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By Kristin Luck
Virtual Incentives recently completed a study with Greenbook that took an in-depth look at participant engagement and the importance of recognizing their time and effort when they participate in research studies. The study, which was conducted in 15 countries and 8 languages among 6,208 consumers, found that incentives are a major driver towards study completion and satisfaction.
You should consider incentives as a vital part of the research process, not just an after-thought. After all, highly engaged participants deliver reliable and actionable data!
Here are five key points regarding incentives to consider when you are planning your next research study:
1. Make it worthwhile
If the incentive you're offering isn't enough to inspire YOU to take your own survey, why would it inspire potential respondents? Make sure the trade you're offering (incentive for their time and opinion) is meaningful and inspires the desired behavior. For example, if you give your participant options (plastic card or virtual redemption, brand name gift cards or Visa virtual rewards) that element of choice alone can make the process more worthwhile for them.
2. Make it easy
Incentives should be easy to understand and redeem. Half of our study participants admitted that the design of a survey impacts their willingness to complete it, and too much complexity causes dropouts. The same applies to incentives. By integrating incentive technology seamlessly with your research process, offering a choice that fits the participant lifestyle, and taking advantage of user friendly interfaces, you are taking barriers away from the reward process for your participant.
3. Make it relevant
Make sure the incentives you're offering fits your research project and your participant. If you're running a survey on baby diaper usage, chances are the participants aren't going to want gift cards to Bass Pro Shop. Or if, say, you're surveying millennials who typically use a Starbucks app to buy their coffee, a plastic gift card is likely not relevant to their mobile lifestyle.
4. Make it instant
Nothing makes an incentive more impactful than instant delivery. This means instant gratification for your participant, which in turn leads to a higher level of engagement. And, as we explored in our recent study, better engagement garners higher response and completion rates. Don't make your participants wait and wonder when the check or plastic card is going to arrive, especially when today's technology allows you to reward immediately when the survey is complete, and on any device.
5. Make it consistent
Deliver the same type of preferred reward repeatedly so participants know what to expect and are assured of a seamless, highly valued incentive process. When you integrate incentive technology seamlessly into your research process, you'll be able to build expectation among your respondent base of a consistent, equitable exchange for their time and opinions, and improve your overall research practice.In a world where consumers are constantly bombarded with information, have short attention spans and harbor high expectations for every interaction in their lives (online and otherwise), we have an uphill battle as researchers to keep respondents engaged. Implementing incentives that resonate with respondents on multiple levels will drive more actionable data and better business decisions.
Full study findings are available here.
Markets included: Australia (n=150), Brazil (n=250), Canada (n=686), Chile (n=250), Colombia (n=250), France (n=508), Germany, (n=502), Mexico (n=250), New Zealand (n=100), Philippines (n=150), Singapore (n=150), Spain (n=253), Thailand (n=201), UK (n=503), US (n=2,005). All participants had partaken in research in the last 12 months.
Article reproduced with permission of RW Connect and ESOMAR.
Source: https://rwconnect.esomar.org/top-five-best-practices-for-market-research-incentives/


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By Brooke O'Neill
Photo by Chris Strong
A specialist in 19th-century British culture, Elaine Hadley examines popular and political culture of the time — not only through literature, but also through cookbooks, pamphlets, sermons, and other texts. She understands living the life of the mind along with the rest of one's life can be a challenge; mentoring is her way of helping graduate students navigate the obstacles.
What does the award mean to you?
I'm really touched that students got together and made an effort to recognize me. It's really quite moving. I realize what a special thing it is for them to have done.
Talk about your mentoring philosophy.
This is an institution that really promotes and takes seriously the life of the mind, which attracts me to the place, but it's also important to acknowledge students as human beings with lives. That's been really central to the way I interact with my graduate students. They're young adults making major life decisions. I try to meet them as full human beings.
In some ways it's a very simple formula: give them your time. Reassure them, help them think through their options, and provide resources so that they can make the best decisions. I want our students to become the best scholars they can be, but my primary concern is that they leave here having started off a fulfilling life where they can contribute.
Who inspires you as a mentor and teacher?
This'll sound utterly corny, but my mentoring has been very inspired by my parents. My father was an administrator, a dean of students, of a small-town, state institution. I imbibed quite a bit of my philosophy about interacting with students from him. He was a real inspiration. My mother has tough standards but combines it with a real affection for people.
The person who's probably influenced me the most in terms of my graduate teaching in the classroom was my mentor, [cultural historian] Mary Poovey. She infused us with two thoughts: one, the idea our work was important, that our scholarly work had something to contribute to a conversation that mattered and two, that we could actually pull it off. That's really important because graduate school is a mountain to climb, and if you don't have people encouraging you to think you can scale the mountain, it's really difficult to finish.
What do you most get out of teaching?
I'm the kind of scholar who sometimes has—and I think a lot of people do—an existential angst about the larger contributions that I'm making through my scholarship. But it's obvious when I help a student work through a problem or help them make a major life decision about whether to stay in the program or not, that's a pretty concrete contribution. It's a feature of my mentoring that has been very valuable to me, as I hope it has been for students.
What's special about teaching UChicago grad students?
Well, they're fantastically bright. You learn things from them all the time. They really enhance the quality of your thought.
What do you know now that you didn't when you started teaching?
Oh, tons. Everything? That's the great bonus about teaching, especially in the humanities: you really can improve with age because it's so experiential, especially mentoring. If you stay at a place long enough, you really get to know what's available there, so when someone seeks your advice, you can help him or her.
What advice do you have for future professors?
The word that comes to mind is balance. That is, being able to be both a good teacher and a good thinker, and then having a life where you're contributing beyond those two demanding tasks can be challenging but worthwhile.
Originally published on June 4, 2012.

subset: commoncrawl


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The Managing Director of an early Building Information Modelling adopting engineering consultancy has discussed the reasons for his firm's implementation of BIM.
John Staves, Managing Director at Michael Aubrey Partnership took part in an interview on Michael Aubrey's official website, in which he discussed beginning a BIM journey back in 2009 and how the technological process has allowed the practice to refine designs, become more efficient and simply making them "much better".
Staves reminisces back to 2007 when the business first noticed Autodesk Revit, a software platform they would ultimately be utilising two years later, and that they now use on ALL of their projects, whatever the size.
"Fundamentally it fitted so well with the way we liked to work. Because we are trying to deliver somebody's project, its allows for better communication; it allows us to make sure our designs are much more buildable than perhaps they would have been traditionally if we hadn't thought them through in a modelling environment.
"We saw Revit in 2007 when we were looking for some structural analysis software. It was an American stand alone business, now of course owned by Autodesk. It seemed to fit with the way we wanted to work."
The MD of the Reading, United Kingdom-based company discussed how using BIM has revolutionised their work and ensured elite project quality. He elaborated: "It has made us more efficient, it's allowing us to spend more time designing because there is a level of automation within producing the construction information.
"BIM allows us to spend the time improving the designs, refining the design, making sure things work better before they ever get to site. Rather spending time on internal communication. eg engineer to draftsman, we now spend more time making sure that design is as good as it can be.
"Inevitably what was happening was, it was taking so much time within the fee, that it meant that the first solution that worked was what was published, whereas now we get chance to refine that design, a much more efficient process. Designs that go out to site are much better and much better thought out."
Mr. Staves also answers further questions relating to his career, and those can be viewed here.
RELATED: Crunch Time: Rob Charlton


