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The regional catastrophe ushered in by Hurricane Katrina just a few short days ago is increasingly difficult to fathom. Federal disaster declarations now cover 90,000 square miles in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. That approximates the total area of Great Britain. The area is so large, military recon platforms are being deployed now to try to gauge where search and rescue operations are most needed.
The scope of issues faced by everyone in the area is overwhelming. Unfortunately, chaos is increasingly the rule. Ruthless crime and thuggery have taken over in New Orleans, while those who are not directly involved in inciting anarchy find themselves in a life and death plot worthy of an "Escape from New Orleans" movie.
If the murderers and gang bangers aren't having their way with the innocent, the disease-breeding conditions and the environment rife with destruction and despondency are. Things are only getting worse in the area and there's still not a clue as to even the number of those who have paid the ultimate price.
We urge anyone reading this to find it within themselves to contribute to the recovery effort anyway they can ... to include sending money to the American Red Cross.
I want to point out to any of you who are in the affected areas--in addition to our donating materials and supplies to the area, we at Safecastle LLC are offering discounted prices on virtually all of our products to residents of Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama.
The Fear of Gasoline and Oil Shortages
Those of us elsewhere in America are nowhere near as desperate as those in the disaster area. Yet, we're beginning to feel some personal pain. The temporary loss of the refineries and other critical pieces of the oil-producing and pipeline infrastructure in the stricken areas are causing unprecedented price rises at the gas pump. Some areas are rationing available supplies while others are quite simply running out of gas.
This is causing a rippling wave of anxiety through the land and widespread panic is not far off the radar screen. When the gas supply is at risk and our mobile way of life itself is threatened, people everywhere are forced to assess their ability to cope. Thus, lines at not only the gas stations, but runs on food and supplies of other types are possible.
I personally do not yet subscribe to the view that we are on the verge of a national emergency that could create a broad and deep internal crisis of confidence. But certainly things do bear watching.
I fully encourage folks to try to stay ahead of the curve wherever they live, making sure you have adequate supplies and fuel stored away now, just in case it is needed in the foreseeable future.


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"Our pond has never been cleaner" Sir Cliff Richard
"It has been a pleasure to work with Jonathan and Russell from Pondfly Inc over the last few years. With the renovations that were carried out to the Spa at Sandy Lane in 2008 and the implementation of a koi pond, it has been one of the greatest additions to the ambience of the spa. Whenever needed, both Jonathan and Russell are at your beck and call to help with any challenges that may be arising, no matter what time or day, and that is a great attribute as working to 5 Diamond Standard means that work ethic has to be excellent and these two certainly possess all the characteristics of great business people."
Tracey Archer, Spa Manager, Sandy Lane Hotel
"When we decided to build a pond we consulted with Pond Fly Inc. who provided us with invaluable assistance. The results speak for themselves."
Paul B. Altman
"Working with Jonno and Russell from Pondfly on all our water-features has been the greatest pleasure for me. Both of them have not only got knowledge but great passion for their trade, and their generosity in sharing these and their time with me has had no limits. Nothing is too much for these two and they are always available at short notice, even if it's just a mundane thing as delivering fish food. Jonno and Russell and their young staff always come on the property with a great smile and full of enthusiasm. We have a lake and 3 ponds at Fustic and they have been looking after these with true professionalism and care. I know the fish and the ponds are in safe hands. Thanks guys!"

subset: commoncrawl


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Barbara Faulk, Executive Director
Since 1987, Barbara Faulk has been at the helm of the Union County Community Arts Council and has worked diligently for the furthurance of the arts in Union County.
A lifelong resident of Monroe, she has had a front row seat to our exponential growth and has witnessed Union County become a thriving community, especially when it comes to arts and culture. You can often see Barbara at community events "spreading the good news about the arts".
Barbara directs all aspects of the Arts Council including arts advocacy and arts policy development, strategic planning and implementation, arts funding programs, marketing and outreach initiatives. Barbara's passion for and dedication to UCCAC are evidenced in her leadership, commitment, and excitement for the arts!
Have a question about Union County Community Arts Council?


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Site Selection | Event Management | Incentive Travel
Eventures works with companies of all sizes, including local and global brands, to plan and execute meetings and events that exceeds corporate goals. We work with you to deliver events including product launches, business meetings, conferences, experiential events, incentive travel, trade shows, galas and more.
Eventures is adaptable and can be your start to finish meeting and events partner or only work on a portion of your event. Our focus is not only on the end result, rather the journey that takes us there during each phase of the event.
Eventures helps companies achieve their business objectives by delivering exceptional events each and every time. Whether you are in need of planning services for an executive retreat or a conference for hundreds of attendees, leave the details to Eventures.
To get started on making your next event one to remember, connect with Sharda at 1-416-897-0603 or firstname.lastname@example.com


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This month we introduce you to Felicity Hutcheson, Regional Leader, Community, Volunteers and Recreation (CVR) from Wellington.
Felicity leads the CVR team in the lower North Island to expand life enrichment opportunities for Blind Foundation clients. This includes peer support and recreation activities. To make these activities happen, Felicity works with the local communities and volunteers.
For Felicity, each week is a mixed bag of treats. She works with her team to explore what clients enjoy doing and deciding how they can make it happen. This requires project work and lots of relationship management.
"Working in the not for profit sector with volunteers is one of the best things about the Blind Foundation" she says.
"Volunteers are here because they want to be. We are working with people who get a great buzz out of participating in the organisation in a useful way."
Felicity has worked at the Blind Foundation for eight and a half years. She says that working with a great team of talented people is the icing on the cake.
"The CVR team has only been in existence for a year. In that short time, we've been able to initiate a number of new recreational and social opportunities that would not have been possible before."
Before the Blind Foundation, Felicity worked as a mediator/facilitator and trainer in both public and private sectors.
Outside of work you can find her working on a quilt or on a gorgeous day, out in her garden. She is married to Paul; they live with guide dog Nellie and their daughter, who is temporarily back from the UK.


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Estes Park & Rocky Mountain Books
An Independent Bookseller with Old Fashioned Service
We are a store meant to be experienced. Feel the history, browse our extensive periodical collection, or just curl up in a corner with a great book. When you are not able to visit, you can browse and purchase from our great selection here.


