text:
As one console generation comes to an end and another one is about to begin, it’s time to take a good look at what the Xbox 360 did to and for the gaming community. After owning an Xbox, I was eager to see what Microsoft’s next generation console had to offer me, so I bought the Xbox 360 just days after it hit store shelves. I did my research beforehand and found out both what the console had to offer and what games were coming out for it. Satisfied, I saved up and went into this purchase knowing what I was getting myself into. Little did I know there was more to this new platform than what Microsoft had advertised. Microsoft’s Xbox 360 console had a wealth of new titles available for it and an online community that kept players coming back, but it also had its fair share of issues.
On November 22, 2005, Microsoft launched its second video game console and called it the Xbox 360. Microsoft launched a year before its chief competitor Sony, giving them an extended window of sales. Although this seemed like a good idea at the time, what it really did was take away that much needed testing time Microsoft could have used to find any potential flaws in the console.
The biggest flaw in the Xbox 360 was the dreaded Red Ring of Death. It’s the reason I went through multiple Xbox 360’s just like many of you did. What caused this failure? For starters, the CPU sat right under the disc drive adding extra heat to an already hot processor. Over time, that extra heat would warp the motherboard and unseat the CPU causing three flashing red lights to appear around the power button. If I had known this was going to happen, I would never have bought an Xbox 360. But, who could anticipate this sort of issue? Fortunately Microsoft went out of their way to replace every broken system at a cost of 1 billion dollars. Not that they had a choice in the matter. If they didn’t replace the damaged systems, then it’s class action lawsuit time. I’ve seen the Atari Jaguar and the Sega Dreamcast fail due to a lack of sales and third party games, but I’ve never seen a manufacturing flaw almost kill a console. Fortunately Microsoft managed to fix their mistake and eventually started manufacturing new redesigned consoles. Now all that Microsoft needed was to sell games to stay in business.
With the Halo franchise continuing on to the Xbox 360 with Halo 3, Halo 3: ODST, Halo: Reach, and Halo 4, the Xbox exclusive titles were headed in a good direction. New titles like the Gears of War franchise, Alan Wake, and Forza followed making the Xbox 360 a hit with gamers. The game that got my attention and made the Xbox my console of choice was Mass Effect. I didn’t just purchase exclusive games for the Xbox, but games that were released on multiple platforms as well, such as Bethesda’s Fallout 3 and Skyrim. I saw how buggy both titles were first hand on PlayStation 3, which made my decision all the easier to purchase them on the Xbox. That doesn’t mean that all games on the Xbox are perfect. All games have bugs; the Xbox was just easier to program for. That helped me make up my mind when purchasing games like Ghostbusters and Dead Space 2. I bought Dead Space for the PlayStation 3 and flip flopped on the sequel. The game wasn’t buggy, I just found another reason to buy it on the Xbox 360. I wanted to get it on the Xbox 360 so I could collect achievement points.
I think achievements are the greatest addition to gaming since the invention of the controller. Microsoft introduced an arbitrary incremental achievement system giving players a numbered score to rank themselves against their friends and others. It doesn’t seem like much when you first start, but when the Xbox chimes in on the player acquiring a set number of points that are connected to your account, then it all starts to click. It’s almost like a drug. I was instantly hooked and ran up my achievement points to 29,785. I was tempted to go into XBLA and buy cheap games for the achievement points but I just couldn’t see myself spending the money for a game that I was only going to play once. I thought I was doing really good with my achievement score until I saw people with 50,000, 75,000 and 100,000 achievement points. It’s easy to pick up 1000 achievement points off games like Peter Jackson’s King Kong, Terminator: Salvation, Avatar: The Legend of Aang – The Burning Earth, and many more. Then there are games like The Simpsons that give you an achievement for starting the game. I’m two achievements away from collecting them all in Mass Effect 3. There were plenty of games to purchase on XBLA if you were willing to spend the points to do so.
$500 for an Xbox 360, $60 per game, $50 a year for XBox Live, and on top of all that, Microsoft wanted $10 for 800 Microsoft Points (MSP). Microsoft introduced some lame arbitrary number system as a way of getting more money out of its customers, and it worked. I would buy points to purchase a game and for some reason, I always had points left over. I always felt like I was being scammed. Don’t get me wrong, XBLA is still a great online community gaming service. It’s free for Silver members while Gold members pay $50 a year to play multiplayer games with friends and strangers. I didn’t play multiplayer games that much but when I did, I was glad I had it. Listening to people say the most God awful things over XBLA made me wish I didn’t. XBLA is what made Microsoft the console giant it is now.
More people play online multiplayer through XBox Live with games like Halo, Gears of War, John Madden Football, Fifa, Forza, Call of Duty, and Battlefield than they do on PSN. That’s one of the reasons the Xbox 360 became so popular. You buy the console all your friends are playing on. If you don’t have any friends and you’re looking for some competition, then you buy the Xbox 360. That’s where the most and best console competition is. That’s the reason I purchased an Xbox 360… well, that and to play Halo.
I loved my Xbox 360, but all good things must come to an end. With the Xbox One set to release on November 22, 2013, I knew I had to eventually get rid of my Xbox 360. So I packed everything up and traded it in to Gamestop. I wasn’t using the system much and had started buying more and more games on the PlayStation 3. I was still holding onto the Xbox because of the Mass Effect trilogy even though I was looking to get rid of the system. Once I saw Mass Effect on the PlayStation Network, the Xbox 360 was done. I was considering buying the Xbox One but was on the fence about it. Especially considering all the DRM Microsoft forced on the consumer during their press conference. To their credit, they did renounce a lot of their DRM policies after getting trounced in the media. If I do decide to purchase Microsoft’s next console, it will be well after the launch of the system.
Was the Xbox 360 worth it? Yes. Despite the Xbox 360 suffering from the dreaded red ring of death, Microsoft made up for the hardware failure by replacing each and every console. The selection of games released on the Xbox was more then enough to keep me entertained and I still love the achievement system. Despite having to pay for a Gold membership on XBLA and that stupid Microsoft Points system (that has since been abolished), I enjoyed the level of competition the Xbox 360 brought to the gaming community. If I had to give the Xbox 360 a review score for everything its done for me, I would give it a solid 8. It was a great console and I loved every minute of it.
I love achievements, this should be a industry standard, looking at you Nintendo, imo. As for the XBox360, it’s okay, I just prefer PS3.

