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Tuesday, 26 July 2011 04:59

Avoid the "Herd Mentality" When Investing Your Money

You don't have to be an idiot to be a sucker at something, especially gambling and investing. People who're capable of running large businesses and making millions of dollars make some of the worst investors and the biggest suckers. Running a business where you have a profit locked in every time you make a sale is a lot different from investing your money in something that might give you a return on your money after a period of time and might not. In the latter situation the smartest of people tend to want to grab at the fastest moving, thinnest straw, rather than the slowest, fattest one. No matter how many examples you give them of the tortoise outrunning the hare, they still want to climb on what they see as the investment fast track. The exotic hare is seductive; the plain-looking tortoise is boring.

Most people think of doctors and lawyers as being smart people, mainly because they have to go to school for such a long time to earn a degree in their respective fields. And they are usually quite bright people, at least in their own fields and when it comes to making good grades in school. But as a rule they make the worst investors and gamblers of anybody on the planet. I think it's partly because they have to put so much time into learning their own occupation that they don't have time to learn much else. The other reason, I think, is how they view the world; something restricts their ability to reason when it comes to things outside their realm of study.

People quite simply like exotic, big name investments. Glamor sells. Plainness doesn't. Food is better when it is well dressed and served in colorful conditions. A gift is better remembered and more well thought of when given fancifully wrapped. Sex is served up better in silky lace rather than coarse wool. In the Bible, to keep the line going, Tamar dressed herself in fancy clothes and hid her face from her father-in-law Judah to seduce him; the beautifully dressed surprise package, as it were, is always more alluring. Femmes fatales never ply their wares in plain clothes. Male gigolos wear their slinky shirts open to the waist, snug their pants up their butt crack, and strap their genitalia tightly in their pants—all veneer and whitewash—to con lusty females into believing they are romantic sex gods who can provide them with something they've never had. Both prostitutes and gigolos are excellent marketeers.

Check out a new car lot next time you pass one—you don't get the cars alone. There are colorful banners and signs with polished cars sitting beside glistering buildings. Often they'll have an American flag the size of Scotland hanging around somewhere; they know that Americans will buy patriotism over most anything. Stock and bond hucksters as well as the local car salesman know these things are powerful seducers. To get you to take the first bite, stock salesmen will most often offer you a company with a powerful brand name—one that everyone knows well. So then, you say, "Oh yes Coca Cola or General Electric or IBM must be great investments; everyone buys from these companies." Gleam, glamor, and glitter. All these seduce us to buy.

A few years ago when AOL was on the front page every day and its stock price was around $160, a friend who invests with us has a brother who told him he had better buy AOL because it was a lock investment. Being pretty savvy about evaluating whether a stock is a good buy or not, my friend told his brother that it was selling for around 600 times earnings and was thus not in a category of stocks that he would buy or that he (his brother) should buy. The brother, of course, didn't listen, and although AOL has been as low as $10 a share he's not interested in buying now and doesn't talk about stocks. The glamor is gone. The drastic price drop has smothered the sheen with dung; nobody wants to bend over and clean it off to see if there's anything under it.

People look at money everyday the same as Vegas Bill. They go shopping with money that's meant especially for them to buy just anything they come on, whether they need it or not. I don't know how many people I'm in contact with who have what they call "mad money"; it's money they've put aside to spend in foolish ways they wouldn't dare normally spend it. Women generally do this for superfluous shopping, and men do it for their hokey hobbies. Unlike animals, humans can rationalize any form of craziness.

People ask me all the time about "putting money into the market." I, of course, tell them they should look at it as buying into specific businesses. They say they don't know what to do. Except for very close friends whom I know are too busy running their own businesses to do the research themselves, I don't at all like telling people what stocks to buy, so I always try to get them to think for themselves. Buy the stocks of companies that sell your favorite products I usually tell them. Most of the time I get a blank stare. They then go right on and listen to a "stock broker," who is in actuality a salesman who has to hustle stocks to make quotas company executives decide on—and place on his back which forces him to push junk to his clients.

When people want to know about buying stocks I ask them how much they have to invest. Many of them say all their money is in savings accounts, but when they get some they want to put "it in the market." I tell them they can put the money they have in savings accounts into the stocks of good businesses; that they'd be better off. But they say: "No. We can't put our savings in the stock market!" "Irrational money thinking." After taxes and inflation savings accounts were losers over the past century every year but three!! Try to pick a winner against those odds and see how you come out!!

Investing gurus tell you to put some of your money into "high growth stocks" (read not a hair's breath chance in hell of ever making as much as a rusty dime). Part of it should be in "conservative stocks" (read stocks with familiar names priced about equal to a custom Bentley). Some in "bonds" (read an investment whose price doesn't fluctuate so they'll feel safe, but grows in value about as fast as a seventy-five-year-old midget). To recommend spreading money out in this manner, the guru has to believe that some of these "investments" are better than others. So why not put everything in that one? More "irrational money thinking." And also he can't have much knowledge about what he's doing if he can't tell a client which area is the right one to be in.

In order to draw some of the customers who got burned in the March 10, 2000 crash back into his brokerage firm, broker Charles Schwab ran a commercial showing him telling a group of people who're shaking their head in agreement with him that if you "have a little money in stocks, some in bonds, some in cash, you can weather any storm." Tell that to investors who were around in the early `70s when stocks and bonds crashed and stayed down for years and inflation ate into them like hungry termites into soft wood. Schwab is a salesman. He knows that telling people to spread their money around makes it sound safe and more importantly makes them feel safe. What do you think Warren Buffett would have been worth today had he listened to Schwab and the herd's advice? Buffett's name would have been as obscure as a winner in the dot.bomb sector.

