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3.14 Long-Distance Call
|Long-Distance Call
|Episode #
|Season 3, Episode 14
|First aired
|May 1, 2008
|Directed by
|Robert Singer
|Written by
|Jeremy Carver
|On IMDB
|A series of people receive phone calls from dead loved ones, who urge them to suicide. Sam & Dean take time out from deal-breaking to investigate.
|Milan, Ohio
|[[{{{prevep}}}|« Previous Episode]] | [[{{{nextep}}}|Next Episode »]]
A nervous man is drinking in his living room and the phone rings. It has a caller ID of "SHA33." He answers and tells the person on the other end she can't keep calling him. She begs him to "come to her". He hangs up and she calls again, and he tells her to leave him alone before hanging up. She calls again, so he rips the phone out of the wall, but the phone rings again anyway. Finally, in despair, he pulls out a gun, puts it under his chin and shoots.
Dean is on the phone on a bench outside a university. Sam comes over and says the professor doesn't know crap. Dean tells him Bobby told him about a possible case in Ohio, phones going haywire, computers flipping on and off. Sam says they're already on a case, his. Dean says they're chasing their tails and he would like to do his job. He hates Sam's idea of summoning Ruby, admitting to him she told him that she can't save him. Sam is upset over Dean keeping this secret, and Dean calls him out on "who's been keeping secrets from who."
Sam and Dean drive to Milan, Ohio, and talk to the wife of the man who shot himself. She tells them the phone was ripped from the wall, and Sam takes a look at the phone, getting the number. She admits she heard her husband talking to a "Linda," but she listened in and there was no one on another end.
In this week's motel room of the week, with the décor of starbursts on the room divider and wallpaper and gold circles on the bedspread and curtains, they figure out that Linda died in a car accident with the man who shot himself. Sam found out the phone number was over a hundred years old, so they visit the phone company. They are taken to the basement by Clark, the manager, and meet Stewie Meyers, a seedy tech downloading porn on the Internet. Dean tells the tech that the platinum membership at bustyasianbeauties.com is worth every penny. Sam asks him to trace the "SHA33" number, and the tech does so after Dean gets tough with him. He finds out that it's been used recently in ten different houses in the past two weeks.
Sam in a rental car pulls up to a house asking if they received any strange phone calls. The dad denies the calls, but the daughter acts suspicious. She goes outside to talk to Sam, and Sam turns on the sympathetic charm to get her to admit that she's been getting calls from her mother who's been dead for three years. Dean calls and tells Sam that he met a woman who's been getting calls from her husband who died in Korea. After he hangs up, Dean gets a call and is shocked to find it's John Winchester.
Dean tells Sam about the call, and asks what he should say if he calls back. Sam suggests "hello," and Dean gets mad and leaves. He comes back later to find Sam hasn't had any luck on research. Dean shows him a pamphlet about Thomas Edison. They go to the museum and endure an annoying tour guide using "quoting fingers" in order to see Edison's Spirit Phone, which he supposedly used to communicate with the dead. Sam gets nothing on the EMF and they ask why it would start working now. While Sam is sleeping, Dean gets another phone call from his dad. He asks Dean why he made the demon deal and has a way for him to get out of it. He tells him the demon that holds his contract is there.
Lanie, the girl Sam spoke to earlier, is on the computer and starts getting IMs from her mother. She says she wants to see her. The screen goes black and the ghostly image of her mother appears in the monitor. Lanie turns the computer off, but "Come to me" starts repeating over and over again on the monitor.
Dean is on the computer, and Sam comes in telling Dean about Lanie. Dean shows Sam weather reports where electrical storms have been everywhere that they have been over the last two weeks and the demon is following them. Sam doesn't believe that, and questions an exorcism Dean has that can kill a demon. He tells Dean he and Bobby already checked it out, and there's no proof it works. Dean says he's waiting on the next call from dad to find out where to find the demon. Sam goes to leave, and Dean berates him for not wanting to help. Sam tells him they have no proof and he's going on blind faith, and begs him not to go anywhere until he gets back.
Sam talks to Lanie at her house. At the same time, her brother receives a phone call from their mother on his toy phone. Dean gets a call from John. Lanie tells Sam her mother wanted her to take all her dad's sleeping pills and told her to come to her. Sam is stunned and tells Lanie that's not her mother. Dean pulls up in front of a house and gets out his duffel bag. Sam tells Lanie not to use the phone or computer, but they discover Lanie's brother is missing. Dean goes into a house, pours holy water and paints a devil's trap. Lanie's brother walks into traffic and steps in front of a moving truck, and Sam yanks him away before he is hit.
Sam calls Dean and tells him it's a Crocotta. Dean mentions the flies at the phone company. Sam goes there and confronts the tech in the basement, threatening to kill him. The boss (Clark) comes from behind and knocks Sam out with a baseball bat. He then knocks out the tech.
Sam and the tech are tied up in the basement, and Clark has a dagger. He kills the tech and shows his spiky teeth, then sucks the essence out of him, devouring his soul. Sam figures out the crocatta was on the phone with him and not Dean. Clark uses his power to call another guy, mimicking his dead daughter who tells him the guy that killed her is at his house and is going to kill him. He then tells Sam how he found out all the information about them through old phone calls and emails while Sam works on freeing himself. he also says that people are fool, thinking that they can delete information. The other man comes into his house and shoots at Dean with a shotgun, and then they fight. Clark monologues some more, and then Sam breaks free just before Clark goes to stab him. They fight. Dean and the other man crash through French doors and the man lands on top of the devil's trap. Dean tries to read the exorcism, but the man walks through the trap revealing he's not a demon. Sam and Clark fight over the knife, and Sam slams the back of Clark's head through a metal spike on the wall, killing him. Dean and the man finish the fight, and Dean tells him he didn't kill his daughter. The man asks him why he is there, and Dean says he doesn't know.
Sam and Dean meet up at the motel, both looking beat up. Sam tells Dean he was sorry it wasn't Dad, and Dean tells him he was right. He admits he wanted to believe it so bad, and he's scared. He says it was the last act of a desperate man, he can't expect anyone to show up with miracles, and that the only person that can get him out of this is him. Sam replies, "And me," and Dean teases him for a lame answer. Sam asks if he wants a poem, and Dean gets them both a beer and turns on the TV. Moment over.
Dean: No we were uh, we were actually talking about our feelings. And then our favorite boy bands. Yeah, we were talking a case.
Sam: Eww.
Crocotta (as Dean): Then what is it?
Sam: It's a crocotta!
Dean: Yes.
Sam: What'd he sound like?
Trivia & References
Chris Hansen is an NBC reporter on Dateline who tracks down sexual predators who find their victims on the Internet.
Sides, Scripts & Transcripts
- Episode Promo: 3.14 Long Distance Call
- www.bustyasianbeauties.com redirects to the Warner Brothers Site.
- Buddy TV bloggers report on his trip to the set while this episode was filming. Includes a video of Jared and Jensen running lines, and footage of a scene being filmed.


