Dogs are the most loyal companions one can ask for. They will protect, guide and love their owners unconditionally; till their very last breath. These innocent creatures are always there to greet you with happiness, they will never judge you and will always be devoted to you without even expecting anything in return. A dog is truly "man's best friend"!
Adopting a dog as a pet is a blessing in disguise. However, there are certain responsibilities which we also have towards this loyal companion. Every pet dog, irrespective of its breed needs to be taken proper care of, as they are incapable of looking after themselves.
Adopting a dog is easy but taking good care of it is more of a task. There are a large number of essentials available in the markets that you need to buy for your dog. Choosing the right types of dog essentials is a tough job, especially for a new dog owner.
This article is a comprehensive guide for every new dog owner which explains the various types of essentials required for your dog. We also provide a buyers guide for the ten most important dog essentials which you need to buy. This is followed by the detailed review of our top ten list of dog essentials along with the link to purchase from one of the leading e-commerce websites- Amazon.
Consist of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
Holding capacity is up to 700 ml each.
The anti-slip handle ensures a firm grip.
What are the essentials you need to buy before adopting a dog?
Adopting a dog is the happiest moment in the life of an animal lover. However, no matter how exciting it sounds, adopting a dog is not a decision you make overnight. There is a lot of thinking and searching involved in finding the closest shelters. Moreover, you need to be sure of being able to fulfill the responsibilities involved in taking care of the newest member of your family.
A dog is incapable of taking care of itself. Hence, it is your responsibility as the new owner to give your pet love, care and look after it as your own. There are diverse supplies which are essential for your dog, each having their own significance.
Certain supplies such as dog food, health supplies and dog treats are essential in providing your dog a nutritionally well balanced diet along with vitamins and minerals. This helps in improving the immune system, digestive system and also provides your pet with stronger bones,muscles, teeth along with a shiny coat. While food and water bowls help to hold their food like dry kibbles, treats, wet food or water.
It is also important to provide your companion with proper grooming products like shampoo and conditioners to prevent fleas and ticks on their body. Toothpaste is also available for dogs to maintain their dental hygiene which is equally important. On the other hand, nail cutters, hair trimmers and brushes help keep your canine friend well groomed.
Even dogs are subjected to temperature and seasonal changes. Thus, a bed provides comfort and prevents them from feeling hot or cold during summers and winters. There are vests and blankets also available to protect them from the cold during winters.
Apart from this a collar with a name tag and a leash is a must to go for walks with your best friend. They also need some kind of entertainment and fun. Toys like ropes,balls and chew bones are loved by dogs. They can play with them for hours till they get tired.
There are many other essentials available which are required for your dog. However, these are the ones needed the most. Apart from that, a dog needs love and care from you. It is essential that you make regular appointments at the veterinarian and ensure that your pet is healthy as well as happy.
Dog food is the most essential requirement for a dog. They are available in different forms of chicken or mutton chunks cooked in gravy or in the form of dry kibbles. They provide a nutritionally well-balanced and healthy diet for the dogs. This enhances their overall health.
Dog food is available in different flavors of chicken, liver, beef or mutton along with a strong aroma that tempts fussy dog eaters. Moreover, there are items which help you prepare a proper meal for your dog.
Health supplies such as supplements are chewable tablets which are enriched with balanced nutrients. Supplements are given to dogs to increase their overall health. They help increasing dogs immunity and also make their bones strong.
However, it is important to include these supplements in their daily diet in the correct dosage which depends on the breed of your dog. Hence, it is always advised to give the supplements according to the instructions given by the veterinarian.
Even dogs require something to eat and drink out of. Bowls provides space to hold the food and water.They come with bases made of rubber which prevents it from shifting when in use. Moreover, dog bowls prevent your dog from creating a mess while eating and enable you to maintain a clean home.
A dog bed provides a dog with comfort while resting and sleeping. There are different styles of beds available which include nests, bumper or easy to assemble beds. All of them come in various sizes however, provide the same function of protecting your dog from the cold and preventing him/her from having to sleep on the hard floor.
Dogs are fun to be around specially when they are active and in a playing mood. Dog toys are available in the form of ropes, balls, chew bones and stuffed toys. They are the perfect tools to strengthen the bond between you and your dog while also keeping your canine friend fit and active.
Toys also help keep your dog busy and entertained if she is left alone at home. These uniquely designed toys are available in various colors and can be played with for hours.
A collar is the significant feature of a pet dog. It is required to be connected with a leash in order to take your dog out on trips or walks. They are also designed with identification tags with the name and number of the owner while LED lights enable a dog to be visible in the dark.
A shampoo is one of the most important grooming products for dogs. They are required for keeping your dog clean, fresh as well as free of ticks and fleas. Using a conditioner after a shampoo ensures a shiny and lustrous coat.
There some brushes like a slicker brush, bristle brush, pin brush, shedding blade, undercoat rake, and furminator. These brushes play significant roles in combing, brushing, or removing loose fur from a dog's coat. It is important to choose the type of brush by the breed and hair type of the dog.
Grinder tools works on the principle of grinding thick nails of large dogs while guillotine clippers are perfect for clipping the nails of small to medium sized dogs.
Dental hygiene is a very important factor even when it comes to dogs. A toothpaste and a toothbrush should be used regularly to ensure the removal of tartar and plaque build-up. The toothbrush designed for dogs are known as canine toothbrushes. They have soft bristles on both sides of the brush for proper and easy brushing of a dog's teeth.
The toothpaste for dogs are usually swallow-able and free of fluoride as it is poisonous to them. They come in different attractive flavors making brushing a convenient task for the owners. They are able to fight bacteria leaving your dog with pa leasant and fresh mouth.
After a bath a dog needs to be dried. A towel helps absorbing the water from the coat leaving the dog fresh,dry and clean. It also prevents water dripping from the coat, leaving one with a wet and messy floor.
Healthy dog treats are the perfect way to show your love for a dog. These are the nutritious treats which can be given to a dog as a reward and is also helpful in enhancing their overall health, growth and development.They are available in the form of small biscuits, chewable treats and chew bones.
The type of treat you can give a dog varies with size and breed. Hence, it is important to consult a veterinarian before you give your dog treats on a daily basis.
These are gates that are designed to give a personal space to your dog. It keeps the dog away from the door or prevent them from coming into a room or kitchen. It is convenient for the owner and also helps keeping the dog safe.
Travel carriers for dogs are crates made of metal, fabric, wire or plastic.They are used to carry a dog during traveling. Travel carriers can also be used to carry a dog till he/she gets accustomed to new surroundings. It is important to choose a carrier according to the size of your dog.
A retractable dog leash comes with a button that controls the retraction and brakes of the leash. They are designed for enhancing the roaming experience of both the dog and its owner. It comes with a handle and a clip that is connected to the collar.
Furniture and car covers are placed on the furniture or car seat. This prevents the fur from sticking on the seats. The covers are easy to wash and can be easily removed and dusted which keeps the surroundings cleaner.
Your dogs may have a habit of wandering off while taking a walk. A GPS tracker allows you to keep track of the whereabouts of your dog at all times. This prevents your dog from danger or getting lost.
Automatic feeders are the most important dog essentials for situations when your dog has to be left alone at home. This product dispenses the food automatically due to gravity or by setting it to a specific timing. It allows the owner to concentrate on his work without having to worry about feeding his dog.
A pre-assembled first aid kit is required by everyone, even a dog! A dog is also prone to injuries and sickness, a first-aid supply in the house should contain ear cleaners, tick and flea medication along with styptic powder, gauze, bandage wrap etc for injuries.
Hydrogen peroxide is a must have for any dog owner to clean wounds. It can also induce vomiting, in case your dog consumes something poisonous or incompatible with its digestive system. Emergency medications are always required.
The clothes designed for a dog prevents them from feeling cold during winters. They help keeping the dog clean and dry. They are available in different colors and designs which enhances the cuteness factor of the dog as well.
Chew bones help in removing tartar and plaque build-up while maintaining the overall dental hygiene of a dog. They are chewed for hours and are treasured by every dog. It is the perfect past-time of a dog that also satisfies the urge to chew on things.
It is important to clean your dog's poop. Pooper scoopers are the best tool for this job. It is light-weight and easy to use which allows you to scoop your dog's waste and store it conveniently. This tool allows easy clean-up irrespective of the place.
Blankets are available in different styles and colors. However, all of them are used to keep a dog warm and comfy during cold winters. They are soft and provide your dog the perfect cuddle accessory to sleep with. It makes sleeping a comfortable experience.
There are a number of pet supplies available in the market which are essential for your dog. However, here we provide the list of the ten most important dog essentials which a new dog owner should purchase in order to take proper care of his new pet dog.
Food plays the most significant role in our lives. Hence, it is equally important to provide your dog with a well balanced, nutritious and delicious diet everyday.
It is important to check the type of food when you are shopping for the essentials. Dog food usually is of two types- wet or dry. Choose the type of food which is most preferred by your dog. However, wet food is a better option as it contains more meat proteins than the dry kibbles.
Dogs do not drink enough water. Wet food provides an adequate amount of water in their diet. Moreover, dogs prefer wet food more because of their taste and smell.
Many dogs are fussy eaters. Dogs food is available in many different flavors comprising of ingredients such as chicken, beef or mutton. It is important to choose the best dogs food with the most tempting aroma and effective flavor which tempts even the fussy eaters to eat their food properly.
The food you purchase for your canine best friend should be nutritionally well balanced with all the essential proteins, vitamins and minerals. It should be healthy so that your dog is able to build a strong immune system, a proper digestive system; stronger muscles, bones and teeth along with a lustrous and shiny coat.
Hence, it is important to check the ingredients while purchasing the suitable food for your dog. It should be ideal for the breed of your dog (pugs, Labrador, Beagle, Golden Retriever or German Shepherd) and provide him/her with a good health.
The last thing to check for while shopping for the best dog food is if mixed feeding is possible. Pouring the dog food over a home cooked meal of rice, vegetables and meat enhances the flavor of the meal. This will be loved by your pet. Thus, look for a brand of dog food which offers this added feature!
It is important to show your love towards your pet. Dog treats enable you to do just that! You can give these crunchy textured and healthy treats as a reward or snack to your dog, making them feel happy and loved at the same time.
There are a large number of types of treats available for your dog. These include crunchy or soft chewable treats to chew bones. Before buying a treat it is important to understand which treat is best for your dog.
They are available in different shapes and sizes. Choose a size based on the size of your dog, as big treats are not advisable to give to small dogs. It is important to choose a brand which provides high-quality and delicious treats as rewards to give your dog.
It is better to go with a crunchy textured treat as they help in maintaining your dog's dental hygiene. Chewing crunchy treats remove plaque and tartar build-up which is an important factor. Hence, it is recommended to purchase crunchy treats such as biscuits which are the perfect rewards for your loyal pet dog.
Dog treats are available in different flavors such as chicken,mutton, milk etc. Choose a flavor which your dog will like and enjoy eating. Dogs are fussy eaters and they have their own specific preferences. Hence, it is important to choose a treat which is full of flavors and preferred by your dog.
Your dog will happily eat whatever you give her with love but all treats are not suitable to her digestive system. It might make your dog sick by causing stomach problems. Thus, while shopping for treats, ensure that they are easily digestible.
The treats you reward your dog must be nutritious and well balanced with vitamins and minerals. This keeps her healthy and active. The omega 3 and 6 fatty acids provide a lustrous and shiny coat which is a sign of a healthy dog. Hence, it is important to check all the ingredients of the treats before purchasing them.
Your dog is your responsibility and it is also important to ensure that she is clean and well maintained. A shampoo is one of the most important dog grooming products which you need to shop for. There are many different shampoos available. The following points should be taken in to account before purchasing the suitable product for your dog.
The first factor to check before purchasing a shampoo for your dog is its pH balance. The shampoo should have a pH balance of around 6-7 to prevent scaling of the skin. It also helps in providing proper lather which ensures a smooth and soft coat.
It is also essential to check the contents of the shampoo. There should be no toxic chemicals which would be harmful for your dog. It prevents skin infection and helps in keeping the dog's skin healthy. Ayurvedic shampoo is a good option to choose!
Another important thing which should be present in the shampoo is the ability to control fleas and ticks, and keep them away. Lice and tick infestation is one of the significant issues of a dog. Thus, go for shampoo which can keep your dog clean and fresh along with the property to keep these parasites away from them.
A dog bowl is an important dog essential which is necessary for every dog to hold food and water. It also prevents your home from getting messy when your dog has her meal.
The bowl you purchase should be easy to clean so that it is free from any odor. This makes cleaning the dog bowl simpler and a convenient task for the owner. It also provides your dog a clean bowl to enjoy her meal.
Another feature which the dog bowl should have is a rubber base. This prevents the bowl from sliding while your dog is eating and also saves your floor. Hence, check if the bowl you are about to purchase has a rubber base so that your dog doesn't create a mess while eating.
Steel is always a healthier option to plastic. Stainless steel is safe for your dog as it prevents rust. Go for a bowl made of steel and avoid plastic as it is safe as well as easier to clean.
It is important to choose a bowl with a capacity that is enough for your dog. A smaller capacity is suitable for small dogs. On the other hand, for dogs such as a Labrador or a German Shepherd, it is essential to have a bowl with a greater capacity.
Like human beings a dog should also have the comfort of sleeping or resting on a bed. It is important to provide your pet dog a bed so that she is well protected against the heat and cold during seasonal changes.
Size plays a significant factor while choosing a suitable bed for your dog. A small size bed is uncomfortable for a large dog as he/she is unable to be free in the limited space. Make sure you choose large dog beds for large dogs. While purchasing a dog bed ensure that the size of it is in accordance with the size of your friendly companion.
Apart from the size, the bed should also have the sufficient capacity to withstand the weight of your dog. Hence, it is always recommended to go for a bed with a large size and weight holding capacity.
Cleaning a dog bed can be more of a tedious and tough job. No one wants to have a dirty dog bed with dog hair all over it lying in one corner of the house. Thus, always choose a bed with a material that is easy to clean and maintain.
A bed is all about the comfort of your dog. Always go for a material which is durable and comfortable so that she can enjoy her resting time along with being protected from the cold and hard floor. A durable material ensures a long-lasting bed which does not tear preventing you from spending your money on the same product again.
Dog supplements are tablets in the form of semi-moist kibbles required for maintaining the good health of your dog. It is an important dog essential which should be included as part of your pet's diet as per the directions of the veterinarian.
The supplements you buy should be in the form of tablets that are soft and chew-able. This enables your dog to enjoy chewing these tablets while they help in removing tartar build-up. In this way, dog supplements help in maintaining the dental hygiene. Soft and chewable tablets are also useful for fussy eaters.
Check for the list of nutrients present in the supplements and choose the one which your dog needs the most. There are supplements available which are rich in different types of vitamins and minerals. Each of them have their own specific functions.
Supplements rich in calcium and phosphorus strengthen the skeletal system while others available in the market provide mobility, a lustrous coat and a stronger digestive and immune system. It is essential for the supplement you buy, to possess maximum nutrients to enhance the overall health of your dog.
The supplements you buy should be in the form of semi-moist kibbles making it easily palatable by your dog. This enables even a fussy dog eater to consume these nutritious supplements.
A leash is a very important dog essential especially if you want to take your dog out for a short trip or a walk.
It is often hard to keep up with your dog's pace when you go out for a walk. While choosing the right retractable leash you need to ensure that the handle of the leash comes with an ergonomic and anti-slip feature. This enables you to have a proper and comfortable grip on the handle along with preventing you from hurting yourself.
A leash is something which your dog will need throughout her life. It is essential that the leash you go for is durable and long lasting. It should be strong and shouldn't tear when it is pulled. The leash should be long enough to carry a big dog.
The clip attaches to the collar of the dog making it one of the most significant parts of the leash. It is important to check the clip is strong and well made so that it does not disconnect from the collar. It should also be made of a stainless steel to prevent rust.
A ribbon style nylon made leash is safe, secure and comfortable for both you and your dog. It gives you both enough freedom to roam. This is an important feature as it makes the leash durable enough to not tear when stretched and pulled hard.
Before buying a collar it is important to measure the size of your dog's neck and then make a purchase. Always purchase the collar according to the size of your dog and also which is adjustable. This ensures maximum comfort. A collar which is too tight on your dog will just suffocate him/her.
A collar is something which is needed for a long time till your grows. Thus, go for a durable and long-lasting collar which will not wear out.
An LED light with a USB charging facility is something which will allow your dog to be visible even in the dark. This prevents accidents and keeps her well-protected. The USB charging allows it to be illuminated for a long duration. Hence, this is one feature you definitely want in the collar you buy for your companion.
A dog also needs some kind of entertainment and a fun element like a toy is the perfect gift for your dog. There are various types of toys available in the market. You need to choose the ideal dog toy for your friend.
The toy you buy should be safe for the environment and your dog. Avoid buying toys made of plastic or those that may content elements that can be toxic to your loyal friend. Try to go for toys that are made of 100% cotton or other environmental friendly materials.
Since toys are designed for keeping your dog entertained, go for a toy which is colorful and fun so that she is attracted to it and can go on playing for hours even in your absence.
A chewable toy such as ropes or bones are an added benefit. These toys strengthen their teeth as well as are able to remove tartar and plaque formation. Chewable toys contribute to the dental hygiene of your dog along with keeping them happy and entertained.
This grooming product is one of the significant dog essentials which is required for maintaining your dog. It provides him/her with a shiny and well groomed coat.
It is necessary to ensure that you choose the correct size of bristles while buying a brush. Dogs with longer hair require longer bristles while shorter bristles are perfect for shorter hair. Moreover, the bristles of the brush should be flexible and soft for comfortable brushing. This also improves the blood circulation of your dog.
The brush you buy should be easy to use and clean so that you do not have dog hair stuck in the bristles of the brush. This makes it more convenient for you to brush or scrub your dog on regular basis.
The dog brush should have an adjustable handle. This ensures comfortable use of the brush along with providing a firm grip, especially during scrubbing.
Pedigree is the leading brands of pet food that is focused on providing a well balanced and nutritious daily diet for your pet. A similar pedigree product that is the perfect blend of taste, aroma and nutrients is the Pedigree wet dog food.
It is a pack of 15 pouches containing 80 grams of dog food. Thconsiststs of chicken and liver chunks cooked in healthy gravy. This dog food is capable of attracting even fussy eaters making it our number one product!
A wholesome and balanced gravy dog food.
It consists of moist chicken chunks cooked in healthy gravy.
Ideal for all kind of dog breeds (pugs, Beagle to Labrador, Golden Retriever and German Shepherd).
It can be mixed with dry pet food or homemade food like vegetables and rice providing your dog a greater variety of flavor, taste and texture.
The aroma and flavor tempts the fussy eaters as well.
Reduces the risk of stones.
Increases the water content in food.
Noticeable health benefits – healthy and shiny coat, stronger bones and teeth, digestive health, strong muscles and strong immune system).
As suggested by a user – If your dog is not used to being fed Pedigree gravy, it might result to stomach problems for the first time. Hence, it is important to follow instructions on the packet and consult your vet.
Meatup Dog biscuits are the best dog treats to give your dog. These crunchy textured biscuits has chicken as the main ingredient and are enriched with vitamins and minerals. This makes them the best rewards to give your dog along with improving the overall health. This product is undoubtedly the best dog treat according to us!
The other ingredients are rice flour, wheat flour, permitted emulsifiers, antioxidants, natural flavor, vitamins and minerals.
No added color or flavors.
The biscuits consist of omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.
These biscuits help removing plaque and tartar build-up.
The vitamins and minerals present helps to keep your dog healthy and active.
These nutritionally complete and balanced treats can be given to your pet dog as a snack or a reward to show them your love.
These treats are available in different flavors like milk and mutton.
Himalaya is the most trusted names when it comes to ayurvedic products. This list would be incomplete with the mention of this Himalaya Tic and Flea control EP shampoo. This shampoo has the perfectly balanced pH which makes it ideal for your dog's skin.
This shampoo is an ayurvedic proprietary medicine with no harmful chemicals.
It consists of ecto-parasiticidal , anti-fungal and anti-microbial properties.
Each ml of this shampoo contains- Tailaparni 9 mg, Vacha 8 mg, Sarapunkha 6.5 mg and nimba 6.5 mg.
It has a balanced pH.
It can be used as a deodorant.
It checks for ticks, flea and lice infestation, and also keeps them away.
It lathers well and is soft on the coat and skin of your pet.
It can control body odor, leaving your pet dog smelling fresh.
It prevents skin infection and improves the overallskin health.
Some users stated that it led to hair fall of your dog.
Pets Empire is a leading brand of high-quality pet products and accessories launched in India. This Pet Empire dog bowl is made of stainless steel. It is a medium capacity bowl which comes in a set of two making it perfect for using one as a water bowl while the other one for food.
This easy to clean bowl has a rubber base which prevents creating a mess while your dog eats. It is perfect for small to medium size dogs.
The two bowls are made of stainless steel.
The holding capacity is up to 700 ml each.
The bowls have a rubber base so doesn't slip while drinking or eating.
They can hold dry kibbles, treats, wet food or water.
It is a healthier alternative to plastic bowls.
It is a set of two bowls. Hence, one can be used as a water bowl while the other can be used as a food bowl.
They are easy to clean and do not hold any odor.
The bowls are made of good quality stainless steel which prevents rusting.
The size of the bowl is not enough for big size dog breeds like German Shepherd and Labrador.
AmazonBasics is a leading brand of Amazon known for its manufacture of high quality products. This AmazonBasics Elevated bed is the perfect choice for your dog. It elevates your dog 7 inches of the ground which provides her cooling comfort during summers. It is also useful in preventing her from having to sleep on the cold hard floor during winters.
These beds are available in three sizes (small, medium and large).
The maximum weight a large bed can hold is 68 kg.
The fabric surface area measures approximately- 36×26 inches.
The fabric is made of breathable mesh.
This bed elevates your pet at more than 7 inches off the ground.
It has screws and hex tools included with it to assemble the parts easily.
The bed and fabric provides your pet dog breathable and cooling comfort; especially in the summers.
The light-weight and portable design allows to place it anywhere in your home. It can also be taken while traveling, hiking or camping with your companion.
The removable mesh fabric is easy to clean as it can be removed and easily placed in the washing machine.
The bed is durable, strong and ruggedly built providing safety and non-tipping placement.
It does not provide sufficient space for big breed dogs.
Drools is one of the leading names when it comes to providing your pet with a nutritious diet. Drools has introduced several products in the market that have a consistent taste and better digestibility. One such product that comes in the form of semi-moist kibbles is the Drools Absolute Calcium tablets.
These are chewable and palatable supplements in the form of tablets. They are enriched with calcium and phosphorus which enhances the overall growth and development of your dog, keeping her healthy and active.
These are soft chewable tablets.
They are highly palatable supplements.
They come in the form of semi-moist kibbles.
They are enriched with optimum calcium and phosphorus.
1-2 tablets can be taken for a weight up to 20 kg while 2-4 tablets can be taken for a weight more than 20 kg.
These tablets nourish nerve cell and aids brain development.
They help in controlling tartar build-up.
Promotes joint health and optimum growth of your dog.
They build a stronger immune system.
They consist of omega 3 and 6 which provide a lustrous and healthy coat.
Some users complained it of being too big in size as well as sticky.
They may not be liked by certain dogs due to the difference in taste preferences.
Pets Empire has launched a number of products essential for dogs. The Pets Empire Retractable Dog Leash is the ideal leash for roaming with your dog with ample space for both of you to move freely.
It comes with a 10 feet long durable nylon leash that can carry a weight of up to 35 lbs. The anti-slip handle provides a comfortable and firm grip that prevents you from hurting yourself.
This is a must-have product to enjoy an amazing outdoor experience with your best friend!
It has a retractable strap belt.
It has a 10 feet long durable nylon ribbon leash.
It can carry a dog up to 35 lbs.
It provides your dog more freedom to roam.
It provides both you and your dog enough space to roam safely.
Many users stated that it was not of good quality.
Dogz and Dudez is the perfect brand that offers pet lovers from all around the world the best quality dog accessories with unique specifications. One such product is the Dogz and Dudez Neon LED Light Dog Collar!
This collar has a unique and cool LED light feature with USB charging that allows your dog to roam safely even in the dark. It is available in different adjustable sizes making it the best dog collar for any breed or size.
It is available in different sizes ( S 31-41 cm, M 41-51 cm, L 51-61 cm).
It has a USB rechargeable battery that gives 5 hours of illumination per 1-hour charge.
Available in different neon colors ( green, blue, red, pink and orange).
It has a strong, convenient and secure buckle.
It comes with a stainless steel strong D-ring to attach leash.
It makes your dog visible at night, preventing accidents.
It is user-friendly, adjustable and comfortable for your dog.
The collar is light-weight, sturdy and long-lasting.
The batteries can be replaced easily.
It does not come with an identification tag.
Dogs love to play! This Foodie Puppies Cotton Durable Dog Chew Rope Toy is the perfect gift to get your playful friend. It keeps your dog hooked for hours even when you are away.
This rope toy is available in different colors. It provides your dog with a safe and enjoyable playing experience. Go for this environmental friendly toy now!
This rope toy is made with 100% cotton fabric.
No toxic plastic or rubber parts.
Chewable, safe and fun to play with.
Helps in cleaning your dog's teeth.
It decreases separation anxiety when left home alone.
It helps to burn excessive energy of your dog keeping your home clean.
It provides your dog with enjoyable playing experience.
The rope is too small.
This Choostix Dog Hand brush is made of superior quality material. It is the most suitable brushes that allow smooth brushing and scrubbing of dogs with short hair. It is comfortable to use because of its adjustable back strap. This long-lasting hand brush is a must-have grooming product!
Here we come to an end of this article. We provide the types of dog essentials along with a detailed buyer's guide for each of the top ten most important dog essentials. The review of our top ten products will help you purchase the perfect essential for your dog.
The Pedigree wet dog food is the most recommended dog food on the list and is our number one choice. On the other hand, Meatup dog biscuits are the best treats to reward your dog with. We also mention the best grooming products like the Himalaya tic and flea control Erina EP shampoo and the Choostix hand brush for the proper maintenance of your fun and loving best friend.
Hope this article helps you take proper care of your dog along with providing her with all your love and affection!