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Happy Weekend Lovelies!
Today I want to chat to you all about a product, and brand which has been relatively new to me. If you've been following my social media sites for a while now you'll know much I love trying out new beauty products, and I've recently been lucky enough to be able to join the Dr Botanicals Product Reviewer Club. I'm currently on my second skin care item from them to try (you can read my brief Insta Cocoa & Coconut Superfood Mask review here), and I must say I'm quite rapidly falling in love with the brand. Just over two weeks ago I received their Tropical Invigorating Cream Duo Moisturiser (50ml) which is designed for normal to oily skin and described as a 'lightweight cream formulated with elderflower to protect and repair the skin'. At this time of year when the weather is turning a little harsher on our skin, who could say no to that?! The Dr Botanicals website states that the main active ingredients in the formulation are:
1) Elderflower: Aims to protect the skin from free radical damage.
2) Chamomile Flower Extract: Works to heal and soothe irritated and damaged skin.
3) Tiare Flower Extract: Aims to deeply moisturise, nourish and purify the skin.
So to give this day cream a thorough test run, I decided to put my regular day cream to one side for the moment, and commit to consistently using the Tropical Invigorating Cream every morning. This has given my skin chance to get used to the product, and also see how it performs within my regular morning skin care routine. I was also able to see how it sits under make up which is a big deciding factor as to whether a moisturiser ticks the boxes for me.
Firstly let us take a moment to appreciate how beautiful the packaging for this cream really is! The outer packaging comes in the form of a printed brown cardboard box, which has a real earthy and natural feel to it. The detailing and product description on the box is clear, non fussy, well laid out which I like as I don't particularly want to be spending 3 hours trying to decipher what the product's purpose is and what the ingredients are. If we delve inside the box we are greeted with a stunning floral printed, silver metallic tube which boasts a real Hawaiian, tropical vibe. Very fitting considering the name! Dispensing the cream is easy via a simple hexagon shaped screw top.
Onto the actual cream itself, it really is an ultra lightweight formula which has a glossy serum like feel to it. This glossiness comes without any oil or greasiness to it which is fab for my oily skin type. The consistency is rich yet not heavy which are two characteristics I haven't often see together. It spreads across the skin with minimal effort and soaks in almost instantly, drying down to a soft velvet like finish. I've not yet tried anything like this, that feels nourishing and hydrating without a lingering, greasy weight to it. I've also found that my foundation applies and sits very well over the top, so much so that I've not felt the need to use a primer beforehand. This cream is almost a one stop shop!
Fragrance wise the overall aroma is very light and almost fruity yet on the contrary the ingredients list contains a number of various floral extracts such as 'sambucus nigra' and 'gardenia tahitensis' flowers. I'm not familiar with the notes within these flowers however combined with all of the other ingredients the end result seems more fruity than floral to me personally. Never the less, a very enticing and invigorating scent which I've grown very fond of. In fact I was initially impressed with this product just by the scent and packaging alone.
For anyone who is an ethical beauty lover, you'll be glad to hear that Dr Botanicals' products are not only cruelty free, but vegan too! Additionally their products are made here in the UK for anyone who might be interested to know. Now price point wise I won't lie, Dr Botanicals in not the cheapest of skin care brands on the market, the Tropical Invigorating Cream in particular retails on their website for £39.90 for the full size 50ml tube. Based on what I've used so far since receiving it, I anticipate that this particular tube, if continued to be used daily, will probably last me somewhere between two to three months. Granted I personally find that a pea sized amount is perfect for my needs, however if you like to absolutely lather your face in day cream you would probably get through this 50ml tube in around six weeks. Circa £40 is quite expensive for six weeks, and even two months worth of day cream in my eyes, but again it's all down to the user and what you deem to be an expensive or inexpensive price point. I have been lucky to be able to try this cream simply for the cost of shipping which was around £6 so I really can't complain! Would I consider making it a permanent staple of my morning skin care routine? If it was regularly on offer then yes, certainly. But as it stands at the moment this cream is possibly a little over what I would normally spend. It's the sort of product I'd splurge on maybe twice a year as a treat. I certainly can't argue with the results, and the fact that it's cruelty free is a huge winner for me. I can't say anything negative about it based on my current experience, the only downside being that it's a little out of my comfortable price range. They do however have some great deals on other products online, and some fab looking gift sets such as the Japanese Orange Ultimate Collection (£49 for three products) and their Body Cleansing and Exfoliating Bars are currently half price (£9.90) making them great stocking stuffers.
If you are interested in seeing more of the Dr Botanicals range you can visit their website here, and if you fancy exploring their Product Reviewers Club click here to find out more. Are you already part of the club and if so have you had the pleasure of trying the Tropical Invigorating Cream? I'd love to hear if you have!
With Love
Disclaimer – This post is in no way sponsored by the brand upon which this post is based. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Caption in italics are information directly from the product packaging and brand website.


