text:
arrow-left An arrow pointing left. Porsche Boxster
2009 Porsche Boxster
View all 2009 Porsche Boxster specs .
New headlights
Better distinguished from Cayman
Mileage improved
Dual-clutch automated-manual transmission
Requires premium gas
Our 2009 Porsche Boxster trim comparison will help you decide.
Slight exterior restyling
Larger base engine
S-level engine more powerful
New seven-speed transmission
Suspension refinements
LED taillights standard
2009 Porsche Boxster review: Our expert's take
By Joe Wiesenfelder
The Boxster is Porsche's most affordable model, and possibly its most fun. Unlike most convertibles, the two-seat Boxster came out years before its coupe sister model, the Cayman, and it's priced lower. What the two share is a class-exclusive mid-engine design that puts the six-cylinder, horizontally opposed engine behind the seats — and puts excellent dynamics in the hands of the driver. "Boxster" is a contraction of "boxer," another name for a horizontally opposed engine, and "roadster," which means two-seat convertible. "Cayman" is an archipelago in the Caribbean; I have no clue why they chose that.
The Boxster was upgraded for 2009 (compare it with the 2008 version here) with more power, better mileage and revised suspensions, but it thankfully hasn't lost its soul in everyday driving — as have some cars designed for the high speeds of Germany's autobahn that we Americans seldom see. Though loads of options bloated its out-the-door price, my test Boxster S, the more powerful trim level, exhibited the same performance you'd get with standard features for $56,700.
Exterior & Styling
The Porsche Boxster remains a soft-top convertible rather than a retractable hardtop, and for good reason. For one thing, soft-tops weigh less, and that's important in a small sport roadster like the Boxster. The only comparable model that offers a choice of convertible tops is the Mazda MX-5 Miata, and it weighs 82 pounds — or 3.3 percent — more as a retractable hardtop than it does as a soft-top.
The Boxster notably weighs a mere 11 pounds more than the Cayman coupe (that's less than four-tenths of a percent). That's a testament to the car's inherent rigidity; convertible versions of coupes usually require added structural reinforcement to keep them sturdy, which adds weight.
When folded, soft-tops take up less room than retractable hardtops, which usually store their roof panels in the trunk. As a mid-engine car, the Porsche Boxster isn't long on space behind the seats anyway, so I doubt the model will ever follow the hard-top trend. Truth be told, the raised roof gives the Boxster a pretty nice line, and some retractable hardtops are just plain weird-looking when all "couped-up."
One thing I like about the Boxster's standard powered top is its willingness to open or close when the car is in motion. Nowadays, most powered tops — and especially retractable hardtops — refuse to move unless you're stopped or, at best, moving less than a few mph. In the Boxster, you can start the top in motion when you pull into a parking lot, and by the time you're parked and turn the engine off, the roof is up. Of course, whether the car allows it or not, it's never wise to do this when moving at higher speeds, or the wind will remove your top — permanently.
A minor restyling for 2010 has added a small center vent low on the front bumper, flanked by more shapely intakes that incorporate LED daytime running lights. In the regular Boxster, the vents' cross-bars are body-colored, and they're black on the S trim level. The Boxster's headlight clusters extend farther up the fenders.
Ride & Handling
The Porsche Boxster and its Cayman counterpart deliver handling like no other cars — not necessarily superior in terms of roadholding, but with loads of imminently controllable fun. At a maximum curb weight of 3,042 pounds (in the S trim with an automatic transmission), the Boxster is reasonably light for a rigid German car — and it feels that way. The Boxster's roughly 45/55 (front/rear) weight distribution calls into question the conventional notion that a 50/50 split is perfect. The car's rear end is happy to come around under heavy throttle, and it's just as willing to pop back in line. There's something about having the engine's mass fully between the front and rear axles that defies the presumed imbalance and connects the driver to the car's dynamic center. You sit in the seat of power — directly in front of the car's pulsating, six-chambered heart.
Overall, the Porsche Boxster S is best appreciated in high-speed driving, especially on a track, because the steering is firm at lower speeds, and the hard brake pedal offers more fine control when it's shaving off mph by 20s and 30s rather than 5s and 10s. Thankfully, its high-speed capabilities don't make it as prim in normal driving as the Porsche 911. The Boxster still hasn't fallen prey to the vast conspiracy to make sports cars more capable at the expense of fun. So it has been since the car made its 1997 debut.
The Boxster comes with an electronic stability system that Porsche calls PSM, Porsche Stability Management. Complicating matters, the adaptive suspension option is called PASM — Porsche Active Suspension Management, which my car had. Even with PASM set for its comfort mode, the Boxster S' ride quality is firmer than you'll find in, say, the BMW Z4.
The firmer suspension mode wasn't particularly comfortable on city streets, but it seems to make a real difference in performance driving; it doesn't exist solely to impress you by becoming outrageously firm. Regardless of which mode you choose, the real advantage is in PASM's computerized ability to read wheel and body motions and pattern the shock absorber firmness appropriately.
The Seat of Power
The Boxster's horizontally opposed, flat-six cylinder engines became more powerful for 2009. The regular Boxster's 2.7-liter grew to 2.9 liters, and its 245 horsepower bumped up to 255. The 3.4-liter in my Porsche Boxster S test car generates 310 hp, up from 295 hp in the 2008. As the table shows, despite the higher output, combined mileage while running on required premium gas has improved by 1 to 3 mpg, depending on the transmission.
Porsche Boxster Engines
2008 Boxster base 2009 Boxster base 2008 Boxster S 2009 Boxster S
Engine 2.7-liter H-6 2.9-liter H-6 3.4-liter H-6 3.4-liter H-6
Horsepower (@ rpm) 245 @ 6,500 rpm 255 @ 6,400 rpm 295 @ 6,250 rpm 310 @ 6,400 rpm
Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm) 201 @ 4,600 rpm 214 @ 4,400 rpm 251 @ 4,400 rpm 266 @ 4,400 rpm
City/highway – combined mpg
(manual; automatic) 19/28 – 22*; 19/26 – 21 19/27 – 22; 20/29 – 24 18/26 – 21; 18/25 – 21 19/26 – 22; 20/29 – 23
*Six-speed manual; standard five-speed (discontinued for 2009) is 20/29 – 23 mpg.
Source: Manufacturer, EPA
When a car's power and efficiency both increase, it usually means one thing: direct injection, and that's the technology that's been added to the engines. They're aided by the new seven-speed, dual-clutch automated manual called PDK — for Porsche Doppelkupplungsgetriebe. (I'm going to stick with "PDK.") Similar to transmissions from the likes of BMW, Mitsubishi, Volkswagen/Audi and others, PDK connects to the engine's crankshaft by means of two different clutches — one for odd gears and one for even gears, resulting in practically instantaneous handoffs from one gear to the next. Sorry, stick shift fans, but the PDK shifts a tenth of a second faster than you can, resulting in zero-to-60 sprints of 5.5 seconds in the regular Boxster and 4.9 seconds in the S, according to Porsche.
The engines remain normally aspirated, so they don't see the torque boost we've come to expect from turbocharged direct-injection engines, but having seven forward speeds made my Boxster S' relatively lean low-rev torque a non-issue. The tach needle scales quickly to redline.
As far as shift speed goes, PDK has it down: While most transmissions of this type upshift faster than a congressman changes positions, they don't all downshift very quickly. PDK does, as is best illustrated when shifting manually using the steering-wheel buttons — which I hesitate to call paddles, because they're really not. They're oddly shaped push-pull buttons that protrude upward from the spokes just inboard of the wheel. We can argue whether the shifter buttons should be push/pull for upshift/downshift or the Formula One style, which is left-side downshift and right-side upshift. We can also debate if they should be on the wheel itself or on the steering column. But you can't argue that these buttons are ergonomic; pushing them sideways with your thumb just ain't right. I preferred to use the shifter lever itself, which you pop to the left into a separate up/down shift gate.
Fully automatic modes include Drive and Sport, the latter of which is summoned using a Sport button in front of the gear selector. Both programs feel pretty natural, but they exhibit a slight lurch from a standing start — common with this kind of transmission — and you feel the successive downshifts even in the regular Drive mode as you coast to a stop. Sport makes the electronic throttle more sensitive, keeps the transmission in lower gears for a given speed, and makes the transmission more likely to kick down when you tap the accelerator.
My problem with PDK is that the regular and Sport modes are too far apart. I often thought Drive wasn't quite responsive enough, but when you hit the Sport button, you get the herky-jerky combination of lower gears and a more sensitive throttle. I need a middle ground.
There's a lot to be said for dual-clutch automated manuals, especially because they're more efficient, but once the hype dies down driving enthusiasts will recognize that they're just as soulless as the automatics they replace. The emotional connection of operating a clutch pedal and stick will always be there — and in the Boxster it saves you the PDK's whopping $3,420 price tag.
The Power Seat
You sit pretty low in the Boxster, and the wind wraps around you quite well. My car had the optional polycarbonate "windstop" deflector between the head restraints, which minimized wind buffeting from behind. One annoyance that hasn't changed for 2009 is the sound of the cooling fan on the right flank when driving with the top down. Because the engine is behind the seats, the radiator is, too, so an electric fan blows its cooling air through the vent just behind the door on the right side, roughly in line with occupants' heads. You might not notice it, though, unless you pass other cars, barriers or other objects that can reflect sound. On the upside, it didn't turn on as much during our cool summer days as the previous generation's did last time I tested it.
Otherwise, the car is reasonably quiet — not as quiet as a retractable hardtop, but better than the days of the single-layer ragtop. The Boxster does, however, have the telltale over-the-shoulder noise that always seems to seep in along the rear pillars and window in ragtops.
Visibility isn't bad, partly because the car rides low and virtually everything else on the road is taller. On the downside, soft-tops usually have wider rear roof pillars (or cloth pillar equivalents) than retractable hardtops, and that's the case here.
The glove compartment is decent in size, but there's little else to speak of. The center armrest raises to reveal a tray deep enough for coins and some iPods, though my ancient Mini wouldn't fit with the belt clip attached. The Boxster makes up for it with its two trunks. The one in back seems a tad small, but still reasonable for this class, though the front one is remarkably deep: I had a standard carry-on, rolling suitcase standing upright, but it was just tall enough that I was concerned I'd bend the hood if I closed it. The bag fit easily widthwise, though, and it looked like another would have fit on top of it. Golf clubs need not apply unless the passenger seat is empty.
What You're Paying For
When you buy a Porsche, your money is going to two main things: performance specs and the cachet of the brand name — the latter of which having a value only you can quantify. This becomes pretty clear when you look at the interior quality — and/or the options list. The Porsche Boxster S' cabin quality is by no means bad overall, but there are some aspects you don't want to see in a car priced at $56,700. My main problem is the silvery plastic. That's a common gripe of mine, but it's especially egregious here because it appears extensively on so-called touch points — meaning things you touch, like the inside door handles and the steering wheel's PDK shift buttons, which come complete with rough seam edges from the plastic molds. Serious bush-league stuff.
Another example is the plastic trim piece you push to get at the outrageously flimsy cupholders, both of which emerge from the dashboard in front of the passenger.
The Boxster did receive some interior upgrades for 2009, including an updated Porsche Communication Management option that controls the audio, communication and navigation systems — a badly needed upgrade that brings a 6.5-inch touch-screen interface. A USB jack for controlling iPods and playing music from flash drives is also available. Here's the problem: The 2009 improvements come largely in the form of options. In fact, most of the Boxster's features come in the form of options, including simple stuff like heated seats, automatic climate control and the USB jack.
Our Porsche Boxster S was crammed with options — including some as exotic as heated, eight-way adjustable power seats ($2,050); bi-xenon headlights ($1,560); and a premium stereo ($990) — plus such chart-toppers as Natural Leather Cocoa leather interior ($2,815), PCM with navigation/communication ($3,110) and PASM ($1,990). In the end, the price was $78,795 with the destination charge. Yowsa.
As a relatively low-volume convertible, the Boxster hasn't been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. In addition to frontal airbags, the Boxster has side-impact torso airbags in the seat backrests, and it's one of the first and only convertibles with head-protection airbags that deploy upward from the doors. Antilock brakes and the electronic stability system are standard. You can see the full list of safety features here.
Boxster in the Market
Some base-model cars are price leaders, but they're so stripped-down you wouldn't want them. Fortunately, most of what makes a Boxster what it is — an incomparable, fun roadster bearing the respected Porsche badge — can be had for the base model's entry price. With the exception of a few low-quality materials inside, most of what you might want is available if you're willing to pay extra. Porsche wisely makes almost all its options available a la carte rather than packaging them, so you can pick and choose, paying only for what you want, like alloy wheels or trim finishes. Porsche isn't alone in its modest standard-features list — especially among German brands — and it has something others don't: a mid-engine design and the performance that comes with it. In the automotive market, exclusivity is always a good thing … well, almost always.
Send Joe an email
100% of drivers recommend this car
I have absolutely no mechanical problems
By DrK from New York
It looks just as good as a 911 without the sticker price a head turner whenever it's on the street I am always asked if I want to sell the car the answer is no way
Most fun car I have ever owned. My toy!
By Allan from Newton Center
This is my summer car that I drive to relaxation and exhilaration. Low miles, (28,760 miles) impeccably maintained with dealer service records, only driven 4 to 5 months a year, stored in winter, and garaged daily
By Porsche Forever! from Lodi, Ca
Drives great and gets excellent miles per gallon. I travel to the ocean and enjoy the top down, letting the wind in my hair, while I listen to music, or enjoy a phone call.
New car and Certified Pre-Owned programs by Porsche
120 months/unlimited distance
13 Years/124,000 miles
2 years/unlimited miles after new-car limited warranty expires or from the date of sale if the new vehicle limited warranty has expired
All model years for the Porsche Boxster


