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Marketing a Dental Practice: Top 3 Lesser Known But Extremely Effective Methods Which Guarantee New Patients
Marketing a dental practice isn't an easy task. Many people don't realize how much they need dental services, and others worry about the cost of dentistry. However, there are several ways to quickly improve your dental marketing package quickly and easily.
One of the most important things to do when it comes to marketing a dental practice or anything else is to think outside the box.
One of the easiest ways to think outside the box when it comes to 21st century marketing is to focus on internet marketing.
Too many dentists out there are too focused on "traditional" marketing methods. These include some of the following:
- Television advertisements
- Radio spots
- Signage, flyers, and other tangible marketing goods
- "Intrusion marketing"
- Relying too much on word of mouth
Although there's nothing inherently wrong with marketing methods like these, they're simply not the most effective methods for marketing a dental practice anymore.
All three of the little known but highly effective dental marketing tips I've got for you today involve internet marketing to some extent. Before we get to those, let's take a look at some of the basics of internet marketing.
Online Marketing – How It Works and Why You Need It
First off, let's talk about why internet marketing matters so much these days. Here are some simple facts from HubSpot:
- 81% of customers (including your potential patients) do some kind of research online before making a big purchase (including expensive dental procedures).
- 72% of people who do local online searches end up visiting a business within five miles of them.
- 51% of smartphone users have discovered a new business or product of some kind searching on their phones.
While all of these facts are important, the first one really takes the cake. 81% of people in your town look online every time they make financial decisions – including going to the dentist.
Blue Rise Media also offers some simple facts on the importance of internet marketing. Although they're less focused on hard numbers, they do bring up a very important point. Any marketing materials you put on the internet are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Besides the huge popularity of the internet these days, constant availability is one of internet marketing's biggest advantages.
When you buy a TV or radio spot, you probably pay by the minute – or by even smaller increments of time. However, when you pay for internet marketing once, you can reap the benefits for years.
Internet marketing is also usually cheaper up front than traditional marketing forms. Reaching more customers for less money is every professional's dream, right?
How Internet Marketing Works
Marketing a dental practice online is complex work. Many dentists and other medical professionals hire internet marketing companies or consultants to do it. However, there are plenty of things you can do on your own.
Also, it's a great idea to learn as much as you can about internet marketing even if you plan to hire a professional marketer. The good news is that there are great resources out there to get you started.
However, before you go in search of the deepest details, let's go over some of the basics of the basics here. There are several major keys to marketing a dental practice online:
- Having a website. This is the most basic part of internet marketing.
- Filling your website with content that attracts patients.
- SEO – short for Search Engine Optimization. I'll give details on this in just a minute.
- Using "external properties" such as social media and review sites to market yourself.
Basics of Marketing a Dental Practice Online: Your Website
Having a website is the biggest key to marketing a dental practice online. Without having a website of your own, none of the other strategies I'll talk about will help.
If you already have a great website, you're ahead of many of your competitors. If you don't, you need to get one immediately. Try using a simple platform like WordPress or talking to a professional web designer or internet marketer about other design options.
Basics of Marketing a Dental Practice Online: SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
Search engine optimization is the main work that internet marketers do. Essentially, a simple definition would go something like this:
- SEO is the practice of making your website more attractive to search engines (Google, Yahoo, and Bing) so that your website appears higher in results for relevant searches like "best local dentist."
However, SEO is anything but simple. It involves a lot of work and study. In fact, it is so complex that there's an entire industry of professional search engine optimizers for hire.
I won't go into depth on SEO here, but there are a lot of great resources on this site and the rest of the web. Try going through some other articles in our blog to get started learning about specifics. Blogs like Moz are also worth checking out, especially their exhaustive introduction to SEO.
You might also try watching the video below. Although it's very long, it's a really great introduction to the basics of SEO with some advanced lessons sprinkled in.
Basics of Marketing a Dental Practice Online: External Properties
An "external property" in internet marketing lingo is any site that you don't own. Specifically, though, when marketers talk about "external properties," we mean sites that you don't own that offer content related to your practice.
External properties important to marketing a dental practice include the following:
- Social media platforms such as Facebook
- Review platforms like Yelp
- Google Maps and other business-related Google properties
These external properties are very important to two of the three specific, highly effective tips in this article.
Without further ado, let's get to those tips!
Tip #1 for Marketing a Dental Practice Online: Use Social Media
Many small businesspeople, such as restaurant owners, have learned the benefits of social media. However, it has yet to catch on with professionals such as dentists.
Social media outlets like Facebook can be hugely beneficial when it comes to marketing a dental practice. They're also a great way to stay connected with your customers.
Furthermore, social media is so massively popular that this can be one of the most effective forms of marketing. Even better, it's completely free if you do it yourself. If you decide to hire a professional, social media marketing assistance is generally one of the cheapest services.
Concrete Benefits of Social Media Marketing
1. Reach a new audience.
Because so many people are on social media and because they use it so often, creating a few social media profiles is one of the easiest ways to reach a wide audience.
Also, Facebook in particular focuses very much on connecting users with local businesses. This can be a huge benefit for dentists.
In addition to all these wonderful free business services, Facebook also offers extremely affordable and easy advertising. This too is heavily focused on local business outreach.
Other major social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram also offer advertising programs.
2. Connect with patients.
Connection with your patients is hugely important to your marketing.
Think of all the work you do in your office to connect with patients. Simple things like learning patients' names can make them much more comfortable with you. This in turn makes them more likely to come back to your practice.
Social media offers opportunities to connect with patients when they're not in the office. Patients may message your practice directly and privately with questions. They can also interact with the content you post in various ways.
Seeing these connections made manifest on the screen can also teach you a lot. For example, Facebook offers free analytic tools that show you what demographics you're popular with.
How to Start Reaping the Marketing Benefits of Social Media Profiles
Luckily, all the major social media outlets offer simple instructions to set up a profile. This is because they want their sites to be accessible to all. That's one of the major reasons they're so popular.
When it comes to specific strategies for social media marketing, here's my advice:
- Start by creating a single social media profile. I'd recommend Facebook because it's easy to use and effective.
- Fill out your profile in the greatest detail possible.
- Create new content every day or every few days. Update your status, add an image. Promote yourself!
Don't move on to starting another social media profile until you're very comfortable with the first one you started. Although more is merrier when it comes to social media marketing, you don't want to overwork yourself. Social media marketing takes a lot of time and learning.
Tip #2 for Marketing a Dental Practice Online: Perfecting Local Search Engine Optimization
I mentioned search engine optimization earlier, remember? One of the most important aspects of generating good SEO is a focus on your locality. This is especially important for smaller, local businesses like dental practices.
No matter what, Google and the other search engines are going to index sites worldwide for their users to find. However, focusing on getting customers in your city or town has the biggest benefit for you.
There are two things to focus on when it comes to local SEO:
- External properties
- Your own website
Local SEO Techniques for External Properties
Optimizing external properties for local SEO is fairly easy. Social media especially can be highly effective, and is one of the easiest things to optimize.
Optimizing for local SEO on Facebook requires filling out the profile completely. Especially focus on geographical information and connecting with local people and businesses.
On Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, using popular local hashtags can also make your social media profile much more likely to appear for local searches like "dentists in [your city]" or similar searches.
Optimizing local SEO for external properties that aren't under your direct control is also easy. This includes external properties such as Google Maps and Yelp.
Make sure to claim your business on Yelp. This is a very easy process that Yelp will walk you through.
The same goes for Google My Business. Google My Business encompasses several business services offered by Google. These include Google Maps listings, Google Reviews, and more.
Claiming your business or creating a business profile on these sites is extremely important. These actions can be incredibly lucrative for your business at no cost to you. Also, the signup process for each one is fast and easy.
Local SEO for Your Site
Optimizing your own site for local SEO gets a bit more complicated, but is equally helpful (if not even more so).
One action you can take is optimizing your site for local search is using a large amount of locally focused keywords. If you're not an SEO pro yet, check out this Rags to Niches article on SEO keywords before reading on.
The following video may help as well. While it's focused specifically on photography, the same principles apply to keywords across the board. You can easily use these skills for dental marketing.
Now that you understand what SEO keywords are, it's important to understand local SEO keywords.
Whereas a general keyword you might want to optimize your site for is "best dentistry," that may be too too general for local searches.
To attract local clients, you'll need to optimize for local keyword phrases like "best dentistry in Scottsdale" or "dentists in Virginia." Specificity is key here.
If you're worried about the work that goes into researching keywords, an SEO consultant may be able to help. The same goes for getting the keywords into the content on your website naturally.
It takes a lot of work and research to get keywords right. However, they're a key fundamental of SEO. Their impact can be undeniably huge.
The Benefits of Direct Advertising to Local SEO
Advertising services like Google AdWords, Facebook advertising (mentioned earlier), and Bing Ads can make a huge difference to your local SEO.
Although these services obviously charge money, they can be useful. The reason they're so useful is that you can tweak them to impact local customers the most.
When amateurs attempt SEO, it becomes an inexact science. Getting good at SEO requires a lot of trial and error. It may take you some time to get your keyword mix exactly right – not to mention all the other factors that determines where you page lands in search engine results.
Direct advertising, however, is very exact. It allows you total control up front. Purchasing direct advertising can also be a great way for you to hedge your bets while you practice SEO or look for an SEO professional to hire.
The most successful businesses – including the most successful dental practices – use a combination of SEO and ads. While this might not be possible for you right now, it's a goal you should work towards.
Tip #3 for Marketing a Dental Practice Online: Retargeting
Retargeting is perhaps our best tip, because it is so underused by dentists. It's also underused by other professionals such as MDs and lawyers, as well as small businesspeople.
Because retargeting was so expensive until relatively recently, it's only caught on with very large organizations so far. However, retargeting is easier and cheaper than ever. If you start utilizing this strategy now, you can beat the curve and come out ahead of your local competitors.
What is Retargeting and How Can It Help You with Marketing a Dental Practice?
Retargeting, in the simplest sense, is a fresh new way to continually put your ads in front of customers. Here's how it works.
- Retargeting uses cookies to figure out who has visited your site.
- It then places your targeted ads in front of these potential patients after they leave your site.
- This often causes them to return to your site and reconsider your services.
If you're more of a visual learner, this diagram should help explain things:
This method works best in conjunction with traditional ads, solid SEO, or both. That's because retargeting requires people to visit your website in the first place to be successful.
Retargeting isn't a strategy to get you more site visitors up front. It's a strategy to get site visitors to come back again and again. Constantly putting your content in front of casual web browsers increases the chances they will become your patients.
Because not a lot of other professionals in your field are using retargeting right now, it can be highly effective for you in both the short term and the long term.
How to Get Retargeting Service on Your Site
The one downside to retargeting is that you won't be able to set it up yourself. Doing so would be extremely difficult and expensive.
However, there are retargeting options from Google and Facebook, as well as retargeting agencies out there that specialize in this service. Also, many professional SEO services can get retargeting set up for you.
If you're interested in learning more about how retargeting works or how to get it on your site, please give us a call or fill out the form below.
We would also love to hear from you if you have any other questions about our services. Feel free to contact us with general SEO and internet marketing questions as well. Everyone at Promote Dental knows how complicated and overwhelming all of this can be, and we'd like to help you understand it.
Even if you're not interested in purchasing any of our services at this time, we offer free fifteen minute consultations. During this time we can discuss SEO in general or specific strategies for your practice.