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I don't know about you, but I reckon Mexican cuisine is the ultimate comfort food. It's flavour-some, warming and there's often lots of melted cheese involved. Winning. Plus, who can resist some chunky guac, spicy salsa and cool sour cream?
29 November 2015
Night on the Tiles at Barrio Soho
I don't know about you, but I reckon Mexican cuisine is the ultimate comfort food. It's flavour-some, warming and there's often lots of melted cheese involved. Winning. Plus, who can resist some chunky guac, spicy salsa and cool sour cream?
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 29.11.15 No comments
Labels: arts, barrio soho, cocktails, crafts, fdbloggers, food, foodie, friends, fun, lbloggers, london, mexican, nachos, painting, review, taco
22 November 2015
Sprinkle kindness around like confetti
I hope everyone has had a wonderfully relaxing weekend. The temperature seems to have plummeted, with some even reporting snow. I've forgotten what wamth feels like!
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 22.11.15 No comments
Labels: #ctworldkindnessday, chocolate, collaboration, cosy, cotton traders, floral, kindness, lbloggers, lifestyle, rambles, socks, sunday, tea, whittards
7 November 2015
A friendly brunch at The Alice House, Queen's Park
Back in the day, when I used to live in West Hampstead, I drunkenly visited the West End Lane branch of The Alice House for a few cocktails before hitting the town. I'd never actually sampled their food, nor had I visited their sister branch in Queen's Park. And you know I'm not one to turn down brunch...
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 7.11.15 No comments
Labels: brunch, coffee, fdbloggers, food, foodie, friends, lbloggers, queens park, saturday, The Alice House, Urban Leisure Group
5 November 2015
That time I went shopping and it made me really hate shopping
Hi-de-hi, everyone. I haven't written a personal post for a while because there have been a few things going on in my little mind, but it's been my prerogative not to share them.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 5.11.15 No comments
Labels: body, fashion, lbloggers, lifestyle, opinion, personal, rambles, self-esteem, self-image, shopping, truth
31 October 2015
Beauty bits I'm loving right now
Confession: as soon as I'd shot these products, MORE products came to mind which should have also made the cut. Blame my scatterbrain, blame the fact I was still in the haze of illness... total faux pas on my part. I guess I'll just save them for another post.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 31.10.15 No comments
Labels: balance active, bbloggers, beauty, body, burts bees, clarins, eyeliner, lipstick, love, make up, mavala, moisturiser, murad, review, skincare, skyn iceland, the body shop
24 October 2015
Cuisson's POPdown at the Vaults, Waterloo
If you've never been to the Vaults, before, make sure you take a friend. Not because you should worry for your safety, but because you need someone to reassure you that yes, you are going the right way, just a little bit further. When you do arrive, however, you'll know. The blimp and 3 signs give it away.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 24.10.15 No comments
Labels: cuissons, experience, fdbloggers, fine dining, food, foodie, friends, london, popdown, review, the vaults, waterloo
21 October 2015
Ask For Janice, Smithfields Market
I'm not a "City" girl. As much as I adore corporate attire worn on the likes of "Suits" (Donna and Rachel are absolute goals), I'm more of a jeans and ankle boots kinda gal. But any fears I had of starched suits and pencil skirts making me look more shabby than chic were erased when my friend and I rocked up to Ask For Janice.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 21.10.15 No comments
Labels: ask for janice, cocktails, food, foodie, friends, gin, lifestyle, london, restaurant, review, smithfields
16 October 2015
Fish Market, Liverpool Street
Located directly across from Liverpool Street station, it's hard to believe I've never ventured down New Street - the street on which Fish Market is located. In comparison to the hustle and bustle of Bishopsgate only a hundred or so metres away, it's surprisingly serene.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 16.10.15 No comments
Labels: cocktails, cod, fdblogger, fish, fish market, food, foodie, friends, liverpool street, london, restaurant, review, salmon
10 October 2015
Dirty Bones, High St. Kensington
I really wanted to name this post something like "Getting dirty at..." or "Down 'n' dirty at..." but then I realised that actually I didn't want my post to sound like a weird food romp, so I kept it simple and to the point. And that's my amazingly interesting title back-story for you all.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 10.10.15 No comments
Labels: carnaby, cocktails, dirty bones, fdbloggers, food, high st kensington, hot dog, ice cream, london, restaurant, review
3 October 2015
The prime of your life
Don't ask me how, but somewhere along the way I've managed to accrue a load of primers. So many, in fact, that I almost have one for every day of the week.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 3.10.15 No comments
Labels: bbloggers, beauty, KIKO, laura mercier, murad, OM skincare, pixi beauty, primer, review, smashbox
26 September 2015
That time I stayed at The Hoxton, Holborn
I went through a really bizarre stage recently where I kept winning competitions (and I've never won anything, not even those Christmas school raffles, or bingo). And one prize was an overnight stay at The Hoxton, Holborn which excited me because STAY-CAY ALERT.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 26.9.15 No comments
Labels: breakfast, competition, holborn, hotel, london, staycay, the hoxton, winner
17 September 2015
Eat and drink your way through London Fashion Week
So this is the first time since leaving university that I haven't been involved in London Fashion Week in any shape or form - I'm not working it, and I'm not watching it. It's seriously gutting (as in, it makes my heart hurt), but I know I'm not alone.
12 September 2015
Afternoon Tea at The Covent Garden Hotel
It's not often my Mum and I get the chance to have some one-on-one girly time together - so when we do, we make sure we do it right. Our most recent girly day consisted of visiting the Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon exhibition, followed by afternoon tea.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 12.9.15 No comments
Labels: afternoon tea, audrey hepburn, Covent garden, exhibition, food, foodie, london, mum, sunday
5 September 2015
#TheBloggersMarket, take two
Following on from the success of the initial blogger's market back in January, the gals put it on all over again, this time in the chic setting of The Hoxton, Holborn. So I grabbed a gal pal and headed to central early-ish on a Saturday morning.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 5.9.15 No comments
Labels: appletiser, Benefit, bloggers, bloggers market, brownies, clothes, events, fashion, krispy kreme, lbloggers, lifestyle, liv purvis, what olivia did, yo sushi
29 August 2015
Sofie and the Mast Brother's Factory
I'll forgive you if you've never heard of Mast Brothers - I hadn't heard of them either until news that they were partnering with Shake Shack hit my inbox. And with the offer to try Shake Shack (I know I know - where have I been?) and an indie chocolate brand, I couldn't say no.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 29.8.15 No comments
Labels: brooklyn, burger, cacao, cheese, chocolate, chocolate factory, education, fdbloggers, food, friends, fries, lbloggers, mast brothers, redchurch street, shake shack, shoreditch, tour
22 August 2015
Hi guys - it's been a while. Lots has been going on this month. I fell into a blogging funk and I didn't know how to snap out of it. I didn't know what to write or when to write or if I even had anything to write about... It sucked. So, what have I been up to in my month's hiatus?
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 22.8.15 No comments
Labels: beach, bens canteen, cocktails, devon, graduate, holiday, la roche-posay, lbloggers, life, lifestyle, loreal, luna cinema, notting hill, olu deniz, pretty little liars, rambles, theme park, thorpe park, turkey, vichy
22 July 2015
L'Eto Caffe
Unfortunately for London, it's earned itself a bit of a reputation as a faddy city. But the great thing about L'Eto Caffe is that it's not faddy at all. Everything it does (and it does a lot) it does exceedingly well. Mr Kipling ain't got a thing on this place.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 22.7.15 3 comments
Labels: cafe, fdbloggers, food, foodie, l'eto caffe, lblogger, lifestyle, restaurant, soho
18 July 2015
On getting a proper job (!)
Guys, it finally happened. Although not in the way I thought it would, and not, as many would think, in the editorial field. But life has a funny way of surprising you (me) and I like to think it's all worked out for the best.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 18.7.15 4 comments
Labels: belief, confidence, editorial, ELLE, graduate, grazia, intern, interning, Job, lbloggers, lifestyle, Marie Claire, opinion, the sunday times style, value, vogue, work
15 July 2015
Al Fresco Yoga with Secret Urban Escape
What better way to celebrate the (few seconds of) summer than an al fresco yoga session, accompanied by some soothing live music? Followed up, naturally, by a super healthy breakfast to set you up for the day.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 15.7.15 1 comment
Labels: coconut, coyo, fitness, fitspo, health, healthy, lifestyle, london, mighty bee, nudie snacks, putney, relax, secret urban escape, urban fruit, vinyasa, well and happy, yoga
8 July 2015
Toilets, coffee & Penny-Farthings
Due to an office move last week, I had an unexpected day off. To my delight, the sun was shining, the birds were tweeting, and outside was calling my name. I made the most of the agreeable weather and prepared for the heat.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 8.7.15 1 comment
Labels: coffee, lifestyle, london, mayfair, the attendant
4 July 2015
Pizza Union
After you place an order at a restaurant, how long do you wait until it's brought to the table? 15, 20 minutes, maybe even longer? The good news is, after the success of their original branch in Spitalfields, Pizza Union have opened a second branch in N1, serving your pizza in just 3 minutes.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 4.7.15 No comments
Labels: food, launch, lblogger, lifestyle, london, new opening, pentonville road, pizza, pizza union
1 July 2015
Snazzy holiday essentials
I'm going on holiday SO SO SOON (Friday) and I have to say, I've never been more excited to leave the country. And I've never felt like I've deserved a hot, relaxing holiday more than I do right now. Hasta la vista, England!
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 1.7.15 No comments
Labels: beauty, bikini, boux avenue, burberry, ciate, dior, epilator, hawaiian tropic, holiday, la roche posay, neal's yard remedies, paul mitchell, soap and glory, tom ford, trilogy
27 June 2015
Nam Long's Opium Den
Okay guys, so I messed up... I was running late, and I forgot Nina (the Nikon), and I had no time to go back and grab her. Sob. So these images are courtesy of Omar Loi, and my Samsung S-not-the-newest-model. But here's what went down at Nam Long's new addition, The Opium Den.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 27.6.15 No comments
Labels: cocktails, drinks, event, famous, kate moss, launch, lifestyle, nam long, prince harry, restaurant, the opium den
24 June 2015
12 Most Instagram-able Coffee Spots in London
Coffee is kind of a big deal in London. And when I say "big deal", I mean, of course, a way of life. There must be thousands of coffee shops in London, and yet they all manage to stay in business, because such is the demand of coffee in our buzzy capital with equally buzzy, high-on-caffeine inhabitants.
20 June 2015
London Wanderings: Hampstead Heath
When I realised my last "wanderings" was 3 months ago, I knew I needed to get out there and have a little adventure. I chose to ignore the stubborn overcast gloom and resist the temptation of new Orange is the New Black episodes to mooch around Hampstead, instead.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 20.6.15 No comments
Labels: explore, flowers, hampstead, hampstead heath, lifestyle, london, market, walk, wanderings
17 June 2015
Nailing summer shades
I'll be the first to admit I have a love-hate relationship with nail polish. Mainly because whenever I paint my nails myself, there's a 98% chance it will smudge. And also because once a nail chips, I pick at it and have to start afresh. But the shades? I've got them down.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 17.6.15 No comments
Labels: bblogger, bbloggers, beauty, butter london, dolce and gabbana, intensae, jacava london, nail polish, nails, summer
13 June 2015
Why Mr Fogg's of Mayfair is absolutely spiffing
It all started out innocently enough. I arranged to meet a friend on a Wednesday night who I interned with at VOGUE, and in my head I was thinking, "I'm only going for one. I'll be back home at 8:30pm, latest." Famous. Last. Words.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 13.6.15 2 comments
10 June 2015
Kris says something: Style is key, so find your niche
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 10.6.15 No comments
Labels: careers, colour, design, fashion, fashion illustrator, inspiration, interview, kris keys, lifestyle, spectrum collections
6 June 2015
Kicking back at a Neal's Yard Remedies Party
You know when you're keen on a brand, but you're not 100% sure what it feels like/smells like, so shopping online isn't an option? Or when you want to go into a shop to give something a whirl, but you hate the shop assistant getting up in your grill? Yeah, that.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 6.6.15 No comments
Labels: antioxidants, beauty, coconut oil, friends, lifestyle, neal's yard remedies, pamper, relax, skincare
3 June 2015
Spectrum Collections & the Glam Clam
There's no getting around it - we live in a shallow world. Pretty people, and things, are superior to their less attractive counterparts. It might not be fair, but boy, is it true. And there's nothing more exciting than coming across something truly "oooh, so pretty!". Enter, Spectrum Collections.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 3.6.15 No comments
Labels: bblogger, beauty, confetti crowd, glam clam, kris keys, launch, make up brushes, snoochie shy, spectrum collections, unhampered girls
30 May 2015
PhotoLondon at Somerset House
Rather than trying to second-guess London's weather antics (seriously, what's going on?), my friend and I decided to play it safe last weekend and take shelter at PhotoLondon at Somerset House.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 30.5.15 No comments
Labels: art, exhibition, lbloggers, lifestyle, london, photography, photolondon, Somerset House, VIP
27 May 2015
The Trading House, and the ale equivalent of "slutty rosé"
You know an evening is going to go quite well when you're picked up by a horse and carriage, and greeted with a cooling raspberry bellini. It's a truth universally acknowledged, right?
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 27.5.15 No comments
Labels: blogger, city of London, food, foodie, foodporn, gresham street, lblogger, lifestyle, london, the trading house
23 May 2015
Event etiquette (i.e. how to not act like a dick)
Last night when I was at an event and feeling tipsy on a cocktail of bellinis, mojitos and ale (as in, a cocktail of cocktails PLUS ale, bleurgh), I had a thought - dangerous - that it would be good to do a little etiquette guide slash what not to do at events. Y'know, just in case anyone was interested.
20 May 2015
Normal service will resume on 23rd May
Apologies for the radio silence - just needed a wee break.
I'll be back on Saturday, but until then...
I'll be back on Saturday, but until then...
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 20.5.15 No comments
13 May 2015
What a night out is like for me, aged 23
"Have fun, and make sure you enjoy yourself", was a text from my adorable younger brother that I received last week. It took reading it to realise that I couldn't actually remember the last time I did either of those things - have fun or enjoy myself. It made me feel pretty crap, to be honest.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 13.5.15 14 comments
Labels: alcohol, boys, catch up, clubbing, drinks, friends, lifestyle, night out, party, ramble, self-esteem, weekend
9 May 2015
Loving you is Red
If anyone got that Taylor Swift reference, you're awesome (#swiftiesunite). If you didn't, that's cool - just know that love is red and red is love, and that's why this post is in existence.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 9.5.15 2 comments
Labels: bbloggers, be legendary, beauty, burberry, burberry kisses, lipstick, maybelline, red, smashbox
6 May 2015
"Nautical Chic" at Beyond Retro, Kingsland Road
Ahoy! I don't know if many of you have heard about Beyond Retro's newest store on Kingsland Road, but if you're a fan of vintage and retro wares, it's not to be missed. Firstly, it's HUGE. And secondly, it has a stage that hosts talks like the one I attended a few weeks ago, called "Nautical Chic".
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 6.5.15 No comments
Labels: amber butchart, beyond retro, fashion, history, lifestyle, nautical, talk, trend
2 May 2015
Getting Radical, and how my dreamboard is myself on A3
I went to a Radical skincare event the other week with the greatest intention to document it in detail... but life had other ideas. Instead, I arrived late (not realising there was a presentation at the start, and having come straight from work) and ended up trying to channel my inner ninja in an attempt to enter the room unnoticed.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 2.5.15 2 comments
Labels: bbloggers, beauty, chalk pr, dreamboard, dreams, motivation, passions, radical, skincare
29 April 2015
Working at The Vogue Festival
In case you're somehow not aware (I say "somehow" because I've plastered it everywhere - from my LinkedIn, to Facebook, to Twitter...), I've been interning at a little title known as Vogue. My internship just so happened to coincide with The Vogue Festival, so I offered up my services and helped out for the weekend. Here's what went down...
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 29.4.15 2 comments
Labels: bbloggers, beauty, beauty intern, fashion, fbloggers, internship, lbloggers, lifestyle, vogue, vogue festival
25 April 2015
Katie says something: Embrace the beauty evolution
Katie Service is Assistant Beauty Editor at The Sunday Times Style - the fashion, beauty and lifestyle supplement which just happens to be my favourite supplement *ever*. I used to devour it every week as a teen, and it's a love that hasn't faded over time (unlike my love for streaky highlights and a side fringe, thank goodness).
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 25.4.15 2 comments
Labels: bbloggers, beauty, beauty editor, career, hacks, insight, interview, katie service, make up, style, the sunday times style
22 April 2015
Jonathan Saunders Sample Sale at The Hoxton
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 22.4.15 2 comments
Labels: fashion, jonathan saunders, lifestyle, muriel's kitchen, sample sale, saturday, shoreditch, smoothie
18 April 2015
When will I stop making other people's successes into my failures?
We compare ourselves to others on social media every day. We see an old school acquaintance having a jolly old time and we think dammit, why aren't I having a jolly good time? My life sucks. Etc etc.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 18.4.15 4 comments
Labels: 23, bitter, career, circumstance, employment, friends, graduate, intern, life, rambles
15 April 2015
Getting legs "summer-ready" (eep)
I detest the idea of getting "summer-ready". After all, there's never any pressure to get spring, autumn or winter-ready.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 15.4.15 No comments
Labels: bbloggers, beauty, creme de corps, hawaiian tropic, kendal jenner, kiehls, l'oreal, legs, prep, soap and glory, summer, the body shop, venus
11 April 2015
Sofie in "Wanderland" with Hermès
If you go down to the Saatchi Gallery today, you're in for a wander-ful surprise. Hermès Paris is currently occupying the top floor of the gallery with an exhibition for the aspiring flâneur.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 11.4.15 2 comments
Labels: art, chelsea, exhibition, hermes, lifestyle, london, saatchi gallery, sw3, wanderland
8 April 2015
Fragrances which scream "HELLO, SPRING"
As I write this, it's grey outside and a lil bit chilly. Nonetheless, word on the street is that SPRING HAS SPRUNG, and what better way to get in the mood than indulge in a spring-time fragrance (or three)?
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 8.4.15 2 comments
Labels: and other stories, bbloggers, beauty, chloe, favourites, fragrance, fresh, lbloggers, spring
4 April 2015
Why is mental health still so stigmatised at UK universities?
As many of you know, mental health is a subject close to my heart. So when I was contacted by The Priory Group with some rather alarming information regarding the perception of mental illness at universities in the UK, to say it saddened me is an understatement.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 4.4.15 No comments
Labels: anxiety, campus, depression, eating disorders, lbloggers, mental health, rambles, statistics, stigma, teenagers, the priory group, UK, university
1 April 2015
The Moveable Feast
Last Monday, I went along to the launch of The Moveable Feast. Ladies and gentlemen, say hello to a new era of vegetarian cuisine...
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 1.4.15 5 comments
Labels: club mexicana, coffee, fdbloggers, food, foodie, london, london bridge, nix and kix, not dogs, se1, the moveable feast, the salad kitchen, the shard, vegetarian, veggie
28 March 2015
The thing I miss most about being employed (apart from money, because duh)
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 28.3.15 No comments
25 March 2015
London wanderings: Stoke Newington
On Sunday, my cousin and I ventured to North-East London to visit our uncle, and were treated to the delights of Church Street in Stoke Newington.
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 25.3.15 2 comments
Labels: boutique, cats, deli, evergreen and outrageous, flowers, green room cafe, life, lifestyle, london, market, park, shops, stoke newington, stokey, wanderings, wine
21 March 2015
We need to stop allowing other people to make us doubt our decisions
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 21.3.15 10 comments
Labels: ambition, bbloggers, employment, graduate, inspiration, intern, lbloggers, life, motivation, qotd, qote, rambles, work
18 March 2015
Em says something: Everything's coming up LVNDR!
Posted by Sofie | Sofie Says Something at 18.3.15 4 comments
Labels: ambition, blogger, business, Em Sheldon, emtalks, entrepreneur, gold, jewellery, lblogger, lifestyle, rose gold, silver, success, travel
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The most important bit is a point I haven't seen anyone make before: Gerrymandering worsens deadlock because it locks parties into current coalition. Once the lines are drawn a party can't toss out Group A out of the coalition to make room for swing voter group K because A has been gerrymandered in and K is split up. So the folks in group K get fed up and stop voting since no one's willing to listen to what they want. Meanwhile the party can't change its position on an issue no matter how much it's getting hurt by it with the swing voters, because the core coaliton members dominate the primaries.
Agreeing on the problems is easy. Figuring out what to do about them is hard. Here's my take on Grim's proposals:
Repeal 17th Amendment and have Senators chosen by state legislatures again
Hell, no. Right now I have some elections on Federal issues and some on state ones. Change that and all my state races become referendums on the key national issues. It's hard enough to get them to talk about important local stuff now.
Rewrite 14th Amendment to restrict federal jurisdiction to the original issues
I'm in favor of increasing Federalism. Altering the 14th is going to freak a lot of people who'll automatically interpret it as wanting to re-legalize slavery. Possibly we could pass a new amendment declaring certain things to be under state jurisdiction? That'd be making formal some of the unspoken parts of the 9th and 10th Amendments, which have been mostly ignored lately.
End Gerrymandering by electing all of a state's Representatives at large
Just taking the top N vote-getters leads to all sorts of bizarre results. Good candidates will step aside to avoid knocking out a fellow party member. Loonies will get in by random chance. You're setting up for a situation where the top 3 candidates get 80% of the votes and are outvoted in the legislature by the 7 clowns who got the next 12%, with 8% going to also-rans. If you don't want single-member districts we could do proportional representation, as a nationwide vote or by having PR within each state.
I'd rather have non-gerrymandered districts drawn through a simple exercise: Each member of the state legislature can submit a plan. The length of the district borders in each one are measured. The one with the shortest total length goes into effect. Then each Congressman will still have to get 50%+1 of the vote without getting to pick his voters.
Create a new agency for hunting down leakers
Please, not an agency. If the current problem gets solved the agency won't go away and eventually we'll have full time investigators hanging around to see if anyone mentions his job title in public. We've got laws, let's use them. Start by locking up reporters until they reveal where the info came from, like with do with uncooperative witnesses to other crimes.
Congress should do its oversight function well
And apple pie.
Reform or quit the UN
Reform demands are just a way of delaying quitting. The problem is that a genocidal tyrant can be a full member. There's enough members like that to prevent change. It's a lost cause. I'd favor quitting now. Unfortunately there's too many people so attached to the ideal of the UN that they won't give it up without a fight. This might be more trouble than it's worth.
Penalties for failing a specified list of duties for each federal office
Most of the offenses we see today are already illegal. I'm afraid rigid job descriptions would make things worse. In particular it would make office holders unwilling to set aside one of their listed tasks to support another office in dealing with a higher-priority problem. This is already a problem, visible in the response to Katrina. Let's not give them threats of jail they can use to justify even more inflexibility.