text:
Maribyrnong & Hobsons Bay, Wyndham
IN FOCUS: Snug as a bug in a pair of Uggs
by Carole Levy
In FocusUgg australia
Luda and Roman Fishman with Ugg boots. (Photo supplied)
There's nothing more Australian than Ugg boots – they are Aussie icons of the highest order.
Forget the copies, though– it's only UGG Australia that can rightly claim to be the only company in the world that creates a 100 per cent Australian-made product.
Company owners Luda and Roman Fishman moved UGG Australia from Brunswick three months ago and have set up shop in Laverton North.
Now's a good time to visit the new shop because if customers mention this story, they'll get 20 per cent off all products.
Aside from that, the company is quite special.
Luda explains …
"We're the only Ugg boot manufacturer in Australia who owns our own tannery," she says. "This means that all our raw materials are from Australia and nothing is imported – unlike other Ugg manufacturers, who falsely claim to be 100 per cent Aussie made.
"This means benefits for our country. We buy our materials from Australian industries, such as farming, which supports local economies. And because we must adhere to the safest environmental standards in the world, we use no dangerous chemicals that cheap overseas products can."
The company, which has been in operation for 37 years, is probably best known for its various styles of Ugg boots and slippers. But, employing between 60 and 100 people, it also manufactures a range of other goodies.
Lambswool rugs are perfect for baby nursery mats and as pram and cot liners.
For the ultimate in luxury, there's fox fur throws – big enough for a king bed.
Something smaller, perhaps as a gift? How about a purse, pouch, hat or mittens?
Cute, soft and fluffy Australiana toys are made to be loved by any child – and also make a great gift for overseas visitors.
For cold feet, there's nothing warmer than a pair of fox fur Ugg boots. And for a bit of bling style, how about merino wool Ugg boots with three large Swarovski crystal buttons down the side?
Visit the Laverton North store and have a good browse to feel the quality and check out the unique creations.
UGG Australia, 31 Gilbertson Road, Laverton North. Opens 9am-5pm Monday-Friday. Inquiries: 9386 5544
The tannery. (Photo supplied)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
E: admin@zaitaku-lady.com
zaitaku-lady.com
Roulette Casino Los Angeles
And when you say, memo to tribal clients, who did you send this memo Answer (casino).
He takes a seat at the foot of the table, deposits a florin from time to time, and carefully examines a small marked "how" card on which is marked the result of each revolution of the deal. Among beasts, birds, fishes, and reptiles each reproduces its own kind, and we have the fierce bravery of the lion, "free" the treacherous ferociousness of the hyena, the sneaking of the panther, the slyness of the fox, the nimbleness of the squirrel, the mischievousness of the monkey, the lofty soaring of the eagle, the unerring aim of the fish-hawk darting for its prey, the sweet notes of the canary, the solemn hoot of the owl, the form and scale of the serpent and fish all peculiarities ate transmitted and perpetuated. Be interesting; to my readers to read passages from other accoimts of tlie same ti-ansaction taken from the journals of the day, the editors of Avhich, no matter what their politics, Avere absolutely unanimous in execrating the whole proceeding (table). Patrol officers, because "roulette" of their uniforms and their regular duties, can make only low-level gambling arrests. Committee Chairman, Senator McCain spoke about the need for improved regulatory structures in Indian Country: strategy. In fact, in almost three-quarters of the specific comparisons earned out, crime rates games rose more (or decreased less) in the matched cities than in Each of the seven largest Montana cities was matched with an out-of-state city in the region with similar population size, similar population growth rate, similar racial composition, but with little or no legal gambling. Return "sale" to Zork is more than The better news: Activision is still working interface. Inspection types and frequencies differ for different kinds win of charitable gaming activities and consist of operational, maintenance and site visits. I should be" As you in will, madam," he answered, not displeased. Curiously enough, excepting at the very commencement of the day's play, the habitues of the Trente et Quarante tables appear to entertain a strong antipathy to the first deal or two after the cards have been" re-made." I have been told by one or two masters of the craft that they have a fancy to see how matters are likely to go before they strike in, as if it were possible to deduce the future of the be an article of faith with the old stagers, and, indeed, every now and then odd coincidences occur which tend to confirm them in their creed (to):
free casino table games no download
american roulette odds calculator
Roulette simulator excel free
Uk - hence is formed a Habit of Selfishness, influencing the ordinary actions Insensibility to others' woe, with consequent Cruelty f is produced by the continued operation of a selfish spirit. The police did observe that Eftoff, Photeis and Christoff were the operators of this club and were carrying on a prosperous restaurant business with those was ascertained that the club had already moved into and Louis Photeis had invested a large amount of money in purchasing and renovating the building and that they were conducting a profitable restaurant business there (download).
Whilst all games allow you to split your pair there are many differences in live how you can progress from there on. Rules - however, the represent a more formidable target for policies and programs designed to reduce or military and civilian populations. Great location, less than a mile from NIH and just minutes to shopping and public transportation (play). For - the further we go back, also, in the natural history of man, the more dominant the same activities become; in fact, the history of civilisation is largely a history of the origin and development of new activities serving to some extent to modify and limit the allabsorbing character of these primitive pursuits. Dated from game the French headquarters at Madrid on or before the before this day fifteen months.
Wheel - at each trial the same sum seems certainly to be gained, for he cannot go on losing for ever.


Brabantia bin liners Size A are made specifically to fit your Brabantia 3 Litre waste bin. They are very easy to use. Just pull the sealing tape and the bin liner will be removed and sealed with out any awkward tears.
The unique colour coding enables you to find the right bin liner for your Brabantia bin.


I have a Firestudio Tube that I purchased new a number of years ago. Since it is no longer supported, I need to upgrade to a new recording interface.
In order to save money on preamp purchases, I'm wondering if it's possible to somehow use the preamps in my firestudio tube, to expand inputs on something like the studio 192? Possibly using firewire (since there is no adat input/output)?
Unfortunately the only way to expand channels on the 192 is to use an ADAT device such as the D8 or DP88.
Studio 192. How to use internal processors and afects such as compressor, Gate or EQ inside a DAW?
How can I use the Ceres Bluetooth connection as the output for a DAW such as Studio One?
Is there a recommended PCI-e USB 3.0 add-on card for use with Studio 192 and Windows 10 ?
Studio 192 UC Surface need to know how / if I can use an Ipad to set up monitor mix control for person in the booth.


text:
Stenomesius modicellus is een vliesvleugelig insect uit de familie Eulophidae. De wetenschappelijke naam is voor het eerst geldig gepubliceerd in 1994 door Khan.