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This is either the biggest mistake of her life or the best decision she'd ever made.
From her bed, Patti stared out the eighth-floor apartment window, her gaze frozen over like an ice storm had stolen all warmth from her body. Her eyes shifted to her best friend, Sandra, who entered balancing a tray of soup, toast, and a glass of water.
"I know you don't want to eat, but the doctors say you have to," said Sandra resting the tray on the bed beside Patti. "And you need to walk. It's been two days since your surgery."
With a blatant eye roll, Patti observed the bowl of chicken soup. She knew Sandra meant well, but she wanted to be alone. There was no way to tell her best friend to leave without hurting her feelings. She was one of those rare friends with the soul of a savior and a desire to be helpful.
"Thanks. You're the best," Pattie said, feeding her friends need for acknowledgment.
Sandra sat on the end of the bed. "We can just walk down the hall. Even if you only make it to the elevators and back, it's a start."
Patti bit into a piece of toast and chewed like it was cardboard. Not a single person from work had contacted her since she left. Not one. After twenty-four years of dedicating eight to twelve hours a day to one company, you would think HR would have at least sent flowers. But then, she didn't leave on the highest note. She'd burned bridges. What did she expect?
"Have you heard from that guy? What's his name...Daryl?" Sandra asked with a huge grin.
Patti knew her friend was terrified to create an online dating profile, and thrived on hearing about Patti's escapades. However, after connecting with four men, Patti hadn't ventured past the initial coffee shop introduction. Something about each guy had felt wrong, perhaps even somewhat familiar. Since the separation from her husband, just shy of a year ago, she wasn't sure what she wanted from a relationship. John had been all she'd known. She just knew she didn't want to be on her own the rest of her life.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Curled up in the corner of the sofa, Patti checked her email messages. She and Daryl had moved past the dating site chats to email and talking on the phone. She longed to hear his voice, even though they hadn't met in person. Tonight was the night she would finally meet the man in the profile pictures flipping burgers, who had captured her heart.
Everything hinged on that first face-to-face encounter, and she knew it. She was tired of telling men about herself, then receiving a look that told her she wasn't what they were looking for. Patti glanced at her watch for the third time. She always arrived early. Making an entrance was not her thing. Scrutinizing her date's entrance, was.
She slipped on her snapper sneakers, which Sandra called salmon, and headed to her car. She'd moved beyond trying to impress with stilettos and close-fitting tops. If this guy didn't like her choice of casual attire, he could eat dirt.
In the car, Pattie opened the window. Nervousness had triggered an onslaught of hot flashes, and she was thankful for the crisp evening air of early fall. However, worried thoughts looped in her mind. What would they talk about? She had spoken with Daryl so many times over the past weeks, that all the first date conversations were out in the open. He knew she had recently undergone a hysterectomy and quit her job. She had told him all about her fifteen-year-old son.
Although she was no longer employed, she and Daryl had one crucial thing in common they could talk endlessly about. Both worked in the printing industry and understood the secret language of vectors and pixels. She just hoped it was enough.
At Starbucks, she chose a seat on a corner bench by the window, which left a chair to her right for Daryl. She loathed talking across a table at one another. Same side booth sitters, Sandra called it, which made Patti laugh. If things went sour, she had no problem fabricating a lie with her son's needs as the scapegoat. With her chai tea latte in hand, she awaited her suitor. Come on Mr. Burger Flipper, she cheered in her mind.
She sipped her latte and checked her watch, then looked up into Daryl's hazel eyes. She almost choked on her beverage and cleared her throat. In his hand was a multi-colored rose and a Crunchie chocolate bar, her favorite.
Instead of shaking her hand, Daryl slid onto the chair. "Thank heavens you look exactly like your profile picture," he said and held out the gifts.
Patti's lips spread wide, and she graciously accepted his offerings. It seemed bachelor number five was a romantic, a trait she only dreamed of. She tugged the sleeve of her sweater nervously. "As do you." She blushed. Was that all she could think of to say? How was it she was suddenly tongue-tied?
"And I know we've spoken on the phone, but it's nice to finally see the face behind the voice." Daryl leaned on the table, a hand dangerously close to hers.
Patti's cheeks grew a deeper shade of red. She was shocked at how awkward she suddenly felt. Was it chemistry? It had been so long since she flirted with a man she wasn't sure.
Daryl's fingers grazed the top of her hand. "How about we blow this place and go share a bottle of wine?"
"I'd love that." Patti stood then realized how over-eager she may appear. What was she doing? She didn't know this guy and wasn't about to get in a car with a strange man. Fear, it seemed, had stepped to the forefront. Now, what was she going to do?
Daryl opened the door, and Patti stepped outside. "There's a restaurant two doors down. Does that work for you?"
Patti breathed a silent sigh of relief. There was. Why didn't she think of that? "That would be great."
They walked in silence a few steps, then Daryl stopped. Patti's heart skipped a beat. Somethings wrong. He's changed his mind.
He took one of her hands in his and stepped close. Patti held her breath. "Thanks for meeting me tonight. I've been a wreck all day thinking about meeting you in person. My boss even sent me home early. Said I was too distracted."
"You told your boss you had a date?" Patti said dumbfounded. She would never have such a conversation with a superior. Her private life was just that, private.
"Yeah. He's a great guy."
"Wish I could say the same about my old boss."
With Patti's hand still in Daryl's, they continued on their way to the restaurant.
"The weirdest thing happened today," Daryl said.
"Yeah? What was that?"
"My daughter saw your profile picture."
"Stephanie, right?" Pattie crossed her fingers that she had remembered Daryl's twelve-year-old daughter's name. She was terrible with names.
"Did she tell you to run for the hills?" Patti giggled.
Daryl squeezed her hand. "Actually, the exact opposite. She told me I was dressed like an old man and then chose this outfit."
Patti stopped and faced Daryl, her lips pressed into a tight line and pretended to examine his choice of clothes. "I approve. Stephanie has good taste."
"Whew." Daryl playfully wiped his brow. "Thought I was done for."
"You'd have to be wearing Crocks to send me running," Patti giggled.
"Crocks! Oh heavens, no. Stephanie would have my head if I owned a pair."
This time, Patti took Daryl's hand as they made their way to their next destination. The fear that had threatened her earlier had all but dissipated. She liked the feel of his hand in hers, his casual choice of clothes, and his arm that brushed against hers while they walked. Perhaps, she thought, this could be my fresh start.
It Was only a dream... right?
A shrill scream tears through the night. Not a cry of joy and merriment from the evening's festivities, but one of horror that shatters all thought and detonates an urge to run.
Jack and I scurry to our feet, from the blanket spread on the lush grass meadow where seconds before we enjoyed a local band. It's hard to tell from which direction the scream came, but the culprit reveals itself. From the far side of the grove, a black mist rolls our way. From within it comes a sound too fresh in my mind to forget—the howl of Bog Dogs.
This can't be. It was only a dream… right?
A human stampede charges our way, and I cling to Jack's hand. Then there's only a wall of people. Heads twist in all directions with chaotic glares—all social conditioning gave over to fear. It's every man for himself.
The light from the full moon fades like the gods are playing a terrible joke and erasing it from existence. We rush forward with the crowd. Cell phones flash to life and provide the only light source. The crowd is suffocating, choked at the only opening across the river out of the grove.
Jack hauls me throng of people. We run upriver to a low spot along the riverbank, and he plunges into the dark water dragging me with him.
"No, no, no." I heave on his hand with both of mine. "We'll never make it." This is happening so fast I didn't make the connection until now. I've seen the outcome of Jack and I crossing the river on our own--in a nightmare. I point to the opposite bank now shrouded in mist. The jaws of a smoke wolf breach the oozing black vapor that wafts down the riverside toward us. Staying with the crowd is our only option.
We hurry back the way we came and squeeze into the thinning horde. Those who saw us leave, take their chances and attempt to cross the river. A scream slashes through the dark, then another, then more than I can count.
I recall the details of the nightmare I dreamed five nights in a row. Each night it was different, but each path we took led to Jack's and my death. First, the mist consumed the road once we crossed the river. Then it devoured us from behind when we stalled on the bridge. Even when we tried to run for home or inside any building void of light, it found us. We almost made it once, after floating down the river, but got caught in the rapids. That didn't stop the dogs from finding us.
But there was a light. I see it in my mind. Just before the rapids, at the top of a steep hill, there was a light coming from the travel agency. Light must hold them off. The river downstream is our only chance.
"Come on," I grab Jack's hand, this time, dragging him down the riverbank which is much steeper on the left side of the bridge.
"Gail. We just tried this," he pleads in a loud whisper.
"That was the wrong way. We have to get to the travel agency."
I slip into the water as quiet as possible, my shoes sinking into the syrupy muck. The water grows deeper, and the current pulls us along. In the silent blackness, we drift hand-in-hand while screams from friends, neighbors, and the innocent warn of a possible fate.
I motion to Jack and point to the light coming from the travel agency at the top of the slope. Far from the rapids, we cross the river. Jack latches onto a sizable tree root, and we pull ourselves out of the water. Leaves and mud meet my face while I struggle to climb the steep dirt embankment. My fingers tangle in my necklace. I unwind them from the chain and stare at the mud covered dreamcatcher pendant. I tuck it in my blouse and continue climbing before the mist finds us. Perhaps it will bring us good luck.
We lay at the top of the hill and scope out the area. No one is in sight, not even the disturbing fog…yet, so we make our way along the side of the building.
Jack peers around the corner. "The door's open." He looks left down the street, then right. "Let's go."
We slither around the corner and stay low, then creep through the open door. Jack finds a chair and jams it under the door handle. In a crouch, we head into the dark office, then into a cubicle in a corner opposite a wall of windows.
"Someone's gonna see that chair and know we're in here," I whisper.
"There's nothing we can do," he says.
We sit in quiet for some time, listening to distant screams and cries for help. What can we do, but wait? Jack crawls into a cubicle along the window and peers over the four-foot wall. Fear knots in my stomach. What if someone sees him? We're lucky the lights are off.
My thoughts turn to the dreamcatcher necklace, and I slip it from the confines of my blouse. It was an interesting find at the flea market, different than any dreamcatcher I've ever seen. The merchant suggested it would make a lovely necklace, being it was so small, and I purchased a chain. I've worn it every day since.
I stare at it, the black string covered in mud. What did I like about it? It appears almost creepy now, and I slip the chain over my head. The nightmares started the first night I bought it. Could there be a connection? I wrap my fingers around it and scoff at the idea.
Jack returns. "I don't see anyone."
"What about the mist?"
"Nothing. But we're not gonna chance going out there."
I open my hand and stare at the dreamcatcher.
"What's that?" Jack plucks it from my palm. His eyes grow wide, and his lips press flat. "Where did you get this?"
I don't like his tone. "The flea market."
"Didn't you say you've been having nightmares?"
I swallow the lump forming in my throat.
"Gail? Did the nightmares start after you bought this thing?
I don't want to say it out loud. This can't be happening because of me. It just can't be my fault. I nod, and Jack tosses it on the worn path in the cheap gray office carpet in front of us.
Tears run down my cheeks. "I didn't know…I thought it was nice. It's a dreamcatcher. Aren't they a good thing?" I blubber and weep onto arms folded around my knees. "It's just a dream," I mumble into my sleeve. "How can it be real?"
"Shh," he whispers and tucks his legs close to his body, away from the stream of light from the front of the agency.
Someone runs screaming by the front of the building.
Jack peeks around the corner, then stretches his neck to see over the cubical walls along the window. He ducks down and pushes against me in the corner, his face close to mine. "It's coming," he whispers.
An urgency to run sweeps over me, and my legs and arms twitch. I want to charge out of here and find someplace safe, but where?
"Shh," Jack says again.
"It was…just a dream," I stammer, and Jack covers my mouth with his hand.
"You bought someone's nightmare." He hugs me. "And now it's yours."
A Fresh Start won 3rd place in the January 5-18 Flash Fiction Contest, and Best Narrarator. It Was Just A Dream...Right? won 1st place in the following Flash Fiction Contest.
I love to write and often enter writing contests of all sorts to keep my writing muse on her toes. These are my stories.


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We asked talented designer Kate Halfpenny to tell us about her top three dresses from her most recent collection...
Bobby Top and Bay Skirt over Oliver Dress
Alexander Corset and James-Lee Skirt
Daniel Top and Christian Skirt over Oliver Dress
The Halfpenny bride is definitely not one type of person. Our collection offers something for every bride; from relaxed, effortlessly cool separates to slinky silhouettes or full skirts and exquisitely detailed corsets.
These three dresses give a hint of the diversity we have on offer as well as the commitment to expert craftsmanship and premium textiles. They are so different but all retain our signature style.
Read more: Wendy Makin discusses her top picks from her latest collection here.
The beauty of our designs is that you can mix and match between any collection to make a totally unique look for every bride. The Oliver dress is devastatingly elegant on its own, but the addition of the Christian skirt and Daniel top is perfect for our fashion-forward brides.
The 3D appliqué flowers on this skirt and top fuel my obsession with textiles and the pleated organza trim is a beautiful finish touch.
Read more: Hayley Paige's top 3 dresses from her new collection.
I really adore the colour of the skirt and the way the fabric drapes. Paired with the showstopping sequinned corset, this is an ultra glamorous look.