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We currently have 4 Emergency First Aid at Work courses in Milton Keynes with many more Emergency First Aid at Work and other First Aid courses througout the county and surrounding areas.
If Milton Keynes isn't the right area for you then head over to our course finder and enter your postcode to find training courses local to you. If you're stuck, give us a call on 0330 223 2121 or use our live chat support during office hours.
We have the one training venue in the Milton Keynes area where we deliver Emergency First Aid at Work training:
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK1 1AX, United Kingdom
Although the postcode of MK1 1AX is correct for the training centre, some satnavs do not interpret this correctly, we advise using MK1 1EX instead.
There are a limited number of parking spaces for delegates outside the training centre, these are allocated on a first come first serve basis.
There is also free parking available on Lyon Road if required.

subset: commoncrawl


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Last week, dozens of filmmakers from across the globe were in town for the 26th annual Aspen Shortsfest.
President Donald Trump has been proposing cuts to the National Endowment for the Arts, which this Aspen Film festival is funded by. That puts the future of the festival — and international film exchange — in a tight spot.
Filmmaker Damien Ounouri is in Aspen to showcase his 40-minute short film Kindil El Bahr. It examines the targeting of female bodies in a fantastical setting not so far off from reality.
"The film is a kind of metamorphosis, like a mosaic," Ounouri said. "It's not very polite. And I think in the current days and time of the world, the film can be like that."
The French-Algerian filmmaker wanted to open up a conversation with audiences about the politics that surround the female body.
"For me, cinema is universal, so in my film I have to be the most specific as possible with my culture and story, and I think U.S. audiences can feel it," he said.
When it comes to film, Ounouri sees a universality with societal politics that transcends borders.
Kathleen McInnis is the new director of programming for Aspen Shortsfest. With filmmakers from 31 countries participating this year, she said hosting these international conversations is essential right now.
"Funding for arts is being questioned all around the world," said McInnis.
Throughout the United States, cultural organizations are awaiting a decision from the Trump administration that would cut, defund or eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Humanities.
John Thew, Aspen Film's executive director, says his nonprofit has been receiving federal funds for the past 15 years, specifically for Shortsfest.
"100 percent of NEA funding goes into Shortsfest, he said. "We receive anywhere from $10,000 to $25,000 a year. It's enabled us not only to maintain an affordable ticket price, but also make possible our school programs, up and down the Roaring Fork Valley."
Thew said, if Aspen Film loses that money, the financial burden would shift from the NEA to the community. This would result in locals paying more for tickets and memberships that would normally go to support the nonprofit. He calls the recent proposed cuts "short sighted."
"We don't save business plans, we save the great works of art," he said. "We build buildings called museums to house those works of art. And they provide inspiration for generation after generation. That's what society values, and for us to think 'Oh, we don't need to fund this because, you know, right now we don't need it. That's just being shortsighted. It really is our legacy to the next generation."
Wendle Whiting has been attending Shortsfest regularly since he first moved to Aspen two decades ago. You might recognize him as the guy who hands out the audience award ballots when it comes time to vote.
"I started doing that probably in the late '90s because it was becoming quite expensive to attend every screening," said Whiting. "It adds up if there's 10 or 11 and you're paying $10 to $15 a program."
Every year, Whiting has made it his mission to experience all of the programming Shortsfest has to offer. He said it's important for people who haven't been exposed to cinema, other than Blockbusters, to be able to attend this festival.
"It definitely helps bridge the gap between people who may have come from an educational background that was pretty plain vanilla and to be exposed to these films, especially a lot of international films," he said. "It's definitely eye-opening."
McInnis, the festival's programming director, said the "great cultural exchange" of films is vulnerable on a global scale.
"The countries that have traditionally been the most supportive in terms of funding for their arts communities are the Northern Europeans and the Brits," she said. "So the Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Finland, Netherlands … Then you go to Germany and France who are incredibly supportive, but they are in the midst of exactly the same issues that we are right now."
McInnis said the future remains unknown.
"It is a box of nuts thrown up into the air, and they haven't landed yet," she said.
This year's festival brought forth conversations between moviegoers and filmmakers on how to preserve the future of cultural exchange in cinema, so that international filmmakers like Damien Ounouri and others can continue to have the chance to be put on the map.


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Interactive CD-ROM on Cancer Genetics for Hispanics
This study will test ways to help improve Hispanic women's knowledge and understanding about
breast cancer risk and genetic testing for inherited cancer risk. These methods include
providing printed educational materials, using an educational computer program, and using
the computer program with the assistance of a lay health worker (a promotora).
If you agree to take part in this study, you will complete a questionnaire that will ask
about your personal health as well as your knowledge and attitudes toward cancer and genetic
testing. After the questionnaire is completed, you will be randomly assigned (as in the
roll of dice) to 1 of 3 study groups. One group will be asked to read educational materials.
Another group will use an educational computer program to learn about breast cancer risk and
genetic testing without guidance. Another group will use the computer program with the
guidance of a promotora.
Each of the 3 study groups should take between 30 and 60 minutes to complete.
Immediately after participating in your assigned group, you will be asked to complete
another questionnaire that will ask about your knowledge and attitudes toward cancer and
genetic testing. You will also be contacted later by telephone to complete similar
questionnaires at about 1 month and 6 months after your study visit. Some women will be
asked to complete an additional questionnaire by telephone 1 week after reading the
educational materials or the computer program, and researchers will ask for permission to
audiotape this interview. It will take about 20 minutes to complete each of the
questionnaires used in this study.
This is an investigational study. Up to 414 women will take part in this study.
Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Open Label, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Data analysis of structured questionnaires
3 Years
Susan Peterson, PhD
Principal Investigator
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center
United States: Institutional Review Board
February 2007
March 2013
|UT MD Anderson Cancer Center
|Houston, Texas 77030
|The Cancer and Chronic Disease Consortium (CCDC) of El Paso
|El Paso, Texas 79905