Eulophidae

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Getting internal operations right has never been so critical to the success of an agency. The world is changing at record speed. New technology and channels have revolutionised everything. This brings both challenges and great opportunities for agencies, along with a strong requirement to redefine and reinvent their processes, people and systems.
At The Industry Club, we're hearing from agencies big and small about increasing workloads and decreasing margins. These sentiments were mirrored at a recent conference hosted by the IPA, where advertising leaders, practitioners and finance professionals gathered to revisit agency pricing, margins and ways to more effectively value and price their services – all while trying to hold on to existing business and win more of it. No easy feat.
In Farmer's book, Madison Avenue Manslaughter: an inside view of fee-cutting clients, profit-hungry owners and declining ad agencies, he explains that fees are agreed by CEOs and financial directors with no corresponding internal data to substantiate the fees or understanding of what resources and efforts are required to make the work at a decent margin. He explores how this disconnect inevitably impacts the overall health of an agency.
To survive and thrive, agencies need to stop delegating operations; they need the right resources in place for the right work at the right price – and they need to have a firm handle on it. This is where operations directors come in. We recently held a networking forum for operations directors from London's agencies to discuss these challenges at length.
Essentially, the operations director adds another pillar to the management of a client's business. This pivotal role works alongside the management team in driving forward the business, actively promoting integration, effectiveness and growth, driving additional revenue opportunities and commonly being the production face of the agency to the client.
While the creative product and marketing efficacy are still key factors in a successful client/agency relationship, in today's market, business is not won on those factors alone. Clients are demanding agile, lean working practices, streamlined departments and smart technology solutions. That's why a key focus of the role is creating and maintaining efficient processes and work flow systems to enable a creative, agile and collaborative work environment. While strategy and creative manage the idea, and client services manages the client, it's the operations director who manages the agency.
Andrew Godley, managing director at Red Brick Road, has seen first-hand the difference an operations director can make. Doubling in size in a relatively short period of time, Red Brick Road's participation in The Industry Club's Ops Clinic quickly revealed the need for an operations director to keep pace with the growth of their business.
After hiring Industry Club candidate and operations director, Maxene Edgehill, Andrew has discovered that it's invaluable to have someone on the team who is viewed differently by clients. He observes that an operations director can be objective, take away emotion and approach client needs from an unbiased perspective.
We know that that average client/agency contract tenure has dropped in the last decade from seven years to two and a half years. Today, clients are promiscuous, and they want it all. Planners and creatives can't give them everything they need anymore, which makes operations directors more important than ever.
That said, while the right operations director can be the solution to this predicament, they do come at a price. In an ideal world, an operations director would be billed out as an intrinsic part of the delivery team. However, even if an agency takes on this role as an overhead, the return on investment for this senior position can be well worth it.
It's clear that agencies need to get their house in order. With the right operations director on board, an agency is well on its way. According to Godley, you'll know you've found the right one if they possess a mix of diplomacy and assertiveness, take ownership and accountability, and truly understand the needs of clients and how best to meet them.
Melissa Smith is Founder of The Industry Club, a leading creative communications recruitment and training partner to brands and agencies in the UK.


For over 200 years, the Postal Service has fulfilled its mission to deliver trusted, affordable service to the nation. Its business model worked well because mail volume increased steadily as the nation grew. In recent years, however, as customer preferences have rapidly evolved and new technology has changed how Americans communicate and transact business, the model has faltered. Mail volume, instead of increasing, is declining dramatically, even as the cost of delivering mail to an expanding number of addresses continues to grow. As a result, the Postal Service's ongoing ability to finance universal service is at great risk.


text:
Carla Buckley, author of The Deepest Secret, on tour March 2014
About The Deepest Secret
Publisher: Bantam (February 4, 2014)
For fans of Jodi Picoult, Kim Edwards, and William Landay, The Deepest Secret is part intimate family drama, part gripping page-turner, exploring the profound power of the truths we're scared to face . . . about our marriages, our children, and ourselves.
Eve Lattimore's family is like every other on their suburban street, with one exception. Her son Tyler has a rare medical condition that makes him fatally sensitive to light, which means heavy curtains and deadlocked doors protect him during the day and he can never leave the house except at night. For Eve, only constant vigilance stands between an increasingly restless teenage son and the dangers of the outside world.
Until the night the unthinkable happens. When tragedy strikes, it becomes clear that this family is not the only one on the quiet cul-de-sac that is more complicated than it appears. And as Eve is forced to shield her family from harm, there are some crises she cannot control—and some secrets that not even love can conceal.
Deeply moving and stunningly suspenseful, The Deepest Secret is a novel of rare power—a story about hope and forgiveness, about the terrifying ways our lives can spin out of control and the unexpected sacrifices that may save us.
"Every family is vulnerable, and every parent knows it. Carla Buckley masterfully portrays a family trapped in a heart-wrenching crisis. A memorable novel about how far a parent will go for her child, The Deepest Secret will make you count your blessings."—William Landay, New York Times bestselling author of Defending Jacob
"An electrifying and sensitive portrait of an ordinary family struggling with tragic circumstances . . . Every page aches with searing emotions that build to a heart-healing conclusion."—Chevy Stevens, New York Times bestselling author of Always Watching
"The Deepest Secret is a mesmerizing page-turner for the era of Big Brother and constant surveillance: Who is guilty and who is innocent? Loved ones are not exempt from suspicion, as the devastating power of a mother's love has unimaginable consequences that kept me riveted until the very end."—Melanie Benjamin, New York Times bestselling author of The Aviator's Wife
About Carla Buckley
Carla Buckley was born in Washington, D.C. She has worked as an assistant press secretary for a U.S. senator, an analyst with the Smithsonian Institution, and a technical writer for a defense contractor. She lives in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, with her husband, an environmental scientist, and their three children. She is the author of The Deepest Secret, Invisible, and The Things That Keep Us Here, which was nominated for a Thriller Award as a Best First novel and the Ohioana Book Award for fiction. She is currently at work on her next novel.
Visit Carla's website or Facebook for more information.
Carla Buckley's TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:
Monday, March 3rd: Jen's Book Thoughts
Tuesday, March 4th: Kritter's Ramblings
Tuesday, March 4th: Great Imaginations
Wednesday, March 5th: girlichef
Thursday, March 6th: No More Grumpy Bookseller
Friday, March 7th: Not in Jersey
Monday, March 10th: She Treads Softly
Monday, March 10th: Why Girls Are Weird
Tuesday, March 11th: Knowing the Difference
Friday, March 14th: A Bookish Way of Life
Monday, March 17th: Daily Mayo
Monday, March 17th: Julz Reads
Tuesday, March 18th: Cerebral Girl in a Redneck World
Tuesday, March 18th: Tiffany's Bookshelf
Wednesday, March 19th: Book Dilettante
Thursday, March 20th: A Bookworm's World
Friday, March 21st: Simply Stacie
Monday, March 24th: Jenn's Bookshelves
Tuesday, March 25th: Book Hooked Blog
Wednesday, March 26th: The Best Books Ever
Thursday, March 27th: Ageless Pages Reviews
Filed Under: mystery, thriller/suspense Tagged With: bantam, carla buckley, family drama, fiction, mystery, random house, suspense, the deepest secret, women's fiction


So I was thinking about Guidelines and Stuff. All I really care about is just that people are at least somewhat decent and both use and understand common sense, and try to be nice to others.
I always have the last say, just in case. But I also try to adhere to the other Guidelines I made up.
Just try to be nice to everyone and don't spread hate about anyone.
Don't bring up random Drama, nor try to make up Drama either.
Avoid talking about Politics, Religion or similar bad real life things, this is a place for fun! I already don't like it when I have to talk about laws that may impact our open and free Forum negatively.
Intellectual Property is not something that should be brought up between two Users of this place. Everything that gets posted by you in here should be free to use, modify and redistribute for everyone else who posts their version of it in here, just like how OpenSource and Creative Commons work, but constrained to within the Forums. (This part of the Guideline does not apply to Minecraft Mods). Also do note that some stuff might be licensed GPL or LGPL so it's not "just" limited to the Forums in some cases. I just dont like people complaining about their work being "stolen" just because someone had a good reason to take it, modify it and re-release it.
Logos and Names of Stuff are there for identifying their original Creator(s)/Project(s), so at least change the Name and Logo meaningfully, when you copy someone else's work, even if it's just a small change.
This first Part was all that really matters, but the Discourse Default below is a good read none-the-less.


text:
Counsel Jobs > In The News > New GC at Con Edison
New GC at Con Edison
Con Edison has hired Carole Sobin as its new secretary and associate general counsel. Sobin's most recent position at Con Edison was vice president of purchasing, which she had held since 2002. Previously, she worked as a senior attorney, a general solicitor, and assistant to the chairman at Con Edison as well. However, before joining the company, Sobin worked with the National Labor Relations Board in New York. She received her bachelor's degree from Goucher College and her J.D. from the New York University School of Law.
Cedar Fair Hires New GC
Amusement park company Cedar Fair has hired Duffield Milkie as its new corporate vice president and general counsel. "I'm very pleased to announce the hiring of Duff Milkie as our new in-house general counsel. With the complexities of our continually growing company, the need for in-house legal expertise within our corporate team has never been greater. I'm confident that Duff has the experience, skills, and desire to meet the demands of his new position," said Chairman, President, and CEO Dick Kinzel.
Pfizer's GC Steps Down
Pharmaceutical company Pfizer has announced the resignation of General Counsel Allen Waxman, who is leaving the company for personal reasons. Waxman, who became GC in August 2006, has been with the company since 2003. According to Chief Executive Jeff Kindler, "Allen and his team have been strong advocates for Pfizer, securing a number of important legal decisions that are significant for our business and our future."
New GC Hired at EFJ
EFJ has hired Elaine Flud Rodriguez as its new senior vice president and general counsel. Experienced in legal activities, Rodriguez comes to EFJ from CellStar Corp., where she acted as senior vice president, general counsel, and secretary. Previously, she was vice president, general counsel, and secretary for Zoecon Corp. "Elaine's extensive legal experience and deep understanding of the wireless telecommunications environment will complement management and be a valuable resource in our highly regulated industry. In her new role as general counsel, Elaine will be reporting directly to me, and I look forward to working with her," said EFJ's chairman and CEO, Michael Jalbert.
RTS Hires New GC
Relational Technology Solutions (RTS) has promoted Dean Frankel to vice president and general counsel. Previously, he served as the company's general counsel and secretary. In his new role he will continue to oversee all legal activities as well as begin to advise the company on risk insurance and employment practices. Frankel's previous work history includes 18 years at Comdisco, holding several positions in its legal departments as well as associate general counsel and acting European general counsel in the United Kingdom. "Since joining RTS in 2005, Dean's wealth of experience in the lease financing industry has greatly benefited our business. During this heightened period of corporate governance accountability, his knowledge and due diligence expertise have been tremendous assets to the organization," said COO Mark Stachulski.
Article Title: New GC at Con Edison