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Showing 1–15 of 17 results
Flower duo cards
See the light ornaments – Four
See the light ornaments – Three
Single flower card
Easter bits
Spring paper quilt collection
Fall paper quilt
Hydrangea gift box
Aster gift box
Floral bunch
Chain link charms
Cherry blossom
Gerbera daisy
Creativity fills the heart and I hope that you will find that this is true with all A Little Hut projects.
Visit my social media pages and share your creations. I'd love to see them!


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Monday, February 10, 2014
Happy Anniversary
11 comments:
And they certainly raised a fine daughter! This tribute made me cry, Anita... In a good way. :-)ReplyDelete
February was my parents' anniversary, too, and I did a tribute to them on my blog. I miss them every day of my life.
I think how blessed we were to have Christian parents who loved each other and us,, and I thank God every day for that and for the fact that I will see them again some day and never have to part from them again. What a love gift from The Lord!
And please wish them a Happy Anniversary from me! xoReplyDelete
Many, many blessings to your dearest! Yes, they were handsome, your mom was a real beauty. Now they're a very handsome couple and I wish them lots of God's blessings for many more years together!ReplyDelete
I love seeing wedding photos, they are an adorable couple!ReplyDelete
Beautiful post, Anita! The photos are gorgeous! Happy Anniversary to your parents!!ReplyDelete
Happy, Happy Anniversary to your parents. What a beautiful wedding picture. What a darling, sweet couple they make. xo DianaReplyDelete
Happy Anniversary to your beautiful biscuit making mama and her handsome husband! (I pinned her making biscuits so that's what I think of when I see that picture at the end. ) In the other pictures, especially one of them, she looks exactly like YOU.ReplyDelete
Happy Anniversary to your parents! A beautiful couple indeed! You look JUST like your Mom, gorgeous!ReplyDelete
Happy Anniversary to your parents. Their wedding pictures are so pretty. You are indeed blessed to have them in your life.ReplyDelete
They look wonderful. I know they appreciate your tribute.
awwwwwwww.... Happy anniversary to ... obviously... an amazing couple!!! The pics are gorgeous!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! What a blessing!!ReplyDelete
So sweet! Congrats to your Mom and Dad.ReplyDelete
- Alma, The Tablescaper


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10 real male warriors and what they can tell us about our lives.
Home / Survival International
Survival International
About Survival International
Our work is preventing the annihilation of tribal peoples. We give them a platform to speak to the world. We investigate atrocities and present evidence to the United Nations and other international forums. We support legal representation. We fund medical and self-help projects. We educate, research, campaign, lobby and protest. And we won't give up until we all have a world where tribal peoples are respected and their human rights protected.


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|Contents [hide]
A magic burst is the effect created when a spell, or certain other abilities, is successfully cast upon a target, within a specific window of time after a Skillchain has been performed. Effects that can create a magic burst, are spells, bard songs, ninjitsu, Blood Pacts from an Avatar, or a wyvern's breath attack. In order to create a Magic Burst, the element of the spell or effect must match the element of the Skillchain. The spell must finish casting within five seconds of the Skillchain's animation to produce a magic burst.
Characters can magic burst between skillchains or at the end of a skillchain (which must involve two or more Weapon Skills). To magic burst in between Skillchains, the spell must be completed after the first Skillchain has been closed, but before the next Weapon Skill is activated. Additional Weapon Skills after the Skillchain will interrupt the 'window' for magic bursting.
More than one magic burst can happen at the same time (i.e. two different people can cast two different spells, as long both spells are the correct elemental type). They will not interfere with each other. Characters can also magic burst a Skillchain that they helped create.
With very careful timing, a character can magic burst multiple times during the same Skillchain if the spells have short enough casting times. White Mages can double or even triple burst (with perfect timing and Fast Cast) Light with Banish III, Flash, and Holy. Red Mages can easily double-burst or higher during Chainspell.


