Update: The final implementation. Monday I wrote about how I would use the observer pattern to alter the functionality of getters/setters and respond to changes without using Flash's events. Tyler and I brainstormed more about the solution and as I knew would happen we came up with a better implementation.
One thing I didn't like about my initial go at it, is that you had to create a class with three methods, and usually you only used one of them. So methods were being called that didn't need to be for the sake of it. We decided to add functions on an as-needed basis. I named the different types checks, hooks, and observers.
Check, a method which checks the validity of the data being added. If the check determines the data is invalid it returns a boolean of false. Otherwise it returns true.
Hook, a method which can modify the data of a setter before it gets set. This can allow formatting or other customization.
Observer, a method which is notified when a property has been changed. Flex uses the PropertyChange event currently.
Something Tyler didn't like was the requirement of an interface. He wanted to be able to add the observing functionality from outside an object with a static utility class. Binding would then know if objects used the observer system with additional info in the bindable metadata [Bindable(observable)]. So I created a static utility class called Observe which would allow the logic to be handled separately. Our data-binding relies on the metadata to indicate if a given property uses Observe.
Checks should return a boolean, hooks should return a value, observers don't need to return anything.
then myMethod will be called every time any property is changed anywhere (properties that use the system that is). You can respond to any property change in the entire system that uses the property observer system I've created here.
You'll see how hooks can work and how binding works! I haven't tested the speed, but guaranteed this is way faster and better memory than creating a new PropertyChangeEvent object each time a property is changed. And I still have room for optimization I've been thinking about. I know the API will change for the setter code.
So I have a dilemma and need your feedback. Checks and Hooks could be really cool, allowing you to change stuff at run-time, inserting code into the setter as it were. However, this could also cause headache, security issues, difficult to diagnose bugs, and other potential issues. With great power comes great responsibility and jazz like that. Is it worth it? Should I remove the checks and hooks altogether and just leave observers? What are the costs, and do they out-weigh the benefits? Please comment and let me know your thoughts.
I could foresee a scenario where multiple hooks (for formatting or whatever) is malforming the data before its set. I could also foresee a scenario where multiple checks are added to a property incorrectly, and are preventing setting a legitimate value. Both cases should be caught by thorough unit tests, but assuming you don't have those, maybe releaseChecks|Hooks|Observers(target:IEventDispatcher) methods could be added, just in case?
Overall I think checks and hooks are sweet as they encourage and empower functionality composition. I vote for keeping them and including them in Reflex.
I especially like the release() method, which allows one to make about-to-be-destroyed Observable classes available for garbage collection.
Max: I agree about release(), but even if you don't call it your objects will still be garbage collected. release() is a fail-proof mechanism or one you could use for object pools.
Because of this, one problem I still want to tackle is all the checks/hooks/observers are stored in a weak-referenced dictionary, so the order in which they are called is random.
1) I very much like the idea/ implementation of Observe.
2) I can imagine that there maybe could be a use for the checks, so keep them.
3) I can not imagine anything where I would need/use this.
Both checks and hooks look a bit like aspect-oriented programming to me, which I had no chance to dive into yet and which I am not sure about I more like or fear it.
"With great power comes great responsibility and jazz like that." Yep, thats the price!
Maybe there is a way to make those things more visible in development, e.g. by the need of implementing a class or using extra metadata or implementing Observe, CheckObserve, HookObserve, CheckHookObserve (or just Check, Hook and Observe that explicitly need to be linked together if needed)… not sure. In a way that it is easier to track the usage of it, and keep this functionality seperate / out if I don't want to use it.
In my opinion, a full replacement of [Bindable] introduces quite a lot of risk. I think a new bit of custom metadata however ([Observable] perhaps?) would be a welcome addition. Thanks for sharing this great Observer implementation!
My application needs application logging for every (add\update\delete) operations on the .mxml files. All the data providers for the list/forms are AS objects.
I was thinking of having a function in each AS object and it should be called automatically when a property changes so that I can generate the log message.
Your implementation seems to what I am looking for but I am not clear of how to implement it.


The Malibu High School pitcher recently struck out four in a three-hit shutout performance.
I like that it's not dictated by the clock. There are three outs; you don't have to worry about running out of time.


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Justia Patents Tetsuji Saito Inventions, Patents and Patent Applications
Patents by Inventor Tetsuji Saito
Tetsuji Saito has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Coating material, cover glass, solar cell module and outer wall material for building
Abstract: To provide a coating material capable of forming a solar cell module excellent in the weather resistance, the power generation efficiency and the design, a cover glass, a solar cell module comprising the cover glass, and an outer wall material for building. The cover glass of the present invention is a cover glass comprising a glass plate and a layer containing a fluorinated polymer having units based on a fluoroolefin, on at least one surface of the glass plate, which has an average visible reflectance of from 10 to 100%, and an average near infrared transmittance of from 20 to 100%.
Assignees: AGC Inc., AGC GLASS EUROPE
Inventors: Yu Onozaki, Tomohiro Sakai, Shun Saito, Noriyoshi Kayaba, Aichi Inoue, Tetsuji Irie
Projection apparatus and control method thereof
Abstract: A projection apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a field programmable gate array (FPGA) configured to control projection; and at least one processor which functions as: a configuration unit configured to configure a circuit to be included in the FPGA to a circuit corresponding to a state of the projection apparatus.
Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
Inventors: Masaya Yagi, Takashi Asaka, Tetsuji Saito, Toru Koike
Image display apparatus, image output apparatus, and control methods thereof
Abstract: An image display apparatus according to the present invention includes: a display unit configured to display a moving image based on input moving image data; a determining unit configured to determine whether or not a specific reproduction operation related to a reproduction method of the moving image data has been performed; and a control unit configured to control display by the display unit so that display of a moving image of which brightness is higher than a first threshold is suppressed in a case where the specific reproduction operation has been performed.
Inventor: Tetsuji Saito
Abstract: A projection apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a field progranmable gate array (FPGA) configured to control projection; and at least one processor which functions as: a configuration unit configured to configure a circuit to be included in the FPGA to a circuit corresponding to a state of the projection apparatus.
KCNQ2-5 channel activator
Abstract: The present invention relates to a compound represented by the general formula (I) (wherein the definition of each group has the same meaning as described in the specification). The compound is useful as preventive and/or therapeutic agent for KCNQ2-5 channel-related diseases.
Filed: August 9, 2018
Date of Patent: June 9, 2020
Assignee: Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Inventors: Kentaro Yashiro, Daisuke Wakamatsu, Tetsuji Saito
Applicant: Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.
Controlling projected image frame rate in response to determined projection surface curvature
Abstract: An information processing apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a first acquiring unit configured to acquire surface change information on magnitude of change of a projection surface onto which an image is projected; and a determining unit configured to determine, based on the surface change information, frame rate control information on a frame rate of image processing to allow the image to follow the projection surface.
Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel compound having a strong opening action with respect to KCNQ2-5 channels. A compound represented by the general formula (I) (wherein the definition of each group is as described in the specification) is provided. The compound represented by the general formula (I) has a strong opening action with respect to KCNQ2-5 channels, and therefore is useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for a KCNQ2-5 channel-related disease (for example, dysuria, overactive bladder, or the like).
Inventors: Kentaro Yashiro, Masashi Kato, Tetsuji Saito, Takuya Okada, Daisuke Wakamatsu, Adam James Davenport, Christopher Charles Stimson
Image processing apparatus and image processing method
Abstract: An image processing apparatus according to the present invention, includes: a determination unit configured to determine, based on a layout of at least one image included in display image data, a display correspondence, which is a correspondence between a gradation value of the display image data and a display brightness in a case where a display unit displays an image based on the display image data; and an output unit configured to output to the display unit the display image data and information indicating the display correspondence.
Date of Patent: September 3, 2019
Image processing apparatus and method, image projection apparatus, printing apparatus, and image printing and projection system
Abstract: An image processing apparatus comprises: a first generation unit that generates approximate light pattern by adjusting spatial frequency of an input image, and generates a projection image data based on the approximate light pattern; and a second generation unit that generates a print image data based on the input image, wherein the second generation unit generates the print image data so that a difference between the input image and an image for observation obtained by superimposing projection light projected based on the projection image data onto a printed matter printed based on the print image data is reduced.
Inventors: Masanao Kurita, Shinya Oda, Masayoshi Sekine, Tetsuji Saito, Yasuo Suda
CRYSTAL POLYMORPHISM OF KCNQ2-5 CHANNEL ACTIVATOR
Abstract: Crystal polymorphism may exist in a crystalline compound. In the case where crystal polymorphism exists, depending on the crystal form, solubility, dissolution rate, stability against heat, light, humidity, etc. or the like is different. Accordingly, in the production of a pharmaceutical product, it is a very important task to select a crystal form of a drug substance most suitable for a disease indication and a dosage form. The present invention relates to novel crystal forms (A crystal, W crystal, and a hydrate crystal (H crystal)) of a compound I having a strong opening action with respect to KCNQ2-5 channels.
Inventors: Kentaro YASHIRO, Hideomi KIJIMA, Daisuke WAKAMATSU, Tetsuji SAITO
Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a novel compound having a strong opening action with respect to KCNQ2-5 channels. A compound represented by the general formula (1) (wherein the definition of each group is as described in the specification) is provided. The compound represented by the general formula (1) has a strong opening action with respect to KCNQ2-5 channels, and therefore is useful as a prophylactic and/or therapeutic agent for a KCNQ2-5 channel-related disease (for example, dysuria, overactive bladder, or the like).
INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, PROJECTION APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND NON-TRANSITORY COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM
Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
FUSED IMIDAZOLE COMPOUNDS
Abstract: The present invention provides compounds represented by formula (I), pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, N-oxides thereof, solvates thereof or prodrugs thereof (wherein the characters are as defined in the description). The compounds represented by formula (I) have affinity and selectivity for the gamma-aminobutyric acid A receptor subunit alpha 5 (GABAA ?5) and act as GABAA ?5 negative allosteric modulators (GABAA ?5 NAM), so that they are useful in the prevention and/or treatment of diseases which are related to the GABAA ?5 such as Alzheimer's disease.
Inventors: Tetsuji SAITO, Masato HIGASHINO, Soichi KAWAHARADA, Arwel LEWIS, Mark Stuart CHAMBERS, Alastair RAE, Kim Louise HIRST, Charles David HARTLEY
Publication date: July 19, 2018
Date of Patent: July 10, 2018