text:
Men's basketball preview: Houston vs. UConn
Here are 6 places to see great drag in Houston
https://www.chron.com/news/article/House-approves-cap-on-malpractice-awards-2119062.php
House approves cap on malpractice awards
House OKs malpractice awards cap
JANET ELLIOTT and R.G. RATCLIFFE, Copyright 2003 Houston Chronicle Austin Bureau
Published 5:30 am CST, Saturday, March 29, 2003
AUSTIN -- Fourteen Democrats joined Texas House Republicans Friday to approve 102-45 a proposed constitutional amendment that would cap pain and suffering awards in medical malpractice lawsuits at $250,000.
If approved by the state Senate, voters would have a final say on whether to put the cap into the state Constitution. The amendment is part of a broad medical malpractice and civil lawsuit limitation package pushed through the House this week by GOP leaders.
The fight often was heated, mean and partisan on both sides.
"It was the most passionate debate I've seen in the 35 years I've been in the House," said Speaker Tom Craddick.
The Republicans, who have not controlled the House since Reconstruction, flexed their muscles and offered little in the way of compromise. The Democrats struggled mightily to modify the bill, drawing on their oratorical skills as well as their knowledge of House rules.
But in the end, it was to no avail, and may even have left Republicans, who enjoy an 88-62 advantage, bitter at being criticized as pawns of special interests.
But Republicans took their hits, too, in their determination to reduce the number of lawsuits in Texas courts, an issue many of them had run on. In their haste and zeal, they were exposed holding possibly illegal closed meetings and doing some aggressive horse-trading.
Legislators could still follow a path of least harm
House rejects exemptions to malpractice suit limits
The Texas Democratic Party watched the Republican missteps with glee.
"It's hard to tell whether they don't know what they're doing or whether they just don't care about the rules or the law," said Molly Beth Malcolm, party chair.
The House on Friday voted 94-46 to give final passage to House Bill 4, which implements the damage caps and rewrites civil liability laws in areas of class-actions and defective products. It includes a $250,000 cap on noneconomic damages a person hurt by medical negligence could recover.
The measures now move to the Senate, where some modifications may be made. But with the support of Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the measures are likely to emerge from the Republican-controlled Senate largely intact.
During the six days of debate over HB 4, the House considered 153 amendments and took 134 record votes. Most of the amendments proposed by Democrats were defeated.
The debate was highly personal for many of the lawyers who serve in the Legislature. Some of the HB 4 supporters make their livings defending corporations, while some of those most strongly fighting the bill work at law firms that represent injured persons.
Democrats tried desperately to delay and derail HB 4. In the end, they succeeded only in delaying it because of a closed committee meeting that apparently violated House rules.
Rep. Joe Nixon, R-Houston, the author of the proposed constitutional amendment, said the amendment is needed to make sure the damage caps do not violate the "open courts" provision of the Texas Constitution.
In 1977, reacting to a medical malpractice insurance crisis, the Legislature passed similar damage caps. But they were struck down by the Texas Supreme Court in 1988.
The court said that if the Legislature takes away citizens' rights, it would have to give them something in return, a so-called "quid pro quo." HB 4 requires doctors to carry a certain level of malpractice insurance for the damage caps to apply.
But to make certain the caps are constitutional, voters would be asked to amend the open courts provision to allow the Legislature to set the malpractice cap and other caps in the future.
The cap on damages sometimes awarded for pain and disfigurement is sought by doctors, who have been slammed by rising malpractice insurance costs. The bill includes a 15 percent rate rollback when the cap becomes effective.
Opponents of the proposed amendment said it would damage the Texas Bill of Rights by limiting juries.
"If I don't trust a jury on the civil side, why should I trust a jury on the criminal side?" asked Rep. Harold Dutton, D-Houston.
Other opponents said it would limit awards to people like a woman who had both breasts removed because of a misdiagnosis of a doctor or would restrict judgments in cases involving the loss of a child.
Plaintiffs still could recover all of their economic damages for medical expenses and lost wages. In cases of extreme negligence, a plaintiff could seek punitive damages up to $1.4 million.
HB 4 became the most controversial legislation so far this session when Nixon merged a medical malpractice lawsuit bill with the general liability provisions of HB 4.
Rep. Steve Wolens, D-Dallas, called the merger a "shotgun wedding." Nixon said the issues belonged together.
Democrats complained lawmakers' goodwill for doctors was being used to get broader changes in the civil justice system. Democrats tried but could not force a wedge between doctors and the business community.
The Texas Medical Association, a prime force behind the bill, expressed gratitude to Craddick and supporters of the bill.
"They spent months in preparation and participated in marathon sessions that no doctor would advise their patients to endure," said Fred Merian, president of the association, which represents 38,000 physicians and students.
Physicians' top priorities were the caps on noneconomic damages and spreading payments for future damages over time rather than a lump sun. But the TMA said it would work to resuscitate some provisions removed by the House, including a limit on fees for lawyers for class-actions.
The House voted to remove the limits on contingency fee contracts after a conservative Republican, Rep. Robert Talton of Pasadena, said such limits violate free-market principles.
The Texas Association of Business and Texans for Lawsuit Reform, groups that contribute heavily to legislative races, were strong backers of the bill.
"The Texas House acted in the best interests of all Texans -- consumers, working families and businesses large and small -- by approving HB 4 by an overwhelming margin," said Richard Weekley of Texans for Lawsuit Reform.
The bill would make major changes in the way class-action lawsuits are handled. A judge could send cases to state agencies for administrative review. The Texas Supreme Court also would have new authority to review trial judges' decisions to certify cases as class-actions.
It also would make Texas one of the few states to implement a form of the British "loser pays" system. A plaintiff who rejects a settlement offer and later obtains a less favorable judgment could be forced to pay a defendant's legal costs.
Relive the Houston Rodeo 20 years ago
VIPs show out at Auto Show 'Roaring Twenties' Gala
Celebs walk red carpet at Houston Sports Awards
VIPs take over Steak 48 for exclusive French dinner
SPCA: Spring home at center of animal rescue most toxic site ever
14-year-old girl missing from The Woodlands, last seen at mall
VIP view: Becca Cason Thrash takes over Steak 48 for exclusive Notre-Dame de Paris dinner
Willis man charged after DNA links him to teenage rape victim
Selena tribute 'Festival de la Flor' in Corpus Christi canceled, according to media reports
Suspects sought in brazen robbery of Jared Vault Jewelry in Katy
Murder charge for Spring woman accused of running over burglary accomplice


text:
We continue to focus on the priorities of customer safety, protecting employees and business resilience. Please read here for our latest position. For customer information, please visit our dedicated coronavirus webpage.
Decrease fontA Increase fontA
Customers Buy a Home
Home » News » 2020 » January » RoSPA launches framework to make new-build homes safer for everyone
RoSPA launches framework to make new-build homes safer for everyone
With falls the biggest single cause of accidental death, a framework to help house builders ensure the next generation of homes are safer has been launched by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA).
Errol Taylor, RoSPA President, Helen Moore, managing director at Orbit Homes and Baroness Jolly, RoSPA trustee at the 'safer by design' launch
Safer by design: A framework to reduce serious accidental injury in new-build homes has been developed with industry experts, and encourages house builders to go beyond current regulatory requirements for accident prevention.
It outlines low-cost, practical interventions that can be "designed in" to address issues such as falls, poisoning, entrapment and burns and scalds, and has already been adopted by leaders in the private and social housing sectors, with new homes set to be delivered in line with the guidance as early as next year. The framework deliberately does not address the risks associated with domestic fires because they are already the subject of a separate, detailed review.
The home is statistically the most unsafe place to be, with 6,000 accidental deaths in the UK every year, and many thousands more that result in life-changing injury and visits to A&E. With Safer by design, RoSPA aims to reduce these numbers with small, evidence-based changes to house design.
For example, by ensuring key elements of British Standard BS5395 are adopted, we could reduce the 30 deaths, 1,000-plus hospital admissions and 14,000 A&E attendances that occur every year on stairs built since 2010.
Safer by design was launched with a reception at Westminster Abbey by RoSPA chief executive Errol Taylor, RoSPA President Baroness Jolly, RoSPA trustee and emergency medicine consultant Dr Julian Redhead, and managing director of Orbit Homes Helen Moore.
Errol Taylor said: "Our homes are the most dangerous place to be, and that's particularly true for the most vulnerable – the under-5s, the over-65s, and the most deprived in our society. Unintentional injury places a huge burden on the country's health and social care services, on the economy through lost working time, on companies through reduced productivity, and on the wellbeing of our families and loved ones."
Helen Moore, managing director at Orbit Homes, said: "Orbit is passionate about delivering thriving communities and therefore customer safety is paramount. Safer by design is closely aligned to our own design standards, which ensure that safety is designed in and therefore our customers will be able to live more safely throughout their occupation. Orbit is extremely proud to be working with RoSPA standards that go above and beyond building regulations. This ensures that customer safety is at the heart of what we do."
New homes and developments being built in line with the framework can apply for Safer by design Silver, Gold or Platinum status. Points towards these standards are accrued for each recommendation within the framework that is adopted, with more points equalling a higher overall standard; each development is then able to display the Safer by design branding.
For more information on the framework, see www.rospa.com/built-environment.
Orbit has become the first affordable housing provider to adopt the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) Safer by design framework for all future new-build homes.…...
Orbit is pleased to present Mill View, a brand-new development of two, three, four- and five-bedroom houses in the sought-after market town of Dereham, Norfolk, with three show homes available…...
'Three Rivers', a £1 million arts and cultural programme for Bexley funded by Arts Council England, has launched with a new website along with a range of cultural activities for…...
Orbit, one of the UK's largest social housing providers with over 44,500 homes, has successfully priced a £300m 18-year bond issuance at a 2% coupon.…...
Paul Richards, Group Customer Service Director at Orbit. The Government's new seven step Charter for social housing residents sets out a range of standards to be expected from landlords and…...
A volunteer group from Wellesbourne and Walton is helping to keep people's spirits up during the pandemic by providing Christmas gift bags to vulnerable and isolated members of the community.…...
Would-be volunteers in Hastings can now get support from a new hub being launched this month. …...
Orbit is pleased to present Cavendish View, a brand-new collection of affordable two and three-bedroom houses in Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, which will be available for Spring 2021 occupation.…...
Orbit's customers have had a say on their own digital feedback platform resulting in a refresh aimed at making it more accessible and easier to navigate.…...
© 2020 Orbit Group