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It's hard not to think about all the things that I could've done differently, but now I am in a better place. I am still struggling financially, but at least I enjoy what I do, the people I work with, and have steady cash flow. I wish I could've gotten here sooner, and I wish I could tell those people off who insulted me. I might just do that… (I heard that SNL overlooked Stephen Colbert and Jim Carey…) I could just send an email that says thank you for not calling me back so that I could work for a billion dollar company that makes your revenue look like lunch money…I'll think about it.
Unfortunately, my feelings regarding towards Florida and mostly south Florida have not changed. I think they have actually been validated due to an article published in a Tampa news paper stating the state has agreed to lower achievement expectations based on race — as if the public school system in Florida is anything to be proud of, I guess unless you are from Latin America (http://tampa.cbslocal.com/2012/10/12/florida-passes-plan-for-racially-based-academic-goals/) — and my new job where all the higher level and non customer service positions are interestingly located outside of Florida, and in the Global North.
Regarding the article, which I actually thought was from 2014 and not 2012, this is all I have to say: Not surprising. I will be surprised when decisions are made based on sound empirical evidence and decision-makers stop thinking within a vacuum. I had to turn off a political discussion on the news the other day, attempting to be Meet the Press, because a woman quoted her source as "the internet"… If no one is vying to understand and emulate your educational model, then maybe there might be just a few other educational models out there that can be considered, maybe just a little. I mean, what if they were to consider looking into the educational models of this little unknown area far up north called New York. I hear they have a similar multiracial demographic in one of their smaller cities by the same name. The state might not be as established or well-known as Florida, and certainly people don't consider it to have anything that could rival major cities in Florida, but I think they might be able to find a little something to work with.
In regards to my job, it is actually in an international affairs related field and I get to use Spanish and French on a daily basis! In fact, I am the only one on the team who speaks French! Also, it's in the private sector and there appears to be genuine opportunity for growth. Another shocker, the job description was accurate, unlike that last place where I was called Business Analyst but was more Collections Agent/Customer Service Rep. Oh, and by the way, that company's revenue has taken a hit, they're overall revenue is only 1/4 of the revenue for my new company, which is in the billions, and I contacted the Department of Labor about them not sending my my COBRA information, so they should be hit with a fine of at least $100/day since my last day. Maybe that's why the recruiter was checking out my résumé… 🙂 But on to the new job. The pay is low. It's high for the area and if you went to state school, but as Florida is not the center of the universe from me, I cannot really join my colleagues in gushing over the salary and finally being able to give up their second job. This is what I made in grad school, without a degree, I declined two interviews for jobs that would pay me about $30K more — one maybe in the state of Florida, the other definitely not — but even with the higher cost of living I would still actually have a savings, and now I also have to look for a second job and possible relocation. The jobs I applied to right before I committed to this one appear to still be open, and if they're still there in a month, all bets might be off…
In December 2014, I was ready to leave Florida and never look back. Neither my parents nor I had the money to fly me back home for the holidays so I was seriously about to spend Christmas by myself in this state that I am indifferent too (when it's cold and people speak to me in English, its value to me plummets.) I could not do that. I sold the last of my stocks and got a one way ticket home. Right after I bought my plane ticket, I heard from the company I am at now, only a few weeks after I applied. I actually gave then the full résumé, except I left out my certificate in Chinese because it wasn't really relevant. I played up translation and language skills because that appeared to be the tipping point, but now I am concerned by boss might think that that is my background… Anyways, I was supposed to have the last interview right before my flight, but it got changed, and I went north. I was there for two weeks before I did the last interview and received an offer. I lowered my salary expectations by $5K so I could get in the door, but I was told that there was potential. And the reviews on Glassdoor are amazing! As is the company. The low salary is a BIG issue though. The two companies who would've paid me more contacted me for interviews after I had verbally committed to my current job, but I did not have time to wait for a paycheck, and I was also curious to see where this would go. So, here I am back in Florida.
After this month, I will have been here longer than I was at that hellhole that I worked at when I first got here, and even the place I worked at through the temp agency. I met people at both those places who had a warped since of self, and just sometimes I wanted to be like, are you serious!? Now I want to be like who's the one excelling in fast-paced environments will high revenue now. I'm still thinking about that email… It wouldn't be beneath me because I am a Scorpio and I am human. I would channel Bill Maher's smugness in my email. Anyways… My lease is up at then end of May and I have bills to pay. I am not going to pay a premium to sign a short-term lease, so I have to figure out where I want to be and where I can be. I would love to stay with the company, but all the opportunities for growth are elsewhere if I want to overcome the Florida ceiling. I might be able to negotiate staying here for one of the positions I am looking at, but then do I really want to stay here?
Honestly, for $15-$20K more and maybe also an analytical role, I could make it work, at least until I get engaged/married. I connected with someone the other day who is about to get married and he said that he could not raise his children here, and I completely agree. I came here for the weather, the beach, Latin America, cost of living, and to meet a multilingual foreigner (not fresh off the boat; Americanized), but I honestly do not want my children to be subject to the low standards and delusions of south Florida. (I also really want my daughters to go to my middle school/high school.)
UCF, UF, or one of these large Florida state schools was included in some list of public ivies. I found that list and understood why some people actually refer to then as Ivy League schools. But why do they do that? I mean I know why, but they are really serious about it. Always be proud of where you went to school if you must, honestly, I have mixed feelings about most places I attended, but don't be disillusioned because then you look/sound ridiculous. "Pretentious" was an abstract concept until I got here… I did not go to an Ivy League school just to be clear. I'm always amused when I talk to my friend who went to MIT about the "Ivy League" Florida schools here by their acronyms and she has no idea what I am talking about. I do feel bad about this deep down, somewhere, but it helps me keep things in perspective. Everyone around here knows was MIT stands for, or at least has heard of MIT, but I have to tell her what USF, UCF, FIU, and FAU is, or for fun, I just make her guess… And then FIU has these new entry standards for their graduate school that would actually make her ineligible to apply, lol, while she actually got into Brown and Vandi. When I drive and think about things here, I just go WTF and just move on because my brain hurts after awhile. Cambridge has a cutoff like FIU, but they're Cambridge, they can do that. When you have degrees that are known to be well transferable outside of the city/locale of your college, you can do that, it's annoying, yes, but you have that established reputation.
So, so far Florida is more ridiculous than not #FakeorFlorida, but I am still here because I got a job and because of the multilingualism. I think I also might be here because my very self challenges the general population's perception of who I should be, and it amuses me when I cause them confusion. I think that's also the same reason why I must leave at some point. Probably just for my sanity: I can't work with pretentious people, those who embrace the status quo, have a warped sense of self, and believe in strict gender roles. I guess I should also mention that my company is not based in Florida.