text:
Y30 Yemen
Y30, Yemen
Trapped in a tragic civil war, Yemen is suffering from economic stagnation and widespread food shortages. In partnership with the Trafigura Foundation, Y30 works with local community restaurants to ensure food access for disadvantaged communities in two districts of Sana'a.
(Programme concluded and no longer supported by the Trafigura Foundation)
In April 2018, Yemen was recognized by the UN as the worst humanitarian crisis in the world. Airstrikes, armed clashes and attacks on civilian infrastructures, including food production and distribution zones, and blockades preventing food, medicine and fuel from entering Yemen's ports are affecting more than 17 million lives.
Y30, an organization created by Yemenite youth and dedicated to ensuring a prosperous future for Yemen, has partnered with local community restaurants to ensure that disadvantaged communities, including widows, orphans and households without any means of sustenance, have access to at least one nutritious meal a day. With funding from the Trafigura Foundation, Y30 has provided support to two community restaurants and a local bakery in the al-Musaik and al-Maharik districts of Sana'a, feeding more than 6,000 people every day. Sourcing food from local supermarkets, farmers and distributors, Y30 also supports the struggling Yemeni economy.
Georges Malaika Foundation, DRC
MOAS, Mediterranean Sea and Bangladesh
North Star Alliance – Sub-Saharan Africa

