friday from 9am to 5pm EST.
Training Hours
Weekdays, Weeknights & Weekends by appointment only.
We accept cash, check or credit cards.
Rob is certified by Canine Trade Group – School for Professional Dog Trainers.


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Visiting Angels will meet with the family members of the loved one needing care, along with the medical professionals involved in their life. Our goal is to get a complete picture of your loved one's in-home care needs.
Life Care Navigation is a collection of customized care programs focusing on specific elements such as the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of your loved one.
If you love to work with people and are seeking a rewarding job that provides a sense of joy and gratification helping others, and have a history as a caring compassionate caregiver, you can become an Angel companion!
Andy Nandy
1250 Greenwood Ave #1A
Jenkintown, PA, 19046
215-938-7201 or 215-938-7202
» Read More
If you have a loved one who struggles to maintain their independence, chances are you may have already heard about the senior care services offered by Visiting Angels Jenkintown. Our clients love our agency and they are happy to share their positive experiences with others!
One aspect of care our clients really appreciate is the variety of service options we offer including:
Whatever your private duty senior home care needs, we're here to help. Because of our customized service plans and individualized service you can be sure to get the right amount of assistance for your needs.
Visiting Angels of Jenkintown is proud to display the "Best of Home Care" Provider of Choice award since 2011! We are thrilled to be recognized for our excellent service and are grateful for our team of caregivers, client care coordinators, and office administrators who have helped us provide exceptional care for seniors.
Visiting Angels


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NMP#44: Creating Healthy Families with Dr. Julia Nordgren
Download the free podcast:
If you know a child that is dealing with weight, it is important to have resources to help. That's one reason I reached out to Dr. Julia Nordgren, a pediatrician and professionally-trained chef, to talk about Creating Healthy Families. If you enjoy learning about healthy, creative living, you've come to the right place. You will love my discussion with Dreena Burton on Plant-Based Families. Or how about upping your activities by taking a walk and listening to Ella Magers talking about Getting Fit!
Today's show is sponsored by UncommonGoods. UncommonGoods is a privately-owned retailer that features unique jewelry, designer décor, tabletop items, and handcrafted gifts created in harmony with the environment without harm to animals or people. I love supporting artists following their passions and I feel like UncommonGoods is such a wonderful way to do this.
See the links below to some of my favorite shopping categories at UncommonGoods!
Creating Healthy Families
Today I'm talking with Dr. Julia Nordgren, she's both a pediatrician and a professionally trained chef. I met her last year at the IACP conference and really enjoyed talking with her because of her passion for children and healthy eating.
Look, we all know the statistics. The percentage of kids with obesity has more than tripled since the 1970s. Today, around 1 in 5 kids is obese.
Why does this matter? Because children who are obese are at higher risks for other chronic diseases such as asthma, type II diabetes, and even heart disease.
In addition, we know that obese children are teased a lot. That means they have a tendency to suffer from feeling isolated which can lead to things like depression.
Also, children who are obese have a higher risk of being obese as adults.
It's an important topic. And it's one that can be so difficult for parents. Because once your child has developed a weight problem, what can you do? How do you create a dialogue about eating so that your child doesn't develop unhealthy attitudes about food?
As I mention in the interview, I was the chubby child and all my siblings were naturally skinny, at least when they were kids. So I guess I'm very personably invested in this discussion and helping parents find ways to talk to their children about food.
Dr. Nordgren is not vegan or vegetarian, but you know, that's the case for a lot of people, right? I mean, there are only around 3% of adults in the U.S. that are vegetarian. It sure feels like that number is growing, just based on anecdotal evidence, but this is what the data show. And I do not choose to live my life inside of a bubble, only taking advice and expertise from other vegetarians or vegans.
So I'm happy to have Julia on the show to talk about children and families and obesity and healthy diets. She offers a lot of great tips to help busy families including more nutrition in their day-to-day lives.
Some of it is just cutting through our daily habits, including staying active and making healthy choices.
Our goal at Namely Marly is to provide you with inspiring resources to take on a vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, and inspired, energetic life. We hope today's interview about creating healthy families has been helpful and informative.
Go be your best you!