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The latest Android smartphones and other devices come with premium hardware and software features, which is why some users don't even need computers any more.
For latest tips, tricks and hacks check out our dedicated section for Android Tricks.
You can do almost everything on your Android device that you can do on a regular Windows PC. While smartphones are becoming similar to computers in usability, Android spyware and viruses are becoming more prevalent.
At this point you may possess more private information on your phone than you do on your PC. We end up with a lot of our lives on our phones.
Privacy is one of the biggest issues on smartphones and if you're wondering whether someone is tracking your phone or spying on your phone, then continue reading.
There are many spying apps, and people can easily install them on the phones of other users in order to monitor them.
Having an understanding of what these spying services can and can't do is necessary for detecting spyware and knowing how to get rid of it. In this post, I'll share with you several tips that can indicate that your phone is being tracked or spied on, and what can be done about it.
Also Read: Easy, Safe and Guaranteed rooting of Android Devices with 24×7 Support
1. Look for Unusual Or Strange Behavior from Your Phone
One of the most common ways to detect spyware is to check for odd or strange behavior from your phone. If there is spyware or tracking software installed on your phone, then chances are your phone will act a little differently. Your phone might light up on its own, shut down automatically or make strange sounds. Look for any sort of unusual behavior.
Can these behaviors have other causes as well? Definitely, and those causes may have absolutely nothing to do with spyware. Check out any apps you might have installed recently. You might find apps on your phone that you don't remember installing. Unfortunately, when you click on malicious links elsewhere, such as a spam email, you could be inviting these onto your phone inadvertently.
Rooted phones are more susceptible to these attacks and unusual behavior. Watch what apps, browsers, websites, and services you use and change your passwords frequently. Some nefarious apps will piggy-back onto ones that may seem safe (for example, Godless malware), and back in the days of Jelly Bean exploits were found that allowed remote installation of apps via script injection. These exploits have since been patched, but hackers are always looking for new ways in. It's always a race to see who can find exploits and either take advantage or secure the breach.
2. Battery Drain
Another useful way to find out whether someone is spying on your phone is an increase in battery usage. After using a phone for a couple of weeks, most people become familiar with battery patterns and know their average battery life. If your phone is suddenly experiencing sub-par battery life for no tangible reason, it could be spyware. Spyware and tracking apps can drain your phone's battery, especially if they're running constantly.
It could also be an older battery, a new app you installed that's running perpetually in the background, or a malfunctioning battery. If your phone is heating up for no discernible reason when it is idle, the same rules apply. It could be spyware, but most modern malware has improved in this area, so consider other causes as well.
Related: 5 Best Android Phones with Fast Charging to Keep Your Battery Full
3. Noise During Phone Calls
Look for unusual noise or sounds during phone calls. If you hear beeps or any other sounds during phone calls, then this can mean your calls are being recorded. Call recording apps can make such noises.
Also, if the call quality has suddenly worsened, this can also mean that your phone calls are being recorded. Static or feedback can be signs. However, it might also mean that you simply have a bad connection or that your phone isn't handling calls well. The world isn't always a sinister place; but its parts, including carriers and cell phones, have no shortage of problems.
4. Random Reboots And Shut Downs
Spyware and tracking apps can cause random reboots and shut downs on Android devices. If you believe that your phone's software is stable and updated, then random reboots or shut downs can mean your phone has spyware software installed. An unstable third-party app might also be causing this.
In order to be certain, uninstall the app that you think is causing the random shut downs. If you still experience random reboots and shut downs, then your phone might be being tracked or spied on.
5. Look For Strange Text Messages
Some spyware apps can send strange text messages on phones with different codes or symbols. If you're receiving such texts on your Android smartphone, then there is a chance your phone is being spied on or tracked.
Stagefright is an all-too-recent example, although it used a video text for its exploit. It was a vulnerability identified and almost entirely addressed without seeing much use by hackers, luckily. If it still freaks out you out, use the app below to make sure you don't have it on your phone.
Download: Stagefright Detector
6. Higher Data Usage
This is also a really useful factor in determining whether your phone has spyware or tracking software installed. Spyware apps can use a lot of data to send out your phone's information and an increase in your phone's data usage can also mean that your phone is being spied on. It could also mean that you are spending more time online, so don't forget to consider all factors.
Make sure that you monitor your phone's data usage regularly to find out about any unusually high usage in data. For an app that will help you do this, try My Data Manager below.
Download: My Data Manager – Data Usage
7. Sounds When Your Phone Is Not In Use
When your phone is idle, it shouldn't make any sort of sound. If you're hearing sounds when you're not using your phone, it could mean that your phone is being spied on. If you want to eliminate both the possibility of spyware and also rogue apps causing the noises, perform a factory reset. If your phone is rooted, flash stock firmware. And don't disregard OS updates. This will solve a lot of these problems.
8. Delay In Shut Down
Try shutting down your phone several times during the day. Android devices usually shut down quickly, but if your phone is taking an unusually long time shutting down, then this can suggest that someone is monitoring and controlling your phone. Or it could also be an app chewing up resources, an actual hardware problem, or a faulty/corrupted install.
9. Be App-Smart
Be wary of pirated apps. Advertisers collect data about your through ad/app bundles. Read what permissions an app requires you grant, and decide if it's worth it. Watch for clones of legitimate apps and websites. A new technique, called smishing, creates an overlay on top of banking log-ins so that it can steal your information. Ensure you are on a secure site (the IP address starts with HTTPS instead of HTTP) when you enter sensitive information.
Third-party apps can be awesome, but they also haven't undergone the same amount of scrutiny that app stores like Google Play or Amazon put their apps through. And some bad apps do slip through on these sites as well before they are detected. If you experience issues with an app, get rid of it and reboot. If you still are having problems, start over with a factory reset.
10. PopUps
Ironically, a popup that warns about impending doom on your Android, particularly from a program you did not install, can infect your phone with malware itself. The more you click these dialogue windows, the more possibility you will be redirected to a shady place or click on something deceptive. Never run a .exe or flash file that you aren't sure about. A lot of advertising popups aren't malware per se, but sometimes there's a fine line between advertisements and malware, hence the terms — adware and malvertising.
If a popup proclaims that you've won something too good to be true; it probably is. Ads are annoying anyway, and there are a few apps you can download to block them, but they tend to be more effective if you are rooted. Popups can be a sign of an existing infection, that wants to gain more privileges or information from you. Also try the anti-spyware and antivirus apps below.
Download: AdBlock Browser for Android
Download: Anti Spy Mobile Free –
Download: AntiVirus FREE 2016 – Android
11. Your Phone Is Slow
The latest Android smartphones have premium hardware and software which is why they shouldn't lag even when you're multitasking. If your phone has suddenly become really slow, then there's a risk that your phone is being monitored and controlled. Don't leave your phone unattended around someone you don't trust, use encryption, or at the very least, a lock screen.
12. Look for Suspicious Files
If you have a file manager installed on your phone, look for any suspicious files or folders created on your phone. If you find some new files and folders you know for a fact you didn't install as part of an app or anything else, then there's a chance your phone has tracking or spyware software installed.
Occasionally, you might be lucky enough to find phone numbers or emails that will lend a clue as to who is doing the tracking, but be certain before you assume and accuse.
13. Who's Doing the Spying or Tracking?
Remember earlier when we said that the world isn't always a sinister place? It isn't, but there are some crappy people that do crappy things. What motivates them to take the time out of their day and expend the effort?
Most likely they:
- presume you have something they want,
- feel passionately about gaining your personal information (e.g. cheating spouse),
- need to satisfy an addiction (but hackers/phreakers still need the effort to result in something worthwhile),
- employ an app or method targeting a larger population segment,
- or perhaps, employ you.
There isn't a great way to identify the person doing the spying, because information can be redirected several times to several places. Your best bet is to prevent or get rid of the spyware.
No user wants viruses, tracking apps or spyware installed on his/her Android smartphone, but hackers are finding it increasingly worthwhile to put it there. The first step in fixing this issue is to check for spyware. Use the tips mentioned above to check whether there are spyware and tracking software installed on your phone, and if so, get rid of it.
Did you find spyware? How did you get rid of it? Tell us below.
How to Make Sure No One Hacks Your Android Phone
How to Keep Your Android Safe While Downloading Files
Anti-Malware Apps for Android – Make Sure You Are Running Smoothly
5 Anti-Spy Apps for Android Helping You Keep Your Privacy
How To Add Guest Mode On Android

subset: commoncrawl


text:
From: Plimley,
Sent: Wednesday, April 28, 2004 7:58 a.m.
To: Website Email
Subject: Press Release: Family Fun Day in the Museum Gardens
Release date: IMMEDIATELY
Date: April 28, 2004
Contact: Jennifer Reynolds, Media Specialist ~ (909) 798-5048
~ email@example.com
Nancy Kirkwood, MYC Educator ~ (909) 307-2669 ext. 271 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.
Event Date: Saturday May 1, 2004
Event Place: Redlands, CA
Family Fun Day in the Museum Gardens
Enjoy "Springtime in the Garden" at the San Bernardino
County Museum on Saturday, May 1 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Museum
Youth Club will sponsor activities especially designed for families
with children 3 to 12 years old. See walking sticks, leaf insects,
and other garden creatures up close and personal. Learn the ins-and-outs
of metamorphosis while making a mobile. Play some garden games.
Make a design with real leaves and other plant materials, and
see it become a "sun print" to take home. The metamorphosis
mobile and sun print activities are $1.00 each, with museum admission.
Games and bug experiences are free with museum admission.
Museum visitors will also enjoy the museum's permanent galleries
and see several special exhibits: "Beauty for the Hand and
Eye," featuring Guatemalan textile techniques; "UnEarthed!
fossils in the museum collections;" "Outdoor Adventures
in San Bernardino County," a display of photographs from
the museum archives; and "Native American Traditions: Hopi
Katsinas," an exhibit of Katsina (Kachina) dolls from the
museum collections sponsored in part by the San Manuel Band of
Mission Indians.
The San Bernardino County Museum is at the California Street exit
from Interstate 10 in Redlands. General admission is $6 (adult),
$5 (student or senior), and $4 (child 5-12). Children under 5
and members of the Museum Association are admitted free. Parking
is free, and the facility is handicapped-accessible. The museum's
Garden Café will be open from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for lunch,
snacks, and beverages. For more information, visit www.sbcountymuseum.org
or call (909) 307-2669 / TDD/TTY: (909) 792-1462.
San Bernardino County
Museum - (909) 307-2669 - 2024 Orange Tree Lane, Redlands,
California 92374 TDD/TYY: (909) 792-1462