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Here's what the couple's rule can teach us about setting limits in our own homes.
The average American touches their phone about 2,617 times per day — and studies show we spend up to 50 percent of the day on our devices alone. Research tells us that excessive use of technology can take a toll on our mental well-being, and as a result, many of us are increasingly aware of the need to better regulate our relationship — and our children's relationship — with devices. In a new interview, tech entrepreneur Evan Spiegel reveals that he and his wife, Miranda Kerr, set their children's limit at 90 minutes per week.
One tactic Drouin recommends is trying a thirty minute swap with your kids. "For every 30 minutes of video games they play, they then play outside for 30 minutes, or go and read for 30 minutes," she suggests. Instead of telling your kids to completely put away phones, suggest other activities that spark imagination and creativity. "It encourages them to engage in healthy lifestyle habits, like getting more exercise, or using their creativity to make something from a scratch," she says.


Are you ordering appraisals online? With online ordering, you get automatic e-mail notifications that the assignment was received, and fast, secure .PDF format report delivery. Ordering online is the single biggest time saver available to both of us! No longer do we have to manually enter information from a fax, and you don't have to wonder whether we got the order.
Complete and accurate subject property data is crucial. Being just one number off on the street address can really unnecessarily slow down an appraisal assignment. And if you have a tax parcel number, plat map number, subdivision name or anything else that uniquely identifies the property, please pass it along. Even a list of recent area sales is welcome — though be advised that professional appraisers are lawfully required to do their own due diligence on comparable sales, and ours may differ from yours.
You're always free to call us at (413) 372-4147 if you have any questions about your property or an appraisal we're working on for you.
Be sure to tell us about the property's unique details. It's relatively easy to appraise a cookie-cutter home. Most of an appraiser's time is spent analyzing how differing details add to or detract from what otherwise would be a property's market value. When you order your report, let us know if there are unique characteristics of the home or surrounding area -- for example, it's recently had an addition built on, it's subject to zoning restrictions, and it's predisposed to flooding. These are things we'd find out on our own anyway, and knowing them sooner is likely to make your report arrive without delay.
What are you doing to make the homeowner of the home aware of what to expect? Confirming an inspection time and date with the homeowner can be one of the most tedious parts in the appraisal process. Many current homeowners are justifiably apprehensive with the thought that an outsider wants to come in their house, look around, and make numerous notes. With the Notion that it will make the house appraise for more money, many homeowners believe they need to make the place spotless before the appraisal inspection and will delay the inspection until they have cleaned.
Hearing from you -- a trusted party with whom they already have a business relationship -- a little bit about the appraisal process, who we are, and especially that dusting and polishing won't make a significant difference in their home's value, will help move the process along for everyone. Our website has many pages of helpful information about the appraisal process for homeowners. Please feel free to share it with your clients. They can even call us if they want to become familiar with our staff and services. Remind them it's to their benefit to set the appointment promptly!
Use our website to keep tabs on your report's status. Why are you still playing phone and fax tag when our website offers up-to-the-minute status updates available online, anytime, 24/7? As we complete each important milestone in an assignment, that information can be viewed instantly online. It's never been easier to keep track of your report's status.


