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Mike Johnston
Story by Miguel Monroy | Photos by Elle Jaye
There are all kinds of drumming role models— jazz forefathers, rock gods, flashy young fire-breathers. This one has become a modern-day hero by devising an entirely new way to inspire and serve a generation of players with a never-ending hunger for information.
It's no secret that drumming education is undergoing some major changes, as more and more instructors are beginning to offer online lessons in addition to traditional one-on one private instruction in local drum shops and music schools. Mike Johnston, creator of MikesLessons.com, was one of the first teachers to capitalize on the wide-reaching power of the Internet, after videos he uploaded to YouTube for his private students went viral and gained more than a million views. Seeing that unexpected response as a sign of demand for high-quality educational content online, Johnston created a website where students could purchase and download prerecorded video lessons and watch them on their computers or iPods. Two years later, in 2008, Mike went space age and launched the world's first live-stream drum-lesson service, which remains the preeminent one of its kind.
But was it always a goal to revolutionize music education through the Web? Not even close. Johnston started out teaching drums in a music store in his hometown of Sacramento, California, while playing in the alternative-rock band Simon Says. As the group's popularity began to grow, Johnston realized that he was more excited about teaching than about playing on stage to thousands of people. He eventually chose to leave the touring life to focus on his true passion: educating others. MikesLessons.com was just a natural progression as Internet technology became more powerful and video production tools became more readily available. The operation has since expanded to include weeklong camps at Johnston's facility in Folsom, California, and Mike continues to crank out top-notch prerecorded video lessons between his regular three-times-a-week live streams.
Now with more than 9,000 MikesLessons.com students and nearly 70,000 YouTube subscribers, plus thousands of followers on Facebook and Twitter, Johnston is undeniably one of the most watched and devotedly supported personalities in modern drumming education. Yet despite all of his success, he remains incredibly humble and gracious, and his passionate, sharing spirit continues to permeate every lesson he teaches, every clinic he conducts, and every video he records. And when approached for his fi rst cover story, Mike wanted to be sure to give something back to you, the readers of MD, for all of your support, in the form of the fi ve-step Practical Independence Challenge included as this month's Rock & Jazz Clinic. Before we get to that lesson, however, let's take a few minutes to talk shop with the man himself.
MD: How did your own educational journey begin?
Mike: I started taking lessons when I was about five years old, and I never stopped. I'm still taking lessons, from Will Kennedy, the drummer for the Yellowjackets. Music education played a huge role in my growth as a young drummer. I did school band, but I wasn't learning very fast, and I was always making fifth chair. My private instructors just assumed I didn't practice because I wasn't growing, but I was actually practicing four or five hours a day.
It was really frustrating in the beginning. It almost felt like I had a learning disability for the instrument. But I didn't know what sucking was, and I didn't know what being "bad" at something was. I just knew that I loved it. It wasn't until junior high that I realized how far behind my peers I really was.
MD: So what were some of the things you did to try to catch up?
Mike: Mainly, I started teaching myself. I would take lessons with my private teacher and pretend that I understood him, but I didn't. It wasn't his fault; he was a great teacher. But I would go home, put all the music on the floor, and think: What is he asking me to do here? What's the difference between quarter notes, 8th notes, and 16th notes?
My instructor would give me a one-measure 16th-note groove, and I would just look at the first four notes for an hour. Eventually, after four hours of practicing, I would try to play the entire one-measure groove. Then my friends would just sight-read it down, and I realized even more how far behind I was. I'd have to work ten times as long on my lessons as my peers would have to.
At the time, I didn't know how to say, "I don't get this." But that's also what really shaped me as a teacher. I struggled so hard, and I still do. If you gave me something brand new right now, I would have to dissect it, and it would take me four times longer than anyone else to learn it. But when I'm done, I really know it. And I can teach it and break it down to anyone, because I've had to work through every crack and crevice of it for myself.
MD: So it seems that reading music was more of an obstacle for you than playing was.
Mike: Yeah, man. I couldn't figure out what it meant, as far as the duration of each note. Being in school band made it a little confusing, because I was hearing the explanation to the wind instruments, and I could understand why they played a whole note for four beats. But why did I just hit the drum once? It wasn't computing. Now I would just ask, but as a kid I was too afraid to ask someone to explain it. That experience really contributed to my teaching too. Anything that I teach now, whether it be a rudiment, a chop, or an exercise, I usually have four or five explanations of that exact same thing so that when I see in students' eyes that they're confused, I can say, "Okay, think of it like this…." And if that doesn't work, I'm like, "Okay, let's write it out on the board." And so on. I just keep going through each possible way to teach it until I see their eyes click, and then I know they've got it.
MD: Do you remember a turning point when it finally clicked for you?
Mike: Yeah. In my early twenties, I learned my own system and stopped being ashamed of it. I started embracing the way I learn. I realized that I had to see it, hear it, and then learn it one limb at a time. First, I would write out what I was learning, so I could see it. Then I'd program it with a drum machine and listen to it at about 50 or 60 bpm. Then I would play one limb at a time. Then, slowly, I'd add in one note of the bass drum part at a time, and then the snare, and so on.
MD: Was there anything else you learned as a drum student that carried over into your method of teaching?
Mike: Before I had my first professional drum teacher, Pete Magadini, I had a few teachers that would say things like, "That's not how you play the hi-hat with your foot," or, "That's not how you do this," and it just seemed so absolute. I remember thinking: I'm never going to do that with my students. My students are going to have a clear picture of the desired result in their head. I will show them the technique I think will help them get there, but I will encourage them to experiment. And if they get to that desired result, I'm not going to bug them about the technique they're using. I care more about the finished product than having students with perfect technique that can't communicate their sound.
MD: Even now, as a successful educator, you're still taking lessons. Why is that?
Mike: I got to the point where I felt good about my delivery of education, that I could explain things fairly well, but I wasn't happy with my personal drumming. I felt like it was missing a key ingredient, which was a pulse. The drummers that I love, whether it be Dave Weckl, Steve Gadd, Benny Greb, or whoever, even when they play their flashiest chops it still has a pulse. I didn't have that. So I asked myself, Who has this pulse more than anybody in a fusion setting? Because that's the direction I was heading as a player. To me, it was Will Kennedy. Anything he's ever done, with the Yellowjackets, Bobby McFerrin, or anyone else, there's always a great pulse.
I didn't know Will, and we didn't share a single endorsement, so I didn't have an "in" with him. I just contacted him and told him what I was looking for. He didn't know who I was or what I did, but he was totally cool about working with me. It started by sending him videos of me playing along with tracks that he had sent. He would critique it and say, "Okay, do it again and send it back with these new corrections."
Our lessons slowly morphed, and he'd say, "Okay, this is a Yellowjackets tune called 'Freedomland.' This is the A section, and this is the B section. You've got a month." I would work endlessly on it and then send it back. Then he'd say, "Why did you contact me?" And I'd say, "To have a pulse." Then he'd say, "Then why are you worried so much about the chops, the fills, and the execution of the groove? You're not focusing on the whole reason you contacted me." Then I'd have to go back and make sure that everything I played had this push to it, this quarter-note pulse.
Any time he described the pulse of a specific song, he would say, "The pulse is defended by…" That phrase told me how important pulse was to him. It was like there was an army in front of a castle, and the castle was the pulse. The army has to defend the pulse at all costs. The first time he said it, I had to sit down and soak it in. He would say that the pulse was defended by the ride, the kick, the snare, or whatever, and it just blew me away.
THE INTERNET REVOLUTION
MD: How did MikesLessons.com begin?
Mike: About seven or eight years ago I was in a signed major-label band called Simon Says. We sounded like Rage Against the Korn Tones. [laughs] I left that band so I could come home and teach full time at Skip's Music in Sacramento. That was going to be my future, and I was really happy about it, because I knew that teaching is where I should be. I would go on little three- to four-day tours to help bands out. And at that time, there was this brand-new website called YouTube that hosted videos. So I figured, "Wow! I can film a video of my students' lessons, put them on this new website, and tell them when I'm going to be out of town to work on the stuff in that video at no charge. Then when I come back, we can work on it together." I literally had to spell out the website to the parents, because YouTube was still so new.
Well, I would come back, and the video, which I only showed to a few students, would have 10,000 views. I was like, "That's got to be a mistake—that can't be right." Then I'd do it again, and it would get 15,000 views. And the next one would have 60,000 views. That kept happening, but I was horrible. I couldn't speak to a camera. My sound was bad. And I didn't know how to work a mixing board and microphones. But it was good enough for my students at the time, so I kept making more, and eventually it got to the point that there were about a million views total between all of my videos.
Finally, I thought, Man, if I charged for this, I would value the content more, and the people purchasing it would value it WAY more. Sometimes, when you get free educational content, it's in one ear and out the other. But when you pay, you want to get your money's worth, so you practice it. I think I had about 20,000 subscribers at the time, and I thought maybe I could get 10 or 20 percent of these people to follow me over to a site that would take education a bit more seriously than my YouTube videos. The videos I make for YouTube are tips and tricks—the fun stuff. I wanted my website to be filled with legit education that was worth charging for.
The way I did the site was by asking myself, What's the website I wish Dave Weckl and Vinnie Colaiuta had built for me? And I just built it. The distance between myself and Vinnie—which is vast—is probably similar to the distance between myself and some of these students who are just starting out. So I made a website that I would have wanted.
MD: What led you to choose the life of an educator as opposed to continuing to perform in a band setting?
Mike: When I was with my band, I never knew that a record deal was possible. It just kind of happened, and it was a big deal. We were touring with some of the biggest bands in the world, like Limp Bizkit, Korn, and Foo Fighters. I'm really lucky that I got a chance to see that side of the industry. The crowds were getting into the tens of thousands, but I felt almost nothing on stage. Actually, all I thought was that I couldn't wait to get off the stage so I could take the other drummers onto the bus and explain this thing I'd just thought of. All of a sudden, it started to click, and I realized: Wait a minute. I'm in the middle of most drummers' dreams, and all I'm thinking about is explaining things to other drummers.
I started sharing this with my teacher at the time, Pete Magadini. Pete was the one that pushed me into the world of teaching as a profession. He's the one that said, "Look, you're a good drummer, but when you explain something to me your eyes light up in a totally different way. I think you really have a talent for explaining things to people, and more than anything you have a passion for it."
So I went to my band and was like, "Guys, I've got you lined up with four drummers that are far superior to me to audition for the band. I want to go home and be a teacher for the rest of my life." And at the time I wasn't planning on going home to start this new thing that was going to influence drumming education on a global scale. I just thought I was going to quit my band and go home to teach in a local drum shop for the rest of my life. And I was really excited about it.