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Topics covered: First-order Linear with Constant Coefficients: Behavior of Solutions, Use of Complex Methods.
Instructor/speaker: Prof. Arthur Mattuck
This is also written in the form, it's the k that's on the right hand side. Actually, I found that source is of considerable difficulty. And, in general, it is. For these, the temperature concentration model, it's natural to have the k on the right-hand side, and to separate out the (q)e as part of it. Another model for which that's true is mixing, as I think I will show you on Monday. On the other hand, there are some common first-order models for which it's not a natural way to separate things out.
Examples would be the RC circuit, radioactive decay, stuff like that. So, this is not a universal utility. But I thought that that form of writing it was a sufficient utility to make a special case, and I emphasize it very heavily in the nodes.
Let's look at the equation. And, this form will be good enough, the y prime. When you solve it, let me remind you how the solutions look, because that explains the terminology.
The solution looks like, after you have done the integrating factor and multiplied through, and integrated both sides, in short, what you're supposed to do, the solution looks like y equals, there's the term e to the negative k out front times an integral which you can either make definite or indefinite, according to your preference. q of t times e to the kt inside dt, it will help you to remember the opposite signs if you think that when q is a constant, one, for example, you want these two guys to cancel out and produce a constant solution.
That's a good way to remember that the signs have to be opposite. But, I don't encourage you to remember the formula at all. It's just a convenient thing for me to be able to use right now.
And then, there's the other term, which comes by putting up the arbitrary constant explicitly, c e to the negative kt. So, you could either write it this way, where this is somewhat vague, or you could make it definite by putting a zero here and a t there, and change the dummy variable inside according to the way the notes tell you to do it. Now, when you do this, and if k is positive, that's absolutely essential, only when that is so, then this term, as I told you a week or so ago, this term goes to zero because k is positive as t goes to infinity.
So, this goes to zero as t goes, and it doesn't matter what c is, as t goes to infinity. This term stays some sort of function. And so, this term is called the steady-state or long-term solution, or it's called both, a long-term solution. And this, which disappears, gets smaller and smaller as time goes on, is therefore called the transient because it disappears at the time increases to infinity.
So, this part uses the initial condition, uses the initial value. Let's call it y of zero, assuming that you started the initial value, t, when t was equal to zero, which is a common thing to do, although of course not necessary.
The starting value appears in this term.
This one is just some function. Now, the general picture or the way that looks is, the steady-state solution will be some solution like, I don't know, like that, let's say. So, that's a steady-state solution, the SSS. Well, what do the other guys look like? Well, the steady-state solution has this starting point. Other solutions can have any of these other starting points. So, in the beginning, they won't look like the steady-state solution.
But, we know that as time goes on, they must approach it because this term represents the difference between the solution and the steady-state solution. So, this term is going to zero.
And therefore, whatever these guys do to start out with, after a while they must follow the steady-state solution more and more closely. They must, in short, be asymptotic to it. So, the solutions to any equation of that form will look like this.
Up here, maybe it started at 127.
That's okay. After a while, it's going to start approaching that green curve.
Of course, they won't cross each other.
That's the rock star, and these are the groupies trying to get close to it. Now, but something follows from that picture. Which is the steady-state solution? What, in short, is so special about this green curve?
All these other white solution curves have that same property, the same property that all the other white curves and the green curve, too, are trying to get close to them.
In other words, there is nothing special about the green curve. It's just that they all want to get close to each other. And therefore, though you can write a formula like this, there isn't one steady-state solution. There are many.
Now, this produces vagueness. You talk about the steady-state solution; which one are you talking about?
I have no answer to that; the usual answer is whichever one looks simplest. Normally, the one that will look simplest is the one where c is zero.
But, if this is a peculiar function, it might be that for some other value of c, you get an even simpler expression. So, the steady-state solution: about the best I can see, either you integrate that, don't use an arbitrary constant, and use what you get, or pick the simplest. Pick the value of c, which gives you the simplest answer.
Pick the simplest function, and that's what usually called the steady-state solution. Now, from that point of view, what I'm calling the input in this input response point of view, which we are going to be using, by the way, constantly, well, pretty much all term long, but certainly for the next month or so, I'm constantly going to be coming back to it. The input is the q of t.
In other words, it seems rather peculiar. But the input is the right-hand side of the equation of the differential equation.
And the reason is because I'm always thinking of the temperature model. The external water bath at temperature T external, the internal thing here, the problem is, given this function, the external water bath temperature is driving, so to speak, the temperature of the inside.
And therefore, the input is the temperature of the water bath. I don't like the word output, although it would be the natural thing because this temperature doesn't look like an output.
Anyone might be willing to say, yeah, you are inputting the value of the temperature here. This, it's more likely, the normal term is response. This thing, this plus the water bath, is a little system. And the response of the system, i.e. the change in the internal temperature is governed by the driving external temperature.
So, the input is q of t, and the response of the system is the solution to the differential equation.
Now, if the thing is special, as it's going to be for most of this period, it has that special form, then I'm going to, I really want to call q sub e the input.
I want to call q sub e the input, and there is no standard way of doing that, although there's a most common way. So, I'm just calling it the physical input, in other words, the temperature input, or the concentration input.
And, that will be my (q)e of t, and by the subscript e, you will understand that I'm writing it in that form and thinking of this model, or concentration model, or mixing model as I will show you on Monday.
By the way, this is often handled, I mean, how would you handle this to get rid of a k?
Well, divide through by k. So, this equation is often, in the literature, written this way: one over k times y prime plus y is equal to, well, now they call it q of t, not (q)e of t because they've gotten rid of this funny factor. But I will continue to call it (q)e. So, in other words, and this part this is just, frankly, called the input.
It doesn't say physical or anything.
And, this is the solution, it's then the response, and this funny coefficient of y prime, that's not in standard linear form, is it, anymore?
But, it's a standard form if you want to do this input response analysis. So, this is also a way of writing the equation. I'm not going to use it because how many standard forms could this poor little course absorb?
I'll stick to that one. Okay, you have, then, the superposition principle, which I don't think I'm going to-- the solution, which solution?
Well, normally it means any solution, or in other words, the steady-state solution. Now, notice that terminology only makes sense if k is positive.
And, in fact, there is nothing like the picture, the picture doesn't look at all like this if k is negative, and therefore, the terms would steady state, transient would be totally inappropriate if k were negative. So, this assumes definitely that k has to be greater than zero.
Otherwise, no. So, I'll call this the physical input. And then, you have the superposition principle, which I really can't improve upon what's written in the notes, this superposition of inputs. Whether they are physical inputs or nonphysical inputs, if the input q of t produces the response, y of t, and q two of t produces the response, y two of t, -- then a simple calculation with the differential equation shows you that by, so to speak, adding, that the sum of these two, I stated it very generally in the notes but it corresponds, we will have as the response y1, the steady-state response y1 plus y2, and a constant times y1. That's an expression, essentially, of the linear, it uses the fact that the special form of the equation, and we will have a very efficient and elegant way of seeing this when we study higher order equations.
For now, I will just, the little calculation that's done in the notes will suffice for first-order equations.
If you don't have a complicated equation, there's no point in making a fuss over proofs using it.
But essentially, it uses the fact that the equation is linear. Or, that's bad, so linearity of the ODE. In other words, it's a consequence of the fact that the equation looks the way it does. And, something like this would not, in any sense, be true if the equation, for example, had here a y squared instead of t. Everything I'm saying this period would be total nonsense and totally inapplicable.
Now, today, what I wanted to discuss was, what's in the notes that I gave you today, which is, what happens when the physical input is trigonometric? For certain reasons, that's the most important case there is.
It's because of the existence of what are called Fourier series, and there are a couple of words about them.
That's something we will be studying in about three weeks or so. What's going on, roughly, is that, so I'm going to take the equation in the form y prime plus ky equals k times (q)e of t, and the input that I'm interested in is when this is a simple one that you use on the visual that you did about two points worth of work for handing in today, cosine omega t.
So, if you like, k here.
So, the (q)e is cosine omega t. That was the physical input.
And, omega, as you know, is, you have to be careful when you use the word frequency. I assume you got this from physics class all last semester. But anyway, just to remind you, there's a whole yoga of five or six terms that go whenever you're talking about trigonometric functions.
Instead of giving a long explanation, the end of the second page of the notes just gives you a reference list of what you are expected to know for 18.03 and physics as well, with a brief one or two line description of what each of those means. So, think of it as something to refer back to if you have forgotten.
But, omega is what's called the angular frequency or the circular frequency. It's somewhat misleading to call it the frequency, although I probably will.
It's the angular frequency. It's, in other words, it's the number of complete oscillations.
This cosine omega t is going up and down right?
So, a complete oscillation as it goes down and then returns to where it started. That's a complete oscillation.
This is only half an oscillation because you didn't give it a chance to get back. Okay, so the number of complete oscillations in how much time, well, in two pi, in the distance, two pi on the t-axis in the interval of length two pi because, for example, if omega is one, cosine t takes two pi to repeat itself, right?
If omega were two, it would repeat itself.
It would make two complete oscillations in the interval, two pi. So, it's what happens to the interval, two pi, not what happens in the time interval, one, which is the natural meaning of the word frequency. There's always this factor of two pi that floats around to make all of your formulas and solutions incorrect. Okay, now, so, what I'm out to do is, the problem is for the physical input, (q)e cosine omega t, find the response. In other words, solve the differential equation.
In short, for the visual that you looked at, I think I've forgot the colors now.
The input was in green, maybe, but I do remember that the response was in yellow. I think I remember that.
So, find the response, yellow, and the input was, what color was it, green?
Blue, blue. Light blue.
Okay, so we've got to solve the differential equation.
Now, it's a question of how I'm going to solve the differential equation. I'm going to use complex numbers throughout, A because that's the way it's usually done. B, to give you practice using complex numbers, and I don't think I need any other reasons. So, I'm going to use complex numbers. I'm going to complexify.
To use complex numbers, what you do is complexification of the problem. So, I'm going to complexify the problem, turn it into the domain of complex numbers.
So, take the differential equation, turn it into a differential equation involving complex numbers, solve that, and then go back to the real domain to get the answer, since it's easier to integrate exponentials.
And therefore, try to introduce, try to change the trigonometric functions into complex exponentials, simply because the work will be easier to do. All right, so let's do it.
To change this differential equation, remember, I've got cosine omega t here.
I'm going to use the fact that e to the i omega t, Euler's formula, that the real part of it is cosine omega t. So, I'm going to view this as the real part of this complex function.
But, I will throw at the imaginary part, too, since at one point we will need it.
Now, what is the equation, then, that it's going to turn into? The complexified equation is going to be y prime plus ky equals, and now, instead of the right hand side, k times cosine omega t, I'll use the whole complex exponential, e i omega t.
Now, I have a problem because y, here, in this equation, y means the real function which solves that problem. I therefore cannot continue to call this y because I want y to be a real function.
I have to change its name. Since this is complex function on the right-hand side, I will have to expect a complex solution to the differential equation.
I'm going to call that complex solution y tilda.
Now, that's what I would also use as the designation for the variable. So, y tilda is the complex solution. And, it's going to have the form y1 plus i times y2.
It's going to be the complex solution.
And now, what I say is, so, solve it.
Find this complex solution. So, find the program is to find y tilde, -- -- that's the complex solution.
And then I say, all you have to do is take the real part of that, and that will answer the original problem. Then, y1, that's the real part of it, right? It's a function, you know, like this is cosine plus sine, as it was over here, it will naturally be something different.
It will be something different, but that part of it, the real part will solve the original problem, the original, real, ODE.
Now, you will say, you expect us to believe that?
Well, yes, in fact. I think we've got a lot to do, so since the argument for this is given in the nodes, so, read this in the notes. It only takes a line or two of standard work with differentiation.
So, read in the notes the argument for that, why that's so. It just amounts to separating real and imaginary parts. Okay, so let's, now, solve this. Since that's our program, all we have to find is the solution.
Well, just use integrating factors and just do it.
So, the integrating factor will be, what, e to the, I don't want to use that formula.
So, the integrating factor will be e to the kt is the integrating factor. If I multiply through both sides by the integrating factor, then the left-hand side will become y e to the kt, the way it always does, prime, Y tilde, sorry, and the right-hand side will be, now I'm going to start combining exponentials. It will be k times e to the power i times omega t plus k.
I'm going to write that k plus omega t.
i omega t plus k.
Thank you. i omega t plus k, or k plus i omega t.
kt? Sorry.
So, it's k times e to the i omega t times e to the kt.
So, that's (k plus i omega) times t. Sorry.
So, y tilda e to the kt is k divided by, now I integrate this, so it essentially reproduces itself, except you have to put down on the bottom k plus i omega. I'll take the final step.
What's y tilda equals, see, when you do it this way, then you don't get a messy looking formula that you substitute into and that is scary looking.
This is never scary. Now, I'm going to do two things simultaneously. First of all, here, if I multiply, after I get the answer, I'm going to want to multiply it by e to the negative kt, right, to solve for y tilda.
If I multiply this by e to the negative kt, then that just gets rid of the k that I put in, and left back with e to the i omega t. So, that side is easy.
All that is left is e to the i omega t.
Now, what's interesting is this thing out here, k plus i omega. I'm going to take a typical step of scaling it. And you scale it.
I'm going to divide the top and bottom by k.
And, what does that produce? One divided by one plus i times omega over k.
What I've done is take these two separate constants, and shown that the critical thing is their ratio.
Okay, now, what I have to do now is take the real part.
Now, there are two ways to do this.
There are two ways to do this. Both are instructive.
So, there are two methods. I have a multiplication.
The problem is, of course, that these two things are multiplied together. And, one of them is, essentially, in Cartesian form, and the other is, essentially, in polar form. You have to make a decision.
Either go polar, it sounds like go postal, doesn't it, or worse, like a bear, savage, attack it savagely, which that's a very good, aggressive attitude to have when doing a problem, or we can go Cartesian. Going polar is a little faster, and I think it's what's done in the nodes.
The notes to do both of these. They just do the first.
On the other hand, they give you a formula, which is the critical thing that you will need to go Cartesian. I hope I can do both of them if we sort of hurry along. How do I go polar?
To go polar, what you want to do is express this thing in polar form. Now, one of the things I didn't emphasize enough, probably, when I talked to you about complex numbers last time is, so I will remind you, which saves my conscience and doesn't hurt yours, suppose you have alpha as a complex number.
See, this complex number is a reciprocal.
The good number is what's down below.
Unfortunately, it's downstairs.
You should know, like you know the back of your hand, which nobody knows, one over alpha.
So that's the form. The number I'm interested in, that coefficient, it is of the form one over alpha. One over alpha times alpha is equal to one.
And, from that, it follows, first of all, if I take absolute values, if the absolute value of one over alpha times the absolute value of this is equal to one, so, this is equal to one over the absolute value of alpha.
I think you all knew that. I'm a little less certain you knew how to take care of the angles.
How about the argument? Well, the argument of the angle, in other words, the angle of one over alpha plus, because when you multiply, angles add.
Remember that. Plus, the angle associated with alpha has to be the angle associated with one.
But what's that? One is out here.
What's the angle of one? Zero.
Therefore, the argument, the absolute value of this thing is want over the absolute value.
That's easy. And, you should know that the argument of want over alpha is equal to minus the argument of alpha. So, when you take reciprocal, the angle turns into its negative.
Okay, I'm going to use that now, because my aim is to turn this into polar form. So, let's do that someplace, I guess here. So, I want the polar form for one over one plus i times omega over k.
Okay, I will draw a picture.
Here's one. Here is omega over k.
Let's call this angle phi.
It's a natural thing to call it.
It's a right triangle, of course.
Okay, now, this is going to be a complex number times e to an angle. Now, what's the angle going to be? Well, this is a complex number, the angle for the complex number.
So, the argument of the complex number, one plus i times omega over k is how much?
Well, there's the complex number one plus i over one plus i times omega over k.
Its angle is phi. So, the argument of this is phi, and therefore, the argument of its reciprocal is negative phi. So, it's e to the minus i phi.
And, what's A?
A is one over the absolute value of that complex number.
Well, the absolute value of this complex number is one plus omega over k squared.
So, the A is going to be one over that, the square root of one plus omega over k, the quantity squared, times e to the minus i phi.
See, I did that.
That's a critical step. You must turn that coefficient.
If you want to go polar, you must turn is that coefficient, write that coefficient in the polar form.
And for that, you need these basic facts about, draw the complex number, draw its angle, and so on and so forth. And now, what's there for the solution? Once you've done that, the work is over. What's the complex solution?
The complex solution is this. I've just found the polar form for this. So, I multiply it by e to the i omega t, which means these things add.
So, it's equal to A, this A, times e to the i omega t minus i times phi.
Or, in other words, the coefficient is one over, this is a real number, now, square root of one plus omega over k squared.
And, this is e to the, see if I get it right, now. And finally, now, what's the answer to our real problem?
y1: the real answer. I mean: the really real answer.
What is it? Well, this is a real number.
So, I simply reproduce that as the coefficient out front.
And for the other part, I want the real part of that.
But you can write that down instantly.
So, let's recopy the coefficient.
And then, I want just the real part of this.
Well, this is e to the i times some crazy angle.
So, the real part is the cosine of that crazy angle.
So, it's the cosine of omega t minus phi.
And, if somebody says, yeah, well, okay, I got the omega k, I know what that is. That came from the problem, the driving frequency, driving angular frequency.
That was omega, and k, I guess, k was the conductivity, the thing which told you how quickly the heat that penetrated the walls of the little inner chamber. So, that's okay, but what's this phi? Well, the best way to get phi is just to draw that picture, but if you want a formula for phi, phi will be, well, I guess from the picture, it's the arc tangent of omega, k, divided by k, over one, which I don't have to put in. So, it's this number, phi, in reference to this function.
See, if the phi weren't there, this would be cosine omega t, and we all know what that looks like. The phi is called the phase lag or phase delay, something like that, the phase lag of the function. What does it represent?
It represents, let me draw you a picture.
Let's draw the picture like this.
Here's cosine omega t.
Now, regular cosine would look sort of like that.
But, I will indicate that the angular frequency is not one by making my cosine squinchy up a little too much.
Everybody can tell that that's the cosine on a limp axis, something for Salvador Dali, okay.
So, there's cosine of something.
So, what was it? Blue?
I don't have blue. Yes, I have blue.
Okay, so now you will know what I'm talking about because this looks just like the screen on your computer when you put in the visual for this. Frequency: your response order one. So, this is cosine omega t.
Now, how will cosine omega t minus phi look?
Well, it'll be moved over. Let's, for example, suppose phi were pi over two. Now, where's pi over two on the picture? Well, what I do is cosine omega t minus this. I move it over by one, so that this point becomes that one, and it looks like, the site will look like this. In other words, I shove it over by, so this is the point where omega t equals pi over two.
It's not the value of t. It's not the value of t.
It's the value of omega t.
And, when I do that, then the blue curve has been shoved over one quarter of its total cycle, and that turns it, of course, into the sine curve, which I hope I can draw.
So, this goes up to there, and then, it's got to get back through. Let me stop there while I'm ahead. So, this is sine omega t, the yellow thing, but that's also, in another life, cosine of omega t minus pi over two.
The main thing is you don't subtract, the pi over two is not being subtracted from the t. It's being subtracted from the whole expression, and this whole expression represents an angle, which tells you where you are in the travel, a long cosine to this.
What this quantity gets to be two pi, you're back where you started. That's not the distance on the t axis. It's the angle through which you go through. In other words, does number describes where you are on the cosine cycle.
It doesn't tell you, it's not aiming at telling you exactly where you are on the t axis.
The response function looks like one over the square root of one plus omega over k squared times cosine omega t minus phi.
And, I asked you on the problem set, if k goes up, in other words, if the conductivity rises, if heat can get more rapidly from the outside to the inside, for example, how does that affect the amplitude? This is the amplitude, A, and the phase lag. In other words, how does this affect the response?
And now, you can see. If k goes up, this fraction is becoming smaller.
That means the denominator is becoming smaller, and therefore, the amplitude is going up.
What's happening to the phase lag?
Well, the phase lag looks like this: phi one omega over k.
If k is going up, then the size of this side is going down, and the angle is going down. Now, that part is intuitive.
I would have expected everybody to get that.
It's the heat gets in quickly, more quickly, then the amplitude will match more quickly.
This will rise, and get fairly close to one, in fact, and there should be very little lag in the way the response follows input. But how about the other one?
Okay, I give you two minutes. The other one, you will figure out yourself.