Turning up a new social media profile or directory listing takes all of 30 minutes. Alright, maybe an hour, if you want to do things right.
You'll need to make ongoing investments of time and resources (human, for sure, and perhaps financial) to expand and maintain these properties. But the listing process itself is a relative snap.
Even if they're not explicitly labeled as such, all five of these web properties double as directories for prominent people and companies. And all five have impressive Domain Authority, meaning they're apt to rank well in organic search results. That's music to the ears of any publicity-minded person or entity. They are social media goldmines.
So, what are you waiting for? Block out an afternoon next week and get going.
LinkedIn needs no introduction. With low barriers to entry and high Domain Authority, it's a no-brainer for visibility-seeking people and companies, too. Use your LinkedIn profile to connect with potential business partners and bulk customers, but don't be afraid to have some fun with your profile either. Nike's LinkedIn page notes that the Portland-based athletic giant is named for the Greek goddess of victory — one of the only mentions of this fun little fact anywhere in Nike's vast marketing aperture.
Wikipedia is a fantastic place to see and be seen. If you or your company have any claim to the site's ever-expanding definition of "notability," you have a claim to a Wiki of your own. Your Wikipedia page doesn't have to be flashy. This Wikipedia page for filmmaker David Mimran's father simply outlines Mimran Senior's family life and notable business achievements, for instance. Your personal or company page can do the same.
Crunchbase has an undeniable tech focus, but it's not by any means off-limits to those who couldn't tell Ruby on Rails from Python if their lives depended on it. The great thing about Crunchbase is the richness of its interface. Crunchbase profiles accommodate a lot of data about their subjects; Elon Musk's Crunchbase entry is a cornucopia of jobs, deals, board seats, exits, and other notable achievements stretching back to the serial entrepreneur's PayPal days.
Like to gab? Ideamensch is your jam. Its wheelhouse is "[c]rowdsourced interviews with entrepreneurs, makers and doers," which means its ideal for any entrepreneur, investor, or creative with stories to share. Even better: its notability standards aren't quite as strict as Wikipedia's, which is great news for aspiring interviewees.
Yelp isn't just for the amazing Laotian place down the street any longer. Today, it shares rare air with the Facebooks and LinkedIns of the world as a clearinghouse for small businesses just waiting to be discovered. Fortune favors those who cultivate a favorable Yelp rating and review portfolio.
There's no easy way to say it: if your digital footprint includes only your top domain website and these five web properties, it's not doing the trick. Your company needs to be listed on every relevant directory and social media property possible. So do you, yourself, as one of the handfuls of people who makes the magic happen.
Remember, getting started is half the battle. A more attractive, lucrative web presence is well within your reach.


CSA's urban design team provide design guidance on mixed use redevelopment scheme.
CSA's urban design team prepared an Urban Design Appraisal to guide the redevelopment of a brownfield site at Camberwell in south London. The appraisal included a robust and thorough analysis of the site and its context in order to establish a framework of urban design considerations to be addressed by the architects preparing the detailed design proposals.
The Urban Design Appraisal was submitted in support of the planning application, which comprises 163 residential units, live-work accommodation and 1,900 sq.m of flexible commercial floor space. The proposals for the site included the conversion of a historic former factory building and the construction of new buildings up to 9 storeys in height.


text:
Cyprus Proposed Program to Prioritize COVID Inoculations for Seafarers
While there have been repeated calls to add seafarers to the priority list of those individuals eligible for COVID-19 vaccines, a series of logistical challenges present hurdles to implementing a vaccination program for crews aboard their ships. A structure and protocol are required to implement the inoculations of seafarers.
Cyprus' Shipping Deputy Ministry Vassilios Demetriades has stepped forward proposing a global approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccinations to seafarers as part of an effort to help alleviate the global crew change crisis. Cyprus believes it has developed the foundation of a workable solution to inoculations.
"Despite the international and EU efforts to date, crew changes are still very difficult, or not even possible in many countries. A global seafarer vaccination program would greatly assist the enhancement of crew changes. While we recognize that this is a complex issue in terms of both procedures and logistics, we believe that by working together a practical, feasible solution can be found," said Demetriades.
Among the challenges they are seeking to address for the logistics of a vaccination program for seafarers, are the issues of the country of origin or residence of the seafarers, transport, and customs restrictions. They also recognize that there are issues of availability of the approved or authorized vaccines, as well as the challenge of how to administer the two-stage vaccination process currently required by the first vaccines to win international authorizations. Further, there are the questions of the subsequent time required for a seafarer to be considered as inoculated.
In letters to the EU Transport and Health Commissioners and IMO Secretary-General, Demetriades proposed what Cyprus believes could be an effective protocol to expedite the inoculation of seafarers. The process focuses on separating seafarers into two groups based on the duration of the sea voyage.
Seafarers that work on short sea routes would remain under national jurisdiction as their work keeps them closer to home. Cyprus suggests for these seafarers it would be easier to achieve regional cooperation.
For deep-sea shipping, Cyprus believes that vessels operating on long-distance intercontinental routes should be designated as an isolated COVID-19 zone; a bubble much as the industry has been operating since the start of the pandemic. The focus would be on seafarers who work long-distance, international routes who are ashore on leave. It would require a coordinated global approach to ensure adequate numbers of approved or authorized vaccines, acceptable to all governments, are available to seafarers for inoculation in their country of residence before they travel to join their respective ships. Under this structure, crewmembers aboard the ships would wait until they returned home and then be placed into the priority group to be vaccinated before their next contract.
"Cyprus is determined to work constructively towards the deployment of a global seafarer vaccination program in the most efficient way and is willing to be involved in discussions to determine a coordinated approach. We hope that regulators and industry alike will be willing to join us."
Critical for this program to work is the recognition by governments of seafarers as key workers that play an important part in maintain global commerce.
← Demand surge, supply chain disruption add $1.5bn to Maersk's earnings
Two Killed When Canadian Tugboat Capsizes in Bad Weather →
High Winds Push MSC Boxship Aground in Prince Rupert, B.C.
'DigiLocker' for MEA's 'Passport Seva' launched
One Missing After Dredger Capsizes at Port of Trelleborg


text:
Q: The default ColorFunction of DensityPlot before v10? The default ColorFunction of Plot, Plot3D before v10 is respectively mentioned here and here, but I failed to find a related post for that of DensityPlot.
If I knew this, I could use ArrayPlot to imitate DensityPlot more perfectly!:
Row[{DensityPlot[Sin[x y], {x, 0, 3}, {y, 0, 3}, Frame -> None],
     ArrayPlot[Compile[{}, With[{r = Range[0, 3, 1/40]}, Sin[r #] & /@ r]][],
               ColorFunction -> "Aquamarine", DataReversed -> True, Frame -> None]}]

A: Let's find out:
classicDensityPlot =
  Trace[
    DensityPlot[x y, {x, y} ∈ Disk[], PlotTheme -> "Classic"],
    _Blend &
  ] // Flatten // First // ReleaseHold

ArrayPlot[Compile[{}, With[{r = Range[0, 3, 1/40]}, Sin[r #] & /@ r]][],
 ColorFunction -> classicDensityPlot, DataReversed -> True, Frame -> None]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Which marketing challenges are today's execs facing? We surveyed 500 marketing executives to find out what it takes for success in 2018, and how they are preparing for the year ahead. They revealed their top marketing challenges, struggles and their biggest priorities for 2018.
By and large, when we asked marketing execs which challenges they're anticipating for 2018, they named four standout answers.
When asked to rank their biggest internal challenge, most execs listed "Lack of Budget" as their top marketing challenge.
When you compare this to last year's data, which showed execs' number one challenge as "having the right talent," it's clear that "lack of budget" is a new and growing marketing challenge.
When we asked execs last year if they felt overwhelmed by the amount of data in their tech stacks, 53% agreed. This year execs agreed even more strongly with that statement: 56% of execs feel overwhelmed with the amount of data in their tech stacks in 2017.
In 2018, execs will look to invest in marketing technology that can distill data into actionable insights.
It's 2018, and yet 26% of execs struggle to attribute their organic marketing success to specific actions and team members.
As execs look to ensure they have the right talent and are spending their budget wisely, expect attribution to be top of mind.
Only 51% of marketing execs agree that it is easy to get visibility into their global performance. For businesses looking to push into global markets in 2018, measuring global marketing efforts will prove to be a top marketing challenge.
So how will executives rise to meet these 2018 marketing challenges?
To tackle these challenges, marketing execs will up their spend on martech and shift focus toward content marketing as a priority for next year. In addition, expect to see execs continue to introduce new technology and prioritize organic search as a top channel.
Want more insights into executive strategies, top trends, and pressing challenges? Download our full report on the marketing and technology plans of 500 execs to find out more.
« Previous Story 2018 Market Outlook: Who's Winning in AR & VR?