THE VIRTUAL AND THE PERSONAL
MD: What exactly do people get as members of MikesLessons.com?
Mike: There are two different services that the website offers. There's downloadable prerecorded content, and then there's a live-streaming service. It's a monthly subscription that gives you live-streaming lessons at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. PST on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Monday is beginner, Tuesday is intermediate, and Wednesday is advanced. Each lesson is about twenty-five to thirty minutes of instruction, and then we do questions and answers, which is also live. So when you're logged in, you can ask me anything you want. We have a chat screener keeping track of all the questions, who happens to be my awesome wife, Amber. She reads the questions, and then I answer them live on camera. Those accounts can merge, so you can have downloadable content and the live-streaming service.
MD: You also offer drum camps throughout the year. What do those entail?
Mike: Drum camps happen every summer, and they are actually the reason I opened the MikesLessons.com facility. The website used to be run out of a spare bedroom in my house, but I wanted to expand it into something that was more personal. So we found a building that was in the same parking lot as a hotel, on the river in Sacramento. People can fly in, stay here for a week, and just wake up in the morning and walk to the building. There are ten camps per summer, either intermediate or advanced, and they're six days long.
Most of the camps are coed, but we do two camps per year that are all female, so they can share stories with each other that most male drummers wouldn't relate to. And I wanted more than anything for them to look around the room and realize they're not alone in this. We limit all the camps to eight people, because I want to know everyone's first and last name. I want to know what they do for a living, their weaknesses and strengths, and I want everything to be very personal.
MD: One of your camps focuses on educating other educators. What do those camps look like?
Mike: All kinds of teachers come to that. Some people have been teaching for twenty years, and they think their teaching is getting a little stale, or they're looking for a fresh take on how to teach certain things. Others are only sixteen or seventeen years old and thinking about becoming teachers. It's a really fun camp, because it's my passion, and I love being surrounded by people that share that passion.
Every morning they walk in and there are about ten drumming topics on a board. Each teacher has to pick a topic and try to teach it to everyone in about five minutes. Or sometimes we'll have one topic, and we'll each get up and give a small clinic on it so we can see the different ways that people explain things. We really explore the delivery of education, branding, promoting, and what it's like to be an educator nowadays. To be an educator now, it's important to have great video content so parents can see you before they meet you. You should at least have a decent website that shows your contact information, teaching ability, and playing ability. You also need to be on top of social media and know how to approach it professionally.
MD: Do some people in the teacher camp want to do the same thing as you? Is the MikesLessons.com business model something you'd like to see other people doing as well?
Mike: Yes, I think it's awesome! Teaching isn't just something you do when playing doesn't work out. It can be your Plan A instead of Plan B. It was for me. I mean, I left a signed touring band so I could come home and teach, and I love it more than anything. And I love that other people want to do what I'm doing. The thing that makes MikesLessons.com unique is not the delivery of video content or the live streaming—it's me. And what would make your lessons unique is you.
MD: Some people are skeptical of online education because they're worried about losing the one-on-one relationship between student and teacher. How do you maintain a sense of community on such a global scale?
Mike: I'm aware that the big knock with online education is the loss of the one-on-one relationship, so one thing we have is student reviews on Tuesday nights before the live lesson. As a member of MikesLessons.com, you get access to a private YouTube channel where you can upload your stuff. No matter how many get uploaded, I review every video live. So I'll say, "Okay, this video is from Chris Hancock, and he's working on songo variations." Then I roll the clip of Chris, come back on camera, and critique it. My students are given a heads-up that their video will be reviewed on a specific night, so they can log in and watch the review.
The other thing we have is the Mike's Lessons Family Facebook page, which you get added to when you sign up. It's a collection of some of the greatest personalities and attitudes in the drum community. If someone puts up a post saying they're bummed and thinking maybe drums isn't for them, within five minutes there will be a bunch of posts talking them off the ledge. So between the student reviews and the Family Facebook page, we're able to close that gap.
The other thing is I do my homework. When we get a new student, I check out what kind of drumset they have and what their drum room looks like. I want to know everything about them so that when my wife, Amber, tells me, "Okay, Cole Paramore has a question," I instantly know that he lives in Juneau, Alaska, has a DW kit, and his father made his snare. And on the right side of his ride, he has the 18″ Sand crash. I have to know all that about my students, because that can close the gap, and I can give them better advice.
MD: How do you prepare for lessons and keep things fresh?
Mike: I'm still a student. I'm not done learning, and as soon as I learn new things I can't wait to pass them on to my students. The other thing is there are standards that have to be taught over and over again. Time signatures weren't only explained to me once. The samba wasn't only explained to me once. Sometimes I'll teach an intermediate lesson on something that I've already taught, like samba, because we have a lot of new students who didn't see it before. Then I'll teach samba variations in the advanced class, which will be content that I know I've never taught before.
MD: You mentioned your own personal development as a drummer. How much time do you get to practice these days?
Mike: I get up early, around 6:30 a.m., and try to get to work by 8 a.m. That's when I make the PDFs and MP3s for that day's live lesson. We broadcast the lesson at 11 a.m., and that goes until about noon. The next five hours are either practice time or time to record new content. For the five months leading up to PASIC this past fall, I spent that time preparing for my clinic.
Right now, my practice time is spent on whatever Will Kennedy gives me to work on or something I'm trying to work through on my own. For example, I'll pick a subdivision and just improvise on that for about twenty minutes. Then I'll pick a second subdivision and improvise between the two for another half hour. Then I'll tackle some physical weakness, like singles between my hands and my feet or up-tempo swing, for ten minutes.
My biggest focus for the past six or seven months has been on drum solos. They used to scare the crap out of me. But I took the Michael Jordan principle, where he says, "Make your weakness your strength." I decided that I was sick of hiding from drum solos, and I started tackling them. I recorded myself every night and listened to the solo on my way home, and then did it again the next day. The entire time I'm paying attention to the process, so I can pass it off to my students.
After PASIC, which was where I performed my first real drum solo, I couldn't wait to tell my students about my journey, what was going through my head, how I created the solo, and the people that helped me create it. JP Bouvet, Benny Greb, Jost Nickel, and Will Kennedy were so important in the development of my solo. Will was all about pulse. My solo was in 15/8, but my left foot was playing quarter notes throughout, so no matter how weird it got, the audience always had a pulse to follow. JP Bouvet told me to pick four or five "scenes" that I was very comfortable playing. When you have those scenes, all you have to do is create the connecting dots to get from one to the next. Jost Nickel, who is one of my favorite soloists, told me to find tempos, or just one tempo, that I enjoyed playing. Everyone has a "home tempo." If I asked you to just tap your foot to quarter notes, what tempo would that be?
Benny Greb told me to "Play the hits." What he meant by that was that we all have things in our drumming repertoire that are our number-one singles. He told me not to be scared to play something that I've already played in front of other people. When you go see your favorite band, what's your favorite part of the concert? It's when they play their hits. So play the things that you love to play, and it will show through.
MD: At one point during your clinic at PASIC, you discussed how drummers should encourage and support one another. You've also promoted similar philosophies online with ideas like the Positive Post Campaign. What message are you trying to get across, and why is it so important?
Mike: We know why a lot of people are so negative: It makes them feel better about themselves. It's just not necessary, though. I think one thing that's hard for people to do sometimes is to remember their own personal time line.
I have a friend, Chris Robyn, who drums for the band Far. He's only a year older than me, but he's like twenty years wiser. He took me under his wing, and I really look up to him. We would go to shows and see drummers that in my opinion at the time were not very good. After we'd leave, I'd be waiting for Chris to go off and talk smack about the drummer, but it would never happen. So finally I would ask, "Dude, what did you think of the drummer?" And Chris would say, "Man, his hi-hats were crisp," and then he'd stop talking.
I didn't understand. I remember thinking, You must have heard the same thing I did. It was terrible! This went on for a while, and eventually I got it. What's the point of saying something negative? Do I know his story? Is he bad, or is he just early on his drumming time line? Early on my time line I was terrible too, but I was as good as I could have been at the time.
I don't know people's circumstances. I don't know how much time they get to practice or if they take lessons, so who am I to judge what they're doing? As that philosophy grew and I became more involved in the world of YouTube, it became even more important. I would see people just tearing each other apart. But we're all trying to do the exact same thing, which is to be great at our instrument, so why would you make fun of somebody or say that they suck?
MD: Speaking of which, you have a slogan that you often use: "Embrace the suck." What does that mean?
Mike: "Embrace the suck" is written on a bracelet that we give to everyone at our drum camps. I was watching so many people beat themselves up about their weaknesses. To me, weaknesses have nothing to do with talent; they have to do with what you focus on. The things that people are weak at are the things they haven't put enough focus on. I say let's find your weaknesses, and instead of getting bummed out about them, let's get excited about them. Once we know what they are, we can work on them together. And the chances are that your weaknesses were probably my weaknesses too, so I can tell you how I overcame them and walk with you, step by step, to help you do the same. Embrace the suck!
Mikes' Favorites
Phil Collins Face Value (Phil Collins) /// Barkmarket L. Ron (Rock Savage) /// Billy Cobham Spectrum (Billy Cobham) /// Bobby McFerrin Bang! Zoom (Will Kennedy) /// Faith No More Angel Dust (Mike Bordin) /// Brotherly One Sweet Life (programmed) /// The Cinematic Orchestra Every Day (Luke Flowers) /// The Dear Hunter Migrant (Nick Crescenzo) /// John Scofield Up All Night (Adam Deitch)
Mike's Kit
Drums: Gretsch USA Custom in vintage marine pearl finish, including a 7×10 tom, a 14×16 floor tom, an 18×22 bass drum, and a 5×12 side snare, plus a 5.5×14 Brooklyn series main snare in satin dark ebony finish
Cymbals: Meinl Byzance series, including 14″ Extra Dry Medium hi-hats, an 18″ Extra Dry Thin crash, a 21″ Mike Johnston Transition ride, an 18″ Sand crash, and a 20″ Extra Thin Hammered crash
Heads: Aquarian Response 2 Coated snare batter, Super 2 Coated tom batters and Classic Clear bottoms, and Force I Clear bass drum batter and Force I Coated front head
Sticks: Vater Mike Johnston 2451 hickory model
Hardware: DW, including 9000 series stands and 5000 series bass drum pedal and hi-hat stand; custom seat by Rooster Thrones
Travis Orbin
Sandy Gennaro
Stella Mozgawa
Alvin Taylor
Drums Don't Lie
A 5-Step Workout for Building Coordination Over a Pulse
Rhythm And Timing Part 2: Two-Note 16th Groupings
Mickey Roker Style and Analysis
Spock's Beard's Jimmy Keegan
John "Willie" Wilcox
Daughtry's Robin Diaz
Story by Billy Amendola | Photos by Alex Solca
David Jarnstrom