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First of all, HAPPY NEW YEAR! Can you believe it's 2012 and the world didn't end? I feel pretty good about this year, and I know a lot of other people who do too, how bout you?? I rang it in right with a fun group at church accompanied by my husband, daughter and mother-in-law, singing and dancing and playing music until past 2 in the morning! Can you believe Lily stayed up all that time? She refused to sleep and wanted to party with us too! What a trooper- she didn't even get cranky! We obviously slept in late that day...what did you do on NYE?
As I was saying most of last month, I've been busy, but for NYE weekend I took a break and just relaxed for the most part, simply enjoying the company of my family and being cozy at home. Winter has finally stepped up to the plate with weather in the 20s, so I am back to baking. Last month I focused on cookies, so this month I'll focus on something healthier with fresh baked breads! Yummmmmm.
Christmas 2010 Paul got me a bread machine and it has become one of my most used kitchen appliances. Once you go fresh-baked, you'll never go back to store-bought breads, and when using a bread machine, even the least oven-inclined people can easily make just about type of bread imaginable.
The bread I make the most is a simple wholewheat and flax I came up with by just trying different grains and seeds and using honey in place of sugar. I gave loaves of it as gifts to my family members and everyone loved it! I hope you enjoy it too :)
Jessica's Wholewheat Bread Machine Loaf
Ingredients (for a 1.5 lb loaf):
1 1/4 cup room temp water
2 tbsp butter or margarine
1 tbsp sunflower oil
1 1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp honey
2 tbsp dried skim milk powder
3 cups wholewheat flour
1/4 cup ground flax flour
1 1/2 tsp active dry yeast
1/4 cup mixed grains and seeds: rolled oats, flax, sunflower, crushed walnuts
Bring all ingredients to room temperature, then place in bread machine according to your machine's instructions; mine has me place the wet ingredients in first, and the yeast in last in an indent I make in the flour on top. Select the "1.5 lb loaf" setting and "Wholewheat" setting (if applicable), as well as whatever style of crust you prefer (I usually use medium). Then press start and let the machine do it's magic. Add the oats and seeds at the appropriate time if your machine has you add them in later in the cycle, and remember to remove the kneading blade before it starts to bake so you don't get a broken loaf. If you prefer, take the dough out after the kneading cycle has finished and mold it into a desired shape, then stick it in the oven for about 30 minutes at 400 degrees.
After about 4 1/2 hours using the bread machine, you'll have fresh baked bread!
|I did not have an image of one of my whole wheat breads handy, so here is a pic of how it could look via running-foodie.com
Investing in a bread machine is a really great idea; it will cut down costs to your grocery list, you will enjoy getting creative with it, and your house will smell like warm bread! Paul loves to come home to bread baking in the machine or oven- it smells just as great either way! Lily loves it too, and when you make bread yourself, you will guarantee preservative-free and filler-free bread. This is the best bread to make toast and sandwiches for your children with. Children benefit from eating whole grains in many ways, including receiving protection from developing diabetes, having more energy, and receiving weight-control assistance. Here is a link to some studies done on this wonder food, and here is a post I did in the past with some more information on the benefits of eating whole grains.
Using honey in place of sugar for most recipes does not effect the texture of the bread either; you can also add a honey glaze to the top of the loaf while it's baking by mixing a little honey in a little water then brushing it onto the top of the loaf about halfway through the baking period. Sprinkle some seeds on the top of it too if you like!
|Image courtesy nutritionexpert.com
Using honey in place of sugar for most recipes does not effect the texture of the bread either; you can also add a honey glaze to the top of the loaf while it's baking by mixing a little honey in a little water then brushing it onto the top of the loaf about halfway through the baking period. Sprinkle some seeds on the top of it too if you like!
Do you already own a bread machine, and if so, how often do you use it? Do you just love it? What are some of your favorite recipes? Do share!
For the month of January, I'll post a different bread machine recipe each week on Friday (it just happens to be on a Wednesday this week). If you have a recipe to share, I might just decide to give it a try and post about it, so be sure to send me a link!


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Below you'll find the official press release info and a few more publicity shots kindly provided by Herbie.
11/21/16: Los Angeles, CA - Decades Network, the TV network from Weigel Broadcasting Co. and CBS Television Stations, has ordered six monthly episodes of "Then Again with Herbie J Pilato," a 30-minute talkfest dedicated to classic television and TV stars. Host and author Pilato, and his Television, Ink. shingle, along with Joel Eisenberg and Steve Hillard ("The Chronicles of Ara"), under their "Mirkwood Partners" banner, will be Executive Producing. Program will be directed by former actor Steve Akahoshi ("Tour of Duty"). Akahoshi's "Unstructured Plans" will produce the segments, along with Lorie Girsh Eisenberg and Len McLeod.
Gilbert Adler (producer of features "Valkyrie" and "Superman Returns," and television's "Tales from the Crypt") is also an executive producer on the project.
"I know of no one in this industry more connected to, or passionate about, the world of classic television than Herbie J Pilato," says Adler. "We want this program to become a historically important document in the world of both art and culture."
Geek Nation's Brian Keathley and Clare Kramer ("Glory" in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") round the creative team as Production Executives.
Pilato is a prolific author, who has written 11 pop-culture-themed books including "Glamour, Gidgets and the Girl Next Door," "Twitch Upon A Star," "The Bionic Book" and "Dashing, Daring and Debonair: TV's Top Male Icons from the 50s, 60s and 70s." Pilato, also the Founder of the 501(c)3 Classic TV Preservation Society, will host the monthly specials and interview pop-culture subjects from the world of classic TV in each episode. The format will closely mirror Pilato's successful weekly "Throwback Thursday" live events in the Los Angeles area.
Says executive producer Joel Eisenberg: "Steve and I are thrilled to be in business with Herbie J. The interests of Mirkwood Partners, as always, lie primarily with the artistic journey. While celebrating classic TV, we want to know what a television personality, who may no longer be working within a regular forum, does today as an artist. We want to understand the reality of the business, and we aim for this program to speak to everyone who aspires to make a living in the arts, as well as classic TV fans, everywhere."
Adds Herbie J: "Our team is comprised of amazing talents and visionaries. We all cherish the classic TV wheelhouse, and to partner with them on a project that will resonate with so many fans of classic TV and beyond, is nothing less than an honor. We are very pleased the show will be presented on the Decades Network and appreciate the opportunity to share the show with their audience."
Project will begin airing on Decades Network multiple times weekly, beginning in January, 2017. The broadcast network presently maintains 55% clearance in the U.S., and currently has 50 affiliates, including many major market stations owned by the CBS Television Stations. Decades is a network with a unique "time capsule" programming focus on news, history, pop culture and entertainment. Then Again is a show that promises to take viewers back and reconnect them with actors and series from decades past.
Oh, and while you're waiting, you might consider ordering some of his books here!
Oh, and while you're waiting, you might consider ordering some of his books here!


text:
This article is only available Viagra Soft order to paid subscribers.
A lot has been said about pay-per-click management since its introduction in the late 1990s by GoTo.com, now known as Yahoo! Search Marketing. Google jumped on the bandwagon as first-generation "paid search expert" Kevin Lee was fueling education and general enthusiasm for a brand new form of online marketing known as pay per click (PPC).
I remember the day it became clear to me that in order to get the most out of every online marketing dollar utilizing pay per click, we had to target the tail, or focus on search words that are used less often, but carry a far greater level of information. The term doxycycline online, zithromax online. "targeting the tail" took some time to get into our everyday online marketing conversation, but intuitively our discovery confirmed itself over time as we dug into a gold mine. This article unleashes the gold nugget of Search Marketing. So listen up.
Even though PPC management techniques have been around for years and the underlying principles for targeting the tail are quite simple (really, a million of microscopic target markets that need to be looked after with precision in every step of the PPC creation process), few pay-per-click campaigns reflect this basic principle. Just plain not taking the time needed might be to blame for this lack of sound customer-service focus in elaborating a campaign, but for now, let's take a look at some other arguments for targeting the tail.
The Challenge: Rising Click Cost
SEMPO recently published their latest report, "State of Search Engine Marketing 2005″, where it clearly points out that the biggest share (83%) of online marketing expenditures is spent on paid search advertising. That being said, as more and more companies are fighting hard for the top five paid positions, all that they see climbing nowadays is their average cost per click and their blood pressure.
The Tail And The Purchase Sales Cycle
If you build buy clomid PPC campaigns in a competitive environment like travel, you know by now that this query is searched more than 2.7 million times a month (source: Yahoo! Search inventory tool). The first question that should come to mind is: Where do all these people want to go? A little more analysis allows us to discover that a one-word search query is often initiated by an online shopper who is not quite ready to buy, but as they progress in the sales cycle, they will eventually refine their search query to something substantially more specific that reflects their true intent. What was at first an intuitive online behavior was confirmed later on: focusing on tail search term queries is like selling to customers when they are far more advanced in the sales cycle, and therefore much closer to a completed sale. Responding to the uniqueness of their intentions and desires is in fact good customer service.
Campaign Optimization
Once you understand the need to target the tail and you have established the keyword inventory you are planning to use for your campaign (including misspelled words, synonyms etc.), it is time to work the ad copy. It is in fact quite painful to go through every keyword contained within the tail, regardless of your product/service category. As a Google or Yahoo! Search Marketing rep will tell you, in order to make sure your customers understand that you are talking to them, you need to repeat the search terms in the title of your ad as well as in the description. Of course, they also need to land on a page that reflects the content of the initial search term they used, but that is another topic all by itself. Doing so implies that you write the ad copy on a keyword-by-keyword basis, which is especially the case for Yahoo! Search Marketing, as they allow you to refine your campaign at the keyword level. Sometimes it takes days or weeks 35mg force culminate cialis. to go through your keyword list, but when you are done, you will be flabbergasted by the results and will thank your lucky stars that you took the time to work your keyword list to that level of detail. At the end of the day, not only will you be more impressed with the results of your campaigns, but also your customers will think your site is relevant to their true intent and will respond positively to it.
Closer To Completed Sale: ROI
As I pointed out earlier, one of the secrets of a successful pay-per-click campaign lies in the tracking and the measure of the ROI (Return On Investment), especially when it comes to the search terms located in the tail and their corresponding cost per click. I have found that there is in fact an inverse relationship between the quality of a search term in its ability to convert into sales and its cost. In short, terms that cost less convert better. Then again, it takes acquire estrace a bit longer to build campaigns that contain hundreds, if not thousands, of search terms. By doing so, it should not come as a surprise that the average cost per click of a newly optimized campaign can go from over a dollar per click to $0.50 or even lower. If you can get more qualified traffic per dollar you invest, while every other variable remains stable, you will generate more sales at less cost. You will then be able to measure your cost of sales over time and will be pleased to see it dropping as you drill deeper in the tail.
I have heard too many business owners say that they care about their customers and are always striving to find ways to serve them better. If that is truly the case and you believe you are building a customer-service-driven organization, then you should take the time to understand all the search terms that your target audiences uses in search engines to build pay-per-click campaigns around their desires, needs and wants. Their search behavior should be your guide in developing your online marketing plan, which implies using all the search terms within your category. Targeting the tail is not difficult per se, but it needs time, dedication, and effort. Fortunately, there are tools out there to help you get the job done, and, by doing so, not only will you be delighted with the results, but so will your customers.