i4Tradies | Free Trade Day 2018 - Tradie legends changing lives, making Australia proud!
With over 85 trades businesses volunteering and 220 households nominated, 29 Aug, 2018 is going to be a day to remember!
"The business of kindness" initiative taken by Ryan Wilson from Terrigal Electrical Services last year has now turned into a national movement as more tradies across the country volunteer to join hands to lift the community on Free Trade Day 2018.
What could be more beautiful than helping someone who cannot help you back?
So we interviewed some of these legends who are willing to put others before themselves and dedicate one full day to change someone's life!
Here's a sneak peek into their motivations for the day and show you what gem of a person these individuals are!
As a single mum raising three kids with no family support, Karen knows what it's like to be in need.
Becoming a part of the Free Trade Day for the first time, Karen and her team would be helping a lady on pension, struggling to get her home in good living condition by getting her laminate flooring replaced by a water-proof hybrid floor.
Michael Zygnerski from Zigz Plumbing Solutions is a Free Trade Day veteran volunteering his services for a second time around and is encouraging more tradies to get involved.
"The more helping hands the more people we can all help together. It will be your most fulfilling day of the year," Michael says.
Providing up to 12 hours of free labour on 29th Aug, Michael thinks that plumbing is a field where you never know exactly what to expect, so there might be some challenges on the day. Nonetheless, his team is ready to help families struggling with plumbing issues and is looking forward to support those in need in any way possible.
Accidently stumbling upon a Facebook post that popped up in his news feed, Chris found out about the Free Trade Day just a few weeks back and decided to expand the initiative to Southern Australia.
Chris's is so motivated that he is willing to provide as many hours of free labour as required even if that means working for a second day to get the job done.
Trent from PestGuard will be providing 8 hours of free labour on the big day and thinks that a majority of people will help someone less fortunate than themselves if they are able to.
"This year, as a business, we were lucky enough to be in a position to dedicate some time to help out. The local community supports us so it's good to give something back," says Trent.
For Trent the biggest challenge he's anticipating on the day will be to actually witness people living in such heart-wrenching conditions. The work itself, will be as on any other day.
"I'm envisioning that we may have to treat a home or homes to eradicate disease carrying pests e.g. cockroaches, rodents etc. Treatments that some people just can't afford," Trent adds.
Trent is encouraging fellow mates to get involved saying that the more people that participate the greater the result will be.
The Central Coast tradie knows exactly how it feels when nothing is going your way, not being able to afford the basics necessities of life and how hard times can get.
"I believe everyone in those situations need a little push and help to be able to move forward and see some light again," says Emiliano, who is fortunately now in a position to give back.
Emiliano, who is looking forward to the Free Trade Day says that his team is ready for whatever job comes up on the day as they can help with everything when it comes to painting.
Grateful for the opportunity, the painter recommends everyone to jump on board and help some of the people going through tough times.
Luke and Lauren, run a small yet very successful family business in Northern beaches, but it hasn't been such a pretty picture always.
"We understand what it is like to have hit hard times. Sometimes giving people that little helping hand might be just enough to get them out of a rough patch," says Luke.
With years of hard work and perseverance, the couple is now in a position to lift up the less fortunate members around them.
The legends are happily donating 2 days (16 hours) of earthmoving work, including machine, truck hire and labour.
While Luke and Lauren are proud to see so many businesses step up for such a worthy cause, they are calling others and not just tradies to extend support for the initiative.
Running a Roofing business in Northern Beaches for over 15 years, Mark and wife, Heidi are looking forward to the exciting and fulfilling day this year.
The duo like to take challenges head on, but think that the best jobs to nominate should be the ones that can be completed in a day.
"I suspect a lot of the jobs we will get will be guttering and downpipes. These are great jobs to nominate as they are relatively easy for the tradesmen so we will be able to help a few people on the day. Even though they are relatively easy, it's a part of house maintenance that shouldn't be missed as the damage that can be caused from neglect can be huge," says Mark.
Mark believes that as a community everyone should come together and help where they can. If other tradies can only spare a couple of hours or a half day, it all counts.
Like Michael, Anthony is also joining the Free Trade Day for a second time and will be donating 16 hours of labour with a staff of two, to this highly worthy cause. Yet time management will remain to be the biggest challenge as his team will attempt to get as much done in a day as possible.
Last year, the chippe was involved in building ramps for a wheel-chair bound man who had great difficulty getting around. "It's an awesome feeling to see him so much more independent now," says Anthony.
As these awesome legends continue to make Australia proud, we request others to join hands to make this event even bigger and more life changing than it already is.
Doing free work for a few hours in a year might mean nothing to many people, but it can mean the world to someone in need. Never think twice before helping someone, you might be the only hope.


ISHPEMING, Mich. — A 5-year-old Michigan girl has made it her goal to make sure all of her classmates get milk, even if their parents can't afford it.
Two weeks ago, Sunshine Oelfke emptied out her piggy bank onto the living room floor and began "counting" her money.
Her grandmother, Jackie Sue Oelfke, posted pictures of the beautiful moment on Facebook.
CBS News reported that half of the 20 students in Sunshine's class do not get milk, which costs $0.45 for a carton. For every child to have a milk during snack time, it would add up to $180 per month.
So Jackie started a GoFundMe page to help her granddaughter raise milk money.
As of Thursday morning, the GoFundMe has raised more than $9,600 — nearly $5,000 over its initial goal.


text:
Q: Proper use of words Blessed or Blest Which of the following is grammatically correct
              A life blessed by God

                     or

               A life blest by God

My research just gets me more confused.

A: For modern usage, use blessed (pronounced like "blest"). The word blest is not incorrect, it's just an archaic form.
From grammarist.com:

Blessed is the past tense and past participle of bless. Blest is an
  archaic form that shows up mainly in references to old, mostly
  poetical texts and as a poetic affectation. Elsewhere, it has been
  pushed out of the language. This is the case throughout the
  English-speaking world.
Both spellings descend from older forms in Old and Middle English, and
  both developed around the  14th century,1 though blessed is probably a
  little older. Blessed is one of a number of -ed words that gained a -t
  variant when the vowel sound in -ed was dropped around the 16th
  century.2 Blest was never more common than blessed, though, and today
  we remember it mainly because it appears in some great literary works
  of the early modern era. Shakespeare, for example, used it a few dozen
  times (at least in the early renderings of his plays, which were
  assembled by several people with different spelling preferences, and
  where blessed is actually about twice as common as blest). It is
  probably significant that in our searches for historical examples of
  the two forms, most instances of blest are in poetry. Blessed,
  meanwhile, is disproportionately common in Christian texts.
The old, two-syllable pronunciation of blessed (bless-id) survives in
  religious oratory and in some religious phrases, but elsewhere the
  word's ending is pronounced like that of other words ending in
  -essed—that is, est instead of ess-id.


text:
Willie Drye (born October 22, 1949) is an American journalist and an author. He has won awards for his writing about the science of hurricanes and their social and financial impacts. He has published three nonfiction books, and is a contributing editor for National Geographic News. His work has appeared in The Washington Post, The Globe and Mail of Toronto, and other national and regional publications. He is a frequent guest on radio talk shows in WLRN in Miami, WUNC in Chapel Hill, and other stations. His first book, Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 and his work for National Geographic News have been cited in scientific studies of hurricanes and their effects on society, legal briefs, local emergency management plans, science teachers' and public libraries' suggested reading lists about hurricanes, books and other publications.

Personal life

Drye was born in Albemarle, North Carolina, and grew up in nearby Misenheimer, a small college town near Charlotte. His father, Claude Dry, ran a small grocery store and gas station adjacent to the campus of Pfeiffer University. Drye spells his name differently than his family because of a mistake on his birth certificate. His first experience with a hurricane was October 1954, when he went with his family to Long Beach, North Carolina, to help relatives whose home had been destroyed by Hurricane Hazel.

He credits Davida Gates, his sixth-grade teacher at Richfield School, with sparking his interest in historical research and storytelling. He was a standout athlete, earning five athletic letters at North Stanly High School, where he won a local award for sports writing for the student newspaper in 1967. He also was a volunteer firefighter for the Richfield-Misenheimer Volunteer Fire Department before graduating from North Stanly in 1968.

Drye attended Mitchell College (now Mitchell Community College) in Statesville, North Carolina and played a season of baseball there before entering the US Army, where he served as a medic. After receiving an honorable discharge, he attended Belmont Abbey College in Belmont, North Carolina for one semester to earn credits needed for admission to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The late Reverend Matthew McSorley, OSB, a professor of English at Belmont Abbey, encouraged Drye to develop his writing skills. At the University of North Carolina, Drye studied under Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Philip Meyer, and later became a close friend of the late Jim Shumaker, a journalist and instructor at the School of Journalism. These two instructors greatly influenced Drye's later work. Drye also was encouraged to pursue a career in journalism by Mark MacDonald, who was city editor of The Chapel Hill News at the time. He earned a bachelor's degree in English from UNC in 1981

Drye worked as a reporter and later as managing editor for The News of Orange County in Hillsborough, North Carolina; the Macon (Georgia) Telegraph; the News and Observer of Raleigh, North Carolina; and the Stuart (Florida) News. Drye was working as a reporter in South Florida when Hurricane Andrew made landfall near Miami in August 1992 and was fascinated by the power of the storm. He then began to intensively research hurricanes.

Drye's research on hurricanes eventually led him to the Labor Day hurricane of 1935, which became the topic of his first book. Drye married Jane E. Morrow, PhD, in Wilmington, North Carolina in 1992.

In 1995, Drye wrote a letter to Mickey Mantle when he learned that his childhood hero was dying of cancer. Drye's heartfelt letter—one of tens of thousands the former baseball superstar received before his death in August 1995—was chosen for Letters to Mickey, a collection of 109 letters from Mantle's fans written to him after his battle with cancer was publicly announced. The book was published by HarperCollins in 1995. Drye later became a contributing writer for FoxSportsBiz.com, a website produced by Fox News that focused on the business side of college and professional sports.

Drye currently produces a blog, Drye Goods, an eclectic collection of essays about topics of personal interest such as baseball and other sports, the Civil War, hurricanes, popular culture, and other topics. He lives with his wife in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Books
Drye's first book, Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, was published by National Geographic Books in August 2002. The book, a work of narrative nonfiction, tells the story of the most powerful hurricane in US history, which struck the Upper Florida Keys on September 2, 1935, during the depths of the Great Depression. The storm's 200 mph winds and 20-foot storm surge killed more than 400, including about 260 World War I veterans working on a New Deal construction project building a highway between Miami and Key West. A political storm followed the hurricane when WPA administrators were blamed for not getting the veterans off the low-lying islands before the storm struck.

Storm of the Century was well received by reviewers, who praised Drye's description of the Keys in the early 20th century and his dramatic yet meticulously accurate portrayal of the storm's power. (See Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly, Orlando Sentinel)

Shortly after the book's publication, Drye began writing about hurricanes and other topics for National Geographic News.
In 2005, Drye was invited to write an in-depth article about the Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 for Tequesta, the scholarly journal of the Historical Association of Southern Florida. The journal is considered an authoritative source for the study of the history of South Florida.

