EPA: Hyundai Kona Electric Does 258 Miles on Full Charge
The Hyundai Kona Electric officially wallops the Nissan Leaf.
On Monday, the Environmental Protection Agency made official test results for the Hyundai Kona Electric's range public: 258 miles per charge, at 132 mpg-equivalent city, and 108 highway, for 120 mpg-equivalent combined.
These figures were reached with a 64 kilowatt-hour battery variant of the Kona Electric according to Inside EVs, which speculates that the cheaper 39.2 kWh option will not be made available stateside. Hyundai initially estimated a range of 250 miles for the Kona's electric variant according to its official specifications sheet, turning the extra eight miles into a lipstick-red cherry on top.
Its 64 kWh battery takes an estimated nine and a half hours to charge fully with the 7.2-kilowatt onboard system, but can reduce charge time to 75 minutes with a 50-kilowatt system, and to 54 minutes with a 100-kW feed.
"Hyundai has established itself as a leader in the eco-focused electric, hybrid, plug-in and hydrogen fuel cell sectors with a number of impressive entries," said Derek Joyce, Hyundai's senior manager of product and advanced powertrain PR, in an email to The Drive. "Kona Electric continues to build upon that leadership with an impressive EPA range."
"Pricing will be extremely competitive with direct competitors as with all Hyundai products," Joyce finished.
Its price may be informed by the Kona EV's prime competitors in the form of the renewed Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Bolt. The former comes in just above $30,000 with 150 miles of range, the latter about $36,000 for 240 miles of range. As hatchbacks, both are at a disadvantage to the Kona's in-vogue crossover body style. For its modest range surplus above the Bolt, the Kona could afford to slide in a couple grand beyond, but any more expensive and it could alienate its mass-market core audience, and fail to poach sales from the Tesla Model 3.
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- RELATEDExperts Fear 'Hyundai Town' in South Korea Could be Next 'Rust Belt'A once small fishing town turned into automotive capital is facing population and job troubles.READ NOW
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Email notifications of saved searches is now available on Beta.Sam.gov!
Both side of users, vendors and government, have been frustrated by the retirement of FBO.gov and the transition to Beta.Sam.gov as the authoritative source for federal contract opportunities. Change can be difficult, and the new learning curve has been a challenge. Keep you heads high, new changes have returned a beloved feature from FBO to the new system. Email notifications!
Logged in users can now select to be notified if their saved searches produce new opportunities. Notifications of search results are sent daily at 9 pm Eastern Time. You may need to adjust your view to see the latest listings by sorting the results to “last updated date”.
Additional changes included in the January 10th release can be found here.
To stay in the know about changes and improvements coming to Beta.Sam.gov, follow the Integrated Award Environment (IAE) Industry Community on GSA Interact: https://interact.gsa.gov/group/integrated-award-environment-iae-industry-community. There are training opportunities, discussions and guidance as well.
Please remember that the development of the Integrated Award Environment (merging 10 sites to 1) is an Agile development. This means that there will be ongoing changes with each update and release. Make Your Needs Known! Provide Feedback is an option on every page (almost) of Beta.Sam.gov. Use it to let the developers know about problems in the system and improvements you would like to see.
Please contact us at Info@TwoRiversCDC.Org for you government contracting support needs.


Managing and collecting model releases might become a tiresome job, specially for hobby photographers like me. Asking a stranger to sign a paper might become trick in most cases, specially in a 3rd world country where most people cannot read written english. So, is there any effecient workflow for collecting and managing model releases? Do I ask for the sign before or after the shooting session? Also, in case of a complete stranger in a street how do I approach? Do I need to collect model releases for every person I shoot even without knowing whether I will use their image in a commercial way or not?
Images used for news or artistic works do not normally require a model release. In the first case, it would be unrealistic to expect a newspaper, for example, to get model releases before publishing pictures of a large group of people in a protest. For artistic purposes, there are a large number of street photographers taking pictures of people on the streets for artistic purposes, again without release. Now, in that case, if there was a desire for the image to be used for commercial purposes, such as stock for Getty (which is where I think you're going based on your previous question), they'd be out of luck.
So, for candid photography, getting a model release does give you some additional flexibility in the use of the image, but it's not actually required if the image isn't going to be used for commercial purposes. As for approaching them, well, that's tough... I'd have a hard time with it, I think, but not everyone does.
For actual working shoots, and I've only done a couple, the answer is sign everything before shooting. This includes any model releases, and possibly the buyer contracts, that stipulates the usage rights and other details, including payment. Never do the work until you have all those figured out, it protects you and it protects the models. Don't worry, people modeling for commercial purposes generally expect the release and they won't be shocked by the contents of it.


What games don't you like but others enjoy?
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July 3rd, 2013 (01:32 AM).
~~King Of Plegia~~
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Fortree City
Oh i forgot about Yoshi's Island!I heard such good comments about it and when i played it i was like ''How is this any good?''
I like Yoshi but to an extent.I dont like the idea of swallowing every enemy on the field and have B.Mario on your back the entire time.
Believe it or not i only know 2 people who adore CoD and we are not actually friends.
I dont understand why is so exciting killing humans.I only like FPS that allow you to kill monsters and zombies not boring humans.
Friend Safari:Bug with Combee,Illumise and Heracross!
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- Sole (right) & the Skyrider Band: The takeover?
Plenty of "conscious" emcees are content to spot mop with soap and water, using elbow grease on a pet political peeve or a specific social sinkhole—education, violence, corruption, etc.
But Anticon co-founder Sole—who's "too Bakunin for your backpack rap," if you believe the best boast from his fourth and latest release, Sole & The Skyrider Band—takes the panoramic approach. He'd much rather scrub every inch with ammonia, count down the minutes until the apocalypse, and hope against hope for some sort of intervention.
So it's fitting that a chat with Sole, who now calls Arizona home, centers on a few hefty concepts from global warming to job migration. Just the sort of stuff you'd expect to plague a guy who spits psycho-fraught lines like "Up to my neck in confusion, or is it lava?"
But Sole, a 30-year-old bearded rapper named Tim Holland who was raised in Maine, believes he's doing more than spinning wheels and blowing smoke. On Skyrider, Sole aims to become a hip-hop Bakunin, the Russian radical he jokingly calls "the OG anarchist." It's a bit of a stretch, sure, but there are moments in conversation where the thought of the globetrotter landing in a Siberian work camp for, uh, picking the "wrong words" doesn't seem all that crazy: "People are poor, ignorant and disenfranchised in ways that would make George Bush jump for joy." That, followed by: "Nothing in our country is standing on solid ground. It's all teetering on the brink."
Not quite Bakunin, but the frame is crystal: Tim Holland is a no-bullshit realist, and he isn't that fond of our cultural trajectory. Which wouldn't be all that impressive (there are a few thousand protest songs, right?) if it wasn't for his vocal delivery, and the screaming-on-a-soapbox fervor it can conjure. From the opening smears of "Sad Day for Investors" to the hulking robotics of "Stupid Things Implode on Themselves," Sole sounds wily, unhinged and, most of all, scared shitless. It's in his rushed phrasing, his bedraggled tone, his crazed staccato. He blows his ideas past their own messages. Verses become felt. So even when he's not tackling the entire world—maybe when he's just taking a break to sprinkle ash on a strip mall or remind us that you can't kill God with a slingshot—the clatter still sounds like every single thing hangs in the balance. Because Sole considers it all—from the spread of McCulture to the rise of Fox News—connected like one massive, ratty tapestry.
"I've been around the country, outside of the big cities and college towns, where most Americans live," says Holland, who has called Maine, Barcelona, San Francisco and northern Arizona, where all of this record was recorded, home. "It's a lot of churches, strip malls, Ann Coulter, people learning about the outside world through watching TV that's completely removed from reality."
And don't even get him started on the music industry. Connected, remember?
"Before I did this record I was pretty dissatisfied with the industry, wishing I had way more money, doing the unhealthy thing of wondering why gimmicky acts like MIA are the biggest thing in the world and people like me still have to shovel shit," he says.
It's a tough question: Is Sole shoveling shit because it's no fun to hear what he considers the truth? Probably, but he's OK with that, he says: "I'm not interested in love songs or diary raps. I wanted to ... put my own frantic dialogue out there and use history and the present as the backdrop."
Sole & the Skyrider Band plays Downtown Event Center in Raleigh Monday, Feb. 4. The show starts at 9 p.m.
Sole has lived in quite a few places during his three decades. We asked him about the places he's called home.
FAVORITE: I didn't really appreciate Maine when I lived there. My favorite thing there is my family.
LEAST FAVORITE: The hyper-aggressive sort of depressed redneck vibe.
HOW IT AFFECTED HIS MUSIC: I was a complete outsider in Maine, so everything was speculation and a sort of left-field-obsessive take on art—I mean, rap.
FAVORITE: That Moroccan hash, oh how I miss it. That and everything being beautiful. Barcelona is how cities should be laid out.
LEAST FAVORITE: Laziness. Being an illegal immigrant. Not much good vegan food. Isolation.
HOW IT AFFECTED HIS MUSIC: I didn't produce a lot of music in the period I lived in Barcelona. I mostly read and tried to develop some new perspectives.
FAVORITE: The snow, mountain air, hikes. The isolation. I think I prefer living in the middle of nowhere.
LEAST FAVORITE: Worrying about my dogs getting eaten by mountain cougars and wolves when I let them out at night.
HOW IT AFFECTED HIS MUSIC: Arizona is basically an extension of Barcelona. I continued just reading a lot, until Skyrider came out and we formed a band and did the whole mountain men make a record thing.
FAVORITE: Anticon. I miss being around all those guys. And the food in the Bay is the best.
LEAST FAVORITE: High rent. And it got kind of boring.
HOW IT AFFECTED HIS MUSIC: Being around like minds I blossomed, but it got to a point where I wanted to separate and do my own thing.