This Creating Healthy Families episode includes references to some resources you might find interesting. Here they are:
- Check out the site: DrJuliaCooks
- Be sure to take a look UnCommonGoods! These are three of my favorite pages:
- UncommonGoods Kitchen, Bar and Wine shopping page
- UncommonGoods Personalized Gifts shopping page
- UncommonGoods Birthday Gifts shopping page
- Related post: Manage your time better with Julie Morgenstern
- Give a shout-out to Julia and connect via Twitter and Instagram
- Thanks to UncommonGoods for sponsoring today's episode
- Related Post: Dr. Greger shares about his book How Not to Die
- Connect with Marly: Namely Marly | Instagram | Twitter
- Production, music, graphic art & sound design by Shawn Beelman
- Learn about future Namely Marly Podcast episodes, recipes, and thoughts on living an inspired life by subscribing to the Namely Marly newsletter. Just add your email in the subscribe section at the bottom of this page. You'll be glad you did!
- Check out the other Namely Marly Podcast episodes.
Subscribe to the Show & Feedback
Hey, you don't want to miss out on any future podcast episodes. Right? So head on over to iTunes and subscribe to the Namely Marly Podcast today. While you're at it, share your review. It's a great way to help others find the Namely Marly podcast too!
That's it for today's podcast. As always, thanks so much for joining in the discussion!


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How to seal a concrete drivewayFriday, February 17th, 2012
The concrete driveway is one of the most high traffic areas for your house and it should be sealed properly to maintain its durability and beauty. Here are the steps on how to seal your concrete driveway. First of all the fresh concrete must not be sealed and you have to keep it dry for at least a month. Now, the driveway should also be kept clean and tidy. So, broom off all the loose debris from your driveway and don't forget to remove the grease and oil stains with pressure washer. After the entire cleaning, let the path dry for a day at least. Now, it's time to apply the sealer. You can use either a brush or roller for the sealing application but however the roller would be faster and garden sprayer is even quicker. Apply the sealer till a whitish tint appears and make it even before drying. The application must not be made in rainy season and after the spraying is over, leave the place undisturbed for the coming 24 hours.


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Happy-go-lucky Sulochana (fondly known as Sulu), a suburban Mumbai housewife, lives with her husband, Ashok, a sales manager in a traditional company that sells uniforms, and their 11-year-old son, Pranav. Sulu keeps herself entertained through the day, which includes listening to her favorite radio station and taking part in every possible contest. Sulu breezes through life with a fun and candid never-say-never attitude. On a day like any other, Sulu ends up winning a pressure cooker through a radio contest that she has taken part in. Little does she know that her trip to the radio station is about to change her life. In an unexpected turn of events, she lands a job of an RJ (radio jockey). She is no ordinary RJ for she is made to anchor a night show, which involves chatting with peculiars, strangers and lonely souls. A husband in constant battle at a mid-level job, a precocious child who is up to something alarmingly strange in school, and a woman who unpredictably stumbles into the world of radio…. Seasoned with music, humour and quirk, Tumhari Sulu witnesses the everyday grit of a housewife, a marriage put to test and a world that struggles to see the beauty of a so-called 'simple, ordinary life, which will warm your heart.
What's Good
This movie can be related to by every lower and upper middle class family it's a movie for the masses even though it's not a masala film the content is purely relatable and narrated with lot of fun. Many times for sure there were scenes in the movie which brought a warm smile to my face remembering that such things happen to me too, and I am sure if not many atleast a couple of times it will happen to everyone who sees this film.
Manav Kaul, Neha Dhupia, Vijay Maurya are all absolutely superb in their portrayal.
Of course it's queen Vidya Balan who steals the show with her performance she just jumps into the role with so much concentration that not for a moment she feels out of character and after some time you actually feel you are watching housewife, unorthodox RJ and mother Sulochna Dubey and not actress Vidya Balan she is superbly convincing.
The songs are superb and the lyrics have too good meaningful value relevant to the scenes.
What's Bad
The Second half of the movie does take a dip in interest value and by no means is it bad but surely not as lively as the first half. The movies length at 2.45 hours is a way bit too much and could have been edited and shortened by cutting the lengthy melodrama scenes lengths.
My Verdict
A brilliant film in which Sulu will win your heart and make everyone smile a movie with something for everybody.
My Rating 4 0f 5 stars
Firdaus Pavri


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Running column: Mark Armstrong on how his four-year-old daughter, Lara, is making him a better runner
PUBLISHED: 06:00 14 September 2018 | UPDATED: 15:25 14 September 2018
Running columnist Mark Armstrong discusses how his daughter, Lara, is helping to make him a better runner
'Where did the time go?'
It's a question that's been asked a lot in the Armstrong household this week with my four-year-old daughter, Lara, starting school.