That same year, Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935 was the basis for a two-hour (with commercials) documentary film, "Nature's Fury: Storm of the Century" produced for the History Channel by Towers Productions of Chicago. Drye is the primary narrator in the film, which premiered in 2006.

In August 2005, Drye launched National Geographics extensive coverage of Hurricane Katrina with a series of stories for National Geographic News that examined the storm's immediate effects. In the aftermath of Katrina, Drye was asked to write about Katrina's unprecedented devastation and the political fallout in the wake of that hurricane for The Washington Post and the History News Network.

In 2006, Drye was hired by Key West Magazine to write a package of stories about how Key West and the Florida Keys likely would be affected by a major hurricane. Those stories won a first place Charlie Award for Public Service from the Florida Magazine Association in 2007. That same year, Drye was recognized for his work by the General Alumni Association of the University of North Carolina.

Drye was a consultant for author Jennifer Holm when she was writing Turtle in Paradise, a children's novel set in the Labor Day hurricane of 1935. After the book was published in 2010, it became a Newbery Honor Book and won the Golden Kite Award.

Drye's second book, Images of America: Plymouth and Washington County, was published by Arcadia Publishing in 2014. The book tells the story, in pictures, of a region in northeastern North Carolina whose history dates back to the earliest days of American history.

His third book, For Sale—American Paradise: How Our Nation Was Sold an Impossible Dream in Florida, was published by Lyons Press in 2015  and tells the story of the colorful, tragicomic Florida Land Boom of the 1920s. The book was praised by reviewers, including Publishers Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist, The Florida Times-Union, and others. In 2016, the book won a Silver Medal for Best Nonfiction- Southeast Region, from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (also known as the IPPY Awards)

Recognition
1993: Scripps Howard award for reporting, Stuart News, Stuart, Florida
1995: Scripps Howard award for reporting, Stuart News, Stuart, Florida
 August 2002: Storm of the Century: The Labor Day Hurricane of 1935, published by National Geographic
2006: A documentary film, "Nature's Fury: Storm of the Century," based on Drye's first book, premiered on the History Channel, with Drye appearing as the film's lead narrator. The film was produced by Towers Productions of Chicago.
2007: Charles S. Roberts (informally, Charlie Award) for Public Service, first place, from Florida Magazine Association
2014: Images of America: Plymouth and Washington County, published by Arcadia Publishing
2015: For Sale—American Paradise: How Our Nation Was Sold an Impossible Dream in Florida published by Lyons Press
2015: Files and documents compiled for Storm of the Century added to collection of Florida Keys History and Discovery Center in Islamorada, Florida. An exhibit about Drye's work is planned for display in the museum.
2016: Silver Medal for Best Nonfiction, Southeast Region, for For Sale—American Paradise, from the Independent Publisher Book Awards (also known as an IPPY Award)
2016: Included on the North Carolina Literary Map for New Hanover, Orange, Stanly and Washington counties

References

1949 births
Living people
21st-century American journalists
20th-century American journalists
American male journalists
People from Albemarle, North Carolina
Belmont Abbey College alumni
University of North Carolina alumni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
HEBERLING LAB
Collected on this day!
Collected on this day...
a weekly blog featuring specimens in the Carnegie Museum herbarium.
Each specimen has an important scientific and cultural story to tell.
This material is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation grant no. DBI 1612079 (2017-2019) and DBI 1801022 (2019-2022). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.
February 27, 1949: 72 years ago
Honeysuckles will be back soon.
But this one never really left for the winter.
This specimen of winter honeysuckle (Lonicera fragrantissima) was collected in West Conshohocken, PA near the Schuylkill River outside of Philadelphia by Bayard Long. Collected flowering in a "rubbish-dump," no less! Bayard Long (1885-1969) was a Philadelphia-area botanist and an active member of the Philadelphia Botanical Club (founded in 1891 and still exists today). He was a prolific collector and served as Curator of the Club's Local Herbarium for 56 years (housed at the Academy of Natural Sciences). About 982 specimens collected by Long are preserved for the long haul in the Carnegie Museum herbarium.
Winter honeysuckle not only has a fun scientific name to say ("fragrantissima" rolls off the tongue) but is easy to identify among the many species in the honeysuckle genus (Lonicera in plant family Caprifoliaceae). That is, it has almost evergreen (or in Pennsylvania, almost evergreen), thick leaves that partly persist into the winter, unlike any of the other shrub honeysuckles in Pennsylvania. (Emphasis on shrub, because the invasive vine Japanese honeysuckle – Lonicera japonica- also has persistent leaves through much or all of winter).
It is also known as "sweet breath of spring" for its aromatic flowers (hence its specific epithet, fragrantissima – think Bath and Body Works scent), which appear in late winter (and in this specimen!).
Introduced from China as an ornamental and often planted for its foliage, this species is now invasive in many states in the US. I must admit I don't see it very often "escaped" outside of plantings in Western PA, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist, or won't escape in time, especially given it is problematic in other areas of the US.
So, you really shouldn't plant it. Though Pennsylvania has native honeysuckles, the most abundant and common ones are introduced, affecting native vegetation and wildlife.
Find this specimen (and search for more) here: https://midatlanticherbaria.org/portal/collections/list.php?db=328&catnum=CM302294&includeothercatnum=1
Suggest a specimen!
Type in a suggestion *
Your birthday, favorite species, collected by your house, a particular collector, etc...?
Name (optional) *
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Anacardiaceae
Aquifoliaceae
Balsaminaceae
Caprifoliaceae
Caricaceae
Caryophyllaceae
Celastraceae
Convolvulaceae
Cornaceae
Cultivated
Cupressaceae
Dioscoreaceae
Dryopteridaceae
Holiday Posts
Life History Series
Limnanthaceae
Lycopodiaceae
Melanthiaceae
Melastomataceae
Myristicaceae
Oleaceae
Orobanchaceae
Oxalidaceae
Paulowniaceae
Plants Of The Anthropocene
Polemoniaceae
Pteridaceae
Recollected
Rhamnaceae
Santalaceae
Simaroubaceae
Staphyleaceae
Type Specimens
Ulmaceae
Urban Plants


text:
Q: Is it possible to use the result of a subquery in a case statement of the same outer query? I am writing a search routine with a ranking algorithm and would like to get this in one pass.
My Ideal query would be something like this....
select *, (select top 1 wordposition
           from wordpositions
           where recordid=items.pk_itemid and wordid=79588 and nextwordid=64502
          ) as WordPos,
      case when WordPos<11 then 1 else case WordPos<50 then 2 else case WordPos<100 then 3 else 4 end end end end as rank
from items

Is it possible to use WordPos in a case right there? It's generating an error on me , Invalid column name 'WordPos'.
I know I can redo the subquery for each case but I think it would actually re-run the case wouldn't it?
For example:
select *, case when (select top 1 wordposition from wordpositions where recordid=items.pk_itemid and wordid=79588 and nextwordid=64502)<11 then 1 else case (select top 1 wordposition from wordpositions where recordid=items.pk_itemid and wordid=79588 and nextwordid=64502)<50 then 2 else case (select top 1 wordposition from wordpositions where recordid=items.pk_itemid and wordid=79588 and nextwordid=64502)<100 then 3 else 4 end end end end as rank from items

That works....but is it really re-running the identical query each time?
It's hard to tell from the tests as the first time it runs it's slow but subsequent runs are quick....it's caching...so would that mean that the first time it ran it for the first row, the subsequent three times it would get the result from cache?
Just curious what the best way to do this would be...
Thank you!
Ryan

A: You can do this using a subquery.  I will stick with your SQL Server syntax, even though the question is tagged mysql:
select i.*,
       (case when WordPos < 11 then 1
             when WordPos < 50 then 2
             when WordPos < 100 then 3
        else 4
        end) as rank
from (select i.*,
             (select top 1 wpwordposition
              from wordpositions wp
              where recordid=i.pk_itemid and wordid=79588 and nextwordid=64502
             ) as WordPos
      from items i
     ) i;

This also simplifies the case statement.  You do not need nested case statements to handle multiple conditions, just multiple where clauses.

A: No. Identifiers introduced in the output clause (the fact that it comes from a sub-query is irrelevant) cannot be used within the same SELECT statement.
Here are some solutions:

*

*Rewrite the query using a JOIN1, This will eliminate the issue entirely and fits well with RA.

*Wrap the entire SELECT with the sub-query within another SELECT with the case. The outer select can access identifiers introduced by the inner SELECT's output clause.

*Use a CTE (if SQL Server). This is similar to #2 in that it allows an identifier to be introduced.

While "re-writing" the sub-query for each case is very messy it should still result in an equivalent plan - but view the query profile! - as the results of the query are non-volatile. As such the equivalent sub-queries can be safely moved by the query planner which should move the sub-query/sub-queries to a JOIN to avoid any "re-running" in the first place.

1 Here is a conversion to use a JOIN, which is my preferred method. (I find that if a query can't be written in terms of a JOIN "easily" then it might be asking for the wrong thing or otherwise be showing issues with schema design.)
select
   wp.wordposition as WordPos,
   case wp.wordposition .. as Rank
from items i
left join wordpositions wp
  on wp.recordid = i.pk_itemid
where wp.wordid = 79588
  and wp.nextwordid = 64502

I've made assumptions about the multiplicity here (i.e. that wordid is unique) which should be verified. If this multiplicity is not valid and not correctable otherwise (and you're indeed using SQL Server), then I'd recommend using ROW_NUMBER() and a CTE.