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The technology of 3-dimensional (3D) picture is now turning into the latest pattern on the planet of TVs and monitors alike. I see like this is the fall of the American civilization, which is engineered by racist who're filling their pockets with cash, and sowing racism and hatred amongst the completely different peoples that are People. So that, Obma will get hit with a double jeopardy, that he was born in Hawaii-an american state, and that his father is from Africa.
Because of this Obama, who belong to a individuals whose rights can't be respected nor accepted by white America, is being attacked and even when this might result in the demise of the American civilization and credo, the White racist think that it must be so,.
Right now, right this moment, we're wasting time on what I name political frivolities and nonsense while the day-to-day lives of the Poor Africans are in shambles, our decrepit and dysfunctional lives of the poor are worsened by a Dumb intelligentsia, which is confident, falsely, so, in itself and about itself, and are critically unaware of the suffering and the ways and means as to methods to ameliorate and proper these injustices against our poor African individuals.
Technology has its negative effects – we've to agree – however then if we reverse your complete condition and have a look at the flipside then its not just the students who are getting benefited by Google, Bing and many others however teachers too can update their data and abilities with aid from web.
And admittedly, Obamacare is one thing that quite a lot of People need. The lowly urgent iron , like no other household utensil throughout historical past, has introduced the most recent advances of technology to the arms of on a regular basis folks. This then, is trendy bureaucracy American Fashion-Purchased, offered and Packaged to suit the Overly rich 1% of the the 300+ million individuals within the USA.
So that, then,Obama's changing into the President of the United Staes was demystifying, debunking and destroying this actuality that affirms White superiority, and encouraging Africans that they can also have energy and management the whole nation of America and the world.


