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Our Pipe Organ
by Steen Larsen, 2004
When I went to Denmark in 2002, I made a point of visiting Frobenius Organ Builders in Kongens Lyngby where I had learned my trade before emigrating to Canada. My intent was to ask for a set of organ plans so that I in my spare time could build a small organ in my basement. Imagine my surprise when the answer was "sure, but wouldn't you rather have a whole organ?"
The organ in question had been built by Frobenius in 1968 and installed in Resen Church near Skive. When Resen Church acquired a larger instrument, their old organ became obsolete. Though the organ was in good shape no buyers could be found so it was put in storage. That Resen Church would be willing to donate the organ to the Danish Church in Vancouver was definitely a possibility.
When I returned to Vancouver, I presented the offer to the Danish church. The general consensus soon emerged that we could not pass up this opportunity to own a genuine instrument even if there was nothing wrong with our electronic organ, which was more versatile than any pipe organ we had room for. Resen Church was contacted and they confirmed that they would indeed donate their organ, Möbler Furniture in Richmond donated the transportation, and an organ fund was established to cover all other costs.
The organ arrived in the summer of 2003, and was hoisted to the choir loft where I began to work on it. I painted the organ box in the grey and burgundy colours of the interior of our church; I serviced and cleaned every part of the organ; I had the blower rewired for 110 volts and moved it outside the organ box to make room for the set of pedals we purchased from Frobenius. For the first year or so, the pedals were simply coupled to the manual, but during 2006 I built a set of wooden pipes to be played by the pedals.
In January of 2004, our traditional Pea Soup & Pork Dinner was extended to a Pipe Polishing Party. We had great fun making the 280 pipes shine. On Sunday February 8th, the organ first played for a service, and on Sunday February 29th, we had our first organ concert.
I am grateful for this opportunity to practise my old trade, and I look forward to caring for our organ for many years to come.
How our organ works
The physics of an organ pipe
The air enters through the bottom of the pipe and hits the sharp edge at the front of the pipe making the air vibrate. Those vibrations that do not fit exactly in the pipe drown themselves out as they interfere with themselves. In the animation on the left, the blue curve is the wave that bounces up and down in the pipe, and the red curve is the net result: the sum of the blue curves. Notice how the red curve becomes straight after a few bounces, indicating that the wave has annihilated itself—and then the animation starts over.
Those vibrations that do fit exactly are amplified by resonance producing the primary tone and overtones of the pipe. In the animation on the left, the blue curve bounces up and down on top of itself so that the amplitude of the red curve, the sum of the blue curves, gets larger and larger—until the animation restarts.
The length of the pipe determines which waves fit exactly inside and thus the pitch of the tone the pipe makes. Several wavelengths fit—the pictures to the right show the first few. The blue curve is the primary tone, the remaining curves are overtones. The shape and design of the pipe and the composition of the metal alloy the pipe is made from determine the relative strength of the overtones and thus the "colour" of the sound.
The mechanics of our tracker organ
Our organ has five stops (or voices):
This cylindrical pipe is open at the top where a cuff allows the organ tuner to slightly change the length of the pipe and thus its pitch.
Spidsfløjte 2', Spire Flute
The Spire Flute tapers gradually to a narrow opening at the top.
Oktav 1', Octave
The Octave is a Principal pipe at quarter length and thus sounds two octaves higher.
Gedakt 8', Gedeckt
The Gedeckt pipe is cylindrical like the Principal but covered by a cap at the top. The length of the of the Gedeckt 8' pipe is the same as the Principal 4' pipe but a covered pipe sounds an octave lower—hence the eight-foot designation.
Rørfløjte 4', Rohrflöte
The Rohrflöte is also covered by a cap, but the cap is perforated by a narrow tube that descends into the pipe as in the picture on the right.
Gedakt 16', Gedeckt
This set of wooden pipes is controlled by the pedals.
Our organ is a small tracker organ: a mechanical organ. An electric blower and weighted bellows provide constant air pressure. When the organist presses a key, a set of levers and cranks open a valve letting air into a narrow chamber under the five pipes that belong to that key, one pipe for each voice of the organ. The organist chooses which of the five pipes shall sound by pulling or pushing a knob that slides a thin piece of wood with holes in it under the pipes. If the holes line up with the pipes, air enters the pipe and it sounds, otherwise the pipe remains silent. This type of mechanism has been common in organs since the 15th century.
The drawing of the slider mechanism was kindly provided by Ted Rashleigh. Valid html on March 12th, 2013.


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Beer, TX
Beer me home to Houston
By Ronnie Crocker on July 10, 2012 at 5:41 PM
Photo: Ronnie Crocker / Beer, TX
Image 1of/7
Our trip through Arkansas began in Hot Springs, and one of the first artifacts we saw was this photo of Carrie Nation, the Anti-Saloon League leader. She arrived in 1905, according to the photo caption, but eventually moved away after her prohibitionist campaign failed to generate much enthusiasm. less
Our trip through Arkansas began in Hot Springs, and one of the first artifacts we saw was this photo of Carrie Nation, the Anti-Saloon League leader. She arrived in 1905, according to the photo caption, but ... more
Although we didn't see much in the way of craft beer in Hot Springs, this sign inside a former bathhouse was cause for hope.
We settled in to sample the goods at Boscos brewpub in downtown Little Rock after touring the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum.
Walking into the Little Rock Flying Saucer was comforting to a Houstonian away from home. We enjoyed the Diamond Bear Presidential IPA, which was brewed locally.
The most pleasant surprise was finding the Pressroom bar and restaurant in Bentonville, after touring the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Inside, we met new friends and found a small but lively selection of craft beer, including the Presidential IPA on draft. less
The most pleasant surprise was finding the Pressroom bar and restaurant in Bentonville, after touring the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Inside, we met new friends and found a small but lively ... more
Photo: Patricia Shepherd
Nothing will make you feel better about the beer scene here in Houston than a trip to a place that lacks the selection, variety and atmosphere we are coming to take for granted. A place like Arkansas, for example, its beautiful scenery notwithstanding.
Fresh off two weeks away from the office, I'm ready to get back to writing about our favorite topic. I'll start with a quick vacation story, which this year included a driving trip through that friendly neighbor state to the northeast so we could visit the Clinton Presidential Library & Museum and the well-worth-the-drive Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville.
Along the way, we found a few decent brews, and some passionate fans of good beer, but Arkansas provided a very different experience from what we're used to. The Flying Saucer in Little Rock, for example, had several Boulevard, Goose Island and Sierra Nevada products to choose from but it was devoid of many of the big West Coast beers that are so popular here. "Not a big enough market," we were told. (The only Texas brew, not surprisingly, was Shiner Bock.)
The "local" selection was limited to a few bottles of Diamond Bear, brewed in Little Rock, and cans of Kansas' Tallgrass. Good breweries, both, and we were glad to get to try a few of their beers. We lucked out a day later, in Bentonville, when the Pressroom restaurant and bar had Diamond Bear's Presidential IPA on draft. That, of course, whetted our appetite for the Two Term double IPA, which wasn't available.
We weren't feeling smug, but we left with more appreciation for what we have back home. Just a couple of weeks before vacation, for example, we were seated at a table inside the Rockwell Tavern & Grill in the suburb of Cypress enjoying fine food and great beers from Belgium's Brouwerij Van Steenberge while being entertained with stories from the current steward of the family business, Jef Versele.
Versele, a sixth-generation brewer, is a loquacious character, as you can see in the following video:
Then, not long after returning home, the following photo landed in my email inbox:
The oversized check in Jennifer Cernoch's hands was ceremonial, but Saint Arnold founder Brock Wagner really did donate $100,000 to her organization, Operation Homefront Texas. (Handout photo)
It, too, left me feeling good about our local beer scene. Last week, Brock Wagner of Houston's Saint Arnold Brewing Co. presented a big check — made possible because of strong sales for the brewery's limited-edition Homefront IPA — to Operation Homefront Texas to help needy troops and their families.
And that wasn't it for donations, as the brewery noted:
Saint Arnold presented a check for $100,000 and was joined by representatives of Silver Eagle Distribution and The Bottle Shop, each of whichpresented additional checks for $10,000 apiece. The online auction of a Louisville Slugger baseball bat used in the brewing process brought in an additional $1,111.
"I could not be more proud to participate in Hops for Heroes," said Brock Wagner, founder/brewer of Saint Arnold Brewing Company. "I knew it would be fun to collaborate to make good beer that does good things, but the outpouring of support we have experienced says a lot about how much the entire community values and appreciates the important work Operation Homefront is doing and the men, women and families they serve."
Furthermore, several suppliers donated ingredients, labels, bottles and more, while Del Papa Distributing and other distributors also donated Homefront IPA profits.
Cheers to the following organizations for their generosity:
Action Box
Ben E. Keith Company
Brewers Supply Group
Capitol Beverage Co.
Hops Direct, LLC
Inland Label
L & F Distributors
Mark Trece, Inc.
Mike Hopkins Distributing
Primer Grey
Rahr Malting Group
Silver Eagle Distributors
The Bottle Shop
"These funds are a blessing and will have a major impact in helping our military families here in Texas," Jennifer Cernoch, president of Operation Homefront Texas, said in a statement. "It was wonderful to be able to involve the community so everyone could participate and make a difference one bottle of beer at a time."
Not to mention, Homefront IPA is a terrific beer and I pick up a bottle every time I see one for sale.
So while Arkansas was relaxing and enjoyable — a trip I'd freely recommend — for a beer-loving Texan, there really is no place like home.
Look for "Houston Beer: A Heady History of Brewing in the Bayou City" in April 2012. Find out about signings and other events at facebook.com/HoustonBeerBook.
Join Beer, TX on Facebook at facebook.com/rcrocker.beertx or follow me on Twitter: @rcrocker
Ronnie Crocker | Assistant Business Editor
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The Gourmet Wagyu Beef Jerky Original Recipe includes free shipping in the lower 48 states.
Our Original Gourmet Wagyu Beef Jerky contains a perfect blend of spices that is not too mild or too hot allowing that rich buttery flavor of the intensely marbled wagyu steak to come thru. The thick-cut tender strips offer the absolute perfect texture and succulent flavor allowing you to enjoy a fine dining experience any time you want.
INGREDIENTS: BEEF, SOY SAUCE (water, wheat, soy beans, salt, sodium benzoate), HONEY, GARLIC, ONION, BLACK PEPPER, RED PEPPER, JALAPENO PEPPER. CONTAINS WHEAT AND SOY.