The Village of Stillwater -sponsored Senior Time program was held on Oct. 30 and featured a Halloween party at The Stillwater Area Community Center. There was BINGO, Halloween games, great food and, of course, Donna's yummy themed cupcakes. Preschool children from Room To Bloom surprised us by singing a few Halloween songs. The group made tissue pumpkins and pumpkin wine glass candle holders. Thank you to our volunteers Donna Bove and Beth Chromey. Join us on Friday, November 20, for a Thanksgiving celebration. More information to follow. Call Judy at 664-2008 if you have questions.


text:
Btcnative.me
Ex-Microsoft Employee Arrested for $10 Million Crypto Theft
By	marlowarlus
On	Jul 18, 2019
In cointelegraph
A former Microsoft staffer has been arrested for a scheme to steal $10 million in crypto, using some of the funds to buy a Tesla car and lakeside home.
A former employee at Microsoft has been arrested for a scheme to steal $10 million in cryptocurrency, the Associated Press (AP) reported on July 17.
Insider Schemes
The man — a 25-year old Ukrainian national, Volodymyr Kvashuk, allegedly used the ill-gotten proceeds to buy a $160,000 Tesla car and a $1.7 million lakefront home. During the seven months of his scheme, $2.8 million was found to have been transferred into his bank accounts.
Specifically, Kvashuk is accused of having stolen cryptocurrency gift cards that were redeemable against Microsoft products and then reselling them at a profit on the web.
According to the United States attorney's office in Seattle, the suspect had helped with Microsoft's testing of its online retail sales platform.
Kvashuk's attorney did not reportedly answer AP's request for comment.
External Breaches
This April, several cryptocurrency holders alleged that their Microsoft-based email services — such as Outlook, Hotmail and MSN — has been attacked by hackers eyeing their crypto holdings.
Among the victims, one claimed that the breach of his email account had enabled the attackers to reset his account on crypto exchange Kraken. Microsoft confirmed that the breach had occurred during the first months of this year.
marlowarlus
Social Innovations and Secret Conversations (on the Blockchain)
Bitcoin Miners Will 'Defend' Price Above $6,500 Ahead of Halving: Analyst
US Congress on Libra Overview: Trust, Privacy and Genocide Accusations
BTC Price Reclaims $10K After US Lawmaker Says Bitcoin Can't Be Killed
Libra Will Upset World Economy if It Isn't Regulated Tightly, G7 Warns


The ADJ Recruiting Mixer has come to a close, and it was a great success, including how stunning all of your headshots turned out – here's your new profile picture, pals!
After hand selecting your most flattering shot and lovingly editing every single one, photographer Erik Binggeser has released all of your stunning headshots from the ADJ Recruiting Mixer.
He has very generously offered you all full license to your image so you can use your headshot online as your profile picture anywhere, so please do (you look great)!
We lament the loss of the distinctive Rattle Inn background, but this downtown scene is stunning and the bafflingly talented Erik made us all look so extremely fancy!
And if you didn't get a chance to tip while you were at the event (we know, it started sprinkling, many of us ran away), it's not too late – click here!


text:
Een regioslot of regiocodering is een digitale techniek om het gebruik van een product of dienst, zoals multimedia of een hardware-apparaat, in een specifieke regio te beperken.

Uitleg
Een regioslot kan plaatsvinden via:
 fysieke beperkingen, zoals een aangepaste vorm van het product
 technologische middelen, zoals het detecteren van het IP-adres (en hiermee de locatie van de gebruiker)
 onbedoelde middelen, waarbij apparaten alleen bepaalde regionale technologie ondersteunen (bijvoorbeeld: PAL en NTSC)

Een regioslot kan worden ingevoerd om verschillende redenen, zoals
 een gecontroleerde wereldwijde distributie van een product
 het voorkomen van grijze markt-import door het toepassen van prijsdiscriminatie
 het beperken van specifieke content voor gebruikers in hun eigen regio vanwege rechtenkwesties
 of omdat een distributeur onvoldoende rechten heeft om materiaal uit te mogen geven in een bepaalde regio

Spelcomputers

Nintendo
Nintendo was de eerste fabrikant die in 1983 een regioslot introduceerde in zijn spelcomputers. Spellen voor de Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) waren zowel fysiek als technologisch vergrendeld. Het ontwerp van de Japanse spelcartridge had een andere vorm dan die voor overige markten, maakte gebruik van een afwijkende aansluiting, en had een ingebouwde authenticatie-chip.

De later uitgebrachte Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) en Nintendo 64 (N64) maken gebruik van een soortgelijke beperking. De GameCube, de Wii, en de Wii U hebben eveneens een regioslot, en zijn onderverdeeld in vier regio's; PAL, NTSC-J, NTSC-U, en NTSC-K.

Sega
Sega maakte in 1988 bij de Mega Drive gebruik van fysieke beperkingen. Japanse spelcartridges hebben een afwijkende vorm dan Europese of Amerikaanse, en de Japanse Mega Drive gebruikt een plastic schuif, waardoor het niet mogelijk is om andere spelcartridges aan te sluiten.

In het tweede model Mega Drive werd gebruik gemaakt van een software-gebaseerde regiocodering die een waarschuwing toont en het spel blokkeert. Ondanks dat de spelcomputer zelf was voorzien van een regioslot, zijn de meeste spellen regiovrij, en konden daarom in elke regio worden gespeeld.

In latere schijfgebaseerde spelcomputers van Sega, zoals de Mega-CD, Saturn, en Dreamcast, werd eveneens een regioslot toegepast.

Sony
De PlayStation en PlayStation 2 van Sony zijn beide voorzien van een regioslot. De later uitgebrachte PlayStation 3 en PlayStation 4 hebben deze beperking niet.

Hoewel de PlayStation Portable geen regioslot toepast voor UMD-spellen, zijn films op UMD-schijf wel gebonden aan een specifieke regio.

Opslagmedia

Opslagmedia, zoals dvd en Blu-ray maken gebruik van regiocodering. Hiermee wordt voorkomen dat opgeslagen films wereldwijd worden afgespeeld.

Dvd maakt gebruik van acht regio's, waarbij regio 7 is gereserveerd, en regio 8 wordt gebruikt voor internationale plaatsen, zoals vliegvelden en schepen. Bij dvd-video is de implementatie van regionale codes niet vrijblijvend, maar de fabrikant heeft de mogelijkheid om een dvd vrij te geven voor gebruik in meerdere of alle regio's. Regiovrij bestaat in deze zin niet, maar wordt vaak aangeduid als "af te spelen in alle regio's".

Blu-ray maakt gebruik van drie regio's die corresponderen met een bepaald gebied op aarde. De meeste huidige Blu-ray-schijven zijn regiovrij. In tegenstelling tot dvd, worden Blu-ray-regio's gecontroleerd door de afspeelsoftware, niet door de computer of speler zelf. De regiocode wordt hierbij opgeslagen in een bestand. Een nieuwe vorm van Blu-ray regiocodering kijkt ook naar de landcode. Media in dezelfde regio, maar uit een ander land, kan hierdoor worden geblokkeerd voor weergave.

Websites
Op het internet wordt voornamelijk geolocatie gebruikt voor het beheer van online media. Hiermee kan worden afgeleid uit welk land de bezoeker komt, en alleen media worden afgespeeld waarvoor een licentie beschikbaar is voor dat land.

Internet-filmverkopers en online uitzenders van live streaming video van sportevenementen zijn aan regionale licenties gebonden. Door geolocatie te gebruiken zijn zij er zeker van dat er aan de licentie wordt voldaan. Een voorbeeld waarbij dit wordt toegepast zijn de videosites YouTube en Netflix.

Printers
Ook diverse printerfabrikanten passen een regioslot toe, waarbij een printer of inktpatroon alleen gebruikt kan worden in een bepaald land. Hewlett-Packard begon met het toepassen van regio's vanaf 2004.

Zie ook
 Auteursrecht
 Digital rights management

Intellectuele-eigendomsrecht
Informatiebeveiliging


This past weekend Tectonic Theater Project performed its play cycle on the murder of Matthew Shepard and its effect on the town of Laramie, Wyoming – The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. I was only able to attend the latter on its final night, which deals with the murder's aftermath through interviews with town residents. It was a moving evening of documentary theater. Though Tectonic does not as yet list future tour performances, the plays are widely produced and I'm sure you will have a chance to see them if you missed this round at Arena Stage.
If not, watch clips online. Maybe while you're waiting at the airport this week, fire it up. Start a dialogue with the person next to you. Who knows what may happen? You may learn something about the human capacity to alleviate discomfort by forgetting or distorting the past – "the nature of rumor," as it's described by a folklorist interviewed in the course of the play.
Matthew Shepard was murdered in 1998. I remember it not only as a murder whose horror was shocking in itself, but as an incident that catapulted hate crime and homophobia to the national news. It's hard for me to stomach that there are college students in Laramie now who have absolutely no idea it happened, but that's the truth as documented by Tectonic's actors as they interviewed on campus while creating The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later. The nature of rumor is also responsible for what was once seen nationally as undeniably a hate crime to now be seen by many in the town as a drug deal gone wrong – and not just the town, but in national debates surrounding the 2009 Matthew Shepard Act. The play's exploration of how that perception switch occurred (in part due to sensationalist media spin, no surprise there) is one of its most upsetting sections. The interviews with the men serving for Shepard's kidnapping and murder are also incredibly disturbing as they document their own perception shifts on what they did.
Tightly directed with sparse design and minimal costumes, this is a play that could easily be performed by any – and that's part of its success. The main pitfall would be tamping down any attempt by actors to comment on their characters' viewpoints. A truly effective documentary play cannot condescend or comment on the people whose voices are being heard, no matter the artist's personal feelings – it's for the audience to react. The eight person ensemble this go-around rarely fell into that trap, and they were all extremely moving as they morphed into different personas (Scott Barrow, Mark Berger, Jeremy Bobb, Mercedes Herrero, Greg Pierotti, Amy Resnick, Christina Rouner, and Kelli Simpkins). There were no missteps in their journey giving voice to viewpoints of all kinds – admirable, mundane, despicable.
The play serves as a historical document really – a piece of oral history capturing the complexity of conflicting viewpoints on social issues in our time. As we learn in the play, the fence Shepard died on has been removed from the prairie, the physical beams marked with his blood gone. How long does it take for outrage to fade? For memory of outrage? For the journey from empathy to apathy? In our split-second culture, these are fascinating questions to explore… fascinating, depressing, and illuminating.