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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TESTED: PRINCIPAL OF COOK MAKES THE HARD CALL
WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL
The day of reckoning for fifth-graders at Cook Elementary School came quietly yesterday – with a telephone call home from Principal Pam Pelc.
Nine children at Cook failed the first two rounds of reading tests this year and went on to summer school and the final round of testing this past Friday.
And now it was up to Pelc to decide whether children who failed this final round would repeat the fifth grade or move on to middle school.
This is the first year of the state's Gateway program, which requires fifth-graders to pass reading and math tests to get promoted to middle school.
Pelc started the morning with a class roster and folders for nine children. Four cases were clear-cut. The scores were close enough to passing to qualify for an automatic waiver. Pelc likes that. She believes in testing, but she knows too that scoring is a matter of statistics and statistics can lie.
Hoping to promote
That left five. The first was an easy call too – a girl who showed enough improvement from last year to qualify for an automatic state waiver. She would get promoted.
Pelc reviewed remaining folders, looking for evidence she could use to make a case for promotion to an appeals committee that will meet next month.
She looked for passing math scores. Last year's writing tests. Report cards and teacher comments. And she paid careful attention to any records that dealt with a learning disability. "Are we going to punish every exceptional child because they can't meet the grade-level standard?" she asked.
Critics will say that the state's tough standards are all for show, and that the exceptions Pelc made make standards meaningless. The state certainly didn't help its case for accountability this year when it lowered the bar for passing the math portion of the year-end test all the way down to 25 percent.
Despite these flaws, Pelc says that the accountability program has focused her teachers on the basics. It's gotten her school extra money for tutoring. And that's been good for her students. "We don't spend a lot of time preparing for PTA programs. We don't go on a bundle of field trips," Pelc said. "But to me it's more critical that children learn to read and write and do math."
Extra money, teachers
By any measure Cook is a poor school. Most of its students qualify for free and reduced-price lunches. In school lingo that makes it an "equity plus school." Translated, that means the school gets extra money for extra teachers.
At the beginning of the year, only nine out of 34 fifth-graders had scored well enough on the fourth-grade year-end tests to be confident of passing the fifth-grade test. The rest needed extra help. And they got it with after-school tutoring. When Pelc looks at her class roster now, she sees lots of little miracles. On the first round of testing, 20 children passed. Four more passed on the second try. And now after the third round five more did well enough to get promoted automatically.
One boy's mother asked to have him held back. She didn't think he was ready for middle school. Pelc agreed. By the end of the morning Pelc decided to appeal three cases. There was only one child whom she felt needed another year of fifth grade.
"So unless the parent wants to appeal, he will be retained," she said, frowning. "This child is weak in reading, in math and writing. To me it's a child like this that the Gateway is all about. He's not showing he's prepared to go to middle school.
"I feel kind of badly. You hate to see a child retained. But you have to do what's right."
©2009 Phoebe Zerwick


Expecting house guests over the Thanksgiving holiday? Homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast sound good? This recipe uses rolled out scone dough instead of the usual yeast dough so it's much easier and quicker to make for company. I would say mixing bowl to table in under an hour and does it make the kitchen smell good! As much as I bake and I do love to bake, I find myself turning towards faster, easier or make ahead recipes when I entertain. I also love a good scone and these cinnamon roll scones are good. My husband and I kind of fought over the last one, actually it wasn't really a fight. I had been pulling apart and nibbling on the last scone, when he walked in the kitchen and went right to the container on the counter. He took out the last half eaten scone and popped what was left of it- the middle- right in his mouth, he smiled and I smiled, so I guess all is well that ends well. But, I do kind of miss that last bite of scone, okay I really miss that last bite of scone, after all it was the middle!!!
I will be making another batch of cinnamon roll scones for our guests this weekend but now it's time to start thinking about turkey and all the trimmings. For the most part I make and serve the family favorites that everybody expects from my kitchen. I always bake my own rolls and pies, which does take extra time but I try to keep my recipes simple as there is so much to prepare for our favorite eating holiday. I've ordered the turkey, decided on my menu and already made my grocery list. I cleaned out the refrigerator and will set the table a few days early. Thanksgiving has been my holiday for quite awhile now so most of the preparations are fairly routine. I may go a little crazy and throw Italian sausage in the turkey dressing or ..I guess that's it, I'm such a traditionalist-I admit it! I've learned over the years not to surprise my family with any new gourmet creations at Thanksgiving, "Mom, what's that weird taste in the mashed potatoes?" "Why that's white truffle butter honey!" I just keep it homemade and simple, it works for me and I'm sticking with it, at least for the Thanksgiving meal.
Adapted from Baking For Friends by Kathleen King.
Line 2 large rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper or Silpats.
Make the filling: using a small bowl mix together the butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Make the dough: using a large bowl whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt, work the butter pieces in with your fingertips until the mixture is crumbly (don't over mix), add the raisins, then add the half-and-half, stirring until just moistened.
Lightly flour your work surface and turn the dough out, roll it into a 17x12 inch rectangle, about 1/4 inch thick.
Spread the cinnamon filling over the dough, leaving a 1/2 inch border.
Starting at the long side, roll the dough as tight as possible into a log.
Cut the dough into 1 & 1/4 inch slices and arrange them cut sides up, several inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.
Bake for about 25-28 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool on the pans for 10 minutes before moving to a metal rack.
Make the icing: Using a small bowl mix the powdered sugar with the milk until smooth. Drizzle over the scones, serve warm or at room temperature.
They look perfect also for the advent time….
These Cinnamon Roll Scones are wonderful. I can just smell all of that cinnamony goodness in my kitchen now. I have to try these soon.
LOVING all of the baking you are doing! I bet your house is going to smell divine over the holiday. I love a great cinnamon roll and yours looks great. Pinning now.
This made me smile. You and your hubs "fight" over the last treats like my hubs and I do. Just between you and me, I would have been disappointed about missing out on the middle part of these cinnamon scones, too. I love scones and I love cinnamon rolls–putting them together this way was brilliant!
I'm not hosting Thanksgiving this year (it was always my holiday, too) but I'll still be busy in the kitchen. Wishing you and yours a blessed and tasty holiday.
Cinnamon roll scones? Never seen them before, but looks perfect for a Thanksgiving breakfast or aftenoon tea! I'll be fighting over everyone for a piece of this sweetness!
Patty these look so good, I love scones so much and so I know these have to taste great. I agree with you on making the traditional things for Thanksgiving! Have a wonderful holiday Patty and hope all goes well with your holiday meal!
They look so beautiful…like your blog! I have tagged you for The Beautiful Blogger Award!
These cinnamon roll scones look marvelous!
Wish you and yours a happy and beautiful holiday season!
Patti, this is a brilliant idea to combine scones and cinnamon tolls, very yummy looking too. Have a lovely Thanksgiving!
Came over to see what Patty's baking today… you're killing me! A scone/cinnamon roll is brilliant. I can't spring anything new on my family at Thanksgiving either – but I still always put a twist on one of the dishes cuz they know me after all these years – I'm easily bored Have a delicious time with your family, Patty.
Nice rolls Patty, especially that it take less time than the yeast rolls…and yes, perfect when you have guest and need something yummy and fast. Love the pictures, they sure look very tempting.
These look great, Patty! They remind me of something called Grandma's Biscuit that I like at a local bakery. Now I can try it at home. I hope you and your family enjoy a wonderful Thanksgiving!
What a great idea Patty! The middle of the cinnamon bun is always the best part isn't it? Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Wishing you a lovely holiday as well!
As I was reading your post, all I could think about was, making a gluten-free version of these amazing looking cinnamon roll scones! Not sure it's possible, since gluten-free dough is so sticky, but perhaps I could make a regular batch of GF scones and spread some cinnamon filling on top Wishing you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving!
Patty~ WOW, these cinnamon roll scones are stunning~~ what a great idea! I need to make these soon!
Wow! Those are gorgeous. I don't eat cinnamon rolls very often because they're just too doughy–this recipe solves that!
Patty, These are absolutely gorgeous! I make scones all the time and Ireally love eating cinnamon rolls, so the fact this is a two-in-one is so cool. John will love these. The best part is thst I have all the ingredients. I hope you and your family have a wonderful thanksgiving!
These are so gorgeous Patty! They combine two of my favorite treats….cinnamon rolls and scones! Perfect for the holiday table! Wishing you and your family the Happiest of Thanksgivings!
Happy Thanksgiving to you, too! It sounds like you put on a wonderful meal. I agree, there isn't much room for innovation at Thanksgiving and Christmas as people like the traditional food that has always been served. These scones look like a perfect way to start the day!
Patty, I love scones, and cinnamon rolls, but to have both rolled into one is incredible, beautiful, and very delicious. It certainly looks impressive, as well!
Patty I think I would have ran to block that last center part from my husband, lol:) This is such a great recipe and love that it's faster than yeasted rolls. Thanks for sharing!
We are big fans of cinnamon rolls, what a great recipe. Scones are the perfect breakfast too, so combining them sounds delicious!
I'm a huge scone fan who has not yet made cinnamon rolls. My children had asked me to make cinnamon rolls many times… I think I'll make these cinnamon roll scones instead – it's win win!!!