The following colours show children that they are making the right choices:
Green: Merits for merit cards. If a pupil stays on Green for the duration of the half term, they will get to attend all of their class’ green zone party as recognition for their efforts and to acknowledge that they always do what is expected of them.
Bronze: Bronze reward – stickers. Pupils who are on Bronze ten or more times in a half term will receive a special certificate of acknowledgement in Celebration Assembly.
Silver: Silver reward – note home to parents/carers from the class teacher. Pupils who achieve Silver ten or more times in a half term will receive a special prize in school; this cold include a picnic on the park, or a special film viewing.
Gold: Gold reward – post card sent home. For those lucky ones who get reward with Gold ten times or more in a half term, will get to go on another special activity outside of school; this could include bowling, a cinema trip, or even a good old McDonald’s for lunch!
Children who end every day on Green will receive a Stay on Green badge at the end of the half-term. If they Stay on Green every day for the year they will receive a special ‘owl’ badge to keep.


Solar Panel Installation in Hamilton, IN
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This solar energy system includes 28 LG 340 solar panels, 1 SolarEdge Energy Hub inverter, 28 power optimizers, and real-time, full-system energy monitoring access. It also comes with a 25-year satisfaction guaranteed 25-year warranty.
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Everything Starts with an Idea
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Your words are powerful
Whether supporting a friend or discovering your purpose, inspire with words to live by. Simply write your message and tuck it into your jewelry to keep close to heart.
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We all have a purpose - define yours and carry your message.


A NATION CHALLENGED: THE FIREFIGHTERS
A NATION CHALLENGED: THE FIREFIGHTERS; All the Trappings of a Funeral, With the Exception of One
By CHARLIE LeDUFF
Published: October 29, 2001
The funeral could not have been more beautiful had there actually been a body.
The priest still wore his white vestments. The pipers still played. A thousand heavy hearts wiped their noses and stared at their shoes.
The veneer was there, but the coffin of Firefighter Dave Fontana was empty. It was a prop on loan from the local funeral director.
When the Mass last week let out, the limousine followed the pallbearers who in turn followed the caisson. Five-year-old Aidan Fontana sat inside the black car wearing his father's helmet.
''Mommy,'' the boy said to his mother, Marian, as he stared out the window at the spectacle of a thousand firefighters saluting him, ''I'll remember this day for the rest of my life.''
''Good,'' she said. ''That's why we did it -- for you.''
It was the first time Aidan acknowledged that there would be a life without Lt. Dave Fontana. Daddy was dead. He finally believed it and he returned the salutes of the firefighters.
The widow cried and wiped her eyes and tried to appear as though she was happy. But there was no happiness anywhere inside Marian Fontana. Grief is not a neat little package, she said. An empty box does not change what happened. She would happily move forward if she could figure which direction that was.
The borrowed box was supposed to be the first step in a new and normal life for the family and friends of Dave Fontana, one of 12 firefighters from Squad 1 in Park Slope, Brooklyn, where he also lived, who were killed at the twin towers. It brought that, but it also brought strange, unexpected effects.
The little boy has grown sullen now that he understands the meaning of Sept. 11. He throws tantrums when it's time for bed, something he never used to do. The widow is less content than before. Her days are still consumed with bills and paperwork for the Fire Department. An artist, she has no shows planned.
Mr. Fontana's fellow firefighter and friend, Sean Cummins, sits and waits with other members of Squad 1 for a good fire -- a fire in which nobody gets hurt, but that provides some action to take their minds away from the wilted flowers sitting in pitchers of black water. They have carried coffins at a half-dozen funerals and they'll attend a half-dozen more.
Mr. Cummins has trouble with the mock funerals. ''Carrying empty caskets, it doesn't feel right,'' he said at the wake as he stood away from a group of firefighters who were dusty and carried the unmistakable stench of ground zero.
It is mostly firefighters they are finding, he said, because bunker gear is not easily destroyed and has the preservative qualities of a rubber bag.
''With a little more time,'' Mr. Cummins said, ''I'm sure we could find Dave. With just a little more time.''
The combination of the funeral dress blues and his small frame gave Mr. Cummins the appearance of a steeplechase jockey. He looked into the warm sun and commented on the incongruity of the day. The shadows of the branches danced in the stained glass. The dead leaves blew down the sidewalk, making a scraping sound.
''Ah good lord,'' Mr. Cummins said as he put on his white gloves and prepared to stand over an empty coffin. ''I hope it's like this when I die and not a miserable day. Rain, now that would be awfully Irish.''
He makes his home in Rockaway Park, Queens, an Irish enclave on the west end of the Rockaway Peninsula. His house is of the Queen Anne style, large with white siding. There is a flag in his and every other yard, and one morning last week a fire truck was on the block checking hydrants. The place has a seaside New England feel, except that it is 12 miles east of Manhattan and about 90 people from the neighborhood died on Sept. 11.
One of those missing is Gerard Dewan, a firefighter who lived in the Cummins's basement. He was assigned to 3 Truck in Manhattan and his room is exactly how he left it, his bed made, the newspaper from Sept. 9 on the table.
There is to be a funeral for him in Boston this week. And again there will be no body. Sean and Maureen Cummins will attend. Then they will return home and pack the remnants of his life.
''He didn't have anybody in New York,'' Mr. Cummins said as he stood in his bathtub repairing some leaking pipes, a job he put off for six weeks. ''Gerry really found a family here with us.''
The small details of domestic life are monumental tasks these days, Mrs. Cummins said. The pipes still drip, the garden needs tending, the children still need to be put off to school. Then again, she said, married men are more fortunate. At least there is a routine for them.
''I know there is a part of him who wishes he were in the towers that day,'' she said as she put on the kettle. ''He's tough in public, but he's weak with us.''
Last week, Mr. Cummins installed a fake fireplace in his living room so he could sit with his children and stare at the electric flames. It reminds him of simpler times in Ireland, where he grew up in Dublin. He can sit for hours and say nothing.
Mr. Cummins and Lt. Dennis Farrell, the leader of Squad 1, were supposed to speak at Mr. Fontana's funeral, but neither did. Mr. Cummins could not bring himself to regale strangers with stories of their firehouse antics. And Lieutenant Farrell felt he had spoken at too many funerals already.
He, too, was close with Mr. Fontana. As leader of the squad, he has taken on many of the burdens of putting the station house back together. The widows of his men turn to him. He's a strong man. They will have to put their own homes back together, but it's nice to know the lieutenant is there.
Aidan Fontana is coping better at school now. When Mrs. Fontana drops him there, he doesn't cling so much. That's progress, she said. The kids made him a book to make him feel happy. It told stories about him and his father. He said he liked it. He likes the letters and presents people send him too.
He points out pictures of his father that are scattered around the living room and speaks of their time together in the past tense. He's got good memories of the beach, of being kissed by him.
It's worse for the mother. She has wept publicly only once, at the funeral as she delivered her husband's eulogy. She spoke of how they fell in love many times, how he proposed in the park in the thunder and lightning, how he would whisper ''I love you'' in the sleeping boy's ear so he would know it deep in his subconscious.
Mrs. Fontana threw a large party after the funeral and many of Dave's admirers drank and ate and laughed late into the evening.
The coffin was returned and she packed her bags to run away for the weekend. The apartment was littered with details of the funeral.
''It wasn't a funeral for me,'' she said. ''I didn't have a body. I don't feel closure and maybe I never will.''
This is the second article of a series on the lives of those left behind by Dave Fontana, one of 12 firefighters from an elite fire and rescue unit in Brooklyn killed on Sept. 11 at the World Trade Center.
Photos: AT LAST, ACCEPTANCE -- Because of the funeral, Aidan Fontana, 5, acknowledged for the first time that his father was dead. But there have also been other, less helpful effects.; A PASSAGE -- Marian Fontana held the funeral for her husband as the first step to a new and normal life. But her days are still consumed with bills and Fire Department paperwork. (Photographs by Nancy Siesel/The New York Times)(pg. B1); At the wake for Dave Fontana, firefighters took turns standing guard by the empty coffin. ''With a little more time,'' a colleague said, ''I'm sure we could find Dave. With just a little more time.'' (Nancy Siesel/The New York Times)(pg. B9)


The plight of our planet’s tortoises and turtles has never been worse according to a newly released report, “The World’s 25+ Most Endangered Tortoises and Freshwater Turtles – 2011.”
The report highlights the 25 most endangered tortoises and freshwater turtles, explaining that they will all become extinct in the next few decades without concerted conservation efforts.
Authored by the Turtle Conservation Coalition, the report was released at a regional workshop hosted by Wildlife Reserves Singapore and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS).
Number one on the list is the Pinta Island tortoise (Chelonoidis abingdonii), which is in fact the rarest reptile in the world. Sadly only a single male of this species, ‘Lonesome George’, remains alive today.
Close behind is the Red River giant softshell turtle (Rafetus swinhoei) of China and Vietnam. With only four animals left, the threat of extinction hangs over this species.
Of the 25 most endangered turtles, over two-thirds (17 species) are from Asia, due to decades of massive exploitation in the region. Although evolutionary marvels, their armoured shells no longer ensure their survival against intensive collection.
“Turtles are being unsustainably hunted throughout Asia,” said co-author Brian D. Horne of WCS.
“Every tortoise and turtle species in Asia is being impacted in some manner by the international trade in turtles and turtle products. In just one market in Dhaka, Bangladesh we saw close to 100,000 turtles being butchered for consumption during a religious holiday, and we know of at least three other such markets within the city.”
Worldwide, the hunting of turtles is at vastly unsustainable levels. Furthering the problem is a lucrative international black-market trade in pet turtles and tortoises, which has escalated prices of some of the rarer species into the tens of thousands of dollars.
Better enforcement of existing trade laws, together with habitat protection and captive breeding are all crucial in bolstering existing turtle populations and preventing turtle species from going extinct.
To read and download the report, visit Turtle Survival Alliance.
Explore ARKive’s turtles and tortoises.
Alex Royan, ARKive Species Text Author