African American Culture Club members pose for a photo with guest speaker Grace Hewitson.
The African American Culture Club (@lhsAACC) hosted guest speaker Grace Hewitson who is a recent graduate of the Class of 2017.
Hewitson recently participated in the Miss Maryland Teen USA pageant 2017. During her pageant's interview she was asked, "What does everybody need?" She responded, "I think that everyone needs love and equality, because you can't live without love, and everyone deserves equality." She wore a crown and sash when she was speaking to the group.
"I came in to speak about how black lives matter. It's perceived in a negative way. . . the media shows them doing illegal things such as destroying property and being violent, when really they just want justice for their race," said Hewitson.
Hewitson was inspired by the field trip her senior year to the newly opened National Museum of African American History. She liked the Contemplative Court waterfall and was inspired by Martin Luther King Jr.'s words inscribed above the waterfall.
Grace is furthering her education at Illinois Central College, after taking the first semester off for pageants, where she soon plans to move in January of 2018 to attend Illinois State University and study nursing. She aspires to become a pediatric oncologist nurse at the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and help discover a cure for cancer.
Being a senior, James wants to make sure that her club and her vision remain in tact after her departure next spring.
"At the end of the year, I would have the club elect their next president because they are the ones who will be working with the president to further the club's future goals and aspirations," said James.


HEADACHE - MIGRAINE Formulated for associated symptoms such as throbbing pain, pressure, congestion, dizziness, nausea and light sensitivity.
Directions: ORAL USE ONLY - SHAKE WELL. Ages 12 and up, take 6 drops orally (ages 0 to 11, give 3 drops) as needed or as directed by a healthcare professional.
Elaps corallinus 30x, Arsenicum alb. 15x, Belladonna 15x, Bryonia 15x, Carduus benedictus 15x, Cimicifuga 15x, Coffea cruda 15x, Convallaria 15x, Crotalus horridus 15x, Digitalis 15x, Gelsemium 15x, Glonoinum 15x, Ignatia 15x, Lachesis 15x, Merc. viv. 15x, Naja 15x, Nux vom. 15x, Phosphorus 15x, Rhus toxicodendron 15x, Sanguinaria 15x, Secale 15x, Vipera berus 15x, Apis mel. 3x, Hypericum 3x, Thuja occ. 3x.


Abstract : Crystal lattice rotations induced by twinning and shear banding developed in a Cu–8 at.% Al alloy (representative of fcc metals with low stacking fault energy) have been examined in order to investigate the influence of bands on slip propagation across a structure of twin-matrix layers and the resulting texture evolution. The microstructure and texture of oriented single crystal plane strain compressed up to 80% 77 K were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) including TEM orientation mapping. It is shown that the strong, initial texture changes are due to deformation twinning. Two families of deformation twins, symmetric with respect to the plane perpendicular to the extension direction, are observed. However, only one of them plays a dominant role in strain accommodation. At larger deformations, twin-matrix deflection within some narrow areas leads to kink-type bands, and this is crucial for understanding further texture transformations. The kink bands are precursors of shear bands (SB). It is shown by detailed TEM orientation mapping how the structure of twins and matrix is incorporated into a SB, and what kind of the dislocation mechanisms are responsible for strain accommodation at the macro-scale. It was found that the re-orientation of the main (1 1 1) twinning planes towards the SB plane facilitates further dislocation slip in the shear direction. Finally, a crystallographic description of SB formation in completely twinned fcc metals is proposed based on lattice re-orientations due to localized kinking.


Such is the state of our industry that I wonder if I overreact when I look at ads nowadays. Pouring vitriol on stuff that's OK and overpraising as genius stuff that's only a little more than OK. I blame WHAT SOCIAL MEDIA IS DOING TO OUR BRAINS. Anyway, these ads are all mostly OK.
Spotify is a bit better than OK, maybe because it's about the seething sexual subtext underlying the simple interactions of family members. It's a smart insight, linking the contrast between the communal nature of family and private lives of its members to the need for a family account. And you don't see many ads about wanking these days. In fact, I can't think of any at all, ever. Though, writing this, I'm looking forward to my inbox filling up with examples.
I'd love to like the Hellmann's stuff here because it's brave, and we like bravery from clients and spend a lot of time asking for more of it. But not like this, I find myself thinking. And can we please, please stop with all the toasting in ad copy? "Here's to" has to be on the banned clichés list, surely? I find the typography annoying and the idea behind these just doesn't appear to have any connection whatsoever to the brand. I just don't know why they're doing this. I'm not squeamish, but these ads have me retching for the loo, not reaching for the Hellmann's – sorry. Not OK.
Alzheimer's Society. There are a lot of ads these days acknowledging our divided culture and urging us to see past our differences. Advertisers need to do this because the centre ground allows them to appeal to the broadest number of people possible. What a world we live in, when adspend needs to remind us of our better selves! This is an effective message reminding us that Alzheimer's is indiscriminate and doesn't care what filter bubble we occupy. I love that the media buy delivered the idea by showing it simultaneously on Channel 4 and ITV, presumably to Remainers on the former and Brexiters on the latter. It's refreshing to see media and creative pulling together to underline the campaign idea – something we need to see more of.
Bradley Wiggins, mod hardman of cycling, now has a beard and is selling Skodas. Someone who was prepared to do anything to win (maybe pushing the rules beyond breaking point, though we'd all rather not believe that) now has the perspective and the time to focus on family and make a surprising car choice. Somehow it all kind of works and we find ourselves liking Skoda as the car for people who've calmed down a bit but still like to stand out. As with all Skoda ads, this one is telling you it's OK to buy a Skoda. That's OK with me.
I've used StubHub loads of times and resented it every time. Isn't it just a way to legitimise touting? If it's all about getting people out of the house to have fun, why not limit the price that can be charged for a ticket? It's hard not to see these third-party resellers as kind of affiliate tricksters, taking money from fans and musicians. So ethics are never top of mind, which I guess is why striking oil is a useful metaphor to use in an ad – the message? Dirty money in a jaunty setting. Now that's not really OK, is it?
Remember the film that went around adland showing a little village where all the award entry ads ran, but only in the month of June: Cannes Lions month? Funny stuff.
Actually, it's not so funny when you think about it. It paints a sad picture of our industry. An industry bursting with creativity and originality, with client businesses under more pressure than ever to deliver results. So why is it, when there's so much evidence for creativity selling more, that we see so little great creative getting made week in, week out? Let's see if this week paints a brighter picture than usual.
Hellmann's and Ogilvy & Mather have dared to go against the digital grain with a print campaign. I like the thought they're exploring around who on earth first picked up the squid, the prawn or the mushroom and thought: "Mmm, looks tasty." Feels fresh. And what a great way to prepare Brits for even greater oddities, like insects from Asia dunked in mayo! (That'll be our post-Brexit cuisine.) Alas, after taking in the copy and campaign line, it's not tasting as fresh as it first promised.
Skoda and Fallon put each other on the map back in the first decade of this century. Both have since had a much quieter existence. In a world of ads pushing "connected" cars with every digital gizmo imaginable, it's refreshing to see a car brand propose we "reconnect" with things that really matter. Only, I can't help but feel there are greater creative muscles to flex with the "reconnect" thought than Sir Bradley allows.
Alzheimer's Society and McCann have a tough nut to crack: charitable donations are falling like a stone (in the UK down by 5% in 2015). The "united" idea feels big. I just find the familiar, sombre charity tone pulls it down. To energise Brits to put their hands in their pockets would take the type of creative McCann showed in its award-winning Xbox poster – something we can engage with.
StubHub and Goodby Silverstein & Partners are both famous brands. GS&P has, like Fallon, had a few quiet years so it's great to see the agency upping the ante. I love the originality of "Machines", suggesting artificial intelligence has networked all electrical appliances and cars, programming them to turn against humanity. These are unapologetically big and entertaining productions that stand out from the everyday. A bit of a bright spot from all concerned.
Finally, Spotify: client and agency in one. A hot topic in recent weeks since Pepsi demonstrated how wrong it can go, while Channel 4's D&AD success with "We're the superhumans" showed how it can be the right way to go. And this amusing campaign makes a pretty good case for it too. Most agencies would be damn happy to have made these spots. Not so happy, the teenage son when he discovers his connection to the table he's eating off. Funny stuff.
Actually, it's not so funny when you think about it. It paints a sad picture of our industry. An industry bursting with creativity and originality that is, week in, week out, battling to defend the right to do more of what it does best.


You know I never really was a big Martha Stewart fan. I don't dislike her, I just never really watched her much. Now my sister - I think she's her clone, especially around the holidays! But after reading several posts about the glittered pumpkins I just had to try them.
During the day I picked up all the supplies I needed (although I ended up going to 3 craft stores before finding the glitter!), I visited Pat Catans and they only had craft glitter, the really big glitter. Then I went to Hobby Lobby and while they had more choices, they didn't have any orange or brown? So finally I ended up at Jo Anne's and thank goodness they had the fine glitter and several colors... my search was over!
When I got home from work I cleaned up the house and got dinner started and then began playing with the pumpkins. They were actually quite simple to do and if I would have had more time I would have done more but then it was back out to drop my mom's dogs off that we were dog sitting overnight.
Once we returned I was working with my Work in Progress kit - I even did some questions with the family for one of my "ideas" I'm working on. It was fun throwing out the questions and getting everyone's answers!
All was not lost in my trip to Hobby Lobby either! I found this cute little leather "basket" with handles and I envisioned all my mini books looking so cute in it. Plus to top it off they were 50% off, so this baby only cost $4! Now how could you beat that?


The revised Nissan GT-R (2012 model year for the US) features an engine with revised mapping, changes to valve timing, larger inlets and a revised exhaust system which boosts rated power to 530 bhp and 612Nm of torque from 3200 to 6000rpm. Changes also include a new more rigid front strut bar made from carbon composite, larger front brake rotors, new lighter and stiffer wheels, and revised Dunlop tires. Cosmetic changes include a new front bumper with integrated LEDs which adds cooling to the radiator and front brakes while reducing drag, a new rear diffuser which improves downforce, additional rear cooling ducts, and improved interior quality. The revised Nissan GT-R went on sale in Japan from mid November 2010 and February 2011 in North America, Europe and other regions.
Nissan's VP of global product planning Andy Palmer has confirmed that the current Nissan GT-R (R35) will be replaced by 2013.