lowercased:
as one console generation comes to an end and another one is about to begin, it’s time to take a good look at what the xbox 360 did to and for the gaming community. after owning an xbox, i was eager to see what microsoft’s next generation console had to offer me, so i bought the xbox 360 just days after it hit store shelves. i did my research beforehand and found out both what the console had to offer and what games were coming out for it. satisfied, i saved up and went into this purchase knowing what i was getting myself into. little did i know there was more to this new platform than what microsoft had advertised. microsoft’s xbox 360 console had a wealth of new titles available for it and an online community that kept players coming back, but it also had its fair share of issues.
on november 22, 2005, microsoft launched its second video game console and called it the xbox 360. microsoft launched a year before its chief competitor sony, giving them an extended window of sales. although this seemed like a good idea at the time, what it really did was take away that much needed testing time microsoft could have used to find any potential flaws in the console.
the biggest flaw in the xbox 360 was the dreaded red ring of death. it’s the reason i went through multiple xbox 360’s just like many of you did. what caused this failure? for starters, the cpu sat right under the disc drive adding extra heat to an already hot processor. over time, that extra heat would warp the motherboard and unseat the cpu causing three flashing red lights to appear around the power button. if i had known this was going to happen, i would never have bought an xbox 360. but, who could anticipate this sort of issue? fortunately microsoft went out of their way to replace every broken system at a cost of 1 billion dollars. not that they had a choice in the matter. if they didn’t replace the damaged systems, then it’s class action lawsuit time. i’ve seen the atari jaguar and the sega dreamcast fail due to a lack of sales and third party games, but i’ve never seen a manufacturing flaw almost kill a console. fortunately microsoft managed to fix their mistake and eventually started manufacturing new redesigned consoles. now all that microsoft needed was to sell games to stay in business.
with the halo franchise continuing on to the xbox 360 with halo 3, halo 3: odst, halo: reach, and halo 4, the xbox exclusive titles were headed in a good direction. new titles like the gears of war franchise, alan wake, and forza followed making the xbox 360 a hit with gamers. the game that got my attention and made the xbox my console of choice was mass effect. i didn’t just purchase exclusive games for the xbox, but games that were released on multiple platforms as well, such as bethesda’s fallout 3 and skyrim. i saw how buggy both titles were first hand on playstation 3, which made my decision all the easier to purchase them on the xbox. that doesn’t mean that all games on the xbox are perfect. all games have bugs; the xbox was just easier to program for. that helped me make up my mind when purchasing games like ghostbusters and dead space 2. i bought dead space for the playstation 3 and flip flopped on the sequel. the game wasn’t buggy, i just found another reason to buy it on the xbox 360. i wanted to get it on the xbox 360 so i could collect achievement points.
i think achievements are the greatest addition to gaming since the invention of the controller. microsoft introduced an arbitrary incremental achievement system giving players a numbered score to rank themselves against their friends and others. it doesn’t seem like much when you first start, but when the xbox chimes in on the player acquiring a set number of points that are connected to your account, then it all starts to click. it’s almost like a drug. i was instantly hooked and ran up my achievement points to 29,785. i was tempted to go into xbla and buy cheap games for the achievement points but i just couldn’t see myself spending the money for a game that i was only going to play once. i thought i was doing really good with my achievement score until i saw people with 50,000, 75,000 and 100,000 achievement points. it’s easy to pick up 1000 achievement points off games like peter jackson’s king kong, terminator: salvation, avatar: the legend of aang – the burning earth, and many more. then there are games like the simpsons that give you an achievement for starting the game. i’m two achievements away from collecting them all in mass effect 3. there were plenty of games to purchase on xbla if you were willing to spend the points to do so.
$500 for an xbox 360, $60 per game, $50 a year for xbox live, and on top of all that, microsoft wanted $10 for 800 microsoft points (msp). microsoft introduced some lame arbitrary number system as a way of getting more money out of its customers, and it worked. i would buy points to purchase a game and for some reason, i always had points left over. i always felt like i was being scammed. don’t get me wrong, xbla is still a great online community gaming service. it’s free for silver members while gold members pay $50 a year to play multiplayer games with friends and strangers. i didn’t play multiplayer games that much but when i did, i was glad i had it. listening to people say the most god awful things over xbla made me wish i didn’t. xbla is what made microsoft the console giant it is now.
more people play online multiplayer through xbox live with games like halo, gears of war, john madden football, fifa, forza, call of duty, and battlefield than they do on psn. that’s one of the reasons the xbox 360 became so popular. you buy the console all your friends are playing on. if you don’t have any friends and you’re looking for some competition, then you buy the xbox 360. that’s where the most and best console competition is. that’s the reason i purchased an xbox 360… well, that and to play halo.
i loved my xbox 360, but all good things must come to an end. with the xbox one set to release on november 22, 2013, i knew i had to eventually get rid of my xbox 360. so i packed everything up and traded it in to gamestop. i wasn’t using the system much and had started buying more and more games on the playstation 3. i was still holding onto the xbox because of the mass effect trilogy even though i was looking to get rid of the system. once i saw mass effect on the playstation network, the xbox 360 was done. i was considering buying the xbox one but was on the fence about it. especially considering all the drm microsoft forced on the consumer during their press conference. to their credit, they did renounce a lot of their drm policies after getting trounced in the media. if i do decide to purchase microsoft’s next console, it will be well after the launch of the system.
was the xbox 360 worth it? yes. despite the xbox 360 suffering from the dreaded red ring of death, microsoft made up for the hardware failure by replacing each and every console. the selection of games released on the xbox was more then enough to keep me entertained and i still love the achievement system. despite having to pay for a gold membership on xbla and that stupid microsoft points system (that has since been abolished), i enjoyed the level of competition the xbox 360 brought to the gaming community. if i had to give the xbox 360 a review score for everything its done for me, i would give it a solid 8. it was a great console and i loved every minute of it.
i love achievements, this should be a industry standard, looking at you nintendo, imo. as for the xbox360, it’s okay, i just prefer ps3.


text:
Style and Self Esteem. I firmly believe these two go hand in hand. For some, focusing on style is frustrating, overwhelming and frankly, a bit unnecessary. Yet, finding and OWNING our signature style, can speak volumes for us!
How’m I Doin’ So Far?
Any of those objections sound familiar? Hmmm, well…you aren’t alone. Often times when women are questioned about our style, these are the things that come quickly to mind. I personally think it’s because it removes any responsibility to put effort into ones self, and put the blame SQUARELY on the “judgemental” person. When in fact, if you think about it, there’s judgement by the one being questioned, assuming that the women who DO care about their style must be materialistic, etc. Whooooaaaaa…….what just happened there?!
I’d be willing to bet, there is no parent, husband, child, family member, close friend or even perfect stranger, that wouldn’t feel incredibly happy to see you go from something “comfortable” or “good enough”, to WOW. And I promise it doesn’t take a fancy outfit to do that….just a few tweaks to what you are currently doing, focusing on details, fit & flatter, and of course, finish off with a little accessorizing! You CAN be all the things to others, and look good doing it too.
Not to attract attention; but ladies, we need to make sure that what we say on the outside of our bodies, reflects who we are on the INSIDE! The strong, savvy, organized, multi talented and put together humans that we are! And NOTHING sends that message to anyone in the first 3 seconds of meeting them more, than your personal style. How you present yourself. Your Method to Style.
Just like we have to teach our teenagers about daily personal hygiene (SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME WHY THIS IS SO HAAARRDDDD #clearlymycurrentsituation), we all have times when we need to re-teach ourselves how to fit our new bodies.
Friend, if you don’t come across as put together and approachable, then how will they come to know the amazing person you are “on the inside”!
Style & Self Esteem go hand in hand and this entire blog is designed to help you with the technical side of Style. Not just showing you clothes that I like, or you might like. If I share style tips that talk about what might work for you, how to create a cohesive wardrobe, and mix and match your pieces to look smart every single day….well, then that’s worth a read every once in a while don’t you think?!
Well, like Clinton Kelly said on his hit show TLC’s What Not To Wear, “Your passion doesn’t have to be about Fashion, your passion has to be YOU”.
Let me help you with the fashion side, and you allow for a little more creativity in how your step out into the world. Together we’ll find your Method to Style and move your look to the next level.
If you are new to Method39, and are ready to dive into some serious style tips, may I suggest this article on necklines, how to choose the right sunglasses / glasses frame for your face, and this one on jean shopping!

lowercased:
style and self esteem. i firmly believe these two go hand in hand. for some, focusing on style is frustrating, overwhelming and frankly, a bit unnecessary. yet, finding and owning our signature style, can speak volumes for us!
how’m i doin’ so far?
any of those objections sound familiar? hmmm, well…you aren’t alone. often times when women are questioned about our style, these are the things that come quickly to mind. i personally think it’s because it removes any responsibility to put effort into ones self, and put the blame squarely on the “judgemental” person. when in fact, if you think about it, there’s judgement by the one being questioned, assuming that the women who do care about their style must be materialistic, etc. whooooaaaaa…….what just happened there?!
i’d be willing to bet, there is no parent, husband, child, family member, close friend or even perfect stranger, that wouldn’t feel incredibly happy to see you go from something “comfortable” or “good enough”, to wow. and i promise it doesn’t take a fancy outfit to do that….just a few tweaks to what you are currently doing, focusing on details, fit & flatter, and of course, finish off with a little accessorizing! you can be all the things to others, and look good doing it too.
not to attract attention; but ladies, we need to make sure that what we say on the outside of our bodies, reflects who we are on the inside! the strong, savvy, organized, multi talented and put together humans that we are! and nothing sends that message to anyone in the first 3 seconds of meeting them more, than your personal style. how you present yourself. your method to style.
just like we have to teach our teenagers about daily personal hygiene (someone please tell me why this is so haaarrdddd #clearlymycurrentsituation), we all have times when we need to re-teach ourselves how to fit our new bodies.
friend, if you don’t come across as put together and approachable, then how will they come to know the amazing person you are “on the inside”!
style & self esteem go hand in hand and this entire blog is designed to help you with the technical side of style. not just showing you clothes that i like, or you might like. if i share style tips that talk about what might work for you, how to create a cohesive wardrobe, and mix and match your pieces to look smart every single day….well, then that’s worth a read every once in a while don’t you think?!
well, like clinton kelly said on his hit show tlc’s what not to wear, “your passion doesn’t have to be about fashion, your passion has to be you”.
let me help you with the fashion side, and you allow for a little more creativity in how your step out into the world. together we’ll find your method to style and move your look to the next level.
if you are new to method39, and are ready to dive into some serious style tips, may i suggest this article on necklines, how to choose the right sunglasses / glasses frame for your face, and this one on jean shopping!


text: Travel Everywhere clean and Creative WordPress Blog Theme. Create your personal unique blog and share your impressions, news, recipes, videos. Your blog will look equally nice on all devices. That will allow you to reach a greater audience reach.

lowercased: travel everywhere clean and creative wordpress blog theme. create your personal unique blog and share your impressions, news, recipes, videos. your blog will look equally nice on all devices. that will allow you to reach a greater audience reach.