The western harbor area of Amsterdam is home to Prodock, an “incubator” for innovative startups with one shared goal: contributing to sustainability. ReefSystems is one of them. This Dutch startup was one of the nominees for the Offshore Wind Innovation Challenge 2020 award.
Jesse de Bont and Max Dijkstra give a tour of the warehouse where the two partners in ReefSystems are working hard on three different innovations that are all aimed at stimulating biodiversity, in this case underwater.
It all started with MOSES (Modular Sealife System), a multifunctional, easy to install, modular artificial reef system. The idea came from Dijkstra: “I wanted to create objects that are nature enhancing and would still be there after I was gone.” He approached the University of Wageningen and worked with a professor who specialized in marine ecology on his final project. This he completed in 2018. After a few years of working alone, he got into a conversation with childhood friend De Bont and they decided to work together.
At that time, the MOSES system was already being tested for the first time on the outside of the Brouwers Dam, where the introduction of the Haringvliet locks had reduced biodiversity. With De Bont’s business acumen, two funds were soon brought in. From that moment on things went fast.
Text continues below the image
Offshore Wind Innovation Challenge
The MOSES system also prompted Offshore Wind Innovators to contact the men and interest them in participating in the annual Offshore Wind Innovation Challenge. Could ReefSystems perhaps also come up with a biodegradable version, one that would last for 25 years, was the question. “We immediately started brainstorming and submitted the application,” says Dijkstra. In doing so, with each step further, they eventually ended up in the finals.
The final design is a biodegradable block that can be placed on the seabed in offshore wind farms, creating a shellfish reef where fish and reefs can grow and multiply safely. To do this, they experimented with different types of materials to make the blocks biodegradable, such as calcium-containing tabby concrete, solanyl: a biodegradable plastic made from starch from potato peels, flax fibers, manila rope and artificial scouring protection from seaweed. As the shell reef grows, the object slowly disappears. When the reef is complete, the man-made object is completely gone.
“The whole development was fun and educational, we did an awful lot of figuring out how to make this system economically feasible and in doing so, what obstacles were to overcome in terms of installation, efficiency, affordability and building locally,” De Bont tells.
At the moment the project is on hold for a while. That is unfortunate for both men, but they are ready if there is need or if an opportunity rises where they can do a pilot with De Rijke Noordzee. All they need is a budget, they can do the entire production in-house. “It’s a long and difficult process,” says De Bont. “There are a lot of requirements. End users have to be convinced of the innovation and that it constitutes a safe and biological solution for the stimulation of biodiversity. As a startup, of course, you want everything to go a little faster.”
Text continues below the image
While the biodegradable reef is still waiting, Dijkstra and De Bont are busy with their other innovations. They have designed SPECTER, a multi-layered hanging case that can be attached to dam walls below the waterline. In it, native aquatic plants are placed in burlap sacks. After a season, the roots of the plants grow through the sacks and attach themselves to the case. The hanging cases serve as hiding places for fish, which in turn is good for fish migration. The innovation is in line with the EU Water Framework Directive in terms of water quality and biodiversity. The innovation is being tested at five sites and, if proven successful, is an ideal product for water authorities.
First large-scale commercial project with MOSES
With the MOSES system, ReefSystems is already well on the way. The first system installed in Zeeland proved to be a success. Within a year it was already completely covered with aquatic vegetation and attracting underwater species. When the men moved into Prodock they were asked by the Port of Amsterdam if they could also install it in the Noordzeekanaal. They selected three locations. Meanwhile the reef blocks are also being applied in Panama (in partnership with Boskalis and other parties) and Kenya, as substrate for new reef in places where the old reef has been destroyed or damaged.
This summer they also won their first commercial contract for the MOSES system. For a combination project of dike reinforcement and biodiversity stimulation near Lauwersoog on the Wadden Sea, ReefSystems will install thirteen structures that function as artificial reefs. They were awarded the contract by contractor Heijmans and engineering firm Arcadis. The installation will take place in the first week of November. The structures will be spread over a number of kilometers and monitored for two years by researchers from two universities. The monitoring should show what works best and is cost-effective, after which a decision will be made whether to extend the project along nine kilometers of dike. Production is already in full swing.
Large-scale production and testing at Deltares
In August, a new machine was put into operation. A mechanical engineer designed a semi-automatic mould. With the new acquisition, large-scale production is now possible. Previously this was limited to five structures per day. The new machine, and related increased production capacity, allows ReefSystems to offer the product more cheaply.
In the meantime, the company is also developing a new connecting system. De Bont: “Up to now we glue the constructions together with marine epoxy. With the new moulds we are also introducing a new connecting system. By using a bolt-nut system we can guarantee that the connections will be able to withstand storms. We will test the stability and strength of our structures in cooperation with TU Delft at Deltares’ wave test facilities.”
Actually, the more permanent MOSES system could just as well be used for wind farms, both agree. At least, if regulations no longer dictate that the structure must be removed along with the wind turbine after x-number of years. “If the artificial reef supports nature development in wind farms, then leave it in place. If you remove the reef you will destroy everything,” says Dijkstra. “Encourage wind farms to become multifunctional aquaculture, where seaweed, oysters and mussels can be grown and fish attracted. This will create a spill-over effect of kilometers around the wind farm. The fishing industry then benefits from that as well.”
Moreover, by linking the system to another function such as protection against erosion at the base of a wind turbine or on a submarine cable or as an ecological add-on for anchoring systems in, for example, seaweed production or floating solar parks within wind farms, a win-win situation is created for everyone.
Although the innovations of Dijkstra en De Bont contribute to the absorption of CO2, it is also important for the men to make the production process as CO2-neutral as possible. They have been working with as many recycled materials as possible from the start. They are also working with concrete experts to increase CO2 neutrality by working with bio-cement. Dijkstra: “R&D is important to us, by continuing to innovate we can keep sustainability high.”
The men realize that with their mission to create products that enhance biodiversity they have not chosen the easiest path, because nature itself obviously does not pay. Fortunately they can tell that there is growing consciousness that people also benefit from more biodiversity and that there is now a need for this. In combination with another function such as dyke reinforcement, breakwater, anchoring, erosion protection and so on, there is, as mentioned earlier with wind farms, ultimately a win-win situation for everyone.
Text: Sabine Lankhorst
This article appeared in the September edition of Windpowernl. All images: copyright ReefSystems


How To Find The Best Appetizer Catering ServiceJune 4, 2016 - Party Catering
No parties or events are complete without proper food menu. When you are
planning and organising a party or any event, you have to keep a lot of things
in mind. Apart from decoration, themes, guest invitation etc, special attention
should be given to food. A nice and scrumptious food platter can quickly win
hearts of many people. Thus, while selecting the party platter catering service for your party or event, you have to
be very much careful. Delicious food can undoubtedly add a different dimension
to your overall party.
How To Choose The Best?
While selecting the right catering service for your party, you have to
keep a lot of things in your mind. There are some important factors that you
need to consider. Here are some of the important factors:
An experienced service is very much important to make sure that all the food
arrangement is done properly. No doubt, an experienced service understands the
clientâ€™s need properly and also knows what can make the event even more
When you are decorating your party or event venue under a theme, it is very
important to make sure that the catering service also maintains that theme. You
need to select such a service who is expert in following the themes. Before you
appoint any particular service, talk to them about the theme and discuss all
the essential factors.
appetizers: One of the most important things that people love in parties is a
good appetizer menu. So, you have to make sure that you choose the best appetizer catering service offering the
best platter for the appetizers. If you have any personal choice or favourites you
can also share with them.
No doubt, everyone wants the best quality food in the most affordable price
range. You can also look for such a service which provides you with the best
food platter in the best price. But never compromise with the quality of foods
and service just to get it at an affordable rate. Then the party, no matter how
much grand it is, will remain incomplete.
Best Food Service
A professional party platter
catering service knows exactly how to serve the foods and what kind of food
will be perfect for a particular event. You can completely rely on the best
professional service whether it is a wedding, normal family party, Christmas party
or any formal event. So, you need to look for all the above mentioned factors
while you are choosing a service for you.
Finger food catering services
are one of the most growing services in Oakland. Due to increasing number of parties
and events, these services are gaining a lot of importance and popularity. So, undoubtedly
you will get a lot of options to choose from one of these catering services. Make
sure to discuss all your needs and preferences while hiring them. It is very
important for the service to keep all those needs in mind. They have to plan
accordingly and execute that during the party day.