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Excerpts From a Diary 44
by silverapplequeen
[Fall, 1990]
Starting to talk about the depth of my pain in the rooms – very lightly. My dissatisfaction with my marriage – how I miss my career – my inability to find a job. Always stressing that I am gratefully sober but I realize that something is missing. & I want to find out what that is.
I went to Mooncircles with Shera – what a beautiful store & what lovely ladies who own it. I bought the 10th anniversary edition of The Spiral Dance – I've wanted that book forever. I have most of it copied from Anna's original version in my BOS. There were so many books there I wanted to buy – also jewelry, clothes, tapes, candles, incense. We met J. there & all of us went up to the Lexington Food Co-op & then to The Wild Thing & a Stained Glass Shop. Then to the Towne Restaurant on Allen Street for a bite to eat. At the Towne, we met a guy named Andy who plays in the Outer Circle Orchestra. We hit it right off. He's Buddhist – the Tantric Yoga variety. It seems that even when I am out with women, I meet a guy.
Finally trying to talk with Teddy. Telling him how I feel – how I don't feel – how, why. What to do. What I'd like. Why I have so much trouble expressing myself.
6 months without a drink.
I have a job interview at ABC Hardware at 4 p.m. It's just a cashier's job but it's within walking distance.
I got the job! I start tomorrow!
A Mabon dinner: roast chicken stuffed with rice with onions & celery, mixed vegetable, peach crisp & ice cream for dessert.
Walking to the store to buy ice cream, I looked at the sky crowded with grey & black clouds & felt the wind sharp against my face. Cold inside my lungs. My spirit soared & I thanked the Goddess for all my being. Thank you for everything.
I dreamed about Pat again. Making love again. I wore a white eyelet petticoat & camisole. We were at Shera's house or a place like it – a Goddess place. Jasmine incense burned. We made love again & again until we were bathed in a white light. We were Goddess & God.
I could feel really sad after these dreams but part of me feels like if I can live like this in my dreams, maybe I don't need Pat in real life. That maybe the Goddess is giving me these dreams to keep that part of me alive & I am going to be OK without Pat in my life.
I quit my job at ABC. My new boss was a total jerk. He had to control everything & everyone. I cannot work with someone looking over my shoulder – constantly telling me what to do & how to do it. Something else will turn up.
I love when I read a section of Anaïs Nin's diaries & I recognize a corresponding section from one of her novels. Often the incident is lifted verbatim – only the names are changed. How I hope that I can do it so well. Lift & rearrange & rename.
I work at my novel – working on the Chaotic Bliss novel – drawing on memories & imagination. It goes very slow. How can it not? The fact is – I am a very slow writer. But also – I'm constantly looking for work – which is full-time job in itself – I go to three meetings a week or more – I do all the housework, laundry, cook all the meals – plus a spiritual practice – & study. That doesn't leave much time for writing. & hopefully, next semester, I'll be back in school. I really hope so. I really want to finish my degree.
But – I am in no hurry. I used to get so anxious – worrying that I was running out of time. Now I don't worry. I live one day at a time – live it to the fullest – no matter what I am doing that day. If I am writing, I am writing to the fullest. I am doing something else – no matter what it is – I am doing that to the fullest.
Today is our eighth wedding anniversary. I cooked us a special dinner – filet mignon, baked potato, salad, ice cream for dessert. Teddy gave me a card – I have to admit, I never even thought of getting him a card – & I felt really bad about it.
& then I think – is this what I really want?
I feel like the Fool in the Tarot – blithely stepping off the cliff's edge.
I just wish this was all over with. The tension of living day to day with Teddy – talking about what we will be doing in November – December – next spring – at the same time – mentally packing to leave in a few week – deciding what to take & what to leave – deciding what is truly important in my life.
No wonder I can't sleep.
I am so hideously depressed I can't believe it. Another cold rainy day. It's hard to believe that anyone can be so depressed & go on living. Teddy is so determinedly cheerful – it grates on my nerves.
Darryl went to Virginia to detox but he's back now & he's been calling with all these deals & Teddy wants to go down there & party. & that's the last thing I want to do. I don't want to spend the money & I don't want to blow my sobriety. What did he think I was doing in Lowell? Vacationing? Seeing the sights?
No – I have to get out of here. I'm never going to stay sober if I stay.
I will miss Teddy terribly. I worry about him – I know he will be terribly lonely – terribly depressed – especially as the holidays roll around. Knowing this has stopped me dozens of times in the past. Paralyzed me, in fact. But I've got to do what I must do – I must do what I think will make me happy – & healthy. It hurts. This is the hardest thing I have ever done.
I feel really good right now. I had a long talk with Alex from the Sunday night AA meeting. She studied psychology for seven years – she wanted to become a psychologist but marriage, babies & having to work got in the way – she said she noticed how nervous & unsettled I am around Teddy – like I didn't want to upset him – like I just want to keep him calm & settled – she said that we only go around once & we have to be happy. & it's pretty obvious that I'm unhappy.
I just talked to Tish. She's real supportive – real happy I'm making this move. Now I'm excited. I can hardly wait!
Teddy & I went to see "Postcards from the Edge". I thought it was really good. I could really identify. At the end, Teddy was crying. "What's the matter, honey?" I asked. "This movie hit so close to home," he answered, "I'm so afraid you're going to leave me – like our relationship is on borrowed time – I love you so much – I feel like any day now, you'll be gone."
What could I do? I felt terrible – but it's true, isn't it? I was as gentle as I could be but I was lying when I said, "Teddy, I'm not going anywhere."
Sitting here, with Elvis Costello on the tune box, I realize that's what Jon Kudzma told me too.
There's nothing I can do. I can't stay & remain unhappy.
"My mother wanted me to be someone other than I was. She was shocked when I defended D.H. Lawrence. She disliked my artist friends. She wanted me to be as she had been, essentially maternal…Very early I was determined not to be like her but like the women who had enchanted & seduced my father, the mistresses who lured him away from us…When I first feel this? When did I repudiate the model of my mother & decide not to be a wife or a mother but a mistress? In spite of this I did inherit from her a strong protective instinct toward human beings. But I also cultivated what would give me not only their down-to-earth needs, but euphoria, pleasure, delight." – Anaïs Nin
As soon as I read that, I thought – that is me. That is my experience as well. I read it this morning & it has been with me all day. I think this is one of the problems I have – the essential problem with the marriage with Teddy.
Because I never wanted to be a wife – anyone's wife. I am good at being a wife – I like keeping house but I would keep a lovely home even if I wasn't a wife – it's how I am. I am best at being a mistress – I am most comfortable in that role – I am a passionate person & I want to be passionate about everything – being a wife, being a mistress, cooking, cleaning, writing, dancing, loving, making love – oh, I want to make love endlessly – & for some reason, I can't get into Teddy as a lover. I don't know what it is. It isn't just because I'm in love with Pat. Or Jesse – or anyone. Except for the first few months – when we were doing so many cool drugs & falling in love because of that – we haven't had much sex. & we really didn't have much sex then, either, it was really a lot of cuddling & kissing. & after Jesse – I knew that something wasn't right on a fundamental level but I have never been able to put my finger on what it is. Surely two people who love each other & who are best friends can find a way to have good sex. Why have Teddy & I never been able to?
Why was this? What happened? Again, Anaïs Nin holds a key: "At times Lillian remembered her husband, and now that he was no longer the husband she could see that he had been, as much as the other men she liked; handsome and desirable, and she could not understand why he had never been able to enter her being and feelings as a lover. She had truly liked every aspect of him expect the aspect of lover." (From Ladders to Fire)
I first came to Teddy as a customer. I always liked him. I always considered him a friend. When I returned to Buffalo in the spring of 1981, I was lonely – & confused about my relationship with Donovan Murphy – & still smarting over my break-up with Jon Kudzma. & although I had a job, I couldn't survive on my own – I needed a partner. I had never done well with roommates. I needed to be in love with someone – live with someone – more than who the someone was. It just happened to be Teddy. Really – if Mac McAnders hadn't moved into that crappy basement apartment on Richmond Avenue – if it had been an upper apartment in the same building or the carriage house apartment – I would have moved in with him & everything would have been different. But that's not what happened. The luck of the draw fell to Teddy. Teddy's love soothed my heart but it really wasn't Teddy's love that I wanted – it was the soothing of my heart.
Throughout everything that's happened to me – the affair with Jesse – the stress of being a stripper – my whacked-out moods – Teddy has soothed my heart. I have to give credit where credit is due. He wasn't perfect by a long shot but he did take care of me when I needed it & generally asked no questions – I wouldn't have told him the truth anyway – not because I'm a liar but because I don't think it's any of his business & he's better off not knowing, anyway. No matter how badly he pissed me off – & he pissed me off all the time – I liked him – I liked his personality – I liked partying with him & I liked doing stags with him. I still like him. I care for him – deeply – but I'm not in love. I haven't been in love with Teddy in years. I want to be in love – & I want to live with the person I'm in love with – I'm tired of the split personality game – I want to be wife & mistress to one man – one man only. & that man is not Teddy.
Still – I feel genuine sadness & grief over the end of my life here with Teddy – after so many years – I lived with him longer than anyone except my family – for eight years he has been my family. & he'll be all alone – I feel tremendously guilty & depressed about that.
It was easy to stay married to Teddy when I was working as a stripper & needed him to drive me around & play my tunes. He held onto the money & he watched my back. & it was easy to stay married to Teddy when I was in love with Jesse – who was also married – because Jesse wasn't going to end his marriage so there was no reason for me to end mine.
Pat changed that entire dynamic. He wasn't married. He didn't care if I was married. It was like all he wanted was to break up my marriage – just to break it up. He didn't want me. & I knew better than to want him.
I always thought triangles could work but they don't work. Someone is always left out. Someone's feelings are always hurt. They don't work. One person reaps the benefits but the other two suffer. & it's just a whole lot of angst & drama for something that is never going to last anyway. You think it's undying love but nothing lasts forever. Not passion, anyway. The most passionate love is always going to die down. You can't keep a pot at a full boil – it'll boil away to steam & burn the pot. You have to have a nice simmer – which I admit is not as exciting – by a long shot – but it's easier to live with. & honestly – that's the kind of love I want. One man – one love.
I called my mother & told her that I felt like my sobriety was in danger here – living with Teddy – & that I wanted to come to Cleveland. I said that I really wanted to find my own place – I wanted to bring my books & all my clothes & everything that was mine. She said she understood. I'm going down in a few days & staying there. I'll look for a small apartment & a job & then come back to get my stuff. I really hope Teddy doesn't freak out too much when I tell him.
It also occurred to me that one of the reasons I have hung on to my relationship with Teddy all these years even though I was really quite unhappy – since no happy person drinks to excess, does loads of drugs & has affairs – was a reaction to losing my dad. Like everyone says. Not that Teddy is remotely like my dad. I don't mean that at all. & there was a certain amount of insecurity always with my father – he was always gone – or going somewhere – very rarely coming home & then when he was home, it was always a treat but somehow – I'm just realizing this now – the kind of treat where there was a trick attached to it – or it was damaged in some way – it was never as good as you thought it was going to be. I suppose it's because my father was a drinking & there was always drinking when he was around & that is an insecure place for a kid to be. Even when the father is famous & you live in a beautiful house.
Teddy hooked up the cable again. Now we have our locals plus TNT, HBO, ESPN, USA & a dozen others.
He is in such a good mood – TV makes him happy – playing with the cats – talking on the phone. Next week the truck goes in the shop – I'm not even sure what needs to be fixed – & then it gets registered in two weeks. He is so excited. He wants to make plans to travel in the spring – go out West – the Grand Canyon, Lake Tahoe, San Francisco.
My heart is breaking.
I watch the news & it is so depressing. Recession, budget crisis, oil prices rising, food, clothes, everything. "This is not a time to be taking a chance, to be going out on a limb." & what am I doing?
Last night – a heavy conversation with Teddy. He initiated it. He wanted to know what was "the matter" with us. Why have I "shut" him "out". I didn't know what to say. Finally I admitted that I was thinking of leaving. He was devastated. I hated to see it. He was almost crying. "I want us to be a team," he was saying, "I want to be your man, I want to plan our life together, go on vacations, do everything together – sometimes I don't think you're even here." Well – he's right about that – I'm not here a lot of the time. I'm not sure where I am but it's not here. He also said that he thinks I'm mentally & emotionally unbalanced.
I said, "Listen, I'm not going to get sober with Darryl calling all the time & Felix dropping by with fat doobies & all the bars I used to drink at right around the corner & you know it. I just want a fucking chance."
Naturally, he accused me of wanting to go to Cleveland because Pat is there. Which – honestly – I almost wish that I could go back to Boston or go out west or anywhere other than Cleveland. I really don't want to see Pat again. But my mother lives in Cleveland, so that's where I have to go. I don't have anywhere else to go. But once he was on that track, he refused to get off it. So he's all pissed off at me & says I don't really care about sobriety at all – it's just an excuse to see Pat again.
I told Teddy what day my mother was coming for me. He should have gone to work but he didn't. He made a big scene in front of my mother & all the neighbors & now my mother is suspicious about why I'm coming back to Cleveland. I really am leaving Buffalo because I want to stay sober. It has nothing to do with the fact that Pat is in Cleveland. Like I said the other day – I would just as soon go to Boston or Seattle or any other city at all. Just a place where there's AA & good coffee.
Samhain. I feel very fragile today. Actually, I woke up feeling OK but very tired – as usual, I was awake in the middle of the night – I no longer have any trouble getting to sleep but I still wake up in the middle of the night & remain awake for at least an hour – it's very frustrating – especially when I want to be up early & out to look for work. Bob says to go to meetings & say that I'm looking – sober people like to hire sober people. I've been getting to a meeting a day since I got here & sometimes two a day. This is the city for meetings, that's for sure.
Teddy called today – he had to have been fucked up – demanding to know when I was going to be getting all my "stupid books" out of the apartment & that he wanted the dishes – they're my dishes, in fact they were my mother's – & he wanted all the Tupperware – the Tupperware! – & he had a whole list of demands that I can't even remember.
I played the piano for almost an hour. It's so nice to be able to play again.
Robert Kirsch is a Dharma instructor & a divorce lawyer. I met him Tuesday at Arabica Coffee. He knows Pat – he told me that Pat is in rehab in Minnesota – which is why I haven't seen him at any meetings. I told Robert about my marriage with Teddy & how it fell apart. I said he was pressing me to get my things out of the house but I didn't have a job or an apartment yet & I was a little afraid to go back until I had all my plans set.
I tried to joke, "Well, not to sound like a soap opera but I'm afraid if I'm alone with him, he'll commit me or something!"
Robert laughed but he was serious. "It's not a soap opera, it's real life! I deal with this all the time! A husband has full right to commit his wife. I mean, there has to be a has to be a hearing but it can be done."
Well anyway – Robert is now my lawyer. I am not going back to Buffalo. Not right now anyway. I don't have to do what Teddy wants me to do. & he can't touch my things – I have a right to leave them there until I come back for them. I have to make a list of everything I want – everything that's mine – everything I feel I deserve.
Now the fun starts.
Another beautiful day. Overcast today. Yesterday the sky was a clear, stunning blue. Such warmth – amazing warmth. "Unseasonably warm," says the radio stations – it's in the mid 70's. It's at least 10 degrees warmer than Buffalo.
Another beautiful day. I raked the front yard after sitting in meditation a half-hour. I also cleaned the kitchen today. Mom & Bob went to Akron to visit Dr. Bob's house & go to a meeting. I like having the house to myself.
I called Teddy last night & told him I wasn't coming up Monday. We got in a little argument but I kept my cool. I had just been meditation – a full moon ritual – & before that, an AA meeting – so I felt really serene anyway. I wouldn't let him get to me. Regardless, I feel sorry for him.
I went to early Mass this morning – to please my mother – then went to the Dharma house for the Sunday meditation. The Dharma house belongs to John Bembo – like the Renaissance poet – he knows Pat, too. Pat's been art of the Dharma group for years, apparently – they've seen him in all stages of addiction & recovery. Nobody is surprised that he's in rehab. There's six guys in the group & two women – Robert's wife Wendy is one of them. They have four kids, all very young.
Today was 3-hour meditation – sitting meditation, walking meditation, chants & instruction. I received instruction from both Robert & Val & I told both of them how much trouble I've been having sitting – sleepiness, leg falling asleep, slouching – not feeling like meditating on a daily basis – I do it anyway – & they both said that was good – my ego putting up a good fight – & I was doing alright – just keep sitting & studying & it would get easier.
In the Cleveland Arcade, having a coffee. The bus got me here 45 minutes earlier than I needed – I have a job interview at P Publishers at 9:30 – so I stopped here. The coffee's so nice & warm – Yemen – smells so good –
I hope this interview goes well. I have to take a typing test & a math test as well as the actual interview. I certainly look the part. I plan on going to the public library after the interview. Cleveland's library is beautiful – gorgeous old building – beautiful reading rooms – paintings & murals – just lovely.
& there is nothing like the Arcade in Buffalo. I love sitting here & looking up at all the glass & iron. & all the coffee shops here in Cleveland – like bars, almost – serving so many different kinds of coffee from all around the world. There are nowhere as many bars as in Buffalo. It's funny – I thought a bar on every block – or two or three to a block – was normal! I guess that's normal for Buffalo but not everywhere. Oh well – it was fun while it lasted. I don't mean to imply that there are no bars here. But they are much quieter – I mean, their signs & façades – they don't seem to jump out at you like they do in Buffalo – like "Look at me! I'm a bar! Drink here!" – one or two neon beer signs in the windows as opposed to five or six.
Of course, it may be different over in West Cleveland. I've heard it's much more like Buffalo over there. I've never been over there very much – not at all, really.
I called Teddy last night – a very mellow conversation. I'm going to get my things as soon as I get a job & my own place. I'm dying to get my own place. I miss Shadow & Missy. I want my own place so I can get my own cats & be a family again – even if it's just me & the cats. That's family enough for me. For now, anyway.
& I'm not feeling well today. My head aches, my throat is sore, my sinuses congested. & I'm dying for a bump. I don't know why but I do. It's really strong, too – the strongest jones I've had since I got sober. I don't know where it's coming from. Unless it's because I talked to Teddy. & I couldn't help but wonder if he had gone back down to Lackawanna & that was the trigger.
Incredibly homesick. Last night – dreams of Teddy, his face unbelievably tender as he told me "the door will always be open" – Shadow, laying on his back & purring as I cover his belly with kisses – I had no idea I would be this homesick.
Was it only last week I was the happiest girl in Cleveland & I never wanted to go back to Buffalo?
I tell myself it's because I'm broke – I've got cabin fever big-time – I want my books – & my sewing & my embroidery. I want my drawing paper! I want, I want, I want – that's me. Never satisfied.
Last Friday night, the Dharma group went to hear Gelek Rinpoche talk. Robert studied with him years ago. A small man – Tibetan – round & merry – with smiling eyes & very white teeth. I felt good about my practice. So often, I feel defensive – since Pat used to tell me that "witchcraft" was ego-glorification – or now, how Robert says the best way is the Buddhist way. This does not seem very different than the "one true religion" talk I heard when I was a girl. I don't believe in "best ways" & "one true religion" – there are as many ways as there are people – to say your way is the best way is arrogant. Talk about ego! But I didn't get that feeling about Rinpoche at all. At the end of the talk, he embraced Robert & they talked a little bit & then Robert introduced me to him. He held my hand & looked deep into my eyes. I said, "I only received instruction a month ago." He said, "That is good!" & gave me a bear hug. I felt accepted. I hope I get to see him again.
I had to get a State I.D. I was told it was on W6 so I took a bus downtown & got off at the Public Square, walked on Ontario Street to Prospect Ave & Prospect to W6. There was a State Building there but it wasn't the right place. I had to go another 5 blocks to the "Licensing Bureau". It was windy & rainy but still warm – clouds of fog were moving through the buildings like large ghosts. As I walked up W6, I felt a sure sense of déjà vu – I had been here before – in a dream or in a past life – some time or another. Anyway, it was a great street – old store fronts being remodeled or renovated – whereas the same street in Buffalo would be all boarded up or hit by an arsonist or torn down already.
I got to the Licensing Bureau & there was a sign on the door announcing that they weren't issuing State I.D.s today! Another sign said that to get a State I.D., you needed a Social Security card as well as a birth certificate so I wouldn't have been able to get an I.D. anyway – my SS card disappeared years ago. Maybe it's in some scrap book somewhere but it's not in my wallet where I need it. So I asked where I could get one & I was directed to the Federal Building – E9 & Lakeside. So I took off again.
Lakeside Ave is a real nice street. The wind was blowing, the rain flying – the lake was grey & misty – low dark clouds moved over it – seagulls & pigeons huddled on the ground, unable or unwilling to fly.
The Federal Building is across from the Galleria, which is a much smaller mall than the one in Buffalo. But much more chíc.
Luckily, I had enough I.D. on me to get my SS card – my library card & my Sheriff's card from 1978 & my birth certificate – or else I would have been plumb out of luck there too! So then I went over to the temp agency & got all my I.D.s together & I was hired. I got my picture taken by Deb, my new boss & now I have another I.D. – this one for the temp agency – to identify myself when I show up at an assignment.
The job I'm starting on Monday is for the temp agency itself – addressing Christmas Cards for various clients – because I have such nice handwriting. I guess not many people have good penmanship nowadays!
So then I walked back up Euclid Ave – through the Arcade – said hi to Ragtime Annie, playing the piano – then went to the library. Last night, after class, I took my little notebook & wrote down all the titles of Goddess books I haven't read. I searched them in the computer & then went to the second floor where I hoped I might find them – I found all the books on my list & more. Of course I could not begin to take out everything I wanted so I have to limit myself to just a few. I also got out some novels for fun.
I've been reading "The Coventry Reader", a newspaper of poetry. I'm definitely going to submit some of my work.
I went shopping today. I went to the Goodwill store. I bought a denim skirt, full & ruffled & a grey wool suit. The suit is fully lined & it fits like a dream. The suit's skirt is very straight, ends at the mid-calf, with two small pleats at the bottom. The jacket has a round collar, no lapels & buttons down the front. Very feminine, very plain, very serviceable. The skirt was $2.50 & the suit was $5. They have more thrift shops here than I have ever seen anywhere & the deals are amazing.
Tomorrow I'm going to look at an apartment on Euclid Heights Boulevard. I hope i can get it – I want to be moved in by Christmas – New Year's by the latest.