text:
HOW MANY primroses have you carried home from the grocery lately? On the cusp of spring, we’re so starved for color we’re hard put to resist the English primroses (Primula vulgaris) displayed everywhere. But there’s a reason beyond easy availability for their designation as “common primroses.” Once those pretty little plants hit the garden the results are often disappointing.
It’s not a good sign when flowers look better massed in the flat than planted in the garden. Their various colors are so obvious that the effect of one bright bitsy plant after another is jarring. And if this type of primrose lives through the summer, it grows into a fat clump of sorry-looking leaves begging to be divided every time you look at it. There are better choices.
My mother loved the tiny ‘Wanda’ primroses with their subtle colors and crinkled, dark leaves. They look similar to the English primroses, but scaled down and with more sophisticated colors like garnet, peach and smoky yellow. ‘Wandas’ are among the earliest bloomers, and their foliage stays fresh most of the year. I can’t remember a single March when I haven’t filled at least one pot with their modest charms. A close relative to the ‘Wanda’ series, with similar bronze-colored leaves, is the only primrose to earn a spot on the Great Plant Picks roster. Primula ‘Guinevere’ has sweet pink flowers in March and April, and grows into rewarding large clumps.
Candelabra primroses, also known as drumsticks for their willowy stems topped with flower balls, have much greater presence in the garden than their ground-hugging cousins. To be forever enchanted by candelabras, plan a late-April visit to Bloedel Reserve on Bainbridge Island. Below the house in the woodland glen is a pool and stream thick with the nodding magenta heads of P. pulverulenta. Although these glorious, dark-eyed candelabras start blooming a bit later than most primroses, they continue to flower through May.
My favorites are a couple of very old types of primroses newly introduced by Log House Plants of Oregon. The curious double hose-in-hose primroses are some of the very oldest of all English garden plants, first mentioned in 1597 in Gerard’s Herbal. Their complete name is Primula tommasinii ‘You and Me,’ and you get a good idea of how ancient these double-layered confections are from the inspiration for their name. Courtiers in the 16th century wore two pairs of hose (long stockings), folding down the outer pair to reveal the inner. Kind of flash-dance dressing for the Elizabethan set, and a good visual for the blossom-nested-upon-blossom that characterizes these truly perennial, long-blooming wonders.
Another heritage strain brought back into commerce by Log House is the tri-colored, silver-laced P. polyanthus ‘Penumbra,’ which looks as if each petal has been painstakingly outlined in white with the greatest care and the tiniest possible brush. Its ethereal quality is captured by its name, which refers to the slim edge of cool light that shows around the moon during an eclipse. These little beauties are suited for woodland gardens, with fragrant flowers held high above the leaves throughout the spring. Despite its delicate look, ‘Penumbra’ is a tough plant that persists through winter cold and summer heat.
If you feel confused by the welter of primrose strains, cultivars and various types, just remember that all you need do is choose the ones that appeal most to you and do well in our climate. To help with the latter, Molbak’s Nursery has been running the largest primrose trial in North America for the past 12 years. Leading primrose breeders have been vetting the best of more than 180 different kinds. Top performers (drum roll here, please) include the early-flowering Hethor series of Primula acaulis, ‘Denim Blue’ which has especially large flowers, and the Danova Cherry series, which bloom later, with dark rose petals trimmed in white.
Valerie Easton is author of “A Pattern Garden.” Her e-mail address is valeaston@comcast.net.

lowercased:
how many primroses have you carried home from the grocery lately? on the cusp of spring, we’re so starved for color we’re hard put to resist the english primroses (primula vulgaris) displayed everywhere. but there’s a reason beyond easy availability for their designation as “common primroses.” once those pretty little plants hit the garden the results are often disappointing.
it’s not a good sign when flowers look better massed in the flat than planted in the garden. their various colors are so obvious that the effect of one bright bitsy plant after another is jarring. and if this type of primrose lives through the summer, it grows into a fat clump of sorry-looking leaves begging to be divided every time you look at it. there are better choices.
my mother loved the tiny ‘wanda’ primroses with their subtle colors and crinkled, dark leaves. they look similar to the english primroses, but scaled down and with more sophisticated colors like garnet, peach and smoky yellow. ‘wandas’ are among the earliest bloomers, and their foliage stays fresh most of the year. i can’t remember a single march when i haven’t filled at least one pot with their modest charms. a close relative to the ‘wanda’ series, with similar bronze-colored leaves, is the only primrose to earn a spot on the great plant picks roster. primula ‘guinevere’ has sweet pink flowers in march and april, and grows into rewarding large clumps.
candelabra primroses, also known as drumsticks for their willowy stems topped with flower balls, have much greater presence in the garden than their ground-hugging cousins. to be forever enchanted by candelabras, plan a late-april visit to bloedel reserve on bainbridge island. below the house in the woodland glen is a pool and stream thick with the nodding magenta heads of p. pulverulenta. although these glorious, dark-eyed candelabras start blooming a bit later than most primroses, they continue to flower through may.
my favorites are a couple of very old types of primroses newly introduced by log house plants of oregon. the curious double hose-in-hose primroses are some of the very oldest of all english garden plants, first mentioned in 1597 in gerard’s herbal. their complete name is primula tommasinii ‘you and me,’ and you get a good idea of how ancient these double-layered confections are from the inspiration for their name. courtiers in the 16th century wore two pairs of hose (long stockings), folding down the outer pair to reveal the inner. kind of flash-dance dressing for the elizabethan set, and a good visual for the blossom-nested-upon-blossom that characterizes these truly perennial, long-blooming wonders.
another heritage strain brought back into commerce by log house is the tri-colored, silver-laced p. polyanthus ‘penumbra,’ which looks as if each petal has been painstakingly outlined in white with the greatest care and the tiniest possible brush. its ethereal quality is captured by its name, which refers to the slim edge of cool light that shows around the moon during an eclipse. these little beauties are suited for woodland gardens, with fragrant flowers held high above the leaves throughout the spring. despite its delicate look, ‘penumbra’ is a tough plant that persists through winter cold and summer heat.
if you feel confused by the welter of primrose strains, cultivars and various types, just remember that all you need do is choose the ones that appeal most to you and do well in our climate. to help with the latter, molbak’s nursery has been running the largest primrose trial in north america for the past 12 years. leading primrose breeders have been vetting the best of more than 180 different kinds. top performers (drum roll here, please) include the early-flowering hethor series of primula acaulis, ‘denim blue’ which has especially large flowers, and the danova cherry series, which bloom later, with dark rose petals trimmed in white.
valerie easton is author of “a pattern garden.” her e-mail address is valeaston@comcast.net.


text: ParkCentral Nashville Apartments presents “Meet The Neighbors”. In this video series we thought it would be cool to hit the streets of Nashville and find amazing restaurants, shops, parks, bars, music venues, public gathering spots, hotels and all else that makes Nashville a superb place to call home. All of these destinations are under 10 minutes from ParkCentral Nashville Apartments. In this video we tour one of Nashville’s most popular soda shops, Elliston Place Soda Shop (615-327-1090), less than 5 minutes from ParkCentral Nashville Apartments at 2111 Elliston Place.

lowercased: parkcentral nashville apartments presents “meet the neighbors”. in this video series we thought it would be cool to hit the streets of nashville and find amazing restaurants, shops, parks, bars, music venues, public gathering spots, hotels and all else that makes nashville a superb place to call home. all of these destinations are under 10 minutes from parkcentral nashville apartments. in this video we tour one of nashville’s most popular soda shops, elliston place soda shop (615-327-1090), less than 5 minutes from parkcentral nashville apartments at 2111 elliston place.


text:
@ the Local Development Corporation of East New York.
A program sponsored in part by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Brooklyn Women’s Business Center (BWBC) at the Local Development Corporation of East New York (LDCENY) is developed in partnership with the Small Business Administration. The BWBC assists small business owners who are starting or expanding their small business. While extra consideration is given to specific challenges and issues for women entrepreneurs, our programs serve all – women, men, and racial and ethnic minorities.
The expert coaches and trainers at the BWBC provide valuable resources to help ensure business success. Our programs and services are available in English and Spanish to better serve our community.
Since its inception in 2000, the BWBC has served over 1800 entrepreneurs and business owners providing one-on-one counseling services and numerous training programs from marketing and sales, to minority and women-owned business certification with the government.
This program is funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration.
The Brooklyn Women's Business Center is a proud member of the Association of Women's Business Centers (AWBC).
Counseling, coaching and technical assistance is provided by a staff of highly qualified business counselors with many years of experience working with small business owners across many industries. In many cases, our staff have operated and owned their own businesses and can directly relate to the struggles that entrepreneurs face on a day-to–day basis.
Developing and implementing management and financial plans.
Many entrepreneurs and business owners find writing a business plan to be a daunting task. While writing a business plan can be a challenging endeavor, you don't have to do it alone. Our Center is here to assist you and to provide guidance in the development of your business plan.
Download our Business Plan Template below.
* Visit our Resource page for additional links and helpful information.
Follow us online and share with your friends on Facebook!
Funded in part through a Cooperative Agreement with the U.S. Small Business Administration. All opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the SBA. All SBA funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. Reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance by contacting 718-385-6700 ext. 24.