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The Institute for Women in Politics is hosting a holiday luncheon on Friday, Dec. 1, at 12 p.m. at Jackson's Steakhouse in downtown Pensacola. Guest speaker will be Mark Singel, former Governor and Lt. Governor of Pennsylvania and brother of Institute Vice President Myra Van Hoose.
Gov. Singel's topic will be "Fighting the Good Fight." In a preview of his talk, Gov. Singel wrote, ""Amid seemingly endless stories of bad sexual behavior, there is one group that has shown what it means to lead – women. Democrat and Republican women all over the country have already sent a simple message – enough is enough! This has implications for the 2018 elections but it has long term positive consequences for civility in our nation."
The luncheon is an IWP members-exclusive event. Reservations are $20 and can be made at iwpflorida.org. Anyone who is not a member may attend by submitting their paid membership at iwpflorida.org prior to making their reservation. Reservation deadline is Tuesday, Nov. 28.
The Institute for Women in Politics of Northwest Florida's mission is to change politics by achieving greater representation of women in office and government. The non-partisan organization's membership includes both current and former elected officials, but the majority of members have no political aspirations other than an interest in seeing women achieve equal representation in our political and government institutions.The Institute works to empower women to seek elective and appointed office through outreach, training and mentoring programs.


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It's here! It's here!
Today is OPENING DAY of the 2015 OC Fair, themed "One Big Party,"celebrating it's 125th year in Orange County so gear up for an extravaganza of food, rides, entertainment and fun at one of Orange County's favorite family events.
The OC Fair is open Wednesdays through Sundays today through August 16th, 2015.
OC Fair Ticket Giveaway!
Yippppeee!!! I have a family four pack of tickets for OC Fair Admission and Austin Mahone/ Kalin and Myles concert in the Pacific Amphitheater on Sunday, August 16th at 7:30pm. Enter below!
Ways to Save Money at the OC Fair
We all know how much we love the fair, and how quickly things can add up to make it an expensive outing for a family. However, there are ways you can save money, here are some of the OC Fair discounts offered.
Opening Day:
Friday, July 17, Noon-1 pm: Free Opening Hour, FREE admission & parking for everyone
Daily Discounts:
Active Military & Veterans
Free admission for active-duty military and veterans with appropriate military ID (DD214, etc.) Not valid for spouses or dependents.
Read & Ride
Bookworms ages 5-11 can read 2 books to earn 3 free carnival rides. Click here to download the book report form. Completed book report forms can be redeemed for ride tickets at the Centennial Farm Information Booth during Fair hours. Tickets are valid July 17-August 16, 2015 only. Official OC Fair Read & Ride Form must be used in order to participate in program.
Super Pass
Enjoy 23 days of Fair fun, food and more with a 2015 OC Fair Super Pass.
We Care Wednesdays:
FREE admission and one (1) free carnival ride per person each Wednesday with appropriate donation (donation changes weekly.)
Food Drive – July 22, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of 5 cans of food
Children's Book Drive – July 29, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of 3 new or gently used children's books
Clothing Drive – August 5, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of 5 new or gently used clothing items
School Supply Drive – August 12, Noon-3 pm
FREE admission with donation of NEW school supplies valued at $5 or more. Receipt required.
$30 Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband
Enjoy all the rides you can handle for one price plus 2 free games. (Sold until 5 pm. Valid until 8 pm. Required Fair admission sold separately.)
Kids Day
Children 12 & Under FREE Fair admission All day.
$30 Unlimited Carnival Ride Wristband
Enjoy all the rides you like for one price plus 2 free games. (Sold until 5 pm. Valid until 8 pm. Required Fair admission sold separately.)
Seniors Day (60+)
$2 discount on Senior admission plus FREE Ferris wheel and merry-go-round rides all day
$2 Taste of Fair Food
Enjoy $2 samples of select Fair treats. Click here for the $2 Taste of Fair Food List.
Valid Noon-4 pm
$2 Rides and $2 Games
Rides and games are only $2 each in the Main Carnival and Kiddie Carnival.
Valid Noon-4 pm
Saturdays + Sundays
Rise & Shine
Early admission pricing every weekend of the Fair
$3 general admission for everyone
10 am – 11 am
Discounted tickets are sold until 11 am and must be use by Noon on the day of purchase.
FREE Off-Site Parking (Weekends Only)
Free parking and shuttle service is available on Saturdays and Sundays from the Experian parking structure located off the Bristol Street exit of the 405 Freeway. Follow the signs to "Experian." The shuttle operates from 10 am-1 am Saturday & Sunday only.
Things to Do at the OC Fair
There are so many things to do at the OC Fair, the question becomes, what is there not to do at the OC Fair? Visit the Things to Do page for a full list of attractions, entertainment and special events.
Hooray! It's a OC Fair Ticket Giveaway!
One lucky winner will receive a family four-pack of tickets to win a family four pack of tickets to the Austin Mahone/ Kalin and Myles concert in the Pacific Amphitheater on Sunday, August 16th at 7:30pm and four free Fair tickets for the same day. Good luck!