What about stock analysts who love a stock at $50, but hate it a few months after it's crashed to $20? People who follow them should ask these quacks what they're basing their recommendations on in the first place? How can they be that wrong about the outlook of a company in such a short time? Obviously, they're looking at prices and not businesses. (You have to thank God for these type of people, though, because they help run stocks up past any reasonable person's concept of value, and vice versa on the down side. Both situations create opportunity for the rational, opportunistic investor. And that is what we attempt to be.)

It's a fact that people feel safer when they have plenty of cash stashed away rather than having it in stocks, even though cash has been a loser across the board over the last century versus not only stocks but also real estate, gold, silver, and most all other investments. "What's wrong with having your money in cash," they adamantly ask. More "irrational money thinking."

Part of the fear of owning stocks is that people can see the price fluctuate every day, up or down. If they're up they fear they're going to crash; if they're down they fear they're going even lower. But they at least have a chance of getting ahead with stocks whereas cash is a sure loser, just as gold and silver have been (until recently), for the most part, over the last century versus stocks.

People don't fear losing money they've invested in their cars though. Think about it. How often do you hear someone say, "My car has really depreciated this year; I've lost a bundle on it." "Like maybe," never! But what if the media posted the value day after day of those big ole SUVs people love so much. The first year they lose 30%, the next 25%, the next 15%. They'd be sick then. The price of bicycles would shoot through to outer space in days. SUVs would be about as popular as admitting that you believed in the Y2K Con. Think about it.

Most people would fear owning a house if the media published weekly home price fluctuations. Home prices fluctuate over a period of a year as much as 20% each way. What if after just paying $200,000 for a home, home sales went in the tank, dropping 20%, and the media published a home price index. The home buyer checks out how his house is doing and it's worth $40,000 less than what he paid for it. The streets of Washington would be full of protesting marchers. Hell could generate no fury like what you'd see steaming from mad home owners. Yet the same thing happens to every long term home owner; they just don't know it because there's no home price index they can check. And on top of that, when people do hear that home prices have crashed they flock out to buy them, just as they do SUVs when dealers advertise that their prices have dropped in those last-chance-to-be-a-big-sucker sales.

Stocks are the only thing I know of that people run away from when they go on sale! Think about it! But let Wal-Mart have a sale on lawn mowers or shower curtain rings, and there'll be a line from Timbuktu to Kalamazoo. If the price of soap goes up, the same people who fly after stocks when they rise in price would go stinking and nasty until the price of soap comes down. When stocks are at their highest, you can't dynamite people away from buying them. They love stocks then; they feel good. Stock bargains scare them. Such is "irrational money thinking."

During vacation time in the summer when gas prices go higher around the country, most people drive a little less. The high price runs them away and restricts their buying. For the strangest of reasons the exact opposite occurs with stocks. It's classic "irrational money thinking."

Just think how many media people and stock analysts came on the investment shows and news over the past years acting all depressed with hangdog looks, because stocks were so far down. I don't know how many people I talked to who were sick over how far down the market was, yet they still had money to invest; but wouldn't dare buy anything at that time. They wouldn't rush to the sale; they ran away from it. Stock price movements, especially to the downside, drives fear through the herd. They don't see opportunity; they see doom and gloom. "Irrational money thinking."

Granted it's hard to stick your toe in the fire when it's at its peak heat; but when it's at its peak is when it soon has to turn the other way—and get just right for warming. Such is the way of stocks—when everyone hates them and everyone says "the Bull is dead; only the Bear lives," then it's time to stick your toe in for a taste. Remember, for over 200 years stocks have gone up overall by a high percentage—there's a high probability that they're going to do the same over the next few years.

When the DOW Thirty Index crashed 500 points to about 1400 in one day in October of 1987, I urged everyone I knew to buy immediately. One friend said, "Are you crazy??!! What, why, buy what??!!" I was about to give him 7 stocks that our group was buying then, but as soon as I got past Quaker Oats, he stopped me with a few choice words. A few years later when the DOW was booming past 9000 he was fully into buying at that time, and had forgotten when he wouldn't put a dime in when the Index was 7600 points cheaper. Such is "irrational money thinking" and investing with a herd mentality.

Another type of "irrational money thinking" is what I call the "if I, coulda, woulda, shoulda, mighta, I wish" form. Here's the way it works: A stock people own goes up to a point and then comes down; the owner immediately says, "I coulda sold; I shoulda sold; I wish I hada sold." This goes on over and over when stocks go down, as well as up at which time they say they "shoulda bought." Rational thinking always asks in every situation, "What should I do at this point?" Not at a point in the past that you can't go back to. This type of "irrational money thinking" leads to indecision, fickleness, and living in the past, where the person is always dwelling on what could have, should have, might have been.

Think these things over. Don't rationalize! If you have a problem with a tendency toward following the herd or with "irrational money thinking," face it. Create habits that will keep you from doing either one. Look at the world as it is. If your mate is beautiful and rich, that's great. But if he or she is mean, you need to tell him or her and get them to face how they are—and you need to face it too. The negative part in a proposition will not go away simply because you don't address it; in fact, it will most often get worse.

How many people have you heard say something on the order of, "My mate is a great provider; he (or she) works hard everyday to provide well for our family"? But that person doesn't mention the fact that the same man beats her or another person might not say a thing about the woman who tongue lashes him at every turn (and tongue beatings over the long haul are every bit as bad as fist beatings).

Force yourself to face the world and how it is—and how the people you know are—in both good as well as bad terms. No proposition is 100% good or bad; there are normally tidbits of both within every one. Search for both the good and the bad, and try to weigh the two up. But focus on getting rid of the negative if it's possible. If it's not you may have to jump ship. Nothing wrong with pulling out of an investment when you're a little loser, if you think things are not going to improve in that one little negative area. Better to cut your losses short, than bust out your whole bankroll. This type of thinking will help you to face your weaknesses when it comes to money management.