text:
Share this Story: The Home Front: The design show loved by designers
The Home Front: The design show loved by designers
For the past four years, furniture designer and maker Kate Duncan has assembled what she believes to be the best of Pacific Northwest design — in everything from furniture to textiles, metal work to lighting, ceramics, artwork and more — and presented it in a highly stylized vignettes through her design show ADDRESS.
Rebecca Keillor
Sep 15, 2018 • September 15, 2018 • 3 minute read
Furniture maker and designer Kate Duncan (left), founder of design show ADDRESS, with her show curator Amber Kingsnorth (right) of Mak Interiors. Photo: ADDRESS for The Home Front: The design show loved by designers by Rebecca Keillor [PNG Merlin Archive] PNG
The show, curated by Amber Kingsnorth of Mak Interiors, has become a favourite within the design community and is back for a fifth year, opening with a Meet the Makers dinner at Belgard kitchen on Sept. 18. It runs Sept. 21 to 23 at Railtown's Settlement Building with an industry party on the Sept. 22.
The Home Front: The design show loved by designers Back to video
"Kate is really trying to push good design," says established artist and designer Brent Comber, who is taking part in ADDRESS for the first time. "Not in a trade-show type of venue, but more of a curated, personal, intimate space."
Comber's sculptures and furniture can be found around the globe, but he says his story is very much a local one, being "fourth-generation North Shore", and using only local materials for his work.
Work by Vancouver artist, designer and maker Brent Comber, who is taking part in Kate Duncan's design show ADDRESS. Photo: Brent Comber for The Home Front Photo by Raef Grohne 1.888.838.6644 /PNG
"Being from here," he says, "I feel the materials and the forms represent the West Coast beautifully."
Some pieces from his latest collection, titled Black Rock, will be shown at ADDRESS, and are inspired by his time in places like Ucluelet, and Tofino, "where land meets ocean", he says.
Basalt, he says, is an indicator of endurance and permanence because "the rock is so hard and so raw and so jagged and rough, whereas everything else is smooth and wind blown, and warm." Basalt is one of the materials he's used in this latest collection, along with recast recycled glass and stainless steel.
"I do have a very high environmental mandate, which includes how we work in general, and how we treat our materials, even (how) our waste material is repurposed," Comber says. "So I'm working with a glass company, and we're recasting their waste material into beautiful tabletops."
Comber says he's been asked by a design firm to create some furniture that is "bullet proof" when it comes to climate for an eco-tourism hotel in the Arctic, so some of Black Rock tables might end up there.
"I was asked to look at doing some tables that could withstand hot sunny days to sub-zero temperatures," Comber says. "These beautifully executed tables of basalt and stainless steel can take all kind of temperatures."
A fellow designer maker Comber says he's really looking forward to exhibiting alongside at ADDRESS is blacksmith Timothy Dyck, another newcomer to the show.
Dyck is based in Abbotsford, where he grew up, and his career path includes making his first chainmail at 13, learning how to forge steel, selling his wares as a teenager and apprenticing under a blacksmith in Cranbrook for four years. He launched his own brand five years ago, producing everything from architectural products to sculptures and pieces for the home.
Dyck says ADDRESS appealed to him because of Duncan's show format, presenting the work of different design makers in curated vignettes, as opposed to the way it's done at trade shows, where products are usually presented in individual booths, one for each designer.
"Everyone's work complements each other," he says.
Dyck will be showing some hand-forged metal bowls from his new Relevant Series.
"The Relevant Series showcases old steel or iron that comes out of B.C. history from the railroad or logging industry," he says. "So finding these pieces that are old, and then I'm taking them and reforging them into artwork and things we can use in our homes."
Also new to the show this year is East Vancouver's Love Jules Leather, known primarily for their custom handmade boots and shoes. They also produce backpacks and products for the home — coasters and the like.
"It's a chance to get out there, and show our faces, and show our products," says company co-founder Joshua Blodans.
For more information on the show, and to purchase tickets for the dinner, main event or industry party, visit http://addressassembly.com


Keep your EGG looking like new with these attractive heavy-duty, weatherproof covers, designed to work perfectly for years to come! Premium-quality favric resists fading and offers increased durability even in extreme temperatures. Each cover features the Big Green Egg logo and coordinating piping, easy off and on with convenient handle, and celvro tab closure for added protection. Covers are ventilated to precent moisture buildup.
Care: Hand or machine wash cover with cold water at gently setting. Do not bleach. Line dry only.


Because winter is coming and Switzerland's is a classic destination for autumn/winter escapades Basel Shows selected some of the best luxury hotels of the country for you to spend your escapade in.
Switzerland it's all in one, the country has beautiful landscapes, luxury streets and it's one of the best places for winter sports. Therefore, you can ski on the Swiss Alps, shopping at Rue do Rhône or walk next Lake Léman.
Which of the following hotels would you pick?


Lisa Rodgers was appointed as Director General, Department of Education in Western Australia, for the start of 2019 and brings to the role nearly 20 years' national and international experience in education.
As former chief executive officer of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), Ms Rodgers led the national agenda on strengthening school leadership with a focus on principal preparedness, and supporting teacher quality through the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers.
As Deputy Secretary, Early Learning and Student Achievement and Deputy Secretary, Evidence, Data and Knowledge in the Ministry of Education in New Zealand, Ms Rodgers led significant reforms in assessment innovation, curriculum and the use of evidence for impact at the classroom and national level.
It is this commitment to improving outcomes for students that now sees her lead education in this State, with responsibility for both public and non-government education services. Ms Rodgers is also Chief Executive Officer of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority.
Ms Rodgers has an Honours degree in Psychology, a background in child mental health, and held substantial positions in justice, health and defence.


We host only our clients websites on our Linux Dedicated Servers which is fully managed and are configured to fit the exact needs of our clients enterprise.
Our servers are multi-core processors which are fully managed 7/24/365 and proactively monitored by our team. Our dedicated servers are hosted in state-of-the-art data-centers throughout the United States.
We will meet with you to understand your business market and will develop a full concept-2-completion service so that your business will find a competitive edge to attract and keep new customers while increasing your market share and bottomline profit.
SEO is the process of obtaining website traffic from search engines placement. Search engines rank your website pages primarly on your sites content. There are other factors that contribute to your sites rankings which take into account links to your site from other sites, other content such as videos or local listings that link to your site. We optimize your sites content with appropriate keywords to maximize your organic rankings.
If you are selling a product we can design your site to be a fully e-commerce (business) site. We have designed sites for secure digital downloads for photographers to large product sites that ship their products per order. Your online shopping web site can process online credit cards manage your inventory and more.
We will create a mobile friendly website that is fully responsive to all devices whether your site is viewed on a Android or Apple phone, tablet, laptop or desktop. Your brand / message will be presented and formated automatically whether it's a contact form or a photo gallery.
We have been in the hosting business since 1999 with data centers throughout the Unitied States, Great Britian and Asia. Our data centers are staffed 7/24/365. We host only our clients and our hosting services are part of our full-turn key web solution package. We will do everything from design, manage, market, promote, host and monitor your online presence. Contact us today to see how we can assist you.
Whether your customer is viewing your website on a iPad, iPad mini, tablet, smart phone or a desktop your site will be presented so that your BRAND and MESSAGE is displayed as if it was designed specifically for that device. RESPONSIVE WEBDESIGN is what we do!
Our website designs use next-generation interfaces (UI/UX) which increase visitor experience while increasing web performance.
We use the latest industry processes and it relates to industry design, load testing techniques which all contribute to achieving optimum performance with regards to the user experience.
Our commitment to designing and building the best possible user interface guarantees your visitors and clients the best possible web experience.
Today's successful website needs to focus on achieving a friendly, intuitive user online experience.
We're a personalized agency that is focused on building relationships that enhance our customers bottom line.
Dazzling web design with intuitive customer usability hand build coding with unmatched experience.
Our CMS/CRM allows you to update your web's content from anywhere in the world which allows you to build your client relationships. Full control or full webmaster services are avilable.
Our team will prototype and find the right balance to bring the user experience to the fore-front.
Where your a Realtor with weekly update to displaying the MLS to a construction company showing the services and recent projects we'll help you maximize those customer experiences.
Online stores, catalogs, all created with modular platforms that allow for a flexible conduit whereby you always remain in control of your online business.
Building your brand strategy, logo design are all part of our services.
Online content mangement systems can be tailored to specific data requirements thus allowing you to leverage a friendly user experience.
If you can't be found or reference within the search engines for the keywords for your business it's like building your store in the desert hoping that someone will find you. We build our websites for maximum search engine visibility.
We have designed responsive websites for all types of business... Let us design a fully responsive website that conveys your business brand. Contact us today to see what we can do for you.
In today's business environment your online presence needs to be RESPONSIVE. Meaning, if your client is viewing your site on a iPad, Table, Phone or Desktop your message needs to adapt. Today, we build RESPONSIVE websites that show your message no matter what device accesses your site.
If you think about it your brand is your story. Successful marketing is not yelling your brand it would make more sense to weave your story within your product descriptions and through the narrative of your website which is what consumers are actually looking for.
Step 3 : Create, Adapt and Evolve To Your Audience Through Shared Values and Interests.
We will help you create content that will help your customers see how your products or services will become an integral part of their lives or business. Stories that share experiences with your products or services show that you care about your customers instead of trying to get them to care about you.
Websites that produce RESULTS are one of the most valuable BUSINESS ASSETS.
You might ask, "What is a Responsive Website?"... Well it's a website that responds to it's environment automatically. The environment is the type of device that is accessing your site. Examples would be smartphone, tablets, laptops to desktops. Resize our website and you will see the content and layouts automatically resize to fit the viewing space. Pretty cool huh!!
We hand-craft each sites code so that it maximizes your visitors experience while maximizing your ability to capture a new customer. The customers web experience while exploring your site will insure that you get the maximum exposure to capturing a new customer. Customer base is all about the retention which is conveyed in your customer values which builds your brand loyalty.
We are your invisible partner... Maximizing your sites uptime, updating content, online marketing, analysing your customers experience while you focus on maximizing your customers brand experience. We have real life retail experience and understand that your website is your store-front. We look forward to building a future together.
We are a web design and hosting firm which has been serving a variety of organizations across countless industries. Many of our clients have become long-time friends.
Our clients tell us that we take their project's on with a personal interest. Hands on while allowing our clients to control the project's direction. Each project will be handled by a dedicated account manager which is only a call, text or email away. Our developers are not part of the customer experience as we understand that they understand the backend language while our customers understand the frontend of their business.
It's simple...RESULTS. We are dedicated to the goal of finding what makes your potential client / customer who visits your website to act on your MESSAGE causing you to receive a text, phone call, sale or request for a quote. It's a simple focus but without it your website is just that a website... we make it a BUSINESS TOOL.
R-Design Group has been a critical asset for driving new potential tenants to our leasing department through their unique SEO services.
R-Design Group designed our responsive website for our quarterly online magazine. They always were on-time with our quarterly updates. When we asked for a online "Flip Book" of our site they did it without any issue. They are more than a hosting or design company, they are a partner in my business. Their team always performed over and above my expectactions.
As a Realtor my business is fluid and always changing. R-Design Group fully manages my online presence whether it's updating a new listing, creating a separate "Signature" website for multi-million dollar properties or providing professional photography services they are always timely and I couldn't manage my business without them.
We'll help you tell your story by creating your website that will focus on what your customer cares about.... instead of focusing on trying to get them to care about you.
Two Package Specials for those wanting a website without all the hassle.