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Oireachtas agenda: Banking inquiry framework and human trafficking
With the Anglo Tapes still in the headlines, all eyes are on the final stage of legislation that might provide the means to hold an inquiry into Ireland's banking fiasco. There is also the matter of a certain first vote on the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill…
By Susan Daly Tuesday 2 Jul 2013, 7:15 AM
Jul 2nd 2013, 7:15 AM 2,565 Views 10 Comments
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Let's do this: Finance Minister is taking questions in the Dáil at 2pm.
Image: Laura Hutton/Photocall Ireland
WHAT ARE OUR politicians doing in the halls of Leinster House?
TheJournal.ie lets you know with our guide to what's coming up in the Dáil, Seanad and various Oireachtas committees today.
Finance Minister Michael Noonan, fresh from telling the Week in Politics that three bankers will be in court before 2014 is out, is taking questions at 2pm. Leaders' questions are at 3.15pm with Taoiseach Enda Kenny taking questions at 3.36pm.
There will be a special pause for tributes to former Ceann Comhairle and Fianna Fáil minister Padraig Falkner. He died at the age of 94 in June of last year but it can take some time for expressions of sympathy to come round in the Houses, unless a politician dies while still in office or in particularly tragic fashion.
Back to order of business then at 4.36pm as well as nearly an hour and a half of statements on how we got on at the European Council meeting last week - you may remember that youth unemployment was on the table there.
There will be a first vote just after 5.05pm - when Taoiseach Enda Kenny will be back from Strasbourg – on the Protection of Life during Pregnancy Bill.
Four topical issues will go up for discussion after that, before the report (from Oireachtas committee) and final stages of the Houses of the Oireachtas (Inquiries Privileges and Procedures) Bill 2013 comes up. The Taoiseach has already committed to the idea of a banking inquiry – we wonder why – and the idea of this bill is to give the legal framework for one.
At 7.30pm, Sinn Féin's Pádraig Mac Lochlainn is using Private Members' Time to introduce legislation allowing equality impact assessments to be carried out in public bodies. This will be unopposed and so a chunk of the evening will most likely stay with talk about the inquiries bill until 10pm.
All of the day's Dáil business can be viewed here.
There are three pieces of legislation getting to report stage here today, when the Seanad will adopt changes suggested to bills which have already been debated. Expect Justice Minister Alan Shatter to drop in for the report stage of legislation designed to help combat human trafficking. It is scheduled for the 3.45pm slot along with legislation which will make changes to some court procedures.
Tightening up the regulation of financial institutions – and making it easier to enforce that regulation – is to be adopted after 6.30pm.
All of the day's Seanad business can be viewed here.
The Agriculture, Food and Marine committee is to vote on revised estimates for public services in Committee Room 2 at 2pm with Minister Simon Coveney popping in for that. (Watch here.)
They will be busy in Room 4 from 1.30pm where the Jobs, Entreprise and Innovation committee will be scrutinising various EU legislation proposals, a report presented on whether home care provision should be outsourced and the National Standards Authority of Ireland's chairperson designate Julie O'Neill coming in for a chat about the job. (Watch here.)
European Union Affairs will hear from Sonia Piedfrafita from the Centre for European Policy Studies on democracry and accountability in the EU at 2pm in Room 1. (Watch here.)
There will no doubt be informative exchanges from two academics, from UL and UCC, on a climate action and carbon-cutting bill in Room 4 at 2.30pm in front of the Environment, Culture and the Gaeltacht committee. (Watch here.)
All eyes will be on the Health sub-committee in Room 2 at 5pm with the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill 2013 being referred back to the Dáil for its first vote. (Watch here.)
Explainer: How does a Bill become a law?
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Susan Daly
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Our suggestion for 'attacking' Brasov is to start off by taking a walk around the old city walls. It is probably best to start your tour of the fortifications at Strada Dupa Ziduri (at the city's main central bus stop, Livada Postei) and walk around the walls in an anti-clockwise direction.
On the way around you will see most of the city's major sights, before ending up at the Bastionul Postavarilor. From there you can head up Strada Republicii into the heart of the Old Town and tick off the remaining essential sights, such as Strada Sforii, Piata Sfatului and the Black Church.


Sorel, M., Laybourn, P., Scire, A., Balle, S., Giuliani, G., Miglierina, R. and Donati, S. (2002) Alternate oscillations in semiconductor ring lasers. Optics Letters, 27, pp. 1992-1994.
Sorel, M., Laybourn, P., Scire, A., Balle, S., Giuliani, G., Miglierina, R., and Donati, S.


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Ukraine's Tymoshenko challenges "communist" coalition
"People have not voted for such a coalition, so it has no political legitimacy," Yulia Tymoshenko said. 10.07.2006, Sputnik International
"People have not voted for such a coalition, so it has no political legitimacy," Yulia Tymoshenko said.
KIEV, July 10 (RIA Novosti) - A charismatic leader of Ukraine's "orange" revolution said Monday that her party would go into radical opposition against a new coalition majority formed in the country's parliament by three leftist parties.
The coalition was set up last week under a deal struck between the Socialist Party, the pro-Russian Party of Regions and the Communists following the Socialists' withdrawal from an "orange" alliance with the Yulia Tymoshenko Bloc and the pro-presidential Our Ukraine party.
An ally of President Viktor Yushchenko in the 2004 opposition protests that swept a pro-Western government into power, Tymoshenko called the new coalition a mafia of "communist oligarchs."
She said Ukrainian society would never give it the go-ahead to form a government, as "this actually means driving Ukraine several centuries backwards and returning to precisely what we fought against during our revolution."
Tymoshenko called for an early legislative election: "I am certain there is a need for new parliamentary polls. If the democratic forces prove not brave enough to halt what, in fact, is a coup d'etat, it will mean there are no worthwhile politicians in Ukraine."
She said Ukraine had no future with the current coalition majority and that her party "will do everything it can to make that coalition unviable and bring about its demise."


text:
Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them
Shahid Rasul (Inventor), Pedro M. F. J. Da Costa (Inventor), Amira Alazmi (Inventor)
Water Desalination & Reuse Center
KAUST Catalysis Center
Material Science and Engineering
Chemical Science
The present invention is an improved method of production of graphenic materials used to store energy and the energy storage systems using such produced graphenic materials. Provided herein is a method of producing graphene oxide that includes oxidizing graphite powder in a mixture of H3PO4 and H2SO4 in the presence of KMnO4, wherein the ratio of graphite powder to KMnO4 is about 1:9 by weight and the ratio of H3PO4 to H2SO4 is about 1:9 by volume, to produce graphene oxide; dispersing the graphene oxide in water at an acidic pH (e.g., about 0) to form a solution; adjusting the solution to about a neutral pH; and isolating the graphene oxide. An energy storage device is provided herein that includes the graphene oxide made by the disclosed methods or that includes the population (plurality) of reduced graphene oxide particles having the properties disclosed herein, such as batteries and supercapacitors.
WO 2017208158 A1
https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/626897/1/WO2017208158A1.pdf
http://www.google.com/patents/WO2017208158A1
http://worldwide.espacenet.com/publicationDetails/biblio?CC=WO&NR=2017208158A1&KC=A1&FT=D
Dive into the research topics of 'Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
dispersing Physics & Astronomy 100%
Rasul, S., Da Costa, P. M. F. J., & Alazmi, A. (2017). Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them. (Patent No. WO 2017208158 A1). https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/626897/1/WO2017208158A1.pdf
Rasul, Shahid (Inventor) ; Da Costa, Pedro M. F. J. (Inventor) ; Alazmi, Amira (Inventor). / Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them. Patent No.: WO 2017208158 A1. Dec 07, 2017.
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title = "Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them",
abstract = "The present invention is an improved method of production of graphenic materials used to store energy and the energy storage systems using such produced graphenic materials. Provided herein is a method of producing graphene oxide that includes oxidizing graphite powder in a mixture of H3PO4 and H2SO4 in the presence of KMnO4, wherein the ratio of graphite powder to KMnO4 is about 1:9 by weight and the ratio of H3PO4 to H2SO4 is about 1:9 by volume, to produce graphene oxide; dispersing the graphene oxide in water at an acidic pH (e.g., about 0) to form a solution; adjusting the solution to about a neutral pH; and isolating the graphene oxide. An energy storage device is provided herein that includes the graphene oxide made by the disclosed methods or that includes the population (plurality) of reduced graphene oxide particles having the properties disclosed herein, such as batteries and supercapacitors.",
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Rasul, S, Da Costa, PMFJ & Alazmi, A Dec. 07 2017, Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them, Patent No. WO 2017208158 A1. <https://repository.kaust.edu.sa/bitstream/10754/626897/1/WO2017208158A1.pdf>
Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them. / Rasul, Shahid (Inventor); Da Costa, Pedro M. F. J. (Inventor); Alazmi, Amira (Inventor).
Patent No.: WO 2017208158 A1. Dec 07, 2017.
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N2 - The present invention is an improved method of production of graphenic materials used to store energy and the energy storage systems using such produced graphenic materials. Provided herein is a method of producing graphene oxide that includes oxidizing graphite powder in a mixture of H3PO4 and H2SO4 in the presence of KMnO4, wherein the ratio of graphite powder to KMnO4 is about 1:9 by weight and the ratio of H3PO4 to H2SO4 is about 1:9 by volume, to produce graphene oxide; dispersing the graphene oxide in water at an acidic pH (e.g., about 0) to form a solution; adjusting the solution to about a neutral pH; and isolating the graphene oxide. An energy storage device is provided herein that includes the graphene oxide made by the disclosed methods or that includes the population (plurality) of reduced graphene oxide particles having the properties disclosed herein, such as batteries and supercapacitors.
AB - The present invention is an improved method of production of graphenic materials used to store energy and the energy storage systems using such produced graphenic materials. Provided herein is a method of producing graphene oxide that includes oxidizing graphite powder in a mixture of H3PO4 and H2SO4 in the presence of KMnO4, wherein the ratio of graphite powder to KMnO4 is about 1:9 by weight and the ratio of H3PO4 to H2SO4 is about 1:9 by volume, to produce graphene oxide; dispersing the graphene oxide in water at an acidic pH (e.g., about 0) to form a solution; adjusting the solution to about a neutral pH; and isolating the graphene oxide. An energy storage device is provided herein that includes the graphene oxide made by the disclosed methods or that includes the population (plurality) of reduced graphene oxide particles having the properties disclosed herein, such as batteries and supercapacitors.
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Rasul S, Da Costa PMFJ, Alazmi A, inventors. Graphene oxide particles and method of making and using them. WO 2017208158 A1. 2017 Dec 7.