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Bike-gasm. That's how I feel when I look at the lineup from Kraus motorcycles, a company that inspires me to ride. The style, design, engineering and craftsmanship meld together to enhance the bond between man and machine. Kraus is creating the future of motorcycles with their ingenuity, exciting accessories and attention to detail.
Named after a South American cactus, the Achuma is Kraus's most popular model, marrying features from old, vintage Harley-Davidson Shovelheads and motocross bikes.
The founder of Kraus Motorcycles is 35-year-old Satya Kraus. He attributes his success to riding dirtbikes, wishing for his bikes to have the suspension and maneuverability of the moto-x bikes, but with the road-friendly qualities of a chopper.
I mean, it works, just look at this damn bike…
Kraus studied engineering books and began fabricating bikes—100% self taught. The first thing one will notice about the Achuma is that nothing is painted—not even the frame. The real-metal finish gives the bike a slight steampunk/imperfection look that actually looks incredibly clean.
Its raw metal bronze finish changes throughout its lifetime, taking on different shades depending on the weather and location of the bike's home. The air oxidizes, making the polish take on a different color over time. It's an ever-evolving motorcycle, creating its own unique experiences and memories for each owner. It is that feeling and performance that gives Kraus an edge over other bikes.
Here are the bike specs:
- Year/Make/Model: 2010 / Kraus Motor Co. / Achuma
- Fabrication: Kraus Motor Co.
- Assembly: Kraus Motor Co.
- Build time: 4.5 months
- Engine: Kraus modified S&S Shovelhead 93"H
- Cases: S&S
- Rods: S&S
- Pistons: S&S
- Cylinders: S&S
- Heads: S&S
- Cam: S&S
- Ignition: S&S
- Carb: S&S Super E
- Pipes: Kraus Motor Co. Stainless 2 into 1 with a reverse cone.
- Air Cleaner: Kraus Motor Co.
- Transmission: Baker Powerbox 6 speed
- Primary: BDL open belt 2"
- Clutch: BDL
- Frame: Kraus Motor Co. dual shock swingarm
- Rake: 28˚
- Stretch: 0
- Forks: Kraus Motor Co. springer with Foes Racing air shock
- Fork length (+ or -): 0
- Additional rake in trees: 0
- Front wheel: 17 x 3.5
- Rear wheel: 17 x 5.5
- Front Tire (size and make): Dunlop D607 130/80R17
- Rear Tire (size and make): Dunlop D616 180/55ZR17
- Front Brake: ISR 4 piston radial caliper, 320mm floating rotor
- Rear Brake: ISR 6 piston sproket brake
- Fuel Tank: Aluminum Kraus Motor Co.
- Oil Tank: Aluminum Kraus Motor Co.
- Fenders: Aluminum rear tail section
- Handlebars: Kraus Motor Co. Moto tapered bars
- Risers:
- Sissy bar:
- Headlight: Kraus Motor Co. Aluminum Dual PIA
- Taillight: Kraus Motor Co. Ultra Bright LED
- Hand Controls: ISR Radial Racing
- Grips: Renthal Rubber
- Foot Controls: Kraus Motor Co. stainless mid controls
- Pegs: Pro Taper
- Electrical: Kraus Motor Co.
- Painter: none
- Color: Raw Aluminum sheet metal and bronze metal coating on frame
- Graphics:
- Polishing: Kraus Motor Co.
- Molding:
- Electrical:
- Seat: Obie Beaver – Beaver Leather Craft


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If you want to make your curly hair straight, but you do not have a straightening iron available, you can use a curling iron to straighten your hair.
Rub leave-in conditioner through your hair evenly to help brush out the tangles.
Brush your hair until it is tangle free.
Take a small portion of your hair and brush it to ensure that it will be completely straight.
Clip the curling iron on your hair closest to the top toward the root as possible.
Slide the curling iron slowly down this portion of the air, making sure you do it evenly.
Continue around your head until you have straightened all of your hair.
Make sure you do the underside of your hair as well. If you just straighten the top of your hair, it will not look natural.
Use mirrors to straighten the back of your hair. You need both hands to straighten your hair with a curling iron, so you will have to use wall mirrors and medicine cabinet mirrors and adjust them so you can see the back of your hair. If you don't have access to mirrors, you may need to have a friend help you with the back of your hair.
You can also curl a portion of your hair under, going all the way to the top of your hair and let the iron sit for a few minutes, then curl it back the opposite direction to straighten your hair.


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Thursday, September 22, 2011
0 New Tag Cloud Category: Tag Cloud Updates Now Have Their Own Tag :-D
So what's the reason for doing this? Well, there are actually two reasons: First, by grouping these posts into their own separate category, this will help people find and keep up with existing and future related updates on this topic, and second, the creation this new category gives me the perfect excuse to write a post about it in order to point out, particularly to those who might have been previously aware, that there are, in fact, subdivided tag clouds on the right sidebar of this blog to help you more easily find what you're looking for. :)
Just so you know, the previous comment wasn't intended to be a smart-ass remark. :) I realize that not everybody pays attention to such details or even visits the blog directly; as many of you surely already know, there are lots of people who read blog posts within their RSS readers, which will only display blog posts, and not the fancy-schmancy gadgets (like tag clouds) that appear on the blog itself. :)
So, what kind of useful information will this new tag provide? Posts tagged with the new "Tag Cloud Updates" tag will include information like how to effectively use the subdivided tag cloud groupings on this blog as well as updates for significant tag additions and other tag cloud changes. I'm obviously not going to post for every tag addition and removal, only the particularly germane ones that would interest a significant cross-section of this blog's readership, like updates regarding the kid-friendly or vegan recipe tags I'd added to this blog earlier this year.
Speaking of which, as the fall holidays will soon be rolling around, now would certainly be a good time to mention that there is a "holidays" recipe tag as well. :) And, on a related note, there are also event/occasion-specific tags like picnics/bbq foods for those of you planning outdoor events this fall, and an hors d'œuvres tag for those of you looking for dishes you can make for either your own or other people's get-togethers and parties. After all, you never know when you'll need to whip up some last-minute dishes for entertaining company, whether it's for an elaborate affair or for friends coming over to your house to watch the ballgame on TV. :)
Posted by Corey Irwin at 7:45 PM
Labels: blog enhancements, tag cloud updates, updates
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Centerstone, one of the nation's largest not-for-profit behavioral health care providers, received a renewal of a $2 million grant from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. The grant will fund the fourth year of the not-for-profit's successful Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), which aids very low-income veterans and their families in transitioning to permanent housing.
Centerstone provides eligible veteran families with supportive services—including case management, transportation and child care, as well as employment, budgeting and legal assistance—and helps in obtaining VA and other benefits. It also offers time-limited payments to third parties, from landlords to utility companies, in order to help veterans and their families stay in or acquire permanent housing on a sustainable basis.
Reaching 40 Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky counties, this service and the grants that fund it are part of the VA's and Centerstone's collaborative efforts to end homelessness among veterans.
Last year, SSVF exceeded goals by 40 percent, serving 561 veterans and their families. The SSVF team at Centerstone launched in 2011 with a smaller footprint and operating budget but has grown due to its high performance, providing assistance to more than 1,300 veterans and their families.
"Under the VA's 'Housing First' policy, Centerstone's SSVF team has taken a holistic, full-spectrum approach to rapid re-housing and homelessness prevention," said SSVF outreach specialist Daniel Ward. "In tandem with their clients, our case managers work to create stability plans that provide a pathway toward housing permanency, and assist our veterans to successfully return to the society they served."
SSVF is a vital component of Centerstone's work toward a more just, equitable and opportunity-rich environment for Tennessee and Kentucky veterans and their families.
For more information, including coverage area, visit SSVFonline.org or call (615) 460-4385 in Tennessee or (270) 282-0121 in Kentucky.


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Summer really puts me in the picnic mood.
In Korea when people go on picnics they always bring lunch boxes with sushi rolls or rice balls or such, so I love to make those especially in the summer. Got a little fancy this time around and made my rice balls into panda bears! What do you think?
They require a bit of cutting, but that is the only complicated thing about them. For the filling I used Bumble Bee®'s flavored tunas so you don't even need to add anything to the tuna, just use it as is; it makes things so easy peasy, nutritious and very convenient. Here I used their jalapeno tuna because hubby loves all things jalapeno, but my personal favorite is the spicy thai chili, that one is serrriously delish guys, it brings rice balls to a whole new level. Recipe and pictorial is below, tell me if you try them out!
Panda Rice Balls
- sushi seaweed sheets
- sticky rice, cooked (about 2/3 cup cooked rice for each panda)
- Bumble Bee® flavored tuna (eg spicy thai chili)