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Tag Archives: Rotary Peace Centers
Changeover Event: A time for reflection on the past year and visualizing the year to come
PDG Ingrid Neitsch pins DG Tracey Vavrek during Changeover Event on June 27
For outgoing District Governor Ingrid Neitsch (RC of Edmonton West), the District Changeover held on June 27 was an opportunity to reflect on the previous 12 months and highlight the many achievements of 2018-2019.
For incoming District Governor Tracey Vavrek (RC of Grande Prairie After Five), it was a chance to set the agenda for the next Rotary year.
Before passing the title of District Governor to Tracey, Ingrid described her "fabulous adventure" to approximately 200 Rotarians from across the District who were in attendance at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre in Edmonton.
"It has been my honour and privilege to lead and represent this District," she said. "Our theme was 'Be the Inspiration!' I set out to inspire our members, and our members inspired me! The commitment and passion that I witnessed first-hand is unforgettable."
Of her visits to the 57 clubs in our District, she said, "I thoroughly enjoyed the many community tours and community events, some of which were unique."
Ingrid recalled that a year earlier, at the June 2018 changeover event, she had presented her vision and plan for 2018-2019. "I explained our District planning process and the integrated Strategic Plan. I announced a new direction and initiative and outlined important goals I wanted our District to accomplish."
Becoming a Peacebuilder District
The major goal for this past year was to be recognized as a Peacebuilder District by Rotary International, for which a donation of US$25,000 to support RI's Peace Centres was a key criteria. The support for this initiative exceeded Ingrid's expectations.
"I am absolutely thrilled by the support from our clubs, individuals and District. YES! We achieved Peacebuilder status — for TWO years!"
"Peace Centres provide an opportunity for individuals who have been sponsored and strenuously vetted by a Rotary District, to be chosen to attend a three-month peace certificate or a two-year master's program in peace and conflict resolution, all paid for by Rotary."
Menasha Nikhanj from Edmonton is currently enrolled in the three-month professional certificate program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ingrid promises that achieving a Peacebuider District is just the beginning. "We will continue to develop peace building activities and sessions during this next year," she says.
"As a result of our new collaborative work with our educational institutions, the University of Alberta and Concordia University hosted an open-to-the public peace building session which was well received. Another project is planned for next year."
RI will also maintain its focus on peace building. "At the Peace Symposium in Hamburg (held in connection with 2019 RI Convention), senior Rotary leaders announced that steps are being taken to have Rotary become a world leader in peace building," Ingrid said.
Goals set, goals achieved
Other 2018-2019 goals related to membership, creating awareness of The Rotary Foundation (TRF), enhancing Rotary's public image, and celebrating our youth programs.
The year saw the establishment of several new clubs, including a new Interact Club at W.P. Wagner High School (sponsored by the Rotary Club of Edmonton Strathcona); the Rotaract Club of Concordia University (sponsored by Edmonton Northeast); a satellite club of the Rotary Club of Dawson Creek) in Chetwynd, B.C.; and the YEG Passport Club (sponsored by Edmonton Whyte Avenue).
In addition, two existing clubs in Whitehorse, YT became part of our District on July 1.
Ingrid congratulated the TRF team, led by chair Wayne Kauffman (RC of Edmonton Riverview), for its efforts to create awareness of the foundation's good work.
"All the funds donated support projects by our clubs around the world, in the form of grants."
Related to public image, Ingrid noted that the District "created a communications plan to develop and improve our public image in our District and the community."
In part, this was achieved through Ingrid's posts to the District Facebook page, increased social media engagement, articles on the District blog, Rotary International District 5370 News and a District newsletter.
"Inspire, our District newsletter, went to each District member, not just the presidents, so everyone received the same information at the same time," she said.
"We made a concentrated effort to expand community awareness of Rotary. Presentations were made to several community groups and we began a collaborative project with the University of Alberta, which will expand next Rotary year.
"We had significant coverage of Rotary stories in the capital region newspapers in print and online, and in community papers around the District."
Shifting to youth programs, Ingrid said, "We have outstanding opportunities for our youth to participate in many activities, such as the RYLA, RYLE, RYPEN programs.
"We did a lot of work to ensure that our youth exchange program is directly aligned and compliant with Rotary International guidelines, with everyone involved with our youth programs having a mandatory security check."
DG Tracey lays out her plans for 2019-2020
Following Ingrid's summary of 2018-2019, it was Tracey's turn to reveal her vision for 2019-2020.
"It is an honour to stand before you as your governor for 2019-20. I am humbled to step into the shoes of Ingrid and others, and also appreciate the support of each of you through this Rotary journey," she said.
Throughout her presentation, Tracey emphasized that the world needs Rotary and Rotarians.
"People identify Rotary for our service, our dedication to make change for others, and for our commitment to eradicate polio," she said.
"You have stepped up to make your communities a better place. You tackle problems and find solutions for tough issues. You explore ideas and share a vision to make life better for others. Your passion, drive and desire to make a difference inspires me," she said.
"When people of all ages, cultures and demographics invest time and money into something, it is with organizations that do good in the world. People commit to a cause, not an organization."
Rotary: 114 years-old and still strong
Tracey believes that there are reasons why Rotary continues to be relevant.
"Rotary is 114 years old and has stood the test of time due to its values, objectives and service, both locally and globally, plus for our dedication to eradicating polio."
She noted that RI has adapted to changing times, which is in contrast to other organizations that have failed to do so. She cited Kodak as a company which resisted change and as result has lost the leadership position it once occupied.
"For Rotary to stay relevant, we at the club and District level must focus on our culture and adapting to the needs of our members," Tracey said.
"Culture is how people feel when they are part of something that is important to them. Culture is created and is the base of moving from good to great. Culture is an environment of welcoming, inclusiveness, diversity; where people feel a sense of belonging, feel valued. And (it) is a place built on trust. We serve together in many ways with the common goal—to make a difference for others—and when we do this, we build relationships and connect with people of like interest."
Tracey said that the 2019-2020 theme, "Rotary Connects the World," means that, "We share values and follow the four-way test, we collectively take action for a better world and we are doing this together," she said.
"Rotary provides us with the means and opportunities to connect with the world and each other. Rotary connects us to people who need our help, and through Rotary we are connected globally through countless projects and programs."
People of Action together creating positive change
Tracey asked the Rotarians in the audience to image a world without Rotary: "Imagine what would happen to polio if we stopped now. Imagine the people who would go hungry in our own communities or around the world. Imagine the children who would not have the extra support to reach their dreams. The children of today and of tomorrow need Rotary.
"RI has given us the tools to be successful and has provided flexibility to do things differently with meeting structure and attendance, and (it) encourages us to invite our families to be part of our journey.
"When you see the difference we have made for children, families and communities around the world by our commitment, we know we have changed lives. We have given others opportunities and most of all, we have given people hope.
"And that's Rotary. People of action who come together to make positive change in themselves and around the world."
Tracey concluded her presentation by encouraging Rotarians to register for the District 5370 People of Action Conference in Grande Prairie October 3-5, 2019.
"This is your conference and a place to connect, grow and to be inspired."
Posted in Rotary District 5370 Conference, Rotary International District 5370, The Rotary Foundation	| Tagged Concordia University of Edmonton, Eradicating Polio, Ingrid Neitsch, Peacebuilder District, People of Action, Rotary Connects the World, Rotary Peace Centers, Tracey Vavrek, University of Alberta	| 2 Replies
Edmontonian Menasha Nikhanj leaves soon to begin Rotary Peace Fellowship at university in Thailand
Posted on May 24, 2019 by Nelson Scott
A chance meeting with then-District Governor-Elect Ingrid Neitsch in spring 2018 opened the door for Edmontonian Menasha Nikhanj to become a Rotary Peace Fellow.
Menasha had been invited by a friend to attend a Rotary fundraiser, where she met Ingrid. "She asked about what I did for a living," says Menasha, who works for the Alberta Government in the Department of Justice and Solicitor General. That led to a conversation about Rotary Peace Fellowships.
The purpose of the program is to develop the fellows into experienced and effective catalysts for peace.
"Ingrid mentioned this was something I might be interested in. Initially, we talked about the master's program, but at this stage of my life, that's not something that I thought I would be able to do," Menasha says. "Then we talked about the fellowship (which lasts) for three months."
Menasha leaves early in June to begin the intensive three-month professional development certificate program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
"I am leaving from Edmonton on the sixth of June and arrive in Bangkok on the seventh of June, late in the evening. Then I have the eighth and ninth to get my bearings about me and then on the 10th, course work starts."
In addition to classroom study, the program includes two field trips.
"One is in Thailand. I don't know where we will be going, but they have given us some possibilities. There is also one outside of Thailand. In the past, people have gone to Cambodia or Nepal. Sri Lanka was on the list this time, but I'm not sure we are going there," Menasha says.
After the program concludes on August 30, Menasha will return to her job with the Alberta government.
"I've worked with government for 30 years. I was in a training unit for a while, where we did joint training for police and children services around how to work with child sexual abuse. For 14 years, I was with the Edmonton Police Service in a joint operation called the Child at Risk Response Team. I was in a police car, with a police partner, where we responded to child abuse types of calls and social welfare situations."
More recently, Menasha has worked with representatives of other departments and service providers to find ways to bridge gaps between them.
"We work on the premise of the collective impact and that one system can't solve all the problems and that without a collective group addressing some of issues, we really end up spinning our wheels," she says. "Our work here within my area is really about how do we integrate each system into working together, and how do get that conversation happening, which happens as a result of trying to look at what our commonalities are, as opposed to the gaps keep us apart."
"I believe the fellowship will support me in the work I currently do, and perhaps even elevate it."
The application process began soon after Menasha met Ingrid.
The deadline for submitting an application to the District 5370 Scholarship Committee, chaired by Dean Wood (RC of Edmonton Riverview), was May 31, 2018. After she was interviewed by the District committee, her application was forwarded to Rotary International.
"I found out in September that I would be going. Then around September/October, I began to take steps around work. I had to find out whether I would be able to get an educational leave. Work has been very good. They provided me with some educational leave and some leave I can take as holidays. My assistant deputy minister and my director were both very supportive," Menasha says.
Her class in the professional development certificate program includes individuals from around the world.
"I'm the only one from Canada. There are two people from the U.S. and people from Kenya, Zimbabwe, Thailand, Australia, Italy, Denmark, Japan and from different parts of South America," she says.
"I am excited to see what happens. I have talked to one other person who did this. He went through the same process in 2013, and he's an RCMP member down in Calgary. I spoke to him. What should I expect? To me, it's an exciting opportunity. I can't believe I am going because there were so many people around the world whose names are put in for this fellowship. That's a pretty proud thing for me."
Menasha has met other members of the group virtually, thanks to the initiative of one of her classmates.
"He reached out to the rest of us via email to identify who he was," she says. "He's a police officer from Australia, who is originally from the U.K., and then we all sort of responded accordingly and introduced ourselves and talked about who we were and what we did. That will be a basis when we first meet on June 10."
"We all hope that we provide that value-added at the end. I don't want to disappoint anyone. I want to make sure I do my best at this and that I am able to come back and share what we learn and how it applies, not only to the Alberta scene, and also how we can apply our learnings in Canada in terms of the work we do."
Chulalongkorn University is the site of one of six Rotary Peace Centres at universities worldwide.
Each year, two groups of up to 25 individuals each are selected worldwide for the professional development certificate program and another 50 receive scholarships to attend two-year master's programs at the five Peace Centres in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan and Sweden.
Peace Fellowship scholarships cover the full cost associated with the program—tuition, travel and living expenses.
Posted in Rotary International District 5370	| Tagged Chulalongkorn University, Rotary Peace Centers, Rotary Peace Fellowships	| 1 Reply
Becoming a Rotary Peacebuilder District during 2018-19 tops list of goals for Incoming District Governor
Posted on June 25, 2018 by Nelson Scott
2018-19 DG Ingrid Neitsch describes her Peacebuilding District goal during the Changeover Event on June 11
During of her year as District Governor, Ingrid Neitsch (RC of Edmonton West) hopes to see our District designated as a Peacebuilder District by Rotary International.
"One of my most important goals that inspires me is to establish a new incentive and direction in our District to become a recognized Rotary Peacebuilder District by March 31, 2019," Ingrid told 120 Rotarians who attended the District Changeover Event on June 11, at the Chateau Louis Hotel and Convention Centre in Edmonton.
"One of Rotary International's objectives pertains to peace and conflict resolution. This resonates with me and I believe that Rotarians have the infrastructure, the influence and the capabilities to lead the world in peace building initiatives," she said.
Becoming a Peacebuilder District requires a minimum donation of US$25,000 to support Rotary Peace Centers, which are located at universities in six different countries, including Chulalongkorn University in Thailand, where John Lamming, the most recent Rotary Peace Fellow from District 5370, completed a professional development certificate in 2013.
Another Rotary Peace Fellowship application endorsed by District 5370 is awaiting approval by The Rotary Foundation.
TRF also recently supported two other students with Rotary Global Grant Scholarships. Meghan Casey completed a master's degree in human rights and international migration at the University of Kent's Brussels School of International Studies, and Amy Smith is currently studying at the University of Queensland, in Australia, towards a master's degree in development practices.
Ingrid will officially become District Governor on July 1, succeeding Frank Reitz (RC of Fort McMurray) who had an opportunity on June 11 to reflect on the past year.
Frank Reitz reflects on his year as District Governor during June 11 Changeover Event
He compared the last three years, which included two years preparing to step into the role as District Governor, to being on a roller-coaster.
"It has been an awesome ride," he said. "It's a long way up there. Then you get to the top of the roller-coaster and it seems that two and a half seconds later, you're at the bottom and some guy says, 'It's over. Get out!'
"Throughout the year, I was reminded that we must change to remain relevant, but our values as Rotarians will never change. We are people of action," Frank said.
While the number of Rotarians in District 5370 didn't increase over the past year, Frank pointed to improved member retention as a measure of success. He also noted the growth of youth programs, concluding that, "We are meeting the needs of the youth."
As they travelled throughout the District, Frank and his spouse, Barbara, learned about the programs and projects of the 57 clubs they visited. "These are impressive and relevant to their communities," he said.
He noted that support for The Rotary Foundation is strong within the District. All clubs supported the Foundation and donations from District 5370 Rotarians are the second highest in the zone, on a per-capita basis. Nearly all clubs also contributed to Polio Plus.
In her presentation, Ingrid suggested that peace building may become as relevant to young Rotarians as eradicating polio was to previous generations of Rotarians.
"Many [younger members] do not even know what polio represented, nor the fact that Rotary and its partners are on the brink of eliminating this disease globally," she said. "However, these millennials are bombarded each day with news of turmoil and unrest across the world. We need to focus on peace building."
In addition to sharing her peace building message during her travels throughout the District, Ingrid will also talk about other goals related to membership, the Foundation and Rotary's public image, which are included in the District's Strategic Plan.
"Rotary is facing a membership challenge around the world, but particularly in North America. Our own District has seen a steady, overall decline in the last several years," she said.
"I believe we can reverse that trend. We have neighbouring districts in our zone that have seen steady growth in the last five years. So can we!"
She described The Rotary Foundation as "the backbone of all the grants that fund our many projects," noting the efforts of Foundation chair Wayne Kaufman (RC of Edmonton Riverview) and his committee to raise awareness about the importance and impact of Foundation giving.
"Our plan is to continue the club visits to educate members about the Foundation and to share success stories of successful Rotary grants throughout the year, so that members and the public are more aware of the work of the Foundation," she said.
Shifting her focus to Rotary's public image, Ingrid said, "We need a strong communication plan, to raise awareness in our community about the amazing work of Rotary Clubs. This is particularly relevant in the urban corridor, where there are many service clubs vying for attention and support."
The strategic plan also expresses commitments to support the District's youth programs and to prepare club officers to lead their clubs.
Ingrid described her final two goals as, "both connected to fun. We plan to incorporate the arts into Rotary events and to celebrate Rotary and life balance.
"The arts add the colour and texture to our lives, whether it is beautiful music, an intriguing theatre performance, or a stunning visual masterpiece. We have many talented individuals in our clubs, and I want to promote and support the arts in our Rotary events," she said.
"As for celebrating, as I visit each club, I plan to acknowledge and share with our membership the important work Rotarians do each day across our District, as positive change-makers in our communities."
She concluded with a brief preview of the District Conference, including the attendance of two women who have become leaders of Rotary worldwide.
"Rotary International has had only three female vice-presidents in its 113-year history, including current vice-president Dean Rohrs and former vice-president Jennifer Jones. Both are confirmed for our conference."
Ingrid also promised an 18-piece orchestra for the 1920's themed Governor's Ball, "that pays homage to the era of Rotary's founder Paul Harris and his boys of Chicago and the early glory days of Rotary."
Ingrid will begin her visits to all 57 clubs by mid-July.
"I am looking forward to visiting all the clubs in our District to see first-hand all the important work that makes an impact in our communities. We have so many talented and experienced individuals in our District, who possess vast knowledge and skills in leading companies, excelling in their professions and providing leadership in their own communities.
"I am confident that our District is ready to be a leader in the areas of peace and conflict resolution in the Rotary world, adapting new ideas for membership engagement and attraction, and continuing to have positive impact in our communities!"
Posted in Rotary District 5370 Conference, Rotary International District 5370	| Tagged Peace and Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilder District, Polio Plus, Rotary Peace Centers, Rotary Peace Fellowhips, The Rotary Foundation	| 5 Replies