Grr, I am annoyed. I spend a long time last night debating in my head what I wanted for dinner. Did I want some sort of pasta-cream-cheese-broccoli dish? Or did I want to fry up a burger from Wolfe's Neck Farm?
I went with the pasta dish and turned to Bittman's "How To Cook Everything." Buoyed by my recent success with his biscuit recipe, I knew I could find some good recipe for a creamy pasta sauce.
Lo and behold... Alfredo sauce. Yes! And I had all the ingredients! More yes!
But as I was following the directions, something felt wrong. Two eggs? And you just whisk it all together et voila? I don't think so... but I had faith. The biscuits gave me faith.
Alas, I was wrong. It was a chunky, separated mess. I tried to treat it like Carbonara and toss it with the hot pasta, but it never came together in that decadent, creamy way that is characteristic of Alfredo sauce.
And the worst part is, is that I should have known better. I've made approximations of Alfredo sauce before. A quick search of the Internets would have shown me a recipe that I felt more confident in. And I wouldn't have wasted all that delicious cream, butter, and cheese.
What? Oh, of course I ate it. But I would have rather had that burger.
Damn! Cooking fail! Eggs really are difficult to work with sometimes. Boy this snowed in thing is getting crazy! Can't wait to see you in 3 weeks!!!


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I always suffered from the problem of very less hair growth. I thought of undergoing hair transplant but then one of my friend suggested me to try the natural way first. She suggested me to use virgin coconut oil on my hair with a thorough massage on the scalp. I continuously applied it for 2-3 months and to my surprise, I saw new hair growing. Regular use of this oil has stimulated my hair growth to a great extent. I recommend using VCO for hair growth.


Anderson Fire Protection Inc, is seeking a motivated journeyman to join our growing and dynamic company. Serving the GTA, Anderson Fire Protection is a full service provider of inspections, repairs and replacements as well as new installations of sprinkler systems and other commercial fire safety equipment. Providing high quality services to our customers is our number one goal.
We welcome resumes for all of the positions that are advertises publicly. We do not accept unsolicited resumes. Only those candidates invited for an interview will have receipt of their application acknowledged. Please ensure that the job title is clearly stated in the subject line of all correspondence.


Don't let your heart cloud your judgment about safe and healthy food choices.
Clean hands help prevent infections.
CDC - Protect Your Eyes: Healthy and Safe Contact Lens Cleaning and Use. Millions of people use contact lenses every day but lens cleaning practices can lead to eye infections. Hands should be washed before handling contact lenses and contacts should be properly cleaned, disinfected, and stored to ensure eye health and safety. Following your eye doctor's recommendations and a few simple steps can lead to healthy daily contact lens use.


When you've got something to celebrate you want to be sure the celebration is really memorable and a Sweet Tree adds not only something sweet, but also makes the event stay in people's minds for a long time.
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ANGERME dance outdoors in the MV for their 25th single titled Tade Kuu Mushi mo Like it!
Out October 31st, the single will be a double a-side release along with the track 46 Okunen LOVE.
Nothing says "today is going to be a good day" like two Hello! Project MVs in one day. After getting a chance to enjoy Morning Musume '18's Furari Ginza MV, we now get to see what ANGERME are up to for their Halloween release. It's not exactly spooky, but it's certainly worth a look.
Taking place outdoors, we get to see the members as they dance to the funky beat of the song. There's not that many shots in this release, with most of the other scenes showing off the members as they dance alone to the song or chill with something, like a panda plush. Simple, but it gets the job done.
However, it's the perfect canvas for the song and trust me, it's a good one. The funky sound of the song makes for the perfect way for members to show off their passionate dance moves. Add in a few English words to the vocals and you have a pretty fun release that's sure to please fans of the group.
We're one more song away from completely enjoying this single. But, for now this MV is sure to calm down that need for ANGERME music. Make sure to enjoy it below!


Eden Prairie, Minn. – December 9, 2016 – MTS Systems Corporation (NASDAQ: MTSC), a leading global supplier of high-performance test systems and sensors, today announced that as a result of its inability to timely file its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended October 1, 2016 (the "Annual Report"), it has received a notice from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC ("Nasdaq") that the company is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1) for continued listing. MTS can, and intends to, regain compliance with Nasdaq's filing requirements for continued listing.
As previously disclosed, MTS was unable to timely file its Annual Report with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") because of an internal investigation relating to apparent violations by certain employees in its China operations of the company's code of conduct. As a result of this ongoing investigation, the company will be unable to file the Annual Report by the extended due date of December 15, 2016.
The notification from Nasdaq notes that MTS is required to submit a plan to regain compliance with Nasdaq's filing requirements for continued listing within 60 calendar days of the date of the Nasdaq notification letter. Upon acceptance of the company's compliance plan, Nasdaq is permitted to grant an extension of up to 180 calendar days from the Annual Report's filing due date, or until May 30, 2017, for the company to regain compliance with Nasdaq's filing requirements for continued listing. The notice has no immediate effect on the listing of the MTS's common stock on Nasdaq.
This release contains "forward-looking statements" made pursuant to the safe harbor provision of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the anticipated timeframe for filing the Annual Report. These statements are based on MTS's current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. Risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to: (1) the timing and outcome of the internal investigation, including the possible identification of additional facts that could have an impact on MTS's historical or future financial results; (2) potential damage to MTS's China operations and financial results resulting from the conflict of interest described in this release and related remedial measures; and (3) other risks beyond the control of MTS. Additional factors that could cause MTS's actual results to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, those described in the "Risk Factors" section in MTS's most recent Form 10-K filed with the SEC and updated in any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other filings with the SEC, each of which is available on MTS's website at www.mts.com or the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which statements are made, and MTS undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date on which such statement is made to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events or circumstances.


The Older Americans Act (OAA) is the principal piece of federal legislation designed to provide a range of community services to adults age sixty and above. The law was enacted in 1965, during a time when the federal government was inaugurating a broad range of domestic social policies. The overarching goal of the OAA—to promote the independence of older Americans— has remained largely unchanged since its enactment. However, there have been important changes in emphasis and strategy within that overarching framework. In addition to assuring provision of a range of services to older Americans, the OAA was also central to creating an infrastructure of organizations and advocates working on behalf of older adults at the state and local levels and in the private as well as the public sector. Despite limitations in funding and modifications in direction over the years, the OAA can be judged to have generated significant improvements in the lives of older adults since 1965.