lowercased:
@ the local development corporation of east new york.
a program sponsored in part by the u.s. small business administration.
the brooklyn women’s business center (bwbc) at the local development corporation of east new york (ldceny) is developed in partnership with the small business administration. the bwbc assists small business owners who are starting or expanding their small business. while extra consideration is given to specific challenges and issues for women entrepreneurs, our programs serve all – women, men, and racial and ethnic minorities.
the expert coaches and trainers at the bwbc provide valuable resources to help ensure business success. our programs and services are available in english and spanish to better serve our community.
since its inception in 2000, the bwbc has served over 1800 entrepreneurs and business owners providing one-on-one counseling services and numerous training programs from marketing and sales, to minority and women-owned business certification with the government.
this program is funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the u.s. small business administration.
the brooklyn women's business center is a proud member of the association of women's business centers (awbc).
counseling, coaching and technical assistance is provided by a staff of highly qualified business counselors with many years of experience working with small business owners across many industries. in many cases, our staff have operated and owned their own businesses and can directly relate to the struggles that entrepreneurs face on a day-to–day basis.
developing and implementing management and financial plans.
many entrepreneurs and business owners find writing a business plan to be a daunting task. while writing a business plan can be a challenging endeavor, you don't have to do it alone. our center is here to assist you and to provide guidance in the development of your business plan.
download our business plan template below.
* visit our resource page for additional links and helpful information.
follow us online and share with your friends on facebook!
funded in part through a cooperative agreement with the u.s. small business administration. all opinions, conclusions, and/or recommendations expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sba. all sba funded programs are extended to the public on a non-discriminatory basis. reasonable arrangements for persons with disabilities will be made, if requested at least 2 weeks in advance by contacting 718-385-6700 ext. 24.


text: Handsome little Finn was a joy to photograph, showing so many different expressions and not wanting to have anything to do with my poses but his own poses. He's already a character at such a young age, It's amazing to watch! I also had an amazing time chatting (and photographing) his gorgeous parents who are just too sweet and too nice.

lowercased: handsome little finn was a joy to photograph, showing so many different expressions and not wanting to have anything to do with my poses but his own poses. he's already a character at such a young age, it's amazing to watch! i also had an amazing time chatting (and photographing) his gorgeous parents who are just too sweet and too nice.


text:
We found this article written by Robert Clay and thought would you find the information interesting. Enjoy!
People in business often hope and expect to do business the first time they meet a prospect. Yet studies reveal that only 2% of sales occur when two parties meet for the first time.
The 2% who buy at a first meeting tend to be people who have already looked into the subject matter, and already know what they’re looking for. If they meet someone who ticks all the right boxes and they get on well, then business may well be transacted. But that is far from the norm. The other 98% will only buy once a certain level of trust has been built up.
Anyone who believes they can go into a sales situation armed with “101 sure fire sales closes” and make sales is seriously misinformed … and about 20 years behind the times. Professional sales people get to know their prospects; understand their issues; solve their prospect’s problems; and provide irrefutable proof. They build relationships and trust by engaging in on-going dialogue (otherwise known as follow-up). They don’t just peddle their products and services with an armoury of closing tricks.
There are many reasons why people who could benefit from your product, service or expertise do not buy. At least not without further prodding. Inertia. Lack of time. Too many other things on their mind. Concern about cost. Cashflow. Budget constraints. More pressing matters. Your failure to do enough marketing to establish your name in your field so they’ll buy without question … and more. None of the these, by the way, is a negative. They are just psychological and transactional realities you must become aware of and recognise … which is why follow-ups are SO important.
People and companies who don’t follow-up; who do nothing to build up that trust and relationship cannot succeed, especially in today’s tough economic climate. People need to be sure they’re making the right decision before they commit to a purchase.
Think about that. It takes at least five continuous follow up efforts after the initial sales contact, before a customer says yes. FIVE!!
That tells you that 92% of sales people give up after 4 “no’s”, and only 8% of sales people ask for the order a fifth time.
When you consider that 80% of prospects say “no” four times before they say “yes”, the inference is that 8% of sales people are getting 80% of the sales!
Once you’re aware of these statistics you should stack the odds in your favour by introducing a “Five no’s” strategy, where you maintain contact with prospects until each one of them has said “no”, or “not now”, or “not yet” … at least five times. Every time you’re in contact you have an opportunity to advance and build the relationship.
Businesses with a “five no’s” strategy will always enjoy a conversion rate many times higher than their competitors who have no such strategy. What strategies do you have in your business right now to ensure that you contact your prospects regularly in a gentle and meaningful way so that you win their business and their loyalty?
There’s also the fact that 63% of people requesting information on your company today will not purchase for at least 3 months … and 20% will take more than 12 months to buy.
Contacting your prospective and existing customers every 3 months or sooner builds trust and professionalism and keeps “top of mind” awareness. In this context, your customers do not regard contact for orders, payments and appointments, or the obligatory Christmas card as a meaningful communication.
What meaningful communication strategies do you have in place right now to maintain “top of mind” awareness once someone has been in contact with you? How do you nurture your clients so that they learn to trust you and see you as a professional organisation?
This simple strategy could be critical to your survival in the current economic downturn. Implement it and prosper. Ignore it at your peril.
Please enjoy this related article titled "Hope is NOT a Sales Strategy"
Robert Clay is an entrepreneur who has been growing businesses since age 19. He has studied and mastered more than 200 of the world’s most successful marketing strategies, building-up an unprecedented 3.5 million page knowledgebase. For a decade he conducted an experiment which transformed the thinking of hundreds of entrepreneurs, and through the Eureka program he now mentors the top 1% of entrepreneurs to create breakthrough marketing results.

lowercased:
we found this article written by robert clay and thought would you find the information interesting. enjoy!
people in business often hope and expect to do business the first time they meet a prospect. yet studies reveal that only 2% of sales occur when two parties meet for the first time.
the 2% who buy at a first meeting tend to be people who have already looked into the subject matter, and already know what they’re looking for. if they meet someone who ticks all the right boxes and they get on well, then business may well be transacted. but that is far from the norm. the other 98% will only buy once a certain level of trust has been built up.
anyone who believes they can go into a sales situation armed with “101 sure fire sales closes” and make sales is seriously misinformed … and about 20 years behind the times. professional sales people get to know their prospects; understand their issues; solve their prospect’s problems; and provide irrefutable proof. they build relationships and trust by engaging in on-going dialogue (otherwise known as follow-up). they don’t just peddle their products and services with an armoury of closing tricks.
there are many reasons why people who could benefit from your product, service or expertise do not buy. at least not without further prodding. inertia. lack of time. too many other things on their mind. concern about cost. cashflow. budget constraints. more pressing matters. your failure to do enough marketing to establish your name in your field so they’ll buy without question … and more. none of the these, by the way, is a negative. they are just psychological and transactional realities you must become aware of and recognise … which is why follow-ups are so important.
people and companies who don’t follow-up; who do nothing to build up that trust and relationship cannot succeed, especially in today’s tough economic climate. people need to be sure they’re making the right decision before they commit to a purchase.
think about that. it takes at least five continuous follow up efforts after the initial sales contact, before a customer says yes. five!!
that tells you that 92% of sales people give up after 4 “no’s”, and only 8% of sales people ask for the order a fifth time.
when you consider that 80% of prospects say “no” four times before they say “yes”, the inference is that 8% of sales people are getting 80% of the sales!
once you’re aware of these statistics you should stack the odds in your favour by introducing a “five no’s” strategy, where you maintain contact with prospects until each one of them has said “no”, or “not now”, or “not yet” … at least five times. every time you’re in contact you have an opportunity to advance and build the relationship.
businesses with a “five no’s” strategy will always enjoy a conversion rate many times higher than their competitors who have no such strategy. what strategies do you have in your business right now to ensure that you contact your prospects regularly in a gentle and meaningful way so that you win their business and their loyalty?
there’s also the fact that 63% of people requesting information on your company today will not purchase for at least 3 months … and 20% will take more than 12 months to buy.
contacting your prospective and existing customers every 3 months or sooner builds trust and professionalism and keeps “top of mind” awareness. in this context, your customers do not regard contact for orders, payments and appointments, or the obligatory christmas card as a meaningful communication.
what meaningful communication strategies do you have in place right now to maintain “top of mind” awareness once someone has been in contact with you? how do you nurture your clients so that they learn to trust you and see you as a professional organisation?
this simple strategy could be critical to your survival in the current economic downturn. implement it and prosper. ignore it at your peril.
please enjoy this related article titled "hope is not a sales strategy"
robert clay is an entrepreneur who has been growing businesses since age 19. he has studied and mastered more than 200 of the world’s most successful marketing strategies, building-up an unprecedented 3.5 million page knowledgebase. for a decade he conducted an experiment which transformed the thinking of hundreds of entrepreneurs, and through the eureka program he now mentors the top 1% of entrepreneurs to create breakthrough marketing results.


text:
Amazon offers today deep discounts on Blu-ray movie box sets.
Amazon has a great deal on a big movie collection for James Bond fans. The Ultimate James Bond Collection with 24 Bond films is available for $94.99, instead of $145.96. This box sets contains 25 Blu-ray discs and also the films as Digital HD.
Batman fans will appreciate The Dark Knight Trilogy on Blu-ray. This collection is only $15.99 on amazon.com today.
Also on sale today is another classic. The Back to the Future 30th Anniversary Trilogy on Blu-ray sells for $17.99. Find below more hot deals on movie collections.
All of today's last minute holiday deals are featured on this amazon.com page. Amazon offers free Holiday shipping until Dec. 18 for everyone. Watch out also for the new WowWee Pinkfong Baby Shark Singing and Dancing plush toy expected to be released this weekend on amazon.com.

