We have found that there is a connection in learning & socialization with friends wanting to do a workshop together. This workshop brings this concept together in learning the different skills that we teach. In this workshop, we will lead you through the proper application of various paints and associated products in a number of different styles. We will demonstrate various distressing techniques and the pros and cons of each. We will then show you how to finish using various types of finishes including a clear wax and an antiquing wax.
A number of different boards and projects showcasing the use of various tools of paint application including brush techniques you will learn.
A couple of projects based on the other products we carry in either the Cottage Paint or van Gogh lines.
Notes on all our Stan Portley Paintology techniques that are specific to Stan Portleys – Timeless and Unique.
Knowledge and Inspiration to do more once you get home.
a number of different boards showcasing the paint brush techniques you learned.
a project based on one or more of the other products we carry in either the Cottage Paint or van Gogh lines.
Once one person has booked and paid a deposit we do the workshop.
This hands on workshop is for those who have already completed the introductory course and want to take it to the next level. We designed this course for those who would like to refinish a piece of furniture they already own, but are not quite sure of how to go about refinishing it or even get started.
We will provide design ideas, inspiration, and support while you work on your item in our studio. As this class is only 4 hours so it is not possible to complete complex work, therefore the piece needs to be small and it will be restricted to the finishes covered in the introductory workshop. You must also be able to carry the project yourself, through the door of the store. What a great way to improve your skills under the guidance of an experienced instructor and actually applying with hands on practice to the techniques from the introductory class. Your day will begin at 10 am and will be 4 hours in length so we suggest you bring a lunch and we will provide water etc. They may even be a few surprise projects while you are waiting for paint to dry. Workshop materials will be in included in the price up to a 6 oz jar of paint and the wax or other finish used to finish the project. These workshops are not listed in the workshop schedule as they are booked on an individual basis.
Customize for your pillows with the design of your choice. Choose from a number of stencils and learn how to paint fabric with the various paints available at Stan Portleys. If you want to add any embellishments (like the buttons etc) please bring them. We will have a few available too!
The Instructors will provide design ideas, inspiration, pillow cases (pillow forms will be extra) and support while you work on your item in our studio. As this class is only 2 hours so it is not possible to complete complex work, therefore it will be restricted to the finishes covered our introductory workshop. Workshop materials will be in included in the price (2 pillow covers and extra ones are available at a nominal cost) and forms to use in the pillow will be available at a nominal cost. There will also be available the option of doing just 1 pillow and a table runner instead of 2 pillows. The schedule for this workshop is not listed in the workshop schedule as they are scheduled through our Stan Portleys Facebook page, so follow us to ensure you get notification of all our events.
Another fun and interesting workshop. Decorate through painting, decopage and stencilling these popular items.
The Instructors will provide design ideas, inspiration, a wooden crate or tray and support while you work on your item in our studio. As this class is only 2 hours so it is not possible to complete complex work, specific finishes. Workshop materials will be in included in the price but other crates, trays as well as additional finishes will be available at nominal cost. These workshops are not listed in the workshop schedule as they are scheduled through our Stan Portleys Facebook page, so follow us to ensure you get notification of all our events. .
This is a fun workshop where you can learn an use some basic chalk paint skills to make a couple of the rustic signs which are popular today. Students get to choose from a selection of ideas.
The Instuctors will provide design ideas, inspiration, and support while you work on your item in our studio. As this class is only 2 hours it is not possible to complete complex work, therefore the signs will of a specific size and all boards will be pre-sanded and prepped by staff and it will be restricted to the finishes covered in the introductory workshop.These workshops are not listed in the workshop schedule as they are scheduled through our Stan Portleys Facebook page, so follow us to ensure you get notification of all our events.
Your day will start at 9 am or 5:30 pm and be 3 – 4 hours in length. We suggest you bring a snack or light meal and we will provide water, coffee, tea etc. There may even be a few surprise projects while you are waiting for paint to dry!
Although it is a prerequisite for you to take the Paintololgy 101 workshop or BFF workshop before taking this workshop, if you have prior proven experience we can wave this. This workshop will teach you four new ways to accent your furniture. You will learn embossing, texturing and glazing (various types)!
Although it is a prerequisite for you to take the Paintololgy 101 workshop or BFF workshop before taking this workshop, if you have prior proven experience we can wave this. This workshop will teach you how to work with crackle, ancient crackle (stone plaster), crystal embellishments stencils and gilding!
Your day will start at 9 am or 5:30 pm and be 3- 4 hours in length. We suggest you bring a snack or light meal and we will provide water, coffee, tea, etc. There may even be a few surprise projects while you are waiting for paint to dry!
Although it is a prerequisite for you to take the Paintololgy 101 workshop or BFF workshop before taking this workshop, if you have prior proven experience we can wave this.This workshop will teach you the many aspects of working with the Cottage Paint Urban paints, metallic waxes, Modern Masters and van Gogh Liquid Metals and various textures and plasters. You will also be introduced to our "Tye Dye" technique which is something that here at Stan Portley's we are at the forefront.
This is one of the most stunning finishes we have created. Using our Cottage Paint texturing plaster, van Gogh fossil paint, our own Liquid Metals and our satin and dead flat . we will recreated this finish and show you how to adapt this finish to create other ones such as our Corinthian Bronze Finish.
This will be the best and most fun you could have. Students will bring one chair and one yard of fabric. With wine & hors d'oeurves, we will reinvent the chair!
Ever see a designer kitchen and say, "WOW, I want a kitchen like that!" Now redo your kitchen or bathroom into a room friends will be envious with the Cabinet Renaissance Workshop. At a fraction of the cost. Students bring photos and a cupboard door and a drawer front from their kitchen or bathroom for a personal consultation.
After being introduced to a few techniques, students will hone their skills on supplied cabinets and leave the workshop confident to refinish their own kitchen with their one door and drawer front to give inspiration to them while they are completed their project at home. Your day will start at 10 am and be 4 hours in length so we suggest you bring a lunch and we will provide water etc. They may even be a few surprise projects while you are waiting for paint to dry.
After being introduced to a few techniques, students will hone their skills on supplied materials and then fabricate a clock from supplied materials and leave the workshop with a clock of their own suitable to your own decor. Your workshop will start at 10 am or evening at 6 pm and be 3 hours in length. Bring you enthusiasm, colour swatches and pictures and your will have the "time" of your life.
After being introduced to the basic techniques, students will hone their skills on supplied materials. Using boards of styrene the students will hone their skills and will leave with the confidence that they can execute this finish and turn out a professional like finish. Your workshop will start at 10 am or evening at 6 pm and be 3-4 hours in length. Bring you enthusiasm, we supply all the materials.