The Volokh Conspiracy
Mostly law professors | Sometimes contrarian | Often libertarian | Always independent
In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of Schenck v. United States and Abrams v. United States, the SMU Law Review has published an important symposium issue with a range of outstanding contributors reflecting on the legacy of those decisions.
The contributors are Lack Bloom (my SMU colleague), Larry Alexander, Kent Greenawalt, Ronald Krotoszynski, Mari Matsuda, Rodney Smolla, Alexander Tsesis, G. Edward White, Christopher Wolfe, and me.
My own essay, "Born in Dissent: Free Speech and Gay Rights," can be viewed and downloaded on SSRN here. My focus in this particular essay is on a little-known gay political organization that formed almost fifty years before the Stonewall Inn riots in 1969. From the abstract:
It is no stretch to say that Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes created the modern First Amendment a hundred years ago in his opinions in Schenck and Abrams. It is equally true that the First Amendment created gay America. For advocates of gay legal and social equality, there has been no more reliable and important constitutional text. The freedoms it guarantees protected gay cultural and political institutions from state regulation designed to impose a contrary vision of the good life. Gay organizations, clubs, bars, politicians, journals, newspapers, radio programs, television shows, web sites—all of these—would have been swept away in the absence of a strong and particularly libertarian First Amendment. It shielded gay political efforts when most of the country thought homosexuals were not just immoral, but also sick, dangerous, and criminal.
This essay tells the story of the Chicago-based Society for Human Rights, the very first gay political organization in the United States, which was founded by Henry Gerber in 1924—five years after Schenck, and before the full meaning of the Abrams dissent was accepted First Amendment doctrine. The police quickly shut down the group and arrested its members.
Justice Holmes himself never met Gerber. He would have found the idea of a gay-rights organization incomprehensible, something more akin to the bizarre sex cult Chicago police thought they had discovered rather than the noble experiment Gerber thought he was launching. But if it's true that the best test of truth is the power of the thought to get itself accepted in the competition of the market, the idea of freedom and equality for LGBT people has attained the status of Holmesian truth.
As scholars like William Eskridge, Carlos Ball, and others have demonstrated, I argue that the First Amendment gave the LGBT-rights movement the vital breathing space it needed to emerge as a political, legal, and ultimately moral force.
This history of protected dissent, I assert in the conclusion, should inform how we think about symmetrical protection for those who dissent from various LGBT-rights projects today:
The norms the state enforces are as changeable as culture itself. When LGBT advocates defend the role of the state as enforcer of social norms at the expense of speech and expressive association, I think about the painful gay ordeal with the caretaker state. In Gerber's Germany, there were nightclubs for gays in the 1920s and concentration camps for them in the 1940s. The relative tolerance of Gerber's pre-Depression New York gave way to the repression of the 1930s.
There is a cautionary lesson in this. Somewhere, someday we may again hear the state's call to heel. Comes that day we will look for sanctuary. We will be relieved to find the constitutional experiment known as the First Amendment still going strong, large enough to accommodate dissent about ultimate good and sturdy enough to fend off the state's long and ready list of worthy causes.
You can view the whole symposium issue with links to the individual essays here. My thanks go to my research assistant, Nita Hight, and to the editors and staff members of the SMU Law Review.


I woke up on this lovely Sunday morning to 4 lovely new followers! Which means I am nearly at my first milestone!
I promised before I started blogging that i'd set myself some milestones
1. 50 GFC Followers
2. 100 GFC Followers
3. 200 GFC Followers
And as it continues in this pattern! At each of these milestones I would hold a giveaway and/or a competition!
This would also be the same with my YouTube channel - if you haven't checked it out
You can get there here - http://www.youtube.com/user/sophisticatexxvlog
I am very excited to be only 2 followers away from my first milestone! I can't wait to hold this giveaway for you guys!
Follow me on twitter - @sophisticatexx
Subscribe to my channel - sophisticatexxvlog


Many football fans, including Chicago Bears‘ fans, have no idea who Matt Blanchard is. Some know who he is, but don’t know much about him. If you fall into this category, it is time to get to know Blanchard.
Originally an undrafted free agent, Blanchard is coming into his second year in the NFL and did not make the 53-man roster last year. He did, however, sneak through waivers and land on the practice squad. At 24 years old, 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Blanchard came from the University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater, a Division-III school. He comes into preseason as the third-string quarterback, but with another strong preseason outing, Blanchard could possibly steal the No. 2 spot away from veteran Josh McCown.
Fun fact of the day:
In a three-year period, Blanchard, led his team to an undefeated record while completing over 70 percent of his passes, won three national championships and only threw five interceptions in that process. Talk about overlooked!
Blanchard has good size and surprising athleticism for a good-sized guy. As his college numbers have stated, he makes good decisions and does not throw many interceptions. He has above-average arm strength. He has displayed the ability to abandon the pocket and gain rushing yards (452 yards in 2011). Blanchard is also very alert at the line of scrimmage before the snap and was known in college for calling a good amount of successful audibles.
After redshirting his freshman year and hardly playing his second year for his former Division-II school, Blanchard transferred to Wisconsin-Whitewater where he went on to play his last three season. In those three years, Blanchard threw for just under 5,000 yards, 44 touchdowns and, again, only five total interceptions. Not to mention he completely over 70 percent of his passes and was a constant threat to leave the pocket and grab 10-15 extra yards. Blanchard won the championship each year while there, and was one of four finalists for the Galiardi Trophy. As a senior, Blanchard threw for nearly 3,000 yards.
Blanchard has never made a regular season appearance, but he did play in all four preseason games last year. In only his second week of the preseason, he showed potential while completing 9-of-16 passes for just under 100 yards in limited time.
Last year, Blanchard came in as the fourth-string quarterback behind Jay Cutler, Jason Campbell and McCown. This year, he has the chance to compete for the second-string job against McCown. It will take a convincing preseason to do so, but with the amount of talent Blanchard has, I would not rule it out. Head coach Marc Trestman could use him as a potential pet project and groom him into a possible replacement if things don’t go well for Cutler in his contract season.
Blanchard is a bit of an unknown at this point, but he is still young and has the potential to be a surprise starting quarterback in this league. The biggest hoop he will have to jump through is getting noticed and the right amount of playing time to develop. Development will be key, much like for most rookies, but with innovative offensive mind like Trestman’s, Blanchard could find himself in the right place with something to prove.
Jay Cutler. He may not have the arm or raw ability that Cutler does, but he has the size and potential to be an above-average starting QB in this league.


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – A proposal to impose term limits on school board members will be taken up Monday as the Florida Constitution Revision Commission begins to evaluate 103 measures aimed at changing the state Constitution.
The term-limit measure (Proposal 43) is sponsored by Commissioner Erika Donalds, a Collier County School Board member. The amendment, if placed on the 2018 ballot and adopted by voters, would limit school board members to no more than eight years in office, or two consecutive four-year terms.
The proposal is one of three school-related measures sponsored by Donalds that will be reviewed by the commission's Education Committee, as the overall 37-member commission begins four days of committee meetings next week on a host of proposals.
Another Donalds measure (P33) would require the appointment of school superintendents, which is now done by 26 of the 67 school districts, with the majority of superintendents still elected by voters. Donalds also wants to eliminate salaries for school board members in another proposal (P32).
The committee meetings are only a first step in advancing the potential constitutional changes. To end up on the 2018 general ballot, 22 of the 37 members of the commission would eventually have to vote for each proposal.
The commission has a May 10 deadline for its proposals, which also would need to win support from 60 percent of voters during the November 2018 election to be enacted.
Some 14 education-related proposals have been filed by commission members, making it a top category. The commission meets once every 20 years and has the ability to directly place proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot.
There were also 14 proposals related to the judicial system filed by commission members.
More than a half-dozen of those proposals will be taken up Tuesday by the Judicial Committee.
There are four different proposals that all would change the mandatory retirement age for Florida judges to 75, increasing it over the current 70-year-old limit.
Former Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, has a variation (P8) of that proposal, which would also require state appellate judges, including Supreme Court justices, to face confirmation votes in the state Senate.
The General Provisions Committee will begin hearing seven proposals on Tuesday, including a measure (P29), sponsored by Commissioner Rich Newsome, an Orlando lawyer, that would require Florida businesses to use the federal E-verify system to prevent the hiring of illegal immigrants.
Businesses could face the suspension of their licenses if they fail to comply or if they hire illegal workers, according to measure.
On Wednesday, the same committee could hear a proposal (P67) from Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa, that would ban greyhound racing in Florida beginning in July 2021.
The commission's Ethics and Elections Committee will begin two days of hearings on Wednesday on five proposals, including a measure (P11), sponsored by Commissioner Sherry Plymale of Palm City, that seeks to close the so-called “write-in candidate loophole.”
Plymale's measure would let all voters participate in primaries if all of the candidates, except write-in candidates, are from the same party. Currently, the presence of general election write-in candidates keep primaries limited to only voters in one party.
The committee will also consider a proposal (P62), sponsored by Commissioner Bill Schifino, a Tampa lawyer, that would let “no party affiliation” voters designate and vote in party primaries.
A proposal (P56), sponsored by Commissioner Frank Kruppenbacher, an Orlando lawyer, would eliminate the use of public financing for statewide candidates and will also be considered by the Ethics and Elections Committee.


At first, I wasn't too sure if I would like the gelatos that came in the technique kit, but I have discovered how versatile they are and you can really use them with anything! I know that they are super "blendable" and great on canvases, but I always like to see what else can be done with different mediums. I tried out a lot of different ways to use them, but I think my favorite way is to combine them with mists. For these to tags that I made, I mixed them with the Smooch Spritz that also came in this month's technique kit to get the background for my tags. AND, if you would like more details, I have a video tutorial how to create this background on the You Tube!
I had a lot of 12X12 "scraps" from the paper left over from my wall hanging that I made (see post below), which were perfect for adding lots of layers for other layouts. the Dusty Attic frame is not in the kit, but it just went so well with my design, that I had to add it. I painted it with Silks paints, one from the kit, and the green is "Fern" that I already had. The black paper is punched with the Martha Stewart Embroidery Deep Edge punch. I used Perfect Pearls to trace around the paper under the photo.
"Life is But a Dream" Layout
Again, more use of my gutted paper from the wall hangings. This layout is based on this month's sketch, with WAY more layers. The butterflies are from Angelica's etsy shop. the dainty vines are from a Memory Box corner die.
Thanks for looking!


