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Veronica spp.
Features - New Varieties
Spiky flowers rise like sentinels in the sunny garden.
Richard G. Hawke
Left to right: Veronica 'Heraud', Veronica 'Giles Van Hees', Veronica gentianoides 'Pallida', V. pinnata 'Blue Eyes'.
Speedwells (Veronica spp.) are notable for their graceful and bountiful flowers, as well as their reliable nature. These long-blooming, easy-care perennials offer a range of plant types with a disQtinct verticality prized by gardeners. Whether at the front, middle, or back of the border, their slender wands enliven the garden with color and the busyness of butterflies and bees throughout spring and summer. Their popularity has only increased in recent years due to the introduction of many hybrid cultivars with new flower colors and improved plant forms.
Many colors, foliage
There are approximately 250 herbaceous species of Veronica native to temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere, found in such diverse habitats as alpine meadows, grasslands, oak forests, and riverbanks. The taxonomy of Veronica is currently under revision. Although speedwell flowers may be white, pink, violet or purple, the sumptuous shades of blue are particularly coveted by gardeners. Foliar characteristics are variable among Veronica species — from lanceolate to almost round, glossy to pubescent, with smooth, lobed or toothed margins. Basal leaves are often opposite, while leaves on flowering stems are alternately arranged.
For comparison and distinction, speedwells are usually grouped by habit, either prostrate spreading or upright clump-forming. Among the prostrate species familiar to gardeners are alpine speedwell (V. alpina), harebell speedwell (V. prostrata), creeping speedwell (V. repens), comb speedwell (V. pectinata), and gentian speedwell (V. gentianoides). Popular upright species include long-leaved speedwell (V. longifolia), spiked speedwell (V. spicata), and Hungarian speedwell (V. austriaca).
In the landscape
Speedwells are generally easy to grow and prefer sunny locations in moist, well-drained soils. Plants grown in less light will not bloom as profusely and may become lax or open in habit. Speedwells can be long-lived provided that garden soils drain freely, which is especially important during winter months. Many speedwells drop their lower leaves in summer, resulting in bare stems and a spindly habit. A midsummer shearing after the first bloom promotes healthy new basal foliage and encourages late summer flowering. Deadheading throughout the bloom cycle produces many new, albeit shorter, floriferous spikes later in the season. Taller speedwells may require staking, especially in overly moist or fertile soils. Dividing crowns in early spring is beneficial for plants that have lost vigor with age. A number of foliar diseases may affect plant health, including powdery mildew, downy mildew, leaf spots and foliar rust.
Prostrate speedwells are suitable for the front of the border, as edging along walkways, as ground covers, in rock gardens or on low walls. These low-growing species begin to bloom in mid-April, making them delightful companions to spring bulbs. In borders and wildflower gardens, upright speedwells mix nicely with many summer perennials such as yarrows (Achillea spp.), coneflowers (Echinacea spp.), cranesbills (Geranium spp.) and catmints (Nepeta spp.). Their telltale spikes are frantically alight with butterflies and abuzz with bees from mid-June onward.
The evaluation study
The Chicago Botanic Garden (USDA Hardiness Zone 5b) evaluated 64 taxa of Veronica in full-sun trials between 1999 and 2009. The goal of the comparative trial was to recommend outstanding speedwells for northern gardens. Sixty-one taxa completed a minimum four-year trial, with more than half of the taxa evaluated for six years.
The evaluation garden was openly exposed to wind in all directions and received approximately 10 hours of full sun daily during the growing season, an average of 165 days per year. The clay-loam soil was amended with composted leaves and had a pH of 7.4 throughout the evaluation term. The site was normally well drained, but at times the soil retained moisture for short periods in summer and winter.
Maintenance practices were kept to a minimum to simulate home-garden culture, thereby allowing plants to thrive or fail under natural conditions. Water was provided as needed and mulch consisting of shredded leaves and wood chips helped with water conservation and weed suppression. Moreover, plants were not fertilized, winter mulched or chemically treated for insect or disease problems.
Plants were regularly monitored during the evaluation period for ornamental traits such as flower color, bloom period, plant size and plant habit. In addition, data were collected on disease and pest problems, winter injury and habit quality and plant health issues related to and/or affected by cultural and environmental conditions. Final performance ratings are based on flower production, plant health, habit quality and winter hardiness.
Seven speedwells received good-excellent ratings for their overall performance, including Veronica 'Fairytale,' V. 'Giles Van Hees,' V. austriaca 'Ionian Skies,' V. longifolia 'Blue John,' V. spicata 'Baby Doll,' V. spicata 'Ulster Blue Dwarf' and V. wormskjoldii.
These top-rated speedwells exhibited strong habits and excellent flower production throughout the evaluation period. The lack of any serious pest or disease problems, along with good winter survivability, contributed to their high ratings.
Flower production evaluation
Many of the speedwells received four-star good ratings or higher for heavy flower production, robust plant habits, disease and pest resistance, and winter hardiness.
Among the top-rated plants were outstanding ground-hugging speedwells such as:
Veronica 'Blue Reflection,' V. gentianoides 'Pallida,' and V. prostrata 'Mrs. Holt'; as well as exceptional upright clumpers such as V. austriaca 'Ionian Skies,' V. longifolia 'Blue John' and V. spicata 'Baby Doll.'
Regardless of their stature or habit, they all featured spiky inflorescences rising from several inches to a foot or more above the foliage. Speedwells were generally long-blooming plants, often flowering from June into September, although not continually during that time.
Some drawbacks
Seasonal stem decline was a prevalent condition that affected the upright speedwells each summer. Despite leaf drop and/or stem death, most plants recovered quickly after being sheared to the ground at the end of the first bloom period. Cold hardiness was not an issue, but crown loss or plant death due to wet soil conditions in winter was a fairly significant problem for the speedwell trial. Powdery mildew and leaf spot were observed in multiple years but were neither widespread nor severe in most cases.
A complete report of all varieties trialed is available at www.chicagobotanic.org/downloads/planteval_notes/no33_veronica.pdf.
Richard G. Hawke is plant evaluation manager at the Chicago Botanic Garden, www.chicagobotanic.org/plantevaluation.
Making gardening easier
Features - Cover Feature
Working mom Jen Kurtz of Kurtz Farms designed the Urban Gardener program to give time-starved consumers like herself the opportunity to be gardeners and decorators.
David Kuack
Jen Kurtz. Photo © Julie Brown PhotographyLike a lot of working moms, Jennifer Kurtz of Kurtz Farms in Cheshire, Conn., doesn't have the time to garden.
"When my son Christian, who is now eight, was born I didn't have the time to garden, but I still wanted to be a gardener," Kurtz said. "At the same time I wanted to be a decorator. I wanted to be able to decorate my outdoor living space."
From Kurtz's desire to continue to garden and the time constraints she faced, came the Urban Gardener program. The program was initially designed for those people who didn't have the time or the space to do traditional gardening. Kurtz said the program, which began in the winter of 2005, benefitted from consumers' interest in container gardening.
"The container garden market was still relatively new at the time," she said. "I thought it was a good opportunity to showcase new products and to allow us to standout from other growers."
The first product in the Urban Gardener program was a vegetable cage that allowed people to garden with 1-square foot of space.
"At the time we were selling a lot of 10-inch tomato pots with the plants supported by wooden stakes," Kurtz said. "The plants would fall over or a consumer would try picking up a plant by the stake and the plant would break. The cage that I designed was a self-supporting unit. We patented the cage design and a plant clip. We were also doing some vine crops, like mandevilla out of Florida. These plants were supported with a redwood trellis. People would pick up the plant by the trellis and damage the plant. That was kind of the start for the whole program. It just exploded from there with ideas."
Kurtz said she began to look for ways to offer gardeners solutions for every season.
"When I first started working here in 1996, we were busy for three months out of the year in the spring," she said. "Sales slowed down and didn't pick back up until mum season started in the fall. Our goal was to make this a full functioning year-round business. At the same time, I saw that even though most consumers did their gardening in the spring, there was still an interest to continue gardening during the summer.
"I designed a decorative pansy bowl for the early spring. As growers here in the Northeast we can only sell so many plants in the month of May. The pansy bowl was aimed at grabbing some additional business earlier in the season. Consumers are kind of starved for color in the early spring. The pansy bowl is aimed at helping people get out of their winter doldrums."
For the summer season, Kurtz designed a Patriot Pot that she said can be sold from Memorial Day through the 4th of July. For fall sales, she designed a Pumpkin Pot. The newest addition to the program is a strawberry pot with a hanger.
Kurtz said the strawberry pot was in development for three years.
"I may have an idea, but I will tinker with it," she said. "My Urban Gardener job is secondary to my job with Kurtz Farms working with our wholesale customers."
She expects consumer demand for container gardening will stay for a while and that more of the changes will be a result of which plant varieties are popular.
"With the strawberry jar, I was tired of having my clay pot crack and break," she said. "I saw the need for an alternative jar that wasn't blow-molded plastic. I wanted something that didn't look cheap and had some weight to it. I also wanted a container that gardeners could do more with than just strawberries. I thought about themed herb gardens like a tour of Italy or a salsa jar."
Kurtz said she has been particularly pleased with the extended sale of garden mums that has occurred with the Pumpkin Pot.
"Halloween is the second biggest holiday for decorating next to Christmas," she said. "We need to extend the selling season into October. Last year we stopped shipping mums in mid-October. That's totally unheard of to go into October. Previously we limped to the end of September.
"We haven't come close to tapping fall market sales. People prefer to do container gardening in the fall. They don't want to get down on their hands and knees and dig in the ground. They have to be able to do something that is quick and easy and makes their homes look nice."
Friendly feedback
Kurtz said she gets ideas for new products from watching TV and reading home décor magazines. She bounces a lot of ideas off of her friends who aren't involved in the industry.
"About four to five years ago I started looking at Pantone colors and tracking the hot colors and matching them up with pansy varieties," she said. "My friends were tired of having to go to the store and match up flower colors with containers. They wanted to be able to buy the finished container ready for their doorstep or patio — instant color."
Kurtz has started a Facebook page for the Urban Gardener program for consumers to post photos of their containers.
"Initially I started to randomly drop off products at friends' houses and then I would ask them to post pictures online of how they use them," she said. "I provide them with the finished container and ask for their feedback."
Kurtz said she will also ask her friends what they will pay for a particular container.
"What my friends perceive as value is a lot different than what you and I would perceive as value," she said. "I have been surprised at what they would pay for plants. But if you actually look at what we provide by combining all of these components, we are providing a great value. Their feedback also helps me in making suggested prices for products for our Home Depot and independent garden center customers."
Kurtz said she will also run ideas past her son to find out what he thinks.
"How do I get Christian interested in gardening? I want to be able share the passion my husband Gary (Nyberg) and I have for gardening, especially the satisfaction of growing his own vegetables."
Kurtz wants to design a kit for kids' gardening along with kits for the other products in the Urban Gardener program.
"In addition to selling the products separately to growers, we are looking to sell them as kits to retailers," she said.
Urban Gardener products are available nationally to both Home Depot and independent garden centers. Rush Creek Designs assists in the design and manufactures the containers, and MasterTag produces the program's point-of-sales material. The line is available through Rush Creek, MasterTag and several distributors.
Retailer, grower input
While Kurtz has a passion for the Urban Gardener program, she calls it her second child. Her "real job" is selling and merchandising the plants to 28 Home Depot stores in Connecticut and Massachusetts, and captaining the annual container program nationally for the home improvement retailer.
One of the advantages of introducing a new Urban Gardener product is that Kurtz can trial the item with the company's own independent garden center customers as well as in the Home Depot stores.
"I have a great father and brother who indulge me with all of my projects," Kurtz said. "With the exception of the tomato cages, where we initially did 2,500 pieces, for the rest of the Urban Gardener products we started with 10,000 pieces. That is the level where we feel it's worth the investment."
Kurtz said the regional and national buyers at Home Depot have been great to work with.
"I have worked with them on their projects, helping to pick out the pots and hanging baskets and container manufacturers," she said. "When I set up a new SKU with Home Depot, they let me set the price. I will show them how many retail dollars I have generated for them for the various products that I selected. They have allowed me to try out the pots and plants in the stores I service to see how they will work. Then they have the choice to try something regionally or nationally."
Kurtz also receives feedback from the other 30+ annual growers who service Home Depot stores throughout the country.
"We work together to come up with the strongest program to benefit all of us," she said. "We bounce ideas off of each other. And these guys don't hold back. That kind of feedback is great for developing the Urban Gardener line. Since we sell the Urban Gardener line, I can tell them what worked, what it cost us and what we are selling the containers for."
For more: Urban Gardener, (203) 272-2996; jen@kurtz-farms.com; www.urban-gardener.net.
We're all in this together
Features - Management
Growers may feel far removed from end-users, but they certainly have a stake in every sale a landscaper or retailer makes.
Bridget Behe
Growers and retailers should work together to trial new products.The channel of distribution isn't something you likely think about on a daily basis, unless you are an ag economist or logistics specialist. Moving product from one place to another certainly gets things to customers, but it takes so much more than that.
Every time someone touches a product, they should be adding value. Value is added throughout the entire chain from grower to consumer. Growers may feel far removed from end-users, but they certainly have a stake in every sale a landscaper or retailer makes. Firms that supply products to growers also have a stake in the success of the retailer and landscaper. Tags, pots, fertilizer and growing media are a part of what growers need to add value.
We may not spend much time thinking about how great this industry's supply system is, but it certainly permits most of us to specialize and do our jobs very well without the worry of how to get plants to consumers or what kind of packaging to use or who will price it.
Growers want to retain their independence. Most businesses in the U.S. value their ability to choose markets, supply partners, and even who will buy their product. Still, there is much to be gained by working together.
Communication in a partnership
Communication is essential to a valuable working partnership. One of the keys to effective communication is timing. When is a good time to talk with retailers and other recipients of your hard work?