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Eva Jospin's forests at the Hayward and Draw Art Fair
Eva Jospin: Drawing (2015). Graphite on translucent paper (detail). © Eva Jospin / Courtesy Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve.
Parisian gallerist Suzanne Tarasieve is pleased to be bringing works by French artist Eva Jospin to Draw Art Fair London. Visitors to Among the Trees, which opens at the Hayward Gallery on London's South Bank tomorrow (4 March), will already have experienced her vast forest of trees made of cardboard and wood. In a complementary display at Draw Art Fair, Galerie Suzanne Tarasieve will include Jospin's large and delicate works on paper.
Jospin (b.1975) trained at the Ecole Nationale Supérieur des Beaux-Arts de Paris, France; has won awards and has exhibited worldwide, including in France, Germany, Italy, Indonesia.
• Among the Trees, curated by Hayward director Ralf Rugoff, brings together major works by 38 leading international artists from five different continents who invite us to consider trees as both symbols and living organisms. Until 17 May 2020.


we may have stock diamonds which are not available or listed on our website.
Start with selecting a diamond.
Can not thank Raj and his excellent service enough! He listened to my ideas and together we designed my perfect engagement and wedding ring. He was always flexible with his time and the little gift at the end added such a personal touch! Thank you for making the whole experience enjoyable! We would definitely recommend your services and beautiful diamonds to all our friends and family!


text:
DVDs/Blu-Ray > Treasure+hunt DVDs/Blu-Ray
DVDs/Blu-Ray tagged as 'Treasure+hunt' by the Listal community
Sort by: Tag popularity - Top Rated - Top Rated Popular - Wanted - Release Date - Recently wanted - Date Added
1. National Treasure (Widescreen Edition) (2005) - Region 1 DVD
Owned - Wanted
328 owned
36 wanted
2. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - Region 2 DVD
1601 owned
167 wanted
3. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) - Region 1 DVD
4. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (Two-Disc Limited Edition) (2007) - Region 1 DVD
5. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (Widescreen Edition) - Region 1 DVD
6. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Region 1 DVD
86 owned
7. Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (2003) - Region 1
8. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (2011) - Region 1 DVD
9. Pirates of the Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (Three-Disc Special Edition) (2004) - Region 1 DVD
10. Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End Bonus DVD - Region 1 DVD
3 owned
11. Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Man's Chest Best Buy -- EXCLUSIVE BONUS DVD (DOES NOT INCLUDE MOVIE) - Region 1 DVD
12. Pirates of the Caribbean At World's End (2-Disc Limited Ed. in Steelbook/Futureshop Exclusive) - Region 1
13. The Goonies (1985) - Region 1 DVD
14. The Mummy Returns (2001) - Region 1 DVD
15. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003) - Region 2 DVD
16. Rat Race (Special Collector's Edition) (2001) - Region 1 DVD
17. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest - Region 1 Theatrical Release
18. Pirates Of The Caribbean : Dead Man's Chest (2006) - Region 2 DVD
19. National Treasure 2: Book of Secrets (2007) - Region 1 DVD
20. Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2007) - Region A Blu-ray
21. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2 Disc Special Edition) (2007) - Region 2 DVD
22. It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (2001) - Region 1 DVD
23. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2007) - Region A Blu-ray
24. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End (2007) - Region A Blu-ray
26. Pirates Of The Caribbean - The Curse of the Black Pearl (The Lost Disc Special Edition 3 Disc Gift S (2005) - Region 2 DVD
27. National Treasure 2 - Book of Secrets (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (2007) - Region 1
28. Pirates of the Caribbean (2-Disc Collector's Edition) (2003) - Region 4
29. Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End - Region 0 Theatrical Release
30. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides (Two-Disc Blu-ray / DVD Combo in DVD Packaging) (2011) - Region A Blu-ray
31. National Treasure (Two-Disc Collector's Edition) (2007) - Region 1 DVD
32. Pirates Of The Caribbean - The Curse Of The Black Pearl - 1 disc (2006) - Region 2 DVD
33. Pirates of the Caribbean 3 : At World's End (2 Disc Special Edition) Limited Edition With Character (2007) - Region 2 DVD
34. Pirates Of The Caribbean Trilogy (2007) - Region 2 DVD
35. Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides [US Import] (2011) - Region A Blu-ray
37. Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World's End (2007) - Region B Blu-ray
38. Candleshoe (1977) - Region 1 DVD
39. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2-Disc Limited Edition Steelbook) (2008) - Region 1 DVD
40. Pirates of the Caribbean Trilogy (2008) - Region 0 Blu-ray
41. Pirates of the Caribbean The Curse of the Black pearl Blu-ray SteelBook - Region A Blu-ray
42. Pirates of the Caribbean - At World's End (Widescreen Edition) (2007) - Region 1
43. Pirates Of The Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest (2007) - Region 2 DVD
44. Pirates of Caribbean: Curse of Black Pearl (2011) - Region A Blu-ray
45. Pirates Of The Caribbean - Region 0


The Bowman family has four young children. Isabel is 12 years old and has cerebral palsy. The Bowman family is busy trying to keep up with school for the younger children and therapy, hospital and doctor appointments for Isabel.
The family has been able to enjoy Family Focus events hosted by United Cerebral Palsy of Nebraska including picnics, family entertainment outings and their first bowling adventure a few years ago. Events hosted by UCP of Nebraska have made it possible for the Bowman's to have family outings with their children in safe, friendly and accepting environments.
They felt so blessed that they thanked UCP of Nebraska in their annual Christmas letter!


Home > Services > Articles & White Papers > Changing your brand name: A game of whack-a-mole, and you're the mole.
Changing your brand name: A game of whack-a-mole, and you're the mole.
One of the big decisions prospective parents face is the all-important choice of a first name for their child. It's the name almost everyone will use to address the child throughout his or her life. The choice will reflect heavily on the parents, based on how appropriate, respectful, creative, distinctive or familial it is. It will, in many ways, brand that child and create expectations, associations and even derivations in the form of Bill or Bob, Bub or Bot, or perhaps Ginny, Jenny or Jo-Jo.
It can be an agonizing process that may leave the parents feeling less than satisfied, or in conflict with each other, or at the very least a little bit exhausted.
If only creating new brand names were that easy.
Because creating a brand name–or changing one–is far harder than naming a child. Most new parents choose from a defined universe of names. With the exception of those adventurous souls who chose true outlier names that may remain unique for a lifetime, the vast majority choose from names that are likely to be recognized and will cause no disruption for teachers, mail carriers or census takers.
But with brand names, every name seeks to be an outlier. Every company or marketer desires a singular name they can own and build unique and powerful meaning around. Shakespeare famously asked, "What's in a name? A rose by any other name would still smell as sweet." But a rose is just a flower. A brand name is much more.
And may the brand gods smile upon you if the decision is made to change an established brand name because of opportunity or necessity. It could be as difficult as changing your son's name when he is six. There's a whole family of existing customers, employees and others that will object and find the idea highly unappealing. And they will tell you so in no uncertain terms.
KFC/Kentucky Fried Chicken has tried for years to avoid the word "fried" in their name by using the self-imposed the KFC nickname. Yet they keep drifting back to their full name because it has brand value. Locally, Just Cabinets established itself with a specific niche, but now finds its name both distinctive and limiting since it sells much more than cabinets.
Expect full name changes to feel like a cold shower. Actually more like a polar plunge. You will fret about lost equity. You will fear the unknown of a new name. Do what the big brands do: Research. Ask your customers (they won't like it, but can give you insight.) Ask your marketplace. And ask some people who have never heard of you to choose between the old and the new name, and see which one wins.
Take smaller steps. Would a better descriptor line below your name help solve the problem? Just Cabinets added "Furniture & More" to their name. It's a bit contradictory, but it appears to be working. Can you slowly phase a new name in and the old name out? Announce the name change to your customers in advance. Use both names for a time and over a year or two phase out the old name.
Or be really creative. When First Union was struggling under criticism of its bank brand, it purchased Wachovia and took that as their merged name. Unconventional, sure, but it was effective and required no legal wrangling over name ownership. A smart move, but rule number one remains: Brand names are hard to change: Because a rose by the name of "Bob" might still smell as sweet, but would you really send a dozen Bobs to anyone?