December 1, 2017 - Officials at East Coast Snocross (ECS) are pleased to announce a three-year extension of their marketing partnership with New York-based ADMAR Construction Equipment & Supplies for the 2018 through 2020 seasons.
October 24, 2017 - "We're trying to develop a growth path where we don't lose our roots," said Joel DiMarco, president of Admar Construction Equipment & Supplies, which has been listed in the Top 100 for 22 years.
December 21, 2016 - Officials at East Coast Snocross (ECS) are pleased to announce a new marketing partnership with New York-based ADMAR Construction Equipment & Supplies for the 2017 season.
November 3, 2016 - ADMAR makes the list for the 21st time!
August 20, 2015 - The president of the Bills and Sabres take a trip down memory lane at his alma mater and reflects on St. John Fisher College then and now.
June 3, 2015 - On May 13 and 14, 2015, Admar Supply hosted the Topcon Technology Road Show.
ADMAR is #48 on the RER 100: Top Rental Equipment Companies of 2014!
May 1, 2015 - A 17.4-percent rental volume leap for perennial upstate New York rental leader with an increasing presence in Pennsylvania.
November-December, 2016 - See how ADMAR, along with John W. Danforth Mechanical Contracting, is helping to provide solutions in the construction of Jacobs School of Medicine at the University at Buffalo.
May 4, 2015 - Rifenburg Construction is no stranger to tight, demanding project schedules.