Ask them about when might be a good time to check-in and ask for feedback. If the timing isn't good, growers aren't as likely to get any information, and if they do get some, they may not get quality information.
Also, it makes good business sense to cultivate a relationship with several people at retail operations. A grower might work with one buyer, but others certainly see and handle the product. How can you get feedback from them? The grower might take lunch to a retailer on a slower day (planned ahead) to get several folks in a room talking about what worked and what didn't. It might be a customer appreciation day when a grower brings retailers to the production facility.
Ask for problems
What right-minded business person would really ask for problems? A savvy one. Problems delivering product from grower to retailer might be fixed. If plants are damaged in transit (not using a common carrier), or if plants are too tall for packaging, improperly sleeved or have some other issue, the grower should know about it. The major problems may get reported promptly, but what if there is something relatively minor that could mean a big difference to a retailer?
Most growers have production trials, but how far does the trial information extend? What if growers provided trial information to some select retailers? Both would have a lot to learn about the transport, packaging and demand of new products. Both would be able to observe different aspects of the plants' performance. Working together to trial new products makes sense because if there are production problems that can't be resolved, there won't be anything to sell.
Conversely, if there are shipping or retail issues that can't be resolved, there won't be anything to sell. Some retailers may value being among the first to put a new plant on the market. Consider those retailers as pioneers who can help grow the business.
Unique point of view
Growers are also in a unique position to talk with their suppliers about issues or problems their retailers or landscapers are having. Growers can be a powerful influence on the supplier and even manufacturers to provide information on shipping boxes, sleeves, growing media and fertilizers.
The growers' perspective in the "middle" of the channel gives them this unique purview. Few retailers have direct contact with input suppliers or manufacturers, although there are some exceptions. Growers who stay in frequent contact with retailers can readily identify common problems with an input supply and send that message back to suppliers.
One retailer having an issue may not constitute a problem, but if several have similar concerns, growers can help communicate those concerns. Growers who care enough to voice concerns build trust with suppliers, when others might just seek out another supplier.
It also never hurts to reinforce some of the plant requirements in the store. Growers know the idiosyncrasies of plants, having invested the time and money to produce them. Sure, there is usually care information on the tags and labels, but growers can help retailers educate their sales staff by providing some supplemental information. This could be online information such as a tip sheet or even a short video. Growers should encourage retailers to use these educational materials in their weekly meetings to reinforce key messages about the plants to help ensure they stay looking great until they're purchased.
Pay-by-scan
Few words stir more heated discussion between growers and retailers than pay-by-scan. Although not initially welcomed by many growers, pay-by-scan can actually help improve product quality and communication within the channel.
Care on the retail sales floor really is a challenge for many. If plants don't look good, they won't sell. If plants don't sell, smart retailers aren't as likely to buy them again next year.
One definition of stupid is doing the same thing and expecting different results. Growers are partners with retailers on the bench. What they do to work together to influence plants sales to consumers will help them both be successful in the game of business.
Bridget K. Behe is professor horticultural marketing, Michigan State University, (517) 355-5191, Ext. 1346; behe@msu.edu.
Who's your customer?
Looking for some insight as to who is buying your products? Here's some data collected by Ball Horticultural Co. about who's buying and why they're buying.
Jerry Gorchels
In today's ever-changing market, you not only need to be a quality grower, you also need to be a knowledgeable, aggressive, competitive salesperson. Producing the right varieties in the right quantities are issues that growers deal with every year. Wouldn't it be great if you could sell out of all your crops this year? That would be a year for the books. Some of the answers to varieties, colors and quantities of plants to grow are related to knowing who your customers are and how they react to current trends.
Consumers are bombarded all the time by television, radio, print and social media about trends and what's hot. This occurs with every change of the season. Growers look at past sales figures and attempt to predict what is going to sell. Half of the planning process is knowing who is buying your product.
Ball Horticultural Co. collected data in 2008 about gardening consumers through survey groups, internet surveys and store observations. The company looked at the basic gardener in active, declining, lapsing (stop and start) and non-gardening consumers in various age ranges. The company found that with the exception of the 55+ years-old age group, the majority were active gardeners. In the 55+ age group the majority of people were still gardening actively but the lapsing category had substantially increased, probably due to physical limitations.
Ball Horticultural looked at the same age groups and asked people to classify themselves as a master gardener, gardening enthusiast, casual gardener or unenthusiastic gardener. The company found that gardening enthusiasm increases with age. Our industry is selling primarily to the enthusiastic and casual gardeners.
Consumers were asked if the time they spend gardening has increased or decreased and why this change has occurred. More than 70 percent said their time gardening has increased. This is a very positive sign. Those people who indicated the time they spent gardening has decreased included mostly lapsed and non-gardeners.
Potential customers
The lapsed and non-gardener groups are still potential customers. When people in these two groups were asked why they garden less or not at all, the main reasons were not enough time, physical limitations and lack of garden space were the top reasons. Gift promotions, special events and seasonal offerings are good ways to get these groups into garden centers.
Customers who are buying
When gardening consumers were asked what was the least important characteristic for a purchase decision they said full green leaves, cost and bloom size. Many growers think they have to offer the largest flowers and greenest plants for retail. What consumers really are looking for are full-looking plants that deliver seasonlong color with high bud counts.
Convenience and freshness are plant qualities that consumers have indicated are important, but the plants also need to look healthy in order to make the sale. Consumers were asked their reasons for where they purchase their plants. Time efficiencies along with other product availability was the number one reason consumers selected a retailer. The next most important reasons were healthy flowers and customer service.
Once it was determined where and why people were buying, they were asked what would cause them to leave a retailer and shop somewhere else for plants. The top reason was unhealthy plants.
Gardening for function, fun
With the current popularity of home vegetable gardening and renewed interest in DIY projects, our industry has the perfect opportunity to increase sales. Gardening for function will hopefully transition to gardening for fun. In the past, gardening was a hobby, a point of neighborhood pride and something shared from generation to generation.
Today hobby gardening has become a low priority, neighborhood pride morphed to curb appeal and traditions have become a solo event. Gardening has become a function of the outdoor living trend. Garden retailers have to create a shopping experience that stimulates ideas for their customers and bring back the fun.
The major reason that unenthused gardeners garden is because it improves home value. None of the master gardeners feel that gardening is a function that improves home value. This diverse thinking shows how creative our industry has to be in order to appeal to the various gardening consumer groups.
With the recent increased sales in the real-estate market opens an increased opportunity for sales. Sellers need their homes to be appealing and over 50 percent of the people surveyed feel that new home owners have an obligation to decorate the outside of their homes. Plant retailers need to have decorative pots and containers available throughout the year and for the different seasons to take advantage of this demand.
The average gardening customer
Based on the data collected the average customer is an active gardener who is casual to enthusiastic about gardening. This customer is age 35 to 55 years old and has a limited amount of time to garden. This customer is looking for convenience and freshness in her shopping experience and wants healthy plants that will last throughout the season.
Based on this information, growers and retailers need to be very conscious of product quality and the shopping environment. Seasonal changes stimulate gardening customer sales and growers and retailers should to be ready to meet these changes. Look, listen and follow the trends your customers are reacting to.
Jerry Gorchels is technical product representative, Ball Horticultural Co., (630) 588-3179; jgorchels@ballhort.com.
Types of shoppers
Several years ago, during the California spring trials PanAmerican Seed Co. offered a presentation on "Knowing Your Customer". The information presented was based on data collected from a 2004 survey called Frank about Women in which five main types of shoppers were identified. Although the economy and people's priorities have changed in the last few years, customer personalities have not. Even though the survey focused on women, the types of shoppers is really gender neutral.
Feel Good Shopper: These are consumers who shop to feel good about themselves. Shopping is their "pick me up."
Butterfly Shopper: These consumers shop with friends, go from shop to shop looking to make sure they don't miss anything and are exposed to the greatest amount of trend influence.
Zealot Shopper: These are shoppers who wake up and create their shopping lists over their morning coffee. "I shop therefore I am."
Mission Shopper: These are consumers who enter a store with a list or specific items in mind. In a garden center, this type of shopper can account for 15 to 40 percent of the store's customers.
Anti-shopper: These are customers who enter a garden center and find the products they're looking for. They then go to the register, make their purchases and then they're gone from the store. They're purely functional shoppers.
For more: PanAmerican Seed, (630) 231-1400; www.panamseed.com.
Move with the culture
The products you sell must be viewed from the paradigm of the ever-changing consumer.
Marshall Dirks
The opportunity to capture small niches, which are typically ignored, may be the key to business survival. Photo by Todd Johnson, Oklahoma State UniversityCompanies and products need to "move with the culture" to compete in today's marketplace, according to Trendwatching.com. This can be anything from products for small urban gardens to education for new gardeners.
Whatever you are producing or selling in 2011, it needs to be viewed from the paradigm of the ever-changing consumer. In a marketplace where nearly everything is available everywhere and at nearly any time of the day, the opportunity to capture small niches, which are typically ignored, may be the key to business survival.
Trend No. 1: Grow and sell plants that matter to me
The year 2010 marked the first time in the world's history that more people lived in cities rather than rural areas. There is now a stronger demand for smaller homes and an increased population in downtown and inner suburb growth. Baby boomers are looking to simplify and lower the necessary maintenance of their homes and yards.
Instead of planting large gardens, today's typical gardener hangs a couple of baskets, puts a few containers together and possibly plants a few items in the ground. In newly established residential subdivisions, in-ground plantings are scarce. The pressure to not mess up a professionally landscaped area that has no place for annuals and perennials is intense. The garden has shrunk considerably, so plantings are relegated to the back of the house where "errors" are less noticeable.
We all saw the popularity of ipomoea take off in the late 1990s. It was the perfect plant that offered tremendous color without flower cycles and made everyone look successful. Perhaps too successful, as the plants gobbled up everything planted with it. Breeders took on the challenge of creating a new ipomoea that played nice with other plants. We've also seen changes reflected in other crops such as angelonia.
The plants that once provided the most comfort and reassurance of a green thumb are those that are vigorous. However, these may not be suitable plants for tomorrow's urban gardener. And we've not even discussed the scarcity of water.
Therefore, the work of breeders and collectors may shift away from finding the most vigorous plants to developing more compact plants that grow quickly and require less water, such as award-winning plants Diamond Frost euphorbia and Lo & Behold Blue Chip buddleia.
The need to promote small-space gardening is evident. Do you have a list of plants to recommend to condo dwellers, or balcony hobbyists or first-time gardeners with a 2-foot square garden? Consumers are looking to us for solutions to their unique gardening needs.
Trend No. 2: Listen to me
Are you making all the decisions for your business, or is your customer? Are you still trying to hang onto those habits of yesteryear? Are you running the family business just like your parents did? Are you tweaking gradually or allowing radical change to transform your products and your business into something that is sought?
In the new economy this old type of thinking leads nowhere. Today your business and its products need to embrace your customers. Occasionally we give customers a hug, but seriously, does your customer feel great about your company? Most business owners don't even know — mainly because they don't ask or provide a reasonable forum for customer feedback. Sorry to say, but suggestion boxes don't work — our own employees even ignore them. It takes guts to allow customers to make your decisions.
Customers, however, are making judgments all the time, but now they are doing it so everyone online can hear. Blogs, Yelp, Facebook — our customers are all there. Unfortunately, unless given the opportunity to provide direct feedback, those with experiences to share will find a way to do exactly that.
Does your company have a fan club that acts as a consumer advisory board (helping you make decisions on what to grow next year, guiding your facility layout and signage, attending important trade shows with you)? Do you have a method for asking your customers questions and measuring their feedback?
In a recent exit survey of garden center shoppers conducted by Nichols Research Inc., 71 percent of respondents, ages 18-44, want a trusted brand, compared with just 35 percent in the 45+ age bracket. Your product offering needs to reflect the trends that research is pointing out in today's society.
Listening is a challenge, but extremely valuable when applied. When heard, the public's desire to get involved increases, and thus empowerment and the ability to avoid mistakes become key attributes to running a successful business.
Avoiding a $1 million mistake
A couple of years ago Proven Winners created an ad promoting their new Rockapulco double impatiens series. Just before running the ad in national consumer publications, Proven Winners decided to ask consumers their opinion of the ad. The results were overwhelming. They absolutely loved the design, but they hated the color red. A follow-up survey was immediately conducted asking female gardeners' what was their favorite flower color. Red was their sixth choice. Purple was No. 1. A $1 million mistake was avoided by simply asking a question.
This was a sobering reminder of who should be making the decisions. Today, Proven Winners enlists gardeners to name and rate plants, choose ad layouts/designs, vote on potential television commercials and packaging ideas, as well as providing the opportunity to comment on every page of its website. Proven Winners also is engaging and listening to more than 30,000 consumers via Facebook every day of the week.
Are you listening? I hope so, because your customers want to tell you something.
Marshall Dirks is director of marketing, Proven Winners; marshall@provenwinners.com; www.provenwinners.com.