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For those of you asking about Chromebook tools to use for creating timelines, the collection below is a good place to start with. It features three of our favourite tools we have repeatedly covered in previous posts here in EdTech and mLearning. These tools are web based, simple and easy to use. Students will definitely enjoy working on them. Check them out and share with your colleagues.
2- Tiki-Toki
Tiki-Toki is easy to use and does not require any software download. All you have to do is sign up for a free account and start designing your timelines right away. The free account includes the basic features to create a timeline and is limited to one timeline only. There is however a special account for teachers for $125 a year which includes access to all new features.
Timeline, as its name indicate, is a very good tool from Read Write Think that you can use to create web based timelines. The tool is very simple and students can use it to graphically represent a sequence of data (events, facts..,etc) along a chronological line. These timelines can be arranged by by date, time or event.To start creating a timeline, head over to this page. Type in your name and project title then hit "start". Now click anywhere on the timeline to add an item at that location. To edit an item, double click it. You can then customize the content and placement of your items as you like. Drag to adjust positions, click on the bin icon to delete and when you are done click on "finish" to save your work to your computer or share it with others.


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Thank you for all of the book recommendations! If you don't read the comments – here are some of the books now on my list:
- Matched (Trilogy)
- Life As We Knew It
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close
- Heft
- Shadow & Bone
- Confessions of a Scary Mommy (So this isn't in the comments, but I imagine Jackie and Kerry would have recommended it!)
- And don't forget Insurgent — the 2nd book in the Divergent series – comes out on May 1st.
I have a lot of reading to do!
Now for my three things…
1. I didn't run today and I'm not going to run again until Saturday. I feel OK about this. Kinda.
Maybe it's this time of year, but I have no motivation to get out bed and run. It feels like a chore right now. I AM excited about running 10 miles on Saturday – but it's more about running with other people than the run. I need a goal. I need a race. I need something. I miss WANTING to run. Does that make sense?
2. I suck at parenting sometimes. Definitely today.
More on that later…
3. and speaking of books, I want this…
This is the new Nook Glowlight. Has the ability to read in ePub (which feels like you are reading a real book) AND it has the ability to be backlit it when you want.
MOST importantly — J.K. Rowling has a new book coming out on September 27th – Casual Vacancy – and I hope it doesn't suck. The scary part? It's NOT a YA book – it's intended for an adult audience.
The new book, aimed at a grown-up audience, will be set in a seemingly idyllic English town called Pagford which is described as far more menacing than its pretty facade would indicate.
It opens with the sudden death of a popular man whose unexpected demise shocks the town. The battle for his seat on the local council sets off "the biggest war the town has yet seen," with rich people fighting poor, parents battling their teenagers, and wives in conflict with their husbands.
Hmmmm….Not sure what to think. It could be awesome. It could fall flat. I'm nervous for her. Harry Potter (which I always write as Harry Potty!) is a hard act to follow.
Time for 3 random questions: What you do WANT right now? Favorite book? Last major FAIL?


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Hello everybody!
Longtime no see you all. Recently I have been very busy with my work…teaching at school, at course and also preparing curriculum along with accompanying students when there's competition. Well, since several days ago I've prepared my own breakfast. At least I don't have to buy outside, as I usually wake up at 4 a,m. I bought several vegetables particularly carrots as I love it so much, portable and champignon mushrooms are also my favorites. This morning before I left to school for accompanying students to drawing and swimming competitions, I prepared another version of spaghetti. Maybe combination between Italian and Indian styles at the same time. I call this 'Vegetable curry spaghetti' and it was my breakfast. I prepared it only for one portion, while the rest you can develop it.
Good morning! Selamat pagi!
'Vegetable Curry Spaghetti' (one portion)
Some spaghetti (cook it first for 10 minutes)
One baby carrot, slice it well
Two parts of broccoli, cut it well
One champignon mushroom, slice it.
One tablespoon of sliced small champignon mushroom
A part of paprika, slice it
Three chili, chop them
3 garlics, 3 onions and 1/2 big onion, chop them well.
Some coconut milk
Soy sauce (if you like)
Indian curry powder
Some water
Chili powder
Cooking oil
1. Preheat cooking oil on a wok.
2. Stir the onions, paprika and stir all until well.
3. Pour some water first if it's been well done.
4. Do not forget to stir the vegetables over.
5. Add all condiments, started from salt, soysauce, chili powder and the last…curry powder.
6. Add again some coconut milk on the mixture. Stir all until finished (approximately 3 minutes or less if you want the vegetables remain crunchy).
7. Pour the mixture on the prepared spaghetti.
8. Enjoy it.
Have a nice week end, and this is special for the challenge


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Yandex.Disk lets you quickly backup your Facebook photos to the cloud
Russian Internet giant Yandex has rolled out a new feature for its cloud storage service Yandex.Disk that allows users to siphon their photos from Facebook, including the ones they're tagged in, to a safe place in the cloud. In addition to Facebook, users can import photos from popular Russian networks VK.com and Odnoklassniki, while support for Instagram is coming soon, Yandex told TNW.
The feature, which is currently available only in the desktop version of Yandex.Disk, also works the other way around, letting users export their photos from the cloud to the three supported social networks in a few clicks.
As stated in Yandex's press release, the new feature is aimed not only at consumers but also at businesses like stock photo agencies or image banks, who could use it to simplify their workflows.
Launched in 2012, Yandex.Disk currently has 24 million registered users, about 5 million of which are not in Russia. It is available in English, Turkish, Russian and Ukrainian as a Web service, desktop app for Windows, OS X and Linux, as well as a mobile app for iOS, Android and Windows Phone.
Don't miss: 10 iOS apps that make your pictures talk
Thumbnail image Credit: Shutterstock
Read next: China's top e-commerce firms, Alibaba and JD, jump onto the internet of things bandwagon


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Things You'll Need
- Old adult-size blue jeans, two pair
- Scissors
- Measuring tape
- Straight pins
- Sewing machine
- Denim sewing machine needle
- Iron
- Terrycloth bath towel
Recycling can be an economical way to decorate your home. Instead of throwing out your old blue jeans, craft them into an attractive and functional rug. Two pair of blue jeans can create a pieced top to a simple throw rug. A recycled bath towel provides the cushy backing. This project is easy to sew and can be finished in less than an hour.
Cut off the legs from two pair of old adult-size blue jeans. Cut each leg open, along one seam, to give you a flat, single layer piece of fabric. Measure and cut eight strips, 5 inches wide by 21 inches long. Do not include the seams of the jeans in the strips. Each leg will give you two strips.
Place two strips together with the right sides facing and the edges matching. Pin one long edge together and sew, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Open the sewn together strips and lay right side up on your work surface. Place another strip, face down, on top of the sewn strips, matching one long edge with one long edge of the sewn strip. Pin the long edge together and sew, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance. Repeat with the remaining strips.
Place the sewn together strips on your ironing surface, with the wrong side up. Iron each of the seams open. This is the finished top of the rug, measuring 21-inches wide by 33-inches long.
Place a terrycloth bath towel on your work surface. Lay the rug top on the towel with the right side down. Pin the rug top to the towel. Cut the towel, using the edges of the rug top as your guide.
Sew around the pinned edges of the rug, using a 1/2-inch seam allowance and leaving a 6-inch opening on one edge. Turn the rug right side out through the opening.
Iron the edges of the rug and pin the opening closed. Top stitch around all four edges of the rug, 1/4-inch from the edge. The top stitching will close the opening.
Photo Credits
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images


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More people downward dogging their way to health
Yoga is no longer the sole domain of hippies and spiritual beings on a life journey. Walk into any yoga class these days and you'll find male and female hockey players, weight lifters, fitness junkies, students, parents and people of all ages and body types. The American College of Sports Medicine dubbed yoga one of the top 20 global fitness trends last year. And while the ancient discipline that dates back more than 5,000 years is considered a growth industry responsible not only for helping participants achieve a stronger mind / body connection, flexibility and the amazing zen feeling that comes at the end of each class, it has also spawned a market selling everything from fashionable yoga wear to the latest technology in mats, and more.
Photo Credits: Pravaha Yoga – Erica Arsenault
So can anyone take yoga?
The answer, in a word, is yes!
More people than ever are unrolling a yoga mat to downward dog their way to better health and discover some of the following five benefits of doing yoga:
1:Yoga is a welcoming practice: All you need to participate in a yoga class is a mat, and yourself. Leave the shoes at the door, and your worries at home. Just be willing to listen to the instructor and do your best. Improvement comes with time and practice and the best part is that many participants keep their eyes closed while practicing, so no one will be looking at you.
2: There are a ton of yoga styles from which to choose: From relaxation yoga, to power yoga, prenatal yoga, hot yoga, and more. Participants can select the type of class they like best, or try them all to figure out which ones suit your needs. Better yet, mix it up. Try a power yoga class one day, then opt for deep stretching and relaxation class the next.
3:Yoga classes are for people of all ages and fitness types: Unlike other sports or fitness trends that may target a niche market, one yoga class can include participants in all age ranges, from teens to folks in their 70s or even 80s, all seeking improved health.
4: You don't need previous experience: Yoga is a personal practice, meaning participants do what their body will allow them to do during a given session. Aim to try to do more each time, but yogis always encourage participants to listen to their body and go where it will allow them to go that day.
5: Stronger body and mind: Though it might seem like a feel good fluff session to the uninitiated, attend one yoga class and you'll soon see it is a total body workout with postures that use one's bodyweight to strengthen the core, the spine, the legs, chest, arms, and more. Yoga participants feel stronger, have improved digestion, flexibility, balance and breathing. Oh, and the previously mentioned zen feeling you get after a class… well, it just can't be beat.