As she skipped along the pavement towards her new classroom with the kind of boundless, carefree, enthusiasm that unfortunately leaves most of us as the years tick by, I could feel a lump in my throat the size of a golf ball.
I just about managed to hold it together… I didn't want to be an embarrassment on her first day. There's still plenty of time for that.
Nearly five years have certainly zipped by but I make a conscious effort to ensure that I appreciate these precious moments.
She's still at the stage where the smallest things blow her little mind and life through her eyes is the kind of innocent existence we could all do with a bit of at times.
MORE: Love running? Join the Run Anglia Facebook group here
Whilst school will open up her curious little brain to even more of the world, I don't think seeing a moth in our bathroom is going to prompt the same wonderment as it has up to now…
'What's this got to do with running?' I hear you ask.
Part of the reason I run is for Lara.
I want to see as much of her life as I possibly can to experience more of these big moments. The ones where you wish other loved ones you've lost could still be around to see them.
I wouldn't have given it a second thought if I hadn't lost my mum to cancer nearly three years ago.
But with that sense of mortality forced upon me, I've tried to live my life in as healthy way as possible and running is a key part of that (enjoying a large chicken kebab and chips a couple of times a month probably detracts from that a little).
Since taking up running I haven't always got the balance between training/family right but Lara knows that part of being her dad is me being 'a runner'. Not in the Mo Farah athlete sense, but in that I try and lead a healthy lifestyle and do my best to better myself whenever I take on something.
I know it's something she enjoys and aspires to herself as whenever my wife, Alison or I, are involved in a running race she's desperate to get her own kit on, even if it is only to cheer us on from the side.
She's already had a hint of the running bug taking part in her first junior parkrun recently and she will be taking on the kids' kilometre at Bournemouth in a few weeks time. I've told her she's got a time of 11 minutes to beat from when she did it at Edinburgh when she was three…I'm kidding.
MORE: Check out our race calendar here
As long as it makes her happy she can do it in whatever time she likes. Perhaps I should try and live my running life by the same rules.
When I'm training for any race I can develop a tunnel vision where you see everything that life is throwing at you in a way where you ask: 'how's this going to affect my running?'
But there's more to running than just time and numbers. As I gently ease my way back into some sort of routine from the calf problem I've had recently I really enjoyed 11 miles back at my dad's at the weekend running along the River Stort with Alison.
When you distil your life into a number of moments you remember times aren't really all that important, it's the experiences that you really cherish. What am I going to remember more? That training run where I hit every split correctly, or when I was up early to get the miles in and all I could smell was the wafts of bacon coming off the moored up boats.
'Where did the time go?'
I plan to keep track of it a lot more when it comes to running.
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Two bits of bad news for coal giant Massey Energy
1. Massey agreed to pay $30 million for lootin' and pollutin'.
"The country's fourth-largest coal producer, Massey Energy Co., has agreed to a $30 million settlement with the government over allegations that over seven years it routinely polluted hundreds of streams and waterways in West Virginia and Kentucky with sediment-filled waste water and coal slurry."
2. And the controversy over the Chief Justice of the West Virginia Supreme Court, and sitting judge on a Massey related lawsuit, vacationing with Massey CEO Don Blankenship has led to the justice removing himself from the case.
I guess lots of money can't buy you friends.
Now how about ruining Massey's year and banning that nasty little thing we call mountaintop removal?


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The client who runs an independent estate agency, well known in the area, wished to update their office and evoke their personality and courage. The agency was a typical office space with little character and appeal. We put together a few concepts for the client and 'A New Town in the Woods' was the selected favourite. A canvas of cool greys, concrete and resin textures and earthy woods allowed for a punch of nature and bold colours to be thrown in.
The project was awarded 'UK Best Office Interior' in 2015 from The International Property Awards.


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Installing Windows Server 2008 Core Edition is easy enough, but configuring it can be tricky. IT pro Rick Vanover shows how to rename a computer with a one-liner.
In previous Windows Server 2008 Core Edition tips, I described how to configure the screen saver timeout and disable the Windows Firewall. This tip explains how to rename a computer in one line.
Default installations of Windows Server 2008 give the server a name like WIN-94CX1930EF21 or some other obscure pattern that doesn't fit into most computer infrastructures. You can change the computer name using the netdom command. Netdom (which isn't a new tool) is an easy way to change the computer name after Windows Server 2008 is installed on Core Editions. You can also use it on the full installation versions.