To beat the "herd mentality," simply try to restrain yourself from going the way everyone else is going. Create the habit of telling yourself things such as this: "Just because everyone else is going in debt to buy a fifty-foot flat-panel TV, doesn't mean I have to put my ass over a barrel making TV payments for the rest of my life as they're doing." Everyone starts buying white cars you can bet it's a fad that will cost you much more to buy into than the same car in another color will; and soon the fad will fade and cost you even more when you decide to sell to chase after the newest color scheme that smart marketing agents have come up with.

Investing is the same; when you hear promoters coming on TV telling you that you must buy here or there, rest assured that it's late in the day for that sector, and the flatulence will soon come oozing out right into your face—if you stick your snout in for a sniff.

Think for yourselves. Talk to trusted friends that you know are on your side, and finally, make your decisions—then stand by them without regret. If you misjudge, be manly and say that you did it yourself—but learn from that mistake. If you do well, then gain confidence so that you can go into battle again with more knowledge weaponry at your side.

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Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Bert and Ernie

Ernie: "Bert, Bert."

Bert: "What is it Ernie?"

Ernie: "Whatcha thinkin' about Bert?"

Bert: "I'm thinking about my favorite number...6."

Ernie: "Wow Bert, that sounds kind of boring."

Bert: [sarcastically] "I'm glad you think everything I do is boring. Since everything you do is so interesting, what are you thinking about?"

Ernie: "Well Bert, I was thinking that it's about time we push our beds together."
Copyright (c) 2008-2009 by Kevin McDonald

It's All Good said...

Grouch was always my fav, def more realistic than these two...

Stacey said...

Like the new header!! Maybe it's not new???? I just noticed it today.... my memory sucks ass!

Cat said...

Oh come on, no Rubber Duckie innuendos? Tee hee hee

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Monday, July 19, 2004

Back up

Speaking of damaged computers, don't forget to regularly back up your data. DVD-RW are so cheap now that there's no excuse really. I used to get really annoyed trying to back up all the junk in My Documents to CDs, but I got a cheap Asus DVD-RW from Overclockers UK (and blank media is just as inexpensive) recently.

Not only can I now fit all my ebooks on one disc (yay!), but creating back-up copies of DVDs is just as easy. This used to be a fairly complicated procedure but not any more; just use 1 Click DVD. It really couldn't get any easier (just don't forget to also download DVD43 too). The DVD-copy software is about $50 but it's well worth it. I totally recommend it. The only glitch I've found, if you could call it that, is that I need to shut down and restart my old, slow PC (you don't want to know) after doing one copy and before doing another. Even with cheap blanks (Datawrite from Overclockers) I haven't made any coasters since I started using 1Click.

Good stuff.

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Friday, August 23, 2013

“A DEA agent and a naval intelligence officer find themselves on the run after a botched attempt to infiltrate a drug cartel. While fleeing, they learn the secret of their shaky alliance: Neither knew that the other was an undercover agent.”

Director: Baltasar Kormákur
Writers: Blake Masters (Screenplay)
Stars: Denzel Washington (Robert ‘Bobby’ Trench), Mark Wahlberg (Michael ‘Stig’ Stigman), Paula Patton (Deb), Bill Paxton (Earl), James Marsden (Quince), Edward James Olmos (Papi Greco)
Rated: R
Genre(s): Action | Comedy | Crime

OMN Rating: 6.75
As a reviewer, I do my best to avoid giving away any major spoilers that may potentially ruin that “magic” excitement people enjoy while experiencing something for the first time. I know first hand just how much of a letdown that can be. If some information seems unavoidable I will mark a “Spoiler Warning” at the beginning and end of said discussion, allowing readers to continue and/or skip ahead as they so choose. So if you comment below after the review, please be mindful of this and try to avoid any spoilers. If doing so, please make sure to label that a spoiler is coming up and when it ends in your discussion. Thank you.

Make It Rain

As soon as I saw the main cast of 2 Guns I was excited to see it. I’ve long been a fan of Denzel Washington, and over the years I’ve grown more fond of Mark Wahlberg (who I’m always wanting to call Marky Mark — I wonder if he hates that?). Bill Paxton and Edward James Olmos being on the docket was just extra frosting on the cake. It's been ages since I’ve seen Paxton in a movie. Oddly, I wasn’t able to identify Edward James Olmos from the trailer. I’m only on season 2 of Battlestar Galactica (and never knew his name… I know, I’m slow), but I’m really good with faces, so once it clicked during the movie I was a bit giddy seeing him on the big screen.

From the synopsis, you are able to tell that this tale of money and corruption is nothing new. It gives the impression of being a buddy cop movie, and that's exactly what it is. In these movies, sometimes the two individuals get along from the get-go, while other times they are of conflicting personality types and clash. I want to say it’s definitely the latter for these two main characters, but believe it’s more of a blended balance. Both Bobby and Stig (played by Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg respectively) have their own quirks that grate on the other, but underneath it all you can sense a camaraderie from the beginning.

So what makes an overplayed buddy cop themed movie shine beyond a glaringly cliché plot?

As mentioned above, when seeing the cast I was “sold” and that was largely in-part to witness how well the chemistry between Washington and Wahlberg was delivered. Delivered it was. From the opening scenes, we are borne witness to the the witty, wise-cracking back-and-forth between their two characters. None of it is forced, it just flows and comes off as being completely natural. You are seeing two characters who have known one another for some time and it shows, you don’t question it. That chemistry between the two actors/characters only strengthens as the story progresses.

Denzel’s character Bobby — an undercover D.E.A. agent — is stoic and reserved, yet also very quick-talking and charismatic. He oozes smooth badassery in the sense of style and demeanor. Wahlberg’s character Stig — a Naval intelligence officer — on the other hand, is cocky, hot-headed, smart-assed, and flamboyant. He’s also smooth (or so he likes to think) in his own way. The opposing attitudes do well to quell one another and bring moderation when needed.