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BHUBANESWAR: The Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) has decided to hand over the development of infrastructure and other basic amenities in three housing colonies developed by it to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC).
The BMC has made an estimation of Rs 30 crore for developing basic amenities at BDA-developed Kalinga Nagar (K-7 and K-8), Ananta Vihar (phase-I, II, and III) and Lingaraj Vihar, official sources said.
While Kalinga Nagar was developed near Patrapada in 1994, the three phases of Ananta Vihar project was launched between 2002 and 2004 at Pokhariput. Lingaraj Vihar housing scheme was developed in Pokhariput in 2002, sources said.
BDA claimed that it had been taking care of the three housing colonies, even as residents were vocal against the former for poor maintenance of roads, drains and street lights.
On July 2 this year, the housing and urban development (H&UD) department asked the BMC to take over the maintenance charge, sources said.
"A joint team of BMC and BDA recently visited the three colonies and found that the infrastructure was damaged. Roads, drains and street lights need to be improved to cater to the needs of the residents of the area," BMC mayor A N Jena told TOI.
"We have sought nearly Rs 30 crore funds from the H&UD for development of infrastructure," Jena said.
BMC sought Rs 10.47 crore for development of Kalinga Nagar (K-7 and K-8), Rs 6.93 crore for Ananta Vihar and Rs 4.07 crore for the Lingaraj Vihar area.
Residents of those areas had been running from BMC and the BDA, seeking better amenities, but to no avail.
"We have written letters to BMC and BDA several times to clean the drains, repair roads and repair streetlights. Nobody paid heed to our requests. Most of the time, we repaired the roads and cleaned drains on our own," said Patitapaban Sahoo, the secretary of Lingaraj Vihar Community Welfare Association.
Altogether 429 houses were built by the development authority at Lingaraj Vihar.