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Barreca: What did Don Draper leave behind?
Gina Barreca
Is it possible to be a bad man and a good father?
By "bad man," I mean someone who is the opposite of a Boy Scout: self-indulgent, disloyal and untrustworthy; a coward, a cheater and an adulterer.
OK, maybe adultery isn't in the Boy Scout handbook, but you get the point.
If you watched AMC's "Mad Men," which aired its finale Sunday, you know I'm asking a central question: Can Don Draper - that non-Boy Scout incarnate - rise to the occasion when his children need him to be a parent and not just a provider?
Don and his colleagues on Madison Avenue make their millions by uncoupling language from its meaning. He's spent his adult life expertly reducing every emotion to a slogan, every desire into slick copy and every need into a slide show. The business of Mad Men is to create artificial appetites in an unsuspecting public.
We're told repeatedly that what they're selling is happiness and nobody sells anything better than Don.
To say he's cynical is to underestimate him: Don Draper is a moral vandal.
It's not as if he's trying to disguise himself as anything else. In the first episode Don lays out his perspective on love: "It doesn't exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me to sell nylons. You're born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts. But I never forget. I'm living like there's no tomorrow, because there isn't one."
Can a man who "lives like there's no tomorrow" offer anything to his children? Can a man who makes La Rochefoucauld sound like Mr. Rogers have a positive influence on the next generation?
We learn that Don Draper, whose actual name is Dick Whitman, stole the name, rank, medals and past of the commanding officer he accidentally killed in Korea.
This is not an auspicious beginning in terms of family life, given that a father traditionally passes his surname on to his progeny. The name "Draper" is, for Don, exactly what it sounds like: a slip-cover obscuring the past.
The character played by Jon Hamm disavowed his own tragic, miserable and impoverished history by creating a new identity when returning home from the war. He shape-shifts, morphing into an unprecedented creature, born of his own imagination.
Other characters, in contrast, are defined by their family histories. Pete Campbell, for example, punches the headmaster of a school after being told "No Campbell will ever mix with a MacDonald!" The head of the school rejects Pete's kid because of a battle between two Scots clans in 1692.
Nothing could be further from the life lived by Dick/Don, the self-made man.
Yet his original name - Whitman - is more descriptive of him than his assumed one. As a description of his character, it's accurate: Jon Hamm plays a Wit Man, not a Mad Man.
(And while we'll leave out any reference whatsoever to his first name, let's just say I don't think it's a coincidence.)
Don lives by his flashes of brilliance, his mercurial thinking and his conniving. For eight seasons we watched him let down, abandon or at least systematically lie to every person who has ever loved him.
And yet a lot of people do love him, including me.
Don is deeply flawed and profoundly weak and nevertheless he inspires love.
I had a father like that. He lied. He was chronically unfaithful to my mother, to whom he was a terrible husband. He had a temper, inexplicable moods and a frantic need for independence. He wasn't around all that much.
And yet he charmed everyone, especially those who didn't know him.
But after my mother died, my father changed. He assumed a mantle of responsibility the way you might put on an overcoat - or a uniform. He didn't evade it or shrug it off. He stopped running away.
Like Don, he realized there was a tomorrow - and that he had to face it.
He had children who would be living in it.
What's important about Don - or any man, or any of us - is not about origins but about legacies. It's not about where you come from, or even where you're going, but what you leave behind.
Gina Barreca is an English professor at the University of Connecticut and a columnist for the Hartford Courant.


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Courtesy iStock. iStock / Irina Shpiller
Restaurant & Bar Updates
Texas Received More Government Loan Dollars Than Any State, But Dallas' Culinary Future Remains Dire
Through the federal Paycheck Protection Program, some Dallas restaurants received aid, while many others were left out.
By Rosin Saez Published in Food & Drink April 22, 2020 1:09 pm
In mid-March, Plano's popular Holy Grail Pub was preparing for the busiest weekend in the busiest month of its year. St. Patrick's Day was here. But so was the coronavirus.
"It escalated so quickly. We were told, 'It was nothing, it was nothing,' then—boom—it was everything," says Brian Rudolph, who owns the pub with his wife, Christi.
Twenty-five miles south, Dallas' enormously popular St. Patrick's Day parade was canceled on Lower Greenville. Public health officials then began limiting gatherings across North Texas. It didn't take long to ban dining in restaurants and drinking in bars. Restaurants and bars raced to offer takeout, but splinter-thin margins forced many to shutter. Count the Holy Grail among those.
The restaurant industry is Texas' second largest private sector employer, counting at least 1.2 million workers. Industry surveys show that nearly two thirds of those workers have been laid off or furloughed since the pandemic. Restaurants are not making enough to cover payroll, rent, taxes, and myriad bills that remain. The federal government rolled out a relief program, but much of it missed the smallest businesses, threatening the future of Dallas' hospitality sector.
The Coronavirus Aid Relief Economic Security (CARES) Act, a $2 trillion economic relief package, was signed into law on March 27. The CARES Act included the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a $349 billion fund to help keep small businesses like Holy Grail Pub afloat during the pandemic. The program allows small businesses—specifically, those with 500 or fewer employees—to receive a forgivable loan equal to two and a half times the company's average monthly payroll costs. The loan will be forgiven if the business uses at least 75 percent of it for payroll costs.
The PPP ran out of money in just under 14 days.
A little less than 9 percent of PPP loans went to the accommodation and food service subsector (few of which are truly independent restaurants), according to the most recent Paycheck Protection Program Report. However, it's an industry that's suffered the greatest amount of job losses. The National Restaurant Association estimates that more than 688,000 restaurant employees in Texas have been laid off or furloughed since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak. That's 61 percent of the state's food industry workers.
In Texas, "84 percent of restaurant operators say they have laid off or furloughed employees," says a recent National Restaurant Association survey. And according to U.S. Dept. of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 60 percent of the jobs lost in March were from restaurants and bars.
As of the latest accounting on April 16, Texas received 135,000 loans worth $28.5 billion. That's the most of any state. But it's unclear how much went directly to the hospitality industry, specifically smaller operators. It basically allows the employers to provide dollars directly to their staffs and little else, without them having to file for unemployment from the government.
Jason Morgan, CEO of the Original ChopShop and Bellagreen salad chains, received $1.5 million in PPP loans for each of his brands. Of his 23 locations, 15 are in Texas and nine of those are in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With the new money, Bellagreen in Plano reopened its doors last Wednesday. Morgan benefitted from his existing relationship with his bank-lender. Many hopeful applicants reported trouble getting through if they didn't have that same relationship.
Holy Grail Pub's interior.
Kevin Marple
"We heard a lot of people had trouble with the application process," says Morgan. "We didn't have that problem at all." Its loan was approved three to four days after submitting the application in early April. The money arrived last week.
"We're gonna bring everyone back, staff completely, find things for people to do, use hours to hand out flyers, curbside delivery, internal delivery [without third party services]," he said. "We're gonna find a reason to have the people in the building."
But for others, opines Shane Spillers, owner of Eno's Pizza Tavern locations in Bishop Arts, Forney, and Coppell, "it's super hard to justify bringing back employees to do a job that doesn't exist anymore… For a lot of the businesses that are most impacted by this to actually achieve the level of forgiveness requirements to actually have that loan forgiven."
The Holy Grail Pub had 29 employees. "I'm paying six, that's what I could afford," Brian Rudolph says. Their application process wasn't as smooth as Bellagreen's.
He wanted to apply immediately so he contacted his bank, Capitol One, to get things rolling. There were miscommunications about which forms to fill out. The bank promised to set up a portal for him to submit his application. He called every day until the bank was ready for him to file. When he did send in his application, it only took a day to get approval. Then the fund ran out of money.
"I've been told we're in queue," he says. "We've had to tap into my life insurance policy in order to stay liquid—and we'll make it through. It's gonna suck to spend a couple years digging out."
In the wake of PPP loan distribution, big banks are being sued by small business owners, "who claim the big lenders unfairly favored companies seeking higher loan amounts under the government-backed Paycheck Protection Program."
Large chains were able to cash in while small and independent restaurants and bars were left behind. Of the PPP loans, six national chains received $81 million, reports Business Insider. (One of those, Shake Shack, returned its $10 million loan.)
"We've had to tap into my life insurance policy in order to stay liquid—and we'll make it through."
Brian Rudolph, co-owner of the Holy Grail Pub
In the short-term, local and state governments have begun experimenting with ways to help. Texas Rep. Rafael Anchia, D-Dallas, proposed that aid should be coupled with immediate action to improve stability: eviction delays, prohibition of utility shut-offs, tax credits.
"The short depletion of the PPP [shows] the need was even greater than congress anticipated," says Anchia. "There should be enough money to meet the need, so we'll need a fourth stimulus."
Another round of PPP loans worth $310 billion were approved on April 21, with $60 billion reserved for smaller banks and community-based lenders, which presumably will give businesses previously left out a better chance of receiving financial relief. (It's not yet signed into law and there's no clear timeline as of press time.)
Last week, Anchia sent a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott outlining steps like prohibiting utility shut-off or restaurant foreclosure due to missed rent. He wants to expedite tax credits so staff can remain employed.
"It would allow for cash flow. Cash is king during the pandemic," Anchia says. "So affording restaurants more cash flow in the short term may give them the type of lifeline they need to stay solvent until some semblance of the economy comes back online."
Dallas is, like so many American cities right now, part of a larger culinary movement that cherishes its unabashedly independent restaurants and bars. What put Dallas on the national radar were the visionary chefs who spoke through their food and the unique experiences they provided to diners. It felt like we had arrived.
Last year, Khao Noodle Shop was the darling of the food world, landing on local and national best lists alike. Owner Donny Sirisavath closed his Old East Dallas restaurant last weekend. Marie's Kitchen, Dallas' only brick-and-mortar Filipino restaurant, had applied for a PPP loan but was denied.
But it's small, indie restaurants that make our culinary scene so vibrant. Rudolph wonders "what the landscape is gonna look like afterwards. I hear optimism from friends. Is it bravado? I have a feeling it is."
Last Thursday, the James Beard Foundation and the Independent Restaurant Coalition released a survey of 1,400 small restaurant owners about the pandemic's effect on the food and drink industry. The results are dire. Nearly 80 percent of independent restaurant owners said that government stimulus assistance provided in the CARES Act will not save the more than half a million independent restaurants from shutting down permanently.
"I'll be damned if we're gonna go out," says Rudolph. "We've got 29 families that depend on us."
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If you hadn't already heard that beloved K-pop group BTS presented an award at the 2019 Grammys, I'm delighted to be the bearer of good news. Fans all over the world got to see BTS join American celebrities like Jada Pinkett Smith, Swizz Beats, and Nina Dobrev in presenting Grammy winners with their Gramaphone Trophy. These tweets about BTS presenting at the 2019 Grammys will make the ARMY so happy.
When they announced H.E.R. as the winner of the award, she ran up to the stage and bowed down as she was handed the golden gramophone.
Not only is this Suga, J-Hope, RM, Jin, Jimin, V and Jungkook's first time presenting at the Grammys, but it's also BTS' first time getting a Grammy nomination. The group was nominated for Best Recording Package for their album Love Yourself: Tear. Other contenders in this category include St. Vincent's Masseduction, Mitski's Be the Cowboy, The Chairman's The Offering, and Foxhole's Well Kept Thing. On Feb. 9, the group posted a selfie video on their official Twitter page captioned "Let's Go! Grammy!" In the video, the boys are all cheering and waving on an airplane (and looking seriously cute, if I might add). Just below the post is a Staples Center tweet retweeted by BTS that showed who they would be sitting next to at the Grammys.
Ahead of the Grammys, fans all over the world tweeted their support and excitement about the exciting milestone for BTS.
American fans in particular freaked out when the group landed in Los Angeles. Twitter user @iSwoonforJoohn tweeted, "BTS AND I ARE BREATHING THE SAME AIR!!!!!!"
Needles to say, Twitter continued to go wild with BTS support after the boys presented at the Grammys.
Though this is the group's first time involved with the Grammys, it's certainly not their first time stateside. The group came to LA in 2014 for their "Show and Prove" concert. In 2015, they visited San Francisco, Houston, and Atlanta as part of their "Highlight" tour. In the summer of 2016, BTS also attended two KCON (Korean convention) events in New York City and Los Angeles. In May 2018, the boys performed at the Billboard Music Awards, and back in August 2018, the group performed their first stadium concert in the U.S. at New York City's Citi Field. They've also been interviewed by The Tonight Show host Jimmy Fallon, featured on Ellen (more than once), and featured on Good Morning America. BTS is seriously everywhere and it's only a matter of time before they get even more popular in the U.S., especially considering that the group reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart in 2018.
Hopefully the group will get a nom for an album or song sometime in the near future of the Grammy awards, but for now the American and global ARMYs can enjoy BTS presenting awards. Heck, with all the awards these boys have, they'll be totally ready to give an acceptance speech.