text:
The Caverns Below: Impact of the nerf
HSReplay.net
Beat the Meta!
More posts by HSReplay.net.
7 Aug 2017 • 3 min read
The Caverns Below has been the most controversial quest from the Journey to Un'Goro expansion. On July 10, Blizzard responded to the demands of the players and announced that it was updating the card text from "Play four minions with the same name" to "Play five minions with the same name". This meant that the quest would now give a better chance to other slower, control-oriented decks, which it was said to have an unfair advantage over previously.
Was this update impactful or did it not make a significant difference, with cards such as Youthful Brewmaster and Gadgetzan Ferryman circumventing even the new, harder rule? To answer this question, we looked at how players behaved in 2 key periods. The first was a 7-day period before the update (June 11- June 17 2017), and the second was a 7-day period after the update was implemented (16 July- 22 July 2017).
Figure 1: Class usage as a percentage of total games played before and after the update
After the update, the Rogue class was played 2.5 percentage points less than before: over 150,000 games in which users chose other classes. The 2 time periods contain around the same total number of games (only varying by 0.19%), which means this decrease can't be explained by a seasonal fluctuation in overall gameplay. So, the Rogue class decreased in popularity over the span of a month, but let's see if this is because of Crystal Core being harder to get or not. By just looking at the Rogue class data, we see that The Caverns Below was used almost 20 times less after the update.
Figure 2: Number of times players included The Caverns Below in their decks when playing Rogue
Now let's investigate if the card became less powerful after the update. We can do that by analyzing the win rates of the players when they had The Caverns Below in their deck. Besides the sharp decrease in card usage, we can see that players used to win 51% of the time when they had the card in their deck, compared to a mere 37% after the update.
Figure 3: Win rates for games where the players had The Caverns Below in their decks
Dividing by region, we can see that the change in win percentage rates varies slightly across the 4 major HearthStone regions. China seems to be the most impacted by the update, with a 16.5 percentage points decrease.
Figure 4: Win rates for games where the players had The Caverns Below in their decks, divided by region
To sum up, the update has definitely had an impact on the power of the card, as well as its popularity. As the Knights of the Frozen Throne is coming up soon, we'll have to see what new cards will capture the attention of the players.
This guest article was written by Maria Ilie. Interested in writing articles? Reach out on Discord!
Card Analysis
More in Card Analysis
Winning with Whizbang
15 Aug 2018 – 3 min read
Deep Dive into Temporus
The Keleseth Effect
3 Nov 2017 – 3 min read
Two Days into the Frozen Throne Meta
It's been almost 48 hours since the release of Knights of the Frozen Throne and Hearthstone players worldwide have been hard at work solving the meta and trying to figure out which deck will be able to break the ice. After more than 1,
Alex Zeier
Alex Zeier 12 Aug 2017 • 3 min read
Just for Fun: Top Includes at Rank Floors
In Patch 7.1 (February 2017) Blizzard introduced the ranked floors feature, which prevent players from de-leveling once they reach ranks 15, 10 and 5. In theory, this was intended
Michael Bane
Michael Bane 13 Jul 2017 • 4 min read


Large non-woven tote bags are made of polypropylene cloth-like material and are perfect for keeping you organized. Features reinforced 22" handles, removable matching board bottom insert and a 10" gusset to carry more volume. Tote measures 15"H x 13"W x 10"D. Offers enormous imprint area of 10"H x 8"W. Available colors: black, purple, blue, hunter green, lime, orange, pink and red.
After selecting the bag color and quantity, fill in the required Additional Information below. Once you are satisfied with your choices, click on the Add to Cart Button above.


text:
"We Don't Even Know Who Is Dead or Alive": Trapped Inside an Assisted Living Facility During the Pandemic | ProPublica
by KOLUMN Magazine
KOLUMN Magazine
Nothing Gets Racists Angry Like Black Santa | LEVEL
What it's like to stay alive as the virus charts its fatal course through a home for the elderly in one of the worst-hit neighborhoods in the Bronx.
— Ava Kofman, ProPublica
When someone in the building died, a notice was often taped to a window in the lobby: "WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF OUR FRIEND…." The signs did not say how or where the friend had died, and because they were eventually removed, they could be easy to miss. In March, as these names began to appear more frequently at Bronxwood, an assisted living facility in New York, Varahn Chamblee tried to keep track. Varahn, who had lived at Bronxwood for almost a year, was president of its resident council. Her neighbors admired her poise and quiet confidence. She spoke regularly with management, but as the coronavirus swept through the five-story building, they told her as little about its progress as they told anyone else.
Some residents estimated that 25 people had died — that was the number Varahn had heard — but others thought the toll had to be higher. There was talk that a man on the second floor had been the first to go, followed by a beloved housekeeper. An administrator known as Mr. Stern called in sick. Around the same time, Varahn noticed that the woman who fed the pigeons had also disappeared.
The New York State Department of Health advises adult care facilities to inform residents about confirmed and suspected COVID-19 cases. But inhabitants of Bronxwood said they were kept in the dark. In the absence of official communication, it was difficult to sort out hearsay from fact. "I was told that it was 42 people," said Renee Johnson, who lived on the floor above Varahn. "But honestly we don't know. They are not telling us anything." When for a couple of weeks Renee herself was bedridden — fatigued and wheezing — there were rumors that she, too, had passed away.
U.S. Representative Jahana Hayes tests positive for COVID-19 | Reuters
Featured Image, Varahn Chamblee outside one of the hair salons where she works in the Bronx
Full Article @ ProPublica
KOLUMN Magazine December 1, 2020


text:
Q: Where can I get the source of packages start with `sun` in JDK? I'm learning java nio, and found the implementation classes are under sun.nio, which seems not provide sources in the jdk1.6/src.zip.
Is there packages open source? And where to find the sources of them?

A: You can download the java code and native code which implements java.nio at http://download.java.net/openjdk/jdk7/ (see top_dir/j2se/src/share/classes/java/nio/ after extracting the source zip)
Please note that you will be able to see the platform dependent code like the code for Solaris, Linux and Windows as well in this.

A: It's available under the Community Source Licence somewhere, but you would he better off getting to know the Berkeley Sockets API on which it is based.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Over the last few seasons the Damien high school baseball team followed the same script, start slow and round into form once the Baseline League season arrived.
Well, the Spartans are on their way again.
After losing their first six games of the season, the Spartans (5-6-1) have won five in a row, which included a narrow 5-4 win over host Tustin (6-4-2) on Monday in pool play action of the Babe Herman Tournament. The Spartans got the win with a another top performance turned in by Daniel Barrera.
The sophomore pitched six shutout innings, allowing three hits and striking out five to earn the victory. The offensive star of the day was Jason Flores as he went three for four with an RBI.
The Spartans almost gave the game away in the seventh inning as the Tillers scored three runs in the bottom seventh and had the tying run on second base. Reliever Christopher Campos was able to strikeout Sergio Alfaro to end the game.
Arcadia 3, Redlands 1: The Apaches (12-0) remained undefeated on the season with a narrow home win over the Terriers in Babe Herman Tournament action. Mikey Easter picked up his first win of the season and helped his own cause by banging out a double and driving in a run. Brandon Nguyen connected on a double along collected an RBI.
Upland 4, Pasadena 1: After winning their first three games, things have gone badly for the Bulldogs (4-8) as they suffered their sixth consecutive lost to the visiting Highlanders in Babe Herman Tournament action. Jackson Stuart had two hits for Pasadena.
South Hills 7, West Covina 0: Fliicia De La Torre turned in a outstanding performance in the circle for the Huskies (5-8, 1-0) in their Hacienda League home win over the Bulldogs (7-6-1, 0-1). De La Torre pitched a complete-game two-hitter and struck out 15. Jordan Reza had a double and a triple for South Hills.
Diamond Bar 24, Fountain Valley 2, 5 innings: The Brahmas (8-2) scored 12 runs in the second inning to easily defeat the host Barons in Savannah Tournament action. Miranda Montez smacked a home run and Sarah Ruhl drove in five runs.
Chino 8, Glendora 3: The Cowboys scored four runs in the third inning and three in the fourth that proved to be more than enough to defeat the visiting Tartans (10-9) in non-league action. Hannah Beyer drove in two runs.