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Anna Hazare addresses supporters at Ramlila Ground
TNN & Agencies / Aug 19, 2011, 14:26 IST
Freedom from unsolicited SMS in 6 weeks: Kapil Sibal
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NEW DELHI: After three days in jail, anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare reached Ramlila Maidan and addressed thousands of supporters urging them to continue the fight for a strong Lokpal Bill.
Anna was received by cheering crowds, many of who had been waiting for days.
Earlier in the day, just past the Tihar Jail gates he addressed the crowd outside , raising his hand to the air and shouting "Victory to Mother India" and declaring the fight against corruption would continue whether he was "alive or not" before slowly winding his way in a truck decorated with flags through massive crowds.
Looking fit, the 73-year old Gandhian who is on day four of his hunger strike, urged his supporters outside jail to make sure that the torch of the movement against corruption is not extinguished. He said that India gained freedom in 1947, but the freedom movement had actually begun long time back meaning that the march to end corruption will be a long drawn one.
"We got freedom in 1947. Now the second freedom struggle has begun on August 16. A revolution has started. The fight against corruption will continue whether I am alive or not," he said as the hundreds of supporters waiting for him since early morning cheered and clapped.
Anna said, "After 64 years of independence, we still haven't achieved complete freedom."
"The fight is far from over, it has just begun," he added.
Many supporters had been there overnight and some had offered prayers to the god. Others chanted "the whole country is Anna".
Greeted by rains, the procession made slow progress as Anna waved to his supporters on his way towards Rajghat where he paid obeisance to Mahatma Gandhi before proceeding to Amar Jawan Jyoti at the India Gate and from there to the Ramlila ground, the protest venue.
Hazare supporters accompanied the procession waving the tricolour while he accepted greetings from people gathered on either side of the road in West Delhi.
The improvised vehicle had a huge umbrella to protect Hazare and his close aides from the pounding rain. Apart from walking along with Hazare's vehicle, the supporters followed him on bikes, jeeps and cars.
The procession affected vehicular traffic in and around the Tihar Jail premises including in Janakpuri, Mayapuri and Hari Nagar in West Delhi.
The tireless Hazare was greeted by the supporters with garlands and bouquets at various intersections en-route his procession which was marked by chants of 'Anna' and "Vande Mataram".
Children, housewives and others were seen standing on their balconies and rooftops to have a glimpse of Hazare and the procession.
Thousands of people, many of them school children, waited at Ramlila Ground despite rains to support Anna Hazare.
With the many tricolours, patriotic songs playing in the background and loud slogans and the sun playing hide and seek, it was like a carnival at the sprawling ground in central Delhi where Hazare will continue his fast that began Tuesday.
There were hundreds of school children in the crowd, some who had bunked their classes to come out in support of the 74-year-old Hazare.
"I have come here to support Annaji and we will get the civil society version of Lokpal bill passed come what may," said Prateek Babar, a student of Rajkiya Sarvodya Vidhyalaya School in west Delhi.
As it started pouring heavily, some people started dancing.
"When the government could not stop us, this downpour is nothing. I am here to witness history in the making," said Rehan Singh, a Class 9 student who had a tricolour painted on his face.
Authorities looked worried though.
"The marquee put up at the Ramlila ground is not waterproof. The ground is already wet. If it rains more, it will be difficult to handle," said Deputy Mayor Anil Sharma.
Anna's exit from jail today, took place after two days of hard negotiations with the government and the two sides agreeing that Hazare will undertake a fast for 15 days at the Ramlila Ground subject to certain conditions.
Hazare got from Delhi Police the spacious Ramlila Ground for his fast instead of the smaller J P Park.
Significantly, Team Hazare made it clear that his fast would not be a fast-unto-death and he will be on hunger strike only till his health permits.
73-year-old Hazare, in a video shot inside Tihar Jail, said the protests by "all my brothers and sisters, the elderly and the children" is giving him a "new energy" for his fast.
He said people were fed up of corruption and the government should not take long to bring a strong Lokpal Bill.
Hazare, who is on the third day of his fast inside Tihar jail, also said he is not "tired" at all.
indiaCovid live: 'Omicron a deviant, two pandemics are going on side by side'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Carriera