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Skills >> Browse Articles >> Tools and Policies
Termination and Severance Pay Policy
March 09, 2008
The Termination and Severance Pay policy defines the various types of separations from the employ of the Company and the effect of separation on benefits and continuous service. It covers information on applicability, types of separation, severance pay, accrued vacation time/pay, insurance, and length of service, among other related topics.
Subject: Termination and Severance Pay Policy
Organization: Anonymous
Example of: Standard Policy
Policy Statement
This policy defines the various types of separations from the employ of the Company and the effect of separation on benefits and continuous service.
This policy will apply to all full-time regular permanent employees. With the exception of the severance pay section, this policy will also apply to part-time temporary employees.
Types of Separations
A. Voluntary Termination occurs when the separation is initiated by the employee. The following are examples of voluntary terminations:
• Written or oral resignation.
• Absence from work for 3 consecutive working days without notifying the employee's supervisor.
• Failure to report for work on recall from furlough on the date designated.
• Failure to return from an approved leave of absence at the expiration of the leave.
• Retirement.
B. Involuntary Termination occurs when the separation is not initiated by the employee. The following are examples of involuntary terminations:
1) Layoff for lack of work—when the Company reduces its work force for economic or other reasons.
2) Release without fault—when an employee, through no fault of his/her own, is unsuited for or incapable of performing work assigned and no appropriate change of assignment is available.
3) Discharge—when an employee who is suited for and capable of performing the work, is terminated for such reasons as inefficiency, absenteeism, and violation of rules of conduct set forth in the Employee Manual, including, but not limited to, habitual carelessness or recklessness, disorderly conduct, insubordination, theft, leaving work before quitting time without permission, falsification of records, sleeping on the job, and waste.
C. Death of the employee.
D. Disability—when, on the basis of medical evidence, an employee is totally and permanently disabled from performing his usual work assignment and thus is eligible for disability benefits.
4. Severance Pay
The Company will make severance payments described below to eligible employees whose employment by the Company or any of its divisions or subsidiaries is involuntarily terminated and who is not re-employed by the Company or any of its divisions or its subsidiaries or successors within 3 months of termination. No severance pay will be granted for separations which are the result of voluntary termination, discharge, or disability.
A. Full-time Hourly and Weekly Employees
In the event of layoff for lack of work, release without fault, or death of a full-time employee, the following severance pay schedule will be applicable:
1) Less than 1 year of continuous service—no severance pay.
2) At least 1 year but less than 5 years of continuous service—2 weeks' severance pay.
3) At least 5 years but less than 10 years of continuous service—3 weeks' severance pay.
4) 10 years or more of continuous service—4 weeks' severance pay.
B. Full-time Salaried (Exempt) Employees
Severance pay will be determined by the Company president in conjunction with the corporate personnel director. In no event, however, will the severance pay be less than that specified in Section 4A for full-time hourly and weekly employees.
C. Part-time and Temporary Employees
No severance pay will be granted to part-time or temporary employees.
5. Accrued Vacation Pay
The vacation policy sets forth the circumstances under which accrued vacation pay is granted.
6. Group Insurance
A. Life, accident, and short- and long-term disability insurance is canceled as of the last day worked. B. Dental insurance is canceled the first of the month following the last day worked or any subsequent date the Company lists as the employee's termination date.
C. Medical insurance may be continued by eligible employees under either the federal law known as COBRA or applicable state law. Employees are to be provided information regarding these rights by the personnel department.
7. Restoration of Length of Service
A. Laid-off Employee
A laid-off employee with more than 90 days but less than 7 years of full-time continuous service at the time of layoff and who is rehired by the Company or one of its subsidiaries within 1 year from the date of layoff will have his original service date restored. An employee who at the time of layoff had seven years or more of full-time continuous service and who is rehired within 2 years from the date of layoff will have his original service date restored.
B. Employee Released Without Fault
An employee released without fault with more than 90 days of full-time continuous service at the time of the release and who is rehired by the Company or one of its subsidiaries within 1 year from the date of release will have his original service date restored.
C. Discharged Employee and Voluntarily Terminated Employee
An employee who was discharged or voluntarily terminated his employment, and who is rehired, will not have any prior service restored. His date of rehire will become his service date. Computation of service, for pension purposes and the effect of breaks in service on pension rights, however, will be determined in accordance with the provisions of the Plan.


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In keeping with Muslim tradition, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, who died in the early hours of Friday, was buried already on the same day. After funeral prayers at the Imam Turki bin Abdullah mosque, the King was laid to rest in an unmarked grave in the El-Ud public cemetery in Riyadh.
The King of Bahrain, the Emirs of Kuwait and Qatar, the Presidents of Turkey and Sudan and the Prime Ministers of Egypt and Pakistan attended the funeral, while other foreign dignitaries will arrive in Riyadh on Saturday to pay their condolences to the new King, Salman. Among those expected are the Kings of Sweden and Spain, Prince Charles and Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain, the Crown Princes of Denmark and Norway and US Vice President Joe Biden.
There were two interesting developments to the Saudi succession, one particularly significant, on Friday. Firstly, King Salman appointed his half-brother Muqrin Crown Prince. Muqrin, the youngest surviving son of Saudi Arabia's founder, King Abdul Aziz (Ibn Saud), was appointed Deputy Crown Prince by King Abdullah in March last year. The choice was somewhat surprising as there is an older half-brother, Ahmed, and Muqrin is not the son of a Saudi mother, and some had wondered if King Salman upon his succession would appoint Ahmed Crown Prince. This did not happen, and King Salman also appointed the Interior Minister, Prince Mohammed, the son of the late Crown Prince Nayef, Deputy Crown Prince, signifying that after the deaths of Salman, who is 79, and Muqrin, who is 69, the Saudi succession will at last move from the approximately 45 sons of Ibn Saud to the third generation of the House of Saud.
Saturday, 24 January 2015
Last rites for King Abdullah - and appointment of new heirs
Posted by Trond Norén Isaksen at 01:29
Labels: funerals, royalty, Saudi Arabia, succession
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The normal human foot features an arch that helps provide stability and support to the body while also acting as a sort of shock absorber for walking, running and jumping. When those arches are too low, it is referred to as "flat feet" and may cause multiple problems including back pain. Learning how to deal with flat feet can help alleviate back pain and other symptoms associated with the condition.
Some forms of flat feet are simply a result of your genetic makeup and the way your bones formed while growing. In extreme cases, flat feet may be a result of a bone fracture or dislocation, or from two bones in the foot fusing together. It is normal for children to have flat feet, as the arches in feet form throughout childhood.
Other symptoms associated with flat feet other than back pain include foot pain, especially around where your arch should be; difficulty standing on your toes or moving your heel; an inability to participate in sports; and swelling along the inside of the ankle.
Relation to Back Pain
If you experience back pain in relation to your flat feet, it is likely because the feet are meant to provide stability to the entire upper body. When that stability is diminished because of the lack of an arch in each foot, the muscles in the back have to work harder to support themselves.
Flat feet are usually not considered a serious enough condition to warrant major surgery, unless they are caused by a bone breakage or a tear in one of the tendons in the foot. Your doctor will likely have you undergo certain physical therapy exercises to help relieve the pain in your foot and allow you to participate in physical activity. Shoe inserts or other orthotic devices may help provide increased support to your foot and relieve some of your common symptoms such as back pain.
Stretches to Relieve Back Pain
If you have flat feet and experience frequent back pain, stretches may help to alleviate some of that pain by targeting the muscles in your legs and back. By stretching and strengthening these muscles, you will give them the extra support and flexibility needed to reduce the pain and discomfort you feel. Simply arching your back while sitting or standing and holding for 10 to 15 seconds then relaxing is an effective stretching technique. While sitting in a chair, you can also twist your back in either direction and hold for 10 to 15 seconds to provide temporary pain relief through stretching.


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Navajo Nation Zoo and Botanical Park
2011-12 Events
ZooFest 2012 had over 5,650 visitors on May 5th.
We celebrated the Zoo's 34th Anniversary with over 800 visitors on July 2nd, 2011.
The third annual ZooBOO! Event was hosted on October 29, 2011 with over 5,000 visitors.
Zoo Improvements
read more...
The Navajo Zoo is Open to the Public :
The Navajo Nation Zoo is continually striving to provide education to its visitors. We are, and will be creating numerous display signs, brochures, and other means of education. Our focus is providing accurate information on our animals, plants, biology, and the traditional importance of animals and plants to the Navajo People. We have a number of brochures available on the local fauna of the Navajo Nation
One display installed in 2010 was a banner showing the wingspans of Navajo Nation's birds-of-prey. This banner hangs directly outside the Discovery Center, and just before the eagles and hawks enclosures.