Thor feels helpless without his hammer but luckily he found the Marvel Thor: Ragnarok Battle Ready Navy Blue T-Shirt to make him feel better! An ombre style background fades from red to yellow as Thor is portrayed in bright blue on this cool Thor shirt. 100% Cotton.


For Valerius patient benefit is of overriding importance. With this in mind we have set up an integrated quality system, which is implemented for each development step. All operational activities are performed according to regulatory requirements, including the GLP, GMP and GCP compliant manufacturing and testing of our products.
We believe that quality is a process which needs to be continuously improved. Therefore, process performances are permanently monitored and analyzed, and efficiency is evaluated to support the steady improvement of process outputs. Valerius´ dedicated, highly trained, and qualified employees significantly contribute to achieve our common objective, the delivery of affordable medicines of highest quality.


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Eurydactylodes is een geslacht van hagedissen die behoren tot de gekko's en de familie Diplodactylidae.

Naam en indeling
Er zijn vier soorten, inclusief de pas in 2009 beschreven soort Eurydactylodes occidentalis. De wetenschappelijke naam van de groep werd voor het eerst voorgesteld door Heinz Wermuth in 1965.

Uiterlijke kenmerken
De hagedissen hebben een overwegend groene kleur en de huid is bedekt met grote schubben. De ogen zijn vrij prominent en de gekko's bewegen zich traag. Ze worden in andere talen wel 'kameleon-gekko's genoemd vanwege de gelijkenis met kameleons.

Verspreiding en habitat
De hagedissen komen endemisch voor in Nieuw-Caledonië. De habitat bestaat uit vochtige tropische en subtropische bossen, zowel in laaglanden als in bergstreken, zowel vochtige als droge tropische en subtropische scrublands en droge tropische en subtropische bossen.

Beschermingsstatus
Door de internationale natuurbeschermingsorganisatie IUCN is aan alle soorten een beschermingsstatus toegewezen. Drie soorten worden beschouwd als 'gevoelig' (Near Threatened of NT) en een als 'bedreigd' (Endangered of EN).

Soorten
Het geslacht omvat de volgende soorten, met de auteur, het verspreidingsgebied en de beschermingsstatus.

Bronvermelding

Diplodactylidae
Endemisch dier uit Nieuw-Caledonië

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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5 minutes with… Dr Chandra Harrison
2 years ago by Nicole Arnett Phillips
DA spoke with Access advisor, UX researcher and designer Dr Chandra Harrison about universal design, accessibility and what the design community can do to ensure their work is more inclusive. She is the Managing Director of Digital Accessibility for Access Advisors, an initiative of Blind and Low Vision NZ, helping organisations understand and implement digital accessibility.
Chandra will be delivering Digital Accessibility for Designers, a half-day workshop in both Christchurch and Auckland in early June. See below for further details.
What is your background and what lead you to Access Advisors?
My background is in human computer interaction and psychology, figuring out the human and the interface needs. Accessibility has permeated through my education and career with both my Masters and PhD thesis having accessibility at their heart. For many years I worked as a UX researcher and designer in the UK, specialising in Accessibility. When I returned to NZ many years later I started working for Blind Low Vision for Access Advisors as a contractor. Then, late last year they asked if I'd like to take over the consultancy and so I've been running Access Advisors as an independent digital accessibility consultancy since late last year.
Can you tell us about your career journey so far?
I started studying clinical psychology at uni 20 years ago but shifted focus to human technology interfaces when I saw how many people struggle with tech, especially those with people access needs. My Masters research explored the interface design of a low vision reading aid where I interviewed 50+ people with low vision. While at university I attended a guest lecture of Tom Furness who worked for NASA helping to improve the interface design and I realised that all the knowledge I had about human cognition, emotion and behaviour would be vital in that kind of environment. I moved to the UK to do my PhD and went on to do loads of consulting in accessibility in the UK, Europe and now back in NZ. My family and I returned to NZ almost six years ago and it was clear that there was little awareness of accessibility.
What does a typical working day as managing Director at Access Advisors involve for you?
It really depends on the clients your are working with that day. No two days are the same. Some days are onsite with clients at their offices; training, answering questions from various teams or doing reviews. Other days we might be doing reviews on websites from our offices identifying the issues and providing details to help the client solve them. Other days we work with companies to imbed accessibility into their strategy and processes doing workshops. And still other days we will be doing research with our panel, helping show clients what problems people with lived experience face when using their products. The common theme is working with clients to help them make things better for people with access needs.
What project, personal or professional, are you most proud of and why?
My first big accessibility project with PulseData 20 years ago for sure. I worked with about 50 older adults, all who were nervous about technology and had low vision. It was humbling to see how they struggled with everyday tasks that I took for granted and knowing that I was doing something to improve things for them. Working with the product team I helped improve the interface so users could read letters from their grandchildren and check their bank statement without having to rely on other people. It was very satisfying and made me want to help people even more.
What does good universal design look like to you?
It looks like good design. Good designers consider all users and design within the guidelines they have been given. When we stop talking about universal / inclusive / accessible design as being something different then we will final have achieved inclusivity.
How do you see the impact of bad design on people's ability to participate in society?
Poor design can cause major barriers to participation in all aspects of life. People who are unable to access information online because of poor design will find it difficult to further a career, pay their utilities or shop. The impact is felt hugely by many people who use assistive technology to access the Internet. If the website or app isn't designed properly they will have a poor experience at the very least and be completely blocked at the worst.
What are some of the key considerations designers should focus on to make their work more inclusive?
I could reel off the top ten things from the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, but in my opinion the key consideration is for designers to think about all their users, not just the mainstream who are easy to design for. By considering different access needs designers can come up with innovative solutions. Designers should focus on understanding access needs and what that means for their product.
Do you have a dream project or collaboration you aspire to?
I recently did a review of a virtual human and it was eye-opening. My dream is to be working with the creators of digital humans, artificial intelligence and mixed reality to help ensure that future technology is more accessible than what we have now.
About the Digital Accessibility for Designers Workshop
Ensuring the accessibility of your digital products can feel daunting, especially when you're already faced with budget constraints, pressure to deliver faster and unknown technical dependencies. But with strategic planning and a deeper understanding of accessibility, not only will your products and UX be better, but accessibility will exist as an integral part of your process.
This workshop will help you
Explain who benefits from accessible design and how
Understand why it matters from a legal, moral and business point of view
Understand and identify ten top accessibility issues
Apply the basic principles of accessibility
Find resources to help build your knowledge
Build the business case to prioritise accessibility efforts
Who is the workshop for?
Digital Designers
Producers & decision makers
$300+gst Professional | $200+gst Design Assembly Friend | $50+gst Student
(Not a DA Friend? Details on how to sign up can be found here).
9:30am – 1:00pm, Thursday 3 June 2021
Spark Business Hub Christchurch, Unit 4b/166 Moorhouse Avenue
Register for Christchurch
9:30am – 1:00pm, Thursday 10 June 2021
Spark Commercial Bay, Cnr Queen Street & Custom Street West
Register for Auckland
Tags : Access AdvisorsaccessibilityBlind and Low Vision NZDesign & Accessibilitydigital accessibilityDr Chandra HarrisonUX research
2023 Hot New Things: Mikaela Pacis, Bachelor of Design Visual Communication at Wintec
DA spoke with Access advisor, UX researcher and designer Dr Chandra Harrison about universal design, accessibility and what the design community can do to ensure their work is more inclusive. […]
2023 Hot New Things: Jonathon Morriss, Media Design School
2023 Hot New Things: Fiona Brady, Victoria University Wellington - Te Herenga Waka
2023 Hot New Things: Loura Limjoco, Wintec, Spatial Design


Bel Air Dental Care is a dental clinic located in the heart of Fallston, Maryland, founded in 1985.
Bel Air Dental was spending a chunk of change on AdWords (paid search) and had no clear idea on what type of return they were getting.
When they did get the reports, they were confusing automated reports with no insights or explanations. The client didn't even know what questions to ask to get clarity.
No idea how many calls were coming from the website, word of mouth, AdWords, or their social media.
The whole digital marketing thing seemed overwhelming and confusing – SEO? SEM? Paid search? Social Media? Google+? Mobile friendliness? They needed someone to explain things so they could understand it and what type of return they could get.
We performed a thorough audit of the website on how optimized it was for organic search, usability, and content. It was not well optimized nor was it mobile friendly. We worked closely with their web design team to get it up to speed.
We performed a thorough audit of their AdWords campaigns. There was no testing of different ads, the traffic all went to the home page, and it was overall very poorly set up. We completely revamped it to focus on what the client cared about most: potential clients calling in or filling out an appointment form.
Because the campaign was so poorly set up AND the client did not own it, we created a new campaign from scratch, completely in the client's name so they will always own it.
We installed a solution to track telephone calls from all sources.
We created a customized report that focused on what metrics the client cared about. We reviewed it each week with the client so they could ask questions and make suggestions to make it easier.
The number of patients more than doubled.
The Cost per Conversion (getting a potential patient to contact them) dropped down to just 10% of what they were paying before.
Bel Air Dental now receives easy-to-read reports twice per month outlining the key metrics they care most about (incoming calls, form submissions).
During our bi-weekly meetings, we go over their report, giving our insights on the numbers, and show them exactly what has been going on with their campaigns: the successes, the failures, and what we're working on to improve their results.
They understand the whole search process much better and feel more comfortable asking questions and making suggestions.
They like us so much, they recommended us to a dentist outside their geographic region.
Since my dental practice hired Digital Caffeine, we have experienced significant growth in our patient flow and revenue, in fact we have more than doubled our practice. Our phones are ringing more frequently as a result of the surge in internet traffic. Digital Caffeine has been extremely responsive to our requests and has consistently provided us with creative ways to boost our practice.