Minnesota Vikings
Jones al college giocò a football a Pittsburgh. Fu scelto nel corso del terzo giro (90º assoluto) del Draft NFL 2021 dai Minnesota Vikings. Nella sua stagione da rookie disputò 9 partite, nessuna delle quali come titolare, mettendo a segno 7 tackle.

Note

Collegamenti esterni
Statistiche su NFL.com

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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2014 Honda City diesel vs Hyundai Verna diesel
Rohit Paradkar | Updated: March 25, 2014, 06:02 PM IST
It has been over fifteen years since the Honda City brand debuted in India and since then all the three generations of the line-up had been the undisputed leader of their segment until petrol was still the preferred choice of fuel. But the lack of a diesel engine had, in a way, sent the leader into an exile.
The fourth generation City, though, now aims at restoring the legacy with the i-DTEC oiler under the hood. But while this transition was happening, a new leader, the Hyundai Verna, has taken over the throne – and because it knows that the City has come back in full force, it has sharpened its weapons too.
Both are instantly recognisable as products from their makers
The fluidic-sculpture design philosophy has worked wonders for the Hyundai and has been the forte of the current generation Verna. It has now got a minor facelift. The headlights now have projector beam lamps and wear a string of LEDs that have a daytime-running function. The 16-inch alloy wheels have a diamond-cut design like the ones seen on the Grand i10. It isn't a big departure from the older design and it goes very well with the rest of the car. They are shod with 195/55-section tyres that fill up the wheel-wells rather well.
The City on the other hand has alloys that look similar to that in the Amaze diesel and the tyres look a tad too skinny for the wheel wells. Add to it the high ground clearance and the City looks like it is tiptoeing.
The City's bodywork has more cuts and creases than the Verna that started it all. It has creases above both the wheel arches and the prominent shoulder line is the highlight of the exterior design. But while the family portrait of the City shows significantly different designs for the first three generations, the fourth generation City comes across as an evolution of the previous design – which in itself seemed ahead of its time.
The familiar V-shaped design for the centre console in the Verna now looks dated.
The new City however uses Honda's new H-Design language, this gives it a taller and narrower appearance than the older City. On paper though, the length and the width of the new City is exactly same as its predecessor.
Design is a personal preference, but in my opinion, the Verna facelift is a tad too gaudy for what already was a flashy design. But with its low-slung stance, fatter tyres and better-equipped headlights, the Verna looks more balanced and upmarket than the new City. The relatively more conservative design approach from Honda though will make the City age better.
The Honda City on the other hand takes a futuristic approach. The dashboard is asymmetric and tilted towards the driver
Unlike its radical exterior, the Verna's interiors have a hint of old-school design with its faux wood trim and symmetrical flow for the dashboard fascia.
The familiar V-shaped design for the centre console looks dated. There is a trademark Hyundai blue backlight for all the clocks and displays in the car and with the facelift, even the power-window switches get this treatment. The interiors of the Verna are well put together and the design, though slightly dated, still looks smart.
The Honda City on the other hand takes a futuristic approach. The dashboard is asymmetric and tilted towards the driver. It gets a combination of gloss and matte black surfaces with stain-finish inserts. What looks like a microwave oven stuffed into the dash is actually a combination of the A/C controls, the infotainment system and the instrumentation – which are made to appear like a seamless unit. Ironically, the infotainment system is operated with switches, while the HVAC controls have a capacitive touch screen interface. The instrumentation follows the trademark three-pot design and is easy to read. Both, the Verna and the City, get an economy-mode indicator, but the Honda unit looks cooler with the colour-changing arc lights around the speedo.
In terms of features, both the cars are closely benchmarked. Their top-spec trims get keyless entry and go, powered mirrors, parking camera, leather upholstery, Bluetooth connectivity and steering mounted controls. The Verna gets additional equipment like an ionising and filtration system for the AC, an electro-chromatic mirror and a cooled glove box, but the Honda City redeems itself with a sunroof, cruise control and rear AC vents.
The angel eyes of the new Verna
The Honda City has a better LCD display, and also trumps the Verna with better ergonomics for the switchgear. The City also comes with two 12V sockets for the rear seats – which means that your phones and tablets aren't going to run out of juice, no matter which seat you are seated in on a long distance journey.
Speaking of which, the City will gobble up more luggage with its 510-litre boot space, compared to the Verna's 465-litre capacity. In terms of leg space, the City clearly outclasses the Verna with better knee-room, headroom and foot-space. The flooring is relatively flat so seating three abreast is easier in the City than in the Verna; and the section of the floor under the City's front seats has an angle to it, which acts like a footrest for the rear seat passengers. So if the rear seat is where you are going to be, the City is definitely the one to buy.
The Verna's 1.6-litre CRDi engine is known to be one of the most powerful and eager mills in this segment. It produces 128PS of power at 4000rpm and 260Nm of torque at 1900rpm. In our test, the Verna managed to sprint from zero to 100kmph in 10.62 seconds with a top speed of 188 kmph.
The Verna's 1.6 CRDi engine puts out more power than the City's i-DTEC unit
With those figures, the Verna makes the Honda's engine sound like it has come from a segment lower. In fact, it has. The City's 1.5-litre i-DTEC mill is the same engine that powers the Amaze. It produces 100PS of power at 3600rpm and 200Nm of torque at 1750rpm. With the City's body-shell around it, the engine was capable of accelerating from zero to 100kmph in 12.8s. Unlike the Amaze, the City gets a six-speed gearbox and the top speed isn't restricted to 140kmph. Our test car managed to reach 163kmph in fifth gear, the car should max out at a higher speed in sixth gear. Despite these figures, the Honda City doesn't suffer on drivability. The torque spread is good and the car doesn't feel out of breath in the city or on the highway. The first gear feels awkwardly short, but second, third and fourth offer enough pulling capacity for urban commutes and for fairly quick overtakes. On the highway, the sixth gear makes for effortless cruising.
The i-DTEC engine isn't as noisy as in the Amaze, thanks to the better sound insulation in the City
The i-DTEC engine doesn't seem as noisy as in the Amaze, thanks to the better sound insulation in the City. The engine feels more refined to drive than the Verna's, but the latter has better sound insulation overall, making for a quieter cabin.
If you are looking for outright power, the Verna's the car for you, but if fuel economy is what you seek the City will impress you. Leaving aside its claims of being the most fuel-efficient car in India, our test car managed to give us 15.5kmpl in town and 24.1 kmpl on the highway – thus giving us an overall 17.65kmpl. The Verna on the other hand returned a fuel efficiency of 12.42kmpl in town, but came close to the City with a highway consumption of 23.67kmpl. The overall fuel economy for the Verna was 15.22kmpl.
The Verna's mid-life upgrade is more than just a new headlight assembly. After listening to countless customers complaining about the overtly soft suspension and the unnervingly lifeless steering system, Hyundai has addressed the concerns in the 2014 model. The suspension setup is noticeably stiffer and has a reduced body roll around corners. Ride quality is still pliant at city speeds, but the bouncy high-speed ride of the previous model has been ironed out. The steering is now better weighted at slow as well as high speeds, but it still lacks feel and precision.
On the safety aspect, the City nudges ahead of the Hyundai
The City has a better suspension setup and steering feedback than the Verna, but neither of the cars is even close to what the Linea or the Fiesta offer. There is a hint of body roll when you push the City around bends, but it isn't unnerving. What could scare you though is the skittish feel from the skinny, low-resistance tyres. Swap these with more grippier rubber and you'll have a good handling C-segment sedan at your disposal. Neither of these cars is meant for the racetrack, but good grip and high-speed stability are essential for a safe driving experience – and out of the two, the City is the better one.
On the safety aspect, the City edges ahead. The Verna always had the upper hand with its six-airbags, but the carmaker has mysteriously replaced them with a conventional two-airbag setup that is only available on the top two trims. All four disc brakes with ABS and EBD are a boon and are available on all but the base model.
The City has always employed disc brakes only on the front wheels, which is a downer. However, ABS with EBD is standard across the entire line-up and so is the driver-side airbag. The front passenger airbag is available on top three out of the five trims levels on offer.
It is only a matter of time then, before the legacy of the Honda City is restored
The Hyundai Verna's mid-life upgrade may not sound like a big one on paper, but it does iron out the concerns that we had with the car. The Verna was always the benchmark for features and creature comforts and even after losing out on some of the airbags, it still is one of the most formidable offerings in the C-segment.
The Honda City on the other hand has been the benchmark for overall performance, fuel efficiency and reliability and the fourth generation model conforms to it, while also adding a diesel engine to the mix. More importantly, it now also surpasses the Verna in terms of creature comforts and safety features to become a benchmark in itself. It is only a matter of time then, before the legacy of the Honda City is restored.
Also read: Honda City diesel vs Hyundai Verna Spec Shootout
Hyundai Verna 2018 Full Spec
Price (Ex-Delhi)
Starts Rs 8.09 Lakhs
Max Power(ps)
Max Torque(Nm)
Honda City 2020 Full Spec
Tags: Hyundai CRDi | Honda i-DTEC | Honda City diesel | 2014 Honda City | Hyundai Verna | refreshed Verna | Verna facelift | Verna daytime running light | projector light Verna | Honda City or Verna
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Check out The Second Annual Cider Slush!
The Cider Slush is an annual fundraiser to support the development of Core Orchards Detroit, ensuring Detroit will have its own commercial non-profit U-Pick Apple Orchard.
Our signature Cider Slushy made with a splash of Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.
*2 Cider Slushies included in all tickets.
10 hard cider samples from Blake's Hard Cider Co.
*10 sample tickets included in all tickets.
Great Music and Yard Games!
Live entertainment will be provided by Your Generation in Concert (watch video) and yard games will be supplied by Come PLAY Detroit.
You must be 21 years of age or older to attend this event. Photo identification will be required before entering the event.