I suppose I should make a formal introduction.
My dad knew I was looking for a guitar so I could start teaching myself, and his co-worker's daughter happened to be selling hers. I decided not to buy it cause I had no idea what it was, not to mention the fact that I'm notoriously picky about these kinds of things. He bought me the guitar anyway (using my birthday as an excuse), and I drove to Toronto to pick it up the first chance I had when I got back from Europe.
I asked Steve to do a demo of the guitar because his skills can really show it off.
Takamine F370SS solid wood acoustic dreadnought.
It turns out the guitar is absolutely gorgeous, with solid spruce on top and solid koa on the back and sides. And being handmade in Japan in 1999 — the only year this model was in production — makes it an instrument that will never be replaced. An heirloom I'll pass down to my children if I ever have any.
The colour looks a little darker and warmer than usual spruce, which leads me to believe the wood has already matured a bit.
Rosette design made of rosewood, walnut, maple, and mother of pearl.
I'm sure the koa contributes to the clarity of the tone, which is rich and bright. There's lots of sustain through the entire range that seems to go on forever, like hearing delicate water droplets ringing in a cave.
It plays like a dream. The action is set well for fingerstyle playing, though maybe a little too low for heavy strumming. But I tend not to really dig into the strings unless I'm drunk or high anyway. It's has a nice heavy lacquer, which I'm hoping will make up for the lack of a pickguard.
Solid koa back. The wood pattern doesn't stand out as being distinctively koa to me, which usually has a heavier cross grain.
The design is simple and minimalistic — exactly my style.
Yummy honey colouring is yummy.
I can tell it's a quality instrument every time I pick it up. It feels solid and stable without being heavy. The finish is flawless. The tuning pegs are nice and tight, but I never have to tune it anyway unless I accidentally knock a peg on something.
Rosewood fingerboard with a single marker on the 12th fret designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
I named it Larissa after Doctor Zhivago's great love, Lara, whose life intertwines with his at several points and in many profound ways. She was already with someone else when she met him, as was he, but somehow fate brought them together (and eventually left them apart).
In the same way, I wonder what this guitar has already been through before coming into my possession. What memories of it's own does it have? What shows has it gone to? Who has it serenaded? What melodies has it played? It's in such good condition that I wonder if the previous owner played it at all.
Single dot inlays on the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 9th, 12th, 15th, and 17th frets.
That's not to say I'll never need another guitar. I had my heart set on one with nylon strings for a more mellow sound, and being a dreadnought means Larissa is a little too big for me, both in the way she fits under my arm and in the scale length (making it a stretch on low strings near the nut). The neck is also 1 5/8 inches, which is a too tight for some classical and flamenco styles, but this will be perfect for when I'm looking for a bright, large sound with lots of projection.
A split saddle bridge, characteristic of some Takamine's. This is supposed to make it easier provide the best intonation to the strings, but the trade-off is that most under-saddle pick-up systems can't be used cause they tend to be designed for single saddles.
Mother of pearl logo inlay.
Gold tuners with pearloid buttons.
WOW. This is a lovely guitar. Will check your next post to hear it. Takemines were pretty highly regarded back when I was playing, but I don't know about as late as yours. Probably great!.
My Martin D18 doesn't have the sheer scale of this one I think – it's no wonder it sounds rich…. and the marquetry is lovely.
Thanks for posting that demo of MY GUITAR!
I love the unique sound of it. Really, in a jam with other guitars, the sound if different enough to add its own unique flavor to the jam, but still blend.
My only gripe about he guitar is the nut is very narrow and it can be a challenge to cleanly form open chords, but other than that it's a keeper.
I bought mine when Guitar center took over a local music shop. They had 5 out on the floor on stands selling for <$325! At that time, GC didn't carry this model so they just wanted to get rid of them. I couldn't believe my luck. I sat there for a couple hours and played each one as took the pic of the litter.
Thanks again for posting that video link.
it thru the mail I was indeed fortunate to get one I like. The price tag on it at that time was $ 1499.00. It had a three inch scratch that is fingernail deep but surprisingly depending on how the guitar is turned you can't see it. I paid $ 600 with a decent hardsheel case. I often get well meaning comments on how my bridge is " broken ". I then explain that the factory made it that way.
for $ 600 even with the scratch. I wish I could hand it down but none of the grandkids play anything except video games. I really don't know what to do with it when I'm not here. A plus with this is when I play it at Bluegrass jams and specators comment on its sound. And I smile broadly when asked, " no, its not a Martin ".
I love my f370ss. I won it at an auction in a benefit for WNCW, our western north carolina americana npr station (best in the world!!) I also have Martin D-28, HD-28, and D-35. It is hard to tell the difference with Martin strings on all and I have been playing for 36 years. I play pretty hard however, and w/o the pickguard it's gonna start lookin like willies axe b4 too long!!
So, what strings have you found for the best "balanced" sound? The guitar is bright and smoothly jazzy by it's nature, but I sometimes find myself wishing for the low-E and A strings to have a bit more presence . I think the natural harmonics of the Koa backs and spruce top favors resonance > A.
My last set are phosphor-bronze coated and wow they really brought out the bass strings.
Personally, I found phosphor-bronze coated strings to be much, much too bright for me on this guitar. But I generally prefer a mellow sound, so that's probably why. I currently have a set of D'addario electric chrome flatwounds on there, and I find it's the best balance to my ear.
I'll give them a try. I found that using just "normal" bronze wound strings all I heard there the top 4 strings in the chord.
I haven't tried the silk-n-steel strings he's using in the demo .. they might be fun.
I found one of these guitars in a second hand shop for a little under $600. I am absolutely in love with it! It is by far my favorite guitar I have ever owned. I would never sell it, but I wonder what this guitar may be worth. Is this a question you can help me answer?
Guitars are worth what someone is willing to pay for it (just like a stock). If you found one for $600, and it was being advertised so that other potential buyers would have found it, then that's the current going rate.
That said, I've seen posts of others selling closer to $1k. Condition also matters tremendously as well as the individual performance of your particular guitar.
Though acoustic guitars are of the same "model", the particulars of each individual instrument comes into play. Like I mentioned in my previous post, I had 5 of this model to audition and choose from. 2 really stood out from the rest and then I picked my favorite.
So, based on your data-point and the others I've seen, the best estimate is between $600-$1,000.
I have the same guitar as yours; it´s an absolute gem!
Take care of it and don´t ever sell it!
Not only were they only build for one year (2 years on the outside), but they were Tak's first attempt at a solild-solid guitar (along with a couple other models that year).
I used to have a brochure for the line, but I've since lost it.
Remember, at this point Tak's were known to be great "stage guitars" … prewired stage acoustics with ply parts to help keep the feedback down.
Putting a solid-solid guitar out .. especially one with just artistic inlays and exotic woods (and sound) was a real gamble .. and frankly .. they didn't sell.
When a local large music store in Rockville, MD got bought by Guitar Center, GC didn't have the F370ss SKU in their inventory .. so they took the 5 they had in stock and stands and on sale as soon as you walked into the door.
I sat and played each one took the pic of the litter for low $300's. Unfortunately, my serial number paper tag inside has long since fell out and disappeared, but I believe it showed a 98 date. They stopped producing them due to lack of sales after the first production run.
I was in at the Rockville GC in Maryland and tried out the takf370ss. It was 98 or 99. I remember the price tag was $799.00.
I love the sound right away but could not afford it. However, on my way to apartment I stopped by GC at Geithersburg and saw the same guitar with $300 less. I bought it without any hesitation. Still have the guitar with me.
Lucky for me I played one in Allentown, Pa. on sale for $999 with it listing at $ 1499.00 but it was out of my price range. But at east I got to hear the sound. I called a music store in North Carolina I believe, actually looking for a Sigma Martin DR-41. He didn't have one but we got to talking and he told me he had this as a demo, someone put a scratch on it and I could have it with a H.S.case for $ 600. Six was in my ballpark and we closed the deal. It was around the late 90's or very earlier around Y2K I recall correctly. Never had someone play it that wasn't impressed. These are sweet sounding very light guitars but quite capable of producing impressive bass as well. The way I figured I was going to scratch it anyway and get mad at myself so someone else just saved me the aggravation. Naturally that's still the only blemish on it.