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Venture Point Business Park
58 Evans Road
United Kingdom
+44 151 728 4500
ChargePoint technology are market leaders in the manufacturing of sterile and high containment split butterfly valves for use pharmaceutical and bio-pharmaceutical ingredient processing.
ChargePoint Technology originally developed the patented split butterfly valve technology developed in conjunction with Glaxo Pharmaceuticals (now GlaxoSmithKline) in 1996. Known as a CTC, 'Contained Transfer Coupling', the fundamental features of the valve are still retained in the design as it can be seen today.
The patented split butterfly valve technology has become a pharmaceutical industry standard for the contained transfer of potent compounds from process to process.
ChargePoint's product range includes:
ChargePoint PharmaSafe Animation
ChargePoint AseptiSafe Animation
View more videos on ChargePoint Website


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Reunion Weekend 2016
May 13–14, 2016: Reunion Weekend 2016 drew over 700 Penn Law alumni and their guests to Philadelphia to reminisce, celebrate, and make new memories with their classmates. The Classes of 1951, 1956, 1961, 1966, 1971, 1976, 1981, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011 were welcomed back to campus for a range of exciting events.
From the Senior Partners Luncheon and Professor Mitchell Berman's CLE program to the LLM Lunch and Barnes Foundation visits, Friday was a busy day for returning alums. The classes reconvened in the halls of Penn Law in the evening to catch up over food and drinks at the Reunion Class Cocktail Receptions. To cap off the night, the Class of 2011 attended a festive after-party in the Courtyard, finally enjoying the beautifully renovated space after studying through a period of construction!
Two CLE panel discussions kicked off the day's events on Saturday morning. Penn professor Michael Weisberg and Eric Rothschild L'93 looked back at Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District for the first program, while a panel of five alumni reflected on transitioning to careers outside of BigLaw in the second program. The clouds fortuitously cleared for Saturday's Courtyard Picnic, where alumni and family of all ages gathered for an afternoon of food and fun.
This year, Penn Law debuted a new venue for Saturday evening's Reunion Gala: the National Constitution Center, an institution with which the Law School shares a proud partnership. The NCC's Grand Hall served as a magnificent setting for Reunion Weekend's main event. Guests were treated to cocktails, music, and dinner with a spectacular view of Old City Philadelphia and Independence Hall, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.
Thank you to all who joined us on campus this May!


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10 ways daddy can help mom Breastfeed
Posted on December 27 2015
The key to successfully breastfeeding is having a support system. Seeing how breastfeeding has become less of the norm these days, it might be hard to find. So the role of the father is super important. Here is my list of how Daddy can support Mommy Breastfeeding.
- Do your research. You should be just as knowledgeable about breastfeeding as mom. This is your child too, don't you want to know what is going into your baby's body and why?
- Acknowledge that what she is doing is not easy, compliment her on what a great job she is doing.
- Wake up in the middle of the night to change your baby's diaper. I used to wake my husband up after nursing so that he could swaddle our son. He's the swaddle king, and it made me feel better that I wasn't the only one waking up.
- When she's sitting there, with a full bladder, starved, and smelly (I'm talking about mom, not baby), take your little one from her arms, let her pee, shower, and eat.
- Clean up the house. Do the laundry, yes this means folding and putting it away also. You can do it. This will help her catch up on some sleep. She can actually nap while baby naps, and not use that time to clean.
- Learn some recipes, if you aren't already a chef master.
- Stay on top of how much water she's drinking. In a non annoying way. Water in take is very important. It helps her supply. Plus you really don't want her to get dehydrated and sick.
- If you insist on sitting there and playing your video games, at least hold the baby while you're playing. It can be done!
- You pretty much should be at her beck and call. I know this all may seem like whyyyy? Why do I have to do all of this? Well it's only for a few months, she carried your child for 9. She went through the most imaginable pain (that you will never experience) to get your child here. Breastfeeding is exhausting, newborns are exhausting. Can you imagine being the only one who can feed your child? The first 3 months are the toughest. She just needs to get through those 3 months and we're good to go!
- Be supportive! This is why number 1 is so important, you need to know your stuff. Do you know how many times mom will hear that what she is doing is "gross", or that she needs to "stop and give the kid formula"? You need to let her know that you fully support this decision, that you have her back. What she is doing is amazing and not gross. That if you could do it, you would. You need to check what ever issue you have with her breasts being exposed, if she decides to NIP. They're her breasts not yours. She is not doing this to show off her goods, she would rather not expose herself. But she is doing this to feed her child. If she chooses to NIP with a cover or not you need to be supportive. Please do not join the crowd acting like she's doing something inappropriate. When someone starts laying it on her that she needs to stop, you need to back her up on why she doesn't. Be ready to stand up to friends and family, because those are the main people who will most likely have something to say.
That's it. That's the best advice I have for you dads. The key to be supportive and acknowledging the hard work and dedication that mom is putting into breastfeeding. Realizing that this is all being done out of love. You don't have to feel left out or helpless, you have a big role in this journey. Own it.
Guest Blogger:
Melinda Rodrigues from HappySoiree.com - a site for creative ideas on DIY's and parties!
Mother of 2 boys and breastfeeding advocate.
You can find Melinda on:


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For security purposes, it is not possible to use the ping utility to test the reachability of our mining servers. When you try to ping Slush Pool's mining servers, you will probably get a 100% packet loss.
Slush Pool's mining servers are intentionally configured in this way, so an unsuccessful ping test does not mean that the servers are down or unavailable. In order to test the reachability of these hosts, please use Telnet instead.
Example of a successfully established Telnet connection:
telnet stratum.slushpool.com 3333 Trying 220.127.116.11... Connected to stratum.slushpool.com.


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Coachella 2009: Silversun Pickups -- When Silver Lake fame goes global
In a world driven by tweets and blogs, everybody likes a good old-fashioned over share, right? Especially the one doing the over sharing. So here goes:
My band, the Movies, came of age in the very same Silver Lake indie rock scene as the Silversun Pickups. When we moved to town from Boston in 1999 (and played at Spaceland for the first time for all of five or six people), we played with Brian Aubert's then-band Sad Monster (if memory serves me right). Soon he moved on to form the Silversuns with his then-girlfriend Elvira on drums and Kennedy (of Kennedy and the Unicorn fame and, later, just Kennedy of "Your Mama" fame) on guitar.
We played lots of shows at Spaceland, the Silverlake Lounge and the Echo together as part of a swirling and ever-evolving group of hardscrabble bands including Rex Aquarium, Irving, Earlimart, Let's Go Sailing and many, many more. We drank a lot together, and we dreamed that one day one of our bands would break out. Nobody really knew which.
And then it happened, seemingly overnight to those of us who were watching from the sidelines, the Silversuns (who had never released any recordings) put out the EP "Pikul" in 2005, (which contains a cover of my band's song "Creation Lake"), following it up a year later with the full-length album "Carnavas," and they just blew up (selling well over 300,000 records).
Last night, watching them headline the second-largest stage at California's most important music festival (after Leonard Cohen no less!) was a sweet experience, admittedly tinged with wistful pangs. The most interesting part for me was the fact that they looked, sounded and acted like rock stars. "When did that happen?" I wondered. I remember Brian being slightly shy onstage during the early Spaceland days, hiding behind his hair while he developed his signature high-pitched singing voice. Now he was comfortably bantering with the audience and singing with all his might. Success, it seems, brings the very best sort of confidence.
As the band struck the opening notes of "Well Thought Out Twinkles," the riotous crowd lifted bare arms into the blue light-tinged desert night sky and the guy next to me screamed, "You're hot, Nikki!"
When Aubert joked about sitting in a hot tub and drinking Champagne backstage while Leonard Cohen played, I almost believed there was such a setup back there. When they played "Lazy Eye," the whole audience sang along and was thanked prolifically by Aubert. "You've been so good to us, and I don't know when you're going to realize how lame we are, but you haven't yet."
No Brian, not lame, just achingly real. For me at least.
-- Jessica Gelt
Photo of Brian Aubert of Silversun Pickups by Frazer Harrison / Getty Images


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By Patrick Galvan, Storage.com
After Independence Day celebrations have finished, most American flags are taken down and stored until the next national holiday. Unfortunately, these flags often re-emerge with faded colors and deteriorated fabric because flag owners don't understand how to properly store them. Sure, the damage is minimal during the first couple times of storage. But with repeated improper storage, flags will no longer be suitable for display.
When putting the American flag away in storage, you need to fold it correctly, be aware of how light and humidity can deteriorate it, and keep it in a climate-controlled storage unit.
Fold and Store Your Flag Properly
"The American flag should always be folded and put away according to the formal standards and rituals," says Jeff Ley, Sales Manager for STORExpress Self Storage.
Not only does folding your flag the right way continue traditions established by the U.S. Armed Forces, but it prevents unattractive creases and wrinkles as well. It's also a good idea to place acid-free tissue paper in between each fold before putting your flag into storage, as this will prevent wrinkles and fabric deterioration.
Another thing to consider is the type of container you'll store your flag in. A flag display case or sealed plastic storage tub are good options for storing your flag. Just make sure not to use a cardboard box, as moisture and fabric-eating insects can get inside.
Keep Your Flag Away from Light and Humidity
It's important to protect your flag from sun exposure in storage because too much light can cause colors to fade. In most cases, this won't be an issue since not every storage unit has a window. However, for storage renters with units that do allow some light inside, it's better to keep the flag tucked away in a dark area.
That being said, your flag's material can make a difference in how it resists light exposure damage. "Outdoor U.S. flags [made of nylon and polyester] are manufactured for outdoor use and are resistant to fading," explains Jerry Schuh, Division Vice President for CVS Flags. But even fade-resisting materials don't always hold up against humidity.
Constant exposure to humidity can be detrimental to your flag, as it results in the growth of mold and mildew, both of which can damage fabric. If mold grows on your flag for too long, it will be difficult to remove, making the damage more noticeable. Also, if mold releases its spores into the surrounding environment, it can start growing in other areas throughout your storage unit—and that can be a costly (and gross) issue to deal with.
According to HeritagePreservation.org, if your flag is in storage for most of the year, you should inspect it at least once for mold, mildew, and other issues. After all, mending fabric damage is easier—and cheaper—when it's caught early.
Store Your Flag in a Climate-Controlled Storage Unit
"For most textiles and fabrics, including the American flag, we recommend ventilated and dry environments that do not fluctuate in temperature," adds Ley, who recommends a self storage unit with climate control to protect flags.
Rather than storing your flag in your garage, basement, or attic, where temperature and humidity levels change constantly, a climate-controlled storage unit can keep your flag in pristine condition for much longer.
Although climate-controlled units usually cost more than standard units, a unit equipped with climate control allows you to moderate temperature and humidity levels, which is worth the price. Not to mention, this type of environment is perfect for storing the American flag, as well as other sensitive items, such as musical instruments, antiques, or photos.