Cooking is a time-consuming task for some people and to make this easier the cookers are introduced which are much convenient and makes the cooking a hassle-free task. To overcome the issue some specially designed cookers have been launched in the market which gives the delicious and quality food ready in minimum time. Rice cooker is one of the cookers in the market which makes the rice in just a few minutes. To shop the rice cookers in Dubai you do not need to step out and search in the market as best rice cookers are easily available on Awok. We have all the famous brands of rice cookers in UAE like Panasonic, Philips, Geepas, Nikai, Sonashi, Cyber, and Olsenmark. Whereas, the other home and kitchen appliances also can be purchased from Awok as we have a huge variety of kettles, toasters, grinder, juicers, electric rice cooker, and food steamers. The available rice cookers are best in quality and can be used for multipurpose as well, you can use it as a boiler for vegetables and meat. To make life easier cooking feasibility has become a priority, and rice cooker indeed act as a machine which cooks rice by preserving the freshness and taste exactly like cooked on a stove but electric rice cooker quality is it saves time. No need to get sweaty and tired of cooking yummy dishes in the kitchen as Awok offers rice cookers price in Dubai very affordable. Make life easier and order now to have your rice cooker on your doorstep. There are many varieties of rice cookers on Awok available like an electric rice cooker, rice cooker with steamer, digital rice cooker, and an automatic rice cooker as well.


text:
Care Coordinators
Home, Work or Clinic
Patient Education Services
Patient Adherence Programs
Patient Affordability Programs
Patient Education Programs
Patient Screening Programs
Pre-Treatment Test Programs
Program Material Distribution
Centralized Invoicing
Treatment Administration Programs
AE Tracking
Alio's Story
"She was exceptional"
"No real issues, although the convenience of having it done at home is a bonus."
"Efficient, Cheerful, knowledgeable"
"Very good service"
"She was able to answer all my medical questions."
"The service I received could not be improved. Amanda was very pleasant + professional. I was very pleased with the service I received."
"Everything was perfect, thanks."
"Paul was very efficient and professional. He was great."
"Saved us from having to go to a clinic is Ottawa from Rochland Ontario. This was very helpful for my mother, who is 88 years of age."
"He took the time to answer all the questions I asked him. He is very professional. No improvement. I am very satisfied and have had good explanations."
"It was perfect. The nurse was efficient, professional and friendly."
"You could not ask for anything better. Mr. [nurse] is very competent and kind."
"Of course, I'd love to have her back next year. A nurse in gold."
"Everything was excellent"
"Continue sending in Nathalie"
"She was very professional, knowledgeable and sweet! Loved her!"
"The nurse was polite and professional. There should be more like him."
"She was very kind, clear, sweet and caring. We had problems with getting the medication and Nathalie was very helpful, proactive and approachable-was a pleasure to deal with her. One of a few who is sincere and takes her job seriously."
"The home visit service is wonderful. The timing is predictable-no waiting. My chair is more comfortable then any office chair!"
"Having the treatment at home was wonderful and I'm sure there are many patients like myself in chronic pain that would benefit from this service."
"I cannot think of one area that could have handled with any better exceptional service. Thank you."
"Hermes was professional, Knowledgeable and very personable. He is a excellent nurse and ambassador for your business."
"Marla is a pleasant and personable care-giver. She is professional during the procedure so I feel confident about her skills."
"I hope to relive this experience. Nathalie was very professional, jovial. I greatly appreciate this home infusion, it reduces stress and I don't have to find company."
"I was sorry he had to leave so soon but i was thrilled with the visit."
"A very pleasant personality and handles the visit very professionally."
"No suggestions. I can't think of any possible improvements."
"Absolutely nothing. This was a fabulous service and the nurse knew her stuff. Polite, professional, and a real pleasure."
"Halona was a treat to have come for my treatment. To have it at home is so great as it is difficult for me to get out. She put me at ease although not my first treatment-First at home and she was a joy to have, Thanks. Nothing to complain about."
"A very pleasant experience in my own home by a very pleasant girl."
"Excellent Service! Less time away from work and did not interrupt my productivity. Thank you!"
"Had difficulty getting an appointment at the hospital, this is much easier."
"The at home visit was very helpful since I have been quite ill and just had replacement surgery and would have been difficult to get out to a clinic."
"Convenience of my own home meant i didn't have to take off work time. "
Since Alio Health was launched we have received nothing but accolades for our innovative solutions and service in delivering Patient Support Programs.
Exceeded all the expectations
"I [Pharma Client PSP Manager] had a meeting today with the medical representatives and they reported extremely positive feedback from the physicians.
Physicians were impressed by how fast it takes to assign a nurse to the patient. They reported that it takes less than half a day, so we are exceeding their expectation
Physicians reported that the CCs [Care Coordinators] were super informative, polite and helpful on all the program related matters
I have to admit that I had doubts when I first conceptualized this program. I was worried about negatively affecting [Pharma Co]'s image, but with Alio's project design and the great team work, we exceeded all the expectations."
The BEST Company that provides the BEST services
"Thank you for your follow up. I have nothing that I would like to change as it has been the most positive experience I ever had working with your agency and with Cathy [Alio nurse]. We are in contact via e-mail with Cathy all the time so we are always connected and on the same page about our plans for our patients. I expect an average of 2 or more new patients monthly and I can guarantee you that every referral I get is going to your agency exclusively since I have stopped using the other companies. I can only say CONGRATULATIONS for being the BEST Company that provides the BEST services and to Cathy because all the patients are very pleased with her outstanding care. I love the HOME™ Portal! It provides me with a fantastic, fast and user friendly way to make new referrals and to keep tract of the patient's status."
Happy with your nurses' work
"I am very pleased with how the work is going on and quite pleased to see the HOME™ calendar being full with visits, not to mention that I am quite happy with your nurses' work and I am really appreciative of the follow ups"
HUGE thank you!
"I just wanted to say a HUGE thank you! The husband said the appointment went amazing and he was very impressed. He would love to have this service again and was so grateful this was an option. Patient is due again Oct 15th. Is it possible to do another in home infusion? If yes can I just book with you again?"
"Great nursing services and very quick response to all my needs"
"Thank you for taking good care of the patients that I have sent you!"
"Thank you so much Tamara, Great service! I really appreciate that."
At the conclusion of every visit, the patient is provided with a service feedback form to send in anonymously. The rating scale is a 5-point scale with 5 being exceptional service:
28% of these forms are returned
98.5% of the forms returned rate our nursing service a 4 or more out of 5
The Alio Life
© 2020 Alio Health Services
Gateway Business Park
100-320 March Road
Ottawa, ON K2K 2E3
1-613-287-ALIO (2546)
Fax: 855-287-ALIO (2546)
info@aliohealth.com
1-613-287-ALIO (2546) x 799
helpdesk@aliohealth.com
Hours: 8:30am - 5:00pm EST


Is there a module or a way to build one to change SWHOIS or add SWHOIS to an user like, using /chgswhois user line ?
right, but if i want to set it on services or unreal? i know this forum is not for services, but, if i want to set a SWHOIS line for a regular registered user? or, if there is a way to create a SWHOIS block so users could use it like /vhost?
I have no idea what your purpose is for the additional SWHOIS line(s). Maybe using it in a vhost block will work for you, but you'd have to set an actual vhost for them I think (besides the swhois directive obviously). If that's no good, trying to get Anope's module to work might be worth another shot.