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Sacrament of Baptism:
Baptisms are scheduled on the second full weekend of each month. Parent(s) must be registered parishioners and are required to attend a Preparation Session preferably before birth of child. Please call the parish office for more information.
You Have Asked to Have Your Child Baptized:
An Invitation to a Life of Faith
A Note from Our Pastor
Dear Parents,
Congratulations on the birth or expectation of your child! Be assured that you and your child will share in our prayers — may Almighty God richly bless you with joy and good health as you celebrate his gift of new life.
We are delighted that you have approached our parish to begin the preparations for your child's baptism. We eagerly look forward to working with you to prepare for this moment of grace and joy for your child and your entire family.
You may be surprised to learn that the preparations for your child's baptism begin with you. As you know, the church encourages all her members to lead a life of faith for their own spiritual well-being; such a life includes, among other things, regular times of prayer both at home and in church, reception of the sacraments, works of charity, and striving to make the teaching and example of Jesus Christ manifest in your own daily living.
While we encourage such a lifestyle for all our members, we place a special emphasis on the Christian lifestyle of those blessed with the awesome, God-given call of parenthood; in this special role, your practice of the faith either fosters or hinders your child's relationship with his or her Heavenly Father. The sacred trust involved in recognizing that your beloved child is also God's beloved child, and in raising him or her accordingly is so important and so significant, that we invite you take some time to consider how you might best prepare to fulfill this trust.
Below are a series of questions that we would ask you to reflect upon. Our experience with many families suggests that the answers to these questions are a good indicator of whether your son or daughter will be raised in surroundings which are wonderfully filled with or sadly devoid of God's presence. If you find the answers to these questions to be encouraging, then please accept our sincere thanks for the Christian lifestyle you have been leading; you are the people who work day by day to make our world a more Christlike place. If the answers to these questions suggest a need for some changes, then please take this pamphlet as a heartfelt invitation — your practice of the faith means so much to us and will matter tremendously to your child. If our families, our communities, and our world are to become better, more Christlike places, it will only be because people like yourselves have taken the concrete steps necessary to make a difference.
Please accept this invitation in the spirit in which it is intended. Like you, we want the very best for your child — the best in every dimension of his or her life. Our particular responsibility as the church is to encourage the best for your child in the ways of faith. We recognize the awesome responsibility that has been laid upon your shoulders as parents. We are always ready to help, support, and encourage you to meet those responsibilities in such a manner as to provide your child with the best possible opportunity to know, love, and serve the God of all creation.
May God bless you now and always,
Rev. Msgr. John N. Fell
Some questions to think about, pray over, and discuss . . .
- God asks us to love him with our whole mind, our whole heart, and all our strength. How good is your own relationship with the Lord? Do you pray often? Do you regularly offer God praise and thanksgiving by actively participating in the mass and receiving the sacraments? Do you seek God's guidance as you ponder over key decisions? Is your relationship with the Lord a real part of your life, or has it become just a slogan, just part of your cultural background without any real meaning in your daily living?
- God asks us to love all people as he loves them. How do you treat those closest to you — your family members, co-workers, and friends? Are you patient, kind, compassionate, and forgiving? After spending time with you, would others recognize you as an agent of God's love? Do you reach out to help those in need? Beyond the support you give to family and friends, what do you do to improve the lives of others?
- God asks us to support the community he established to continue the teaching and ministry of Jesus throughout the ages, that is, the church. Do you regularly worship/participate at mass with this community? Do you regularly offer the gifts of your time, your talent, and your treasure to support the ministries of the Christian community?
- Finally, if your son/daughter were to follow you around for a day, what would they learn about you? About your faith? About Jesus? How might you be a better teacher or example?
You see, unless you have your own faith life in order, you will never be able to pass that faith on to your child. Unless you live a life in imitation of Jesus Christ and in support of his church, you will not be able to pass this wonderful treasure on to your daughter or son.
We truly want the best for your child — the best possible examples of Jesus Christ in his or her life. We want to pass on to your child a faith that is a beacon throughout life, a faith that lights the way through a life filled with joy, peace, and contentment, a hope that inspires him or her to trust in God and his offer of eternal life, and a love that beautifies and enriches every rela-tionship, every moment of his or her life.
Your child's baptism can be the beginning of this wonderful life of grace — or it can be a missed opportunity. Please accept this invitation to be the instrument that God uses to love and nurture the child that he has entrusted to your care. Being a Christian parent involves much more than simply being a "nice person" or "doting parent" in society's terms — it means being a "nice person" or "doting parent" plus. That "plus," the plus of a lived, practiced faith makes all the difference.
And so . . .
If your faith makes you ready to accept the responsibility of raising your child so as to make the most of his or her baptism, here are some details . . .
1.) What is baptism?
According to the Catechism of the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Baptism is "the basis of the whole Christian life, the gateway to life in the Spirit, and the door which gives access to the other sacraments. Through Baptism we are freed from sin and reborn as [children] of God; we become members of Christ, are incorporated into the Church and made sharers in her mission . . ." (Par. 1213).
The effects of Baptism are as follows:
† We become a child and heir of God,
† We become a member of the universal Roman Catholic Church, the Diocese of
Metuchen, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help Parish,
† We are forgiven of Original Sin, and
† The life of grace (living in accord with God's special gifts of faith, hope, and love)
begins within us.
2.) When should baptism take place?
Parents are encouraged to ready their lives to provide the best possible context for their child's baptism, and then to seek that baptism as early as possible.
3.) When are baptisms scheduled at the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help (OLPH)?
The Sacrament of Baptism is administered at OLPH on the 2nd weekend of each month both on Saturday at 11 am and on Sunday at 1:30 pm; occasionally, certain parish observances or liturgical feasts necessitate a change in this schedule; the parish office or Pastor can inform you if this occurs on your particular date. All of these baptism ceremonies take place outside of mass. We also encourage families to consider having their children baptized during our Sunday masses; if you would like this, please speak to the Pastor during your Pre-Baptismal Meeting.
4.) Who is eligible to serve as a godparent?
From the information provided at the beginning of this booklet, it is clear that godparents must be stalwart examples of the fullness of Christian life. Godparents are representatives of the Church community meant to serve as role models of what it means to be a committed, practicing Catholic.
Each child must have one godparent. This godparent must be a practicing Catholic Christian who can obtain a certificate to that effect from his or her own parish. Forms for this purpose are included with this booklet; these certificates must be returned to the parish office as soon as possible and absolutely no later than one week before the baptism. In general, in order to be eligible to receive such a certificate and serve as a godparent, the church requires that the person meet all the following conditions:
† The person cannot be the actual parent of the child to be baptized (grandparents are
† The person must be at least 14 years old, and must have themselves received the
Sacraments of Baptism, Holy Eucharist, and Confirmation.
† The person must regularly participate in mass on Sundays and Holydays of Obligation,
† If married, the person's marriage must be recognized by the Catholic Church.
The child to be baptized may also have a second godparent. This second godparent may be another practicing Roman Catholic Christian who fulfills all the conditions listed above, or they may be a practicing Christian of another denomination (Christian witness) who can obtain a letter from their church stating that they are practicing members of that community
5.) Who will perform my child's baptism?
Generally, one of the parish clergy (priests and deacons) will be scheduled to administer the sacrament. If you have a particular preference, you may speak about that at your Pre-Baptismal Meeting.
We also invite members of the Catholic clergy who are relatives or close friends of the child's family to administer the Sacrament of Baptism here at OLPH. If this situation applies to you, please discuss this during your Pre-Baptismal Meeting.
6.) Is there a fee for my child's baptism?
The church does not charge fees for the administration of the sacraments. This said, we do gratefully accept offerings from families who wish to share the joy of this occasion with the wider Christian community. An envelope for this purpose is available; when families ask us to suggest an appropriate offering, we say $50, but any offering is gratefully accepted. Be assured that the clergy member who performs the baptism does not keep this offering — it goes into our general fund to support the charitable and educational efforts of our parish community.
7.) So, what's next?
When you have read and prayed over the material in this booklet and feel that you are ready to approach the church for your child's baptism, please contact the Parish Secretary at 908-766-0079, extension 0. She will arrange for one of the parish clergy to call you to schedule a Pre-Baptismal Meeting.
The Pre-Baptismal Meeting is a meeting of both parents (godparents are invited but not required to attend) with one of the members of our parish clergy. During this meeting, we will pray together, discuss the material contained at the beginning of this booklet, further discuss the meaning and rites of baptism, make particular arrangements, and answer any questions you may have. This meeting usually lasts approximately 30 minutes.
Children are certainly welcome to attend this meeting with their parents, but if a child's attendance would preclude both parents' full attention and participation in this meeting, it is probably better to arrange for babysitting.
Parents Prayer Before the Birth of Their Child
Gracious Father, your word, spoken in love, created the human family, and, in the fullness of time, your Son, conceived in love, restored us to your friendship. Hear our prayers as we await the birth of our child. Calm our fears when we are anxious. Watch over and support us, and bring our child into this world safely and in good health, so that as a member of your family, (he/she) may praise you and glorify you through your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, now and forever. Amen.
May the Lord Jesus, who loved children, bless us and keep us in his love, now and forever. Amen.
Parents Prayer After the Birth of Their Child
Lord, our God, out of the speech of little children you have fashioned a hymn of praise. Look with kindness on our child whom we commend to your tender care. Your Son, born of the Virgin Mary, gladly welcomed little children. He took them in his arms, blessed them, and held them up as an example for all. We pray that you, Father, will also send your blessing upon our child, so that (he/ she) may grow in Christian maturity and never cease to praise you for the wonders of your mercy. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, may our beloved (son/daughter) become Christ's witness in the world. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
May the Lord Jesus, who loved children, bless us and keep us in his love, now and forever. Amen.
Published: 01 August 2004
First Revision: 01 July 2009
Second Revision: 10 November 2012
Third Revision: 03 June 2013


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In my role as family technical consultant, the advent of the iPad has presented more than the usual challenges. I rarely deal with Apple products and find the iPad user interface more than a little obtuse. What I really wanted was an iPad user manual and was a little surprised that Apple didn't enclose one in the box or in electronic format on the iPad itself.
While Googling around looking up some iPad questions, I discovered that there is in fact an official Apple iPad User Guide which I have found to be extremely useful, but that you have to download it from Apple Support to your regular PC and view it there. This 154 page Adobe Acrobat PDF file cannot be viewed on the iPad itself and cannot be converted to an iPad iBooks-readable Epub file at the otherwise very useful Epub2Go website (see their front page warning about the iPad User Guide) because of some structural issues.
I recommend that you download the User Guide immediately and short of reading the whole thing, use the Adobe Acrobat search function to find the answers to your burning iPad questions that confuse the family technical consultant. Then you can become the expert!
There are a variety of weather apps available for the iPad, but by far and away the best that I have seen is Weatherbug Elite for iPad. It has all the expected weather features, but what really blew us away is the mapping. First, we are using a Wi-Fi iPad and yet Weatherbug Elite is able to pinpoint our street location almost exactly apparently because they use technology from Skyhook Wireless that uses a vast database of Wi-Fi access points to triangulate your position.
Second, the radar and other mapping is what I would term infinitely scalable. You can use the usual iPad multi-touch to zoom the display in to your street and out to your state or larger. The other night we were in the middle of a line of thunderstorms complete with hail and funnel clouds. With Weatherbug Elite on the iPad zoomed in on our location it was like watching the storms pass overhead. Very, very neat.
However, the best news is that Weatherbug Elite for the iPad is free. Give it a try and see if you do not think it is slick as well.
While I am thinking about the iPad, here's another tip. The iPad doesn't come with a protective carrying case – you have to buy one from Apple or choose from a whole slew of other vendors. However, we forgot to order one and needed an iPad case in a hurry so we scrounged around and discovered that the soft padded case that had come with an ASUS 10.1" Eee PC netbook was a near-perfect fit. It's not a surprise – the Eee is roughly 10.3" x 7" x 1" inches while the iPad is 9.6" x 7.5" x 0.5". Even if you don't have an unused 10.1" Eee PC case sitting around, try any other netbook case you might have – you may be as surprised as we were.
This isn't a coincidence in another way as well. Now that the iPad has arrived I have noticed that family usage of the Eee netbook has dived. PC World has a story titled Survey Says: iPad Is Killing Netbooks which makes the case that the netbook market is getting clobbered by both the iPad and low priced notebooks and that theory makes sense to me. If you want a convenient Internet PC with lots of slick features besides, get an iPad. If you want a cheap portable Windows workhouse, why settle for a netbook when when you can get a full-sized laptop for nearly the same price? Still, it's not all over for the netbooks yet as they can claim a price advantage over the iPad and a portability advantage over the full size laptops.