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Teachers Commission - How to make better bricks for "The Wall" - by Craig CantoniWritten by Ernest Hancock Subject: Education: Government Schools
By Craig J. Cantoni
Dec. 7, 2006
Former IBM Chairman Louis Gerstner, Jr. and other renowned business leaders have recommended that North Korea adopt more central planning to fix its economy and feed its people.
"North Korea's economic problems aren't due to too much central planning and top-down diktats," Gerstner said in a press conference yesterday. "They're due to too little central planning and top-down diktats."
Yeah, I made that up. But I didn't make up an equally ludicrous conclusion reached by Gerstner and other members of the Teachers Commission, which is a group that was formed to recommend ways of improving the quality of America's public school teachers. The full report can be found at:
Putting aside the report's lofty rhetoric, the Commission's conclusion can be paraphrased as follows: The inherent problems of a government-run, politically-controlled, union-dominated education system can be fixed by central planners tinkering with the system.
The Commission's conclusion proves two things: first, that people can be brilliant in one field and less than brilliant in another; and, second, that fundamental changes to the established order cannot be brought about by people from the established order.
The Commission's 18 members were a who's who of the establishment. Among others, they included Kenneth Chenault, chairman and CEO, American Express; Philip Condit, former chairman and CEO, the Boeing Company; Arlene Ackerman, superintendent, San Francisco Unified School District; Barbara Bush, former First Lady; Roy Barnes, former Georgia governor; and Richard Riley, former U.S. Secretary of Education.
This illustrious group came up with four recommendations for improving the quality of teachers: 1) transform how teachers are paid; 2) revamp teacher education programs; 3) improve or overhaul licensing and certification requirements; and 4) give school leaders more authority and hold them responsible for the development of their staff. The group also endorsed a plethora of top-down government programs, incentives and subsidies.
The Education Commission did not recommend subjecting the public education system to competition through education vouchers and tax credits, removing the system from political meddling and micromanagement, and reducing the political clout of the 3.2 million-member National Education Association, which, like all unions, favors featherbedding, protects incompetent union members, and prefers seniority-based pay and promotion systems over merit-based ones. Of course, without these changes, the Commission's four recommendations have a slim chance of being adopted. But with the changes, there would be no need for a commission, because reforms would take place as a matter of course.
Gerstner should know this. When he was hired to turn around IBM, he didn't ask Barbara Bush, Richard Riley, Arlene Ackerman, Roy Barnes and other outsiders to make recommendations on how to pay and train IBM scientists and engineers. Nor did he conclude that to improve efficiency, productivity, innovation and global competitiveness, IBM should be run by government bureaucrats, micromanaged by politicians, and have its personnel policies dictated by a union.
Frankly, the Commission's work was not scholarly. For example, a table in the report shows that 23 countries rank ahead of the United States in math literacy, and 14 rank ahead in reading literacy. But the report said nothing about how teachers are paid, trained and certified in those countries. Also, the report failed to point out that eight of the countries have school choice, including direct governmental assistance to private schools. Nor did it point out that all of the countries are smaller than the U.S., and 11 of them are racially homogenous or nearly so.
Gerstner never would have tolerated such incomplete work from IBM executives. But the fact that he tolerated it from the Teaching Commission shows the politicized nature of public education and why it can't be fundamentally reformed.
An author and columnist, Mr. Cantoni can be reached at email@example.com.


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Bridal style is always a hot topic as it is the fashion world's best friend dressed in white! Ok maybe not always white, especially these days, but you get my point! Seriously though, the most brilliant way now a days to deliver anything but a cookie cutter wedding is by starting with expressing yourself through what you wear before anything else. Your complete wedding day look can set the tone for your fete and is the physical manifest of the buzzwords that you use to craft your day. Ethereal, sophisticated, vintage, boho, whimsical, along with every other wedding description, can be represented in not only your gown, but in your accessories & styling.
Categories: Bridal Portraits, Featured, Hair, Inspiration, Styled Shoots, Wedding Day Look, Wedding Dresses, Wedding Fashion, Wedding Hair, Why It Works Wednesday
Tags: anna maier ulla-maija wedding dress, ball gown, bohemian, boho, boho chic, bridal headpiece, embroidered bodice, floral, headpiece, lace headpiece, romantic, soft, sophisticated, wedding day look, wedding fashion, wedding trends, whimisical, whimsical, white wedding
I am feeling a bit Marie Antoinette this morning, so cake we shall have! I am not even going to be bashful about it, I have a ridiculous sweet tooth so when it comes time for cake tastings, desserts, or the not so occasional cupcake craving.....well... just steer clear of me, that's all I am going to say! But in all seriousness, sweets are such a wonderful part of the wedding process and a truly epic place for design! For today's WIWW feature, I have chosen a Great Gatsby {might as well embrace the current trend!} inspired cake that comes to us from SBW friend, Style Unveiled. Now if you don't already know of her {I find this pretty much impossible!} most certainly carve out some time in the very near future to get to know her and her delicious site which is filled with tremendous amounts of pretty, inspiration, and everything in between. Everything she selects to feature is beautifully styled & perfectly on trend. You're welcome ahead of time!
Categories: Cake, Featured, Inspiration, Styled Shoots, Wedding Cakes, Why It Works Wednesday
Tags: 1920's, 1920's inspired, art deco, chevron, classic, elegant, flapper outfit, flappers, retro, rhinestone wedding cake, roaring 1920's, sophisticated, vintage, wedding cake, white wedding, white wedding cake
From the looks of things on Pinterest of late, there is a serious sugar craving going on for ceremony backdrops that defy traditional setups in place of the more unique, creative & awe inspiring. Personally I adore the idea of not just unique ceremony locations but an intriguing collection of elements to craft your very own signature look. I really feel that creativity in weddings is reaching a gorgeous design crescendo of late with seemingly nothing off limits. Vintage doors, window frames, books, lanterns, bicycles, ribbon, garlands, pinwheels, you name it, are just a few elements that have taken to decorating the 'I do' spot these days. I wish this was something that was making such waves only a few short years ago, as I certainly would have loved to have gone this route myself!
Categories: Decor, Design & Décor, Featured, Flowers, Inspiration, Outdoor Weddings, Why It Works Wednesday
Tags: bohemian, ceremony, ceremony decor, creative ceremony decor, fuchsia, modern, natural, orange, organic, outdoor ceremony, outdoor wedding, pink, purple, rustic, unusual, whimsical, whimsy
Categories: Design & Décor, Featured, Inspiration, Metallic, Mint, Styled Shoots, Table, Why It Works Wednesday
Tags: classic, decor elements, design, event styling, gold, mint, mint gold wedding, modern, place setting, table design, table setting, texture, wedding chargers, wedding decor, wedding design