The purpose of this exercise undertaken during the final assessment at the end of candidacy is for candidates to write a statement of their faith, a manifesto of their own beliefs in their own words. Before submitting one's statement of faith in advance of the consultation at which a candidate hopes to be certified ready to accept a call, the candidate may wish to consult his or her CPM liaison for feedback before considering a draft to be final. In the case of those being examined for ordination by Monmouth Presbytery, the final version of the statement of faith will be distributed with the Presbytery docket.
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Fraud and Abuse Developments
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OIG approves arrangement involving free drug samples for inpatient hospital use
By Sonia Nguyen, Brittney Cafero & Madhav Bhatt on 24 January 2023
On December 28, 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a favorable advisory opinion on a proposal by a drug manufacturer to enter into an arrangement with certain hospitals to provide up to a specified number of free samples of a long-acting antipsychotic drug for inpatient use.
The OIG indicated it would not impose administrative sanctions, despite the fact that there is no safe harbor available under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) to protect the proposed arrangement.…
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Posted in Fraud and Abuse Developments
Eighth Circuit Finds "But-For" Causation Standard for AKS-Premised FCA Cases
By Ryan Pate on 28 September 2022
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit recently weighed in on the causation standard for False Claims Act ("FCA") cases premised on Anti-Kickback Statute ("AKS") violations. United States ex rel. Cairns v. D.S. Med. LLC, 42 F.4th 828 (8th Cir. 2022). The panel adopted a strict interpretation, finding that the government or whistleblowers must show a "but-for" causal relationship between kickbacks and claims for payment to establish the requisite link in the FCA liability chain, creating a circuit split on an issue that courts have struggled with for years.
The decision is notable for FCA defendants as it offers support for a defense they have long asserted, and that courts have been reluctant to condone, including an opinion from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit that refused to require a direct causal link between an AKS violation and a false claim.…
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Telehealth Under Scrutiny: OIG Special Fraud Alert and DOJ Enforcement Highlights Suspect Characteristics Associated with High-Risk Telemedicine Arrangements
By Nancy Halstead, Vicki Tankle, James F. Hennessy & Arielle Lusardi on 12 September 2022
The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (HHS-OIG) recently published a Special Fraud Alert warning health care providers (e.g., prescribers, pharmacies, durable medical equipment providers, clinical laboratories) to steer clear of certain telemedicine arrangements and outlining seven "suspect" characteristics that may present heightened risk of fraud and abuse.
The alert coincides with a third round of criminal "telemedicine takedowns" announced by the Department of Justice (DOJ) in the last several years, reflecting DOJ's continued focus on identifying and dismantling fraudulent arrangements that exploit telemedicine technologies and related regulatory flexibilities in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Telemedicine technologies have created a multitude of opportunities for growth and innovation within the health care industry and are well-positioned to become an ongoing cornerstone of our health care delivery system. However, given the increased level of regulatory scrutiny of telemedicine arrangements, providers and telehealth technology companies, including drug and device manufacturers that offer telemedicine technologies (e.g., platforms, mobile applications) for prescribers and patients that facilitate virtual care, should carefully plan and closely evaluate existing arrangements to ensure compliance with applicable state and federal laws and avoid implication amongst the recent uptick in enforcement.…
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OIG Approves Rewards Program for Medicare Advantage Organizations
By Scot Hasselman, Nicole Aiken-Shaban & Courtney Potts on 30 August 2022
After a long line of opinions scrutinizing the use of rewards programs offered by providers, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General ("OIG") issued Advisory Opinion 22-16 on August 19, 2022– a favorable opinion for the provision of gift cards to Medicare Advantage ("MA') plan enrollees who complete educational modules as part of an online surgical treatment learning tool.
The opinion adds flexibility to existing opinions on gift cards and patient engagement programs and, while binding only on the requestor, provides insight into the OIG's evolving view of these programs.…
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SCOTUS Review of Rule 9(b) in False Claims Act cases may be on the way
By James Segroves & Matthew Loughran on 25 May 2022
Supreme Court review of Rule 9(b)'s application in False Claims Act cases may finally be coming whether the Executive Branch likes it or not.
In January, the Supreme Court, which is considering a certiorari petition in Johnson v. Bethany Hospice and Palliative Care, LLC, asked the Solicitor General to weigh in on whether the Court should accept the case. The case presents the question of what Rule 9(b) requires in cases arising under the False Claims Act, which is an important threshold question in many False Claims Act cases resulting in significant motions practice.
As past Solicitors General have done before her, the current Solicitor General's brief filed late on May 24 argued that the Supreme Court should not grant plenary review because there really isn't a meaningful circuit split on the issue. The brief also argues that the case is not a good vehicle for Supreme Court review because the district court dismissed the relator's case on the alternative ground that the relator had not adequately pleaded violations of the federal anti-kickback statute, an issue the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit did not reach on appeal.…
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OIG blesses digital health substance use disorder treatment program paid for by providers and suppliers
By Nancy Halstead, Vicki Tankle & Ellen Pighini on 29 March 2022
The Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General ("OIG") recently issued a favorable advisory opinion to a digital health company that offers direct monetary incentives to patients as part of a technology-enabled contingency management program for patients with substance use disorders.
Contingency management, also known as motivational incentives, is a treatment approach that utilizes tangible rewards to reinforce positive behaviors (e.g., abstinence from opioids) and to motivate and sustain behavioral health efforts (e.g., treatment adherence) in patients who suffer from substance use disorders. Because these monetary incentives are an integral part of the protocol-driven and evidenced-based program, the OIG concluded that it would not impose sanctions under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute ("AKS") or the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalty ("CMP") provision, notwithstanding the involvement of federal health care program beneficiaries, providers/suppliers, and reimbursable services.
Nevertheless, the mitigating facts that motivated the OIG's favorable treatment of the program here—namely, the clinical nature and independence of the program—could likely trigger compliance with other federal and state regulatory frameworks.
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OIG permits home health agency to pay nurse aide certification tuition costs
By Sebnem Dugmeoglu on 1 March 2022
In its February 14, 2022 advisory opinion the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) allowed a Home Health Agency (HHA), that predominantly serves Medicaid eligible children, to pay the nurse certification program tuition costs for new employees seeking to work as certified nurse aides (CNAs). According to OIG, the tuition payments are permissible under the bona fide employee safe harbor.
The Anti-Kickback statute prohibits a person from knowingly and willfully offering, soliciting or receiving any remuneration, directly or indirectly, overtly or covertly, in cash or in kind, in exchange for or to induce the referral of any item or services covered by a federal health care program. However, the statute includes exemptions for certain situations, one of which involves certain payments to bona fide employees.
In this case, the OIG stated that it would not seek enforcement under the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalty Statute as the arrangement to pay the tuition costs would not be deemed prohibited remuneration under either law. However, the advisory opinion was warranted as the tuition program had the added wrinkle of potentially being a benefit to the relatives of medically fragile children using the HHA's services and charging those services to Medicaid.
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FBA's 2022 Qui Tam Conference Puts Annual Spotlight on FCA Enforcement Trends and Developments
By Selina Coleman, Sara Brinkmann & Andrew Lu on 24 February 2022
On February 23, 2022, the Federal Bar Association (FBA) kicked off its fifth annual Qui Tam Conference to highlight key areas for False Claims Act (FCA) enforcement in the coming year. The conference opened with a keynote address by Gregory E. Demske, Chief Counsel to the Inspector General, Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Office of Inspector General (OIG). Then, a series of panels analyzed the FCA-related developments from the prior year, recent efforts by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) to combat cybersecurity fraud, and some of the schemes promoting alleged telehealth fraud during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency. Based on the comments of government speakers, all speaking in their individual capacities, below are key takeaways of what we expect the government to prioritize in 2022:
Pandemic-related fraud and telehealth fraud are key targets
Reinforcing the DOJ's current enforcement priorities, we expect the DOJ to continue to focus its resources and enforcement activity on where it stands to recover the most dollars swiftly: pandemic-related fraud (e.g., misuse of CARES Act relief funds) and telehealth fraud.
During his keynote address, Demske similarly acknowledged these two areas of focus and added Medicare Advantage, the opioid epidemic, and nursing homes as ongoing priorities for OIG enforcement. Notably, Demske cited OIG's Data Analytics Group as a robust resource for the agency to identify anomalies in large data sets (e.g., outlier distributions of CARES Act provider relief funds) that may lead to targeted enforcement.
For more information about the fraud and abuse implications of CARES Act provider relief funds, as well as practical tips for navigating the evolving CARES Act regulatory environment, please check this Reed Smith client alert.
Continue Reading FBA's 2022 Qui Tam Conference Puts Annual Spotlight on FCA Enforcement Trends and Developments
OIG permits retailer to use Medicaid enrollment as qualification for discount program
By Selina Coleman, Megan Engel & Matthew Loughran on 7 February 2022
In the first advisory opinion of 2022, the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Inspector General (OIG) allowed Medicaid beneficiaries to qualify for a benefit available to low-income individuals, even though the arrangement would not qualify as a "retailer reward."
The OIG stated it would not seek enforcement of the federal Anti-Kickback Statute or the Beneficiary Inducements Civil Monetary Penalty Statute (CMP Law) for an arrangement proposed by a web-based retailer that that sells a wide variety of consumer goods and services, and that offers fee-based membership programs with a number of benefits, including pharmacy-related benefits.
The retailer requested an advisory opinion from OIG to allow individuals to use Medicaid enrollment to qualify as eligible for participation in the discount programs that provided certain expedited free shipping, and discounts on food and grocery items. In issuing a favorable advisory opinion, OIG determined that allowing individuals to use their Medicaid enrollment status as a qualification presented a minimal risk of fraud and abuse to federal health programs.…
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HHS-OIG approves uniform chiropractic discount program for federal beneficiaries
By Andrew Hayes & Quynh La on 27 October 2021
Andrew and Quynh are law clerks at the firm and their work is supervised by licensed attorneys. Their admission to – respectively – the Washington, D.C. and California bar is pending.
On October 4, 2021, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a favorable advisory opinion on a proposal by a chiropractic clinic operator to extend an existing discount program to federal health plan beneficiaries.
The requesting clinics initially offered various discount programs to their privately insured or self-paid patients, but not to Federal health care program beneficiaries. Many healthcare providers are hesitant to give federal beneficiaries access to certain discount programs because of concern that doing so would run afoul Federal anti-kickback and beneficiary inducement statutes. Specifically, the concern is that if the beneficiaries receive discounts, clinics would provide patients with something of value—a discount on self-paid services—in exchange for the option to seek federally reimbursed services through a specific provider.
To address these concerns, the chiropractic clinic operator requested an advisory opinion from OIG on a new discount model that would extend discount programs to Federal health care program beneficiaries. While OIG found that the proposed discount program could result in prohibited compensation to patients, it also stated that it would not pursue an enforcement action based on the nature of the requesting clinics' specific discount model.
Although only the requesting chiropractic clinic operator may rely on this opinion, OIG's analysis implies that equalizing discount rates across federally reimbursable and non-reimbursable chiropractic services reduces legal risk under anti-kickback and beneficiary inducement statutes. Providers offering similar discount programs should take note to inform their compliance strategies.
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Seventh Circuit adopts Safeco objective reasonableness standard in the context of false claims act cases
By Kristin Parker on 7 September 2021
On August 12, 2021, the Seventh Circuit joined the Third, Eighth, Ninth, and D.C. Circuits in holding that the "objective reasonableness" standard for determinations of scienter, as set forth by the Supreme Court in Safeco Insurance Co. of America v. Burr, 551 U.S. 47, 70 (2007), applies in the context of False Claims Act (FCA) litigation. In doing so, the Seventh Circuit observed that, under Safeco, a defendant cannot possess the requisite scienter under the FCA if: (1) it has an objectively reasonable reading of the statute or regulation; and (2) there was no authoritative guidance warning against its view. This case has significant implications for defendants in FCA litigation by finding that an objectively reasonable interpretation of the law will defeat allegations of false claims.
Further, the decision is the latest victory in a spate of cases brought by the plaintiffs' bar claiming that pharmacies are required to report special prices—such as membership club prices or matched competitor prices—as their usual and customary (U&C) prices. Virtually every pharmacy that has operated a membership club has faced scrutiny through actions under the FCA and consumer-class actions. The Seventh Circuit's decision comes in the wake of the recent jury verdict in favor of CVS in the matter of Carl Washington (formerly known as Corcoran) et al. v. CVS Pharmacy, Inc., No. 15-cv-03504 (N.D. Ca. Jun. 24, 2021). This victory will support pharmacies' defenses in other similar litigation alleging the submission of false U&C prices, particularly when the alleged false conduct occurred before 2016, given that the Seventh Circuit found that reporting retail prices—as opposed to special prices such as price matches—was an objectively reasonable approach to U&C reporting.
The Lower Court's Decision: …
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Plausibility Pleading in the Digital Age: Federal appellate courts take fresh look at Rule 8 in FCA context
By Ryan Pate on 9 April 2021
In recent years, the U.S. Department of Justice ("DOJ") has increasingly leveraged data analytics to combat fraud. Principal Deputy Chief of DOJ's Fraud Section, Joe Beemsterboer, described the department's data-mining capabilities as the "foundation of how [DOJ] investigate[s] and analyze[s] cases," and explained that digital forensics equips the department with "powerful" tools for identifying "trends,"…
Final Rules Modernizing Stark Law and Anti-Kickback Statute Released
By Selina Coleman, Katie Pawlitz, James Segroves, Nicole Aiken-Shaban, James F. Hennessy & Andrew Lu on 23 November 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released complementary rules this past Friday, November 20, 2020, to modernize and clarify the regulations that interpret the Physician Self-Referral Law (the Stark Law) and the federal Anti-Kickback Statute.
As we wrote when the proposed rules were released last autumn (see client alerts here and here),…
New developments in False Claims Act litigation: Ninth Circuit rules that denial of government motion to dismiss is not immediately appealable as of right
By Kristin Parker & Caitlin Chambers on 7 August 2020
On August 4, 2020, the Ninth Circuit, in a decision authored by Judge Wardlaw, dismissed for lack of jurisdiction an atypical appeal filed by the Federal Government from a district court's order denying the Government's motion to dismiss a qui tam case filed under the False Claims Act ("FCA"). See United States v. United States…
Final rules modernizing Anti-Kickback Statute and Stark Law under review by OMB: anticipating the future of value-based care
By Rebecca E. Dittrich & David Bender on 28 July 2020
The much-anticipated final rules modernizing the safe harbors under the Anti-Kickback Statute (AKS) and the physician self-referral exceptions under the Stark Law are officially under review by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB). The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) anticipates publishing the final rules in August 2020, although that target date is…
Nursing homes face increased scrutiny by attorneys general during COVID-19
By Divonne Smoyer, Paul Connell & Christine Cogbill Noonan on 20 May 2020
Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro announced on May 12, 2020, that his office is investigating several nursing homes in the Commonwealth for neglect of patients and residents: "We will hold nursing facilities and caretakers criminally accountable if they fail to properly provide care to our loved ones … we will not tolerate those who mistreat our seniors and break the law." Shapiro has also launched a public portal for citizens to email reports of neglect in nursing home communities. As is the case in many states, nursing home patients make up the majority of the deaths associated with COVID-19 in Pennsylvania. Just over 2,611 nursing home residents and staff have died from COVID-19 in Pennsylvania, comprising nearly 70 percent of the 3,800 total deaths reported in the Commonwealth as of the date of the press release.
Attorney General Shapiro is not alone in his effort to take a closer look at nursing home facilities and caregivers, even while lobbying groups for health care providers and nursing homes push for broad immunity from coronavirus-related lawsuits. In late April, New York Attorney General Letitia James released a statement saying that her office's Medicaid Fraud Control Unit continues to investigate allegations of abuse and neglect in nursing homes. James' office similarly launched a nursing home abuse hotline for residents, families, and members of the public to report alleged complaints at the facilities. Specifically, Attorney General James is investigating a Queens adult care facility that allegedly failed to protect residents from COVID-19 and misled families about its spread. Residents of that same facility are now suing in federal court over similar allegations. State attorneys general are increasingly active on this issue and will be pursuing nursing homes and long-term care facilities through various angles including Medicaid fraud, consumer protection, and false advertising.…
Continue Reading Nursing homes face increased scrutiny by attorneys general during COVID-19
Posted in DOJ Developments, Fraud and Abuse Developments
HHS Health Fraud Penalties Climb Again
By Debra A. McCurdy on 14 November 2019
Maximum civil monetary penalty (CMP) amounts that may be imposed by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and its agencies have increased once again under the latest HHS inflation adjustment notice. Specifically, in conformance with the Federal Civil Penalties Inflation Adjustment Act Improvements Act of 2015 ("the Act"), HHS is applying a…
Expansive New CMS Enrollment and Participation Rules Set to Go Live November 4, Although Comments Still Being Accepted
By Debra A. McCurdy on 25 October 2019
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a final rule with comment period establishing sweeping disclosure and monitoring obligations for providers and suppliers enrolled or enrolling in federal health programs, and expanding CMS's authority to deny or revoke enrollment status. In particular, the rule establishes an expansive new "affiliations" disclosure requirement that…
Posted in Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Regulations, Fraud and Abuse Developments
Health Fraud Recoveries Continue to Dip in FY 2018, According to Latest OIG/DOJ Fraud Report
Federal health care fraud judgments and settlements totaled $2.3 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2018 – down from $2.6 billion in recoveries in FY 2017 and $3.3 billion in FY 2016 — according to latest Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control (HCFAC) Program Annual Report. During FY 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) opened…
CMS Invites Comments on Ways to Ease the Burden of Stark Physician Self-Referral Rules on Coordinated Care Arrangements
By Debra A. McCurdy on 2 July 2018
As part of its "Regulatory Sprint to Coordinated Care," the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is seeking input on how it can address "unnecessary obstacles to coordinated care, real or perceived, caused by the physician self-referral law." CMS Administrator Seema Verma acknowledged in a recent blog post that "[i]n its current form, the…