text:
Posted in: Honor Killings
Published on Dec 17, 2009 by Phyllis Chesler
Published by Pajamas Media
Europe Cracks Down on Honor Killings
Father Convicted in London, Husband Convicted in Holland - An Entire Clan Convicted in Denmark in Three Separate Cases
A decade ago in London, a father terrorized, then plotted to honor-murder his 15-year-old daughter. After attacking her twice, the girl simply…disappeared. Nevertheless, due to a British police decision to revisit and reclassify old cases, the father has just now been convicted of her honor murder.
Although her body has never been discovered, first-person testimony by the girl's mother, Hanim, by her sister, Hatice, (in a video, taken before her death), and by the victim's fiancée, Halil Unal, led to this verdict. In other words: The villains were all Muslims—but so now are the heroes.
In an amazing break with tradition, a mother sided with her daughter, not with the man who fed, clothed, battered, and terrorized her. She exposed the kind of murderous, at-home tyranny with which women are expected to collaborate. Bravely, she broke with the kind of woman's inhumanity to woman that I write about in my book of the same title. Indeed, in Woman's Inhumanity to Woman, I describe a study in which two anthropologists documented the role that malicious female gossip played in an Arab village in the targeting of a woman to be honor-murdered.
In the 1989 case of Palestina Isa (which I write about in The Death of Feminism) in St. Louis, the 16-year-old Palestina's older sisters kept demanding that their father, an Abu Nidal terrorist, murder his youngest daughter—lest Palestina's friendship with an African-American schoolmate ruin their own children's future marriage chances.
Now, back to London's Old Bailey.
Mehmet Goren, the convicted honor murderer, now 49-years-old, immigrated from the Kurdish region of Turkey. His daughter Tulay's crime? She dared fall in love—and with a man who was not only twice her age but who was a Sunni, not a Shiia Muslim. Her father and his brothers strongly disapproved of this match. Tulay then "sinned" again—she ran away from home twice, a home in which both she and her mother were routinely battered and terrorized. Mehmet's brothers were not found guilty of conspiring in Tulay's murder.
Mehmet also tried to murder Tulay's boyfriend, Halil Unal, who survived the attack. Tulay herself reported being attacked twice by her father.
According to the Telegraph, it was ten years before Tulay's mother Hanim agreed to tell the truth about her violent husband.
"In emotional scenes in court a sobbing Mrs Goren said: 'In the children's bedroom I saw Tulay lying on the floor face down. Her hands and her feet were tied. Her hands and her feet were all a purple black colour. Hatice cried and screamed and jumped on her and the two of us tried to untie her, and Tulay said: 'Mum don't untie me, I want to die'. In the meantime Mehmet had come from downstairs and said don't untie, don't touch he said."
Mrs Goren continued: "After that Mehmet said: 'So that she doesn't run away again I have tied her up'."
She also gave key evidence about the aftermath of the murder, in which she found knives missing from the kitchen, bin bags used up and the back garden of her home in Glastonbury Avenue, Woodford Green, dug over. Hanim said she was 'suspicious' when she saw Mehmet's freshly laundered shirt, as he had never done the washing in more than 20 years of marriage. She also noticed injuries to her husband's hands, including a large gash to one of his palms."
This conviction is due to an increased incidence and exposure of honor killings in the UK and in the West; to resources dedicated to prevent or prosecute such cases; and, as I've suggested, to the ultimate bravery of family members who finally chose to testify for the victim.
In 2007, a conviction was also obtained in another other honor-killing case which took place in the UK long ago. Banaz Mahmod was stripped naked, raped, and then strangled on the orders of her father, Mahmod Mahmod. Her father, uncle, and a third man, Mohammed Hama, were convicted and given a life sentence.
Meanwhile, this same week, a Dutch court in Amsterdam sentenced Younis K. (39) to nine years for having brutally murdered his wife Aisha K. (36). The court called the murder "horrible" and said that Aisha must have suffered "terrible pain." Aisha, the mother of four children, wanted to divorce her husband. He responded by "beating her many times with cricket bats." His cousin, Tariq S., who presumably helped him, was acquitted.
The prosecution had asked for 14 years in prison for both men.
A friend rendered this comment: "They asked for only 14 years?!! And he got only 9 years??!! In the notoriously comfortable Dutch prisons? Obviously, if you want to kill someone, Holland is the place to do it."
However, in terms of understanding and successfully prosecuting an honor murder as a family conspiracy, Denmark leads the pack. Last week, a Danish court convicted an entire clan in the murder of 18-year-old Ghazala Khan, a Danish born woman of Pakistani origin. Her thirty-year-old brother, Akhtar Abbas, had been delegated to shoot her to death two days after she married an Afghan man; her Pakistani family had not arranged this marriage. This was Ghazala's capital offense.
Alas, her aunt betrayed her when she lured the newlyweds to a promised reconciliation. Ghazala was shot dead, her husband survived the attack. According to The Brussels Journal,
"A Danish judge sentenced Akhtar Abbas to 16 years in gaol, and the father, 57-year old Ghulam Abbas, to life imprisonment (which, if one behaves well in gaol, is reduced to 16 years). The aunt and two uncles were given 16 years as well. Other members of the family and friends who had helped to track down Ghazala received sentences of between 8 and 16 years. Two Pakistanis who do not have the Danish nationality will be expelled from Denmark after serving their prison term.
The Danish verdict is historic, not only because the entire clan was punished but also because the head of the family, who ordered the killing, was given a heavier sentence than the actual murderer."
I still fear for the brave mother who testified against her husband in London. Since Mehmet Goren's brothers were not found guilty, I would hope that the brave Hanim is already in a witness protection program. They will surely come after her.
Thanks to Esther and Henrik Raeder Clausen for bringing these cases to my attention.


SMS number 2: Sorry, sorry, sorry, that was not for you.
- Honey, would you like me to bring coffee to the bed?
- No, darling, I will come to have breakfast with you.
- Would you like to have scrambled eggs, my love?
- Sure, kitty, two eggs, please.
- Wait, you don't remember my name either, do you?
Funny jokes about dating - He vs SheHe: Can I buy you a drink?
- Yesterday I split up with my girlfriend.
- What happened, you were doing so well together.
- So I spilled shampoo to her eyes.
A good boyfriend will never want to change anything about you... except your last name.
I'm sick and tired of trying to find your "x". Just accept the fact that she's gone. Move on, Dude.
Relationship starts with Can we talk?. And ends with We need to talk.
- Do you think my salary is sufficient for you?
- Yes it is sufficient for me, but how you will survive?
If a guy after the first date remembers the color of your eyes, concern about the size of your breast.
A guy and his girlfriend are kissing in the park.
- You make me sleepy?
- Yes, we have met three minutes ago, but I already want to take you to bed.
All divorces start with the words Let's get married.
- Would you like to come in for a cup of tea?
- Sure, just give me a second - I'll jump to a drug store to get something with tea.


Greenleaf Season 4 is all set to feature more scandals. Well, there were no doubts about the renewal of the show. Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) renewed the series for another go. The series got renewed on 19th September 2018. The renewal happened midway through the Season 3 of the show. This shows the confidence of the creators in the series.
When it comes to Greenleaf, Oprah is the firmest pillar. She is the executive producer of the show, along with that she also portrays the role of Mavis McCready.
The series follows the Greenleaf family that operates a Megachurch. This seems to be a kind and caring family. However, the truth is that there exist scandalous secrets and lies. Sibling rivalry, greed, and infidelity are amidst the issues that this family faces. The series gets a twist when a family member returns home after a 20-year absence and uncovers these secrets.
How The Third Season of Greenleaf Performed?
Well, the show gets mix reviews. Although, it is one of the most anticipated shows of the Network. Compared to Season 2, the show has gained a slightly less viewership for Season 3. The prior season gathered around 1.3 million viewers, while Season 2 had about 1.413 million viewers.
Although there is a slight drop in the viewership, Erik Logan, the president of OWN is positive about the series. Logan said that Greenleaf is a cornerstone of our scripted programming slate and draws in millions of watchers per week. He added that the show has its unique plot and compelling characters. We are very proud of this show, the fantastic cast, producers, and crew, and can't wait for further twists and turns in Season 4 from the Greenleaf family.
Season 3 of Greenleaf set an exciting tone for the upcoming season. In prior season, we saw all the chaotic forces that Grace's (Merle Dandridge) return to Memphis unleashed loom to destroy not just the church, but her family too. Season 4 will feature further consequences of that.
The Greenleaf house is on fire with the shocking discovery of Bishop's (Keith David) adulteries with Lady Mae's (Lynn Whitfield) sister. Moreover, vibrations from his current petting with that sly Jezebel, Rochelle Cross (LeToya Luckett) will lead to more complex scenarios in Season 4.
Who Will Feature In Greenleaf Season 4?
Soul legend Patti LaBelle (Maxine Patterson), Rick Fox (Darius Nash), and Homeland's Beau Bridges are promoted as series regulars for Greenleaf Season 4.
Keith David will pursue his role of Bishop James and Lynn Whitfield as Lady Mae. Along with them Deborah Joy Winans as Charity, the youngest member of the family, Kim Hawthorne as Kerissa Greenleaf, LeToya Luckett as Rochelle Cross, and Lamman Rucker as Jacob Greenleaf will also feature in the season 4.
Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN) has yet not revealed any premiere date for Greenleaf Season 4. However, according to speculations, Season 4 will air in spring 2019.


through manufacturing firms, I've had dozens of clients ask me "What's the best free autoresponder available?" over the years.
, product information and vacation messages.
and provide double opt-in (also called closed-loop opt-in) capabilities. These types of features are absolutely necessary if you have a list of more than a couple of hundred names, or if you're trying to run a real business.
very quickly, which means that your email will start bouncing in a big way. I've seen cases where competitors have subscribed one of these mail trap boxes to a competitor's email list so that each time email is sent to the list it is immediately rejected — something that can be avoided by using double-opt-in.
, but they're not visible in the Drafts view. This isn't quite the same set of features and functionality offered by phplist, but it may do for you or your business.
If you'd like more information on any of these points, or anything else related to Marketing Technology, post a comment letting me know.