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Debut Design – Be among the select few to share in this premiere design.
Said to symbolize "abundance," our gorgeous plant not only makes a lovely gift for the person who has everything, it's also a wonderful way to wish someone a year of plenty. Dressed in our hand-painted cachepot with a gold trellis design, the hearty plant is covered with pristine white flowers in bud and bloom, and with proper care will continue to blossom season after season.
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- Also available in our woven basket


text: Thoughts for Young Men addresses four great temptations that plague most young men: sloth, lust, love of pleasure, and peer pressure. J. C. Ryle, the last of the great Puritans, tackles each of these subjects with a tenderness and tact which is unsurpassed. It was difficult for a young man in the days of the nineteenth century when Ryle penned this book, and how much more so for a young man today! This is a must read! This is another "old" book that can be found online. However, I wanted to get this into a more usable format for people to print and read. I pray it will be a blessing to you! Enjoy!


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UPDATED 7:11 a.m.: Hostess Brands Inc. says it's going out of business after striking workers across the country crippled its ability to make its Twinkies, Ding Dongs, Wonder Bread and other snacks.
The company had warned employees that it would file a motion with U.S. Bankruptcy Court Friday seeking permission to shutter its operations and sell assets if plants didn't resume normal operations by a Thursday evening deadline. It announced Friday morning it will go through with that plan.
The closing would mean the loss of about 18,500 jobs. Hostess did have operations in Glendale
PREVIOUSLY: Hostess, the company behind American classic carbs like Twinkies and Wonderbread, is threatening liquidation unless the workers currently on strike return to their jobs by the end of today.
"We haven't seen something like this in a long time however last year you might recall that there was a dispute, not at this level of liquidation, but with the relocation of Boeing," said Erica Deutsch, partner at the Glendale law firm Bush Gottlieb, on AirTalk. "But this is something that you see, companies have to look at their option on how to handle the situation."
This is the latest in a long string of tumultuous economic times for Hostess – the company has filed for bankruptcy in January 2012, their second time in three years. The union strike is a response to unilateral pay and benefit cuts following the January bankruptcy.
"The union representing certain workers was able to reach a certain agreement. However the union representing the bakery, confectionary, and tobacco workers was not able to reach an agreement," said Deutsch. "The company gave what is called the 'Less best and final offer' and in response the employees decided to strike to protest the terms and conditions, one of which was an eight percent wage cut.
Hostess has said that the strike could be the end of the already-struggling company, if they follow through, it would mean the loss of almost 18,000 jobs.
Liquidation would also mean the end of Twinkies, though consumers who stock up now could be eating the famous snack for years. Hostess' days may be numbered, but their product lasts forever.
"They're exercising their right to strike, they are protected by the law and that's what they have done," said Deutsch. "In response to that the company is saying, if the workers don't come back and work by the end of the day…they have made the decision to shut the company down."
Erica Deutsch, partner at the Glendale law firm Bush Gottlieb; adjunct professor of labor law at Loyola Law School


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The soft brilliance of crystal sparkles from every direction thanks to the lavish grandeur of the Schonbek pendant chandelier.
Additional Info:
The Plaza pendant chandelier is gracefully encircled with sparkling square and rectangular crystal jewels. The simple geometric design allows glorious Swarovski Elements Golden Shadow crystal to take center stage. The minimal frame comes in a lustrous silver finish. Swarovski Elements crystal was formerly known as Strass Swarovski crystal.


text:
More than 50,000 tons of potentially hazardous soil has been removed from a
in Jersey City that used to be home to a chrome-processing plant, according to officials.
Though some residents are still unnerved by the amount of potentially hazardous waste still sitting on the 16-acre site, 42 blood samples taken from residents and 54 residential inspections have shown no evidence of chromium contamination, said
Michael McCabe
, the court-appointed site administrator.
"So far, it's all good news," said McCabe, who urged residents who live near the site to sign up for blood testing and residential inspections.
McCabe appeared Thursday night at a community meeting at the Mary McLeod Bethune Life Center on MLK Drive to inform members of the public about the status of the chromium cleanup at 900 Garfield Ave. About three dozen residents attended.
Last November,
PPG Industries
-- which acquired the Garfield Avenue plant in 1954 and processed chromium there until 1963 -- agreed to remove 700,000 tons of hazardous waste from the site.
Joyce Willis, whose home overlooks the site, told officials that a tarp intended to cover the hazardous waste was left uncovered for four days after a recent windstorm. Workers at the site are sloppy, Willis said.
"I don't feel like you're concerned about my health," she said. "You don't care. You don't live here."
McCabe responded by telling Willis that air-quality monitors at the site registered nothing abnormal after the windstorm.
Carla Williams, who lived near the site until moving closer to Bayonne several years ago, said she felt the lack of a public showing at the meeting leads her to believe she is not in any danger.
"If it was that detrimental or that serious, this place would have been packed," she said, adding that she's satisfied PPG and state officials are cleaning up the site properly.


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SkinfinityLaser Hair Removal Salons in Dallas
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I know what you may think – I'm getting wounded by little cones and shot with lasers?
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Penn State Football: Bill O'Brien Talks About First Game Jitters, Michael Mauti and Paul Jones
First-year Penn State football coach Bill O'Brien met with the media Monday for his first news conference of the 2012-13 season.
With almost no national media outlets present, a largely local media contingent focused their attention on the Nittany Lions's upcoming season opener against the Ohio Bobcats.
StateCollege.com reporter Nate Mink has a more extensive look at the press conference here, but a few video highlights can be found above.
Penn State leads the all-time series, 5-0. The Nittany Lions are 92-19-2 in season openers and 100-12-1 in home openers.
Ben Jones covers Penn State football and basketball for StateCollege.com. He's on Twitter as @Ben_Jones88.
More articles by Ben Jones →


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Bill Oddie Unplucked : Columns, Blogs and Musings Paperback / softback
by Bill Oddie
Paperback / softback
When Bill Oddie was growing up one of his favourite books was a collection of essays called The Bird-Lover's Bedside Book.
His new book, Bill Oddie Unplucked, is just that sort of book.
It contains 50 of Bill's essays, magazines articles and blogs, designed to be read in any order you want, with each tale short enough to allow you to dip into something new every time you pick up the book, whether you choose to read it in bed, on the way to work, during your lunch break, in the doctor's waiting room, or on the loo. Representing some of the very best of his writing and general musings of the last twenty years, Bill Oddie Unplucked is generously illustrated with Bill's own whimsical if artistically primitive drawings.
Inside these pages you'll find tales of Bill trespassing in a nunnery, being terrified by a Tiger, wading in sewage, paddling with dinosaurs, slagging off the government, and nearly drowning in both Costa Rica and the Seychelles.
There are, of course, some stories about birds.
Less than 10 available - usually despatched within 48 hours
- Format:Paperback / softback
- Pages:224 pages, 55 line drawings
- Publisher:Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
- Publication Date:16/06/2016
- Category:
Other Formats
- Hardback from £10.15
Also by Bill Oddie | View all


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text:
My tweets
- Fri, 13:13: HELLO, Deftones, on the early of of this day!
- Fri, 14:41: http://t.co/WcP3pJX7
- Fri, 22:05: Great meditative experience. Great reminder. Memento mori. It'll end in tears. http://t.co/DYMIyaPn
- Fri, 22:18: The reason Mitt Romney will lose to Barack Obama in the upcoming election will be easily seen in social media... http://t.co/VlONBJAl
- Sat, 00:20: I really dig this show sometimes. http://t.co/6LEGHbtg


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The height of many girls has become a man's pressure. Men's height has become a hot topic, and there are more and more men products on the market. However, compared with the second development of the more difficult body, the Men Elevator Shoes Sneakers 6.0 cm is the most direct and effective way to increase, so now more and more men wear high shoes.
Let's first briefly understand the men shoes. According to the principle of Elevator Shoes Sneakers , the design of the men internal high-end shoes is to cleverly design the high-heel in the interior of the shoes, hiding this increased setting.
Not only does it have an effect of increasing, but it does not expose the shortcomings of men's short stature, and preserves the face for men. This intimate and effective design has won the favor of many men who are not satisfied with their height. Many male stars in the entertainment industry have become fans of men high shoes.
Then, as a elevator sneakers in the men's high-end shoes, what about the high-heeled shoes? Because we also know that some internal shoes have also increased the effect, but because the design is not reasonable, the pace has been abnormal. The state, wearing for a long time will feel tired, and it is also harmful to the health of the footsteps. We will have such a problem. For this reason, we interviewed some used men and asked them about their opinions. Basically, they all got good reviews. They all said that wearing a high brother did not feel too tired, but the feet and comfort.
From the inside, we learned that Gao Ge's elevator sneakers are strictly controlled from material selection to processing. The materials are all selected high-quality cowhide. The key is that the internal high-rise has undergone special improvement technology, which is very suitable for the human body. The mechanics principle does not feel tired and uncomfortable after wearing. Instead, because of the clever design, correct posture, so that men look more upright.
However, some consumers have put forward some opinions on the Elevator Shoes in Gaoge. For example, its style is relatively old, and its style is very small. There are only ordinary pointed shoes and the like, and there is no way to wear it in some casual occasions. Moreover, the price increase in our factory it is a bit high, which is not suitable for the consumption level of middle and low grades.
In this regard, our manufacturers have also made innovations and improvements, and developed a number of new styles, producing shoes with increased height in the leisure and Elevator Shoes in the sports. I also hope that with the improvement of the industry, the price can be lowered, and I will try to solve the problem of sorrow for all men who are troubled by height.