It's pretty straightforward to use the netdom command. For example, let's go from the default name WIN-94CX1930EF21 to a computer name of SERVER13. This is the command you would enter:
netdom renamecomputer WIN-94CX1930EF21 /Newname SERVER13Once this is complete, you get a friendly prompt that renaming a system may cause certain services to fail. Because of this warning, it is a good idea to rename the server early in the build process. Figure A shows this onscreen. Figure A
The server is successfully renamed after the requested system reboot.
If you want to join the system to an Active Directory domain, the same command is used except extra parameters are required. If the computer account already has the correct name, a command like the following will join a Windows Server 2008 server to a domain:
netdom join /DOMAIN:RWVDEV server13 /userD:RWVDEV\Administrator /password:*A few things to note: Some of the parameters have the letter D at the end of them, and the FQDN server name is the DC to authenticate the request against. Again, a reboot is required to take effect. There are a few other parameters with netdom, so check out the Help section to see if additional features, such as organizational unit placement and force reboot, suit you.
Stay on top of the latest Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 tips and tricks with our free Windows Server newsletter, delivered each Wednesday. Automatically sign up today!


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|The Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Electronic Theses and Dissertations (ETD) repository holds full-text theses and dissertations submitted for higher degrees at the University (including submissions from former Cape Technikon and Peninsula Technikon).
Now showing items 1-1 of 1
Poly(γ-glutamic) acid (PGA) production from confectionery waste using Bacillus species
(Cape Peninsula University of Technology, 2018)
Approximately 9 million tonnes of food waste is generated annually in South Africa. Its treatment, including treatment of confectionery waste, is costly because of the high chemical oxygen demand (COD) loads; as a result ...


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Is Wellington the dark horse in the race for WEG 2018?
It would be easy to assume that the World Equestrian Games (WEG) would be biggest horse show to hit pretty much any town.
Think again. It transpires that WEG would bring considerably fewer horses and riders to town than the hugely popular Wellington-based Winter Equestrian Festival, in Palm Beach County, Florida.
There are three potential venues in the frame for hosting the Games in 2018 – Bromont, Canada; Lexington, Kentucky; and Wellington.
I must confess that I assumed Bromont, which is in Montreal, and Lexington, would have been the frontrunners for a couple of very simple reasons.
The FEI Bureau threw open the bidding process for a second time at the start of July after the last candidate standing in the first round, Bromont, had been unable to provide the full public sector financial support the FEI required before granting the hosting rights.
Bromont remains in the running and, given that everything else about its original bid was clearly satisfactory, it would seem that it has just one more hurdle to clear- albeit a fairly substantial one – before ticking all the boxes.
Lexington would also appear to have an advantage, given that it hosted the Games in 2010, meaning much of the infrastructure is already in place.
Wellington, through Mark Bellissimo's company, Equestrian Sport Productions, had its hat in the ring for the 2018 Games in the first round, but withdrew over differences with the Wellington Village Council.
So, could Wellington swing it this time round?
It would seem so, and the main reason is its proven ability to handle the Winter Equestrian Festival.
The festival attracts about 5500 horses overall, with a peak of about 2800 horses in one week. By comparison, WEG will draw about 850 horses over two weeks.
The 2014 winter festival runs for 12 weeks from January 8, based at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center. It draws riders from pretty much every US state, and competitors from 30 or more other countries.
While it is too early to say that all differences have been put to bed with the local council, the evidence would suggest the path is looking smoother.
Firstly, the Wellington backers met an important mid-November deadline to submit a formal bid applications and questionnaires to the FEI. This came after a late-October meeting between representatives of Equestrian Sport Productions and the Wellington council to discuss hosting the Games.
While the council has yet to declare its formal position on a Games bid, it would seem it hasn't been dismissive of the company's vision.
It transpires that the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center, which underwent a $US20 million upgrade in recent years, and Wellington's Equestrian Village have pretty much all the infrastructure between them that would be needed to host the Games.
Bellissimo told Gotowncrier.com late in October that, in his view, Wellington was uniquely qualified as a venue for the Games.
"We wanted to open a discussion with [the village] to see if there is an interest in pursuing a bid," he told the website.
"There is no requirement that we have a collaboration with the village, but we believe it will be more successful if it's a collaborative effort."
Palm Beach County could easily provide the facilities and venues for the eight events that make up a World Games – showjumping, dressage, reining, eventing, endurance, driving, vaulting and para-equestrian competition.
Bellissimo explaind that showjumping and dressage would be held at their respective venues, with reining and vaulting in the Equestrian Village's covered arena.