Riad in Arabic means garden, these traditional homes open inward to a garden courtyard lending themselves to sensitive conversion to intimate and individual boutique hotels. The architecture is amazing and you could not be better located for the sights.
What makes staying in our four Riads even more special, and fantastic value for money, is the small team of dedicated staff who will be on hand to help, reassure and advise throughout your stay. These perfect little hideaways each have seven or fewer guest rooms so we can provide a truly personal service.
It is the small things that count: complimentary toiletries; breakfast served at the time of your choice; delicious evening meals individually prepared to your taste and dietary requirements; WiFi; a complimentary map of the old town; help booking restaurants and excursions; nothing is too much trouble. We are pleased to offer the loan of a local pay-as-you-go mobile to stay in touch with your English speaking hosts while you are out exploring.


Tversted Jazzy Days has grown into a highly recognized and respected jazz festival, the audience but the extent of jazz musicians from Denmark and the rest of the world.
And we are very pleased.
Therefore get Jazzydays Chairman Niels Ole Sørensen many emails and phone calls. And when Jazzydays is something everyone in Jazzydays board are doing in their spare time, we are not able to reply to all mails and phone calls.
AND remember we are a festival only make this one festival in week 42 in October.
We do NOT concerts year round.
Therefore, you should do the following if you want to be considered for our jazz festival every year in the week 42nd
Mail to Niels Ole Sørensen in early January each year. NOT per. telephone.
We do not have the resources to answer the many emails, so:
If you haven´t heard from us by. mail or phone call before April 1 you are NOT to come into consideration for this year’s jazz festival.
All are welcome to send an email but check our profile in order not to send an email vain in advance.
We have, for example. not traditional jazz and modern jazz to our festival. Nor decidedly blues music. We are a jazz festival.
Contact Niels Ole Sørensen here: firstname.lastname@example.org


Ordering movies and electronics online often saves you money — sometimes a lot of it — but it also requires a bit of patience. You always play the “does the local warehouse have it?” lottery, or hope that FedEx won’t sit on your box until the last possible minute, making a delivery from the next town over take three days (true story!). But what if you could have your precious online order now — right now — and without paying an extra $10 delivery charge?
Walmart thinks it may have a solution that includes trading store credits to you and your neighbors in exchange for local deliveries of in-stock items. No, seriously. Your next TV might be delivered by one of the People of Walmart.
Of course, crowd-sourced delivery of this sort would bring with it a plethora of legal issues that would have to be ironed out before Walmart could even consider actually going forward with it — the foremost being, “What happens if Joe-Bob down the street drives off with my TV?” Actually, though, there are some existing models to follow.
While Zipments started out with a pure crowd-sourcing approach, the company now does more screening of drivers before allowing them to be part of its delivery network, Chief Executive and co-Founder Garrick Pohl said in an interview. It now serves big cities including New York and Chicago.
Theft, fraud and late deliveries have never been a problem, but insurance and licenses were an obstacle, Pohl explained.
Drivers often need personal liability insurance to cover package delivery activities. Cargo insurance is also needed. Zipments self-insures this risk up to $250, but the firm encourages its couriers to buy additional coverage for higher-value packages, Pohl said.
So assuming that Walmart’s lawyers survive the mere suggestion of such a program, they might find some way to make it work. Of course, with a corporation this size, there will probably be so much red tape that FedEx shipping would probably end up being cheaper.
Best Buy probably got it right ten years ago when it bought a couple of VW Beetles for the Geek Squad. Because by the time Walmart’s volunteer delivery-customers cover their bases in terms of liability insurance, they may as well become full-time employees. Walmart could have a designated area store with a vehicle that can run the errands, and clear existing employees to perform the task, assuming it actually has any to spare.
Either way, the fact that the company is considering something like this at all is just downright kooky.


Photography is super interesting, but I guess it's in my blood to want to experiment with different things and go a step further.
If we already have met, you probably know that I am a huge fan of David Lynch. His work, either with his films than his paintings, had a real impact on me since my teenage years. Also, I am fascinated about what has led him from painting to cinema.
He told that one day, he was smoking a cigarette in his painting studio, looking and getting lost in his thoughts in front of a large size canvas he was working on, when he started to hear a whistle, like wind, coming from it. He can swear that he has seen some leaves starting to move in the painting. Since then, he has been obsessed with the idea of a moving painting with sound... Well, I guess he kinda succeeds to achieve his vision haha.
When I started going around London with my camera, the Acid Dream project has come to my mind (oh! Please, don't get me wrong with my Lynch reference! No comparison obviously), I wanted to tell the stories some places have whispered to me. Because when you take a photo, you don't shoot what you see, you shoot what you feel.


Sauerland Event knows how to turn a fighter into a world champion on the five continents; just look at Nicolay Valuev. If Sauerland Event decides to invest in a boxer, it’s best to keep an eye on him. That’s why I called media director Heiko Mallwitz asking him for the phone number of heavyweight Francesco Pianeta.
Born in Italy and resident in Gelsenkirchen (Germany), Francesco fought in both countries building a record of 5-0, with 4 victories coming by way of knockout. His first bout took place on July 2, 2005, so he has just 14 months of experience as a professional. What makes Francesco Pianeta special? Many things. First of all, he is skilled enough to have Manfred Wolke as his trainer. As an amateur, Wolke won the gold medal at the 1968 Olympics in Mexico City in the 147 lbs. division. Today, Wolke is one of the most respected trainers in the business. If Sauerland Event put Wolke in the Italian’s corner, it means that they want Francesco to learn from the best and not to make any mistakes.
Another reason for following Pianeta’s career is that Germany is the hottest boxing market in Europe: the purses are bigger than in almost any other country, large arenas regularly draw more than 10,000 fans and the shows are seen by millions of people all over the Europe. Even many American champions would welcome the opportunity to fight in Berlin. If Francesco becomes a star in Germany, he will get exposure everywhere. Italian sports newspapers already wrote many articles about him. That’s logical since the only good heavyweight we have is Paolo Vidoz and a second competitive fighter would help greatly the popularity of boxing in Italy.
The third reason to consider Francesco special is that he has everything to appeal the American market. How many heavyweights get headlines and draw large crowds in the East Coast only because they have Italian blood? Pianeta was born in Italy and can fight. He is also handsome enough to become popular with the ladies, the ones who buy the tickets to see Oscar De La Hoya even if they don’t know anything about boxing. When Pianeta’s record will be 15-0, don’t be surprised to see him at Madison Square Garden. It could happen, considering Sauerland Event’s major connections in the United States.
Now, let’s ask Francesco Pianeta about his career.
Francesco, how did you get in touch with Sauerland Event?
I was training in Gelsenkirchen, when a man noticed me and thought that I was skilled. He called Sauerland Event’s Sports Director Mr. Hagen Doering and I got the opportunity to go to Berlin and show him what I could do. Mr. Doering reimbursed me the train ticket and paid me the hotel for two weeks. I trained at the gym located next to the famed Olympiastadion. Mr. Doering came to see me in action every day and he offered me a contract with Sauerland Event. I accepted with enthusiasm.
Are you satisfied with your career thus far?
Yes, I am. Sauerland Event gave me Manfred Wolke as trainer and I can only improve under his direction. He keeps telling me to calm down when I get into the ring. My intention is always to launch as many consecutive punches as I can, but he says that it is more useful doing the right move at the right time. He wants me to keep at distance from my opponent, hit him in the right spots, create an opening and then score the KO. I got the opportunity to spar with some more experienced boxers like Timo Hoffman, Cenzig Koc, Henry Akinwande and 2004 Olympic super heavyweight champion Alexander Povetkin (who is 8-0 as a professional). Once, I also sparred with Nicolay Valuev. Right now, my training schedule is made of two daily sessions: two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon, for six days a week.
Who was your idol growing up?
George Foreman. I saw his greatest fights on tape. I was greatly impressed by Foreman’s destruction of Joe Frazier. It was unbelievable! The champion of the world, the man who knocked down and defeated Muhammad Ali, beaten up like a heavy bag. Right now, my idol is Paolo Vidoz. I consider him a great fighter. His recent loss to Vladimir Virchis (KO 6) happened because of a lucky punch. I don’t think that Virchis could win the rematch.
Did watching the legends make you want to become a boxer?
Not really, my first love was muay thai. I competed in 10 bouts, building a record of 9-1. I fought in Germany, Holland and Switzerland. The rules allowed punches, kicks, sweeps and knees. Hitting with the elbows was illegal. My only loss happened in Gelsenkirchen, right in front of my hometown fans. It still drives me crazy, I know that I won. In Germany, muay thai draws an average of 2,000 people and the professional fighters who win major titles can get paid up to 5,000 Euros ($ 6,500). Nobody has major sponsors. I realized that I had to switch to boxing to make it big.
What’s your immediate goal?
I would like to become Italian heavyweight champion. My parents are from Corigliano, in the Calabria region. I was born in Cosenza on October 8, 1984 and lived there for the first six years of my life. In 1990, my father brought us to Germany where he worked in a butcher store. I always kept close ties with Italy and would consider a big honor winning the Italian title. That’s why I was happy when Mr. Doering told me that I would fight in Rome. It happened last May 20, the ring was put in Piazza di Siena and there were at least 10,000 people (Note: the show was free of charge). I will fight again in Rome next October 13.
If you become Italian champion, the next step should be the European title.
I hope so, but I don’t take these decisions. I trust Mr. Doering, I will do what he advises me to do.
Would you like to fight in the United States?
I never considered it as an option. My priority is to make it big in Italy and Germany. There a lot of worthy opponents in Europe, there are major television networks who can give popularity to a fighter and there are sponsors. I can make money staying here.