lowercased:
amazon offers today deep discounts on blu-ray movie box sets.
amazon has a great deal on a big movie collection for james bond fans. the ultimate james bond collection with 24 bond films is available for $94.99, instead of $145.96. this box sets contains 25 blu-ray discs and also the films as digital hd.
batman fans will appreciate the dark knight trilogy on blu-ray. this collection is only $15.99 on amazon.com today.
also on sale today is another classic. the back to the future 30th anniversary trilogy on blu-ray sells for $17.99. find below more hot deals on movie collections.
all of today's last minute holiday deals are featured on this amazon.com page. amazon offers free holiday shipping until dec. 18 for everyone. watch out also for the new wowwee pinkfong baby shark singing and dancing plush toy expected to be released this weekend on amazon.com.


text:
For more than 40 years, The Dragas Companies has been building condominium communities targeted toward first-time homebuyers. At The Grove at the Arboretum in Chesapeake, Va., Dragas sought high-quality products to meet fire codes while preventing weather-related hassles on the job site. Dragas turned to LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing, which is backed by a 20-Year Transferable Limited Warranty. According to Drew Dewey, project manager for new construction, the product has been easy to use and weather-resistant. It is now a standard company-wide for any application requiring fire resistance.
For many first time homebuyers seeking both beauty and community, condominiums are often the house of choice. With over 40 years of experience, The Dragas Companies knows this well. But multifamily construction carries with it its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to fire codes.
At its most recent development—The Grove at the Arboretum in Chesapeake, Va.—Dragas wanted to not only meet those codes, but sought to deliver on its commitment to quality while preventing weather-related hassles on the job site, according to Drew Dewey, the project manager of new construction.
But according to Dewey, the plywood didn’t measure up. Dragas needed a product that was durable enough to withstand rain while providing the fire resistance necessary to meet code requirements. Enter: LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing.
LP® FlameBlock® offers structural performance and fire resistance in one panel. Created by applying a proprietary non-combustible, fiberglass-reinforced Pyrotite® treatment to LP OSB Sheathing panels, LP FlameBlock Sheathing is a PS2-rated structural sheathing with a Class A Flame Spread Rating. When used as roof decking in Type III, IV, or V construction, it satisfies IBC code requirements for vertical continuity of fire walls, and is backed by a 20-Year Transferable Limited Warranty.
That’s because LP FlameBlock Sheathing is designed to withstand exposure to moisture during normal construction delays, as evidenced by its Exposure-1 classification. The Grove at the Arboretum is a 112-unit development. Each condominium runs on a 75-day schedule from breaking ground to completion and move-in, so there’s no time for products that can’t withstand weatherrelated delays.
LP FlameBlock panels are installed with the same tools and fasteners used for installation of other structural sheathing panels. The product is available in a variety of PS2-rated thicknesses and lengths, including Structural 1, and is paintable.
Dragas turned to LP® FlameBlock® Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing, which is backed by a 20-Year Transferable Limited Warranty. According to Drew Dewey, project manager for new construction, the product has been easy to use and weather-resistant. It is now a standard company-wide for any application requiring fire resistance.
The Ohio Reformatory for Women needed a 40,000-square-foot roof to cover an addition that housed the prisoners' dormitory. Structural Insulated Panels with Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing allowed for faster construction time, materials savings and increased impact resistance. Installing Structural Insulated Panels with LP FlameBlock Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing can create a safe roof that meets fire codes and is constructed in less time.
In constructing a bar and grill addition to the Cottonwood Municipal Liquor Store, Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing enabled the contractor to complete the job quickly, while also providing a safe and durable alternative to gypsum board. By utilizing Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing on pre-assembled construction panels, fire code compliance can be built into panels. Construction crews were able to quickly assemble the custom-made panels on-site. And the Fire-Rated OSB Sheathing offered greater impact resistance and made it easy to clean marks and scuffs.

lowercased:
for more than 40 years, the dragas companies has been building condominium communities targeted toward first-time homebuyers. at the grove at the arboretum in chesapeake, va., dragas sought high-quality products to meet fire codes while preventing weather-related hassles on the job site. dragas turned to lp® flameblock® fire-rated osb sheathing, which is backed by a 20-year transferable limited warranty. according to drew dewey, project manager for new construction, the product has been easy to use and weather-resistant. it is now a standard company-wide for any application requiring fire resistance.
for many first time homebuyers seeking both beauty and community, condominiums are often the house of choice. with over 40 years of experience, the dragas companies knows this well. but multifamily construction carries with it its own set of challenges, especially when it comes to fire codes.
at its most recent development—the grove at the arboretum in chesapeake, va.—dragas wanted to not only meet those codes, but sought to deliver on its commitment to quality while preventing weather-related hassles on the job site, according to drew dewey, the project manager of new construction.
but according to dewey, the plywood didn’t measure up. dragas needed a product that was durable enough to withstand rain while providing the fire resistance necessary to meet code requirements. enter: lp® flameblock® fire-rated osb sheathing.
lp® flameblock® offers structural performance and fire resistance in one panel. created by applying a proprietary non-combustible, fiberglass-reinforced pyrotite® treatment to lp osb sheathing panels, lp flameblock sheathing is a ps2-rated structural sheathing with a class a flame spread rating. when used as roof decking in type iii, iv, or v construction, it satisfies ibc code requirements for vertical continuity of fire walls, and is backed by a 20-year transferable limited warranty.
that’s because lp flameblock sheathing is designed to withstand exposure to moisture during normal construction delays, as evidenced by its exposure-1 classification. the grove at the arboretum is a 112-unit development. each condominium runs on a 75-day schedule from breaking ground to completion and move-in, so there’s no time for products that can’t withstand weatherrelated delays.
lp flameblock panels are installed with the same tools and fasteners used for installation of other structural sheathing panels. the product is available in a variety of ps2-rated thicknesses and lengths, including structural 1, and is paintable.
dragas turned to lp® flameblock® fire-rated osb sheathing, which is backed by a 20-year transferable limited warranty. according to drew dewey, project manager for new construction, the product has been easy to use and weather-resistant. it is now a standard company-wide for any application requiring fire resistance.
the ohio reformatory for women needed a 40,000-square-foot roof to cover an addition that housed the prisoners' dormitory. structural insulated panels with fire-rated osb sheathing allowed for faster construction time, materials savings and increased impact resistance. installing structural insulated panels with lp flameblock fire-rated osb sheathing can create a safe roof that meets fire codes and is constructed in less time.
in constructing a bar and grill addition to the cottonwood municipal liquor store, fire-rated osb sheathing enabled the contractor to complete the job quickly, while also providing a safe and durable alternative to gypsum board. by utilizing fire-rated osb sheathing on pre-assembled construction panels, fire code compliance can be built into panels. construction crews were able to quickly assemble the custom-made panels on-site. and the fire-rated osb sheathing offered greater impact resistance and made it easy to clean marks and scuffs.


text:
Guys, it’s time we stated the obvious: training at the gym doesn’t have to be all about muscle pump and bulk sweat. In fact, more and more men, from tradies to elite athletes, are turning to yoga to increase their strength and stamina and improve their overall health. Think you aren’t flexible enough? Think again! Flexibility is a by-product of yoga, not a requirement to start. Stop making excuses and find out the top 5 reasons why you should practice yoga.
We’ve seen plenty of male athletes taken down by crippling calf cramps or tight hamstrings, so it’s about time you give your own overworked muscles a little TLC. Much like foam rolling, a post-training yoga session can prevent muscle soreness and injury, while also unlocking a wider range of motion. The more you stretch in new and interesting ways, the better off you’ll be in the long run as you strengthen those smaller, often neglected stabilising muscles.
If you’re not quite ready to hit the mat, then try the Upward Facing Dog stretch next time you’re cooling down. This popular yoga pose will help to strengthen the spine while stretching out tight quads.
Struggling to make gains or see results? Muscles can grow tight over time from repetitive movements and stop responding accordingly. Taking some time off from strength training and trying yoga on your rest days can help by restoring stability and balance both mentally and physically. Plus, the more variety you add to your routine, the faster you will notice positive changes in your body. Yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which then function better as a result and can lead to improved muscle growth and increased weight loss. Trust us, by training less and stretching more you’ll actually be gaining strength and increasing performance!
So you’ve heard yoga is all about dark rooms and deep breathing? Well, it is important, but for more reasons than you think. Mastering the art of proper breathing will help you pound the pavement for longer or give that extra 10% in the gym as you learn to expand your lung capacity with fewer breaths. Not to mention that oxygenated rich blood provides vital nutrients to the body, which in turn helps to increase energy, decrease heart related diseases and lower blood pressure. Once you’ve nailed the technique, you can even apply it to your weight training. While many people have a tendency to hold their breath, regular yoga practice will help you focus on exhaling while lifting and inhaling.
We’re pretty sure that when you hear the term ‘strength training’ a lot of people automatically think of barbells, weight machines and max reps. Well, it’s time to focus on a new kind of training: utilising the weight of your own body in a yoga class to build strength and lean muscle mass. In fact, research has shown that yoga can provide the same bulking benefits as extended periods of squats and push-ups! Even beginners can make significant gains after just a few sessions of bodyweight exercises and poses. Plus, yoga, through twisting, arching and pressing, has the added benefit of strengthening multiple muscle groups – both large and small – at the same time, compared to most other exercises which target and isolate one major muscle group.
Sports stars and their coaches know that continuous wear and tear of the body can have devastating results, which is why top athletes from LeBron James through to our very own NRL players have turned to yoga as a staple in their rigorous training programs. From dynamic flexibility improvement to core stabilisation, research has shown that many professional athletes can reap the benefits of focusing on smaller muscle groups, building bodyweight strength and agility, and being mentally prepared for what is thrown at them on game day – all of which can be found in your next yoga class!