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


I've been working with Toyota since 1998. In 2010 I joined Maplewood Toyota and since then I've achieved as a top-ten sales consultant in the Chicago region. I enjoy helping every customer find the right vehicle that matches their wants and needs and one that fits their unique lifestyle.
I believe that if I treat my customers with equality and respect and really listen to them, no matter if they are rich or poor, young or old, long-time relationships are built and greater opportunities arise. I think that will make a difference for you!
I am married with five beautiful children and I enjoy camping, fishing, bow hunting, playing soccer and just being in the great out doors. I also volunteer helping within the community. Besides English, I speak Hmong, Laos and Thai. If you'd like, call me and let's start a conversation. I look forward to it.
Yee Vue Made Us Feel Very Comfortable and Welcomed!
My husband and I were working with Yee Vue and he made us feel very comfortable and welcomed! He worked with us to make sure we had the BEST deal possible with best car features! I am really happy with my purchase. I can say for sure, I really liked the service there and highly recommend for people to go here if you're looking for a friendly and welcoming experience!
I have bought four new cars from Maplewood Toyota, specially from Yee Vue and our time there only took me thirty minutes to fill in the entire forms and drive our new Toyota vehicle to our home rather than delaying a couple of hours. The Toyota Dealer salespeople are incredibly cordial and they understand - shopper needs. Once again thanks Maplewood Toyota!
Yee Vue – Yee spoke to me as if I was a family member. I appreciated this very much because he was not talking to me as a client. He understood what I wanted (with the little to no background of knowledge with cars). He was genuinely looking out for my best interest to ensure I was investing in something that will help me in the long run. Not only that but he was very kind and helpful throughout the entire process as I was getting my car. I do not regret going to Yee. He's an amazing man who is very knowledgeable and carries out the Maplewood Toyota motto.
I would love to say thank you so much and I love my new 2017 Camry! With very bad credit walking in with very little hope of driving out with a new car, Yee made it possible. Was in for about a couple of hours but it was well worth it all. Great customer service experience for being my first time ever getting a brand new car on my own. For sure my place to go to in the future!
Purchased my car with Yee Vue. He helped me find the best deal available, understood exactly what I was looking for, did business with integrity, and candidly answered every question that I had. He was patient, open-minded, and cared about your input. I already told my friends and family about the great experience that I had at Maplewood Toyota, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is considering a Toyota vehicle!
Purchased my car with Yee Vue. He helped me find the best deal available and understood exactly what I was looking for. he did business with integrity, and candidly answered every question that I had. He was patient, open-minded, and cared about your input. I already told my friends and family about the great experience that I had at Maplewood Toyota. I would highly recommend him to anyone who is considering a Toyota vehicle!
Purchased my car with Yee Vue. He helped me find the best deal available, understood exactly what I was looking for, did business with integrity, and candidly answer every question that I had. He was patient, open-minded, and cared about your input. I already told my friends and family about the great experience that I had at Maplewood Toyota, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is considering a Toyota vehicle!
Yee Vue was a great help and super patient with us while we went back and forth deciding what we really wanted to do. We ended up doing a trade-in for a great deal. Thanks Toyota for your loyalty and great servicemen.
My husband and I both just purchased new vehicles at Maplewood Toyota within a month of each other! My husband had a 2007 Focus with nearly 200K miles on it…it was time, so for his birthday we stopped in for a visit. Yee Vue greeted us right away, was respectful, patient and gave us all the time we needed- we decided on a gorgeous 2016 Avalon Limited. Less then a month later i decided my 2008 Escape was looking a little sad in the garage next to that Avalon so we went back to visit Yee ….honestly I knew I wanted a larger SUV for next vehicle but Toyota had never been on my radar before meeting Yee when buying the Avalon. He had me test drive the Highlander, 4Runner (and at my request, the Sequoia). We deiced on a 2016 Toyota 4Runner and he ordered it right up, I got exactly what I wanted and couldn't be happier! I'd recommend Yee and Maplewood Toyota to anyone out there without hesitation!
Yee Vue is the Best Hmong Toyota Car Dealer Ever!
My Sales Representative, Yee Vue, Was Excellent!
My sales representative, Yee Vue, was excellent! He never once made me feel pressured or followed me around like my shadow. He was very transparent in showing me payment options, trade-in value and rebates. He was very supportive of all my decisions for other vehicles, used or new and was willing to let me test drive any or all of them on the lot to ensure I was completely satisfied with my decision. In fact, I have recommended him and the dealership to two of my friends. I will go back when it is time for another new car.
As soon as my dad and I walked to the lot, our rep walked right out to us and greeted my father and I. It was such a pleasant experience. He was so helpful and he was so kind. He did not push us to buy anything at all. My father and him even made some jokes by the time we left. My dad only thought we came there to take a look at cars but of course, I already had in mind to purchase a car. We were given such a good deal and I walked out of there a VERY VERY satisfied customer. I am LOVING my new car and I haven't stopped starring at it. If anyone wants a new car or a used or, or a car in general, go to Yee. He is SUPER nice and knowledgeable. I couldn't imagine a more pleasant experience. Thanks so much, Yee!!
I've never experience a quick buy and financing as I did at Toyota. Yee Vue was very helpful, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, easy to work with, good listener and provided options. I would consider going back to him to buy my next car. I see that the staff work together to provide great customer service. I hope to experience this great service again.
Thank You Yee Vue For Being a Great Salesman!!
I am a recent grad, and I purchased my first car with Yee Vue. He helped me find the best deal available, understood exactly what I was looking for, did business with integrity, and candidly answer every question that I had. He was patient, open-minded, and cared about your input. I already told my friends and family about the great experience that I had at Toyota, and I would highly recommend him to anyone who is considering a Toyota vehicle!
Me and my mom we went to Maplewood Toyota, salesman Yee Vue came out greeting us sincerely with a good and positive attitude. We really appreciate his great work in helping us find a 2014 Toyota Sienna van. He did a great job, we end up driving a Toyota sienna van home. I definitely will recommend Yee Vue to my friend and cousin that he's a great salesman in Maplewood Toyota.
Yee Vue Was So Helpful!
I purchased a car a little over a week ago. We were just getting out of our car and already someone was there to help us! Yee Vue was so helpful! He was easy to talk to and made us feel comfortable. Yee also took his time to really help us and made sure he answered all of our questions. Thank you Yee! I'm totally enjoying my new car!