Aloe Vera is an incredible succulent plant belongs to the lily family (means the Liliaceae). Its different parts have an unbelievable effect on the human body when applied both internally or externally. Aloe Vera juice, gel and latex all have their own beneficial effects on the body. Aloe Vera gel is attained from the center cells of the leaf and Aloe Vera latex is acquired from the cells under the leaf skin. Aloe Vera consists of around 200 active components such as amino acids, vitamins, enzymes, minerals, polysaccharides, fatty acids and etc. Historically, it is used as therapeutically for approximately 5000 years. It is considered as the plant of "immortality" by the Egyptians. It I also considered as the "miracle plant" as it has various effective benefits on the human body.
Even I have used the Aloe vera juice and gel for the long time for getting my skin flawless and smooth. What I have experienced about its benefits by using it on my own body, I have mentioned all in my blog below.
Aloe Vera is known as the powerhouse of vitamins and minerals as it has high amount of Vitamins (like A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6, B12, Choline, folic acid) and Minerals (like calcium, sodium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc, selenium, copper, chromium, manganese and etc) which maintains the functioning of brain and nervous system.
Aloe Vera contains high amount of Amino Acids (building blocks of protein) and Fatty Acids (like linoleic, linolenic, caprylic, palmitic, myristic, oleic and stearic).
It also contains at least three plant sterols (like HCL cholesterol which lowers the blood fats, campesterol and B-sitosterol). Both of the contents help in reducing the allergies and acid dyspepsia.
Aloe Vera works as an Adaptogen means the natural body ability booster which increases the body adaptation power to the external environmental changes as well as resists the illness.
It helps the body to deal with the stress whether it is physical, environmental or emotional.
Aloe Vera assists in the good digestion by enhancing the proper functioning of the digestive tract and decreasing the number of unfriendly bacteria or intestinal worms.
It soothes and cleanses the digestive tract and improves digestion.
It helps in relieving the constipation, acid reflux, diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome.
Aloe also helps to decrease the amount of unfriendly bacteria and keeps healthy intestinal flora in balance.
Aloe Vera is a gelatinous plant (like seaweeds, chia and etc), thus plays a great role in detoxification means increases the toxin removal (or waste products elimination) process from the body through the intestinal tract.
Aloe Vera prevents the body from variety of diseases by alkalizing the body as disease manifestation cannot takes place in the alkaline environment.
Aloe Vera keeps the heart and its functioning healthy by maintaining the cardiovascular process.
It increases the oxygen transportation in the blood as well as the diffusion capabilities of the RBCs.
One of the contents available in it known as beta sitosterol which helps in lowering the bad cholesterol (by reducing the triglycerides) in blood thus aids in improving circulation, regulating blood pressure and lowering the risk of heart diseases.
Aloe Vera is well known for its body immune system boosting property. One of the contents available in it known as the polysaccharide which stimulates the macrophages (white blood cells) to fight against the disease causing viruses.
The high level of anti-oxidants in it also works as an immune system enhancer and fight with the free-radicals and aging processes.
Aloe Vera works as an antipyretic and analgesic which helps in reducing the fever and relieving the pain respectively.
It is very good antiseptic, antimicrobial, antifungal, germicidal, antibacterial and antiviral because of the availability of the active ingredients including cinnamic acid, sulphur, salicylic acid, lupeol, urea nitrogen and phenol which checks the growth of disease-causing microorganisms thus effective against all the infections.
Aloe Vera reduces the inflammation and stiffness from the painful joints by improving the joint flexibility.
Taking Aloe Vera juice on daily basis helps in reducing the body inflammation such as rheumatism, inflammation of the ears, eyes as well as the arthritis.
Applying Aloe Vera fresh gel externally reduces the muscle and joint pains.
Regular utilization of the Aloe Vera juice improves the oral health and cleanliness by reducing the gingivitis and plague formation as well as relieving from the cold sores and mouth ulcers.
Aloe Vera is a very good therapeutic agent for the diabetes patients as it plays a great role in regulating the blood sugar levels.
Applying aloe vera gel mixed with water and boric acid on the eye reduces the reddening and irritation of the eyes.
It helps in reducing the sinus problem and chest inflammation (due to allergy) because of the availability of magnesium lactate.
Regular intake of the Aloe Vera juice enhances the body stamina to fight away from cancer because of its anti-carcinogenic properties which hinders the tumour cells growth.
Having aloe vera juice regularly fulfills the amino acids deficiency in the body.
It works as a best natural home remedy for the person suffering from the cold, coughs, stuffy nose, flu, bronchitis or other respiratory disorders.
Aloe Vera gel is used orally to treat osteoarthritis, ulcerative colitis, stomach ulcers, fever, diabetes, asthma, itching, surgical wounds, bedsores and inflammation and etc.
Aloe Vera latex is used orally to treat constipation, epilepsy, colds, bleeding, asthma, glaucoma, bursitis, absence of menstrual periods, varicose veins, colitis, diabetes, hemorrhoids, multiple sclerosis, depression, osteoarthritis and etc.
Aloe Vera aids in the weight loss process by improving the digestion and detoxifying the body.
Aloe Vera is the great therapeutic agent for the skin and helps in wound healing when applied to the burns, psoriasis, abrasions, bug bites and etc.
It also works as an antipruritic (relieve from itching), astringent (causes body tissues contraction) and reduces bleeding from the minor abrasions.
Aloe Vera keeps the skin moisturize, hydrate, flexible and rejuvenate because of its high water content (at least 99% of water).
It works as an emollient (softens and soothes the skin) by increasing the oxygen supply to the skin cells, rising the potency, improving blood flow to the skin and synthesis of skin tissue.
Aloe Vera juice boosts the activity of fibroblasts which are located in the skin and responsible for making of the fibres collagen and elastin (provides skin a natural structure and elasticity).
It is good for all the skin types thus used in various skin care products to get rid of all the skin problems including sun burn.
It makes the skin supple and fresh by lightening the blemishes and removing the dead cells, wrinkles and fine lines.
It is used by the men after shave to get free from the skin irritation and inflammation and to heal the cuts.
Aloe Vera juice is used on the face to get glowing, blemishes free and smooth skin. Aloe Vera face pack (aloe vera gel and lemon juice) is used for tan, acne and pigmentation removal.
Currently, we are getting fed up a lot when it matters to our hair health. People are getting exposed to the dust, sun light and air, water or other pollution which makes the hair exceedingly dry, weak and broken. Aloe Vera juice is the one which have natural oils and moisture effects on the hair thus nourishes the split ends and remove dandruff. It is beneficial for all the hair types when uses regularly in the hair pack. It makes the hair even, silky, soft and damage-free.
It plays a great role in promoting the hair growth as it contains the proteolytic enzymes which aids in removing the dead skin, clogs the scalp pores and obstructs the new hair follicles growth.
Accumulation of excessive sebum on the scalp can lead to hair problems like partial baldness. Aloe Vera gel eliminates the sebum from scalp and makes it clean and support hair growth (as unnecessary sebum collection on the scalp cause hair problems and lead to the partial baldness).
It maintains the Ph balance of the scalp and hair as it has alkaline properties. It is a good hair conditioner; it moisturizes and hydrates the hair which leads to more hair growth. It cures diseases like Psoriasis and Seborrhoea.
Inhaling the steam of the boiled aloe vera leaves (in a pan of water) helps in alleviating asthmatic problems.
Cut the aloe vera outer stem from the middle as it is considered as the most mature from all as well as contains high concentration of antioxidants.
Collect the Oozes out liquid as it is fresh aloe gel and squeeze it out to get whole gel from stem.
Keep it in a mixer and mix it well with 1 cup of water to obtain pure Aloe Vera juice.
Now the aloe vera juice is ready to use. Take care that it should be finished within 3-4 days as it may lose its antioxidants.
There are some precautions and side effects of the aloe vera juice, gel or latex, thus we have to take care of all the mentioned precautions and side effects while taking it regularly.
Long term use of the aloe vera juice or its products may cause the electrolytes imbalance, irregular heartbeats and weakness in the body (especially potassium).
It should be avoided taken internally during pregnancy and menstruation if one is suffering from the hemorrhoids or degeneration of the liver or gall bladder.
Having aloe vera latex orally in high doses is likely risky as the chemicals available in aloe vera latex may cause cancer. It is hard too for the kidneys and may lead to the serious kidney disease.
As aloe vera juice has anthraquinones, it may cause diarrhea, stomach cramps, dehydration and pain if consumed in large quantities.
Aloe vera juice may intermingle harmfully with other medications like anti-diabetes, diuretic and sevoflurane (used for anesthesia) drugs.
It should be avoided or limited the utilization during pregnancy or breast feeding as it may cause severe diarrhea to the baby because of its purgative and irritant properties.
The overuse or misuse of the Aloe vera juice should be avoided while using any oral corticosteroids (beclomethasone, methylprednisolone, prednisone) as the potassium deficiency may cause toxic effects from the medication.
It may cause allergy in some people.
The children over 10 years of age and adults may have aloe vera juice three times daily from 50 and 200 milligrams.
Aloe vera juice should not be taken over 2 to 4 oz in a day as it may cause several allergic reactions and nausea as it has high vitamins contents.