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As if I didn't have enough to do, I sometimes day dream about starting to learn calligraphy. I mean, I sort of have neat handwriting. When I try to, at least. And how great would it be to embellish homemade gifts with custom-lettered calligraphy, like, all the time? And if you're planning a wedding or another huge bash, don't even get me started. You could save tons of dough if you knew how to do calligraphy.
But I usually snap out of that day dream pretty quickly when I realize that calligraphy can be an expensive hobby. And it takes a lifetime of practice to become as good as gals like Melissa Esplin and Jessica Hische.
So for the rest of us, there's fonts. I've spent some time collecting them on my laptop for my projects and crafts (like the Pumpkin Place Cards I made last Halloween, featuring the Some Weatz font), and I thought "Why not share these?"
So here you go. Put calligraphy on everything, no ink neccessary.
1. Antrokas
2. BlackJack
3. Centeria Script
4. Respective
5. Contribute
6. Some Weatz
7. Dancing Script
8. Janda Stylish Script
9. Janda Elegant Handwriting


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The energy sector has performed reasonably well in 2016, but you don't have to ask an Albertan to know it's still a long way off from what it was. What will it take to re-energize the oil stocks? Here are three key signals Lanny Pendill at Edward Jones says you need to watch before you top up this part of your portfolio.
- Top 200 Best Canadian Stocks 2017
- A simple way to get exposure to dividend stocks
- America's Best Stocks 2017


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Vacation week has arrived at last, and as is our wont, it will include some DIY projects, namely finishing up the bathroom renovation! We decided to recruit a trained professional to install the tile shower surround, but Dan and I spent today preparing for it by removing the last of the hideous blue shower.
We were both dreading this, recalling how painful the floor tile removal was, but it was not bad, actually. It probably took about 3 hours to remove all the tile and clean up, and another hour and a half to remove all the nails, screws and old caulk and take the paneling off the fixture wall.
By the end of the week, the bathroom should be finished.


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Partipants at IMEX America next month can sign up to exercise their bodies as well as their minds with the first IMEXrun Las Vegas. The 5K run, organized by sports by tlc, begins at 6:30 a..m. Oct. 14.
IMEX America plans to grow even greener this year
IMEX America 2015, which runs Oct. 13-15 in Las Vegas, is focusing on sustainability issues, including waste reduction and education.
Need to build better teams? Let the games begin!
Team-building activities are under more pressure than ever to justify their value and expense, but they can still be fun and games.
Melbourne CVB raises $28k for children's charity
Australia's Starlight Children's Foundation is the beneficiary of the Melbourne Convention Bureau's exploits in Great Adventure Challenge, a full-day, team-based corporate race.
Missouri Harrah's cleans up, 23 new partners join global nonprofit
Hotels that contribute the most soap to Clean the World's global hygiene campaign usually are located in bigger cities — New York, Chicago, Las Vegas and Orlando, among them. Usually. But not always. In Missouri, Harrah's North Kansas City has collected more than 10,000 pounds of soap and 4,000 pounds of bottled amenities since signing […]
PCMA names its 'best in show'
PCMA Convene magazine has published its second annual issue listing of the best meetings industry venues, destinations and service providers.
IMEX America: More planners optimistic
IMEX America's latest Index of Optimism shows that many in the meetings and event industry are more upbeat about business today than they were a year ago. The survey, taken in March, polled 400 North Americans — 70 percent buyers, 30 percent suppliers — to see how they felt about the industry's prospects in the […]
Yes, it's still about 'green' meetings
We need action more than words at this point.
Decoding corporate social responsibility for meetings
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is one of the biggest corporate buzz words of the past few years. But it's one of those things that needs decoding to be effective. We hear about carbon footprints, LEED certification, and Energy Star standards, and while they are all important programs that keep corporations on their toes, what does […]
Hoteliers' harvest
The Marriott & Renaissance State Association Team of Florida recently held a bowling event with a food drive component that collected 386 pounds of food for America's Second Harvest of the Big Bend in Tallahassee, Fla. That donation was enough to feed 296 people in Tallahassee and surrounding counties.
Giving back to Orlando
Visit Orlando, its team members and partners contributed more than $515,000 to the local community through fundraising, marketing and in-kind support in 2010. Contributions included: clothing and holiday gift drives; educational initiatives and cash contributions raised during events; and in-kind marketing support for arts and cultural groups.
At your service: Hyatt Regency Dallas
Every Christmas for the past 10 years, the Hyatt Regency Dallas has given the homeless a special gift: the chance to wake up somewhere safe and warm. In recent years, the hotel has partnered with SoupMobile Inc.'s founder David Timothy, aka "The SoupMan," to provide a Christmas Eve banquet and housing for as many as 500 local homeless men and women.
Clean and green: One lifesaving and sustainable idea
As I travel to different trade shows and conferences speaking on "Green Initiatives," I am both proud and disappointed by much of what is happening. Yes, all of the exposure and emphasis that has been put on being more socially responsible and sustainable is sinking in. And, much progress is being made to better our […]
Corporate Social Responsibility and event planning
Incorporating Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) into your meetings and events is how you move beyond greening your function and start making your program affect the sustainability of the company, the community and planet. A CSR program allows your event program, and by association your client or company, to leave a legacy in the host community. […]
Hold a meeting, change the world
A couple of years ago, I had the pleasure of hearing Tim Sanders speak to a gathering of meeting professionals. "The only reason to have a meeting is to change the world," he said. If anything, the media scrutiny of early 2009 has proved how the choices we make as meeting professionals can negatively impact […]
Creative team-building ideas
Want a quick snapshot of the current state of corporate America (and society at large, for that matter)? Look no further than your local team-building organization. The wave of the future: team building in cyberspace? David Goldstein of Massachusetts-based TeamBonding, predicts that traditional team building is going to evolve in some surprising ways as clients […]
Hospital art as icebreaker
In the meetings world, corporate social responsibility (CSR) is fast becoming the new ROI. If you're looking to incorporate a CSR program into your next event, consider The Foundation for Hospital Art (FFHA), a non-profit whose mission is "to donate at least one painting to every hospital on earth."


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Resource Library
- Brochures
Landscape architects may want to use this Sample WELO Landscape Plan Cover Sheet as a template when preparing their WELO-compliant submittals.Read More
- Topic Briefs
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The Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance is a statewide water conservation law for new and renovated landscapes that meet a certain size threshold.
StopWaste has developed a WELO Tool Kit to help its member agencies implement the ordinance. The Tool Kit consists of model checklists, a water budget/water use calculator, and a permit counter brochure.
Public agencies can use these materials as is or modify them to meet local requirements.Read More
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- Download WELO Checklist 1 - Landscape Documentation Package Review (fillable pdf) (754.01 KB)
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- Download WELO Checklists - Customizable Word files (zip folder) (192.18 KB)
- Download DWR Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance - Full Text (pdf) (918.9 KB)
- View Downloads
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Since 1996, StopWaste has provided more than $8 million in funding to local organizations for innovative projects that decrease the amount of waste generated and sent to the county's landfills, and encourage the development, marketing and use of recycled products. The grants program is currently focused on funding waste prevention, reuse and repair projects.Read More
StopWaste is soliciting designs for a mural to be commissioned for the side of our building at 1537 Webster Street in Oakland. Four finalists will be selected from among the submissions received, and each finalist will receive $500 to develop their concept for the final round. After the winning concept is selected, the chosen artist will receive up to $13,000 to finalize their conceRead More
- News | 03/09/2018
In January, 28 public agency staff in Alameda County earned the Bay-Friendly Landscape Professional credential.Read More