It transpires that course designer Mark Phillips had been to Wellington and had mapped out an eventing cross-country course using nearby golf courses and local bridle paths.
Driving and endurance competitions could use a similar course, Bellisimo said.
It also transpires that, between the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center and Wellington's Equestrian Village, there are already nearly enough permanent stalls to accommodate the 850 horses that would arrive for the World Games.
Bellissimo pointed to the $US233 million economic benefit that the 2010 Games produced for Kentucky, let alone the 500,000-plus spectators who watched over the two-week Games period.
The television audience was put at 405 million.
So, with such significant infrastructure already in place, the investment needed to host the Games in Florida would pale against any city that needed to build most of the facilities.
Documents on the Wellington council website show the council has been sounded out for its view on the Games bid.
Just where it stands may become clearer on December 2, when the FEI is scheduled to enter the "Candidate phase", when the world governing body for equestrian sports will formally announce the candidates. Potential hosts then have until March 31 to make remaining required submissions and provide a signed host agreement.
The path to WEG 2018 is already littered with abandoned bids.
Whether this bid for a 2018 host ends with a three-way photo-finish in front of the FEI Bureau, or another round of scratchings, remains to be seen.
At this stage, on my reading, the form book is not showing a clear favourite.


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Creating an excellent experience throughout the customer journey is becoming the ultimate product feature for companies realizing technical or material improvements can differentiate them only so much. According to Deloitte, 62% of companies view customer experience delivered by a company's contact center as a competitive differentiator. The most surprising thing about that statistic is that almost 40% of companies don't recognize the power of a well-executed customer experience.
Here at Clearlink, the goal to provide a frictionless path from marketing through sales and all the way to customer support is at the heart of every decision we make. Our team of 1,500 sales, marketing, and data science experts have spent the last seventeen years striving to perfect the customer experience. Through investments in technology and expert talent, we have built a business on the leading edge of a digital transformation. Our work to transform how brands become more innovative, agile, and people-centric throughout the buying cycle has led us to the development of ICX: the Intelligent Customer Experience.
The Basics of Intelligent Customer Experiences
ICX focuses on providing the customer with a personal, predictive experience by using data-driven artificial intelligence paired with human expertise. Our unique capabilities as a full-stack digital marketing company with an industry-leading sales force let us connect the chain of individual interactions throughout the customer journey. We use billions of data points to inform the design, marketing, sales, and service experiences, making the whole cycle feel more connected.
Cohesion is crucial; users are demanding it. Accenture found that 87% of customers think brands need to put more effort into providing a consistent experience. Brands that don't provide that consistency will be seen as delivering bad experiences. In fact, as analyst Esteban Kolsky discovered, 67% of customers mention bad experiences as a reason for churn. The message is clear: invest in an intelligent customer experience or lose your customers.
The message is clear: invest in an intelligent customer experience or lose your customers.
How do you create an experience that can keep up with the ever-changing pace of customer behavior? Devices, platforms, and technologies all impact the way customers interact with brands and the type of experiences they expect from them. A company's ability to quickly adapt to these changes is the difference between one prepared for a digital transformation and one that is not.
In the Gartner insight report "The Future of Experience," analysts claim that "marketing leaders' abilities to adjust rapidly and meet future customer expectations are enabled or limited by their martech and adtech competences. Your brand's proficiency in collecting, integrating, analyzing and reacting to consumer data is integral to its ability to respond with more agility, efficiency, and effectiveness than competitors."
We believe that the key to providing our brand partners the adtech and martech needed to meet new CX demands comes down to two components: artificial intelligence and human ingenuity.
Artificial Intelligence
Clearlink specializes in customer interactions. Between the clickstream and visitor data we gather from our web pages to the captured call data from our sales centers, we have access to billions of points of user data gathered from millions of interactions both online and offline. This proprietary data is what fuels our artificial intelligence. With it, we are able to analyze outcomes of customer calls, gather psychographic and demographic data, and use machine learning algorithms to understand and better predict our customers' needs.
For example, our dynamic call routing system uses data from online behavior to connect customers to agents with specific knowledge of the product or service they have been considering. It can get even more specific by connecting them with an agent from their geographic region based on their area code, creating another point of commonality and building trust. This system helps eliminate repetition in the buying process. The agent can get the right solution faster because the information from the customer's online activity is immediately available to them.
And we don't just use data from past experiences, Clearlink analyzes call data in real time and continually applies our learnings to make future interactions smarter and more efficient. In a "choose your own adventure" style of filtering, keyword searches, landing page entry, and product choice inform the intelligent voice routing (IVR) system to connect the customer to the sales agent best suited to their needs. This nimbleness is a result of our internal marketing, data science, and sales teams working cross-functionally to improve each department with exceptional communication and transparency.