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Nearly 107,000 US overdose deaths last year
Nearly 107,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year, according to final figures released Thursday. The official number was 106,699, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention sa…
The White House unveils a new system to track and better prevent opioid overdoses
For decades, the U.S. struggled to create a national system for tracking opioid overdoses. Critics including Rep. David Trone (D-Md.) say the lack of accurate, real-time data has made it harde…
10 Tips to Combat Substance Use during the Holidays
A challenge that often appears this time of the year is increased substance use during the holiday season. The holidays can be exhausting and stressful which can trigger mental health challeng…
Research Shows the Power of Peers in Recovery
People with opioid use disorder (OUD) are nearly 30% more likely to stick to their treatment plan when they're paired with someone who has experienced similar challenges, aka a peer rec…
When it comes to addiction, Americans' word choices are part of the problem
Who gets better medical care in the United States: "addicts," or "people with substance use disorders"? The terms, of course, mean functionally the same thing. But in t…
Hospitals have specialists on call for lots of diseases--but not addiction. Why not?
Marie lives in the coastal town of Swampscott, in Massachusetts. Last December, she began having more and more trouble breathing. One morning, three days after Christmas, she woke up gasping f…
Meet the advocates honoring Recovery Month with a nationwide bus tour
No matter where you are in the United States during National Recovery Month, you may spot an unusual sight: a red bus, covered in names. The bus, organized by Mobilize Recovery, an advocacy gr…
National Recovery Month 2022
National Recovery Month (Recovery Month), which started in 1989, is a national observance held every September to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the…
A Proclamation from the President on Overdose Awareness Week, 2022
The overdose epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on our Nation, claiming the lives of far too many Americans and devastating families and communities across the country. During Overdose A…
Recovery Friendly Care At All System Levels
Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and behavioral health issues continue to be among the most poorly understood and stigmatized conditions today – even after all the work that advocates have p…
To protect people with addiction from discrimination, the Justice Dept. turns to a long-overlooked tool: the ADA
It was at Massachusetts General Hospital that Bryan found the care he needed for his opioid use disorder. He had previously tried, without success, to just quit. But when the hospital's…
Elevating All Pathways Of Recovery -- No Matter What
If there ever was a time to fully embrace and celebrate every pathway of recovery, it's now. Over 100,000 people died from overdose and drug poisoning last year; it's time to suppo…
What Is Harm Reduction? (and How It Saves Lives)
We have all heard the statistic (I hope) – approximately 108,000 people died from an overdose last year. That represents a 15 percent increase in deaths from overdoses in 2021. Alarms sh…
MOBILIZE RECOVERY WORKSHOP/SPEAKER PREVIEW
We have tons in store for Mobilize Recovery this year! In addition to the national bus tour (schedule to be announced in early July), we've been hard at work pulling together an incredible vi…
ADVOCACY 101: BIG A VS. LITTLE A
What is advocacy? By definition, advocacy involves promoting the interests or cause of a group of people and helping them find their voice while effecting positive change. So, what is an advoc…
Mobilize Recovery Across America 2022
Mobilize Recovery 2022 is now live! We're excited to join nearly two dozen cross sector partners from across the country to bring the 2022 initiative both online and into communities thr…
Opioid Recovery Gets Bump With DOJ Disability Protection Guide
The Justice Department's declaration that people recovering from opioid use disorder are legally protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act marks a critical step in lifting st…
What is Naloxone? Get the facts...
What is naloxone? Naloxone is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist. This means that it attaches to opioid receptors and reverses and blocks the effec…
Voices Project and Sandgaard Foundation Announce Partnership To Curb Overdoses and Support People in Recovery from Addiction
Foundations commit to lifting up voices of people in recovery and those impacted by addiction; support ongoing efforts for overdose response initiatives; and empower community-based solutions.…
Oregon becomes first state to decriminalize small amounts of drugs, including heroin
Oregon will become the first state to decriminalize possession of small amounts of drugs, including heroin and cocaine. Voters on Tuesday passed Measure 110, which also expands addiction servi…


Watford's Gomes crowned most valuable keeper in the Premier League!
Super Saver Awards: Watford's Gomes crowned most valuable keeper in the Premier League!
Hello, it's me, Bob Friendly.
I am delighted to announce that Watford's goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has won the annual Scottish Friendly Super Saver Award.
As a savings and investment provider, Scottish Friendly is keen on the performance of football's best savers. The hard work keepers put into saving under great pressure can be held up as example to us all. But it's not just all about how many shots you save! We've delved a little deeper than that. Our highly prized Super Saver algorithm uncovers the goalies that have proven their 'net' worth to their clubs. Winners will have not only made beautiful saves this season, but will have also been the most cost-effective for their teams.
Gomes has made a save made every 26.93 minutes of game-time at a cost of £6,142 a save, which makes the keeper a stunning 82 per cent more cost-effective than others in the League.
Last year we awarded Burnley's Tom Heaton with this accolade. He made a save every 26 minutes of game-time, and each cost his club just £6,000 per save, which was 93 per cent more cost-effective than other keepers!
We've recreated one of Gomes's best saves here, but to have a closer look at the statistics and see our table of the best value goalkeepers in the 2015/16 Premier League season, click here.
Our annual Best Save of the Season Award goes to Manchester City's Joe Hart, and this just goes on how much we were awed by this particular save, which we've recreated with our Subbuteo set! Watch it here.
To celebrate their win, we've recreated one of Hugo Lloris's best saves! Watch it here.
Phew! Until next time folks, keep saving!


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Michael's on the Hill
[X]Staff Picks
Theater Search – Staff Picks
Thu., July 18, 7-9 p.m., Fri., July 19, 7-9 p.m., Sat., July 20, 7-9 p.m., Sun., July 21, 2-4 p.m., Thu., July 25, 7-9 p.m., Fri., July 26, 7-9 p.m., Sat., July 27, 7-9 p.m. and Sun., July 28, 2-4 p.m.
Classic Grimm characters get entangled in the darker side of fairy tales in a Lamoille County Players production of Stephen Sondheim's Tony Award-winning musical. at Hyde Park Opera House in Hyde Park. Stowe/Smuggs (map). $10-18.
'Cabaret'
Thursdays-Saturdays, 7:30 p.m. and Sundays, 2 p.m. Continues through July 28
Lost Nation Theater actors travel to Weimar-era Germany in this time-tested musical centered on a Berlin nightclub during Hitler's rise to power. at Lost Nation Theater, Montpelier City Hall in Montpelier. Barre/Montpelier (map). $10-35.


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Caught In A Hustle
by Immortal Technique
Album: Revolutionary Vol. 1 (reissue) (2004)
In a 2014 interview with Abby Martin of RT News, Immortal Technique said "Caught In A Hustle" took him about an afternoon to write. He wrote it for his cousin who died because he was born with a hole in his heart.
The rest of the strong is about life's hustle, or perhaps that should be life's struggle, from the evolution of life on Earth down to the present day when we are hurting ourselves. >>
Alexander Baron - London, England
More songs from Immortal Technique
More songs that are tributes to friends who died
I Guess That's Why They Call It The BluesElton John
"I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" by Elton John was written for the sister of actress Rene Russo. Bernie Taupin, who wrote the lyrics, was married to Rene's sister, Toni.
SundownGordon Lightfoot
The inspiration for Gordon Lightfoot's "Sundown" came from the songwriter worrying about his girlfriend, who was out at bars all day while he was at home penning songs.
PossessionSarah McLachlan
Sarah McLachlan's "Possession" contains passages from letters a stalker sent her. He sued her for $250,000 and committed suicide before the trial.
Just DanceLady Gaga
"Just Dance" was Lady Gaga's first hit, and it also brought the techno-synth sound that had been popular in Europe for the previous decade to the United States.
Eternal FlameBangles
The Bangles song "Eternal Flame" was inspired by a display at Graceland that honored Elvis Presley.
VenusShocking Blue
The original "Venus" was a #1 hit for the Dutch band Shocking Blue. Listen to the first line and you'll hear a muffed word: "goddess" was sung as "goddness."
John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews
With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.
Famous Singers' First FilmsSong Writing
A look at the good (Diana Ross, Eminem), the bad (Madonna, Bob Dylan) and the peculiar (David Bowie, Michael Jackson) film debuts of superstar singers.
Timothy B. SchmitSongwriter Interviews
The longtime Eagle talks about soaring back to his solo career, and what he learned about songwriting in the group.
Tom Waits Lyrics QuizMusic Quiz
Pool balls, magpies and thorns without roses - how well do you know your Tom Waits lyrics?
Richard MarxSongwriter Interviews
Richard explains how Joe Walsh kickstarted his career, and why he chose Hazard, Nebraska for a hit.
Donald FagenSongwriter Interviews
Fagen talks about how the Steely Dan songwriting strategy has changed over the years, and explains why you don't hear many covers of their songs.