text:
Credit Suisse under fire as Swiss watchdog steps up snooping scrutiny
By Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi
FILE PHOTO: Logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse is seen Zurich
ZURICH (Reuters) - Switzerland's bank watchdog is stepping up an inquiry into staff surveillance at Credit Suisse <CSGN.S>, it said on Friday, as pressure mounts on the bank to explain a second alleged instance of an executive being tailed.
Credit Suisse said on Tuesday it was looking into a report by a Swiss newspaper that its then-human resources boss was followed by private detectives in February. The report revived concerns about its practices after a similar surveillance operation uncovered in September rocked Switzerland's financial centre and prompted the ousting of one of Chief Executive Tidjane Thiam's long-term associates.
Last week the Wall Street Journal reported that a former executive at a Credit Suisse joint venture told top bank executives as well as U.S. and Swiss authorities that she was put under surveillance in 2017 while in a dispute with the bank.
"The observation activities carried out by Credit Suisse raise various compliance issues," financial market supervisor FINMA said in a statement on Friday. "FINMA's ongoing investigations of this matter will now be stepped up with the help of an independent auditor."
Credit Suisse in October cleared its CEO of snooping on star wealth manager Iqbal Khan after he left the bank for arch-rival UBS <UBSG.S>, in an incident that badly damaged the second-biggest Swiss bank's reputation and which its board described as "wrong and disproportionate".
Khan, 43, went to the police after a Sept. 17 confrontation with at least one detective who was shadowing him and his wife as they drove through Zurich.
The emergence of a second alleged case of surveillance, reported in detail in Swiss newspaper Neue Zuercher Zeitung (NZZ) earlier this week, comes as an embarrassment after its chairman said the bank did not condone surveillance of employees. An investigation ordered by the bank into the first case of snooping said it had found no evidence Credit Suisse had ordered observation of other employees.
The probe conducted by law firm Homburger found only two employees -- then-Chief Operating Officer Pierre-Olivier Bouee and the security boss under him, who both resigned -- knew of the surveillance of Khan, which prompted a criminal investigation that remains ongoing.
"Of course I didn't know. I hesitate to say it, but it happens in international companies that one has to do these kind of things," Thiam said in a later interview with Swiss broadcaster RTS. "But it's a legitimate weapon that the bank sometimes unfortunately has to use to protect its business."
A senior officer working in the business intelligence industry who asked not to be named said spying on employees was "very, very rare" in Switzerland and should only be conducted with a very high level of approval within a company.
"It is very sensitive and it can be very damaging if it gets into the public domain," he said.
Following FINMA's statement on Friday, Credit Suisse said it was nearing the completion of its own investigation and would publish the results on Monday.
"Credit Suisse will continue to fully cooperate with FINMA," it said.
(Reporting by Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi; additional reporting by John Revill and John O'Donnell; Editing by Hugh Lawson, Louise Heavens and Catherine Evans)


We live in an age of 'stuff'. And stuff needs a name. But given the proliferation of largely commoditised stuff that inhabits our lives, be it tomato sauce, jeans or bar tape, it's seen an equal proliferation in brands and sub-brands – and cycling is certainly not immune.
Surnames alone simply don't cut it any more. It would be far too confusing for consumers if twenty products all carried the same name. Let's be brutally honest here too; with a few notable exceptions, surnames are usually nowhere near esoteric, proprietary or memorable enough for Marketing Departments to justify the exorbitant prices they crave. Why do so many actors and rock stars use stage names, after all?
Of course, two decades in advertising creative departments has taught me coming up with catchy monikers isn't anywhere near as simple as it sounds. You only need to look at the public relations fiasco between Specialized and Cafe Roubaix last December to realise registered trademarks can be a corrugated minefield at the best of times, far worse than anything on show at the Hell of the North or Flanders this European spring.
This got me thinking. Whilst their names may be ubiquitous in suburban pelotons nowadays, how did many of the brands we use and know come to be called what they are? I gather there isn't a Japanese man called Ultegra, for example. Nor can I imagine a French wheel designer going by the name of Mavic or Ksyrium.
Opening its doors nearly 125 years ago and based close to the Swiss border in Annecy, the name behind the multi-million dollar French bicycle parts manufacturer is actually an acronym. It comes from "Manufacture d'Articles Velocopediques Idoux et Chanel." Charles Idoux and Lucien Chanel were the two partners who founded the business in the late 19th Century. Today Mavic is owned by Amer Sports, a Finnish company which also owns the Salomon, Atomic and Wilson sports equipment businesses.
The GPS-based application that touches so many of our lives every morning may be based in San Francisco. But its name has origins in a very different corner of the globe: Scandinavia. In particular, it comes from the Swedish word "sträva" which means "to strive." Michael Horvath, who co-founded the Californian business in 2009 with Mark Gainey (the two also rowed together at Harvard), spent his childhood in Sweden, hence the connection.
You won't be surprised to know "Giro" means "tour" in Italian. Yet despite being an Italian word, the bicycle equipment manufacturer is very much American, headquartered in Santa Cruz, California. The company was founded in 1985 by Jim Gentes and since 2005 has been part of Easton-Bell Sports, overseen by parent company Fenway Partners, a private equity business based in New York. Which, when you think about it, does have a rather large and influential Italian community I guess.
One of the more interesting ones, SRAM doesn't actually mean anything despite being a $500 million a year global business and one of the most recognisable names in modern cycling. SRAM is simply an acronym concocted back in 1987 using letters taken from the first names of its three founders: attorney Scott King, CEO Stan Day whose middle name is Ray ("SSAM" clearly didn't appeal) and designer Sam Patterson. Curiously, albeit largely irrelevantly, a similar strategy was employed to name one of Australia's most celebrated race horses, three-time Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva.
Imagine if Orica-GreenEDGE was actually called 'Canberra'. Or Team Sky was called 'Team London'. Well, you might be interested to know the famous blue and yellow WorldTour team from Kazakhstan is named after, you guessed it, the capital city of Kazakhstan. Astana has been the Kazakh capital since 1997 and is the country's second largest city with a population 780,000. In Kazakh the word literally means Capital. When Kazakhstan first became independent in 1991 the city was actually called Akmola. Astana has been used since 1998.
In the early days of cycling, the action-packed track event featuring pairs of riders flinging each other around the boards was most heavily associated with New York's legendary Madison Square Garden. So that's what they called it. Australia's Scott McGrory and Brett Aitken famously won gold in the inaugural Olympic madison at the Sydney 2000 Games. It was Australia's first track cycling gold medal since Los Angeles in 1984. The madison is still a much-loved part of the Olympic and World Championship track programs today, typically held on the final night of competition.
In the early 1900s an American chap by the name of William G. Allen patented a method of cold-forming screw heads around a hexagonal die and promoted it via his Connecticut business, the Allen Manufacturing Company. It seems widely agreed he wasn't the first to come up with the idea, but he was first to market, hence his enduring fame. Today the term Allen Key is a registered trademark owned by the Apex Tool Group. As large corporations tend to do, they're keen to stop generic use of the term, instead encouraging the standard expression of "hex key." Good luck with that one guys. We cyclists are creatures of habit.


"Wilby" was a nickname I had among other digital artists years ago when I bought this domain.
Artwork created mainly with Bryce 3D.
May we keep our gaze steadily upwards towards the Luminous Heights, and realize happenings that come to us have something that is for our benefit, that we may learn and grow into useful beings in Creation.
and I bounce fractal patterns off of them.
Path Of Vision, I discover surprising images.


n. 1. (Bot.) A name given to the seed of certain leguminous herbs, chiefly of the genera Faba, Phaseolus, and Dolichos; also, to the herbs.
2. The popular name of other vegetable seeds or fruits, more or less resembling true beans.
(Zool.) a plant louse (Aphis fabæ) which infests the bean plant.
(Zool.) a fly found on bean flowers.
(Zool.) a species of goose (Anser segetum).
(Zool.) a small weevil that in the larval state destroys beans. The American species is Bruchus fabæ.
(Bot.) the seed of Mucuna urens, a West Indian plant. The seeds are washed up on the Florida shore, and are often polished and made into ornaments.
(Bot.) a species of Strychnos.
the common dried white bean of commerce; probably so called because an important article of food in the navy.
a very small and highly esteemed variety of the edible white bean; - so called from its size.
a - Same as Florida bean.
b - A red bean of unknown species used for ornament.
the fragrant seed of Dipteryx odorata, a leguminous tree.