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Dilip Kumar
Dilip Kumar is an Indian film actor known as Tragedy King, and described as "the ultimate method actor" by Satyajit Ray. He debuted as an actor in the film Jwar Bhata in 1944 produced by Bombay Talkies. His career has spanned over six decades and with over 60 films. He starred in films of a variety of genres such as the romantic Andaz, the swashbuckling Aan, the dramatic Devdas, the comical Azaad, the historical Mughal-e-Azam and the social Ganga Jamuna. In 1976, Dilip Kumar took a five-year break from film performances and returned with a character role in the film Kranti and continued his career playing leading roles in films such as Shakti, Karma and Saudagar. His last film was Qila. Dilip Kumar has acted with actress Vyjayanthimala the most, where they both had acted seven films together including the former's home production Gunga Jamuna resulting in great on-screen chemistry and an alleged affair between them. The Government of India honoured him with the Padma Bhushan award in 1991 and the Dadasaheb Phalke Award in 1994 for his contributions towards Indian cinema and nominated him to Rajya Sabha, the upper house of Indian parliament for a term. He is the first recipient of Filmfare Best Actor Award and still holds the record for the most number of Filmfare awards won for that category with eight wins. Critics acclaimed him among one of the greatest actors in the history of Hindi cinema. In a blog post, Amitabh Bachchan has described Dilip Kumar as the greatest actor ever. Wikipedia [ - ]
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"The grosser a dish sounds the better. That's the philosophy some chefs are adopting when coming up with names for dishes on their menu. From Kitchen Sink Chopped Salad to Debris Sandwich, chefs are giving food a bad name. Luckily, they've been able to convince customers the dishes taste better than they sound, and for many, the marketing gimmick has paid off.
San Pedro chef/co-owner Michael Goodman created the Fat Boy Man Salad at home a few years ago, when he wanted to eat more nutritiously. His vegetarian creation consisted of baby field greens, carrots, grape tomatoes, beets and green beans. It tasted terrific, but Goodman found it wasn't enough to satisfy his hunger. Soon, he began super-sizing it.
"It was obnoxiously large," says Goodman. "People started calling it the Fat Boy Man Salad."
source: "Name game: Chefs who give their food silly names may not be so foolish." by Nancy Ngo (Pioneer Press, Aug.3.2006)


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Colin Firth signed on for his role in Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy long before winning his Oscar for The King's Speech. Even so, it's a little jolting to find him in a relatively small role as one of a half-dozen British intelligence agents and possible moles being investigated by George Smiley (Gary Oldman, the film's center of gravity). But Firth gives a typically shining and sly performance as the dapper Bill Haydon, ever-so-much more sophisticated than his drab colleagues. And if casting is destiny, this teasing film makes you wonder: is there some big payoff coming for his character or is he the ultimate red herring?
In our video chat, Firth talks about what the film is really about beneath its 70's story – betrayal, paranoia, and as he puts it "disppointed romanticism" (now that is a poetic spy). And he actually seems relieved when he says: Yes, it's a relief to have all that Oscar pressure out of the way.
(And here's my video interview with Gary Oldman.)
Video edited by TAYLOR LEVY.
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I just recently awoke on a Sunday early morning, and also as I sat up in mattress I experienced a light ache in my lesser back. Candidate has to be a USATF participant for 2010, and to become taken into consideration for the experts' category professional athlete have to be actually a minimum required from 40 years of age. Once the body system has addressed or even mended one thing, lymph liquid swarms in as well as eliminates all the remaining dump. So our experts've talked about nutrition and strength, yet the whopper (as well as cumulative result) is actually the effect of perceived body image. Touchdown in front of the body certainly not only develops excess tissue stress and anxiety but robs you from vital energy.
Occasionally I receive poked at for being the female which isn't really receiving drunk off my butt at an event or pub, yet I like to awaken along with power. I remember feeling like I was always in a posture of offering my electricity out to individuals that I did certainly not would like to. Due to the time I reached my children, my power was actually gone. buyitdirect-my.com used an outfit residence since it was the only thing I can acquire on and also my body system looked indistinguishable to the healthy lady I had actually felt like just days just before.
She ran at that rate continually, as well as during the next several weeks, that pace progressively increased as she became extra toned and also efficient. Likewise, individuals do not realize that the interpretation from disordered eating is actually a mis-match in between cost as well as consumption and there is actually a great pipes between disordered eating and also eating problems among professional athletes in regards to the physiologic influence. There is actually thrown away power as well as potentially unnecessary stress on the physical body if there are actually parts from your physical body removaling coming from edge to side.
I won my age in one competition last year-I was the a single in the age group, however this was an achievement nevertheless! Fact 90: UK Television star Jade Reward sought to manage the 2006 London Marathon without instruction as well as broke down. That ought to work for banking companies considering that the assets would certainly maximize cash money for the debtor, via lower energy prices, that is more than the cost from the extra loan repayments. However I believe you will see some variation of the African Clicking foreign language utilized. By strength instruction, I indicate concentrated durability physical exercises predominantly for the lesser body system.
Futures - SeaWheeze gets on a Sunday, so it is actually best to get your physical body all set to run on a Sunday which is actually why you'll be doing your long hauls on this particular day. I gave thanks to the people at the top who held on to me as I considered making an effort one more time to open my body greater. I am a beginnner, therefore not doing the spans you carry out - with any luck however - to ensure will definitely be actually the true exam.
To puts it simply, if you way too much electricity early, you will certainly exhaust your glycogen outlets and run out for the 2nd half from the competition. I pursue about 800 calories too, which seems fine as I do not burn off that many while I run (I suppose) because of my body adapting to the mileage for many years. Properly, the sharp and also not-too-sweet taste of both Gu Roctane ranges make all of them an appreciated break coming from the very sweetened flavor from Gu Energy Gel, Clif Chance, PowerBar Gel, and so forth.
Baseding on my visitors, instances of unreasonable therapy from guys include many aspects from the lawful body, the military allotment in some cases, the lower life span of males, the higher self-destruction costs for men, circumcision, and the expanding number of government firms that are actually predominantly for females. In Phase 2 our company will review the Guideline from Worry and also Bounce back which will highlight in more detail the importance from consistency in building exercise
The hardest thing is when you seem like you are actually carrying out every thing you must be actually performing and your body seems to work against you ... I presume that's when a bunch of folks count on cures" or even reducing things out in an effort to figure out the the main thing that will certainly repair it. I do the same point with my skin, however that's thus difficult when that's something tough to regulate like hormonal agents or even when you need to take medications for certain factors.
Apply bunches of the lotion on your left open components to make sure that your body carries out not get basted. I still have no idea where this would certainly fit into my operating toolbox however I really like using that around when my legs and also shoes are lifeless coming from a ton of managing. Each of these males seemed to use the strategy of managing brilliant but staying in contact with the forerunners as much as feasible. To fix this scenario, imagine the federal government mandating that properties possess an annual electricity ranking, like the Energy Celebrity plan.
Properly you must have the ability to pack each lower leg extra especially each calve along with 2-4 times your total amount body system weight, relying on the rate you intend to keep up. Being composed of the same textile combination (79% Merino, 21% nylon), the SmartWool Jog Sleeveless Best ($ 80) blends a kind fit along with breathable panels and also smooth development which made this pleasant for hrs on end. Far just before the feared climb around kilometer 17, my body and mind were presently revolting in anticipation.
Some days it seems society and also respect are crumbling all around our company. Hate is actually solid and also buffoons the tune of calmness in the world, good will to men. My dad did his first Ironman (he did Florida too!) at age 66 consequently a lot from just what you discussed reminded me from his knowledges. I was actually suitabled for a pair from New Harmony 880s in university, as well as they wound up certainly not being actually for me. I didn't like anything about the fit, experience or flight from the shoe. When I would certainly require water or even energy cocktails, on the water front I had a competition approach as well as I knew where and also.
When you utilize the pyramidalis and also your reduced, inmost stomach muscles to level your pelvis, while resting your glutes as well as lower back muscle mass, you will certainly transform the design of your body system and strengthen all kinds of action, not simply operating. I merely have an overall idea for just how major a meal is actually for me and exactly how that partners with my daily electricity result and so I simply form of adhere to that. The many things I aim to steer clear of throughout the day is enjoying random music that fools my state of mind around till this does not accommodate with whatever task is at hand.
Reality ONE HUNDRED: Girls are most likely to gain or maintain their weight throughout endurance instruction in comparison to men. I cannot remember the final opportunity I bought French salute prior to yet Waterway Celebrity used thick bread. Our experts certainly never gave a lot thought to cocktails besides the mandatory Southern Convenience Egg Nog. My design has usually been to operate 3 times a full week as well as participate in basketball 2 days a week. I have the cost human resources as well as have actually found along with running the quicker I am actually going the less precise that is actually along with the range.
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Bed and Breakfast
Nannis Paradise Swiss Lodge, Schagen, Lowveld, Mpumalanga.
On the slopes of Mount Carmel. Homely bungalows and suites, one Lover Suite, each with own entrance, shower bedroom, lounge with TV, fan, fridge, tea and coffee facilities, verandah and braai facilities. Delicious breakfasts served. Dinner on request. Close to the Panorama Route and the Kruger National Park. Lush 4-Ha estate with pool and lapa, part of 65-Ha wilderness area. Swiss German, German and French spoken. Schagen is on the N4 20-km west of Nelspruit, which is on the on the N4 east of Middelburg, which is at the intersection of the N4 with the N11. Turn north off the N2 in Schagen and travel for 2-km on the Rosehaugh Road. ANNanni
Contct: Franz and Lotti Nanni
Box 111 Schagen 1207
+27 (13) 733 4269 telephone and fax
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Contct: Franz and Lotti Nanni
Box 111 Schagen 1207
+27 (13) 733 4269 telephone and fax
e-mail: email@example.com
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text: Total miles this year: 0 / 1000 (0 km) Activities Monthly view Followers Following About karenskene has not yet added any runs. People who follow karenskene. Pips People karenskene follows. Pips About karenskene. Location: Capel St Mary, IpswichI run for Gt Bentley Running Club, completed my first VLM in 2013 in 4:02:10 and ran 1000 (just) in the year.