These two men undertake a heist that quickly goes sideways, as they always seem to (mental note to self: give up the notion of robbing a bank as a suitable retirement plan), and before they know it their seal-tight plan lands them in hot water. The money they stole didn’t belong to the cartel (headed by Papi Greco played by Edward James Olmos) as they thought, but rather the C.I.A. These circumstances unavoidably force them into working together, albeit begrudgingly, as they attempt to figure out where it all went wrong, why, and to do so before their newfound enemies kill them — or they kill each other first.

Along the way, interactions with the supporting cast reveal different facets of our main duo. When with Deb (Paula Patton), light is shed on Bobby’s past and what drives him, while scenes between Quince (James Marsden) and Stig explain the motivations of the latter and hint at some traits not readily apparent at first.

Where's the money?
One of my favorite scenes (highlighted in the trailer) is between Bobby and Earl (Bill Paxton), a C.I.A. agent sent out to retrieve the stolen money. As soon as Earl comes into the picture you are exposed to what methods he is willing to take in order to get what he wants. I can’t help but imagine Paxton loved the role, as he pulls off being curt and intelligent underlined with shadowy sinews of sadistic satisfaction. He even has a thing or “schtick”, as they say, which just adds to his character a sense of realism.

Even while Papi Greco (Edward James Olmos) may be a generic cookie-cutter crime boss, his menacing presence is greatly enhanced by Olmos’s gravelly voice. He definitely looks and sounds the part. I do feel, however, that this was one major character that could have been a bit more fleshed out, or given more to offer in the film.

So the acting is sound all around, and if that doesn’t draw you in, the smooth pacing of the film — as it transitions between exposition, action, and comedic banter — and cinematography likely will. Not once did I feel the movie was dragging on, that scenes were added solely to fluff it’s runtime (109 min), or that I couldn’t tell what was going on due to shaky or shoddy camera work.

One point of interest [for me] was how the story was told. I was expecting a straightforward chronological unfolding of events, leaving me pleasantly surprised when this wasn’t the case. This sometimes can feel disjointed, but no worries, there is little chance of getting lost and confused. Each time there is a departure, the director (Baltasar Kormákur) has seamlessly added snippets that signal exactly when we are being caught back up to speed.

All this being said, though, there are a few areas I felt the film was lacking. For example, the soundtrack. During the trailer they play Jimi Hendrix’s “All Along the Watchtower” and it adds a great feel, and seems to fit the story. Throughout the whole movie I kept expecting to hear it come blasting through the surround-sound and envelope me during one of the high-octane gunfights, but it never came. Research lead me to find that the song is in the movie somewhere as a cover by Bob Dylan. Either it sounds quite a bit different, or I was that engaged with what was on the screen to take notice.

Either way, I don’t remember any of the soundtrack short of one song: “Two Against One” by Danger Mouse, Daniele Luppi featuring Jack White. I was pretty stoked to hear this song in the movie. So much so that I even leaned over to tell my date just how much I really liked it. Beyond that single track, however, the rest eludes me.

During the editing process of movies there seems to be a plague of unneeded or poorly done voice-overs. This holds true for 2 Guns. Periodically, we are given these pointless voice-overs and none of them offer anything to the movie. They are usually just simple, cheesy one-liners or even a single vulgar word. I’ve no idea why these are added into the film, but it really annoys me as you can blatantly tell — the voice or volume is just different and sounds out of place in the scenes.

Again, there is the lack of originality, but honestly you know that going into the movie. If you were expecting some thought-provoking, mind-bending film you obviously weren’t paying attention to the trailer. There is no New York Time’s best selling novel, which acts as source material. In fact, I never knew until the credits that 2 Guns is based on a graphic novel of the same name by Steven Grant of Boom! Studios.

2 guns are always better than 1
The graphic novel pits the duo against the mob, so there are some deviations, but relatively the story sounds intact.

2 Guns won’t exactly be a contender at the Emmys, but if you are looking for a fun summer movie that offers a departure from the standard fanfare of superheroes and sequels then I would highly recommend checking out this movie. There is plenty of gunplay, plot twists, and banter to appease action movie fans of all levels. The chemistry between Denzel Washington and Mark Wahlberg alone makes the movie worthwhile and fuels enough comedic explosions to compete with literal ones placed sporadically throughout.

I give 2 Guns an OMN Rating of 6.75 Nuts

And just think, supposedly Vince Vaughn and Owen Wilson were originally considered for the roles of Bobby and Stig respectively. Nothing against those two, but the movie would have been completely different, so see it while the seeing is good!

Pretty sure he's winking at you behind those shades...
2 Guns (8/2/2013):

The Cryton Chronicles OMN Rating: 6.75 Nuts
IMDB Rating: 7.0
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 64%

  1. Ohhhhh it sounds SO GOOD! I really want to see this one. I do love a good Denzel flick :)

    1. If you are into Denzel, I'd definitely say to check out this movie.

  2. Great review. You are way way better at this than I ever could be. Something tells me you have a knack for it. So, Elysium next?

    1. Thanks, but uncertain about that. You have a great way with words. Either that or Man of Steel, though Elysium would be more pertinent at this time.

  3. Keep making reviews :) You did a great job here.

    1. Thank Mr/Mrs Anonymous! Glad you enjoyed :)

Oh My Nuts! Leave a message already, would ya?!

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Sunday, November 29, 2009

CSR Gives Companies a Competitive Edge

This is a translation of an interview for Capital newspaper in Armenia, conducted when I was recently there delivering training (hosted by the UNDP/Global Compact, British Council and Eurasia Partnership Foundation) on CSR and Marketing. The interviewer was Habeth Madoyan.