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Through the rain, Statesboro students find success on first days of classes
Pictured left to right: Austin Towler, Olivia Grant, Blair Weaver, Mike Harris, Caleigh Anderson and Alexis Jones
Chuck Paggett
STATESBORO — Georgia Southern students shared their reactions on gearing back up for school and some takeaways from the first day of the semester on Monday.
Despite the heavy rain falling late into the afternoon, students still made their way to and from classes with anticipation of the upcoming year.
"I have classes with the same people I've had for the last couple years now," senior geography major John White said. "It's nice to come to class on the first day and see people I know."
Sophomore Savannah Sheets had some trouble finding her way around the Interdisciplinary Building as she'd never had a class there before, but loved her accounting and business analytics teachers.
"They're really great," Sheets said. "They're really sweet, very chill."
GS faculty received more praise from students, as senior multimedia film and production major, Olivia Grant, spoke about her experiences on the first day.
"We've had this Japanese teacher for the past five semesters and did a study abroad with her this past summer, so it's been really chill," Grant said. "Same basic stuff every year, so it's always good to see her class on a Monday."
Post-baccalaureate and computer science major, Blair Weaver, echoed the sentiment of the routine basics of first day classes.
"It's the same old same old," Weaver said, adding that what really stands out for him is being with friends.
Alexis Jones, a junior computer science major, also recognizes the importance of friends as she spent time studying abroad with them for her Japanese minor.
"I skipped two classes, I'm now in 3000 and I don't know half of it," Jones said. "It's a little much, but they said they'd help so if not, it's their fault."
The response drawing a number of laughs from her friends who stood nearby.
With hopes high early in the semester, some students are in an anticipatory mood but still ready to be done with the daily grind. Junior Caleigh Anderson, a writing and linguistics major, said classes were pretty good and she's looking forward to them ending.
Two seniors, computer science major Austin Towler and marketing major Mike Harris, are ready to finish the college process.
"I am a victory lap senior. I'm looking forward to graduation," Towler said.
Harris said he was looking forward to classes and remains hopeful about courses he doesn't think will be too difficult this year.
"I graduate in December and I'm hoping to finish off strong," said Harris.
Chuck Paggett, The George-Anne Sports Reporter, gaeditor@georgiasouthern.edu
first day of class
russell union

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Israeli Travelling on Russian Train Taken for ISIS Recruit
A fellow passenger saw the man reading in Hebrew and reported him to the authorities.
Send me email alerts for new articles by Haaretz
Passengers stand beside a train at Kazansky station in Moscow, Russia, February 24, 2011.Bloomberg
An Israeli tourist travelling on a Russian train was mistaken for an ISIS agent after a fellow passenger saw him reading in Hebrew.
The man, identified as Mark G., was travelling from Moscow to Cheboksary when a Russian woman noticed his Hebrew language book, became suspicious, and notified the police to the presence of a member of the Islamic State, the Russian-language Israeli website izrus reported.
Mark, an IDF reservist, was detained and questioned by the police, who also inspected his luggage. The Israeli was on his way to join his wife and baby, who were visiting relatives in Cheboksary.
The police apologized for the misunderstanding.


Elmwood Studios is a shared space made up of four design businesses based here in Rhode Island: Nest Homeware, Oblique Studio, Studio Endo and Work-Shop.
We're a group of designers and makers that make everything we design. Our complementary skill sets and diverse experience allow us fruitful opportunities for collaboration, and our friendship makes the work all the more fun.
Come visit us for our annual open house and see what we are up to, inspire us with your stories and have a drink with us.
Matt was raised in a small town outside Rochester, NY. He grew up loving dinosaurs, horses, and space. None of that has changed.
He graduated from the Industrial Design program at the Rhode Island School of Design in 2010. It was there that he fell in love with the cast iron process and deepened his appreciation for ancient materials, story, and myth.
Matt has since anchored in Providence and gone on to teach courses at RISD on cast iron, investment casting for bronze, and machining for metal. He has also done work for NASA, the U.S. Military, the film industry, and various companies in their start-up phases. He is constantly learning and always experimenting.
Miles Endo founded his studio on the principles of hands-on making and craftsmanship. Born in Tokyo, Japan and raised in Honolulu, HI, the son of two musicians, Miles has a deeply ingrained sense of the culture of making. After completing a degree in Industrial Design from the Rhode Island School of Design, Miles spent years honing his skills designing bespoke furniture and custom cabinetry for private and commercial clients with precision and patience at the heart of every project.
In 2015 Miles launched his debut lighting collection at the Architectural Digest Show in New York, receiving critical acclaim. Since that time the collection has refined and grown to provide a comprehensive set of lighting fixtures catering to the residential and commercial market. Despite having increased in scale, the workshop remains at the center of the studio. The spirit of craftsmanship and quality exists in every product with Miles overseeing every detail from concept to installation.
Michael Larsen has fifteen years of experience in construction and is a licensed and insured contractor in the state of Rhode Island. He received a Master of Architecture from RISD and a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Studies from the University of Utah. Mike brings a dedicated craft of building and fabrication to the studio, allowing him to conceive of the process of making while sketching out ideas. Mike has taught Manual Representation in the Architecture Department at RISD and is a Visiting Critic at RISD as well as Roger Williams University.


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You are here: Home > The Best Game Plan for Breaking Into Sports
The Best Game Plan for Breaking Into Sports
Chris McKinney
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and c…
Visit Chris McKinney at Profile, Website
Written by Chris McKinney in Sports Jobs
The other day someone told me, "You can't teach people how to break into sports." And went on to say, "The idea of following a step-by-step plan to land a job in sports is ridiculous." Well, a better definition of "ridiculous" is this: Spend thousands of dollars on a college degree, let's say Sport Management, and not have a game plan for landing that elusive first job in sports.
If that's you, you're not alone. And it's not your fault. Colleges are in the business to take your money and teach you about the business of sport — not necessarily how to get hired.
Breaking Into Sports: Game Plan
The Competition for Sports Jobs is Fierce
The SportsBusiness Journal says there are approximately 28,000 students currently enrolled in a Sport Management-type program in the United States. Not to mention all the other students and career-changers that want to work in sports. As a result, the demand for sports jobs is high and the opportunities are limited. Simply put, the competition is fierce!
To achieve any kind of hard-to-reach goal — like breaking into sports — you better have a plan. Especially in this job market! There's an old axiom that goes like this: "When you fail to plan, you plan to fail." Think about this: If you're able plan to get into college (i.e. pick a school, take test-prep courses, select a major, etc.), then why can't you plan to get out of school and into a job of your dreams? Well, you can. And you should. With that said, here's another axiom to live by: "Plan your work. And work your plan."
The Best Game Plan Will Have 3 Phases
To win in the NFL, coaches must focus on three phases of the game: Offense, Defense and Special Teams. In order to win a job in the sports business industry, you need to focus on three phases as well. But instead of Xs and Os, the three phases you should focus on are Preparation, Execution and Follow-through. These areas of concentration outline the best game plan for achieving a successful career launch in sports.
My book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps, is divided it into those three phases. Preparation shows you how get ready to take the 7 Simple Steps. Execution is actually taking those 7 Simple Steps. And Follow-through covers the period after the 7 Simple Steps have been completed and you land your first job in sports.
The success of your Execution and Follow-through will be directly tied to your Preparation. The more time and focus you put into preparing, the more confidence and success you will have executing the 7 Simple Steps and following through to the end where you accept a full-time job offer in sports.
I'm not suggesting that my 7-step plan is the only way to break into #Sportsbiz. Just like there are many ways to win a Super Bowl, there are many ways to win a job in sports. What I am suggesting is this: you need a plan. And if you don't have any sports experience, or industry contacts — and are literally starting from scratch — How to Land outlines the perfect plan for you!
One More Factor You Cannot Ignore
There's one more factor you cannot ignore, and that's luck. Yes, luck does play a role in launching a sports career. But there's good news. Fortunately, there's a way to raise the odds of having Lady Luck on your side. And it's available to everyone.
Jimmy Johnson, the two-time Super Bowl winning coach for the Dallas Cowboys had the answer when he said, "The harder you work, the luckier you get." So plan on being lucky. You're going to work hard enough to earn it.
Comment below and make sure to shoot us a tweet over @SportsNetworker
Chris McKinney is the president of SPORTS LAUNCH™, a career services firm dedicated to helping college students and career-changers launch sports careers. Chris' new book, How to Land Your First Job in Sports: 7 Simple Steps can be found on www.SportsLaunch.net.
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Committee Evaluates Impact of Abuse Deterrent Opioid Analgesics
Raleigh, NC- The House Select Committee on Step Therapy met for its third meeting today to discuss the impact, effectiveness, and prevalence of abuse deterrent opioid analgesics. The Committee met two times prior to March 23 to consider fail-first policies, better known as step therapy, that are sometimes required by insurers to gain access to drugs prescribed by doctors. While studying step therapy protocols, the Committee was also tasked with looking at the impact step therapy has on access to abuse-deterrent opioid analgesics. The Committee will meet once more to debrief on both topics.
The Committee heard testimony from the following individuals:
Fred Brason, Project Lazarus
Dr. Bob Wilson, Pain Society of the Carolinas
Captain Eric Smith, Wilson Police Department
Mike Cannon, Father of Overdose Victim
Estay Green, Director of Pharmacy Programs, Blue Cross Blue Shield North Carolina
Thomas Friedman, North Carolina State Health Plan Representative
Judy S. Billings, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation
Fred Brason of Project Lazarus gave a presentation on the differences between opioids and abuse-deterrent opioids. A demonstration by Mr. Brason showed the committee that abuse deterrent opioids are harder to crush, snort, and dissolve based on their chemical makeup. Abuse deterrent opioids have contributed to the decline in abuse by certain methods, and a decline in drug diversion. Mr. Brason also showed the societal benefit of these drugs: $1 billion cost savings in medical care, criminal justice spending, and workplace productivity.
Rep. Lewis said the following about the meeting:
"Prescription drug abuse in North Carolina is an epidemic. We are faced with higher healthcare costs, lost work productivity, and a bleeding criminal justice system because abuse runs rampant in many of our communities. I want to thank the committee for not only the thoughtful debate today, but also the concern and duty many of them feel to tackle such an important public health and safety issue. Our children's lives are at stake, and we must think creatively in order to reduce drug addiction, restrict access to abuse prone substances, help those who struggle with addiction to thrive in our state."
The Committee was authorized by the Speaker and was charged with the following: The Committee is tasked with studying the prescription benefit management tool known as "step therapy" to assess the impact on patients' access to care. The Committee shall analyze the costs and benefits of the utilization of "step therapy," including any potential negative consequences for patients and providers. The Committee shall also assess the impact "step therapy" has on access to abuse-deterrent opioid analgesics. Documents from the March 23rd meeting can be found on the North Carolina General Assembly website.