Through (only) four visits to India, we have come to the conclusion that, unless you discover that you dislike India intensely and will never return, you are obliged to learn acceptance. We don't mean a negative, pessimistic or cynical kind of disengaged acceptance, rather the realization that the world is far more varied than what you see in the clean urban environments, not to mention the sanitized malls, to which we westerners have become accustomed. Rather, as Siddartha, the soon-to-be Buddha, also learned, the world includes sickness, age and death – as well as ignorance – and, we are obliged to add, poverty. But it also includes a kind of happiness and interior peace, as well as compassion for our fellows, that we don't dream of any more, the lack of which is certainly what Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was referring to when he spoke of the West as being in "a harsh spiritual crisis and a political impasse." Although India also is deeply into political problems, there remains a joie de vivre that greatly impresses anyone who takes the time and trouble to see it. This is not to say that their lives cannot be improved materially.
As we already pointed out, we were greatly impressed by the solidarity shown by Indians in situations where this was possible, for instance, within the two centers for leprosy victims. We want to be quite clear about this: The current western model of society which imposes a false sentiment of individuality on its members and thereby increases the competition among them is incompatible with this form of helping each other. We have much to learn from the Indians and that in turn requires a humility that most of us westerners seem to have lost in our self-satisfied lives, often devoid of compassion and love of the Other.
Also, India is not the west and Indian problems require different solutions from western ones. This is due to their culture being so different from ours. Tulsi tells a story of how a Dutch group installed toilets and drain pipes in a village where the population had the habit of relieving themselves in the fields. Returning a year later, the Dutch discovered that the toilets were being used to store grain and the pipes, for irrigation. The villagers had returned to the fields, turning the stuff under the soil with a stick so as to use it for fertilizer as they had been doing for centuries. The point is that the villagers needed pipes and storage containers much more than flush toilets. We who would have the temerity to suppose we can help them must take into account their perception of their needs and their particularity or uniqueness.
Consideration of their uniqueness in turn requires acceptance of their differences, of the fact that there is more than one way to live, both technically and spiritually, and that we westerners can not impose our culture on them. This is a mistake that colonial powers have been making (on purpose) for centuries and it must stop.
As Tulsi pointed out to us, India needs financial aid from the west, but it must not be in the form of huge farms owned by agri-conglomerates which force individual farmers off their lands and into huge slums on the outskirts of the big cities.
DISCC – Dr Tulsi and his staff, aided by their western supporters – attempts to work inside India with an entirely Indian staff and with Indian cultural ideas and values to improve the lives of poor and handicapped children, of victims of leprosy and of young women in a small village. Working through and visiting organizations like DISCC can help us non-Indians to appreciate – in all the senses of the word: to be grateful for and to value highly, to be conscious of and to increase in value – the lives of Indians at the same time as we expand our own intellectual, cultural and moral values.
Back to home page/accueil or to Nepal-India tour.


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the new electric cars in pictures
The Brussels Motor Show is full of new electrical products. Follow us for a visit, to discover the Abarth 500e, Audi Q8 e-tron, Dacia Spring Extreme, Opel Astra Electric…
Are the major motor shows over? No, some put up a good resistance, like in Brussels. Open from January 14 to 22, the Belgian show is full of brands. They're all there too, or almost (Mercedes just isn't among the big names). We almost had the impression of old times touring the well-appointed pavilions, after getting used to visiting shows with a very light program, like the last Paris Motor Show.
If Brussels is an exception, it is because this show weighs heavily on car sales in Belgium. Not showing up means risking lost customers! But the event does not center itself on the Belgian market, it has a European scope. So this is the scene of several world and European premieres.
If you live not far from the Belgian border, it's worth the trip. To inspire you, we went for a preview visit to show you the main new electrical products at the show.
Abarth 500e
First public outing for the Abarth 500e. You guessed it, this is the sporty version of the new electric Fiat 500, and therefore the first connected Abarth. Engine power increased from 118 to 154 hp. It may seem modest compared to the thermal Abarths, but the brand promises better acceleration and therefore unprecedented vitality for the 500. It's a shame the look isn't more personalized, even if the 18-inch rims are nice. The 42 kWh battery does not move, the range is around 300 km.
Abarth 500e: the electric Fiat 500 becomes a sports car
Audi's first electric model is changing its name. No longer e-tron, but Q8 e-tron, a way to further position it in the range now that Audi has another electric SUV. The front face has evolved with a new grille, which includes a light bar. It features the new Audi logo, with flat rings. Restyling is mainly an opportunity to install larger batteries in the gut. Depending on the model, the autonomy increases by up to 40%. So, the 55 variant with a 106 kWh (net) battery flirts with 600 km.
Video test – Audi Q8 e-tron: paid update?
Dacia Spring Extreme
Spring arrives in Brussels with a new finish, which replaces the Expression level. It benefits from some new stylistic elements, such as topographic patterned stripping and bronze-brown painted details. But the real change is under the hood: the Extreme has a new, more powerful engine: the power goes from 45 to 65 hp. Enough to ensure better acceleration and recovery. No change for the battery, the range in the combined WLTP cycle only loses 10 km, up to 220 km. This model costs 22,300 €.
Dacia: the Spring Extreme receives a new, more powerful electric motor
Unveiled at the Paris Motor Show, the Jeep Avenger is the star of the show. In fact, it received the prestigious title of Car of the Year 2023 in Brussels, awarded by a jury of European journalists. The model is ahead of its competitors! The Avenger is Jeep's first all-electric model, an urban SUV (it's even shorter than the Clio). It receives the new technical elements of urban/compact electric cars from Stellantis, ie a 156 hp block and a 54 kWh battery, which provides a range of 400 km. Order books are open in France.
Car of the Year 2023: electric Jeep Avenger wins by KO
Lexus RZ450e
Long resisting rechargeable electrified models, Lexus clearly cannot stand in front of the changing automotive market, especially in Europe. After putting a wheel in the electric market with the trendy UX version, he launched the RZ 450e, his first electric car designed on a dedicated basis. It is shared with the Toyota BZ4X. required by premium positioning, Lexus is distinguished by higher power, with 313 hp (against 218 in Toyota). But the battery is the same, with a rather tight capacity, 71.4 kWh. The autonomy is therefore a notch below the competition, with just over 400 km.
Lexus has introduced the RZ 450e, its first all-electric SUV
World premiere for Mazda in Brussels. The manufacturer has developed a new rechargeable hybrid version of the MX-30, which until now is 100% electric. The technical assembly is original: a 170 hp electric unit always provides traction alone. But it is now associated with a rotary gasoline engine that serves as a range extender. Thanks to the 17.8 kWh battery, you can do 85 km in 100% electric (WLTP mixed cycle), then 50 liters of fuel adds 600 km of autonomy. The MX-30 thus becomes more versatile, the 100% electric version is limited to 200 km of autonomy.
Mazda MX-30 R-EV: the electric SUV becomes a plug-in hybrid with a rotary engine with 600 km of autonomy
Vauxhall Astra Electric
While the Peugeot e-308 has yet to show itself, Opel has arrived in Brussels with the Astra Electric, announced as a world premiere. On the outside, there is no change, or at least we see new rims, with proper aero. The novelty is of course in the gut, with the new Stellantis electric block of 116 kW, or 156 hp. The battery has a total capacity of 54 kWh. According to the mixed WLTP standard, the range is 416 km. The electric Astra will be offered as a sedan and station wagon.
Opel Astra-e, 416 km of autonomy for electric sedan and station wagon
European premiere for 3, the first SUV of Polestar, which can finally be launched in the French market, the legal dispute between this brand and Citroën has been closed. The 3 is a nice baby, 4.90 meters long, but it's quite low, almost making it look like a big station wagon. Launched with two engines, the 3 offers 489 hp, or even 517 hp in the Performance version. In both cases, we have a 111 kWh battery, which provides up to 610 km of autonomy in the combined WLTP cycle.
Polestar 3: the large electric SUV reveals itself from all angles
Subaru Solterra
The Solterra is Subaru's first electric model. Does it remind you of something? Normally, it is a quasi-copy of the Toyota bZ4X. The Subaru version is distinguished by the grille and shield. This model is offered in a four-wheel drive version, with two motors for a maximum combined power of 218 hp. The battery has a capacity of 71.4 kWh, for a range of up to 466 km (mixed WLTP). However, like Toyota, this Subaru is slow to arrive in France, with prices still unknown.
Subaru Solterra: the Toyota BZ4X clone in detail
Prev 4 podcasts to talk about the world of work in a different way
Next Stats and Highlights | Wolves confirmed, Blazers smiled again


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Phone-Cum-Safety Booths Prove a Bust
Raphael Rashid
crimeemergency shelterKE Radarphone boothsafetySeoulsexual assaultsexual harassmentSouth Koreatelephone
The idea was simple: convert old public pay phone boxes into state-of-the-art 'safety booths' in which citizens can lock themselves and contact emergency services if they feel in danger. But two years after their introduction, the safety booths have proven unpopular, with at least one local government looking to hang up on the project all together.
A safety booth in Seoul's Bukchon Hanok village. (Raphael Rashid/Korea Exposé)
The safety booths were first installed in Gwangju in June 2015. At the time, the city said that they were for the purpose of establishing safe zones and preventing crimes against women, such as sexual assault.
In Gwangju's case, each booth has four CCTV cameras providing total monitoring coverage of their surrounding areas. According to the city, the exterior walls are made of Lexan resin, which is a polycarbonate material said to be 20 times stronger than tempered glass. The built-in lock system is designed to withstand a force of 400 kg or more, thus impossible to open by potential assailants.
Within two years, the initiative spread across South Korea including to Seoul. But a recent SBS report found that some of the safety booths are not able to connect to emergency services or are not actually placed in high crime areas.
SBS also reported that residents of Suwon, in Gyeonggi Province, "did not seem to want them" and had no plans to install more. Online media SkyeDaily criticized the initiative, saying that some residents didn't even know of their existence. Apparently, some confused them for ATM machines.
"This is a safe space for citizens to escape to in times of danger. You can also use Olleh's Giga WiFi services for free," reads a sign on a safety booth. (Raphael Rashid/Korea Exposé)
In total, Seoul City installed 15 of these panic room-style boxes in collaboration with KT Linkus. It is unclear whether these booths have prevented crime at all. An official at Seoul's international press team told Korea Exposé that the government "does not track crime prevention or performance," but admitted that there seems to be "no significant effectiveness as a place of refuge" and that the scheme "had not generated any specific results."
Asked about expansion plans, the spokesperson said Seoul City will not install any more booths. On the contrary, it is looking to pull the plug on the initiative, scheduled to remove "most" safety booths without specifying a number.
What do you think? Was the Safety Booth project too ambitious? Let us know your thoughts below.
Cover image: Safety booth in Seoul's Bukchon Hanok Village. (Raphael Rashid/Korea Exposé)
Raphael is a freelance journalist and fixer. He has an MA in Korean Studies from Korea University, and worked at Edelman Korea for three years representing some of South Korea's biggest conglomerates.