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I could be wrong 'cause I don't know the actual pronounciation of the words, but other than spelling there isn't enough similarity between the two names to cause confusion. Naucean I've thought of as being "now see un", and this new one I read as "na she un". I guess there's similarity there too, but still don't think it'd warrant a name change.
Procedurally Generate That!
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Reviewed by Desere
No guy wants to come home after weeks out on the road to find a beautiful naked woman in his bed, no wait that's a lie, most men do!
But not Connor Preston, he's tired and totally beat, all he wants his a good nights rest after weeks of very uncomfortable sleep.
But instead of his nice clean, cool sheets he finds a very naked and very tempting Josie wrapped up in his sheets, oh and the sheets are no longer clean either!
Wish just makes the situation worse, but it being late Connor reluctantly agrees to take the couch for the evening and have a stand off with the stranger in his bed in the morning. But when morning comes Josie refuses to leave, instead telling him she calls dips on his house!
Connor of course goes from slightly annoyed to outright furious and so begins the tumble of wits, conflicts, sexual energy so electrifying the pages nearly went up in flames and the journey to finally learning to stand up and fight.
I absolutely loved, loved, loved this book! It was so unbelievably perfect in every way it felt as if I was reading a best seller before it has even come close to the shelves! The author's characters were stunning and extremely realistic they not only creep into my heart but deep into my soul.
I loved how the author showed both the characters as feisty yet, also cautious of actually taking steps towards achieving goals they do not even really realize they need. It showed them both as I recon a lot of us are in real life, we don't realize what is is that we need to do until it hits us with such a force it sends us down a spiraling hill that it seems impossible we will be able to get back up. For some it is too late but for others it is just the push they need.
The backdrop settings were so exquisite I was blown away by the author's vivid and intense descriptions, I could actually touch and hear each and every little detail being given. The dialogue was one filled with intense reality and left a very big impact on me as reader.
I'm taking away a message of life has a way of bringing someone into our lives to show us just what it is we are meant to be doing, yet if we do not stand up and take notice we will soon be trying to claw our way back up the the hill, and as we all know without help it will take much longer or not happen at all.
Someone comes knocking or in the case of Connor and Josie, ends up sleeping in your bed, pay attention before it's too late, life is trying to send you a message.
I HIGHLY recommend this read for each and every single romance fan. It was sweet, sensual, incredibly sexy and just plain amazing!!!
5/5 star review
" Getting her into his bed was easy, the trick is to make sure she stays there"


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According Dead Line, the brilliant actor Callum Keith Rennie (24, Shaterred, Battlestar Galactica, The Killing) joined the TV adaptation of the movie The Firm.
The cast of the series adaptation of the movie (itself derived from the eponymous book by John Grisham) The Firm began to rise slowly. Today dealin teaches us that the actor 24, Battlestar Galactica, The Killing, Californication … Callum Keith Rennie, would play alongside Juliette Lewis, the role of the hero's brother (Mitch, played by Lucas Joash): Ray McDeere. So the opposite role of Lew Ashby Californication!
Hopefully, with this new series NBC, Callum Keith Rennie is more likely that with his last series, Shaterred.
The Firm will air on Sundays at 10/9c in midseason on NBC. John Grisham, Lukas Reiter, John Morayniss, Michael Rosenberg and Noreen Halpern will serve as executive producers.


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The year is almost over so it's time for another annual television review. How time flies! It's been a mixed year, however, there were still some brilliant programmes during 2015 and these are the ones that stood out for me, which I couldn't wait to rewatch and will no doubt tune in to again in the future.
Wolf Hall (BBC)
Wolf Hall was a truly superb achievement, highlighting the quality that the BBC produces effortlessly. As someone who had only recently seen the RSC stage productions and started reading the books after watching a BFI preview of this series, it met every expectation I had for it. The screenplay was a perfect adaptation of the books, the locations and costumes were gorgeous and the direction and choice of lighting was inspired. The scenes lit purely by candlelight truly captured the sense of England in another time. Then of course was the acting, with a strong ensemble bringing these famous characters to life, all led by Mark Rylance, one of my favourite actors. His Cromwell manages to capture all the internal thinking of the man. You can see that so much is going on in his head, even when no word is spoken and it's lovely more people have become aware of his brilliance through this drama. I certainly hope that the third book will also be adapted once it's released.
Broadchurch (ITV)
I'm aware that a lot of people were disappointed by the second series of Broadchurch, but I wasn't one of them and actually think the series was underrated and very worthy of a revisit for those who only watched it on transmission. Yes, series one was superb, partly due to the unexpected quality of the story and the way it captured the nation's interest. It was always going to be difficult to repeat. However, series two has a lot of brilliant elements that the first didn't (and couldn't) have. The bond and relationship between Hardy and Miller was stronger and gave David Tennant and Olivia Colman more scope to build on what had gone before. They are friends here and able to be a team in a way they couldn't be in those early episodes before the trust had been built. On top of that you had two stories at once. Perhaps the weakness of this series was too many little plots (the barrister's son as an example), but the mix of the court case with, for me, the more interesting plot of Sandbrook always kept me guessing. It also gave us one of the most interesting characters on television this year – Eve Myles's Claire Ripley. One minute you liked her, then you suspected her, then you worried for her. She was a whirlwind of emotions and personalities and was always wonderful to watch. I'm a little worried a third series may be unnecessary, but I'm intrigued to see what Chris Chibnall has in mind.
Doctor Strange & Mr Norrell (BBC)
Another quality BBC drama was this adaptation of Susannah Clarke's fantasy novel and I still think it received much less fuss than it deserved, being a brave and exciting choice of drama for the BBC to make. The cast were wonderful, with Bertie Carvel and Eddie Marsan doing fantastically as the title characters, with Marc Warren truly creepy as The Gentleman. Beautifully shot and with some impressive special effects (that sand horse scene in episode two was truly fantastic on first viewing for a television show). If you didn't watch it, I'd encourage you to give it a try. It really is magical.
Game of Thrones (HBO)
I imagine Game of Thrones will make this list every year unless it does something spectacularly wrong before it ends! Series five also marked the year in which those of us who'd read the books finally moved on to new material! Anything is possible now! Ayra Stark's development continues in fascinating ways and Maisie Williams only gets better each year, but let's face it the pinnacle of series five was Hardhome. It felt like a scene from The Lord of the Rings and I'd love to see it on a cinema screen. The vast, epic and powerful scope of those 20 minutes were incredible. I'm very excited to see what will be coming next.
Jessica Jones (Netflix)
I admit that I came to Jessica Jones as a David Tennant fan rather than a Marvel fan, but I'm very pleased indeed that I did, with Jessica Jones being one of the one most fascinating characters on television this year, wonderfully played by Krysten Ritter. It may be part of a comic universe, but this is not what you'd normally expect from a superhero series, with that aspect of the show seeming secondary to the dark, adult themes that it contains. Tennant's Killgrave is also a truly chilling villain, his ability to make anyone do anything, frightening in its possibilities. With strong writing and an excellent supporting cast, this was one of the strongest first series of a show I've seen in a long time. Read my full review here.
Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (Netflix)
I admit I tend to watch more dramas than comedies, but this new Netflix series was recommended by so many of my friends I had to try it. What a brilliant series it is and series two cannot come quickly enough! The premise may seem bonkers, but the writing is sharp and funny and the characters immediately likeable. Kimmy Schmidt is so full of naive, innocence and Ellie Kemper is wonderful in the role. Not many characters have made me laugh as much as Titus Andromedon (played by Tituss Burgess) did this year and it's always lovely to see Jane Krakowski on screen. You couldn't fail to be cheered up, no matter how naff you felt when you watched this series and that's a rare achievement.
Arrow / The Flash (Sky)
I may be cheating a little counting two shows as one, but due to the crossover nature of the worlds of Arrow and The Flash it seems justified (look at the great promos they can do for them both now)! I'll always love Arrow, as the characters have bedded in and let's face it, it has Felicity Smoak (and yes, Stephen Ammell…), but The Flash really did a brilliant job in its first year of settling in so quickly. After only a few episodes the characters felt developed and were people you were genuinely interested in watching. I've not enjoyed series two of The Flash so far as much as the first, but together these two shows do a brilliant job of combining the fantasy/superhero elements with interesting, well-rounded characters and stories.
The Blacklist (Sky Living)
In my view, series three of The Blacklist is its best yet. Initially the plots felt a bit silly and the FBI characters laughable in their ineptness, but it was the brilliance of James Spader's performance as Raymond "Red" Reddington that hooked me. He was enigmatic, charming, funny and with an edge that made you know you wouldn't want to be on the wrong side of him! Series three has seen him and Agent Keen work even more as a team, as she continues to be on the run from the very colleagues she used to work with. It has given the series an interesting new angle and given Megan Boone as Keen some much more interesting material to work with.
Doctor Foster (BBC)
Mike Bartlett is one of my favourite playwrights, currently on a role with his stage successes both here and on Broadway and with Doctor Foster he has brought his ability to write human emotions and behaviour to the small screen as well. Over the course of this series, the tension that developed as the truths of the characters unravelled was brilliant. Bertie Carvel was very good as the cheating husband who you couldn't completely despise (well not initially anyway!), Adam James was on fine form as the sleezy neighbour, but Suranne Jones is utterly superb as Doctor Foster. Her performance is magnetic, as we watched her move ever closer to confronting her husband and the final episode was certainly nail-biting. It'll be interesting to see where series two finds her.
Peter Kay's Car Share (BBC)
It was actually my parents who told me how good this series was. This recommendation was quite unusual, as I wouldn't have expected them to be watching this type of comedy and so curiosity meant I had to tune in. It's such a gem of a series and so brilliantly written by Peter Kay. How he comes up with some of these ideas I do not know, but it made me laugh more than most series have this year. The central chemistry between him and Sian Gibson, as his colleague and friend Kayleigh Kitson is perfect and has so much potential. I'm very much looking forward to a second series, which surely must be coming soon.
So those are my television highlights of 2015. There has certainly been a lot to see this year and I have a list of things to catch up on that I couldn't fit in. I hope 2016 proves to be just as entertaining (well it already has The X-Files so will be off to a spectacular start!). My top picks for 2016 will follow soon.