Question: Mr. Visser, it is no secret that labour is cheaper in developing countries than in the developed world. Developing countries have weaker legislation on environmental issues, which gives them a kind of competitive edge in attracting foreign investment. Wouldn’t the promotion of CSR in a developing country deprive it of this edge?

Developing countries do have advantages as far as labour is concerned. To some extent, business and capital will go to those places where costs are less or standards are lower. That is why we need a system of CSR standards.

An interesting piece of research on Responsible Competitiveness, which covers 108 countries, has been published. This research shows that those countries where CSR is embedded in business and the government, and is also reflected in civil society, have a greater competitive advantage. In these cases, the link between responsibility and competitive advantages is always obvious.

So if developing countries have advantages based on lower costs, but do not have responsibility, then over time they will inevitably lose their competitiveness.

I think that, over the short term, it is possible to have economic growth without taking standards into consideration. But today, the CSR sector is seeing the integration into business of standards on quality, environmental issues and work conditions. So it is possible to sell a bad quality product at a cheap price and get to economic growth that way. But that is not a long term solution, because it leads to only short term economic growth.

After all, developed countries need more products of good quality. Their demand for responsible and ethical goods is constantly increasing.

Question: How should CSR standards and principles be introduced to developing countries?

The first path is through multi-national companies. In developing countries, they often use the same CSR principles and standards which are part of their operations at headquarters. This leads to the introduction of responsibility from developed countries to the developing world.

I think there is some pressure from the governments of developing countries too. China, for example, is saying that if the world wants it to become more responsible, then the world has to transfer the knowledge and technology necessary for this, preferably for free.

Today there is an interesting tension between the developed and developing world especially around the issue of climate change. The West has no moral right to tell developing countries that they cannot develop and grow or produce more and copy that which they have done. The West has no moral right to do this because it has already been on that path.

If the West is asking developing countries to adopt a new model of development and to produce cleaner, socially responsible and ethical products, then it should be ready to help them financially, through training and providing technology. Only through this kind of support does the West gain the right to demand a new model of development.

Question: How can one find the middle path between CSR and profit maximisation?

It is quite difficult to find the point of perfect balance between these two. Developing countries often find themselves faced with this problem. But it is necessary to seek and find the opportunities which allow cost reduction through steps aiming at environmental management. These are new business solutions that everyone is looking for today.

But in order to find these business solutions, it is important to have a strong system of governance, a well established civil society as well as pressure from the international community. In these cases, avoiding environmental issues could end up being more costly for companies.

One has to ask a simple question – what costs will I be facing ten years from now, if I avoid solving environmental issues today?

Economists have calculated that the money spent on climate change issues today could account for only about 1% of the world’s GDP. But if we leave avoid those issues now, then the costs could come to 20% of global GDP. This is the logic that we need to explain to our business community – by avoiding these expenses now you face much larger costs over a long term.

A few developing countries are bringing forward the concept of “environmental justice”, i.e. they are linking social issues to those of the environment. Their governments are coming up with legislation which encourages companies not only to spend on social issues. They demand that companies implement environmental programmes as well.

After all, it is the poorest layers of society that bear most of the ill effects of a polluted environment and it would be only fair for companies to deal with environmental issues as well.

Question: In our country, there are cases when companies are very active in philanthropy. Many people think that this is a “cheap” marketing ploy. How can one differentiate between them and draw the line between Marketing/PR and charity?

One first needs to understand the concept of strategic philanthropy. This is the theory of American academic Michael Porter. He says that companies should be involved with the philanthropy that deals with their area of business directly.

When a company works in agriculture, its philanthropy could be linked to food security issues. When that company is Coca-Cola, then its philanthropic work should involve water issues. In those cases, it is less likely that philanthropy will be used as a PR or marketing tool, because in reality it helps the business itself.

Corporate Social Responsibility is a much broader concept.

CSR is not about how a company spends the money it makes, but rather about how it makes that money. The weaker the link between CSR and the company’s main business, the higher the probability that it is being used for PR or marketing purposes.

There are a number of initiatives in the CSR industry that help us avoid these issues. One of these is the Global Reporting Initiative and its Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. These are very similar in nature to accounting standards. Accounting methods and standards are similar for all companies.

Through these, companies present their social activities, such that society also gets a chance to see and evaluate them. This would make it difficult for companies to use CSR as a PR or marketing tool.

Question: In your opinion, how will the global economic crisis affect CSR? Should we expect companies to lower their standards?

I think this question is linked to the last one. Those companies which are dealing only in philanthropy will suffer during the economic crisis. In these cases, philanthropic activity will lessen. Those companies which have strategic CSR will be less likely to reduce costs.

Coca-Cola will not be inclined to reduce its expenditure on water issues. They know that if the water situation worsens, the company would have serious problems.

Some time ago, that company had faced a conflict situation in India. They were accused of wasting water reserves there. It was not true, but that was the impression that people had there.

Coca-Cola is a huge consumer of water and, according to the people, they were responsible for water issues. That led to the problems for their brand reputation. But I don’t think that the crisis will affect the standards of those companies which have strategic CSR and ethical operations in any way; that is their way of working.

On the other hand, I think that a lot depends on the stage at which CSR is in a specific company. We may begin to see a tendency where companies that have well developed CSR gain additional competitive advantages in times of crisis.

That is natural – they have implemented a number of social programmes and so have a greater share of the public’s trust, which means better conditions of business for them.


WARC-Truncated: length

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Ole Miss: Search Results

Results tagged “Rebel Baseball”

2017 Ole Miss Baseball Walk Out Music

00024_032616_USC_BSB_02029 2.JPG

With the 2017 Ole Miss Baseball season beginning tomorrow at Swayze Field (4 p.m. CT vs. No. 6 East Carolina), check out the always much-anticipated walk out music list. Which song is your favorite? Let us know on Twitter by tagging @OleMissBSB and using the hashtag #RebWalkOuts.