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"This is an amazing book that inspires and teaches."
Best for Beginners: Diva Q's Barbecue at Amazon
"The instruction is clear and easy to follow."
Runner-Up, Best for Beginners: Smoke & Spice at Amazon
"If you want to learn to cook barbecue, this is the book to start with."
Best for Technique: Slow Fire at Amazon
"The content is straightforward and simple enough."
Best for History: Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book at Amazon
"This book is part cookbook, part history."
Best for Texas BBQ: The Prophets of Smoked Meat at Amazon
"Daniel has compiled a list of the best barbecue joints Texas has to offer."
Best for Memphis BBQ: Peace, Love, & Barbecue at Amazon
"The recipes are great, but the storytelling is better."
Best Overall: Meathead, The Science of Great Barbecue & Grilling
Craig "Meathead" Goldwyn combines years of research for his award-winning website, a healthy dose of science, and his usual wit to expose (and hopefully end) some of the most common myths in the world about outdoor cooking. This book takes it all apart and puts together the best methods for barbecue and grilling you will find. This is a remarkable achievement and a book that needs to be on your shelf. Oh, and there are recipes too. Lots of them.
Runner-Up, Best Overall: Franklin Barbecue, A Meat-Smoking Manifesto
When Aaron Franklin opened his BBQ joint in Austin, Texas, he started a revolution. Certainly, barbecue has always been big in Texas, but as a proprietor of what just might be the most famous barbecue restaurant in America, he has garnered global acclaim. This book is a cross between his personal journey and a hardcore text on traditional smoking. This is a must-have for anyone serious about real Texas BBQ.
Best for Smoking: Project Smoke
When Steven Raichlen wrote The Barbecue Bible 20 years ago, he revolutionized backyard cooking and came up with one of history's most successful grilling books. While Steven has always known his way around the smoker, this is his first cookbook completely focused on smoke. This book takes you through cold smoking to hardcore barbecue in Steven's uniquely global approach. This is one book that has it all.
Runner-Up, Best for Smoking: Smoke, New Firewood Cooking
Strictly speaking, this is not specifically a barbecue book. Barbecue, traditional Southern barbecue, is a big part of it, but there is so much more. Tim Byres takes everything—barbecue, grilling, camp cooking—back to the beginning. Back to the fire. Tim was once a top-level chef working in restaurants that topped dishes with shards of vegetables and sprigs of herbs on small portions on artistic plates. He turned away from that to go back to the simplest methods of cooking and in that exploration found an art form of cooking that has run continuously through human civilization. This is an amazing book that inspires and teaches. Of the hundreds of cookbooks on my shelf, this is the only one I have read cover to cover twice. Anyone serious about barbecue, about food, must have this book.
Best for Beginners: Diva Q's Barbecue, 195 Recipes for Cooking with Family, Friends & Fire
Danielle "Diva Q" Bennett is a fierce competitor on the barbecue circuit and a serious cook. This book is her take on everything from simple grilling to complex smoking and loads of bacon. The recipes are inventive and many are downright fantastic. The instruction is clear and easy to follow, making this the perfect book for the experienced barbecue smoker, or the beginner griller.
Runner-Up, Best for Beginners: Smoke & Spice, Cooking With Smoke
This is The Book. When the Jamison's put this book together they created the real Bible of Barbecue, the one book most modern barbecue cooks start with (and keeps going with). This is a great cookbook that puts barbecue in the hands of real people with hundreds of fantastic recipes for pretty much everything you can put in a smoker. If you want to learn to cook barbecue, this is the book to start with.
Best for Technique: Slow Fire, The Beginner's Guide to Lip-Smacking Barbecue
Twenty years ago Ray Lampe, aka Dr. BBQ, entered a small barbecue competition just to see if he was any good. Turns out he was, and still is. From award-winning competitor to award-winning author, Ray has become a mainstay in the barbecue world and one of the most well known and well liked. Taking his years of experience, Ray has written half a dozen books, starting with the modern classic, Dr BBQ's Big-Time Barbecue Cookbook. Then he came out with Slow Fire: The Beginner's Guide to Lip-Smacking Barbecue. Not only is it produced very well, but the content is straightforward and simple enough for any novice of barbecue, yet thorough enough to give you great barbecue with little experience. Whether you are new to barbecue or not, this is a great book.
Best for History: Big Bob Gibson's BBQ Book
If you were to make a list of the most important, influential, and best barbecue joints in America, somewhere towards the top of that list would be Big Bob Gibson's in Decatur, AL. For 85 years, this restaurant has served up some of the best barbecue in the country. Famous for barbecue chicken served in a white barbecue sauce, aficionados continue to flock here to take their bite of history. These days Big Bob's Gibson's is in the hands of Chris Lilly who married into the family and worked his way from the bottom to the top of the barbecue world. This book—part cookbook, part history—is the legacy of the Gibson dream.
Best for Texas BBQ: The Prophets of Smoked Meat
When Daniel Vaughn moved to Texas he didn't just embrace its barbecue traditions, he devoured them. As blogger and barbecue writer for Texas Monthly, Daniel has compiled the only road map of Texas worth owning: the list of the best barbecue joints Texas has to offer. Note, this is not a cookbook, but a travelogue of the back roads of barbecue. This book won't teach anyone how to make great barbecue, but it will certainly make them hungry for it.
Best for Memphis BBQ: Peace, Love, & Barbecue
Mike Mills is a legend in barbecue. He is the only man to win Grand Master and the Memphis in May barbecue competition. This book is as much a biography of this, as told by himself and his daughter, as it is a cookbook. The recipes are great, but the storytelling is better. This book will give you the recipes that won the Memphis in May competition and launched seven restaurants from New York to Las Vegas.


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You would like to know more about our products and hear a genuine "LINDEMANN" live?
Then contact your nearest specialized dealer or drop us a line.
Naturally, we at LINDEMANN have always a sympathetic ear for your questions and wishes.
Please fill out our contact form or send us an e-mail to email@example.com.
We'll get in touch with you immediately.