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Humane Society Expands Management Team
December 30, 2018, 7:42 AM HST (Updated December 30, 2018, 10:25 AM)
An expanded team of professionals will take the reins of the Hawai'i Island Humane Society (HIHS) in 2019, to usher in the next phase of the organization's development. Major milestones in 2019 will see the opening of the Animal Community Center, expansion of the ability to spay, neuter and rehabilitate animals under HIHS care and a continued emphasis on enhancing the bond between people and animals.
"We are thrilled to announce a three-person management team who will work directly with our staff, volunteers and community and report to our Board of Directors," said HIHS President Adam Atwood.
Lauren Nickerson, a Harvard Graduate and Fulbright Scholar with a Masters in Education and compassion for animals who need help, will be the new Community Programs Director. She will oversee HIHS Education and Community Outreach Programs, ramp up the volunteer network and be the contact for fundraisers and donor support. If you see Nickerson out and about, she will probably have Pearl, a blind and deaf dog she adopted through the HIHS Second Chance Fund, tagging and wagging along.
Regina DR Serrano will be the new Shelter Operations Director for all three HIHS shelters in Kea'au, Kona and Waimea. Serrano is a graduate of Purdue University's Veterinary Technician program. In addition to her training in animal healthcare, Serrano has spent the last 10 years managing employees working on job sites across three islands. In her free time, Serrano has volunteered with HIHS and many other animal welfare organizations around the Big Island. Most recently, she volunteered countless hours to assist animal rescues during the lower Puna eruption lava flows.
Robert Belcher, a Hawai'i Certified Public Accountant inactive, will be the Finance Director. Belcher graduated from the University of Hawai'i at Mānoa with degrees in Accounting and Agricultural Economics. His work with both the County of Hawai'i and private businesses, combined with a commitment to community involvement, make Belcher uniquely qualified to guide HIHS through this next exciting phase of development.
Atwood added, "In addition to the management team, Hawai'i Island Humane Society will be adding a second full-time staff veterinarian in February. The new veterinarian will serve East Hawai'i, while Dr. Kristina Henricks will continue to serve West Hawai'i. This will allow for more efficient and comprehensive care of the animals placed in our care every day." The HIHS Spay and Neuter Waggin' will also continue to bring free sterilization services to some of the more remote areas of the island, where pets may otherwise continue to contribute to the overpopulation problem.
About Hawai'i Island Humane Society
The mission of the Hawai'i Island Humane Society is to promote respect for all animals, prevent cruelty to animals, eliminate pet overpopulation, and enhance the bond between humans and animals. HIHS holds a contract with the County of Hawai'i to enforce certain animal-related laws and it offers 24-hour service for injured animals and other animal emergencies, humane education classes, low-cost spay and neuter services, lost and found assistance, micro-chipping and more. Learn more online or call (808) 329-1175.
New County Surcharges Begin Jan. 1
Hawai'i Island Visitor Arrivals & Spending Decrease
Hawaii Island Humane Society Reorganizes, Hires CEO
Humane Society to Launch Mobile Spay & Neuter Service
HIHS to Celebrate 23rd Annual Tropical Paws


That statement came out of a recent Robert Wood Johnson Foundation commission on building a healthier America. It means that all of the social environments in which we spend time help determine our overall health outcomes.
Play (def.): to occupy oneself in amusement, sport, or other recreation.
But how much do adults play? Is having fun the lowest priority item on your to-do list when obligations at work and at home have to be met? The truth is that, like exercise, we will never have enough extra time for play until we make the time for it and schedule it in our day.
There's a good case to be made for playing – doing something that's fun just for the sake of having fun, in a noncompetitive and unpressured way. It helps us regain some of the unqualified joy and spontaneity we had as children, and, possibly, to experience what Buddhists refer to as "beginner's mind". Beginner's mind means looking at something without the lens of prior knowledge, experience, or, especially, judgment. It means simply experiencing something as it is, in the moment, instead of how we want or expect it to be.
Beginner's mind can more easily be accessed if we regularly try new "play" activities. Being a little bit adventurous, perhaps even taking a risk (whether it is physical, social or psychological) could create an opportunity for a beginner's mind experience. A few years ago, I decided that birthdays are a good time of year to try something new. That's a bit challenging with a birthday at Thanksgiving time, but it was easier on my sister's summertime birthday, when we tried a 7-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. We challenged ourselves, took a wrong turn or two, laughed a lot and thought about nothing else for those few hours.
While it's pretty widely recognized that play is important for children's development, we sometimes forget that adults have a need for play too. Any type of play, whether it is something we've always enjoyed or something new, can give us perspective on other areas of our lives. It can foster creative thinking and problem-solving. Play can stimulate and refresh both brain and body. Playing with other people helps us make and nurture social connections. Play teaches us to be flexible and cooperative, and to work as a team.
In some workplaces, play is integrated into the workday. Google is probably the most famous for supplying games such as Foosball, ping pong and volleyball on site. At Zappos, one of the company's core values is to "create fun and a little weirdness". Other companies provide climbing walls, swimming pools and monthly parties. Some would say that these perks are designed to keep people working longer hours. That may be true, but at least they have the opportunity to take a play break.
What are your ideas for fun at work or at home? Have you played today?


Don't Forget: Local elections take place TUESDAY, APRIL 5th. You must be registered with your county by March 9th to vote. Read this article to find out why it's more important than voting for President.
To begin with, you should know that the Volunteer Party is always ready to help. If you feel overwhelmed, discouraged, need advice, or lack manpower, we are here for you. You can contact us by clicking here. The key is to be in the fight, and willing to go the distance.
Perform fundraising for printing costs. You will likely need between $100 and $500. If you need ideas for fundraisers, or need assistance, contact us!
Get committments from about 15 friends, family, or supporters to go knocking on doors for a weekend (4 to 8 hours).
15 helpers * 100 homes = 1,500 homes in 8 hours (one weekend).
A district's voting-age population is about 28,000. That's roughly 15,000 homes. Which means, with just 15 people, a candidate can visit one-tenth of his electorate in just one weekend.
As long as a candidate is coordinated and methodical, this could be done at least once a month without creating a time burden.
1,500 homes visited per month * 5 months = 7,500 homes.
That's an astounding number of homes! It's especially true for such a small "core" group, who only sacrifice one weekend a month. It shows what can be done if people are determined to make a difference.
Attitude beats appearance every time.
The visit, if done right, should take no more than about two minutes. Collect a signature (if needed), hand them a small pamphlet/booklet/packet, thank them and leave.
It informs the voter. Voters who feel informed are less likely to be swayed by repetitive mass-media techniques like slogans and "name recognition".
It provides a balanced viewpoint. By showing third party/independent candidates side-by-side with major party candidates, we put all candidates on an equal footing for the voter.
For safety reasons, using pairs or groups to visit homes, rather than a lone person, might be preferable. If there are children who want to help out, this would be an opportunity for them to stretch their legs, rather than doing boring stuff like folding pamphlets. Also, kids make people smile when you visit.
If you're uncomfortable with talking to strangers, remember that you don't need to make a speech. Keeping it short is actually better. Simply say hello, give your name and why you're here, hand them a pamphlet, explain what's in it, and ask them if they have any questions. If they say no, say, "Thank you so much for your time and have a nice day (or God bless your day)," and leave. Always stay positive.
Rehearse in private beforehand what you might say. Practice it with your friends if you can. It may help to remember that statistically speaking, there is an 80% chance that a person you visit wasn't going to be voting for you anyway. So you have nothing to lose if it doesn't go well, and everything to gain if it does.
Let's refuse to play their game.
Once you have reached more than a fourth of the voters, you'll have created a "critical mass" of home visits. People going to work start to realize their co-workers got a visit, too. They talk about it briefly. They think, "Wow, these guys are serious".
Election history has demonstrated that personal visits work better than mass-media. They're also "cheaper" in the sense that they don't cost a lot of money. But they do cost a lot more time.
It's how we have to fight this election, however. We can't compete with mass-media - that's the turf of the major parties. It's why they raise so much money - to buy billboard ads, fancy posters, and TV and radio time.
Independents or third parties who run in districts that are normally unopposed ("rotten distrcits") traditionally get 15% to 25% of the vote.
They need more than 50% to win.
Independents or third parties who run in districts where the Republicans and Democrats are competing usually get 4% to 10% of the vote.
They need at least 33%, and more likely 40%, to win.
According to recent surveys and polls, 42% of Missouri voters will be uncommitted voters. At least half of those uncommitted voters identify as independent, i.e., against the major parties.
Remember that's a minimum. If you manage to sway all of the uncommitted voters with your visits, that would be a maximum 21% gain.
Also remember that these figures relate to visiting only half of the homes in your district. If you visit more, you'll gain more. If you manage to visit all of the homes in your district, you will have an extremely strong advantage, anywhere between a 21% - 42% gain.
If we add these estimated gains to the traditional voting base for third parties and independents, you'll see that victory is within reach!
15% to 25% base + 10% to 21% gain = 25% to 46% of the vote.
4% to 10% base + 10% to 21% gain = 14% to 31% of the vote.
In both cases listed above, the candidates are anywhere from 25% to just 5% away from victory. Those are gaps that can be closed with hard work (more visits), promotional help (more money), social media (more time), or random events.
The point is that this margin gives you a chance to take advantage of opportunities and get elected.
In other words, it's not a question of if you can get elected. The numbers show that it can be done. It's a matter of willpower on the part of you and your supporters.
One weekend a month, for five months. That's all that you need for a chance.
As always, if you need help, support, or advice, do not hesitate to contact us by clicking here.