text:
Top Pflugerville Labor Lawyers - Texas
Nearby Cities: Round Rock, Austin, Cedar Park, Georgetown, Taylor
Related Practice Areas: Whistleblower-Qui Tam, Employment, Employment Law -- Employer, Railroad Worker Injury-FELA
Blazier, Christensen, Browder & Virr, P.C.
Labor Lawyers Serving Pflugerville, TX (Austin)
Since 1976, the law firm of Blazier, Christensen, Browder & Virr, P.C., Attorneys & Counselors at Law, has earned the respect of Austin area businesses coupled with a track record of success. Entering their fourth decade of service, the lawyers continue their commitment to protecting the business interests of company owners, both new and existing. The founders of our law firm are also...
Davidson Troilo Ream & Garza, PC
Labor Lawyers Serving Pflugerville, TX (San Antonio)
Founded in 1962, the professional staff of Davidson Troilo Ream & Garza have been serving San Antonio, Central and South Texas with loyalty and integrity for more than 50 years. It was the vision of founder Robert Sawtelle to build an important regional firm, providing impeccable legal service to our fellow Texans.Today, the philosophy, organization and reputation of the firm still reflect his...
The Galo Law Firm P.C.
Law Office of Shane McClelland, PLLC
Labor Lawyers Serving Pflugerville, TX (Katy)
Shane A. McClelland is the founder of his eponymous law firm Law Office of Shane McClelland based in Katy, Texas. Representing clients throughout the greater Houston metropolitan area, he divides his practice among employment law matters, personal injury litigation, hurricane and flood damage insurance claims and business disputes. Admitted to practice in Texas, Colorado, and Nebraska, Mr....
Kaisand Law, PLLC
Labor Lawyers Serving Pflugerville, TX (The Woodlands)
Attorney Courtney Kaisand founded Kaisand Law, PLLC, located in The Woodlands, with the primary goal of helping the residents of Harris and Montgomery counties and the surrounding areas in Texas' Gulf Coast region overcome delicate family law challenges. Ms. Kaisand's secondary goal was to offer representation that is flexible, accessible and diligent. Today, thanks to her continuous efforts, our...
TB Robinson Law Group, PLLC
Labor Lawyers Serving Pflugerville, TX (Houston)
The TB Robinson Law Group is known throughout Houston for excellence in addressing issues of employee mistreatment. Our firm provides results-oriented representation in cases involving discrimination on the basis of age, sex, race, pregnancy and disability. We represent whistleblowers and take action when they suffer retaliation in the work place. We work diligently to achieve results in cases...
Law Office of Peter Costea
I, Houston employment lawyer Peter Costea, provide comprehensive employment law services backed by more than 20 years of litigation experience. As the founder and principal attorney of the Law Office of Peter Costea, I serve a diverse range of clientele in Harris County and the surrounding regions of east Texas. I also have considerable experience representing U.S. citizens working abroad as well...
Shellist Lazarz Slobin
Serving employees, employers and executives throughout Harris County and the greater Houston metro region from our law office in Houston, Texas, the attorneys at the Shellist Lazarz Slobin law firm focus exclusively on labor and employment law in order to provide the highest level of counsel and support possible for the legal issues affecting your livelihood and your future. As employment law is...
Ciotti Law PC
The Scharfman Law Firm, PLLC
At The Scharfman Law Firm, PLLC, employees in Houston and throughout the surrounding areas call on us for high-quality counsel and representation in all their legal workplace concerns. Conveniently located in the Greenway Plaza area, our law firm accepts cases throughout Texas and nationwide. Our focus is employment law, and we represent clients before state and federal trial courts, appellate...
The Womack Law Firm
The Womack Law Firm provides legal counsel and litigation services to a diverse clientele, from individuals and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies. While much of our work is in Houston and Harris County, we are regularly hired by clients in Dallas, the Panhandle, statewide Texas and beyond. Attorney Mark T. Womack offers 30-plus years of problem-solving and litigating experience. His law...
Alvarez Stauffer Bremer PLLC
It is imperative for businesses in Houston, Texas, to retain sound legal counsel. At the law firm of Alvarez Stauffer Bremer PLLC, we pride ourselves on not only our experience and knowledge, but also on our passion, attention to detail and dedication to personalized client services. We accept clients in the Houston metropolitan area, as well as the surrounding cities and counties. Our law firm...
Sturm Law PLLC
At Sturm Law PLLC in Houston, Texas, we focus on protecting the rights, entitlements and interests of both employees and employers alike. Serving the Houston metro region and the surrounding area, including Harris, Fort Bend, Montgomery, Galveston, Brazoria and Chambers counties, our law firm offers comprehensive legal services in all areas of employment and labor law in order to help our clients...
Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz
The law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Azizin Houston, Texas, represents clients throughout the state of Texas and also nationwide. Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz is one of the oldest and most well-respected law firms in Houston, Texas From our law offices in the historic Dickson and Siewerssen Building our main emphasis is in catastrophic injury...
Labor Lawyers Serving Pflugerville, TX (Pearland)
From our branch office in Pearland, Texas, the law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Sorrels, Agosto & Aziz represents clients throughout Brazoria County, Fort Bend County, Harris County, and southeastern Texas. First Class Representation & Real Results We are one of the oldest and well-respected law firms in Texas. Our distinguished history and reputation works to the advantage to our...
Involved in a Labor dispute?
You've come to the right place. Whether you are a union worker or the union employer, a labor lawyer can help.
Labor lawyers assist with collective bargaining, union organization activities, and the negotiation of strikes and lockouts. A labor lawyer also assists with proceedings before various administrative bodies like the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).
Use FindLaw to hire a local labor lawyer to help with a wage violation, discrimination claim, work stoppage, or other unfair labor practices.
Need an attorney in Pflugerville, Texas?
Use the contact form on the profiles to connect with a Pflugerville, Texas attorney for legal advice.


Tvarit mean quick or rapid and accelerated in English and that is exactly what this Ganesha Mantra is said to do, speed up and accelerate success in any task, job or make a wish or desire be fulfilled quickly. The Ganesh Mantra is useful for those who are going for some important work like a job interview, business or marriage proposal or any other important meeting for business or love.
The Mantra Sadhana for this Satvik Sanskrit Ganesh Mantra is extremely simple. The practitioner should have a bath in the morning and just before leaving the home or office for the Karya, light an Agarbatti before a Ganesh Murti or photograph of Ganesha and chant this Mantra 11 times with folded hands.
That is all that has to be done for performing this Ganesh Mantra for Tvarit Karya Siddhi.
The Sadhana procedure must have been given to you by the person who gave you the Mantra.


text:
NICOLE CERASI TO PLAY AT RAMAPO
The school nickname at Ramapo University is Roadrunners. That alone makes Jersey Outlaws Gold-DB's Nicole Cerasi an ideal fit with their softball program.
But there's more to the match.
Cerasi, a member of Steinert High School's state championship program, has verbally committed to join Ramapo's strong NCAA Division III program, beginning next fall. She will build on her excellent academics, including a 4.49 weighted grade point average.
The second baseman and outfielder was racing around the softball diamond long before she became a track standout. She's been certified in 2.69 seconds from home to first. She's also an elite bunter who can mix in power, and has a strong awareness in handling second base.
As a junior last spring, Cerasi was named to The Trentonian All-CVC first team while Steinert won the NJSIAA Group III and Tournament of Champions titles.


To date, we have hired over 190 veterans as part of our Hertrich Hires Heroes program, an initiative to hire 500 veterans and their spouses in 5 years. We are so proud to work beside so many heroes every day. For our recent military appreciation event, we asked our veterans to share pictures of themselves in uniform. We are proud to introduce you to a few of our Hertrich Heroes.
To everyone who is or has served in the Military, we say thank you.


text:
Respect, and wins, are what they want
There is one thing the volleyball team lost last season and wants to get back this season: respect.
The tradition that was established by the success of past teams took a hit over the last two seasons, but this year's squad is looking to bring back the quality of play on the court.
Last season was a tough one for coach Claire Lessinger, along with junior Kristina Fabris and senior Johari Williams. Despite Williams and Fabris playing through injuries the entire season, the Bulls ended with a 4-24 record and had only one win in conference play.
Williams and Fabris felt responsible for how poorly the team played last season and have tried to forget all the bad things that occurred. Lessinger took time during the off-season to talk to the star tandem individually to help them bounce back.
"I had a lot of one-on-one with each athlete, and also team time to help them find the love for the game again," Lessinger said, "because losing beats you up, and the confidence and morale was gone, and we didn't know how to find it."
A trip overseas to play against international competition not only brought the love of the game back to Fabris and Williams, but it also put the fun back into being on the court.
"I think the trip over the summer was very beneficial for me and Johari because we were having fun and playing volleyball," Fabris said. "We realized that we were both perfectionists, and even if we scored a point, we felt we could do better. Now, if we do make an error, it's OK and we'll get the next ball instead of breaking each other down."
Fabris is beginning her third season with the Bulls and started every game in her first two seasons. She battled shin splints during the 2005 season, which created stress fractures that made it even harder to play.
"The losses were extremely tough to deal with last season and brought down the karma of the team," Fabris said. "But the biggest frustration was everyone having to deal with their injuries and not being able to practice to be ready to play."
Williams noticed how the international talent plays the game with more of a laid-back style. She has made it a point to implement that in her own game this season.
"My teammates were just having fun on the court while playing volleyball and not getting upset," Williams said. "So I have tried to bring that kind of attitude back to our team for this season."
Lessinger believes this team has finally turned the corner and is on the right track to becoming a force in the Big East Conference. She knew when she took over the program that the team was three years away from getting back on track.
"I go to bed every night feeling very confident, which hasn't happened a lot since we took over this program," Lessinger said. "The talent that we have, we are better and we have players that want it more."
Lessinger has challenged her team not only individually, but also with the scheduling of non-conference opponents. USF will face Florida, which ended the 2005 season ranked No. 3, and Florida A&M University, which made the NCAA Tournament in 2005.
Along with conference play in the Big East, Lessinger believes this schedule will prove how good this team can be. She is using this schedule to show her players she believes in their talent and to show teams USF isn't afraid to play anyone.
"We are picked to finish last in the conference, and that's the way I want it," Lessinger said. "Let's look up the stairs and start stepping and start knocking some of these teams off and start gaining some respect."


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Most popular hbo shows
Jul 08, 2020 · And that's not to mention HBO's signature prestige dramas including The Sopranos (92%), Chernobyl (96%), and Western period drama Deadwood (92%), and newer comedy Insecure (96%). We've rounded up
Jul 10, 2020 · Check out our list of all the best sci-fi shows for you to dive into on Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, HBO, and more. Last updated July 10, 2020. Nick Offerman as Forest, Devs Photo: Miya Mizuno/FX Dec 19, 2019 · (HBO/Sky) On the most basic level, Chernobyl was one of the best true-story miniseries ever made, capitalising on the curious fact that most people know hardly anything about the meltdown of a Jul 24, 2020 · Netflix Dominates (And HBO Max Rises) In New Report Detailing The 20 Most Popular Movies And Shows On The Internet Travis Bean Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Jul 24, 2020 · 100 BEST SCI-FI TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME. Science fiction is often celebrated as a forward-thinking genre that promotes peace among all life forms. But deciding which sci-fi TV series is the best? That debate could start an intergalactic war.
The Most Popular Movies and Shows on HBO Max Thus Far. By Brandon Katz • 07/14/20 1:14pm. How well has the HBO Max launch gone for AT&T and WarnerMedia? Warner Bros, Inc.
Jun 30, 2020 · Michaela Coel's co-production for BBC One and HBO has established her as one of the most innovative and thoughtful new creators in television. Coel created, writes, co-directs, executive
May 29, 2020 · Most of those early shows were comedies, and some were even groundbreaking (lookin' at you The Larry Sanders Show), but it wasn't until the late 90s and early 2000s that HBO became responsible
Jul 24, 2020 · Netflix Dominates (And HBO Max Rises) In New Report Detailing The 20 Most Popular Movies And Shows On The Internet Travis Bean Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. Jul 24, 2020 · 100 BEST SCI-FI TV SHOWS OF ALL TIME. Science fiction is often celebrated as a forward-thinking genre that promotes peace among all life forms. But deciding which sci-fi TV series is the best? That debate could start an intergalactic war. May 27, 2020 · The 17 best HBO Max movies and shows to watch (May 2020) Share this article share tweet text email link Charles Curtis. May 27, 2020 9:50 am. HBO Max is here! Now that you've figured Jun 04, 2020 · Looney Tunes and Elmo Beat Game of Thrones as Most Popular HBO Max Shows. HBO Max's biggest hits after its launch last week are Looney Tunes Cartoons and The Not-Too-Late Show With Elmo.
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