Best Of Falcon Marvel Coloring Pages is free HD wallpaper. This wallpaper was upload at April 13, 2019 upload by tintuc247 in Coloring.
Description: Best Of Falcon Marvel Coloring Pages from the above 736x541 resolutions which is part of the Coloring. Download this image for free in HD resolution the choice "download button" below. If you do not find the exact resolution you are looking for, then go for a native or higher resolution.
Photo Falcon Coloring Pages Fresh 0 0d Spiderman Rituals You Should Know superior specifically for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvel symbol, falcon marvel, falcon marvel super hero cheat codes, source: canallaamuerte.com.
Photograph Best Spiderman and Captain America Coloring Pages – C trade leading specifically for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvel symbol, falcon marvel cc sims 4, falcon marvel imdb, source: c-trade.me.
Drawing Falcon Coloring Pages Beautiful Falcon Coloring Pages Unique Marvel selected for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvels, falcon marvel enemies, falcon marvel ic, source: canallaamuerte.com.
Images Falcon Coloring Pages Fresh 0 0d Spiderman Rituals You Should Know superior for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvel free printables, falcon marvel cc sims 4, falcon marvel wiki, source: canallaamuerte.com.
Snapshot Unique Captain America and Spiderman Coloring Pages – C trade the best for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: c-trade.me.
Illustration Falcon Coloring Pages Fresh 0 0d Spiderman Rituals You Should Know best for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: canallaamuerte.com.
Images Falcon Coloring Pages Fresh 0 0d Spiderman Rituals You Should Know leading just for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: canallaamuerte.com.
Images Falcon Coloring Pages Best Captain Falcon Coloring Pages Avengers the most beautiful for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvel, source: canallaamuerte.com.
Drawing Unique Captain America and Spiderman Coloring Pages – C trade special for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: c-trade.me.
Photograph 35 Best Coloring Pages Super Heros images most popular specifically for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvel, source: pinterest.com.
Picture Falcon Coloring Pages New Captain Falcon Coloring Pages Captain selected specifically for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: canallaamuerte.com.
Figure 141 Best Marvel coloring pages images most popular just for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: pinterest.com.
Picture Unique Captain America and Spiderman Coloring Pages – C trade the most beautiful specifically for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , source: c-trade.me.
Figure 35 Best Coloring Pages Super Heros images the most beautiful specifically for you from falcon marvel coloring pages , falcon marvel wiki, falcon marvel powers, falcon marvel, source: pinterest.com.
So, if you would like have all of these magnificent shots regarding (Beautiful falcon marvel coloring pages), just click save button to save these pics to your pc. These are prepared for download, if you appreciate and wish to take it, just click save badge on the web page, and it will be immediately down loaded in your notebook computer.
Lastly if you desire to get unique and the latest graphic related to (Inspirational falcon marvel coloring pages), please follow us on google plus or save this blog, we attempt our best to present you regular update with all new and fresh photos.
Hope you enjoy keeping right here. For some up-dates and latest information about (Luxury falcon marvel coloring pages) pics, please kindly follow us on tweets, path, Instagram and google plus, or you mark this page on bookmark section, We attempt to present you update regularly with all new and fresh images, enjoy your exploring, and find the ideal for you.
Thanks for visiting our website, contentabove (Fresh falcon marvel coloring pages) published by at . At this time we are pleased to declare that we have discovered a very interesting contentto be reviewed, namely (Lovely falcon marvel coloring pages) Many individuals looking for info about (Awesome falcon marvel coloring pages) and certainly one of them is you, is not it?
Download Best Of Falcon Marvel Coloring Pages with original resolution Click Here!
15 Photos of "Best Of Falcon Marvel Coloring Pages"
Related Posts of "Best Of Falcon Marvel Coloring Pages"


Adding properties to a watchlist will make it easier for you to compare the homes which you like.
You need to sign up for an account before you can use our watchlist. Creating an account is simple and it only takes a few moments.
Once you've activated your account, you will have the option to add a property to your watchlist from the search results page with one click. This will help you to remember the homes you are considering applying for, and will make it easier for you to find them next time you log in.
Adding a property to your watchlist doesn't mean you have to apply for the property, and you can remove it at any time.
To access your watchlist, click 'my account' at the top of the page followed by 'watchlist'. The feature image for the properties you have been added will be displayed along with the brief overview and location details.


text:
Blanco en blanco — Young Critics Workshop
Blanco en blanco (Théo Court, 2019)
12 oktober 2019 Satya Hariharan
Set some point after the turn of the 20th century,  Blanco en blanco (2019) takes us to a time and place with a vastly different economy of images. Working with a large-format camera, Pedro, a photographer hired by a mysterious Mr. Porter, arrives in the desolate Tierra del Fuego with an assignment to create marriage portraits, only to learn that the groom will not be present for the pictures. Through the reenactment of a fictionalized history, Théo Court brings forward compelling ideas about the truth of historical documents, the manipulation of reality for art's sake, and the price paid for images, delivered through a series of rigorous compositions that manifests the power of nature through light and landscape.
The first portrait Pedro takes on the property is of Sara, the bride-to-be on the precipice of puberty. She enters the gloomy room as Pedro sets up his camera to capture the image. He repeatedly has the housekeeper, Aurora, adjust Sara's pose, manipulating the reality in front of his lens until the one he seeks to create emerges. Pedro removes the lens cap, slowly counts to fifteen, and then covers the lens again, his exposure finished. Soon after, he prints and presents the image to one of Mr. Porter's men, who gives him half of their agreed-upon sum. The other half is due after the wedding, though when Pedro enquires as to when it will take place, he receives no clear answer.
While waiting for the wedding, Pedro makes acquaintance with one of Mr. Porter's workers, an unnamed bearded man who only speaks English (all other characters speak Spanish) in a curiously unidentifiable accent. The worker tells Pedro to come to him if he has any issues, because Mr. Porter is always unreachable, before asking "what do you think my portrait would look like?" The moment serves as a reminder that these images incur a cost that few can pay, yet Pedro is soon commissioned to make images of the people of the property.
To visualize the image-making process, Court breaks from the static wide shots (a 2.35:1 ratio) that dominate the film and cuts into the aspect ratio of the large format camera (1.3:1). The action in this sequence unfolds through the lens of Pedro's camera as he stages several photographs, making images of the hunters, the domestic workers (Aurora and three native women prisoners), the bearded man, and the landscapes. A lonely violin accompanies these images in the film's only instance of non-diegetic sound. The effect is an absurd dissonance as we watch the process of reality being transformed into images, though we never see the results. The sequence ends by cutting back to a wide shot with Pedro and his camera pointed at the audience as fog fills the screen and nature imposes itself on the image, swallowing it in a haze of gray.
Interstitial landscape shots mark the boundaries between scenes, creating a sense of ambiguous temporality that forces the audience to glean details from the amount of available light, the presence of snow, the contours of the mountains. The season slowly shifts from winter to spring, and Pedro remains at the property, waiting for the wedding, though conversations with the bearded man have revealed Mr. Porter intentions for the property to be the beginning of a colony, with plans for a church, social hierarchies, and the subjugation of the natives.
During this time, Pedro also develops an uncomfortable fascination with Mr. Porter's young fiancée. He displays a remarkable lack of awareness when he asks Aurora to give a necklace with his mother's hair to Sara, and despite Aurora's refusal ("What would Mr. Porter think?"), he eventually convinces her to help him stage another photograph of Sara. "It could be a beautiful image", he says, before once again severely overstepping his boundaries during the shoot. He orchestrates his own reality, stripping off Sara's dress and socks, pulling the straps of her underdress below her shoulders, even going as far as applying his saliva to her lips to give it some extra shine. He sexualizes her, manifesting his vision of beauty at a steep cost.
First comes a vicious beating delivered by two of Mr. Porter's men. Then, word is received that the wedding is cancelled. Trapped by the boundless, inescapable landscape, he is forced into a new assignment: to document the colonization that Mr. Porter has ordered. With the snow melted and frost thawed, Pedro accompanies a group of hunters who set out into the vast terrain and slaughter a group of natives.
Ever the artist, Pedro begins to create his reality once again. The shot returns to the POV of his camera as he dances around the screen for minutes, moving the men around, having them point their guns at an out-of-frame nothingness, stripping and arranging the bodies of the dead natives so that it's no longer clear they were shot in the back while running away, all in a race against the setting sun to create a version of history that makes art from death before the image escapes.
As the sun disappears behind the mountainous horizon, Pedro starts his final exposure. While counting to ten, a gust of wind blows up huge clouds of dust that obscure the rigorously framed and orchestrated bodies. When he yells "it's over" and finishes his exposure, it remains unclear whether the photograph with the highest cost of all has yielded anything of worth. Court cuts to white and we are left to reconcile with the images of history, the prices paid for them, and ultimately the veracity of the truth that has been co-opted today.
https://cinea.be/blanco-en-blanco-young-critics-workshop/
Théo Court
Satya Hariharan
Satya Hariharan is a participant in the Young Critics Workshop 2019.
Monos — Young Critics Workshop
Satya Hariharan on Alejandro Landes's 'Monos'.