TUESDAY, Jan. 16, 2018 (HealthDay News) — It's often said breast-feeding is best for babies, but new research suggests it also might have a significant long-term benefit for moms — preventing type 2 diabetes.
"We found that a longer duration of breast-feeding was associated with a substantially lower risk of type 2 diabetes in women," said lead study author Erica Gunderson.
In fact, women who breast-fed more than six months had about half the risk for type 2 diabetes as did women who never breast-fed, according to Gunderson. She is an epidemiologist and senior research scientist with Kaiser Permanente Northern California's division of research in Oakland.
The researchers adjusted the data to account for other factors that could affect a woman's risk for type 2 diabetes. These included income, education, weight, diet quality, physical activity, medication use and other health conditions.
The protective effect of breast-feeding didn't differ by race or the presence of gestational diabetes, the study found.
Dr. Rekha Kumar is an endocrinologist at New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center's Comprehensive Weight Control Center in New York City. She also thinks that breast-feeding likely has beneficial effects on insulin and blood sugar metabolism.
"Breast-feeding makes you more sensitive to the hormone insulin," Kumar said.
Study author Gunderson said the benefits of breast-feeding may go beyond a reduction in type 2 diabetes. Because type 2 diabetes is a very strong risk factor for heart disease, it's possible that breast-feeding could also lead to a reduction in heart disease, which could then potentially reduce health care costs.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about breast-feeding.


We may track information about visits to our site so we can make informed decisions about how to improve our website's design, layout, accessibility, and usability. We use this information to learn about our visitors as a group, not about any individual. We log the domain names and/or IP addresses of visitors (such as company.com, 204.39.36.39, etc.) which identifies where visitors are from, or what access service they use, without knowing their individual identities. We may also collect data on the browsers and operating systems used to access the site, and visiting data such as date, time, duration, and pages visited. We do not require users to register with us; this "host level" tracking is how we assess usage trends such as the popularity of different areas of the site. This information is used to improve the design, content, performance, and functionality of our site. We also use the information to identify other websites which send us visitors. This site links to other websites that are not under our control, and we cannot be responsible for the content or the Privacy Policies of those websites.
We do not collect personally identifiable information about individual users except when those individuals specifically provide it. The information may include names, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, email addresses, or other personal data in greater or lesser detail. Should you choose to provide your information, it may be shared within our organization and other closely-aligned groups for the purpose of responding to any comments or questions you submit and to provide any follow-up information about our organizations and our issues. It also may be shared with an outside company to fulfill any request you have made to us, such as sending an order. We make no effort to link the personal information you voluntarily provide to us with the site usage information we have collected during your visit to our site.
Broadfield Marchers will not sell, rent, or exchange the email addresses or other contact information submitted to us. We do not sell, rent, share, or otherwise disclose mailing lists or other personally identifiable information. We use information provided to us to update our mailing lists for future email notices of tour dates, releases, and other band-related news.


text:
#region License

#endregion License

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using System.Reflection;

namespace NateRobins
{
    public partial class NateRobins : Form
    {
        public NateRobins()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void frmExamples_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Type[] types = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetTypes();
            foreach (Type type in types)
            {
                MemberInfo[] runMethods = type.GetMember("Run");
                foreach (MemberInfo run in runMethods)
                {
                    lstExamples.Items.Add(type.Name);
                }
                if (lstExamples.Items.Count > 0)
                {
                    this.lstExamples.SelectedIndex = 0;
                }
            }
        }

        private void btnRun_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            SelectExample();
        }

        private void SelectExample()
        {
            if (lstExamples.SelectedItem != null)
            {
                Type example = Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().GetType("NateRobins." + lstExamples.SelectedItem.ToString(), true, true);
                example.InvokeMember("Run", BindingFlags.InvokeMethod, null, null, null);
            }
        }

        private void lstExamples_SelectedIndexChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            SelectExample();
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I actually started watching this drama cause a friend of mine was talking about it on her IG story and I've always loved the male lead from Pinocchio, he's so adorable and pretty, I also admired old faces like Jung Yoo-jin, I love her acting and her fashion, whoever her stylist is, he or she is so creative and organized.
Everyone is going through something you know nothing of, so be kind at least.
Always call or text to check on your friends, you don't know how happy they might be to receive your calls or texts.
Don't be scared to share your pain cause problems shared is half solved.
Remember no one is perfect and we all make mistakes, accept your faults, apologize and move on, don't dwell in the past.
Jealousy will never take you anywhere, so be open-minded and be full of love.
Again always make time for the ones you love, no matter how busy you are.
Never be afraid to walk away from pain or anything that isn't good for you.
Don't be scared of change or love, let the universe do it thing.
Life sometimes plays tricks on us, so live in the moment and have no regrets, no one is perfect and everyone is fighting on battle or another, take all the time you need if need be and don't be AFRAID to start all over.
That's all for today guys come back on Monday for another Kdrama post.
Do you watch Kdrama? What do you think about this particular one? Are you emotional about my list, do you feel you need to do anything on the list?


Cotton Twill 60 inch width. Smooth surface, soften with washes. Creases easily but so comfy for bedding set and alike. High thread count, soft to the touch.
Suitable for making baby nest, bedding set, pillowcase, baby swaddle, baby tummy binder, bibs and other projects especially for baby and toddler.