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News // Faculty Of Medicine
Researchers facing sudden eviction from Anderson Stuart Building
The eviction has been planned behind closed doors on the basis of contentious work, health and safety advice
Posters on the Anderson Stuart Building's facade (Source: @StuartBuilding)
by Liam Thorne and Alan Zheng
Students, academics, and researchers based at the University of Sydney Faculty of Medicine have been told they will be removed from research laboratories in the Anderson Stuart Building without any firm reallocation plan and on the basis of tenuous work, health and safety (WHS) advice.
The decision to end investment in Anderson Stuart's research spaces comes as a result of the prohibitive costs of refurbishment. Nonetheless, the move to separate research and teaching spaces from mid-2019 has sparked backlash from affected individuals within the School of Medical Sciences on social media under Twitter page "Anderson Stuart Building" and Facebook page "Humans of Anderson Stuart."
The new Executive Dean, Robyn Ward, has decreed that all academics are to be evicted from their labs in Anderson Stuart Building. They will be split up, destroying collaborative research efforts. If she succeeds this will end the 130 year history of this incredible medical school
— Anderson Stuart Building (@StuartBuilding) January 14, 2019
Honi understands two inspections of the Anderson Stuart wet labs were undertaken in August and October last year. In an email sent to staff before Christmas, Executive Dean Robyn Ward indicated that the inspections had led to a series of recommendations including the closure of the research labs and a planned relocation to a new research premises.
"The recommendations made by the [WHS] team to senior executives led to the conclusion that the University was operating outside its agreed tolerance of risk," Ward's email read.
Since December, the faculty has been conducting "one-on-one meetings" with research leaders in the departments of histology, anatomy and physiology as part of an ongoing process expected to continue until February.
The persistent ambiguity of relocation plans and mixed messages arising from each meeting has created a stressful situation for honours students, higher degree research students and academic researchers alike. Ward's email foreshadowed this outcome.
"We appreciate that the current process of information gathering may be a difficult and unsettling experience for staff and students," it read, encouraging staff to seek health and wellbeing services offered by the University under the Employment Assistance Program if necessary.
Sources within the school told Honi the decision was "career suicide for early career researchers who are just establishing themselves in research." For students, the "lack of access to a lab for the 6-12 months that would be required for a move will prevent them completing their PhD in the allocated 3-4 years."
"It would be equally as detrimental to honours students particularly those who have already enrolled in 2019 as any interruption to this one year research project would place them at a severe disadvantage when compared to other students," an early career researcher and teaching academic in the faculty told Honi.
Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) caseworkers met affected students last week.
Numerous sources that Honi spoke to expressed a reluctance to go on the record given the precarious future direction of their school.
These one-on-one meetings have not assisted in clarifying current confusion over the short-term future of the school. A research leader who wished to remain anonymous told Honi that they had not been advised of their right to union representation at the meeting, despite university human resources staff attending. Emails seen by Honi confirm that the meeting invitations only note that "one additional colleague" would be allowed to attend. Clause 388 of the University of Sydney 2018-2021 Enterprise Bargaining Agreement provides that "At any stage in the consultation process, staff may involve a Representative of their choice, including a Union representative."
"I left the meeting feeling bullied, distressed about my future and anxious about what this means for my career, my research students and the undergraduate students that I teach," another research leader said.
At the time of publication, the University spokesperson confirmed that a draft change plan had not yet been developed. The University is, however, considering relocation of researchers to the Biomedical Building, Australian Technology Park or Molecular Bioscience Building. Any move to these buildings is unlikely to be permanent in light of the incoming Susan Wakil Health Precinct due for completion this year.
Given management's reliance upon WHS concerns as a justification for the moves, staff have since made substantive attempts to request the reports detailing such concerns. Honi understands that it is common practise for inspection reports to be made readily available in order to mitigate ongoing risks in the workplace. However, requests made by numerous academics for any WHS reports that might exist have proved fruitless. Instead, several sources have indicated that in the one-on-one meetings, staff have been shown a colour-coded Excel spreadsheet outlining which labs had 'passed' or 'failed' the WHS inspections.
It remains unclear why there has been an unwillingness to release hard-copy explanations of the potential risk-factors. Although no plans have been formally announced, it seems staff will remain in the Anderson Stuart Building until June this year, causing concerns around unknown safety risks.
Honi also requested access to existing WHS reports on the Anderson Stuart Building but a University spokesperson was unable to confirm their existence. They suggested that despite having already informally announced the closure of research labs, investigations into the building's WHS conditions were still ongoing.
"The specific WHS information pertaining to each wet laboratory is being discussed in the one-on-one meetings with the research groups and further work is being done to ensure we have captured all of the relevant issues…The University executive will share information about the broader WHS issues following further investigation."
Without access to WHS reports, it is difficult to verify whether all the research labs being moved suffer from WHS inadequacies. Several sources told Honi that although it was possible that the building had some safety concerns, being quite old, much refurbishment had been completed in recent years. Several of the labs to be closed in fact passed their risk assessment.
In particular, Paul Martin's physiology wet lab was one of the potential research labs to be relocated, despite its 2018 installation costing between $800,000 and $1 million, according to various sources. If this were to be the case, the move would not only disrupt the research schedules of those affected, but would effectively render those installation costs redundant.
"Future use of the current research spaces is not yet determined, however, it is likely they will be repurposed for teaching or work space," according to a FAQs document circulated by Executive Dean Robyn Ward.
As for the school's future, whilst one-on-one meetings continue, the new location of research labs remains unclear. This has provoked concerns amongst staff over the ongoing success of a world-class school. In 2017 and 2018, USyd ranked 10th in Anatomy and Physiology, according to QS University Rankings.
Of the various concerns raised to Honi, most centred on the impact that splitting the research school up between locations, and from undergraduate teaching labs, would disrupt the collegiality that has long been a feature of the program. This separation would remove the collaborative research between labs that are facilitated by their close proximity.
Moreover, some of the locations would present academics with at least an hour-long round walk between their research labs and undergraduate classrooms. One source communicated that management was putting them "between a rock and a hard place, where their loyalties to their careers [in terms of their research output and contributions to research students] were put against loyalties to undergraduate students. Staff want to fulfil teaching responsibilities, but that means their research interests will suffer."
The heavy-handed relocation comes amid a formative year for the Faculty of Medicine with the impending launch of the new Health Precinct and the collapse of the Cumberland Health Sciences Campus into main campus.
Dean Robyn Ward did not personally respond to Honi's request for comment.
Anderson Stuart
postgrad
Racism, sexism, hazing: New allegations surface over behaviour at St Andrew's College
By Madeline Ward, Lara Sonnenschein and Nina Dillon Britton
A portrait of the fascist as a young gamer
By Will Solomon
USyd's community classrooms show the power of Indigenising education
By Deaundre Espejo
Peacocking, for women (or why Gorman sucks)
By Nina Dillon Britton
From the mines
SRC Reports
Advertise in Honi Soit
We acknowledge the traditional custodians of this land, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. The University of Sydney – where we write, publish and distribute Honi Soit – is on the sovereign land of these people. As students and journalists, we recognise our complicity in the ongoing colonisation of Indigenous land. In recognition of our privilege, we vow to not only include, but to prioritise and centre the experiences of Indigenous people, and to be reflective when we fail to be a counterpoint to the racism that plagues the mainstream media.
Copyright Honi Soit 2018.