#1 DJ Miller: "Pimp Juice" by Nelly
#2 Ryan Olenek: "In The Name Of Love" by Martin Garrix and Bebe Rexha
#3 Bryce Blaum: "Smoke A Little Smoke" by Eric Church
#4 Tate Blackman: "Again" by Kevin Gates
#6 Thomas Dillard: "Ordinary Life" by The Weeknd
#7 Nick Fortes: "No Problem" by Chance the Rapper
#8 Will Golsan: "Buy The World" by Mike Will Made It
#9 Kyle Watson: "Kickstart My Heart" by Motley Crue
#10 David Parkinson: "Are You Ready" by AC/DC
#11 Chase Cockrell: "Kings Of Summer" by Ayokay
#12 Greer Holston: "Church Clap" by KB
#13 Cooper Johnson: "Intoxicated" by Martin Solveig
#14 Cole Zabowski: "Sweet Emotion" by Aerosmith
#15 Grae Kessinger: "Hands In The Air" by Miley Cyrus
#17 Will Stokes: "Hell Of A Night" by Dustin Lynch
#18 Connor Green: "The Outsiders" by Eric Church
#19 Andy Pagnozzi: "Peanut Butter Jelly" by Galantis
#20 Will Ethridge: "Godzilla" by Blue Olster Cult
#22 Ryan Rolison: "The Buzz" by Hermitude
#24 Dallas Woolfolk: "Bad Company" by Five Finger Death Punch
#25 Colby Bortles: "Come And Get It" by Selena Gomez
#26 James McArthur: "Never Go Home Again" by Cody Johnson Band
#27 Bryan Seamster: "Can't Stop" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
#28 Jackson Tavel: "Wrong Side Of Heaven" by Five Finger Death Punch
#29 Andrew Lowe: "Black Beatles" by Rae Sremmurd
#31 Jason Barber: "Feel Good Inc." by Gorillaz
#32 Michael Fitzsimmons: "Go Harder" by Future
#33 Sean Johnson: "The Hum" by Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike vs. Ummet Ozcan
#35 Trace Tyre: "Sunset" by Kid Ink
#36 Thomas Spinelli: "Gimme Three Steps" by Lynyrd Skynyrd
#38 Korey Bell: "God's Gonna Cut You Down" by Johnny Cash
#39 Brady Feigl: "Slow, Loud and Banging" by Chamillionaire
#40 Houston Roth: "Slow Ride" by Foghat
#42 Tim Rowe: "Don Omar" by Danza Kuduro
#43 Carson Klepzig: "Save A Horse [Ride A Cowboy]" by Big & Rich
#65 Parker Caracci: "Blue Collar Boys" by Frank Foster

Ole Miss Baseball 2014 Walk Out Music

You heard some of them at yesterday's home opener, and here's the complete list of walk out songs. Click on the song to listen to it. Viewer discretion advised. Songs played in venue will be edited. My personal favorite has to be "It Was A Good Day."

#1 Preston Overbey: Soul Survivor by Young Jeezy

#2 Jacob Waguespack: Till I Collapse by Eminem

#4 Will Jamison: Stranglehold by Ted Nugent

#6 Errol Robinson: Str8 Like That by Meek Mill

#7 Dalton Dulin: Hustlin' by Rick Ross

#8 Austin Anderson: Suga Suga by Baby Bash

#9 Auston Bousfield: Closer To The Sun by Slightly Stoopid

#10 Chris Ellis: Lose Yourself by Eminem

#11 Braxton Lee: Boogie Shoes by K.C. And The Sunshine Band

#12 J.B. Woodman: Chicks Dig It by Chris Cagle

#13 Austin Knight: It's Just What We Do by Florida Georgia Line

#14 Cameron Dishon: Come And Get It by Selena Gomez

#16 Matt Denny: Son's Gonna Rise by Citizen Cope

#17 Kyle Tuth: Three Little Birds by Bob Marley

#19 Peyton Attaway: Nike Boots by Wale

#20 Josh Laxer: Square Dance by Eminem

#21 Hawtin Buchanan: Tops Drop by Fat Pat

#22 Henri Lartigue: Jump Around by House Payne

#24 Sikes Orvis: Pour Some Sugar On Me by Def Leppard

#25 Colby Bortles: Party In The U.S.A. by Miley Cyrus

#28 Brantley Bell: You're Going Down by Sick Puppies

#29 Sam Smith: I'm Your Boogie Man by K.C. And The Sunshine Band

#30 Will Allen: Shine by Collective Soul

#31 Cheyne Bickel: Watch Out For This by Major Lazer (Hunter Siegel remix)

#32 Austin Blunt: Cole World by J. Cole

#35 Jeremy Massie: Thunderstruck by AC/DC

#36 John Gatlin: Pitch Perfect: Price Tag/Don't You/Give Me Everything by Barden Bellas

#38 Wyatt Short: The Drift by Blackmill

#40 Scott Weathersby: Ole Miss Rebels by K Zoe (Christian Rap original mix)

#41 Preston Tarkington: God's Gonna Cut You Down by Johnny Cash

#42 Holt Perdzock: It Was A Good Day by Ice Cube

#44 Aaron Greenwood: Return Of The Mack by Mark Morrison

#45 Scott Ashford: Intro by The XX

#47 Christian Trent: M.A.A.D. City by Kendrick Lamar (Instrumental)

#55 Evan Anderson: Photograph by Def Leppard

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    Tiffany J. Moore said:

    This is amazing with what he have done so far! Hope that he'll achieve more in the future!

    in post Evan Engram Hauls in Midseason Accolades

    Fiftyyears fan said:

    How can you have five straight top 25 recruiting classes and look as bad as Ole Miss has this year. Easy lack of coaching fundamentals. Look at Mason at Vandy, nothing but 2 and 3 star recruits out of high school and he developers players that want to win. Hugh freeze has 3, 4 & 5 recruits and he expects them to win because of what they were in High School. Mr. Freeze you have not been teaching the fundamentals of football or winning in life. Mr. Freeze you have quit on your players because you have some false expectations of what they are instead of what you can develop in them. Either do your job or quit. Oh yea, please quit running your smoke and mirrors offense, everyone has figured it out. Run a physical offense that can open up holes for your running backs and then your pass attack want require 12 are 14 four and five star receivers. Mr. Freeze you have problems and you need to know that you are not smarter than the rest of the coaches in the SEC.

    in post Rebels Unable to Send Senior Class Out on a High Note

    Karen Holden said:

    Not every pass can be caught. Too low, too short whatever. Not every Kelly pass is perfect. Records were broken by receivers also. But they sre not going to catch every ball thrown. The loss to Auburn was not one players fault. You win or lose as a team.

    in post Late Mistake Spoils Chad Kelly's Historic Performance

    Trent browning said:

    Hey I was just wandering if these are the only 2 olemiss players signing. If there are more signing please respond to me ASAP. Also wondering if neil everett will sign any autographs. Thank you very much

    in post Heisman House Tour Heads to Oxford for Ole Miss-Georgia

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    I like what you guys are up too. Such smart work and reporting! Keep up the superb works guys I have incorporated you guys to my blogroll. I think it will improve the value of my site

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    Bulmer I love you and ole Miss

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    Hi! Really motivating post & outstanding job did Bulmer .Loved it... :-)

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News, Gossip & Scandal from the world of CTP Teams!

Home /
Tag:  plus 1

Tag: plus 1

Hey.  Is that music I hear?  I believe I can hear the Rolling Stones with Sympathy for the Devil.  How could that possibly get into the Plus 1 Badge Hunt Update?  It’s a mystery.

This is clearly a different sort of badge hunt.  Maybe it’s people in the Plus 1 mode, maybe it is the different prize structure, but things are clearly different this time around.

I’m going to talk some numbers.

The number of players that are going to cash in on this hunt.  75  It’s an impressive list, and a lot of room left for anyone to get to the top 75.

11,246 badges delivered and if my math is correct we are at the start of day 9.  Way over 1000 badges per day, which is always the hallmark of a successful badge hunt.

It seems that Douglas Rohrig has the top three badges awarded so far this contest, led by badge #108 that he’s given out 336 times.  And to make it even better, it has a numbers clue.  Prime numbers, even.

180 total badges to be given this time around.  The total is smaller than we have seen in past hunts, but more players seem to indicate more badges awarded.  Who would have thought?

Zero.  The number of badges given by the people that haven’t posted their clues yet.  What’s up with that?  Cumon, Man!

One.  Me.   I am honored to be able to write this update post.  Thanks to Patrick and the masters at Tim Tech for letting me play.

I’m just sayin’

It is shaping up to be an extremely busy week indeed.

Skype does not seem to be working so I can’t talk to anyone so I feel a little out of the loop right now.

But this is what I do know…

It is a Plus 1 Monday which means there is great content over on the Plus 1 Daily blog so do take time to check that out.

One of the things you will find there (and here too if you don’t fancy a quick trip across cyberspace) is the Plus 1 weekly podcast.

This week I stand in for Justin and I talk to Jon about something we have discussed quite a lot in the past…the issue of why so many people don’t stay the course.

We offer some ideas why so many people quit before giving themselves a real chance of success and suggest some ways that people might overcome the obstacles that they have do deal with. The link to the podcast is below.

Jon has a great tip for list builders who want to take advantage of the Plus 1 badge hunt…he explains how easy it is to integrate your badge hunt badge with RocketResponder so you can start building your list right from the giveaway.

Check it out here: Huge News For The Plus 1 Badge Hunt

The Badge Hunt itself starts on Wednesday so ensure that you are ready for it.

Ensure that you have enough badges, there is still time to get yours, and that you know what you are going to ask people to do to claim them from you.

Every time we have a badge hunt people are disappointed because when we close the doors to new orders they are closed…so don’t delay in taking part.

Tomorrow is also the first Content Tuesday for List Viral when we add four brand new list building packages into the mix.

These contain squeeze pages, a subscriber giveaway and follow up email series which have never been seen before…all specially chosen to give you the best possible start for your listbuilding efforts.

I told you it was going to be a busy week!

For the rest of the world it is Monday…but for those in the know then it is Plus 1 Monday with a special podcast from Justin and Jon

podcast with jon and justinThe first podcast had an amazing response with more than 1,200 plays in its first week – in fact it is still getting new hits every day – and now we have the second podcast in this new series.

Some of the comments on the first episode include:

Sergio Felix – “Great first podcast show guys!

Shelayne Fico – “What a way to start my week. Thank you Justin and Jon! So inspiring, motivating and thought provoking.”

Winter Perkins – “Great job guys, seriously looking forward to the next podcast!”

In this episode Justin and Jon talk about small wins and how a series of little success in business add up over time and make a real difference.

Jon said showing up and getting stuff done was a win in itself, especially in an industry where it is so easy to give up and quit.

Justin said that the little wins were important because it helped people get through the tough times of being in business.

They also give tips on how they manage their own business, deal with setbacks, failures and how they measure success.


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Education and Training

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery offers education and training programs that enable students and practicing physicians to continue their medical training. These offerings include residency and fellowship programs, continuing medical education courses and internal conferences that focus on cardiothoracic surgery and interface with different medical school departments.

Residency/Fellowship Programs

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery of the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine maintains one of the most active and multifaceted Residency/Fellowship Programs in the U.S.

CME Courses

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences present several courses per year.

Teaching Conferences

There are several other teaching conferences devoted to the clinical education of the residents and fellows. Residents are excused from their clinical duties to attend.