Health Department tells Local Brewing Company ‘No Dogs Allowed’
Within North Dakota, these places are considered food establishments, but brewers argue it is almost impossible to contaminate beer
MAPLETON, N.D. — Many breweries throughout the country are pet friendly, but the Department of Health says establishments in North Dakota have different rules.
This change is affecting businesses in our area.
Those who are looking to kick back and enjoy a cold one usually have something in common…
“You get people from all walks of life in the community,” said Sam Corr, the owner of Drumconrath Brewing Company.
When they walk through the door of a brewery, they want to enjoy the experience with others.
“Having not just you and your spouse but your entire family and that includes four legged animals,” said Don Kenna, the owner of Prairie Brothers Brewing Company.
But after a recent health inspection, Dunconrath Brewing Company in Mapleton is saying ‘no’ to four legged friends.
“Someone came in and asked if they could bring their dog in while he was standing there and i looked at him and was like I guess I’m not sure because other breweries can do it and his look was quite shocked,” Corr said.
Corr says in North Dakota there are no brewery regulations so cities like Fargo and Bismarck do things their own way.
“Myself and a couple of the other small operations are under the guise of the state,” Corr said.
Within North Dakota, these places are considered food establishments, but brewers argue it is almost impossible to contaminate beer.
“The process of brewing sanitizes that’s what makes beer so different than any other food product,” Kenna said.
And Kenna says a dog walking around a taproom is less harmful than a human walking in with the flu.
“A dog in a brewery is not going to ruin the beer,” Kenna said.
While Corr is listening to the state, he is also catering to his customers.
Pups may not be allowed in here but when the patio is back out for the summer, these pups can join in out here.
He says this change won’t stop customers from coming right in.
“At the end of the day it’s still a place where they like to go and they’re not going to stop coming just because they can’t bring their dog,” Corr said.
Breweries have taken over faster than more cities can keep up with.
“Dogs really do have a big part in this kind of brewing community,” Kenna said.
And those in North Dakota want to be a part of the trend.
“People should be able to bring their dogs to more places,” Kenna said.
Both owners say that the beer does not hit the air until being poured into a glass, and having a dog friendly tap room would only enhance business.


MOVIE REVIEW: SAFE HOUSE
Director: Daniel Espinosa
Screenplay: David Guggenheim
Denzel Washington as Tobin Frost
Ryan Reynolds as Matt Weston
Vera Farmiga as Catherine Linklater
Brendan Gleeson as David Barlow
Sam Shepard as Harlan Whitford
Fares Fares as Emile Vargas
TRT: 115 minutes, (R) for violence/disturbing content including bloody images, and for pervasive language.
Peacock Feathers: 3 1/2 out of 5
By: Marcus Thorpe
Denzel Washington must be one heck of an actor. He did something that has never happened in a movie I have seen in his latest Safe House. He found a way to make me really like a Ryan Reynolds performance! In all seriousness, Safe House is gritty, it’s loud, it’s interesting and it is really good. Of course you should have no doubt that Denzel Washington is going to be able to carry a movie by himself, but Ryan Reynolds really steps up and adds so much to a very strong script and makes this a really fun movie.
Tobin Frost is a man that everybody wants. He has leaked critical information for more than a decade on the highest levels of security in several countries. Matt Weston has dreams of leading CIA teams; instead he is a “Housekeeper.“ He is not going to clean your house, instead he keeps a safe house in South Africa, if the highest levels of security need to hold someone, this is where they go. After months of nothing happening, the phone rings for Matt Weston. They want to transport a suspect that has walked right into an American Consulate, its Tobin Frost. When Frost is brought in by a team and the interrogation process starts, a vigilante group comes knocking too, they want him too. After both teams battle in shootout, Weston knows he has to get out to live, and he decides to get noticed by the higher-ups, he has to secure the package that is Frost. Along the way Weston learns that even though Frost is in handcuffs, he is still very much in charge. Who can he trust, is it the CIA, or should he put his trust in the man who has betrayed his country?
What can you say; Denzel Washington can do it all. Shining in movies like Philadelphia, Hurricane, Malcolm X, Washington has shown that he can still bring it in a physical action movie too. On the heels what might not be huge blockbuster winners in Unstoppable, and The Book of Eli, both of those performances should be recognized for the amazing talent this actor still has. In Safe House, Washington is shot at, chased, in car crashes, and never skips a beat. He tells a story without anything happening around him, then turns it up a notch when the writers and directors ask him to. The mind games his character plays are a perfect fit for Denzel, his eyes, his ticks, he fits perfectly into the smartest man in the room role, and still seems to fit the mold for an action star. It is a great performance. I am not going to lie; Ryan Reynolds doesn’t do anything for me. I always feel like this actor is acting, it just doesn’t look like it comes naturally, or comes off effortless. Finally he gets it right. He doesn’t come off like he is trying too hard, he shows some vulnerability, and strength at the same time. He holds his own face to face with a great actor and doesn’t blink. There are a couple of familiar faces and names playing very supporting roles with Vera Farminga and Brendan Gleeson as CIA big-wigs who try to scramble teams to deal with the situation. You have to love movies that decide to go with a little quality even though it is certainly more expensive in a few of these roles that don’t take top billing. It pays off here, they are both strong, bring something to the war room drama, and they fit in perfectly with the story.
Direction & Writing:
If imitation if the highest form of flattery, then the Bourne series must be pretty proud today. Safe House takes a lot of the same look and action as Bourne did. The fast moving edits, the grainy fight scenes, the jumping from roof top to roof top, and the thing is, it all looks great. Fast and loud, that is the way you can describe basically this whole movie. The script doesn’t lag ever, and there is plenty of conversation. This, in a way, is the thinking man’s action movie. For me the really strong parts are of course the action, but the parts that stick with you, that make you remember it, are the parts where Denzel is mapping out things in his mind and talking through what everyone else is thinking. Kudos to director Daniel Espinosa, this was wall to all action, and when a scene seemed like it was calming down, boom, you get hit from another angle and it picks right back up.
Denzel doesn’t do bad, that is just the way it is. Ryan Reynolds does, seriously have you seen Green Lantern? But here Reynolds plays his best character yet. Likeable, not relying on good looks and muscles but pulling out some real acting chops. I was sucked in from the first minute, and 114 minutes later I was very happy with what I got. Action with a side of smarts, not something you see everyday, but something you wish you saw more of. And Tobin Frost… that is a sweet name!
Want to see movies where I do?? Check out showtimes to the Arena Grand at http://www.arenagrand.com by clicking the link!Posted by on 02/10 at 01:08 PM
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Next entry: MOVIE REVIEW: THIS MEANS WAR
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|Appears in Collections:||Biological and Environmental Sciences Journal Articles|
|Peer Review Status:||Refereed|
|Title:||Polyethism and the importance of context in the alarm reaction of the grass- cutting ant, Atta capiguara|
|Author(s):||Hughes, William O H|
|Citation:||Hughes WOH & Goulson D (2001) Polyethism and the importance of context in the alarm reaction of the grass-cutting ant, Atta capiguara, Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology, 49 (6), pp. 503-508.|
|Abstract:||Leaf-cutting ants exhibit an aggressive alarm response. Yet in most alarm reactions, not all of the ants encountering a disturbance will respond. This variability in behaviour was investigated using field colonies of Atta capiguara, a grass-cutting species. Crushed ant heads were applied near foraging trails to stimulate alarm reactions. We found that minor workers were disproportionately likely to respond. Only 34.7-2.8% of ants travelling along foraging trails were minor workers, but 82.1-6.1% of ants that responded were minors. Workers transporting grass did not respond at all. The alarm response was strongest at the position and time where minors were most abundant. Ants were more likely to respond when they were travelling along trails with low rather than high traffic. Minor workers followed a meandering route along the trail, compared with the direct route taken by foragers. We argue that an important function of minor workers on foraging trails is to patrol the trail area for threats, and that they then play the key role in the alarm reaction.|
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The advent of Pinterest has been a lot of fun for many reasons, but one of my favorites is that I am able to see which of my old projects have suddenly gone viral. I’ve been amazed at the things I put together years ago that are really popular again – and I likely would have never given them a second thought.
Of course, I’d love to make one for each of you. Unfortunately, with 18-month old Miss Emma (who is into EVERYTHING these days), it’s just not possible. So instead, I decided to teach you how to make one yourself. See? It’s like I’m empowering you to make the fullest, most fluffiest wreath ever. Plus, the great thing about this wreath is that you can redo it each season since we aren’t going to actually glue anything to the wreath.
How to Create a Full and Fluffy Initial Wreath
You will need a few things before you get started:
- 18-inch grapevine wreath
- 14-inch grapevine wreath
- Assortment of natural-looking greenery
- Assortment of natural-looking florals
- Chipboard initial
- 1 1/2 yard-ish length of 2+ inch width ribbon
- Craft wire
Let’s do it!
1. I begin by placing the small wreath on top of the large wreath and securing them together on the underside with craft wire. I run the wire through some of the vines of each wreath and then just twist.
2. Next, I gather all of the florals and greenery that I’m going to use. You will want 4 or 5 different types of greenery and 3 or 4 different colors of florals. The most important thing to keep in mind is that you want your greenery and florals to be very natural looking. I really can’t stress this enough. Don’t pick any ferns that are fluorescent green or roses that have fake dew drops on them, okay?
Most craft stores that carry floral stems have a line that is called “naturals.” They are a bit more expensive, but if you buy them when they are 50% off (they are through the end of the week at Hobby Lobby, FYI), they aren’t too bad. The cost of putting my wreaths together is about $40 the first time, but then you can reuse it all when you redo it for the next season. I normally just add some different colored florals the next time I make it. I’ve been using a lot of the same pieces for two years.
Here is a portion of the typical cast of characters that I would assemble. I will strip the leaves and florals from each stem.
3. I always begin a wreath with some fern-y leaves. I cut each one from a bush (like in the above photo), and literally jam them into the wreath all the way around. Sometimes, a stem won’t fit through the grapevine exactly where you want it, and you have to adjust it a little. You’ll want to keep the ferns spaced pretty close together. I usually stick most of them into the large wreath, but I do add a few in the small wreath. That keeps it from looking too fabricated. If you aren’t planning to add an initial or other object to the center of your wreath, you want some of your greenery to go to the inside, too. I also like to leave a little empty space at the top where my hanging ribbon will go.
I totally propped the wreath up on a box of baby wipes so that I could more easily photograph it. I’m a stay-at-home mom and that was the first white box that came to mind. I apologize for being so fancy.
4. Next, I strip some leaves from some of the floral stems I have (like the pink one in the Step 2 photo) and add them around both wreaths in the same fashion. I like to turn them so they are facing different directions – not just all facing out.
5. Believe it or not, you still need some more greenery. This time, I added some ivy-like things. It’s good to keep your greenery in different leaf types and various shades of green. Some of the ivy points out, and other pieces go across the small wreath.
6. To give the wreath some more dimension, I wrapped some vine-y guys around the grapevine this time. I also let some hang down from the wreath and let a few wrap around leaves.
See how full it looks now? That’s what you want to see before you start adding any color to your wreath.
7. Finally, it’s time to add some color! I always begin with adding some white filler florals. In this one, I added two stick-like things that had some fuzzy white things on them (I’m sure they have a name – anyone know what it is?) and a few bunches of small white flowers. Keep the white fillers clumpy – don’t put them evenly spaced all the way around.
8. If you are using an initial or other object, go ahead and lay it on the wreath so you can see where it will ultimately go. I like to let a few florals or greenery pieces overlap the letter.
Now, you should add some large, natural-looking florals to your wreath in just a few key places – not all the way around. Limit yourself to one or two colors at this step. Obviously, I chose turquoise and yellow for this year’s Spring wreath.
9. Next, I add some contrasting color. Here, I chose dark purple. Again, keep it to a few key places and don’t add more than 1 or 2 different colors.
As you can see, I also looped my ribbon around my wreath and through the initial (if you have an initial such as M or L, you’ll need to drill a hole in the letter or hot glue it to the ribbon). I like to have some greenery overlap the ribbon a bit, and this is where I can go in and see if I need to add more or adjust what’s already there.
10. The last thing I add to my wreath are some natural-colored curlies. These are called “paper stems” and they are sold in the floral section of the craft store for about $2 for a package of 6. They come in long pieces, and I cut them in half. I like to wrap them or twist them around a pencil to make different curly shapes. I like the dimension they add.
For my Fall and Winter wreaths, I also like to add natural-looking stems of berries at this point.
11. To hang my wreath, I attach the ribbon to the very top (the top, not the front) of my door with a tiny nail. I have been using the same nail and hole all of these years, and it still works great. You are able to hang the wreath so much lower than with a wreath hanger (most wreath hangers make your wreath hang way too high on the door). I like the top of my wreath to hit the bottom of the top 1/3 of the door. That sounds super complicated, but it really isn’t.
12. Once the wreath is hanging, I always make little adjustments to the way it falls. I’ll adjust a fern-y leaf here or a white floral filler there. Just adjust things a little bit until you love the way it looks.
Now, all you have to do is smile when your friends and neighbors “Oooh!” and “Ahhh!” as they enter your home…because I promise that they will. You will be able to tell them that you made it yourself. You’ll also be able to laugh at the stuipidly overpriced wreaths for sale at Michaels that don’t look even half as good as yours. Yippee!
Are you ready to get started on your own fullest and fluffiest wreath that your neighborhood has ever seen?
Note: I live in a very, very windy area, and I don’t have too many problems with items falling out of my wreath. Occasionally, I will find a leaf or some filler on my front porch, but I just stick it back in if I do.