When teachers integrate mathematics concepts into children's play, opportunities are provided for children to engage in reasoning skills, solve problems, communicate ideas, and represent their thinking and learning in a variety of ways. During this workshop, teachers will learn how to plan for and design mathematics activities in the various interest areas in order to help students make mathematical connections to real-world experiences. Please bring a copy of your Winter Class Profile Report for Mathematics.


Debuting in 1999, the FastPass system required guests to physically walk to the attraction, insert their park ticket into a distribution machine and hold onto a printed paper return ticket. The return window times were typically displayed digitally above the distribution area with a return start and end time. As the passes were distributed during the day, the window would continually shift further out until all passes have been given out for that day. Guests could only have 1 active fast pass at a time, or wait at least 2 hours from the time of the last distribution. This meant that guests had to choose wisely not only which rides they wanted passes for, but also factor in the time to physically walk to the attraction of choice, get a FastPass, and then go do something else until the return time. This usually resulted in queuing up for another ride with a shorter line, shopping, or grabbing a bite to eat.
The distribution machines were themed for the attractions and area in which they belonged. The guest would insert their ticket or Key to the World card in the top, and the FastPass paper ticket would spit out the bottom. Sometimes, the machines would get jammed, run out of paper or simply not always work. A cast member was typically standing by to assist and help retry the pass, or press a magic button to distribute associated FastPasses. Long lines would sometimes form as many guests approaching the machine simply did not know what do to, or attempted to stuff the passes in too fast. Some confused guests believed the line to get FastPasses was the line for the actual attraction.
The return queue was normally, but not always, next to the standard entrance queue (also know as the stand by queue). A clock would be present to allow the guest to know the official return time. Cast members would manually verify the return window printed on the card before letting the guest in. They would allow some leeway in the end time of the return, more or less 15-30 minutes past the return depending on the cast member. In some queues, an additional check would be performed closer to the ride load area. In either case, a case member would collect the ticket before the guest boarded the ride. The pictures of tickets on this site are ones that I ended up not using and held on to as a souvenir.
One common issue at the return area involved groups of guests crowding the return queue waiting for their return window time. This would make it difficult for guests to get through that were already within their return window. Some guests would not realize what was happening and simply wait in line outside the return window crowd. This was frustrating and still happens at times today with the FastPass+ system.
"Disney's FASTPASS" service is FREE to all guests. This was different than paid services at competitor's parks. I've had friends over the years ask me this same question even with the current FASTPASS+ system. Yes, it is free….. unless you are buying the MaxPass at Disneyland… or the new paid systems at Disney World ($50/person/day) with it's additional perks.
"Just insert your Park entrance ticket into the FASTPASS turnstile and receive a designated window of time during which you can return." This is a bit odd, because the distribution machine really wasn't a turnstile.
"When it is your time to ride, come back to the FASTPASS return line and hop on the attraction with little or no further wait." I'm not sure exactly what "no further wait" was meant me mean. Was this to cover the times when the FASTPASS return line was the same length as the stand by entrace?
"IMPORTANT: You must use your current FASTPASS ticket or wait two hours before getting another FASTPASS ticket for a different attraction." Unlike the FASTPASS+ system, you could not plan out the entire day ahead of time.
Messaging for guests was already printed on the actual FastPass. While the systems were built to run outdoors in Florida weather and included a cast facing display, there was no guest facing display. This often resulted in many extra "invalid" FastPass tickets. The paper was pre-printed with attraction specific logos, while the return (or error) information was printed along with the date and timestamp.
Kali River Rapids FastPasses was very popular during warmer months, but not usually required during the winter. Most folks, myself included, do not get excited about getting wet when it is cold.
"Important: You must use your current FASTPASS or wait two hours before getting another FASTPASS ticket for a different attraction." If you already had a FastPass for another attraction, the system would remind you that you need to wait at least 2 hours before getting another one (or be within the time window of your current one).
"NOT A VALID FASTPASS You currently hold an active FASTPASS" If you already had a FastPass for the current attraction, the print-out would include a large bold print out, just to make sure you got the point. This was not exactly the most Disney friendly communication, but it was effective.
The Fast Pass tickets themselves were updated to a different sized, harder card stock matching the newer style that had rolled out at Disneyland. This larger ticket allowed for barcoding, attraction restrictions such as minimum rider height, and the time in which you can get another Fast Pass.
The FastPass+ system replaced traditional FastPasses at Walt Disney World during 2012.


Monday to Sunday from 6.30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Monday to Sunday from 6.30 to 10.30 a.m.
Every Sunday (except bank holidays and Mother's Day) from 12 noon to 2.30.
Children of 6 and under free; children from 7 to 14 eat for 50%.
Every Sunday from 2.30 to 5 p.m.
Enjoy regional and international specialties in a stylish ambience and with perfect view to the garden.
Monday to Saturday from 5 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Happy hour for all guests holding a theatre subscription on all days when the theatre is playing. 50% off on cocktails, 30% on champagne and sparkling wine.


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Q: Can we use curl command to push/pull docker image to nexus 3 repository I have a requirement to push/pull the docker image to/from the nexus 3 repositories. Can we use curl commands for this activity?
As docker installation is not allowed by our Infra team we have to find an alternate way to achieve this.
I have tried below curl commands to pull and push image respectively. Please correct me if this is the correct way.
While downloading an image I don't get any error.
But while uploading, my requirement is to create a new folder(folder name is my project name) inside the docker repository (pre-existing) and inside this, I have to upload the image.
Downloading the Docker image
curl -u uname:password -O https://nexusURL/dockerimagename

Uploading image
curl -u uname:password --ftp-create-dirs -T dockerimagename https://nexusURL/<newfoldername_to_be_created>/

Error while uploading

HTTP ERROR: 400

Problem accessing /FRAI/v2/anna/orchestrator/manifests/v1.10.12. Reason:

    Not a Docker request

Powered by Jetty:// 9.3.7.v20160115

The ideal output after upload should be
https://nexusURL/PROJECTNAME/dockerimage

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
'format es6';

let name = 'nnMain';

import { registerDirective } from 'nn-ng-utils';

import template from './nn-main.html!text';

export var ddo = {
  restrict   : 'E',
  replace    : true,
  transclude : true,
  template   : template
};

registerDirective( name, ddo );

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Why do we work five days a week? We all grew up with the five-day workweek as standard practice. We roll into work on Monday, work uphill to Wednesday, then work down the other side of the mountain to Friday afternoon. Our weekend, Saturday and Sunday, are a time of rest … well that is the theory.
Manufacturing lead the charge many years ago to standardize a five-day work week. So much the better to manage the workforce. Yet, is this the way of work forever?
For many industries the time may be right to reconsider the five-day workweek. Some business leaders are experimenting with a four-day workweek and the results are impressive.
CNN has a terrific opinion piece on the topic titled, "Why four-day workweeks are best". I invite you to read this article for more detail and insight. A four-day workweek is not for all industries, but where it is possible, it can and does work.
A key learning – everyone in the organization has to be involved. We open for business Monday morning and close Thursday evening.
This is very different from a compressed work schedule where employees work four 10 hour days. With this approach the business is open that fifth day while you are out of the office. Research shows that many employees, fearful of being out of the loop, work part of that compressed day off.
Indeed the new thinking is we all work four regular eight-hour days and close the office for three days. Less time in the office means everyone needs to focus, collaborate and get the job done.
Employees tend to take less time off for appointments and "mental health" days in this environment. People focus more at work due to the concentration of time and production improves.
With the added time off, employees have more time to unwind and explore other pursuits that allow them to grow and maintain a healthy outlook. People are more refreshed returning to work.
If I was implementing a four-day workweek in my organization I would add an important ritual to start the week … the team huddle. How powerful to gather everyone Monday morning and both welcome everyone back and review the week ahead. To focus everyone on the tasks at hand and the deliverables needed by the end of business … on Thursday.
Then we close the week with another ritual. A gathering to review status and accomplishments and set up the next production week. We end Thursday with best wishes for the next three days away from the office.
Yea, my head is in the clouds today. Yet, I do not think this is wishful thinking. More organizations are exploring the four-day workweek. Change will only happen if we broaden this conversation.
Henry Ford was instrumental in establishing the five-day work week. It is time for new business leaders to innovate and revolutionize how, and when, we gather to produce and create.