text:
Sep 27, 2017 - Economy & Business
Obama's former chief of staff focuses on modern job skills
Ina Fried, author of Axios Login
Denis McDonough Photo: Brendan Smialowski / AP
Denis McDonough, former chief of staff to President Obama, has a new task: Getting more Americans a job in the modern workforce. McDonough has been tapped to chair Rework America, a Markle Foundation initiative. Why it matters: Half of adults living in distressed zip codes are trying to find gainful employment in the modern economy armed with only a high school education at best."Many workers have the skills employers are looking for to fill open positions, but don't know it because too many job listings are written in a way that excludes qualified job seekers rather than attracting them. They use credentials like a four-year degree as a proxy instead of listing the actual skills needed to work a job – which is a problem, since nearly seven in 10 Americans don't have a four-year degree but many have the relevant skills." — Denis McDonoughBig tech on board: Companies involved in the effort include Siemens USA, Microsoft, IBM, Princeton University, Hearsay Systems and Coursera.


text:
Q: Почему fetchone() возвращает None? Столкнулся с проблемой получения данных из БД.
def addKid():
    PARENT = input("NAME of father or mother: ")
    KGARTEN = input("NAME of KinderGarten: ")

    cur.execute(f"INSERT INTO Parents(NAME) VALUES(?);", PARENT )
    con.commit()

    cur.execute(f"SELECT max(ID_PARENTS) FROM Parents WHERE NAME = ?", [PARENT])
    PARENT_ID = cur.fetchone()
    con.commit()
    print("PARENT ", PARENT_ID)

    cur.execute(f"SELECT ID_KDG FROM kinderGarten WHERE NAME = ?", [KGARTEN])
    KGARTEN_ID = cur.fetchone()
    con.commit()
    print("KGARTEN_ID ", KGARTEN_ID)

Проблема заключается в том, что при вызове fetchone(), возвращается None.
Пытался найти в чем причина, нашел ответ насчет con.commit(),  но это тоже не помогает. Есть какие-то идеи?
Иногда функция отрабатываать правильно и возвращает 2 значения PARENT_ID, KGARTEN_ID, а иногда частично и возвращает PARENT_ID, KGARTEN_ID = None.

A: я бы делал это так:
import sqlite3

con = sqlite3.connect(r"/tmp/test.sqlite")
cur = con.cursor()

cur.execute("create table parents(id integer primary key autoincrement, name text)")

def add_kid(con, parent):
    cur = con.cursor()
    cur.execute(f"INSERT INTO Parents(NAME) VALUES(?)", [parent])
    con.commit()
    # return last generated AUTOINCREMENT ID
    return cur.lastrowid

def get_kgarten_id(kgarten):
    cur.execute(f"SELECT ID_KDG FROM kinderGarten WHERE NAME = ?", [kgarten])
    kgarten_id = cur.fetchone()
    return kgarten_id[0] if kgarten_id else None

PARENT = input("NAME of father or mother: ")
KGARTEN = input("NAME of KinderGarten: ")

parent_id = add_kid(con, PARENT)
kgarten_id = get_kgarten_id(KGARTEN)

A: Убери con.commit, это пуш в БД, а ты тянешь от туда.
Мой вариант кода :
sql = "SELECT id_user FROM users WHERE id_user=%s"
        val = (str(item),)
        cur.execute(sql, val)
        chek = cur.fetchone()

A:    db = 'database.db'

   def search(a):
        conn = sqlite3.connect(db)
        cursor = conn.execute("SELECT * FROM table WHERE a = ?", (a,)).fetchone()

        if cursor is None:
            conn.close()
            return None
        else:
            conn.close()
            return cursor[0]


Thank you to our panel of judges for agreeing to help us out!
We hope that this set up will allow for a smooth and efficient judging process. Following each list of submissions is the rubric for judging that specific category. If you have any questions or concerns throughout this process, please do not hesitate to contact Sunita Jaswal, local_activities@hq.acm.org.
Listed below is a brief description of what we expect, followed by each chapters' submission.
Chapters should apply to the Outstanding Chapter Website category if they have maintained an outstanding chapter website. They should tell us about the design and content as well as any noteworthy features. They should explain how it was created and how it is kept up to date. A URL must be provided!


We didn't get to run yesterday so I was especially longing to hit the road today. Then, of course, I had an afternoon meeting that ran long. I was hoping to run six dogs to the library to meet Kitty and the other two at a concert there. I fed the dogs late and we were way behind schedule. I didn't want to run them right after eating but after 45 minutes I had everything in order so we went!
This would be a test of how well the dogs do in public. We took the path along Lindberg through Celery Bog and then joined Northwestern at Cherry Lane. There was a fair amount of road and foot traffic but not nearly as much as there will be in another week. The dogs did well. They quickly get the rhythm and Bob is doing well at playing the lead dog and following my calls. I rarely get tripped...unless my shoe comes untied (as it did today).
Coming through campus was a non-event. The dogs pretty much ignore other people. I can usually keep them in line by just picking up the pace if they get distracted. It was a good quick run to the library and then I picked up Harley from Kitty and walked to the restaurant while Kitty drove with Grazie. Kitty got a parking space right by our table so I put the foster dogs in the car with Grazie. The boys stayed on mats by us while we ate. Jarreau and Morgan did great but Marley was constantly breaking his stay. The dogs in the car got a lot of attention from passers-by. Although Grazie hides in the driver's footwell, the other dogs seemed fine in the car - alert but content and not at all bothered by the busy area.


Last month we had a poll on social media to determine our front cover model. It was a tough call between two super sweet puppies, Daisy the bulldog and Henry the chocolate lab.
By a narrow margin, Daisy was voted to be the winner for this year's cover!
If you are interested in picking up your own free copy of the off-leash guide, visit the Calgary Dog Life site page HERE and find a distributor nearest you!


WordPress is a blogging platform, not the best one, although it did start a chain of great platforms. Unfortunately, because of it's fast popularity, people began using it to build small business websites with WordPress, and this is when using WordPress became such a problem. WordPress lost it's chance to grow into a better blogging platform, and created a systematic failure for small business web design.
I hate to say it, but other website designers sometimes make a business of doing as little work as possible on someones website to end up getting paid 12,000 dollars. A WordPress website always consists of a bad template, with your information and pictures thrown in. Sometimes a WordPress website company will state that they are building you a custom site, and 9 out of 10 times this means, all they do is change the color and imagery. Now this wouldn't be such a big deal if not being run through Wordpress, but using it means you have a duplicate code and design as thousands of people only a few miles from you. What does this mean?
Having a duplicate website as thousands of others in your area means your visitors are bouncing right off your website and that's if they can even find you. Duplicate WordPress also gives google the impression your website isn't unique (because it's not) so it will just drop your search engine rankings. I will get more on this subject later in this post, but for now, what you need to know is this means less work for your web designer and a terrible result for your business.
Wordpress web designers can do very little work and charge you thousands for a bad site.
If you need 10 reasons why Wordpress websites are bad, this can cover them all. Wordpress web design is full of security errors, expensive problems, and constant back-end annoyances. The number of problems you encounter while working with WordPress is truly limitless, but here are some issues that most users have probably encountered quite often.
WordPress Plugins can keep acting up and conflict with one another.
Plugins are another way for WordPress website designers to do a little work and cause big issues. Someitmes a plugin or code that incorrectly tries to make some changes into admin section can also lock you out. You may also lose access to admin area due to a hacked WordPress site. This means you can't login into your website and you may be permanently locked out of your WordPress Dashboard until you pay someone to fix it for you, if they can.
Watch out for the "white screen of death" as well. This is the not-so-perfect combination of common and terrifying. You'll be working on something, and then your whole page will just go white. This is so common in WordPress they have it as the first item on their "Common Wordpress Errors" page. It's not a good sign when your web development platform has to have a page dedicated to all the problems you'll probably meet.
You need to look out for redirect issues caused by plugins as well, these can be caused by a mis-configuration when the plugin was used. Basically when using wordpress plugins (they are the only option) you'll need to be ready to pay out the wahzoo for all the problems that occur, or else your website will just be more of a mess.
Spam comments that get out of control.
This isn't too big of a deal, just annoying. If you have a WordPress site, chances are you've had to deal with spam comments. Your site can be brand new without any traffic at all, and because your using WordPress, spam will find a way to start infiltrating your comments section.
3. Watch out for Security Issues.
I know that last category could have been this whole blog post, but no, that's just one of the many reasons you shouldn't use wordpress. The source code of WordPress is the same across all their templates, this makes it so easy for hackers and robots to take all your information. Yes I said robots, these are programs and sites that are pretty much just viruses for websites. You don't need a hacker to hack your website, just a small program someone turned on. These robots go and steal all your personal information, secured files, and emails. Oh man do these things love to steal emails. You and your customers could have their emails used for spam when using a WordPress site.
The minute you choose to use WordPress web design, now your stuck in the small opening of Wordpress. If you want to make your site look a little better, at a different feature, try to rise on search engines, you can't. There are small options to try to accommodate these desires but they are only a tenth of what your trying to accomplish. You can try paying someone more then your website costs to "hack" your code into something else. Don't actually do this, it's an enormous security issue because you can't ever update your Wordpress site. Seeing they have a new problem every week that's really important.
Not to mention the limitations of your web designer. They aren't planning on doing everything for free, be ready to open your checkbook more than once or twice when using a WordPress web designer.
5. Wordpress isn't built for business.
WordPress has completely abandoned any quality web development in favor of making it easy for barely technical people to throw together a quick website with some form of content management. While this is great for cheap web designers and low-skilled developers trying to make a buck, it won't do anything for the needs of your business.
If a developer or development company is recommending WordPress for a company website, you should instantly question their industry knowledge. The only reason they would be doing this is it is the easiest and cheapest route for them to take, but not for you. Or they are completely knew to website design and don't know what they are doing. Both reasons will cost you a large quantity of time and money.


Having grown up in the real estate business and as a native of Charlotte, Lisa is uniquely poised to help buyers and sellers in Charlotte and the surrounding areas.
Lisa has been in the real estate business herself for almost two decades and enjoys working with both buyers and sellers. Lisa knows every unique area, the neighborhoods and is respectful of your time and your budget when helping you make your real estate decisions.
As the proud mother of two children Lisa also understands the importance of good school districts and if that is your priority it is hers as well.
Contact Lisa at 704-756-8105 or mail4crawford@aol.com.