Hey guys! Today's post is all about changing your mindset. I don't know about you but I have noticed that the more I read and learn about personal development the more I have noticed a pattern that all leads back to the mindset.
I used to have the world's worst mindset. I was so negative all the time. I felt like life was so hard. And that I had to struggle just to get by. But what I didn't know was that it was all in my mindset and the way I looked at my life. I had a fixed mindset. I was stubborn. And I thought that I knew it all by a young age. Sound familiar??
This is just the mindset that I grew into. I adopted it from my parents who struggled to make ends meet. I remember being that little girl with all the big hopes & dreams.
And as I look back on my life, I see the choices that I made and the mindset that I had then is what led me down the wrong path. But it still made me into the person that I am today, so I think we all have a time in our life when we just say "no more!" And that is when we wake up!
Everyone wakes up at different times in their life. When it is your time you will seek out this information just like I did. And thank God I did because it has brought me to such an awakening! It has opened my eyes up to the world around me! The endless possibilities, opportunities, and hope that I have now, I would never have had if I wouldn't have gone thru the struggle that I did earlier in life!
Just like the saying goes, when the student is ready the teacher will show up! I think this is so true. So if you are reading my post today maybe you need some inspiration in your life. And to learn that you can change your life. You can change period! It all starts with your mindset. You can rewire your brain and you can unlearn all the bs that you were taught as a kid! So there is hope!
If you will only open your mind up to the possibilities that not everything is set in stone. And that it is ok to question what you were taught. And to question the belief system that you have put in place for yourself. You can change the stories that you tell yourself!
What is the difference between a fixed mindset and a growth mindset?
A fixed mindset is when you grow into an adult and you think that you already know everything that you need to know about the world. You were taught at home and in school different standards to live by. And you think that is just how the world is.
You have a fixed mindset when you don't allow your mind to open to change and to the possibilities that life has to offer you. You think that life is happening to you. Not for you! It can lead you to adjust your expectations in life based on what you "think" is possible for you.
A growth mindset is when you allow your mind to be open. You recognize that you can learn new skills and abilities. That nothing is impossible. That if you don't know something that you can learn it. Or find someone that already knows the skill that you want to learn to enhance your life to teach you! You are open to receive the information that you need to be successful!
And you realize that it is ok to not know everything. When you are constantly learning new things you are growing!
Part of developing a growth mindset is trying new things. Look at new things as an experiment. What is the harm in trying something new? Has what you've been doing helped your life in any way? Or are you still repeating the same patterns and routines year after year?
Change the way you talk to yourself. Never say never.. Say not yet! Have you ever caught yourself saying things like "I will never get to where I want to be in life?" or "I will never have a successful career. I will always be stuck working hard in life?" By changing that never statement to not yet, it immediately uplifts you and gives you hope. "I am not there yet, but I will be!" see the difference in how that statement makes you feel?
Notice that it makes you uncomfortable. Being uncomfortable is not a bad thing! Actually, when you get outside of your comfort zone, that is where all the magic happens! You will start to feel scared but excited at the same time. That excitement will send off vibrations to the universe that will attract what you want back to you! So change is GOOD!
Recognize that your mindset that you have now is getting you nowhere. If nothing has changed for the better in your life, it's time to stop and start questioning why? Why hasn't my life gotten better? Is it my perspective on life? Why can't I get ahead? Why is life so hard? Ask yourself questions. And start opening your mind.
Start small. Just start period! When you first start to open your mind up to new things, you will at first, reject it. But don't let your ego stop you from change. Don't let it stop you from embracing change and going with the flow of life. Listen to your intuition. It will never steer you wrong. This goes back to doing something different. Watch a video on something that you normally would have rejected as false. Open your mind up!
Celebrate your progress & small wins. When you start to open your mind up to the possibilities that there is more out there for you to learn about. Suddenly your whole world expands. And more and more amazing information will find its way to you! So, celebrate even the smallest of progress.
What is your "why?" Answer your why. Why do you want success? Why do you want to grow as a person? Write it down and put it somewhere you will see it every single day! I don't know about you, but I want to be the best possible version of myself that I can be! And having an open mind is important to me. Learning and growing is important to me! As I'm sure it is to you too!
Read books about it. There are plenty of personal development books on Amazon, Goodreads, Barnes & Noble, etc. I use my Kindle all the time. On my breaks at work, I open up my Kindle on my iPhone and just read whatever personal development or Law of Attraction book that I have open. Make the time to learn! You will grow.
Listen to personal development podcasts. While you are cleaning your home, working out at the gym, driving to work, etc start listening to podcasts. I do this all the time too. Luckily where I work we are allowed to have radios/or our phones at our desks so that we can listen to music while we work. I instead listen to a podcast. That way I can learn as I work since I work outside the home right now. I am always growing!
Get rid of anyone or any negative thing on your social media. If it brings you down, get rid of it! I have unfriended many people on my social media accounts just because of the negativity. I do not allow myself to read it or listen to it. I also have stopped watching the morning news. If I need to know what is going on in the world around me, I know that I will find out thru social media or if it's important enough, someone will tell me! Get rid of the negativity if you can!
Share your journey with others! Just like I am doing here in this post, share your journey with others. This is also the good thing about groups online. You can share your journey with other people. And when you do, you might just be inspiring someone else to open their mind too! People will resonate with you. Don't doubt it for a second. When we share our truth with others, it opens the conversation up. And it brings light to other people. Someone might just need to hear what you have to say it. So speak your truth! And be real!
How can all of this lead me to success?
When you open your mind up to new things and new ways of thinking, you are setting yourself free. You will start to see the world with a new set of eyes. And you will recognize the opportunity that is around you whereas before you were closed off to it because of your fixed mindset. Allowing yourself to be open is allowing the universe to bring you anything that your heart desires.
You are letting the light in. And once the light comes in, hope springs up. And you will start to view everything with optimism. You will have hope for your future. And you will want to achieve your dreams and goals! You will want to be the best version of yourself that you can possibly be. And you will want to help other people in the process.
When that light sparks inside of you, nothing can extinguish it! You will want to change your life. You will want better for yourself. And you will want to inspire other people and even the world!
If you have gotten this far in the post, then bless your heart! I know it is a pretty long post. But I had a lot to say on the subject of mindset. I believe with all my heart that when we open our mind that our world expands. And when your world expands, more opportunities/experiences/possibilities will come to you.
I hope you have enjoyed this post. I love all things personal development and the Law of Attraction. I believe that we can change our life despite the circumstances that we were born into! So, don't let your circumstances be your excuse to not grow! You can do it! I know you can!
I would love to hear from you. If you have anything that you would like to add to this post, please feel free to leave a comment. And remember that others can learn from your comments just as much as they can learn from my post!
Remember to share this post out! I would really appreciate it & you can help others in the process!
If you would like to read more inspiring posts, I have dropped some links for you below!


Ghana-based 4G LTE operator Surfline Communications will now be offering consumers free data after a fire broke out at one of its data centre's, which led to a black out in network services.
The company has revealed that it has added 25 percent more capacity to the crippled data centre and said it had fixed the challenges caused by the recent fire at its Tema-based data centre.
Surfline Communications said the network will fully resume operations in the next few days.
The company revealed that Customers are allowed to use the network for free during the clean up period and will get complimentary data when the network is fully restored.
While the data center was crippled in the fire, the disaster has not derailed its plans to expand, Surfline Communications said.


Damascus, SANA – Torrential downpours have caused flash flooding in Ruknuddin neighborhood in Damascus, injuring three people and causing material damage to cars.
A source at Damascus Police Command said that torrential downpours brought flooding in Damascus and swept away five cars were in the residential area of Ruknuddin, adding that two men were injured and a woman was washed away along the road.
The injured citizens were taken to Ibn al-Nafees hospital where they received treatment before leaving.
The source pointed out that the water flooded the squares of the Umayyad, Arnous and al-Thawra underground causing traffic jams for several hours.


Small and medium sized businesses within the software and technology industry are growing in London as the government begins a campaign of measures designed to open up department contracts. At the same time the growth of Silicon Roundabout reflects the economic potential of SMEs and their contribution to the GDP.
In the past weeks Whitehall has focused on SMEs as an area ripe for expansion. A range of measures have been introduced including advice to government departments designed to provide SMEs with an increased chance of winning government contacts.
The IT industries including SMEs are set to benefit from the redevelopment of the IT GCSE, replacing an outdated model which had contributed to the UK IT skills gap and shortages of software developers. Tech City software developers have also been supported by tax breaks and low-interest loans from the National Loan Guarantee Scheme to promote growth.
SMEs account for 60% of new job creation in the UK and the new guidelines for government departments reflect the importance placed on SMEs in the current economic climate. This week Silicon Roundabout announced that 800 IT positions will be on offer in the coming months. The Roundabout has been a success story for the IT industry and the UK economy as a growing collection of new and innovative companies situated around Shoreditch and Old Street.
The success of SMEs within the IT sector has seen the introduction of government initiatives seeking to ride on industry growth. Public sector guidance has been used promote SME IT companies for medium seized contracts capped at £100 million. The uses of IT SMEs are promoted to increase efficiency and reduce risks of project failure.
The growth of Silicon Roundabout developers has prompted Canary Wharf to move in order to attract up and coming IT companies as they aim to emulate Shoreditch's based Silicon Roundabout success.
George Osbourne, said in regard to IT SMEs during the release of 2012's budget: "We shouldn't be shy about identifying our successful industries and reinforcing them". This certainly seems a sentiment which will continue in the upcoming months.


text:
package org.fusesource.camel.component.sap.model.rfc.provider;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;

import org.eclipse.emf.common.notify.AdapterFactory;
import org.eclipse.emf.common.notify.Notification;
import org.eclipse.emf.common.util.ResourceLocator;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.ComposeableAdapterFactory;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.IEditingDomainItemProvider;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.IItemLabelProvider;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.IItemPropertyDescriptor;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.IItemPropertySource;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.IStructuredItemContentProvider;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.ITreeItemContentProvider;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.ItemPropertyDescriptor;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.ItemProviderAdapter;
import org.eclipse.emf.edit.provider.ViewerNotification;
import org.fusesource.camel.component.sap.model.SAPEditPlugin;
import org.fusesource.camel.component.sap.model.rfc.RfcPackage;

/**
 * This is the item provider adapter for a {@link java.util.Map.Entry} object.
 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
 * @generated
 */
public class ServerDataEntryItemProvider
	extends ItemProviderAdapter
	implements
		IEditingDomainItemProvider,
		IStructuredItemContentProvider,
		ITreeItemContentProvider,
		IItemLabelProvider,
		IItemPropertySource {
	/**
	 * This constructs an instance from a factory and a notifier.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	public ServerDataEntryItemProvider(AdapterFactory adapterFactory) {
		super(adapterFactory);
	}

	/**
	 * This returns the property descriptors for the adapted class.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	@Override
	public List<IItemPropertyDescriptor> getPropertyDescriptors(Object object) {
		if (itemPropertyDescriptors == null) {
			super.getPropertyDescriptors(object);

			addKeyPropertyDescriptor(object);
			addValuePropertyDescriptor(object);
		}
		return itemPropertyDescriptors;
	}

	/**
	 * This adds a property descriptor for the Key feature.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	protected void addKeyPropertyDescriptor(Object object) {
		itemPropertyDescriptors.add
			(createItemPropertyDescriptor
				(((ComposeableAdapterFactory)adapterFactory).getRootAdapterFactory(),
				 getResourceLocator(),
				 getString("_UI_ServerDataEntry_key_feature"),
				 getString("_UI_PropertyDescriptor_description", "_UI_ServerDataEntry_key_feature", "_UI_ServerDataEntry_type"),
				 RfcPackage.Literals.SERVER_DATA_ENTRY__KEY,
				 true,
				 false,
				 false,
				 ItemPropertyDescriptor.GENERIC_VALUE_IMAGE,
				 null,
				 null));
	}

	/**
	 * This adds a property descriptor for the Value feature.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	protected void addValuePropertyDescriptor(Object object) {
		itemPropertyDescriptors.add
			(createItemPropertyDescriptor
				(((ComposeableAdapterFactory)adapterFactory).getRootAdapterFactory(),
				 getResourceLocator(),
				 getString("_UI_ServerDataEntry_value_feature"),
				 getString("_UI_PropertyDescriptor_description", "_UI_ServerDataEntry_value_feature", "_UI_ServerDataEntry_type"),
				 RfcPackage.Literals.SERVER_DATA_ENTRY__VALUE,
				 true,
				 false,
				 false,
				 ItemPropertyDescriptor.GENERIC_VALUE_IMAGE,
				 null,
				 null));
	}

	/**
	 * This returns ServerDataEntry.gif.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	@Override
	public Object getImage(Object object) {
		return overlayImage(object, getResourceLocator().getImage("full/obj16/ServerDataEntry"));
	}