Audio from yesterday's message (7/31/11) has now been posted under our "Sermons" page. Pastor Dave continues his systematic theology sermon series with Theology Proper. Topic: God's omniscience. Scripture: Isaiah 41:21-29.


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text:
Q: Python - beginner help - How can I append multiple values to a list? I am a beginner to python and am trying to learn beginner concepts such as lists, conditionals and appending. I am trying to make a program which looks at a number, checks if it is even or odd and then appends it to either an even or odd list.
But with this code I can only change the num value each time and it puts 1 value into either list, how can I do this for multiple numbers? Thanks
evenList = []
oddList = []

num = 1

if num%2==0:
    evenList.append(num)
else:
    oddList.append(num)

print("even list: " + str(evenList))
print("odd list: " + str(oddList))

A: If you have a list of numbers:
numbers = [0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34]

you can iterate over them:
for num in numbers:

The colon marks the beginning of a block. This is where to put your code which will use each num in the list of numbers.
Your code for checking odd/even needs to be indented to be in the block:
for num in numbers:
    if num % 2 == 0:
        evenList.append(num)
    else:
        oddList.append(num)

A: Replace this:
num = 1
if num%2==0:
    evenList.append(num)
else:
    oddList.append(num)

with something like:
for num in range(20):
    if num % 2 == 0:
        evenList.append(num)
    else:
        oddList.append(num)

Now you'll have a bunch of different values of num to append to your lists.

A: If you want to print the lines separated by a character (, or blank, or newline, eg)
you can do the following:
print (','.join(str(e) for e in evenList))
where the ','  may be replaced with any character you wish, including '\n'  if you want each list item on a separate line

A: Making your program a little dynamic will do some tricks
#how many numbers do you want to check?

input1 = int(input("input your desired length of numbers you want to check"))
evenList = []
oddList = []
for i in range(input1):
    #Enter the number you wish to check
    num = int(input("input an integer "))
    if num % 2 == 0:
        evenList.append(num)
    else:
        oddList.append(num)

print("even list: " + str(evenList))
print("odd list: " + str(oddList))
#you can use this print alternatively
#print(f"even list: {evenList}")
#print(f"odd list: {oddList}")

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Jackson/Martin
AMY PLEASANT: PASSING THROUGH
Hunter Museum of American Art / 10 Bluff View Ave. August 15, 2022 - July 20, 2023
Amy Pleasant
Birmingham-based artist Amy Pleasant's Passing Through, a series of large-scale graphic canvases, is now on view in the historic mansion stairwell. Pleasant, whose work has been recognized by such prestigious organizations as the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation and Joan Mitchell Foundation, creates in a variety of media, ranging from painting and drawing to printmaking and sculpture. No matter the medium, the human figure is a constant in her work.
"Amy Pleasant's works activate the stairwell space, welcoming visitors to the mansion and setting the tone for themes and subjects they'll encounter in the early American galleries on the mansion's second and third floors," notes Natalie Mead, Hunter Museum Curator who organized Passing Through. "Although deceptively simple, Amy's graphic silhouettes are rooted in traditions of early American portraiture and contemporary themes of identity and human behaviors."
Pleasant's simple renderings of parts of the body are done in a calligraphic style and reveal an entire form out of one or two simple brush strokes and the surrounding negative space. The minimalist, repetitive compositions blur the line between figuration and abstraction, inviting viewers to consider the history of the figure in art and how it has shaped our understanding of human experience.
As it connects the contemporary wings of the museum to the historic mansion, Passing Through allows visitors to experience the passage in a new way and sets the stage for new perspectives in the mansion galleries. Visit the Hunter soon to experience the stairwell gallery and all the other fresh takes the Hunter has to offer!
SUBMIT UPCOMING EXHIBITIONS


text:
El censo de Caracena (1609) es un documento oficial referido al reino de Valencia, realizado durante el reinado de Felipe III. Su nombre procede del título nobiliario del gobernante Luis Carrillo de Toledo, marqués de Caracena y virrey de Valencia entre 1606 y 1615.

Datos

La documentación originaria se encuentra en el Archivo General de Simancas y según H. Lapeyre da los siguientes datos, sin la ciudad de Valencia:

 cristianos, 52.689 casas
 moriscos, 31.715 casas

En el siglo XIX, Tomás González, archivero de Simancas, añadió la cifra de 12.327 casas para la ciudad de Valencia, dato que faltaba en el manuscrito de 1609. Se trata de un dato tomado de una fuente que no consignó, aunque parece razonable; si se acepta, el reino de Valencia tenía 96.731 casas en 1609, es decir, 65.016 de cristianos (62,2 %) y 31.715 de moriscos (32,8 %), dado que Valencia era, según todos los indicios, una ciudad exclusivamente cristiana.

Crítica de los datos

El censo, encargado a la administración militar, fue en realidad una evaluación hecha por los agentes del virrey con datos que suministraron los señores, la mayor parte de los cuales residían en Valencia, puesto que el objetivo era conocer el volumen de la población morisca, ya que debía ser expulsada. Los preparativos de la expulsión de los moriscos eran secretos, y por eso no habría un verdadero trabajo censal. Un 46,7 % de los 525 datos que incluye terminan en cifra 0, como si se hubiera redondeado constantemente. De hecho, el documento es menos detallado que los precedentes de 1563 y 1602, presenta algunos vacíos locales y las cifras que ofrece son demasiado elevadas. Por ejemplo, se  detectaron sobreestimaciones del orden de un 70 % en el Valle de Ayora, en el área de Artana, en Gestalgar, en Benilloba y en otros lugares. A pesar de todo, es un censo útil ya que cubre un momento clave de la época preestadística y permite conocer la población del reino de Valencia a nivel municipal.

Referencias

Enlaces externos
 https://books.google.es/books?id=Nh5pAAAAMAAJ&hl=ca&source=gbs_book_other_versions

Documentos oficiales

Historia de España

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Infogrames Hunts Fugitives
First person shooter heading to PlayStation 2
News by Gestalt Contributor
Infogrames have announced another first person shooter of dubious political correctness, this time for the PlayStation 2. Fugitive Hunter puts you in the boots of Jake Seaver, a former Navy SEAL turned bounty hunter who works for the Criminal Interdiction & Fugitive Recovery agency, tracking down some of the world's most wanted criminals. Unfortunately, as the game begins your employers' headquarters in Miami are blown up, leaving you on a road to revenge that leads you through a variety of exotic locations around the world, "unravelling a web of terror that leads to the Middle East". Now I wonder where they got that idea. In a novel twist though, whatever Dubya might have to say on the matter this isn't the wild west, and you are encouraged to bring in your targets alive. As a result tasers and dart guns supplement the more usual arsenal of shotguns and surface-to-air missile launchers, and players can force targets into submission rather than killing them outright. Success brings cash rewards and experience, allowing Jake to improve his skills and buy new weapons, including a grenade launcher and the bizarrely named HIPPO gun, which has nothing to do with the semi-aquatic mammal of the same name but instead sprays a variety of high pressure liquids at your enemies. It can also fire miniature fuel-air bombs, which are apparently "ideal for cave-cleaning". Just the thing for a holiday in Tora Bora. Ahem. Fugitive Hunter will be available on PlayStation 2 in January 2003.
Source - press release