"His humble sense of humility is what makes Trapper’s songs so strong... He makes you feel like you are the person he’s singing about. The Few & the Far Between is another strong addition to the Chris Trapper/Push Stars catalog." -Popdose
Chris Trapper began his career as the front man for late-90’s alternative rock band The Push Stars (Capitol Records). With four CD releases and several high profile national tours -- including a run with Matchbox Twenty -- The Push Stars served to establish Chris as an authentic talent.
As a modern day singer /songwriter, Chris is most known for his song This Time, the #1 selling song on the Grammy nominated soundtrack for August Rush (Robin Williams, Jonathan Rhys Meyers /Warner Bros Pictures).
The newest CD (released October 2011), The Few & The Far Between, is a collection of 14 songs written and performed by Chris Trapper. This new work was Produced, Recorded and Mixed by Dan McLoughlin (The Push Stars, Mike Peters, Juliana Hatfield) at the Vault Recording Studio, Hoboken, NJ.
Focus tracks include the CD opener, Here All Along, featuring guest vocals by Rob Thomas of Matchbox Twenty, The More I Think featuring vocals and slide guitar by Colin Hay of Men at Work and Ghost In Your Arms featuring backing vocals from Boston’s own Kristen Cifelli.
The New York Times calls his work “classic pop perfection.”


- Title: Starting Now – A Blossom Street Novel
- Author: Debbie Macomber
- Genre: Contemporary Fiction
- Published: April 2013 – Ballantine
- Source: Publisher via NetGalley
Synopsis (publisher): For years, Libby Morgan dreamed only of making partner in her high-pressure law firm. She sacrificed everything for her career – friends, marriage, her chance of a family. So nothing can prepare her for the shocking news that she’s been let go and must rebuild her entire life . . . starting now. With no job in sight, she spends her afternoons at A Good Yarn, the local knitting store. There, she forms a close bond with Lydia, the sweet-natured shop owner, Lydia’s spirited daughter, Casey, and Ava, a shy yet troubled teenager. As A Good Yarn becomes a second home – and the women a new kind of family – Libby relishes the different person she’s become. She even finds time for romance with a handsome doctor … But just as everything is coming together, Libby must make a choice that could forever change the life she holds so dear.
My take: I’ve read a lot of Debbie Macomber’s books but only one from the Blossom Street series (#7, Hannah’s List). Starting Now is #9 but I didn’t feel lost or frustrated by that fact. Macomber tells a good story and she does a good job of catching readers up on characters from previous books.
Speaking of characters, I enjoyed the ones in this book – particularly Libby and Phillip. This is not a case of “opposites attract”. These two are more alike than different which ended up helping them understand each other for the most part. Meeting Phillip was just one of the positive things that happened to Libby after she was let go from her law firm. Libby started to see the possibilities that lay before her. She got back to knitting – something she’d stopped as a teen when her mother died. She saw a lot of herself in a girl she met at the yarn shop and became a mentor to her. That connection would lead to big changes for Libby.
The pace of Starting Now was perfect as a few surprises in the plot were revealed. I enjoyed this story of people learning to appreciate what’s really important in life. It’s a quick read that didn’t disappoint. Macomber’s books might be considered predictable but I suspect her fans (me included) like it that way. There’s always a relatable situation and interesting characters, a little romance and an uplifting ending. This would be a good one to toss in the beach bag or do what I did – read it over a weekend and in your favorite chair.


Renewed clashes between Ukraine police and protesters after three killed
There were further clashes between police and anti-government protesters in Kiev today, after three people were killed overnight in the latest outbreak of violence.
As reports described the center of the Ukrainian capital as having become a battle zone, the government was defiant in the face of the deaths, with Prime Minister Mykola Azarov saying “terrorists” were on the streets, while EU foreign police Catherine Ashton spoke of her “extreme worry” that people had been killed.
Much of the violence has been in an area near Independence Square, with police dressed in riot gear having stormed the positions of protesters, who responded by hurling stones and Molotov cocktails. Reports said tires were set alight by protesters trying to set up new barricades to prevent their positions being stormed by police, who responded by driving an armored personnel carrier into the area.
Overnight, two people were shot dead and a third was killed after falling off the Dynamo football stadium, home of the Dynamo Kiev football team, according to reports.
The authorities have insisted that police were not armed and have not fired on protesters, who have been involved in clashes despite calls from opposition leaders for anti-government campaigns to remain peaceful.
The deaths were the first since campaigners took to the streets in late November over the decision by the president, Viktor Yanukovych, to cancel a trade deal with the European Union. He has since agreed an aid package with Russia. In recent days, the anti-government campaigns have taken on renewed energy after the parliament agreed laws to restrict protests.
“Terrorists from [Independence Square] seized dozens of people and beat them. I am officially stating that these are criminals who must answer for their action,” Azarov reportedly told a cabinet meeting.
Taking what appeared to be a more conciliatory line than the prime minister, Yanukovych said people should ignore “political radicals” he said were responsible for the latest violence.
A far-right group called Right Sector, part of what analysts have said is a diverse informal coalition of anti-government campaigners, is said to have been heavily involved in some of the latest violence, which has seen 167 police and an unknown number of protesters injured.
According to reports, 50 people were arrested and held on Tuesday night, 29 of whom were charged for their part in what was described as mass unrest.
In a statement, Ashton said she “strongly condemn[ed] the violent escalation of events in Kyiv” and called on “everyone involved to ensure restraint.”
“The use of force and resorting to violence is not an answer to the political crisis. All acts of violence must come to an immediate end and be swiftly investigated. Those responsible will have to be held to account,” she said.
“Ukrainian citizens’ rights of assembly, freedom of expression and media must be fully respected and protected. I am deeply concerned about attacks on journalists and about reports of missing persons.”
She said a “genuine dialogue at the highest level” was needed to resolve the situation. The US embassy in Kiev has revoked the visas of several individuals said to have been involved in the clashes.
Yanukovych is believed Wednesday to have met opposition figures, including the former boxing world champion, Vitaly Klitschko, who is among those keen for the country to strengthen ties with the EU instead of Russia.
Earlier this week it was announced that a cross-party commission had been set up under the country’s national security chief, Andriy Klyuyev, to try to find a negotiated solution that would end the violence.