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The CUNY Service Corps is a strong University pipeline for diverse talent into New York City's public sector, having provided thousands of CUNY students with paid work experiences in community-based organizations and government agencies since the program's launch in 2013. The Service Corps mobilizes students to work on projects that improve the civic, economic, and environmental sustainability of New York City.
The hallmarks of the Service Corps include recruiting a participant cohort that reflects the demographics of New York City and of CUNY overall in terms of socio-economic and ethnic/racial diversity, thorough preparation of participants before they go into the field, ongoing professional development for participants and their onsite supervisors, and data-driven program management and assessment.
1. For students to make a meaningful difference through service while gaining valuable real-world work experience,
earning a wage, and where appropriate, receiving college credit;
2. For communities and partners to realize concrete benefits as a result of CUNY Service Corps projects.
The program is organized around themes that represent both opportunity and need. These are:
- A Healthier City
- A More Resilient and Greener City
- A Better Educated City
- An Economically Stronger City
In 2013, in response to neighborhood needs that came to light after Hurricane Sandy, CUNY launched a Service Corps focused on providing students with paid work experience in civic-oriented jobs in community-based organizations and government agencies.
In a recent publication about the Service Corps entitled "Race, Ethnicity, and Service-Learning," researchers stated that the Service Corps offers support to students from diverse academic, socioeconomic, and racial/ethnic backgrounds, therefore increasing access and equity in college and the workforce. The student body in the Service Corps is representative of the overall CUNY student body, i.e., diverse racially and ethnically, over 40% first-generation college students, almost 40% non-native English speakers, and half from low-income households.
In Corps member surveys, 72% of students indicated that they identify with the community they serve; 59% report they have faced the issues their organization seeks to address; and 43% report they have received services from an organization like the one where they served.
The program's innovative model deploys students to work in a range of positions in the field while providing robust training and support. Students in the program benefit from one-on-one advisement from their campus-based managers, pre-service training, ongoing monthly trainings, special program events, including the culminating service conference, as well as peer-to-peer support from other Corps members. Program outcomes indicate that participating students achieve gains in workplace skills, abilities, and knowledge; personal development; civic engagement and social issues awareness; social/professional networks; and academic motivation.
- Service placements:
- Last twenty-four weeks over the Fall and Spring semesters.
- Members work about 11-12 hours per week over the program year.
- Corps members are paid $15/hour, and in some instances, earn college credit.
Since its launch in August of 2013, CUNY Service Corps members have completed over 1,000,000 hours of service to NYC at over 150 nonprofits and government agencies in all 5 boroughs.
Program outcomes indicate that participating students achieve gains in workplace skills, abilities, and knowledge; personal development; civic engagement and social issues awareness; social/professional networks; and academic motivation.
Students have reported:
93% reported gains in workplace skills, abilities, knowledge
84% reported an increase in career knowledge/readiness
86% of students reported an increase in civic engagement & social issue awareness
92% of students reported gains in personal development
83% of students reported gains in their social/professional networks
Community partners have reported:
84% rated Corps members very good/exceptional in quality of work
76% indicated that students' work hours increased the organization's capacity
88% rated Corps members very good/exceptional in attitude towards learning
97% think of CUNY as an institution that promotes public service and/or volunteerism
91% think CUNY students/alumni are desirable employees
Central Office Staff
Curtis Dann-Messier
University Director
M. Noel Blanchet
Associate Director
Allison Griffin
Partnership Development & Engagement Specialist
Melissa Fernandez
Student Outreach & Support Specialist
Kafui Kouakou
Field Liaison
Campus-based Managers
Dr. Lisa O'Connor
Borough of Manhattan Community College
Valeria Diaz
City College
Cheryl Barzey
College of Staten Island
Stephanie Colon
John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Amy Olsen
Lehman College
Dr. Robert Waterman
Medgar Evers College
So Lan Liang
New York City College of Technology
Cecilia Britez
Queens College


text: BeefJack: "Because apart from the difficulty spike, and these very minor problems, Nimbus simply feels good. Already priced relatively low, Nimbus would be perfectly at home on Xbox Live or Playstation Network with their native analogue inputs. Nimbus has controller support on PC, so if that's something you have I say give it a go. It feels great, plays great, and is always showing you something new."


text: In this special episode, Reservoir Dogs star Michael Madsen asks Danny and the Counts Kustoms crew to restore a 1964 Mustang as a special surprise for his son. Meanwhile Danny transforms a classic El Camino into a high tech video gaming street machine. And if all this wasn't enough, Danny investigates a 1936 Auburn that could be worth six figures. Plus a plain jane bicycle gets the ultimate Counts Kustom's makeover.


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When we found out that our coworkers at the BlackBerry® Support Community Forums had their very own Twitter account, the BlackBerry Developer's Blog team realized we had to get our own account to keep up! Social media fans can now follow @BlackBerryDev to stay up to date on all the latest news and developments with the BlackBerry Application Platform. Those attending the 2009 BlackBerry® Developer Conference should also note that @BlackBerryDev will be a great source of information during the show!
So send us a tweet and say hi. We'd love to hear from you!


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Prep Time: 3 Hours
Yields: 6 Servings
Osso buco or "long bone" is the shank portion of the leg in beef, veal and lamb. This bone is surrounded by a large portion of meat that is perfect for slow braising. Though inexpensive, when cooked properly, osso buco becomes a very elegant meal.
12 (1-inch thick) veal osso buco
½ cup olive oil
1 cup seasoned flour
2 cups diced onions
1 cup diced celery
½ cup diced bell peppers
¼ cup minced garlic
1 tbsp chopped thyme
1 tbsp chopped basil
1 tbsp chopped oregano
½ cup red wine
1 (28-ounce) can petite diced tomatoes, drained
2 cups beef stock
1 cup sliced mushrooms
1 cup pearl onions
salt and cracked black pepper to taste
granulated garlic to taste
Preheat oven to 375°F. In a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, heat oil over medium-high heat. Dust shanks in seasoned flour, shaking off excess. Place meat in pan and brown on both sides. Remove and set aside. Add onions, celery, bell peppers, minced garlic, thyme, basil and oregano. Sauté 3–5 minutes or until vegetables are wilted. Deglaze with red wine then add tomatoes and beef stock. Bring to a rolling boil and reduce to simmer. Stir in mushrooms and pearl onions. Season with salt, pepper and granulated garlic. Return shanks to sauce, cover and bake 2½ hours or until tender. Serve hot over pasta or polenta.