If you or someone you know have been in a car accident, there is a strong possibility that some form of injury was involved. More common types of injuries due to car accidents include neck pain, low back pain, headaches, soft tissue injuries (muscle spasms, whiplash, etc), and injuries to the extremities such as shoulders, knees, and elbows. If left untreated, these injuries can lead to chronic problems that inhibit you from your activities of daily living which will impact your quality of life!
Most tend to take pain medication or muscle relaxers for their pain. However, these only provide temporary relief and will eventually wear off over time. After they wear off you are still left with your pain and an even worsened condition!
At Pelphrey Chiropractic, our office is perfectly suited to treat individuals who have been in car accidents. By utilizing a combination of therapies such as spinal traction, muscle stimulation, therapeutic ultrasound, and specific chiropractic adjustments, we are able to treat the cause of the pain and not just the symptoms!
Typically, most care required for car accident injuries are covered through your auto insurance. Let us help you get back on track! If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at 859-296-4889.


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Heineken Malaysia names marketing director
Heineken Malaysia has named Pablo Chabot (pictured) marketing director, replacing Jiri Rakosnik to lead the marketing department and drive performance of its portfolio of beer, stout and cider brands in Malaysia. They include Heineken, Tiger, Guinness, Anchor, Apple Fox and Strongbow.
Prior to his new role, Chabot was marketing manager for the Heineken beer brand at Heineken China, where he focused on building a winning team, championed the development of a more digital and mobile first marketing approach, delivering growth for the brand. He joined the company in 2008 and has held various roles in both marketing and trade marketing in multiple Heineken operating companies including the Netherlands, Nigeria, and Switzerland.
In a statement to A+M, Chabot said the team hopes to thrill consumers every day with exciting, relevant and premium brand experiences. "We will be consumer first in everything we do and lead and grow the entire beer, stout and cider category using innovation, creativity, and a relentless passion for quality," he added.
Last month, the company unveiled Heineken 0.0 in Malaysia, its non-alcoholic malt beverage which hopes to offer consumers a wider choice for drinking occasions. The beverage made its debut in Asia in 2018, launching in Singapore, followed by Thailand earlier this year. Heineken 's iconic green label has also been turned blue, a colour that is associated with the non-alcoholic category.
Meanwhile, the company witnessed a 21% increase in group revenue from RM434 million in 2018 to RM525 million for the first quarter ended 31 March 2019. This was mainly driven by higher sales volume from the effective execution of commercial campaigns during Chinese New Year this year, such as Tiger Beer's Uncage New Beginnings campaign, nationwide activations of Guinness' St. Patrick's Festival and Heineken's Live Your Music campaign.
Heineken Malaysia also saw a change in leadership in 2018, with Roland Bala replacing Hans Essaadi as managing director, who went on to helm the role of managing director, Heineken Egypt.


Every month there will be an update of Joe & Jenn's Home Pay-Off Spectacular! Here's this month's update! Total Squares: 2,426 Paid-For Squares: 1420 1913 Squares Remaining: 1006 513 % of House Owned By The Sangl's: 58.5% 78.9% % of House Owned By Wells Fargo: 41.5% 21.1% Here is the updated Sangl Home Pay-Off Spectacular (click to view large size) As I sharedover the last two months, things were going to get really interesting around the Home Pay-Off Spectacular over these next few updates. We were able to color in 493 squares this month with a payment that was the equivalent of 55 monthly payments! Could we have used our savings for something other than paying down our mortgage balance? Yes, we could have. However, this has been one of biggest goals my bride and I ever established – and we set this goal way back in December 2002 when we experienced our IHHE Moment! We are positioning ourselves to accomplish what once seemed impossible – paying off our house before the age of 40. Let's see what next month holds! YOU can do this too! Start your own home pay-off spectacular using our free tool here => Pay Off Spectacular – House.
All I have to say is…wow…and congratulations!
WOW! I have been tracking this for about 18 months and KUDOS to you and your wife, what AMAZING progress!
I have a few questions, if you don't mind answering. I belong to a money forum where people always say, there's no point in pre-paying the mortgage unless you can pay it ALL off, because you don't want to have just a few mortgage payments left and not be able to pay them. So, I'm assuming you still have savings left?
Our home has been paid off since Aug 2007 (we are older, 53 and 56). However, we still owe money on our rentals. We had a small windfall at the end of last year, and we did NOT heed the advice of that forum, we paid down 4K, which was one year of mortgage payments.
I'm like you. The less I owe (to anybody) the better I feel!
All the best to you! I can't wait to see future updates.
Another question, again, if you're willing to share. I was so impressed I read back five years' posts. You were originally planning to pay off your mortgage by the end of 2010. Can I ask what happened, what changed?
Again, I am in NO way challenging you! I am FULL of admiration for you and hoping to learn more!


Only a freshman, Lani Goggin playing some of her best volleyball at the right time of the season.
FORT DEFIANCE - Lani Goggin began playing volleyball last year as an eighth-grader. She only did so as a way to condition for what she considered her main sport, softball.
If she has many more matches like the one she had Wednesday, Goggin may have to consider volleyball her main sport.
The Fort Defiance freshman finished with seven kills in helping her team sweep Brookville in the quarterfinal round of the Region 3C volleyball tournament. With the win Fort will play in the semifinals Monday, either at top-seed Rockbridge or at home against No. 8 Fluvanna. Those two teams play their quarterfinal match Thursday night.
Goggin had a pair of kills during a 9-0 Fort run in the third set that turned a six-point deficit into a 13-10 lead. Brookville was able to tie the set once down the stretch, but could never overtake Fort, which finished on a 4-0 spurt for the win.
"She is just so athletic all around," Fort senior Jessi Hull said of Goggin. "She has a great attitude about volleyball and she is such a great teammate. I love being around her. She's so fun to play with. She never fails to amaze me with what she can do on the court."
Last season, Ashley Humphries, who was then a junior, watched Goggin on the junior varsity team. Goggin hit outside on that team.
"All of us knew, right from the start, that she was going to be with us the next year," Humphries said. "She was completely above the level of everyone else. She's adjusted so well [to varsity]. She goes out and hits just as well as some of the seniors on other teams. We're really proud."
Goggin had never played the middle hitter position before this year, so that was a new experience for her. She said Catie Cramer, one of Fort's six seniors, really helped her learn the position. She also credits her coach, Sue Leonard, with teaching her the position.
"Good?" Goggin responded. That was as much self-praise as she was willing to give. Her coach was happy to praise the freshman.
"Lani played great," Leonard said. "She has been doing well. We can't get her the ball enough. We just can't get her the ball enough."
The coach knew from the start of the season that Goggin had this ability in her, and at times throughout the season it was obvious to anyone watching. But there were also slumps, as to be expected by a freshman on the varsity.
"She has been doing a much better job of keeping the ball in front of her," Leonard said. "It was behind her, she was outrunning it. She was just so excited to hit that she was outrunning. Once she's kept the ball in front, if they can get her high enough, she's money."
Humphries also had seven kills and 15 digs in the win, while Casey Mozingo added five kills and 12 digs. Maddie Painter finished with 14 assists and 12 digs.
Oh, and as far as her main sport now, Goggin may already be leaning toward volleyball.
"I think I'm better at it," she said. "I'll hopefully keep progressing in volleyball."
Hull takes it a step past that.
"She can go so many places with volleyball," Hull said. "I'm sure she can play at a collegiate level. I'm so excited to see where she goes in the future."