lowercased:
guys, it’s time we stated the obvious: training at the gym doesn’t have to be all about muscle pump and bulk sweat. in fact, more and more men, from tradies to elite athletes, are turning to yoga to increase their strength and stamina and improve their overall health. think you aren’t flexible enough? think again! flexibility is a by-product of yoga, not a requirement to start. stop making excuses and find out the top 5 reasons why you should practice yoga.
we’ve seen plenty of male athletes taken down by crippling calf cramps or tight hamstrings, so it’s about time you give your own overworked muscles a little tlc. much like foam rolling, a post-training yoga session can prevent muscle soreness and injury, while also unlocking a wider range of motion. the more you stretch in new and interesting ways, the better off you’ll be in the long run as you strengthen those smaller, often neglected stabilising muscles.
if you’re not quite ready to hit the mat, then try the upward facing dog stretch next time you’re cooling down. this popular yoga pose will help to strengthen the spine while stretching out tight quads.
struggling to make gains or see results? muscles can grow tight over time from repetitive movements and stop responding accordingly. taking some time off from strength training and trying yoga on your rest days can help by restoring stability and balance both mentally and physically. plus, the more variety you add to your routine, the faster you will notice positive changes in your body. yoga also gets more oxygen to your cells, which then function better as a result and can lead to improved muscle growth and increased weight loss. trust us, by training less and stretching more you’ll actually be gaining strength and increasing performance!
so you’ve heard yoga is all about dark rooms and deep breathing? well, it is important, but for more reasons than you think. mastering the art of proper breathing will help you pound the pavement for longer or give that extra 10% in the gym as you learn to expand your lung capacity with fewer breaths. not to mention that oxygenated rich blood provides vital nutrients to the body, which in turn helps to increase energy, decrease heart related diseases and lower blood pressure. once you’ve nailed the technique, you can even apply it to your weight training. while many people have a tendency to hold their breath, regular yoga practice will help you focus on exhaling while lifting and inhaling.
we’re pretty sure that when you hear the term ‘strength training’ a lot of people automatically think of barbells, weight machines and max reps. well, it’s time to focus on a new kind of training: utilising the weight of your own body in a yoga class to build strength and lean muscle mass. in fact, research has shown that yoga can provide the same bulking benefits as extended periods of squats and push-ups! even beginners can make significant gains after just a few sessions of bodyweight exercises and poses. plus, yoga, through twisting, arching and pressing, has the added benefit of strengthening multiple muscle groups – both large and small – at the same time, compared to most other exercises which target and isolate one major muscle group.
sports stars and their coaches know that continuous wear and tear of the body can have devastating results, which is why top athletes from lebron james through to our very own nrl players have turned to yoga as a staple in their rigorous training programs. from dynamic flexibility improvement to core stabilisation, research has shown that many professional athletes can reap the benefits of focusing on smaller muscle groups, building bodyweight strength and agility, and being mentally prepared for what is thrown at them on game day – all of which can be found in your next yoga class!


text:
Crimespree – Where the F#%K is mine!??!!!!
This holiday season, perhaps you have a mystery fan in your life and you are wondering what to get them?
If you give someone else a gift subscription, we will send you two free issues for yourself and enter you in a drawing.
You’ll be eligible to win a collection of signed books including the Cooking with CrimeSpree, the latest Reed Coleman and a copy of the latest Stuart Neville. Also one lucky person will win a signed copy of the new Chris Holm THE KILLING KIND and Chris can even personalize it for you.

lowercased:
crimespree – where the f#%k is mine!??!!!!
this holiday season, perhaps you have a mystery fan in your life and you are wondering what to get them?
if you give someone else a gift subscription, we will send you two free issues for yourself and enter you in a drawing.
you’ll be eligible to win a collection of signed books including the cooking with crimespree, the latest reed coleman and a copy of the latest stuart neville. also one lucky person will win a signed copy of the new chris holm the killing kind and chris can even personalize it for you.


text:
Refers to Network-Diagram.png, ISP A offer wholesale service to operator B with service class BE (802.1P=0).
Operator CPE only permit packets with 8021P =0, packets with other 8021p value will be discarded.
ME60 provide L2 Access, scenario IPoEoVLAN.
Based on the requirements, all packets need to remark as 8021p=0 before sending to Operator B.
A new diffserv domain is defined and apply on ME60's outbound interface.
During network integration testing, found the user unable to get IP address from ME60.
2. At Point 1, user has send multiple DHCP Discover, however does not get any DHCP Offer from ME60.
3. At Point 2, ME60 is receiving DHCP discover and also send DHCP Offer to the user. Check on the Priority bit, the 8021P value for DHCP offer (8021P=7).
4. From the Packet Capture, we found that the DHCP offer packet is not mapped to 0.
Operator subscribe service class BE and the CPE only permit packets with 8021P =0, packet with other 8021p value will be discarded.
ME60 as the DHCP Server. After the user passed the authentication, ME60 will assign a IP address to the users through DHCP offer. By default, application packet is marked with 8021P=7.
The 8021P for DHCP packet is not mapped to 0 at the outgoing interface. Hence , the DHCP Offer Packet was discarded at the inbound of the wholesale access equipments.
Command on the interface, trust upstream diffserv_domain only effective for the packets that passing through the ME60, packets that originated or generates by ME60 are not affected.
Using command "8021p 8021p-value" in the interface view, all the application packet will be remarked with the 8021P-value as configured before forward to the access users.

lowercased:
refers to network-diagram.png, isp a offer wholesale service to operator b with service class be (802.1p=0).
operator cpe only permit packets with 8021p =0, packets with other 8021p value will be discarded.
me60 provide l2 access, scenario ipoeovlan.
based on the requirements, all packets need to remark as 8021p=0 before sending to operator b.
a new diffserv domain is defined and apply on me60's outbound interface.
during network integration testing, found the user unable to get ip address from me60.
2. at point 1, user has send multiple dhcp discover, however does not get any dhcp offer from me60.
3. at point 2, me60 is receiving dhcp discover and also send dhcp offer to the user. check on the priority bit, the 8021p value for dhcp offer (8021p=7).
4. from the packet capture, we found that the dhcp offer packet is not mapped to 0.
operator subscribe service class be and the cpe only permit packets with 8021p =0, packet with other 8021p value will be discarded.
me60 as the dhcp server. after the user passed the authentication, me60 will assign a ip address to the users through dhcp offer. by default, application packet is marked with 8021p=7.
the 8021p for dhcp packet is not mapped to 0 at the outgoing interface. hence , the dhcp offer packet was discarded at the inbound of the wholesale access equipments.
command on the interface, trust upstream diffserv_domain only effective for the packets that passing through the me60, packets that originated or generates by me60 are not affected.
using command "8021p 8021p-value" in the interface view, all the application packet will be remarked with the 8021p-value as configured before forward to the access users.


text:
If you've been paying attention to the plastic straw debate, then you've probably seen that Starbucks is getting rid of them. It's switching to straw-less lids and paper straws, and other companies are either considering making the change or adopting the same policy. For instance: Alaska Airlines and Bon Appétit.
Several cities, states, and countries are also joining the trend. Vancouver is the first major city in Canada to ban plastic straws. In the U.S., Miami Beach and Fort Myers have followed suit. States like California, New York, and Hawaii are also considering the ban. Meanwhile, Taiwan has banned all plastic straws, bags, and other single-use items.
According to Plastic Pollution Coalition, people use 500,000,000 plastic straws in the United States every day. The single-use straws are wasteful and add to the landfill problem. So skip the plastic straw the next time you order coffee or a smoothie. You can also call your local representatives and ask them to support legislation to ban straws.
Changing the light bulbs in your house can be a quick and easy way to help the environment. A compact fluorescent light bulb (CFL) uses 70 percent less energy than an incandescent one. Not only can it help lower your utility bills, it also creates less heat. In addition, CFLs last longer than incandescents, so you'll be saving money as well.
No one is forcing you to go completely vegan or vegetarian. Instead, you can still help the environment by not eating meat once a week. You'll help lower the greenhouse emissions, which currently make up 20 percent of all man-made emissions, created by the meat industry. In addition, you'll also decrease how much water this industry uses because one pound of meat requires 2,400 gallons of water to get to your table.
Consider taking the meatless Monday pledge. Once a week, make breakfast, lunch, and dinner without any meat. Try an egg omelet for breakfast, get a vegetarian burrito for lunch, and make tofu for dinner.
If you're already making coffee at home to help the environment, then you can take it another step by changing the type of filters you use. To make bleached coffee filters, manufacturers use chlorine and other chemicals such as dioxin. Not only are these chemicals bad for your health, they're also harmful to the environment. The next time you're shopping for coffee filters, reach for the unbleached ones. Bleached filters are white, while the unbleached versions tend to be brown.
Another option, is to get rid of single-use coffee filters completely. Check to see if your coffeemaker can work with a stainless steel coffee filter.
It may seem like a simple change, but unplugging all of your electronics when you're not using them can have a big impact. It's estimated that 5 to 10 percent of all energy usage in a typical household comes from electronics being in standby mode, which means they're plugged in but not used.
For instance, when your MacBook is turned off and charging, it draws 27 Watts of power. Even an HDTV that is off and simply plugged in can draw 1 Watt of power. Don't leave your chargers, computers, TVs, or other electronics plugged in.
You don't have to make enormous lifestyle changes to help the environment. Even small steps to lower your consumption and waste can help.