	/**
	 * This returns the label text for the adapted class.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	@Override
	public String getText(Object object) {
		Map.Entry<?, ?> serverDataEntry = (Map.Entry<?, ?>)object;
		return "" + serverDataEntry.getKey() + " -> " + serverDataEntry.getValue();
	}

	/**
	 * This handles model notifications by calling {@link #updateChildren} to update any cached
	 * children and by creating a viewer notification, which it passes to {@link #fireNotifyChanged}.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	@Override
	public void notifyChanged(Notification notification) {
		updateChildren(notification);

		switch (notification.getFeatureID(Map.Entry.class)) {
			case RfcPackage.SERVER_DATA_ENTRY__KEY:
			case RfcPackage.SERVER_DATA_ENTRY__VALUE:
				fireNotifyChanged(new ViewerNotification(notification, notification.getNotifier(), false, true));
				return;
		}
		super.notifyChanged(notification);
	}

	/**
	 * This adds {@link org.eclipse.emf.edit.command.CommandParameter}s describing the children
	 * that can be created under this object.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	@Override
	protected void collectNewChildDescriptors(Collection<Object> newChildDescriptors, Object object) {
		super.collectNewChildDescriptors(newChildDescriptors, object);
	}

	/**
	 * Return the resource locator for this item provider's resources.
	 * <!-- begin-user-doc -->
	 * <!-- end-user-doc -->
	 * @generated
	 */
	@Override
	public ResourceLocator getResourceLocator() {
		return SAPEditPlugin.INSTANCE;
	}

}


text:
Tag Archives: West St. Paul Reader
Employment, Twin Cities
THanks for Supporting West St. Paul Reader
Back in May I launched West St. Paul Reader. It's a hyper local news site focused on my town of West St. Paul. It exists thanks to the generous support of a lot of people, from my initial Kickstarter backers to my current Patreon supporters.
It's been a wild journey, and I'm very grateful for it.
I've been writing about West St. Paul here on my personal blog for a while. I think it started in 2014 when we had a hotly contested mayoral election. And it grew from there. It was always a hobby, but it was taking more and more of my time. I write for a living, so that was kind of a problem. I wanted to do something more official and more sustainable. There were stories I just couldn't tell because it was a hobby. I wanted to do something more.
But I wasn't sure if it would work. I've had a lot of not-so-great ideas over the years that didn't go anywhere. So I launched a Kickstarter campaign with some trepidation.
It only took five days to hit the initial goal. And it went up from there. That initial boost literally kickstarted West St. Paul Reader. From that initial support I was able to hire a local designer to create a logo, pay a writer to do a post on local taco joints, and hopefully pay some more writers—because it's important to pay people for their work.
It's also important to me that West St. Paul Reader is sustainable. I enjoy doing it, but it's not a hobby. It's part of my business. It takes a lot of time away from my regular freelance work—and I've got bills to pay.
So I'm incredibly grateful to see the ongoing support grow through Patreon. This is a way to support West St. Paul Reader through monthly payments. In return, it helps keep people informed, there are patron-only updates, and other extras.
When an email notification of a new patron comes through, I've pumped my first in the air or run a victory lap around my office. It's exciting because it means this thing is working.
And that has meant some strange and wonderful things. Such as:
Attending four-and-a-half-hour meetings.
Stopping while running errands so I can take pictures.
Getting a tour of the inside of the water tower.
Meeting lots of interesting people.
Researching some really arcane local election history.
Advocating for my community.
And answering lots of questions.
For a total of 83 posts.
So to everyone who has made West St. Paul Reader happen, thank you.
If you want to join the team and support West St. Paul Reader you can become a patron.
West St. PaulWest St. Paul Reader
Blogging, Twin Cities
Last Day for West St. Paul Reader Kickstarter Campaign
June 10, 2019 Kevin D. Hendricks	Leave a comment
Today is the final day of my Kickstarter campaign for West St. Paul Reader. It's a new site to help inform people about what's going on in West St. Paul.
The Kickstarter campaign hit the initial goal in less than five days and the site launched. Since then, we've been working toward stretch goals and knocking them down.
The campaign ends at midnight tonight (Central Time), so it's your last chance to back West St. Paul Reader and help us keep people informed.
I've been talking about this non-stop for the past month. I'm incredibly grateful for all the support, but I'll be happy to stop flogging it and just talk about what's happening.
Like the West St. Paul water tower.
This comment really underscores what West St. Paul Reader is all about:
"Until today, I've never seen a photo of the inside of a water tower! Thanks, West St. Paul Reader!"
–Matt Pennig
So do me a favor and back the project. Thanks.
Support West St. Paul Reader
KickstarterWest St. PaulWest St. Paul Reader
West St. Paul Reader Progress
May 24, 2019 Kevin D. Hendricks	Leave a comment
Two weeks ago I launched a Kickstarter campaign to start the West St. Paul Reader. Five days into the campaign we hit the goal and West St. Paul Reader became a reality with the first official post.
I'm super grateful for all the people who have stepped up to help this project. It's so encouraging to see this kind of support.
But it's not over.
We're still working to hit stretch goals and make West St. Paul Reader even better.
Let's talk about why you should support it.
The Rewards
First up, let's talk about what you can get out of the deal—the rewards. One of the fun things about any Kickstarter project is all the creative rewards you get for backing the project.
This one is a little different because the campaign is to start a website, so there's not a product you get as a reward. Everyone gets the rewards of the site being live. But we've still got some fun rewards that can make it worth your while:
West St. Paul coupon book: The most popular reward by far has been our coupon book. You get $350 in value for $25. See the full list of participating West St. Paul businesses and their deals.
Mayor meetup: West St. Paul Mayor Dave Napier has graciously agreed to attend a private meetup with a select group of backers. This is a fun little insider option to hang out with the mayor. Only seven slots left!
Lunch & tour: For the big spenders I'm offering a chance to hang out with me—we'll do lunch and take a tour of West St. Paul highlights. I'm not exactly sure what that tour will be yet, but I'm thinking we'll hit some lesser known sites, hit a few historic locales and show off some hidden gems of West St. Paul. This one also includes a subscription to Zebra Cat Zebra, the bi-monthly zine of local artist Carolyn Swiszcz. Only six slots left!
Businesses: For the business community, I'm offering a big sponsorship opportunity. They can get a six-month banner ad and a sponsored post on West St. Paul Reader for $300. That sponsored post can be a great way to connect with vocal locals and boost your SEO. Only nine slots left!
Local art: For just $5, backers can get a handwritten thank you postcard featuring artwork by Carolyn Swiszcz (known for the famous West St. Paul song).
Get Those Rewards
The Hyperlocal News Angle
While rewards are great, I think the bigger picture angle of offering hyperlocal news is worth considering.
Writing about my community is something that excites me. I've been doing it for five years now, slowly getting closer and closer to the idea of launching a dedicated site.
Why a West St. Paul Site?
I kept rejecting the idea of a West St. Paul blog, deciding I didn't want to commit to another time suck. But as time went on and I kept writing about West St. Paul more and more on my personal blog, I couldn't get away from this idea.
I've connected with a lot of people by writing about West St. Paul. When I went door knocking for campaigns last year, I was surprised by how often people already knew me. They'd seen my writing about West St. Paul, and it connected.
Let's face it: It's hard to know what's going on in your community.
We're a town of 20,000 people in a metro area of more than 3 million. Local media doesn't pay much attention to us. And why should they? If you want to know who's running for city council or why some road construction project is a big deal, it was really hard to find answers.
West St. Paul has an incredibly active Facebook group, but for all the benefit it brings, it's often full of so much snark and noise that it's hard to get straight answers.
So there's interest, and there's need, and I've got the passion.
The Benefit of Hyperlocal
What's so interesting about West St. Paul Reader is the potential of hyperlocal news. I think when people can be informed about their community, they're more likely to engage. When they engage with what's going on, they're more likely to connect with their neighbors.
Being informed, engaged, connected—that all creates a sense of pride in your community. You feel like you belong.
That's definitely the spirit of West St. Paul, but it's been so much stronger lately when people have been learning about what's going on, engaging in volunteer and community efforts, and connecting with each other.
Just ask how many people have attended city council meetings for the first time in the past year.
West St. Paul Stories
So what stories are we telling? West St. Paul Reader has been live for 10 days, but here are some of the local stories we've already told:
Debating Basketball: The West St. Paul city council will consider whether to return basketball hoops to two parks in the city after they were removed more than a decade ago.
Student Turned Teacher: We talk with Garlough teacher Rodrigo Sanchez, who attended the school as a fourth grade student and has now returned as a third grade teacher.
West St. Paul Days 2019: We offered a rundown of events for the annual West St. Paul celebration, including some history.
City Council Recap: We shared a recap of the May 13 city council meeting, which included the anniversary of Women of West St. Paul and a citizen upset about the city response to a problem property.
Questions: We've also provided short, simple answers to a number of questions, including when will the tunnel open, what's going on in Thompson Park, when will FoodSmith open, and, the most popular, is West St. Paul getting a Kohl's?
It's been fun sharing these stories, and we're just getting started.
But to keep it up, we need support. Please support the Kickstarter campaign, get some of those great rewards, and enable this hyperlocal effort to keep going.
Our next stretch goal is for guest columnists (because this project should be more than me). As of right now, we need another $910 to hit that goal. It's a big ask, and definitely a stretch, but I think we can do it. We've got 17 more days to go.
Thanks to everyone who has made this happen.