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The in-depth story of how Big Ron's swaggering Aston Villa adventure came to an end
Big Ron Atkinson was gone in four minutes in 'Deadly' dismissal
Mat Kendrick
On November 10 1994, Ron Atkinson was sacked by Aston Villa.
And, although over time the shock has finally subsided, it is fair to say that back then the news of his dismissal was a claret and blue bombshell.
It came after a 4-3 defeat at Wimbledon after a Dean Saunders double and Garry Parker goal failed to prevent Villa losing 4-3 to the Dons.
Leaving London empty-handed meant Big Ron's claret and blues had taken just one point from nine Premiership matches, leaving them in the bottom four relegation spots.
There was no clamour from the Villa Park faithful for 55-year-old Atkinson to be axed - he had lifted the Coca Cola Cup by masterminding a Wembley final triumph over Manchester United, just seven months earlier.
But Doug Ellis lived up to his nickname 'Deadly' choosing to summon Atkinson to a board meeting - and sack him in just four minutes.
Atkinson had six months of his contract to run and had been offered a new two-year extension a month previously, with Ellis hailing him as one of the three best managers in the country.
Here we look back at the coverage in the Evening Mail as Villa fans waved farewell to one of their most popular ever bosses.
We reflect on the reaction from Atkinson himself, Ellis, Villa players and supporters, as well as the views of our former sports editor and Villa expert Leon Hickman.
Front page of the Evening Mail following the sacking of Ron Atkinson on November 10 1994
How the Evening Mail reported Big Ron's sacking
Evening Mail, Thursday November 10 1994, Big Ron Sacked
Aston Villa this evening sensationally sacked manager Ron Atkinson. The end came with a dramatic announcement from Villa Park as a result of an appalling slump in the Premiership table.
Villa have lost eight of their last nine matches, taking one point from a possible 27, and have also tumbled out of the UEFA Cup.
Chairman Doug Ellis acted after Villa lost 4-3 at Wimbledon last night, leaving the club rooted in the bottom four relegation zone.
Pressure has been mounting on 55-year-old Atkinson, who took over at Villa from Josef Venglos in the summer of 1991, for weeks.
Only this week he was linked with the vacant manager's job at Everton. But Atkinson, who was on a reported salary of £200,000 a year at Villa, said he has no intention of chasing any other job.
He described taking over at Villa three years ago as a "dream come true" after quitting Sheffield Wednesday in controversial circumstances.
Evening Mail sports editor Leon Hickman's comment: Doug Ellis has delivered many a shock and many a sacking in his 70 years but the dismissal of Ron Atkinson was a combination of both that exploded like a Molotov cocktail on the consciousness of Villa fans.
For all that there had been a groundswell of discontent at the gathering of one paltry point from nine Premiership games, Atkinson appeared to be a fixture at Villa Park for at least a few more matches. But Ellis lived up to his 'Deadly Doug' image with a vengeance by refusing to exercise a little more patience. On one of the rare occasions in football the deed outpaced the speculation."
Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson holds the Coca-Cola Cup with goal scorer Dalian Atkinson following Villa's 3-1 victory over Manchester United at Wembley, in 1994.
Official club statement
"After a great deal of consideration, it has been unanimously agreed by the board of directors to terminate the contract of manager Ron Atkinson with immediate effect.
"This decision has not been taken lightly, but the reasons have become self evident. It is essential for the future of the club that the recent run of disastrous results is reversed as soon as possible.
"We would wish to place on record our appreciation of the many memorable matches under Ron Atkinson's management.
"We consider it very important to appoint a manager as soon as possible and will be taking positive steps towards that end immediately.
What Big Ron had to say
Speaking outside his home in Barnt Green on the evening of his sacking, Atkinson said: "I was asked to attend the board meeting and I was not there too long.
"Now I am looking for a job. I did not want to leave Aston Villa but it was deemed that I did.
"I was fired in four minutes flat.
"I had just been giving my players hell at the training ground. We had a full and frank discussion during an inquest into our latest beating. I laid into them. I really was angry. Then the call came.
"I went down to the board meeting and within four minutes I was out on my neck.
"When I walked into the room Doug Ellis just turned to me and said. "Some bad news for you Ron, we've terminated your contract. Thanks for all you've done and good night'.
"That was it, just short and sweet. I wasn't asked for any explanation. The decision had already been made."
"Of course I understood the depth of our problem in taking just one Premiership point from 27. Something drastic had to be done. I just don't think my head had to roll to help Villa's revival.
"All my life I had an obsession, a private desire to manage Villa and take them to the top. They were my club. I just hope Doug realises that I gave them some glory when they are on their uppers again."
"I am as disappointed as the fans seem to be about the current situation. All I hope is whoever gets the job after me does not have the kind of luck that has deserted the players in the last couple of months.
"It is their decision but all I know is that in the three years I have been at Aston Villa they have been in Europe twice and league runners up."
Evening Mail photos shows Ron Atkinson walking his dogs
What Ron did next
The Evening Mail on Friday November 11, carried a front page photograph of Atkinson walking his dogs over Lickey Hills, just after his sacking, accompanied by the headline: 'Morning after the Villa Park bombshell... ONE MAN AND HIS DOGS'.
The caption on the photo by Jeremy Williams read: 'Sacked Aston Villa manager Ron Atkinson walks his dogs Bella, Bow and Bamby on the Lickey Hills near his home in Barnt Green'.
What Doug said
In a statement to the Evening Mail, Ellis said: "I understand the loyalty of many of our supporters despite many more who applaud the decision as being logical.
"In our last 34 Premiership games we have won eight, drawn nine and lost 17. In the last nine league games we have won only one point out of 27.
"We know the players have had some bad luck but the law of averages prevails and the buck stops at the manager who had complete control of the playing staff, including those he bought or sold in the last three-and-a-half years.
"He was never refused money for whoever he seriously wished to purchase and during last summer I prompted him to buy but he declined saying he would stand by the existing staff who put us in the top six of the Premiership by the end of the season.
"Naturally I am very sad for Ron and I told him yesterday he would always be welcome at Villa or at my home. I know he tried his best but time was not on his side.
"We have 28 league matches left to be safe from relegation. We estimate we need 40 more points to reach a total of 50 which should be sufficient. The board had a difficult decision and we hope to name our new team manager soon."
Who next for Villa
Speculation immediately began on who might succeed Atkinson with former Villa player and then Bolton manager Bruce Rioch installed as the early front runner.
Graeme Souness, David Pleat, Bryan Robson, Steve Coppell, Ossie Ardiles, Howard Kendall, Kevin Keegan and Bobby Robson were among the other names in the frame.
But of course Villa legend Brian Little left Leicester to take the job. We'll save the full Brian Little story for another day...
What the fans said
The Evening Mail's reporters spoke to Villa fans on the No.7 bus route in Aston and Witton. Many of whom were surprised by the decision and felt Atkinson's sacking had come too soon.
John Dowd, 18, from Aston: "There was no panic, who are we going to get as good as Ron now? Ron did three good things for the club; he won us the Coca Cola Cup, got us second in the Premiership and took us into Europe, I think all the fans thought we'd get out of trouble eventually, but now it might take time to turn things round again with a new manager."
Frederick Burton, 68, from Witton: "Ron was the only man to get us out of this situation. It was wrong to sack him. The worst run on record was under Joe Mercer in 1963 that got us relegated. This wasn't as bad as that."
Thomas McBrien, 64, from Witton: "I can't understand Doug Ellis. A week ago he said Ron was one of the top three managers in the country - so where is he going to get another one of his calibre?"
Ian Waterhouse, 30, from Kingswinford: "I thought they'd give him longer to be honest. I was shocked to hear Atkinson had been sacked. It was a bit early for that, maybe they should have given him until Christmas and if results hadn't picked up by then perhaps I could have seen him being sacked."
Stuart Hayes, 23, from Walsall: "It's the first bad run he's had. I don't think they gave him enough time to pull it round. The board were hasty to sack him, especially if it only took them four minutes."
Richard Walker, 17, from Kings Norton said: "The Villa fans are angry with Ellis after this. It's confusing after all he'd said about Ron. Some of the supporters didn't like the chairman before, but now a lot are annoyed with him." (Interestingly, it was the same Richard Walker who would go on to play briefly for Villa with two goals in six appearances in the late 1990s).
Oliver Quaid 50, from Dudley: "Villa were very unlucky to go out of Europe to the Turks, they played some mighty football against Inter Milan in the previous round. I've always admired Atkinson. He just needed a bit more luck and shouldn't have been sacked. When Mike Walker and Ossie Ardiles were sacked their teams were playing really badly and Villa hadn't been."
Villa's Coca Cola Cup winning side at Wembley in March 1994
What the players said
Earl Barrett: "As far as we were concerned it was a case of carry on as normal. When we left it was just a case of 'See you tomorrow'. I couldn't believe it when I heard the newsflash on the radio later in the afternoon. It was a complete shock. Everything seems to have piled up against us in the last few weeks. But we're so close to being a good team and turning things round. I'm sure we will get ourselves out of trouble."
Ugo Ehiogu: "I'm shellshocked. It doesn't seem real. I have a lot to be grateful to Ron for, and I owe a lot to him. He gave me my chance in the top flight and helped me get into the England under-21 team."
Kevin Richardson: "There was no hint or sign of anything coming. Every team have a bad run and there's no denying we have just had one, but I'm sure that soon, rather than later, we would have turned it round. Now this has happened, though, it's up to the chairman to pick the man he feels is best for the job."
Phil King: "Ron picked the team but once the players go over the white line there's nothing more he can do. We have to take some of the blame. I was at fault for Wimbledon's second goal on Wednesday and that defeat was the final nail in Ron's coffin. But I think Villa have been a bit premature. Whoever comes in it's only a matter of time before we start climbing the table. I just hope someone comes in who loves to play good football, The route one game would alienate the players."
Shaun Teale (who had fallen out of favour with Atkinson): "I'm going to have a look at my own career. I never really wanted to leave but it became obvious pretty quickly this season that I wasn't going to get a game.
"I didn't feel I had done anything wrong and I was as fit as everyone else when the season started. But it seemed no matter what happened I wasn't going to get a game unless either Ugo Ehiogu or Paul McGrath were injured.
"As long as Ron Atkinson was there I don't feel I would have figured. But now I want to sit down with the new manager when he is appointed and see where I stand. If I get the opportunity to stay that's what I would like to do."
Assistant manager Jim Barron (put in caretaker charge): We just have to get on with the job. The players are in for training today. No-one knows what the future holds, so it's a worrying time for everyone.
"We will just take the training from day to day and if nothing has happened by this time next week we will take the team to Tottenham for the next match."
Listen to Steve Froggatt talk about his time at Villa and life under Big Ron as manager
Other ways to get our podcast
We're up to Episode 25 of the podcast and, as ever, welcome your support, so have a listen and let us know what you think.
To get involved, to give us your feedback and to suggest topics for us to natter about, email mat.kendrick@trinitymirror.com
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Doug Ellis
Villa Park Stadium