Why isn't anyone buying from my website?
Just launched www.leggingsjeggings.com. I feel like I've put a lot of work into my website and currently in the marketing phase. I have not received one order yet and it is really bumming me out.
I know it's still early especially since I'm only in my second week live and still working out the bugs but It's a lonely venture and I've already plunged a lot of time and money into it and have a google adwords campaign that's just not paying out at $10.00 daily.
my social media campaign is on its way and in between pricing edits.
Re: Why is anyone buying from my website?
Don't depend entirely on PPC. Organic SEO and Social Media will help you get more of the right traffic. Content Marketing will help you do both of those things.
Did you set up just one ad group or several? Not ads. Ad groups.
Divide your list of keywords into groups with very similar key phrases in each. Create ads for each group that uses some of those keywords. If your ad closely matches what the user typed in, your click-thru rate will be higher and more targeted.
Your ads in each group should land the user on the page associated with that set of keywords.
It's a flow. User types in key phrase. User sees an ad that closely matches what they searched for. User lands on a page that has exactly what they were searching for.
Are you using the descriptions the manufacturer or drop-shipper gave you or did you write unique titles and descriptions? Unique is better.
You could improve the urls, rather than say summer-2014-collection, something that mentions the product name/s like you did with jean leggings. With solid leggings instead of just the word solid for example.
You don't need to keep repeating your domain name throughout the website. It isn't about you. Tell them why what you are offering is right for them rather than these such and such's are a steal from legging-jeggings.com. Talk to them if you you want to convert sales.
Title Tags; You shouldn't use your title tags to once again repeat your domain name the same way you do throughout your website. You need a unique title for each page. It needs to contain a key phrase, but also something that will encourage a click-thru when found in the search engine. No more than 7 words and then only if they are short and to the point. Make sure it is exactly what's on that page.
Description Tags: Once again, you don't have to repeat your domain name in all your description or even ANY of them. Original descriptions for each page. Write an actual description of what is on that page.
Most of the SEO done so far is basically using leggings-jeggings.com as the primary key phrase you want to rank for. Make the website about the people that visit it and not about you to improve sales. Don't feel alone. This is the most common mistake people make.
If categories and other things result in duplicate content on some pages, read up on canonical links and how to exclude certain links from being crawled/indexed.
There's more about SEO, but these are a good start.
You should use Instagram and Pinterest more, then Twitter and FaceBook too. Soon, Twitter will have a way to buy stuff from tweets. FB Ads are cheaper than Adwords and may even work better for you. Twitter Website Cards too.
Your popup says; "Like us and Get 10% off! Follow us on Twitter or like us on Facebook, G+ or LinkedIn and get a 10% discount coupon code now! Don't forget to sign up for our monthly newsletter for more specials."
There is no link to LinkedIn or G+ Pages. Follow on Twitter is linked, Like on FB is Linked, but the icons above those links should lead to your profiles there rather than like or follow.
Do you have a company page on LinkedIn? Not your personal profile, a company page. Do you have a business page on G+ and the others?
Those all should open in a new window. Never send people from your website to social media is my advice, but if you are going to do it, don't let it close your website to do so.
You did open new pages on your other social icons, but why a camera icon for twitter?
Social Media can bring in some good traffic if you read up on how to use it well. There's a learnign curve, but welcome to doing business online.
Here are a couple of articles to read.
Thank you. that is a lot of information of which I will take into consideration and make changes from.
I will also consider doing a FB ad campaign.
i'll dig up some info on canonical linking as suggested and read up on some of the suggested material. whatever it takes.
Thank you for taking your time to my matter..
No problem Hevora. You posted an honest open question and hopefully some of the info can help others who haven't yet posted the same question.
Install a WordPress Blog and start writing posts, interesting stuff, with images.
Strangest Leggings I've Ever Seen.
Why the Sudden Trend for Meggings?
What the Hell are Jeggings?
You get the idea. Create titles that people will likely click on. Write good content. Talk to the reader, not about you and your website. Add Images of people wearing the leggings or the leggings themselves, let those images link to where they can be bought.
You aren't creating a catalog here. Don't add a bunch of your images from your website. A couple is okay. At the bottom of your post, create a link to a category that the reader would be interested in after reading your post.
Share those posts on social media from time to time. Each can be shared once in awhile. Do not share the same post over and over and on the same day. Make sure you are also sharing other content from the web that your target audience will be interested in, not just your own stuff.
These posts will also help you with SEO. Content Marketing is the key to highly-targeted traffic and sales if done right. It isn't easy to get people's interest with all of the content that gets published out there, so you'll have to work at it if you want more sales.
i do have a blog on site and had been wondering if creating a separate blog via wordpress was the way to go. I think i just may do that. couldn't hurt.
Hi hevora - Welcome to the community! You've already received some excellent advice and resources from seoservicepro, and I encourage you to read those LinkedIn articles for some great information. I might suggest you edit your subject line to "Why isn't anyone buying from my website?" to draw more feedback from our helpful members. I definitely agree with seoservicepro that the links in your popup should lead to your specific profiles. This will give you more exposure, as well as click-thru traffic, which is important.
We encourage you to browse our community, articles and discussion areas to garner more great information. Feel free to jump in where you can lend advice or ask any questions you may have.
Best of luck with your online store!
I noticed an issue with your shopping cart system. In the example below when clicking on the item to add to the cart, is says "Default Title - $3.25". I think this is supposed to be your shipping charge, however it is not displaying correctly. People will be very hesitant to order from you if there is an error in your shopping cart system.
fixing this immediately. thank you.
Great help there. I didn't even check the cart. There's a lot to do with an ecommerce website and shopping cart.
Re: Why isn't anyone buying from my website?
I not sure why know one purchased any items fro my website. I have a good amount of traffic. could someone take a look at my online boutique. www.lewisboutique.com and provde me with feedback or changes you feel may be needed.
Will do my best to get to it. Just a little swamped right now. Some of the advice for the other site applies to you as well though, so read and pick out things you can improve from the previous lists too.
Your title tag on the main page is <title>Lewis's Boutique</title> and it's useless. It will help you rank for that term and if anyone is searching for Lewis's Boutique, they'll find you. But then again, if they already knew who you were they would need to. Why not "New Used Men's Women's Clothing"? You need a unique title for each page that reflects what is on that page.
Your description tag is "Lewi's Boutique" the misspelling of your name this time. This is what appears in search engines under the title. It's where you have a chance to describe what is on that page and why people should visit. You need a unique description for each page that reflects what is on that page.
Since you have categories, brand pages, etc., look up canonical links. Implement them.
Do you have unique product descriptions or descriptions you borrowed from the manufacturer or someone else? It should be original content.
Do you have a blog? If not, use wordpress to add a blog to your site. Not wordpress.com that is not on your site. Install wordpress on your server. Blog about your products. Give people tips on how to find good deals on clothing, etc.
Build your social media profiles, Twitter, FB, Pinterest and maybe Instagram. Write good blog posts with good images and share them on social media.
Thank you. The information you provide was very good. These were things I didn't know.
Lots of great advice in this thread! Please keep it coming!
I would suggest putting a video on your website about 30 seconds or more in duration. Upload it to dailymotion and let me know I can get you sales and or just revenue even without making a sale. Let me know if you are interested.
A compelling headline. You only have a few seconds to get and keep the attention of first-time visitors. A headline tells people what's in it for them if they stay and see what your page is all about. Your business name and "Fashions Fade, Style Is Eternal - Yves Saint Laurent" are not headlines.
An "Only-One" advantage. How are you different from and better than your competition? Try completing this sentence, "We're the only ones that.." (provide, offer, deliver a compelling, meaningful benefit that your competitors don't).
Reason(s) to buy from you now. The most stubborn competitor of every business is inertia. Unless you give them powerful reasons to buy from you now, most people will put off buying from you and most other businesses. Try completing this sentence, "You should by from us now because.." (stock/selection is limited; back-to-school time is approaching; prices will be going up, etc.).
"Newsletter - Subscribe" - Why should I?
Way too much motion - hard to read/decipher what your banners say.
No text to warm up visitors as to who you are and what you have to offer.
Please don't waste time or money on SEO or PPC until you fix these and the other issues on your site.
Thanks for the feedback but where would you recommend I place this headline?
Hi hevora, I just wanted to follow up with you and see how your changes on your website were working. Have you seen any increases in business yet? You've received some great advice in this thread, and I certainly think that by making some of those simple changes you'd have more success. Please let us know how things are going!
hevora, How can I help?
for about 600 products of which i started to do but have yet to complete.
$20-$25 with free shipping for lower return on each item but more sales.
all these things and I will get more sales.
I think you're ahead of the game because you know what your site is lacking, and what it has too much of. Believe in yourself. I think you're on the right track!
Good: You have a popover that makes a reasonably good offer in exchange for an email address.
Bad: The graphic is so hard to read (ALL CAPS in yellow over useless images), most people will close it!
Opt out at any time. No spam. We promise.
Well it is for sure that it is going to take little more time to get your website promoted. Also adding substantial content can get the attention of its user. So improvise the condition & act accordingly.
Marketing is very important for the any website promotion. I would like to suggest that promote you website on social networking site like Facebook, Twitter and Google+. SEO is also very good campaign to improve the business online.
I noticed on your web site that you have a place to sign up for email. That goes to a Mail Chimp account. Does Mail Chimp allow you to invite the subscriber to choose what they are interested in? Whether they are Male or Female? Age group? etc? If it does then modify your subscription page to allow folks to categorize themselves. Then I think Mail Chimp will allow you to send personal, specific email to each group. If it doesn't then look at Constant Contact. I can help you with that.
How often do you send a broadcast email? Every two weeks is a good industry standard.
In your email do you include funny stories, interesting items, or some editorial that does something besides redundant sales information? You have a wide assortment of patterns. Perhaps suggesting places to ware your products and what to ware them with might be just the right editorial information that will make your email interesting.
I've made some programming,design changes. Have made 5 orders/200 usd since launch 3-4 months ago. Main concern is getting SEO on site as mentioned here. Have heard a few quotes as high as $500. Any feed back or SEO references on here?
Hey SEO is time taking but it has it's own benefits though that are long term. However, for SEO you can go to forums and read reviews and start with smaller packages. Then wait for 7-10 days.
But, I didn't see (extremely sorry if I missed this between quite a few conversions) you mention or anyone suggesting you to go by YouTube route. It's easy ranking than web pages or blog pages. Hope this helps. There are sites that also provides YouTube clicks for a small price up to $300 I think. You can try this also.
And finally, never settle. Go forward- Don't stop. You are already a rock star.
You are an entrepreneur....screw the ordinary life.
I like your attitude, manidip! Your comment: " ....never settle. Go forward - Don't stop. You are already a rock star. You are an entrepreneur....screw the ordinary life." should be a mantra for many of us! So often we get bogged down in our daily (but necessary) work and forget to look at the big picture.