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Tag: How to Make a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets
How to Make a Scatter Plot in Google Sheets (Step-by-Step)
Scatter plots are very helpful, as they are a tool for showing relationships and trends in data when other graphs are not capable of doing the same. Google Sheets Tips are highly convenient for making scatter plots since they have a built-in tool for creating scatter plot graphs.
Scatter plots are helpful when the data is all over the place but still embodies a trend. It also helps convey datapoint clusters, which is a weak point for both bar and line charts.
Trendlines and error bars can also be used in scatter plots to establish relationships between points and data and represent which data points are outliers and to what extent they are outliers.
Here, a hypothetical list of 30 commercial properties for sale against the requested price is mentioned. A part of the data is shown below;
The columns taken into account here are "Square Feet" and "Price," representing the building's square footage of the property and the requested price, respectively.
How to build a Scatter Plot In Google Sheets
How to add a Trendline to a Scatter Plot In Google Sheets
How to use Error Bars in a Scatter Plot
Interpreting data with the help of a Scatter Plot
In Google Sheets, scatter plots are a built-in preset graph applied to any and every data set. Creating a scatter plot requires little in the way of configuration.
While creating a line or bar chart, if one feels that the data is all over the place, that indicates that they should use a scatter plot for the job.
The steps to build a scatter plot in Google Sheets are mentioned below:
The columns that one wants to compare can be highlighted by holding shift and then left-clicking on the column names.
Click on the Insert option and select chart to open the Chart editor. It can also be opened by clicking on the Chart icon from the top submenu.
From the Chart editor options menu, click on Chart type and then select the Scatter chart option to create the scatter chart.
The scatter plot chart for data has been created.
A trendline can be added to a Google Sheets scatter plot for a more straightforward demonstration of trends in the data. Fortunately, Sheets makes it easy to add this feature to your chart.
The following steps demonstrate how to add a trendline to a scatter plot in Google Sheets:
From the top right of the graph, click on the three dots icon. A pop-up menu will appear. From there, select the Edit chart option to open the chart editor for the scatter plot.
Now, click on the Customize tab, and then expand the Series section and check the box next to the trendline for adding features to the chart.
The scatter plot graph will now feature a trendline representing the overall relationship between the coordinate values of X and Y.
To demonstrate the reliability of a given data point or to demonstrate how on-trend a given data point is, error bars are the most helpful tool on a scatter plot. In commercial properties, scatter plots can help a potential buyer successfully avoid overpriced properties.
To add error bars to your scatter plot, follow these steps:
From the top right of the graph, click on the three dots. A pop-up menu will appear. From there, select the Edit chart option to open the chart editor for the scatter plot.
Now, click on the Customize tab, and then expand the Series section and check the box which is next to Error bars for adding features to the chart.
The scatter plot graph for each data point will now feature error bars representing how adjacent they are to the trendline.
Interpreting Data with a Scatter Plot
As the scatter plot with trendlines and error bars is ready, let's focus on certain things that the chart states.
Two clusters are the most notable in the dataset.
Around 3,000 sq. ft. for an amount ranging from 12,500 to 14,400
Approximately 3,500 sq. ft. for an amount ranging from 14,900 to 55,000
This data gives us the information that the cost for moving from 3,000 sq. ft. to 3,500 sq. ft. is extremely high, and the properties in the clusters are priced competitively.
In comparison to scatter plot chart, bar and line charts do not establish these clusters as efficiently.
In addition, for showing off-trend data clusters, scatter plots do a fantastic job. In the example provided above, the chart clearly indicates that numerous more significant properties are overpriced through large error bars and being far above the trend line.
Following the steps that are mentioned above, anyone will be able to create and enhance scatter plot graphs in Google Sheets quickly.
However, it should also be noted that scatter plots are not suitable for all kinds of datasets. Flat trendline or massive error bars show that the data does not follow a trend.
Hoping that this tutorial of google sheets charting was useful.


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published: false
---
### Time to get deep

This post is me laid bare, what comes next is an attempt to describe myself in the deepest possible way.

I am an eternal optimist, I stand strong in my belief that tomorrow will be better than today for absolutely every person on the planet. I am not alone but I am out numbered 10 to 1.

Every person like me that allows society to crush them, to hold them back, to tell them they can't, they shouldn't, they won't let them is a beacon of hope that ceases to shed light on a more prosperous future for us all.

For this reason, I will not be told I can't, I will not be held back and though I may be laughed at, believe me, I will be the one laughing in the end, for I am the optimist and I can hear myself laughing clear as day.

I have been held back, laughed at, kicked, mocked and believe me I have let that in

My mission is a simple one but its sum is far greater than its parts. My mission is to spread my optimism like a plague, it is to drive hope into everyone I meet, it is to say, you can, you will, I believe in you

My enemy, the people who tell me I can't, the people who laugh at my ideas, the people that say 'why'

Enter text in [Markdown](http://daringfireball.net/projects/markdown/). Use the toolbar above, or click the **?** button for formatting help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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James May's Honda PS50
Reading time: about 1 minute
Ben Branch September 29, 2015
Reading time: about 1 minute | Written by Ben Branch | September 29th 2015
James May of Top Gear fame has been streamlining his personal collection over the past few months with former and future co-host Richard Hammond following his lead. May has already sold his Yamaha FS1-E and his 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera, and Hammond sold off his Triton and a number of other motorcycles in April this year.
The Honda PS50 is not a dissimilar bike to the Yamaha FS1-E, it's the sports version of the popular PC50 model and it was highly sought after by teenage boys who weren't yet eligible for a full motorcycle license. Whereas the PC50 had a step-through frame like the iconic Honda Cub, the PS50 had a motorcycle-style fuel tank, a motorcycle-style seat and a twist-grip gear change with a manual clutch.
Honda had designed the PS50 to looks as much like a motorcycle as possible to appeal to the almost-but-not-quite-old-enough-for-a-real-one crowd, and it did very well in the countries where it was sold. For reasons lost to time the Honda bean counters chose not to sell the little PS50 in the United Kingdom, so imported bikes like May's are highly sought after by collectors.
Due to the impeccable restoration and ownership history enjoyed by this PS50 it's likely that it'll quickly surpass the estimated value of £1,800 to £2,400, these numbers just seem far too low for a moped with gold-plated bragging rights.
If you'd like to read more about this moped or register to bid you can click here.
Published by Ben Branch - September 29th 2015
The Black Dot Mark II By Blitz Motorcycles
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Ex-Bubba Blackwell – Harley-Davidson XR750 Flat Tracker
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Board Trackers
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1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 396 L78
Prospector BoomCase


text:
Only exact matches
Business in Ukraine
Events and analytics
Головна Legal advice Adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On the Customs Tariff of Ukraine"
Adoption of the Law of Ukraine "On the Customs Tariff of Ukraine"
On 4 June 2020, the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the Law of Ukraine "On the Customs Tariff of Ukraine", which will enter into force on 1 July 2020.
This Law establishes the Customs Tariff of Ukraine, which is understood as an import duty on goods that are imported to the customs territory of Ukraine, systematized according to the Ukrainian Classification of Goods of Foreign Economic Activity (UCG FEA), compiled on the basis of the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System (HC).
The adoption of this law is caused by the need to bring the commodity nomenclature, which was built on the outdated HC 2012 in accordance with HC 2017 in compliance with the international obligations of Ukraine undertaken under the International Convention on the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, as well as taking into account the obligations to the World Trade Organization.
At the same time, no change in the rates of import duty on goods is stipulated. The changes concern only the classification, inventory and additional units of measurement and accounting of individual goods.
The novelties of the law, according to the authors, are:
– specification of the procedure for setting or changing import duty rates;
– taking into account the latest amendments to the Customs Tariff of Ukraine provided for by the Law of Ukraine dd. 19.12.2019 No. 402-ІX "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of Ukraine as to Improvement of the Legislation on Amber and Other Minerals Production" and the Law of Ukraine dd. 16.01.2020 No. 465-ІX "On Amendments to Certain Laws of Ukraine as to Improvement of Tax Administration, Elimination of Technical and Logical Conflicts in Tax Legislation";
– applying from 1 April 2021 energy units (thousand kWh) as additional measurement and metering units for natural gas.
The adoption of the Act is expected to contribute to:
– Ukraine's fulfillment of international obligations undertaken within the framework of the International Convention on Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System;
– adaptation of the Ukrainian statistical system to international methods, standards and classification;
– simplifying the comparison and analysis of statistics, especially those related to international trade that are exchanged under international agreements or international trade negotiations;
– harmonization of non-tariff regulation measures on food safety, environmental protection, control of import and export of narcotic substances, precursors, military goods, dual-use goods, etc.;
– reduction of the costs associated with the need to re-describe, classify and codify goods when they are transferred from one system to another in the course of international trade, and to expedite and simplify customs clearance of goods in foreign trade operations.
LLC Law Firm ANK 9, Lanzheronovskaya Str. Odessa, 65026, Ukraine


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Q: How to convert DateTime::now() into NaiveDateTime? I'm using Diesel and chrono. In my model I have a field of type NaiveDateTime which contains the now(). However, NaiveDateTime doesn't have the function now() or a similar one whereas DateTime does:
Utc::now()

How can I convert Utc::now() into NaiveDateTime?

A: Utc::now() returns a DateTime<Utc>. You could click into the documentation of DateTime<T> and search for NaiveDateTime. You should find that there are two methods that will return a NaiveDateTime:

fn naive_utc(&self) -> NaiveDateTime
  Returns a view to the naive UTC datetime.

fn naive_local(&self) -> NaiveDateTime
  Returns a view to the naive local datetime.