Chateau d'Yquem has pulled out of making a Sauternes in 2012 after the vintage failed a post-harvest taste test.
‘Prepared to not make a vintage’: Yquem
The LVMH-owned Sauternes first growth confirmed to Decanter.com that ‘there will be no Chateau d’Yquem in the 2012 vintage’.
It is the first time in 20 years that the chateau has made such a call.
‘This is a very difficult decision, but the tasting of the harvest confirmed that the level of quality is not satisfactory to become Yquem,’ said chateau spokeswoman Valérie Lailheugue.
A late start to this year’s harvest meant that all Sauternes producers were already under pressure, but poor weather in October proved too much for many grapevines to handle.
‘A brand like Yquem has to be prepared to not make a vintage,’ Yquem CEO Pierre Lurton was quoted as telling the Agence France Presse newswire.
Earlier this year, Lurton announced that Yquem would hold back from releasing its 2011 vintage en primeur.
Other Sauternes chateaux are also having a difficult time. Chateau de Fargues is facing its lowest yields for 12 years and had to leave almost three quarters of its entire grape haul to rot on the ground, according to estate manager François Amirault.
‘We felt crushed by the incredible sense of waste,’ he said in a blog posting on the chateau’s website.
‘It already looks as though at least a third of the harvest will not be sold under the Lur Saluces name,’ he said, although he added that it will be easier to evaluate quality at the end of fermentation.
Written by Chris Mercer


Justin Petrone’s second installment of "My Estonia" was published last month, and it was recently announced that a film version will be made of the two books. ERR News talked with Petrone about the books and the movie.
In your second book, your father’s character says, “Justin, understand something. You chose to live on the margins. You chose this life for yourself. I didn’t raise you to live in a little apartment in the former Soviet Union.” Do you think this is representative of a candid foreign view of Estonia?
It often is. I once told a British colleague of how I lived for a few weeks with some Lithuanian workers in south London, and he was a little shocked, mostly because of the vast class divide between us "highly educated Western professionals" and migrant workers from "sketchy Eastern Europe."
Another time I told a colleague, also from the UK, that I flew AirBaltic from Tartu to Dublin. I could tell immediately that he was intrigued. To him, AirBaltic probably sounded like the plane was loaded with chicken crates and sacks of potatoes and old babushkas. "But is that airline safe?" he asked. "Yes," I answered. "I mean, I hope it is."
The books take place eight years ago though. Things have changed. People I know who have visited Estonia are surprised. Some still expect lawlessness and poverty, so when they get free wifi in the park, they are genuinely impressed. Tourism has changed attitudes about the country too, as has European integration.
You portray your father as concerned mainly with money? How has he reacted to that? Does he feel you’ve been fair?
Well, I also portrayed myself as a bit of an aimless slacker, so perhaps he felt he needed to encourage me at that time to be more driven and focused on our finances. Maybe he comes across as materialistic but, in my experience, most parents hope to encourage economic self sufficiency on the part of their offspring. He hasn't offered a personal reaction to the book though.
Your character in the book remarks at one point that he’s never had physical contact with his Estonian relatives, no hugging, no touching. Have readers reacted to this?
Some people have had completely different experiences. A few think Estonians are a warm and hospitable bunch, and I have to say that the Estonians I know are friendlier to me now than they used to be. Or maybe it's that I understand what they are saying better now.
Estonians are not emotionless, but they are definitely not as openly emotional and physical as, say, the Italians. An Italian man will kiss another man on both cheeks. Could you honestly imagine Andrus Ansip kissing Sven Mikser on both cheeks? Me neither. The touching rituals that are common in southern European cultures are absent in Estonia.
Estonian aloofness is certainly affected by the seasons. Estonians in late autumn (as described in the book) are certainly a moody, brooding, bitchy, taciturn lot, when compared with Estonians in summer, a time when everybody is getting drunk in the woods and congregating around bonfires and swimming nude in leech-infested lakes. It really is like night and day.
I have a feeling that those people who think Estonians are as friendly and outgoing as any other nationality have come at the peak of tourist season, when everyone is roasting sausages and singing songs from old movies around the campfire.
Your character tells your father about slipping on an icy sidewalk someone didn’t clean: “In Estonia, everything bad that happens to you is your own fault.” You’ve very well captured the still-present element of resignation in the culture. Do you see this changing? Or is it necessarily a bad thing and something which, at least to some degree, should not change?
I am also poking fun at American attitudes in that scene. The extent to which we Americans blame others for our own misfortunes is somewhat embarrassing. I allude to some of these petty lawsuits from personal injury lawyers in the book, but also the general idea that some genetic glitch or flaw in nurturing has made us less than who we really should be.
On the other hand, the indifference of some Estonians to their neighbors is equally problematic. For example, I lived in a nice, walkable neighborhood in Tartu for three years, where we had four neighbors. I knew one of the four, but only because he was my doctor. Of the other three, I spoke only with two, briefly with the one in the back because her cat got stuck in my tree, and once with the one next door on the day we moved out. After three years, I finally learned his name. If something bad had happened to us during that time, I doubt if any of them would have really cared. Nor would I have cared much about them, as I didn't even know them.
But maybe things are changing. I was particularly touched by the domestic response to the Haapsalu fire recently. People around me were genuinely saddened by that event. The next day I saw all the flags out. I got the sense that the Estonian people really did care about each other.
You are working with the Estonian company Exitfilm on developing a film based on the books. Had you been courting them or did they approach you?Y
We were approached by them. While the book did have some cinematic qualities, to be honest, I never conceived of it being made into a film when I wrote it. They saw the potential in it and contacted us.
We are cooperating with them quite closely. [Petrone will be the screenwriter. –ed.] I think what has interested them most is the story itself as opposed to the idiosyncrasies of the characters, while sometimes amusing. Of course it's a roll of the dice. Writing the book was a roll of the dice, too.
You also write a column for the women’s magazine Anne ja Stiil. Have you developed a following there?
I have a strong female following, but I suspect most Estonian males that see it want to kick my ass on account of the ultra stylish photograph they run with my column. I detailed my experience with fashion photographers and stylists in the prologue of the new book and, I admit, I sometimes want to kick my own ass when I see my photo in there, but what can you do? Writing for Estonian women is a real challenge. It may be one of the hardest writing gigs I've ever had.
Interview by Scott Diel


Introduction Manychat Pricing
This review is all about the MSGHero Unlimited. Do Whether it’s a program or simply a scam you wish to understand? In participating to your clients, if it can truly assist you, are you interested? Well, here is my in depth MSGHero Endless review and I hope that this can help you learn more. Manychat Pricing
What’s the MSGHero Unlimited?
MSGHero Unlimited is a Software which allows you to automate the process of participating with the consumers. That is to say, this program lets you reply automatically.
You can set a few filters and include Several Things Within the message. Brad Stephens and Cyril Gupta are behind this software and it is an upgrade of ClickMSG Unlimited. ClickMSG Unlimited permits you to run ad campaigns while MSGHero Unlimited permits you to make customers.
In this review, I will Simply take a closer look at this program and try to ascertain whether this really is a scam or not. This review is based on my honest study relating to it and completely unbiased. I advise that you read the entire review.
How Does It Operate?
It is hard to convert one-time costumers to Long-term buyers and this program can help you in the process of generating those people. ClickMSG Unlimited allows you to get in people who click on your ad’s inbox. MSGHero Unlimited allows you to send messages. So these two software is free to each other.
These are the Steps for the use of this software.
- Join and you Must login your Facebook account to the software. There is.
- The next step is to Pick a Facebook Webpage that you administer and have.
- The posts on your webpage will start Emerging and watch and you have to just sit.
- You can create a message for an Existing post. You build a campaign and can make a new article. The rest will occur after your effort is built. Manychat Pricing
The main advantage This software offers is the Capability to retarget your prospects without spending any cash or competing with other marketers. It’s possible to personalize a message with day of the week, full name, last or first name and date to make it appear more personalized. The commentators will be recognized by their username so no one gets exactly the same message twice.
You can use inclusion and exclusion keywords To reply or prevent replying to people. You may choose to reply to those people who use phrases or key terms. You are able to prevent replying to individuals using negative key words or phrases.
You can use the built-in twist text to make unique Messages for every single user. With the addition of hyperlinks to your own page or 15, It’s possible to sell. About setting up your campaigns, you will also find training.
The software is useful Also it exploits Facebook, which is one of the biggest social media sites. This might not work for everyone, although I like the program. There’s also a bonus including message templates that you can plug right into the software. Manychat Pricing
How Much Can I Make?
The Web Site hasn’t made Any revenue claims, which is a good thing because normally scams make income claims. The program is new and there is not any information available regarding the earnings of those who have used this software. I can only speculate the earnings that you could expect to make now.
The earnings will depend on a lot of variables Including service or your product along with your marketing skills. Because it’s many users facebook is obviously a platform for marketing. If you plan your campaign well the ability to message can be quite profitable.
Experience will also play A role in discovering your earnings, but inexperienced men and women will not have any trouble in developing a campaign.
I think that this will be more rewarding than Advertisements on Facebook because you can socialize and create long-term buyers by using this program. Then I think by using this software, you can earn some serious money if your marketing skills are good. There may be. Manychat Pricing
What does it Cost?
I had been offered this Software for $67, which is a little high. The cost may rise after some time. The site offers a 30 day money back guarantee.
I’ve recorded some of the concerns below.
This program has been Released and maybe it does not work for everybody.
The price of the software Is a little high in my opinion.
In my view, MSGHero is Not a scam and I have not found. I can’t guarantee that you will get outcomes, although if you are willing to take the danger, you may try it. The software has been designed well and it has a great deal of features.
You Should Keep in Mind That You are able to fail when the software is great and it is crucial before purchasing it, to think. I leave the final choice in your own hands. Fantastic luck and choose wisely.
- Can help you Advertise your business
- Price is a Little High
- The product is not available at this time period Manychat Pricing