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This year has been pretty dreadful. I spent a good half of the year complaining about the organization I moved to a whole new city to work for. I was stressed, underpaid, and overworked. I worked with a white woman who wanted to identify as a woman of color and cried because "I didn't love her." Y'all. Y'all. Then Prince died? Y'all. This year.
Anyway, I live something like 700 miles away from my partner and after feeling stifled in our respective spots for a while, we decided that it was time for a baecation: a baecation in New Orleans, to be exact. He's super in love with the south, I love bounce music and poppin' it in the streets, and we both love good food so it was an ideal location for the both of us. Deciding on a location was one thing, but planning it was a whole 'nother almost impossible feat for me. Planning and saving for a decent vacation while living on 900 dollars a month was a mess but I'll spare folks the ugly details.
Fast forward a few months and I'm seeing my partner for the first time in four months and stepping off the plane in the beautiful city of New Orleans. Lets get into it.
Day 1: Dru & I stayed in this dope spot in the Marigny, not too far from the French Quarter but far enough that drunk tourists don't work our last nerves after hours. We're actually a few blocks from Frenchman street, which I'll discover I enjoy a lot more than the Quarter, but I'll get into that a little later. I was in pursuit of an amazing Shrimp Po' Boy so we land at Erin Rose in the French Quarter. I was thrown off: the sandwich was good, but it was the equivalent of a Columbus'ed Po' Boy. A Po' Boy with grilled shrimp and cucumber? Madness. We both dip out, try hand grenades and to be honest, everything is a blur after that but from the bits and pieces I do remember, 1. I fell in love with our Uber driver and her NOLA accent 2. I left my phone in her Uber 3. There were some questionable videos found on my camera 4. I got a craving for mozzarella sticks after not having them for a year so we spent 20 dollars having them delivered. Po' Boys and Po' Decisions.
Day 2: Our second day was a trainwreck set to the background of a New Orleans rainstorm. Our first stop of the morning was to Fleur De Lis, a delicious breakfast spot in the French Quarter. I got a standard bacon, eggs, hashbrown breakfast but everything was cooked to perfection. Druwop got shrimp and grits and his shrimp had a lemon marinade and had me salivating over a meal that wasn't even mine. We hoped to visit a Black-owned bookstore in the area, but it was closed for the summer. We then walked around Jackson Square for a little bit, checking out lots of really great Black local art that was unfortunately housed in white-owned shops. The rain picked up so we chilled in a coffee shop and I got to listen to a woman greet her customers with that New Orleans "baby" for an hour. It's the little blessings, truly. For dinner, we had our hearts set on Deanie's but that hour-long wait was not the wave so we made our way over to Red Fish. We should have known better. Dru ordered a red snapper plate and when the server brought that plate over and I saw his facial expression change, I couldn't hold in my laughter. He paid $26 for a minuscule serving of fish with a vegetable medley the size of my thumb. Lesson learned that day: always, always stick to hole-in-the-wall spots.
Day 3: My absolute favorite day on our trip. We started our day with brunch at Lil Dizzy's, home of the most delicious buffet the city of New Orleans has to offer. The fried chicken? Fire. The gumbo? Flames. The bread pudding? So good that we woke up early before we left to buy two more servings of it. We walked around the Marigny a little bit, then found ourselves at a Black-owned, borderline Hotep bookstore around Treme. As we left, I was drawn to the music playing at Kitchen Witch, and entering the store was probably my best decision of the trip. There we met Ms. Debbie, the storeowner of a dope shop filled to the brink with cookbooks. Her partner made and sold spices and I got my hands on a curry that makes my mouth water any time I smell it. Later in the day we got Po' Boys from Jean's down the street and YES, THEY WERE AUTHENTIC. FINALLY. We wandered down Frenchman St, being drawn into Vaso by the sweet voice of the singer I later discovered was the frontwoman of a band called The Sierra Leonean Experience. We spent an hour there and ended the night on Bourbon Street. Somehow ended up at Waffle House? You can imagine how that went.
Day 4: Super chill day. Dru got his first tattoo and I got to sit in the back with him and try to provoke him to cry so I could capture it on camera and send it to his friends. He barely flinched though. What a G. For dinner, we took an Uber through a Popeyes drive-thru and I can confirm that Popeyes in Louisiana does indeed taste better.
What did I learn on my first baecation? Spend all your money on food, but avoid the bougie spots and get more bang for your buck. Always find a way to talk to native residents about the must-see spots instead of relying on travel sites. Check out live music from the area and walk as often as you can because you're guaranteed to find some gems on your feet. We'll see each other again soon, NOLA!


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So of cause I was late for my hair appointment at Palladium Hair Co. last week (I mean, c'mon folks, I work on DJ time here!), but luckily my good friend and stylist Jasna Zellerhoff came to the rescue! After a few glasses of wine at their home, Tyrone Nell, his boyfriend Nic During and I hopped into Jasna's car and headed to the 4th Street Wines "Lightly Sparkled Launch" 1950's themed event in Cape Town. Now, I knew from experience that 4th Street Wine don't do things half way and that this was going to be a spectacular event, and it was. We arrived and were immediately whisked to the photo-wall, took some snaps and joined our friends including the gorgeous model and surfer Roxy Louw with her cousin Frank Muggeridge, television and radio personality Kia Johnson, Thandie Kupe, Sue Duminy, Busi Nteyi, Matthew Hallett and many more on the dance floor.
Guests went all out in 1950's style which made for a whimsical evening with live entertainment by Tamara Dey, delicious canapés, lots of candy and of cause 4th Street Lightly Sparkled Wine. It was lovely seeing so many friends including fashion blogger Clouds Drummond as we partied the evening away. This week, 4th Street Wines took the launch to Johannesburg with guests including some of South Africa's most loved celebrities such as Jennifer Su. Of cause, the evening of fun didn't end there, but let's stop talking secrets, haha! Thank you 4th Street Wine for a lovely evening (and most importantly your delicious new vino)!
Special thanks as always to Hilton Weiner and Levi's SA for making sure I always look good!


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Ever wonder what they add to drinks like Gatorade to make them colorful and visually appealing?
14-year old Gary Zahn asked that question after a friend had an allergic reaction to the color "brilliant blue". He eventually came up with a solution that recently earned him a $2500, second place award at a national science competition.
Zahn, a Logan High School freshman and avid scientist, spent about year looking at a more efficient way to produce a natural blue dye that can be used in lieu of toxic synthetic dyes.
"I just thought that since synthetic dyes are so harmful to human health and that natural dyes are so expensive," Zahn said, "we needed an alternate way to produce dyes, like natural dyes, efficiently. So we used bacteria and we increased the yield by 28 percent."
Zahn took his findings to Washington, DC and on October 23rd he placed second in the technology category in the Broadcom MASTERS, the nation's premier STEM competition for middle school students. STEM stands for science, technology, engineering and math.
As one of 30 finalists, Zahn also competed in hands-on challenges that tested his abilities in critical thinking, communication, creativity and collaboration. He said it was the best part of the competition.
"It was really fun," according to Zahn. "You got to meet a lot of new people. We got to do activities, these really fun activities. They actually judged you mainly based on how well you performed the activities and how your thought process is, rather than your projects."
Those challenges earned Zahn a second award, the Scott A. McGregor Leadership Award. He was selected by his peers based on his leadership abilities. As a result, he represented his class as a speaker at the awards ceremony.
So, what's next for the teen scientific whiz? In addition to school, homework, practicing the piano and playing tennis, Zahn is researching how certain microbes benefit plants. He's also looking forward to spending his $2500 prize on the STEM summer camp of his choice.


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Arches paper is high quality, air-dried paper that is used for watercolor, oil, also for printmaking, writing art-photography publishing. It has a warm white colour and hot-pressed, cold-pressed, and rough varieties. Arches paper is valued for its durability, and is made in France.
Arches watercolor papers are mould-made with 100% cotton fiber. The papers are acid-free, pH-neutral, gelatin-sized, and air-dried.


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The winter holiday season is a special time of the year. People of all religions and cultures recognize and celebrate the season with solemnity, joy and hope. Families, friends and neighbors gather to share companionship, music and food. For many, it is the most festive time of the year and deserving of decorations that inspire or bring a smile.
Beyond the Common Holiday décor
Fortunately, there is a number of online sites that feature unique, striking holiday decorations that go beyond the standard fare of tinsel, colored glass balls and garlands.
Proudly Display Your Holiday Spirit
Some sites, like Holiday Lights & Magic Inc., for example, feature amazing stand-out items that really bring holiday décor to a whole other level. Large, life-sized snowmen, reindeer, angels and more, some animated, some crafted of durable, weather-resistant fiberglass, are available. Fiberglass sculptures do more than simply provide a stunning holiday display; they boldly state that the holiday spirit is not only alive in your home, it is an enduring, vibrant part of your holiday celebration.
Inspire Your Neighborhood
Classic carousel animals like those found on merry-go-rounds are available. Prominently displayed with creative lighting, a delightful carousel animal or two begins to transform your lawn into a charming, whimsical toyland motif. Add a dancing ballerina, candy cane, toy soldier and a life-sized fiberglass Santa to complete the transformation.
For those wanting to honor family military members or America's active military, there are huge, gloriously lighted displays representing all the branches of service. Neighbors and passers-by will be enthralled.
Celebrate Your Spiritual Connection
For a more spiritually inspiring lawn display, there are life-sized camels, wise men, sheep, angels, donkeys, and even entire nativity scenes. Such a display would be ideal for a church, a pastor's front lawn, or any lawn where individuals enjoy sharing their strong spiritual connection to the holidays. There are also large menorahs with controller and timer features.
Whether you wish to display religious fervor, national pride, or the charm of whimsy, an extensive variety of extraordinary holiday decorations is available. Although the option of simple displays is still viable and enjoyable, homeowners and businesses can also avail themselves of more detailed contemporary designs. With LED lighting, animation, extraordinary topiary options and larger-than-life decorations, a variety of ways to celebrate and decorate offers a more personalized holiday experience.
Disclaimer: The idea written in this guest post is solely by the author not mine
Saturday, December 26, 2015
Unique Holiday Decorations That Really Pop
By Prettymom at December 26, 2015 0 react
Labels: holiday decor, holiday season
Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Cheap Prom Dresses
We cannot deny the fact that in every special occasions wearing the right clothing is on top of our list regardless if we're the host or invited guest. Looking for the right and perfect dress to wear in every special occasion is not easy as one, two, three. However, if you find the right place then perhaps looking for an elegant dress to wear is not difficult as we think it is. Anyway, soon we will be welcoming another new year. As we all know Prom is something that high school students look forward. Lucky those who are living in Europe for I found an online store that offer elegant formal dresses without spending too much. A wide selection of Prom dresses UK is offered in this store called Landybridal.
By Prettymom at December 01, 2015 0 react
Labels: formal dresses, online shopping, prom dresses
1st Day of December
Woot!!! Its the most wonderful time of the year... Indeed, time flies so fast. It seemed that it was only yesterday when we are celebrating the holiday season and before we knew it we will be celebrating the holiday season once again. For two Christmas we did not put any decoration. But it doesn't meab that we did not celebrate Christmas after typhoon Haiyan. It happens that all our Christmas decor were ruined by typhoon Haiyan. I feel like its not the right time for me to buy another set of Christmas decors.
By Prettymom at December 01, 2015 0 react
Labels: christmas decor, holiday season
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Here are my new hang tags. I wanted a way to communicate with customers that this is a handmade, one of a kind, Eco handbag. I had the idea to make the tags look like mini Polaroids. With a little math and a lot of organization I made it happen, and I am so pleased […]View
Archive: 'Sep 2012' :
New Eco Hang Tags
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New in the Shop: Cascading Feather Earrings
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New this week is these Gold Dusted Black Leather Cascading Feather Earrings. These earrings are edgy, rockerish, and super light weight. I hand cut the feathers from reclaimed leather that I have dusted with gold paint. The chain is reclaimed from vintage jewelry. Available (Made to Order) in both of my online shops Megan Leone […]View
I have three new Fall items debuting online today. I am so excited to introduce you to the Fox Clutch, Ford Leather Fringe Necklace and the Sandy Leather Fringe Bracelet! These are accessories for the fashion forward, free spirit, eco-warrior that is a whole lot of rock 'n' roll. Inspired by The Runways (the all-girl […]View