Thanks to phenomena like the "Amazon Effect," customers now expect a seamless path to purchase, and our technology gives us the visibility and information needed to customize the experience for our customers. The beauty of this system is it provides us with the data from the online behaviors to inform the offline interactions. Search terms, landing pages, and product selection guides the IVR as well as the sales agent to the optimal solution for each customer.
For those customers who prefer to keep the entire process online, Clearlink's chat technology pulls the same site behavior data over to the agent who is given guidance from the sales enablement software and can close the sale right from the chat window. All outcomes are then passed through machine learning algorithms to adapt future actions and create data-driven solutions that connect and optimize each stage of the customer journey.
But integrated technology and artificial intelligence are nothing without the people behind it.
Human Ingenuity
Clearlink employs hundreds of expert data science, customer experience, and content specialists. We staff our sales centers with thousands of highly skilled agents who are trained to provide the best possible customer experience. We don't believe in silos; all of these departments share data and ideas freely while collaborating on better ways to deliver solutions.
We begin ingraining the philosophy of open communication at onboarding. Every corporate employee must go through two training classes within their first month on the job. The Everybody's in Sales program outlines the role of the sales department at Clearlink and puts new hires through a day-long sales training boot camp to better understand how their job impacts the sales agents.
The second is a marketing simulation, where everyone learns the roles and responsibilities of every marketing position in the company. From copywriting to coding, the group tries their hand at each job and builds a functional web page over the course of the day. By the time new hires have completed these classes, they have a solid foundation of the inner workings of the company and can communicate across departments.
We also structure our office to encourage our team members to share ideas between departments. Copywriters are seated next to designers who are next to SEO specialists and CRO teams, so when someone has a new idea or success story, it's easy to let everyone know. Questions can be easily answered, and concerns immediately addressed. Seating charts aren't the most exciting aspects of improving efficiency and performance, but we look for any opportunity to open up pathways of communication.
Encouraging the sharing of information promotes inventiveness that allows us to create predictive and efficient solutions for our customers. If the data from sales calls reflects a need for a change in marketing strategy, that data is shared, strategies are adjusted, and the change is made.
See the difference ICX™ makes for our clientsLearn More
One of the most successful examples of this is using sales outcome data to determine which product offerings are displayed in the hero image of landing pages. The sales agents let the marketing department know which products and packages are resonating best with customers so website and ad creative can be designed around them.
Rather than focusing on short-term, individual team goals, everyone is focused on the end-goal of providing the customer with an excellent overall experience. Breaking down the communication barriers between each stage of the customer journey allows us to craft the highly sought-after, consistent, and engaging experience that leads to increased customer satisfaction.
A happier customer is one less likely to churn, which increases revenue while also reducing expenses—resulting in a higher lifetime value per customer. This closed loop between sales and marketing has helped us create billions of dollars in incremental revenue for our brand partners and has helped us continue to invest in the future of Intelligent CX.
A happier customer is one less likely to churn, which increases revenue while also reducing expenses—resulting in a higher lifetime value per customer.
Technology + People = Clearlink
While both artificial intelligence and human ingenuity are individually essential to Clearlink's operation, the two together lie at the heart of our vision of brands' digital transformation. Because we have access to vast amounts of customer interaction data, our teams of experts have the tools they need to maximize the effectiveness of their decisions.
And because of the cross-functional nature of our team structure, those decisions can be shared with everyone involved compounding the efficiency of all teams throughout the process. The outcomes of these decisions are then analyzed and optimized for further improvement through our internal feedback loops. Technology helps make our people better, who in turn, help improve our technology.
Plus, with the power of AI, we can scale our innovative solutions to any level our brand partners require. Extrapolating data sets and applying them to wider audiences, using predictive analytics to steer decision making, and using machine learning to find opportunities for improvement throughout the process minimizes the risks and pains that can come with growth. This entire process is what makes Clearlink unique as a sales and marketing company, thanks to the ICX mindset that's present throughout all our services.
Focusing on the customer journey is an important initiative within many organizations, but Clearlink believes it is one that few have been able to execute effectively. No matter the age or size of the company, the experience it provides its customers is going become a more important differentiator in the market. Clearlink is leading this charge in giving brands tools like ICX to redefine the relationships customers have with them, because the companies who ignore the changing tide may lose those relationships forever.