lowercased:
if you've been paying attention to the plastic straw debate, then you've probably seen that starbucks is getting rid of them. it's switching to straw-less lids and paper straws, and other companies are either considering making the change or adopting the same policy. for instance: alaska airlines and bon appétit.
several cities, states, and countries are also joining the trend. vancouver is the first major city in canada to ban plastic straws. in the u.s., miami beach and fort myers have followed suit. states like california, new york, and hawaii are also considering the ban. meanwhile, taiwan has banned all plastic straws, bags, and other single-use items.
according to plastic pollution coalition, people use 500,000,000 plastic straws in the united states every day. the single-use straws are wasteful and add to the landfill problem. so skip the plastic straw the next time you order coffee or a smoothie. you can also call your local representatives and ask them to support legislation to ban straws.
changing the light bulbs in your house can be a quick and easy way to help the environment. a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl) uses 70 percent less energy than an incandescent one. not only can it help lower your utility bills, it also creates less heat. in addition, cfls last longer than incandescents, so you'll be saving money as well.
no one is forcing you to go completely vegan or vegetarian. instead, you can still help the environment by not eating meat once a week. you'll help lower the greenhouse emissions, which currently make up 20 percent of all man-made emissions, created by the meat industry. in addition, you'll also decrease how much water this industry uses because one pound of meat requires 2,400 gallons of water to get to your table.
consider taking the meatless monday pledge. once a week, make breakfast, lunch, and dinner without any meat. try an egg omelet for breakfast, get a vegetarian burrito for lunch, and make tofu for dinner.
if you're already making coffee at home to help the environment, then you can take it another step by changing the type of filters you use. to make bleached coffee filters, manufacturers use chlorine and other chemicals such as dioxin. not only are these chemicals bad for your health, they're also harmful to the environment. the next time you're shopping for coffee filters, reach for the unbleached ones. bleached filters are white, while the unbleached versions tend to be brown.
another option, is to get rid of single-use coffee filters completely. check to see if your coffeemaker can work with a stainless steel coffee filter.
it may seem like a simple change, but unplugging all of your electronics when you're not using them can have a big impact. it's estimated that 5 to 10 percent of all energy usage in a typical household comes from electronics being in standby mode, which means they're plugged in but not used.
for instance, when your macbook is turned off and charging, it draws 27 watts of power. even an hdtv that is off and simply plugged in can draw 1 watt of power. don't leave your chargers, computers, tvs, or other electronics plugged in.
you don't have to make enormous lifestyle changes to help the environment. even small steps to lower your consumption and waste can help.


text: Pawn Stars topped cable viewership for the week with 5.3 million at 10:30 PM and 5.2 million viewers at 10:00 PM. Swamp People came in third with 4.9 million viewers. Nickelodeon’s Legend of Korra premiere took 4th place with 4.5 million viewers.

lowercased: pawn stars topped cable viewership for the week with 5.3 million at 10:30 pm and 5.2 million viewers at 10:00 pm. swamp people came in third with 4.9 million viewers. nickelodeon’s legend of korra premiere took 4th place with 4.5 million viewers.


text:
Love me some vegan/ gulten-free chocolate cheesecake and a cuppa reishi mushroom elixir.
According towww.consciouslifestylemag.comthe Reishi mushroom has been revered as one of the most sought-after and powerful tonics in the Traditional Chinese Medicine pharmacopeia for over 2,000 years.
While Reishi was recognized as being particularly beneficial for the sick and ill in ancient Chinese medical texts, it was perhaps better known as belonging to a special class of medicines known as ‘tonic herbs’. These are substances considered so foundational and important to overallhealth, vitality, and quality of life that they are encouraged to be taken daily for their numerous benefits, sick or not.
Reishi mushrooms, like mostadaptogenic herbs, also support and balance the endocrine and hormonal systems in the body. Hormones are the ‘molecules of consciousness’—powerful biopeptides that control mood, perception, sleep-wake cycles, bonding and connection and our awareness of reality. Reishi’s effects on the hormonal system is legendary. Its gentle yet powerful, working to balance the body’s many glands and organs steadily overtime, which makes it ideal for daily use.
You see I just had to try it out myself! So 3 weeks ago I started taking a reishi supplement without even expecting any terrific change. I just wanted to give it a try as I heard it could help balance out my hormones, something I always struggle with thanks to endometriosis. In fact I didn’t consciously keep track on what was changing around me until people started telling me that I seemed so much lighter and generally in a better mood. I did notice that I felt more stable but just didn’t make to connection to the reishi supplement at first because I was only taking it for hormonal benefits.
It wasn’t until now that I can see that reishi mushrooms do not only balance out my hormones but also brighten up my mood without any side-effects AT ALL, which then lead me to also test out a reishi mushroom elixir before going to bed to promote my sleep.
I originally planned on doing a 2-week self-test but it was very clear already after my first use that this reishi elixir was a TOTAL GAME-CHANGER!!!!! Ever since my surgery I’ve had issues getting back into routine – like, going to bed early, waking up early and getting sh*t done… Frankly I got used to staying up till 11.30 pm (which is very late for me because I naturally need a lot of sleep). My goal with this elixir was to at least make it to bed at 10.30 pm, as in one hour earlier. So the first evening I had my elixir at 8 pm. I wasn’t expecting much for the first evening to be honest so it really took me by surprise that I was fast asleep by 9.30!!!! PLUS not only does this elixir work magic BUT it also resembles the taste of coffee. And if you know me I’m soooo obsessed with a good cup of coffee, it felt like a dream come true drinking something that taste very similar to coffee in bed before going to bed. For real – LIFE MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!!!!
The next day went even better. I only made it to a half full cup before passing out. I probably also have to state here that I was pretty hooked on sleeping pills a couple of years back. And I remember the feeling when their effect kicked in and I must say it’s pretty similar to my experience with the reishi elixir. (PLEASE if you read this, never start taking sleeping pills in the first place. It’s a pretty bad for you.) At least if I had known back then that you could have the same effect talking medicinal mushrooms without having health-threatening side-effects I would have never picked up that sleeping pill container in the first place. So far, so good! I will keep you posted on my experience either on instagram or my blog . For now though I’m pretty positive that I will keep taking this amazing goodness.
When you know me, you know I’m a big self-care advocate. That’s the reason why I love to pair my reishi elixir in the evening with a slice of vegan, gf, guilt-free chocolate cheesecake. Treating yourself is important, even more so in this cold & dark season. When it’s winter time I naturally make my way to the pantry at night to get myself a little treat/ heart-warmer which, however, is not so good for my overall health and thus my sugar level, as I feel like most processed treats have a lot of hidden sugars in them. So I thought I would just up my baking game for this season making my own treats so I know exactly what I put in there.
The recipe inspo is from the lovely @xeniannie give her a follow on instagram! She’s amazing.