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Your golden years should be filled with things you've always dreamed about. Maybe it's a cruise to the Mediterranean with your significant other. Or maybe you're just looking forward to having the time to attend your grandson's baseball games.
These dreams can quickly turn into nightmares if you aren't careful about the way you handle credit cards. A study by Demos showed that the average credit card debt among those 65 and older was $10,235 in 2008. This is a 26 percent increase between 2005 and 2008, which is also the biggest jump in any age group. Keep in mind that those numbers don't even reflect the worst years of the recession.
Think before you use your credit card and you can protect your retirement dreams. Here are a few of the most common traps to avoid:
#1: Racking up charges for your adult kids and/or grandchildren
When your baseball-player grandson needs a new bat and his parents can't afford it, it's awfully tough to say no. But try very hard to! Once you start down this path, your family might start eyeing your credit card to get things they want. And guess what? At the end of the month, the statement will arrive at your house, not theirs. So be tough and learn how to gently, but firmly, say no.
#2: Co-signing a credit card for a college-student grandchild
This is a relatively new trap and it's related to the Credit CARD Act. The Act prohibits anyone under twenty-one years of age from getting a credit card unless they can prove they have enough income to repay debts.
If you co-sign, your under-twenty-one grandchild can get a credit card. Well, you might think this is okay because your grandchild is really responsible. Your grandchild may be a great kid, but when using plastic for the first time at college, don't underestimate the appeal of pizza parties, midnight snacks at the local drive-through and the siren call of the mall.
If a credit card is necessary for your grandchild, there are other options. One option is to let his or her parents make your grandchild an authorized user on one of their cards. See how nicely that works? They get the bill, not you.
#3: Not being vigilant enough about identity fraud
According to the FBI, senior citizens are frequently targeted for credit card fraud. On this page, the FBI gives senior citizens a long list of great tips on how to avoid credit card fraud. In fact, take a minute to read the whole page and you'll also find tips for avoiding other types of fraud, too, such as investment scams and the ever-popular Nigerian letter scam.
But there are a few tips, in particular, that you should always keep in mind. One, make sure that when you shop online, you see the padlock icon in the address bar. Two, be skeptical of unsolicited emails boasting great deals that you can get with your credit card. And three, check your credit card accounts online every day. This is one of the most effective ways to catch credit card fraud early. Report any suspicious activity to your credit card issuer immediately.
#4: Not sticking to your retirement budget
Going from a full-time salary to a fixed income is quite a challenge. If you don't redo your budget to account for your lower income, you'll end up using your credit cards to make up the difference.
Here's the bottom line: You must live within your means. If you aren't, then take steps immediately to decrease your expenses. This might mean getting a cheaper car or checking into the possibility of getting a reverse mortgage to lower payments on your home. It's a good idea to use your credit card for rewards points or as a money management tool, but only if you can pay it off when the statement shows up at the end of the month.
#5: Getting into credit card debt during your retirement
First, stop using your credit cards. Then, take a good look at your situation and decide if you need credit counseling. If you're overwhelmed and feel like you're drowning in debt, contact the National Foundation for Credit Counseling to find a reputable counselor in your area.
If you've decided you can get out of debt on your own, proceed with caution. Many seniors in this situation think it's a good idea to use retirement funds to get out of debt. This really isn't a good idea unless you're so financially secure that decreasing the funds in your IRA won't jeopardize your ability to pay your other bills.
Remember, if you have $20,000 in debt and you're in a 25 percent bracket, you'll have to take out around $26,500 to pay the taxes on the withdrawal. This is a big chunk to take out of your retirement fund. Talk to your financial advisor before you do anything risky to get out of debt in a hurry.


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In the realm of digital amplifications, this Spectron Musician II is among the best there is. It is probably only supeseded by the more expensive Jeff Rowland amps (in our opinion) and definitely more musical sounding than the Bel Canto and NuForce amps that we have sold before. This particular amp is capable of producing 500W in 8 ohms, 600W in 4 ohms and 1,200W in 2 ohms. That is a lot of power for an amp that had a price tag of only $3,500. And unlike other digital amps, the Musician II is a pretty hefty (47lbs) and physically imposing amp as compared to other digital amps. That is due to its huge toroidal transformer situated in the center of the amp. Most other digital amp manufacturers just use a small transformer in their amps.
We have never had the chance to listen to a non-upgraded Hybrid Plus model(a $1,300 option) but based on what we have heard in our system, it ran along the same lines on what the previous owner said about the amps after the upgrade – it was more organic sounding, its transparency was less "cold" and clinical and it took on a nicely controlled warmth that borders on Class A sounding. The soundstage was nicely weighted with well defined edges and firmly controlled. It paired very nicely with a variety of monitor and florstanding speakers we have in the store. On Spectron's website, they said that with the Hybrid Plus Upgrade, it brought the Musician II closer to its $7,200 Musician III MKII amplifier. For under $2,000 now, this is an excellent amp for the money.
Cosmetically,the amp looks really good. A minor ding on the left edge of the faceplate and minor scuff marks on its cover but overall, looks pretty presentable. Amp is internally switchable for 230V operation and is currently set for XLR input. To use its RCA input, you need to flip a switch inside. Amp will be securely packed for safe shipping and a copy of the manual will be included (very important).


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Use Email Experiences to Create Customer Conversations
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Experiture's email experiences can send single messages or continuous streams of emails that deliver appropriate content throughout the entire customer lifecycle. With Experiture's email capabilities, marketers can create their own campaigns, measure what's working, and then make adjustments — without the need for technical help or resources.
Powerful Customer Experience Marketing Engine
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Dynamic Customer Views or Segments
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Trigger individual, personalized emails yourself
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Automate ongoing campaigns
Experiture's Customer Experience Engine enables ongoing, automated marketing programs by programmatically serving up relevant content to the right customers at the right time.
Powerful Email Analytics
Powerful Email Analytics with easy-to-read, pre-built reports and dashboards for in-depth reporting across all channels.


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Ten types of medications should be avoided by older adults, says the American Geriatrics Society Foundation.
Drug safety takes on special importance for people 65 and up. Older adults are more likely to experience side effects from prescription drugs than young people are, partly because of physiological changes in the body that commonly accompany aging.
If you're taking any of the following drugs, ask your doctor whether there are safer alternatives. Never stop taking a medication without consulting your doctor; abruptly stopping a drug can be dangerous.
1. Long-acting nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like indomethacin (Indocin) and piroxicam (Feldene)
2. Digoxin (Lanoxin) in doses greater than 0.125 milligrams
3. Glyburide (Diabeta, Micronase) and chlorpropamide (Diabinese) for diabetes
4. Muscle relaxants, such as cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin) and carisoprodol (Soma)
5. Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax) and chlordiazepoxide (Librium), and sleeping pills, such as zaleplon (Sonata) and zolpidem (Ambien)
6. Certain anticholinergic drugs: antidepressants amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Tofranil), antiparkinsonian drug trihexyphenidyl (Artane), irritable bowel syndrome drug dicyclomine (Bentyl), overactive bladder drug oxybutynin (Ditropan)
7. Meperidine (Demerol) for pain relief
8. Certain over-the-counter drugs: Products that contain the antihistamines diphenhydramine (Benadryl) and chlorpheniramine (Aller-Chlor, Chlor-Trimeton) and over-the-counter sleep products that contain diphenhydramine (e.g., Tylenol PM)
9. Antipsychotics, such as haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal) and quetiapine (Seroquel), only if you are not being treated for psychosis
10. Estrogen pills and patches
__Learn more about medication safety for older adults and dangerous drug interactions. __