For instance, if you need the timestamp in UTC:
let naive_date_time = Utc::now().naive_utc();

Note that since you are using diesel, you could use diesel::dsl::now instead, which will evaluate to CURRENT_TIMESTAMP on the SQL side.
//! ```cargo
//! [dependencies]
//! diesel = { version = "1", features = ["sqlite"] }
//! ```

#[macro_use]
extern crate diesel;

use diesel::prelude::*;
use diesel::dsl;

table! {
    posts (id) {
        id -> Integer,
        content -> Text,
        published -> Timestamp,
    }
}

fn main() {
    let conn = SqliteConnection::establish("test.db")
        .expect("Cannot open database");

    diesel::insert_into(posts::table)
        .values((
            posts::content.eq("hello"),
            posts::published.eq(dsl::now),  // <------------------
        ))
        .execute(&conn)
        .expect("Insertion failed");
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


What's On / Bristol Gigs / O2 Academy / The Zutons: Who Killed The Zutons?
The Zutons: Who Killed The Zutons?
After a decade apart, legendary Liverpool band, The Zutons are reuniting for a series of special live dates to coincide with the 15th anniversary of their seminal album, Who Killed The Zutons by playing the album in full.


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David V. Monasterio Ruiz (born January 13, 1971) is a former international freestyle and butterfly swimmer from Puerto Rico, who participated at the 1992 Summer Olympics for his native country. He won three relay medals (one silver, two bronze) at the 1991 Pan American Games in Havana, Cuba. He has three brothers, Eric, Eugenio, and Manuel. David attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and earned an MBA from Indiana University Bloomington.

References

1971 births
Living people
Puerto Rican male swimmers
Male butterfly swimmers
Puerto Rican male freestyle swimmers
Swimmers at the 1991 Pan American Games
Swimmers at the 1992 Summer Olympics
Olympic swimmers of Puerto Rico
Pan American Games silver medalists for Puerto Rico
Pan American Games bronze medalists for Puerto Rico
Pan American Games medalists in swimming
Central American and Caribbean Games gold medalists for Puerto Rico
Competitors at the 1990 Central American and Caribbean Games
Central American and Caribbean Games medalists in swimming
Medalists at the 1991 Pan American Games

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Previously, Google AdWords search ads were only subtly labeled by an almost-imperceptible pale yellow background shade and gray text at the very top. (See an example here.) Now, however, the ads are impossible to miss—and, consequently, impossible to mistake for organic search results.
What do these "Ad" labels mean to your business?
One benefit of advertising with Google via their AdWords program is that you have the potential of reaching the top of search results pages even if organic competition is too stiff for your relevant keywords. Prior to the test Google is currently running (which may or may not be visible to you at the moment), it was fairly easy for searchers to overlook the difference between paid and organic search results, and, as countless studies have shown, people are much more likely to click the highest result on the page (especially if they don't differentiate between the types).
By casting such a bold spotlight on AdWords ads now, it's quite likely that many advertisers will experience noticeable changes in performance. The question is, will those changes be positive or negative?
Some percentage of people will not click on ads, and there's nothing you can realistically do about those individuals. Even if your click volume decreases because more people notice the top results are ads, don't immediately adjust tactics just to get the click volume back up again. Take a minute, take a deep breath, and focus (at least initially) on ad and keyword relevance. Improving relevance and targeting is the surest way to improve Click Through Rate. Simply widening your net to catch more searchers is often a recipe for higher costs and lower performance.
Even people who click on ads are bound to read your ads more carefully now. Many advertisers use Dynamic Keyword Insertion to automatically place the user's search query in the ad's headline, which can be a great strategy. But what happens when people scrutinize ad copy? Does it hold up? Is it addressing your customer's needs, challenges and desires? Will they see that you understand what they're looking for, and is there clear direction in the form of a call-to-action? In short, are you telling someone how you will make their lives better, and that they're just a click or call away from the answer?
Like real estate, search advertisers know there are 3 keys to successful web marketing: keyword, keyword, keyword. Even if your product is the best on the market, your website is ideally suited to convert, and your ads are like flowers to bees, it could all fall apart with the wrong keywords. Keywords are the link between people and your business goals. If you sell digital camera batteries, are you targeting the broad keywords "camera" and "batteries" because those high impression counts are so attractive? Chances are your Click Through Rates are pretty lackluster already (not to mention your Conversion Rate), but with these new bold, gold "Ad" labels, those stats will probably dip even further. Take some time to reevaluate your strategy and make sure your target keywords are not too broad (meaning: completely irrelevant searchers will see your advertisements, take a close look at them, realize they aren't even close to addressing their needs, and move on). That's not good for anyone involved.
Now that I've harangued you with dire warnings, let me leave you with a positive reflection. The bottom line is, these new labels Google is testing are good not only for the searchers (transparency), but for advertisers as well. This should force us to examine how our accounts are structured, how closely we monitor ad performance as well as on-site web analytics and results, what keywords and Match Types we are using, and encourage us to test ad variations to find what speaks best to our potential customers.
It might take a kick in the pants like bright, eye-catching "Ad" labels beside our paid search ads to get us all to step things up a notch. In the end, that impetus could translate to better ad performance, more leads and sales, happier customers, and maybe even lower advertising costs.
Is this a win-win? It could be…but it might not be a pleasant journey!
What do you think about the "Ad" labels?
Please share your reactions by leaving a comment! Is this good for all parties involved? How are your ads doing?


What is PCP? The PCP, or Personal Contract Purchase, is currently one of the most popular ways of financing a new car. There are a number of key pieces of information that are important to remember if you are to understand how the deal works.
Mileage charge - The contract will specify a total number of miles that you can do in the vehicle. If you go over this the charge is usually about 10p per mile. You can set your mileage limit yourself and the sales person will discuss this with you before you agree on the deal.
Finance Facility Fees - Some deals charge around £150 to set up the deal and an additional £150 if you decide you want to keep the car at the end of the contract. If this fee is not listed in the small-print, it is not applicable to your deal and we try to find deals that avoid this charge where possible.
Damage charge - Normal wear and tear (small stone chips, tyres, brakes etc) are not considered, however for large scratches and dents you will be asked to pay the cost of rectifying this should you choose not to keep the car.
Why so much small print?


Sorry for the delay, but my wife and I were on holiday and ended up in yet another location that curtailed my Internet access. For those of you unfamiliar with our "in country" holiday routine, our time away doesn't resemble a vacation as you might know it, it's more like living somewhere else for a week. We rent a cottage, stop on the way there to do some grocery shopping, then settle in, arrange the place how we want it and establish a routine—all before dinner time of the first day.
The routine includes visiting nearby landmarks and beauty spots that the locals always mean to get around to visiting but never find the time, and in the evenings we carrying on much the same as we would at home, but in a different place. This time, that place was a farm.
It was a little farm—what they call a small holding here—populated by a variety of rescued animals cared for by the energetic and affable landlady. There were dogs, cats, sheep, guinea fowl, geese, three of the largest goats I have ever seen (when I first saw them, I thought they were horses) and chickens. We had never stayed in a place quite like this before, and I was pleasantly surprised at how relaxing it was to sit on the porch and watch the livestock wander about. And most surprising of all was how captivating the chickens were.
I've been inside chicken coups; they are noisy, malodorous and frightening places, and I never thought of a chicken as something I enjoyed the company of unless it was deep fried and on my plate. So having these inquisitive fowls strutting and clucking around me was a strangely pleasant experience. This turned out to be a good thing, because, writing wise, the week was a frustrating period of enforced slackerliness. And it wasn't my fault: I had great plans for the week, which involved getting up at dawn (when the rooster crowed) and writing a few thousand words on the new book before the day began, but the WiFi didn't work.
The last time we were out in that area, I was disconnected for a week, so this time we booked a cottage with WiFi, but that turned out to be worse. I was able to get on-line, the connection was fast, I could visit any web site (within reason—my wife was with me) and even stream videos. All I could not do was access my e-mail. There was no reason for this; everything else worked fine, it was just my e-mail that refused to work. So every time I logged on, I checked to see if it was working yet, and then I tried cajoling it, reloading it, sneaking up on it until I made myself so frustrated I couldn't write. So after a few days I just shut the damn thing off and left it.
Now, another person (i.e. not me) might have resigned himself to not getting his e-mail and gotten on with the writing but, as we have already established, I am not that guy. I mean, you can't take someone's e-mail away and not expect them to freak out, can you.
All I can say is, thank God for the chickens. Watching them strutting around, pecking and clucking, as the evening drew in, was unexpectedly soothing, like a dose of rural valium. They each had their own personality and were each, in their own way, uniquely endearing. They were curious about us, interested in what we were doing and often seemed to be trying to communicate with their coos and clucks and meaningful looks, especially the little red one, who took a fancy to us and followed us around, even into the cottage and the car, if we weren't careful.
This was an epiphany for me, discovering that, although I have no great regard for chickens en mass, individually I find them engaging and really quite nice. It's sort of the way I feel about the French, though I can't imagine they are anywhere near as tasty when introduced to the Colonel's secret coating and dropped in hot oil.
For the past ten years I have been believing a lie, but thanks to a program I watched last night, suddenly it all became clear: the 9/11 Catastrophe was conceived, orchestrated and carried out by government agencies, and a grand conspiracy has been keeping this truth from the public ever since.
Really, there is no other logical explanation for it, and after seeing the show last night I can't believe I was so blind to the truth for all these years.
What? Conspiracy to blow up the World Trade Center? Count me in!
And so they pulled it off, and the world watched in horror as thousands of people died, the Trade Center towers came down, the Pentagon exploded and a simulated airliner crash appeared in a field in Pennsylvania, all so they could give a boost to the arms industry and become entangled in a Middle Eastern war. And the tens of thousands of people who were in on the conspiracy have all been sworn to secrecy, so they aren't talking.
Now, doesn't that make so much more sense than the idea that a handful of dedicated fanatics took advantage of a trusting nation to slip aboard a few airplanes, forcibly take control of them and use them to cause as much havoc as they could?
Really, some people need to get a life.