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If you discharge trade waste to South East Water's sewer but that wastewater is only small quantities and of a similar nature to domestic sewage, it may be defined as minor trade waste.
Minor trade waste customers are permitted to discharge to the sewer without negotiating a consent, subject to the customer installing specific standards of pre-treatment and other requirements where required.
If you believe you are in this category phone the South East Water Trade Waste team on 03 9552 3662.
Trade waste charges do not apply to minor trade waste customers.
Minor trade waste customer listing schedule(120Kb)
© 2020 South East Water Corporation ABN 89 066 902 547


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Updated 10 September 2015
8003051E PS3 Error Code
Help Library :
Error Codes
The PlayStation 3 system encountered an error which may have been caused by either a lack of enough memory or system file corruption.
Try restarting the PlayStation 3 system to see if you receive the error code again.
If you receive the error code again, enter Safe Mode and select Restore File System.
Click here
to learn how to enter Safe Mode.
If the problem persists, enter Safe Mode and select Restore PS3 System. Please note, this will erase all data from the PlayStation 3 system. If you are able to, back up your files before performing this step. Find out how to do this
For more tips and hints on using your PlayStation system, visit our technical support forums at
Due to staff availability, customers may experience delays or disruptions in their ability to contact PlayStation Support.


text:
Huge product rangeOver 140,000 books & equipment products
Rapid shippingUK & Worldwide
Pay in £, € or U.S.$By card, cheque, transfer, draft
Exceptional customer serviceGet specialist help and advice
This authoritative guide enables accurate identification of the common components of the inshore benthic invertebrates of the British Isles and adjacent European coasts, as well as a substantial proportion of fish species. This new edition builds upon the strengths of the earlier work and is thoroughly revised throughout to incorporate advances in both the taxonomy and ecology of the organisms concerned.
1: The marine environment of north-west Europe
2: Using this book
3: Sponges
4: Hydroids, Sea Anemones, Jellyfish, and Comb Jellies
5: Flatworms and Ribbon Worms
6: Annelids
7: Priapulids,Sipunculans, Echiurans, and Entoprocts
8: Crustaceans
9: Mites and Sea Spiders
10: Molluscs
11: Bryozoa
12: Sea Urchins, Starfish, and Sea Cucumbers
13: Acorn Worms and Sea Squirts
14: Fish


text: That's right, humans -- Engadget has its very own Nexus One. You've seen leaked pics and videos from all over, but we're the first publication to get our very own unit, and we plan on giving you guys the full story on every nook and cranny of this device. In case you've been living under a rock, here's the breakdown of the phone. The HTC-built and (soon to be) Google-sold device runs Android 2.1 atop a 1GHz Snapdragon CPU, a 3.7-inch, 480 x 800 display, has 512MB of ROM, 512MB of RAM, and a 4GB microSD card (expandable to 32GB). The phone is a T-Mobile device (meaning no 3G if you want to take it to AT&T), and includes the standard modern additions of a light sensor, proximity sensor, and accelerometer. The Nexus One has a 5 megapixel camera with LED flash, and we have to say so far the pictures it snaps look pretty decent (and the camera software is much faster than the same component on the Droid). The phone is incredibly thin and sleek -- a little thinner than the iPhone -- but it has pretty familiar HTC-style industrial design. It's very handsome, but not blow-you-away good looking. It's a very slim, very pocketable phone, and feels pretty good in your hand. Thought you'd have to wait for that Google event for more on the Nexus One? Hell no -- so read on for an in-depth look. C'mon, you know you want to.


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Got a burning SEO question?
Logged in Moz Pro users can ask questions, give answers, and enjoy full access our all-in-one SEO toolset
Browse Questions
Browse Category
We are trying to narrow down our SEO agency list and I was told to propose 5 different tests. I'm not sure where to start. I also want these tests to help me understand what these companies can do for mine.
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Subscribe to Moz Pro to gain full access to Q&A, answer questions, and ask your own.


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What we do is start a dialogue!
Someone in this country dies by suicide every 12 minutes!
Suicide even outranks homicide, meaning more people kill themselves than each other.
More people die from suicide than from conflict, wars and natural disasters combined.
For every completed suicide, 20 more are likely to attempt suicide.
Why do we give large attention every time there is a death by homicide
yet very little attention to suicide?
The truth is that 90% of suicides are preventable, but only if people know what
signs to look for and how to provide help.
The problem is, no one talks about it and there is little education about it.
That is what we do.
Here's how.
Suicide is the
Leading Cause of Death
Each Year
Americans Die by Suicide
For Every Suicide
People Attempt It
Suicide Cost the US


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Synthetic Turf
SCG Fields is a playing field contractor. We have constructed synthetic turf systems for the Cleveland Browns, the Florida Citrus Bowl, the Baltimore Ravens, the Ohio State University, Northwestern University, Temple University, Ohio Northern University and multiple other professional teams, colleges and high schools across the United States of America.
At SCG Fields, we complete synthetic turf installation for dynamic base systems for most manufacturers in the industry. As a result, we will be your trusted advisor to help you select a system that meets your expectations and needs.
SCG will work with any turf supplier or manufacturer you select. We inspect and ensure the quality of your chosen turf product at the factory and all the way through final installation.
More than 75 percent of our total projects incorporate base construction and installation of artificial turf. Consider SCG your synthetic turf system authority.


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Is Twitter Doomed? Uprising of the Auto-tweet
I recently studied the predator-prey model for a grad class this Spring and found that it's properties could possibly foretell an upcoming Doomsday for Twitter. In this model, the simulations concluded that with each corresponding variable change to either animal there is […]Read More


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Obstacle Illusions
By: Tim Paulsen
What is slowing you down from being effective? Some barriers are thrown in front of us but others are…well, as the title says, just obstacle illusions.
1. You don't trust me!
This may be the belief of a potential or present customer if they are not approved for initial credit or an increase in their credit line. Never decline a customer, they will always hear 'you don't trust me' and it does not matter if their credit history is strewn with late or non-pays, they figure they are o.k., a bit tardy on occasion, but in the long run…o.k.
"We would be pleased to extend credit and to do so, what we need is….". Could be a co-signer, clearance of past debt, you may need to get creative, but never say no.
2. Education stop when you get out of school:
There is value in schooling, but education starts when you begin working. At least it should. There will be co-workers, maybe even a supervisor or two who may point at your head when you start working and say, "Where do you think you're going with that? You won't need your brain on this job. Park it over by the door and pick it up on the way out."
Don't listen to 'em. I've worked on the factory floor, as a laborer, delivered pizza and delivered educational seminars in 26 countries. Pay attention. Take notes. If you go to a conference, particularly out of province or State, you should plan on coming back with a list of 'to do' items.
3. An outside consultant will 'turn things around':
The best of us will see a few things that may not be as clear to you, but any sustained and real change is going to be made by you and your team. Use consultants like you would an Oracle of Delphi with Senior Management to make the changes you want. "We must do this, as recommended by the consultants, etc.".
4. A sale is not complete until the money is in the cash register:
Speaking of cash, I wish I had a dollar for every time I heard this quote. Let's get this right, "The sale is not complete until the money is in the cash register and the customer returns to deal with you, on credit and pays on time."
With a couple of days training almost anyone can be trained to be a reasonable collector. But, to also have the customer return, order on credit and keep the terms, calls for a collection professional.
5. Win-win Negotiations.
Don't get me wrong, I'm all for putting our arms around each other and singing Kumbaya as much as the next person, maybe even more and while I don't want to take advantage of TOS (the other side), let's not be naïve – we are out to win.
6. Collect the receivables as if it was your money!
This is the mantra of 'owners' and senior management who mistakenly believe that Accounts Receivable will be more effective if they treated the debt as if it was out of their own pocket.
In negotiations, there is a paradox. The party who doesn't 'need' a deal will be more effective than one who does. If someone owes 'you' money, I could do a much more effective job of collecting it then you. Same applies the other way.
P.S. Be careful who you tell this to! I delivered a program to a sales team in Kansas City and mentioned they should NOT treat the debt as if it was THEIR money. Forgot to tell the owner of the firm who was in a corner of the room. Never hired me back, I should have cleared or explained first.
7. The check is NOT in the mail:
If a customer tells us they've mailed a check and have told us the same old story a few times in the past – we're tempted to call them a liar. Are they? Probably, but even if true, it is not relevant.
Doesn't mean you let them get away with it though. "Mr. Sullivan, I appreciate you may have sent that cheque a few days ago, but as I look over the notes on your file, that same statement was made back on June 2 and before that in mid-May. Don't get me wrong…I'm not saying you did not send them, however, we did not receive them. What we need to do is…."
8. If it is worth doing, it's worth doing right:
Excellence in a few endeavors is admirable and worthwhile. Remembering and taking appropriate action on anniversaries and birthdays and packing parachutes come to mind. But for many, many others – good enough is good enough.
9. Just do it!
It is one of the most recognized marketing slogans in the world, and the Nike marketing people 'almost' had it right.
It's too much planning and not enough doing for me. More management techniques, diets and divorces begin on Monday than any other day of the week. If it is worth doing (refer to #8), then you should be "doing it".
As much as I like the Nike slogan, my favourite is "What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas." (I get goosebumps!)
10. Bad hair day:
Horse sh*t. Do something about it. We've got choices so let's start making them.