lowercased:
love me some vegan/ gulten-free chocolate cheesecake and a cuppa reishi mushroom elixir.
according towww.consciouslifestylemag.comthe reishi mushroom has been revered as one of the most sought-after and powerful tonics in the traditional chinese medicine pharmacopeia for over 2,000 years.
while reishi was recognized as being particularly beneficial for the sick and ill in ancient chinese medical texts, it was perhaps better known as belonging to a special class of medicines known as ‘tonic herbs’. these are substances considered so foundational and important to overallhealth, vitality, and quality of life that they are encouraged to be taken daily for their numerous benefits, sick or not.
reishi mushrooms, like mostadaptogenic herbs, also support and balance the endocrine and hormonal systems in the body. hormones are the ‘molecules of consciousness’—powerful biopeptides that control mood, perception, sleep-wake cycles, bonding and connection and our awareness of reality. reishi’s effects on the hormonal system is legendary. its gentle yet powerful, working to balance the body’s many glands and organs steadily overtime, which makes it ideal for daily use.
you see i just had to try it out myself! so 3 weeks ago i started taking a reishi supplement without even expecting any terrific change. i just wanted to give it a try as i heard it could help balance out my hormones, something i always struggle with thanks to endometriosis. in fact i didn’t consciously keep track on what was changing around me until people started telling me that i seemed so much lighter and generally in a better mood. i did notice that i felt more stable but just didn’t make to connection to the reishi supplement at first because i was only taking it for hormonal benefits.
it wasn’t until now that i can see that reishi mushrooms do not only balance out my hormones but also brighten up my mood without any side-effects at all, which then lead me to also test out a reishi mushroom elixir before going to bed to promote my sleep.
i originally planned on doing a 2-week self-test but it was very clear already after my first use that this reishi elixir was a total game-changer!!!!! ever since my surgery i’ve had issues getting back into routine – like, going to bed early, waking up early and getting sh*t done… frankly i got used to staying up till 11.30 pm (which is very late for me because i naturally need a lot of sleep). my goal with this elixir was to at least make it to bed at 10.30 pm, as in one hour earlier. so the first evening i had my elixir at 8 pm. i wasn’t expecting much for the first evening to be honest so it really took me by surprise that i was fast asleep by 9.30!!!! plus not only does this elixir work magic but it also resembles the taste of coffee. and if you know me i’m soooo obsessed with a good cup of coffee, it felt like a dream come true drinking something that taste very similar to coffee in bed before going to bed. for real – life mission accomplished!!!!!
the next day went even better. i only made it to a half full cup before passing out. i probably also have to state here that i was pretty hooked on sleeping pills a couple of years back. and i remember the feeling when their effect kicked in and i must say it’s pretty similar to my experience with the reishi elixir. (please if you read this, never start taking sleeping pills in the first place. it’s a pretty bad for you.) at least if i had known back then that you could have the same effect talking medicinal mushrooms without having health-threatening side-effects i would have never picked up that sleeping pill container in the first place. so far, so good! i will keep you posted on my experience either on instagram or my blog . for now though i’m pretty positive that i will keep taking this amazing goodness.
when you know me, you know i’m a big self-care advocate. that’s the reason why i love to pair my reishi elixir in the evening with a slice of vegan, gf, guilt-free chocolate cheesecake. treating yourself is important, even more so in this cold & dark season. when it’s winter time i naturally make my way to the pantry at night to get myself a little treat/ heart-warmer which, however, is not so good for my overall health and thus my sugar level, as i feel like most processed treats have a lot of hidden sugars in them. so i thought i would just up my baking game for this season making my own treats so i know exactly what i put in there.
the recipe inspo is from the lovely @xeniannie give her a follow on instagram! she’s amazing.


text:
Helps new teachers master their craft by providing concrete, engaging, and easily-implemented techniques for addressing classroom misbehaviors and setting and meeting high expectations.
Doug Lemov trains educators at Uncommon Schools, the nonprofit school management organization he helped found. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College, a Master of Arts from Indiana University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is also the author, with Erica Woolway and Katie Yezzi, of Practice Perfect: 42 Rules for Getting Better at Getting Better.

lowercased:
helps new teachers master their craft by providing concrete, engaging, and easily-implemented techniques for addressing classroom misbehaviors and setting and meeting high expectations.
doug lemov trains educators at uncommon schools, the nonprofit school management organization he helped found. he holds a bachelor of arts from hamilton college, a master of arts from indiana university, and an mba from harvard business school. he is also the author, with erica woolway and katie yezzi, of practice perfect: 42 rules for getting better at getting better.


text:
Send a message and I will gladly help out. I am only too glad to make suggestions on fun places to go.
adk family time (at) g mail (dot) com - type the email address without any spaces or punctuation.
Sorry for having to write out my e-mail but I get a lot of junk mail.
Please feel free to contact me if you would like to schedule a book signing, lecture or school group activity.
My husband and I also run a youth camping group, Adirondack Outdoor Expeditions, LLC, taking young adults and families out into the High Peaks so we are always out and about the Adirondack Park.

lowercased:
send a message and i will gladly help out. i am only too glad to make suggestions on fun places to go.
adk family time (at) g mail (dot) com - type the email address without any spaces or punctuation.
sorry for having to write out my e-mail but i get a lot of junk mail.
please feel free to contact me if you would like to schedule a book signing, lecture or school group activity.
my husband and i also run a youth camping group, adirondack outdoor expeditions, llc, taking young adults and families out into the high peaks so we are always out and about the adirondack park.


text:
To unite and fuel members to achieve greater heights in Higher Education, Social Development, and Transformative Community Service.
The founding members of Beta Omega Chi sought to create an environment that would serve the Black men of Brown's campus as they navigated the Ivy League, while simultaneously helping them in their processes of discovering and re-crafting their senses of blackness, masculinity, community, philanthropy, and more.
"GETTING TO KNOW BROWN’S NEWEST FRATERNITY"
Brown recently granted residential status to a new fraternity, Beta Omega Chi. The organization, which was founded at Brown in 2013, has grown dramatically and will now be occupying Olney House as of the Fall of 2016. To learn more about Beta Omega Chi, its founding, its newfound status, and its future, I sat down with three members of this self-proclaimed “very nice group of men”—current President Isaiah Edwards ’17 and founders Ahmed Elsayed ’16 and Andrew Gonzales ’16.
Blog: What was the process of founding Beta Omega Chi like?
Elsayed: We were conceptualized on September 17th of 2013, and that’s when we started to develop an organization. Initially, it was more so just the founders trying to figure out how [they] wanted [BOX] to look, what they want[ed] this to mean, what they want[ed] the organization to represent…and then being able to sell it to people. And then we went out and started recruiting…and we had our first five strong initiates, who helped get the organization to where it is today. [The initiates] really believed in the organization, whereas in the early stages, there were [many] people who didn’t believe in [it].
Blog: What does having an official home on campus mean to you?
Elsayed: Part of the reason why we got recognition is the hard work, and plus people saw what we were doing—and that was without recognition, that was without support from [the University]. Now that we have a house, we can operate at a level that we’ve never been able to operate [at] before. Now that we have Brown’s support—now that we can use spaces on this campus—the events are becoming endless. Now we can partner with organizations and actually do things on campus to more impact Brown. With this status, the sky’s the limit. And that means a lot, because that really talks to the longevity of the organization—that it will be here 50 years from now, that it will be here 100 years from now, because now it’s really becoming a part of Brown culture.
Gonzales: I would say two things to that. [For] one, I think we really pride ourselves on the connectivity of our brotherhood, and I think that’s one of the strongest pillars of the organization…how close we are. But I think that just living with someone—the proximity there [will] allow for that to be exponentially greater. And the second is what it symbolically represents for Brown University, a history of over 250 years built on the backs of our ancestors…to break down that particular barrier and to have a physical space on this campus for black men, I think, speaks volumes.

lowercased:
to unite and fuel members to achieve greater heights in higher education, social development, and transformative community service.
the founding members of beta omega chi sought to create an environment that would serve the black men of brown's campus as they navigated the ivy league, while simultaneously helping them in their processes of discovering and re-crafting their senses of blackness, masculinity, community, philanthropy, and more.
"getting to know brown’s newest fraternity"
brown recently granted residential status to a new fraternity, beta omega chi. the organization, which was founded at brown in 2013, has grown dramatically and will now be occupying olney house as of the fall of 2016. to learn more about beta omega chi, its founding, its newfound status, and its future, i sat down with three members of this self-proclaimed “very nice group of men”—current president isaiah edwards ’17 and founders ahmed elsayed ’16 and andrew gonzales ’16.
blog: what was the process of founding beta omega chi like?
elsayed: we were conceptualized on september 17th of 2013, and that’s when we started to develop an organization. initially, it was more so just the founders trying to figure out how [they] wanted [box] to look, what they want[ed] this to mean, what they want[ed] the organization to represent…and then being able to sell it to people. and then we went out and started recruiting…and we had our first five strong initiates, who helped get the organization to where it is today. [the initiates] really believed in the organization, whereas in the early stages, there were [many] people who didn’t believe in [it].
blog: what does having an official home on campus mean to you?
elsayed: part of the reason why we got recognition is the hard work, and plus people saw what we were doing—and that was without recognition, that was without support from [the university]. now that we have a house, we can operate at a level that we’ve never been able to operate [at] before. now that we have brown’s support—now that we can use spaces on this campus—the events are becoming endless. now we can partner with organizations and actually do things on campus to more impact brown. with this status, the sky’s the limit. and that means a lot, because that really talks to the longevity of the organization—that it will be here 50 years from now, that it will be here 100 years from now, because now it’s really becoming a part of brown culture.
gonzales: i would say two things to that. [for] one, i think we really pride ourselves on the connectivity of our brotherhood, and i think that’s one of the strongest pillars of the organization…how close we are. but i think that just living with someone—the proximity there [will] allow for that to be exponentially greater. and the second is what it symbolically represents for brown university, a history of over 250 years built on the backs of our ancestors…to break down that particular barrier and to have a physical space on this campus for black men, i think, speaks volumes.