Medical Students

Faculty members are committed to mentoring the next generation of academic surgeons and we welcome medical students with an interest in surgery and surgical research.

The Department welcomes visitors/observers. International physicians, researchers, and students are considered for visiting experiences on an individual basis.

Surgical Simulation Labs

Several times a year, residents and fellows particate in surgical simulation labs.  Past labs have included Pyloroplasty/Conduit Preparation & MIE Anastomosis, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Patient Care Problem Based Learning.  The labs are held at the University of Pittsburgh/UPMC Peter M. Winter Institute for Simulation Education and Research (WISER).


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Tagged: internet

Book review: Ramesh Srinivasan, “Whose Global Village: Rethinking How Technology Shapes Our World”

Ramesh Srinivasan, Associate Professor at the Department of Information Studies & Design at UCLA and the Director of the UC-Wide Digital Cultures Lab, has just penned, under the imprint of New York University Press, an important new manuscript on the global shaping of technology and culture. Combining the sensitivity of an anthropologist, the clear prose […]

1 Comment Leave a Response

Internet [draft] [#digitalkeywords]

“the blurriness in how we use “internet” has a history and a function: it has allowed the word to become a metonymy – a part that stands for the whole – for a complex, shifting, intertwined mix of institutions, technologies, and practices. In this it is similar to “the Church,” “the press,” “Hollywood,” or “television.” […]

1 Comment Leave a Response

The Internet? “If you’ve got a small business, you didn’t build that!”

“The internet didn’t get invented on its own. Government research created the internet so that all companies could make money off the internet.” US President Barack Obama, at a rally in Roanoke, Virginia, July 13, 2012 Suddenly, in the wake of President Obama’s untimely but ultimately non-fatal but non-optimal grammar, the question of who made […]

Comments Off on The Internet? “If you’ve got a small business, you didn’t build that!” Leave a Response


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Does the direction of the moon's crescent change through the night? (Beginner)

Does the angle of the moon's crescent change with respect to the horizon through the night?

Yes, the direction that the moon's crescent appears to point different directions during the day because it always points towards the sun. I've attached two planetarium program pictures to show you the way a crescent moon might look at sunset and then sometime later when it is about to set.

crescent during sunset

crescent moonset

This page was last updated on July 18, 2015.

About the Author

Everett Schlawin

Everett's research focus is extra-solar planets or exoplanets. These are the planets far, far beyond Neptune and Pluto, which orbit other star systems. He observers exoplanet atmospheres to learn about their composition. The colors of an absorbing exoplanet atmosphere tell astronomers what the atmosphere is made of, so he uses spectrographs to split up the colors of these star-planet systems and infer which gases make up its atmosphere. He also is building a new infrared spectrograph to go on the Blanco Telescope in Chile with the TripleSpec 4 team.

Everett's Website:

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How do rockets move in space? (Beginner)

If space is basically a vacuum and void of atmosphere, how do rockets alter the direction and speed of space craft? In other words, how do they "push off" against nothing?

This is a very good question. Isaac Newton worked out the solution and published it in 1687 in his Principia Mathematica. It is phrased as Newton's 3rd law. I'll include all 3 below for completeness!

1st: A body will remain at rest or at motion with a uniform speed unless it is acted on my an external force.
2nd: The acceleration of a body with a force acting on it is that force divided by the mass of the body (F=ma)
3rd: Every action has an equal and opposite reaction.

So the third law basically says that if you shoot out stuff in one direction you will move in the other direction. This is how rockets work in a vacuum. They have a source of fuel which is heated up so that it expands and is pushed out of the rocket. In order to change direction in space rockets have to have little 'thrusters' on all sides (you need 6 in total to maneuver completely in 3 dimensions).

Newton's 3rd law seems contrary to our intuition because on Earth there are lots of sources of friction - providing much easier methods of propulsion! However, you might have seen it in action if you have ever blown up a balloon and then let go of it before tying it up. What pushes the balloon all around the room is the air you blew into it escaping.

Page last updated on June 25, 2015.

About the Author

Karen Masters

Karen Masters

Karen was a graduate student at Cornell from 2000-2005. She went on to work as a researcher in galaxy redshift surveys at Harvard University, and is now on the Faculty at the University of Portsmouth back in her home country of the UK. Her research lately has focused on using the morphology of galaxies to give clues to their formation and evolution. She is the Project Scientist for the Galaxy Zoo project.

Twitter:  @KarenLMasters

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Wednesday, 11 July 2012

Bat-Socks, Bat-Pants

When Tim Burton's 'Batman' film came out in 1989, an absurd amount of merchandise was released. Mr Kitsch was slightly obsessed at the time, and bought as much as he could afford., including this rather unlikely collection of items -Batman handkerchiefs, Batman swim shorts, Batman and Joker socks and Batman & Joker boxer shorts. Because of course you want to have Jack Nicholson's face on your underwear, with the words "Ha Ha Ha".

It's an odd phenomenon, isn't it, the marketing of character clothing to adults? On one hand, I tend to despise the wearer of a Simpsons tie, but on the other hand, what does it matter? Why shouldn't people wear cartoon characters? Well, like just about everything we wear, the actual garment doesn't count, it's the social construct we put around it.

So, what social construct do we put around Bat-pants? That to wear them would be very, very wrong.

I am pleased to report that Mr Kitsch just kept these as collectors items, and in the end, sold them on Ebay. Yes, on Ebay, there's even a market for secondhand novelty pants...

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Harry Potter Novel 15 July 2011 Released Download Free Quiz

Harry Potter Novel is going to release on 15 July 2011 Before Download Take free Quiz

The are may searches on google related to download Harry Potter novels, Because it is very popular in the world. Before read his novel go through these
Harry Potter Quizzes Here are some questions and answer based on Harry Potter for his fans.
So lets Start.

1). Harry Potter is a series of seven fantasy novels written by the British author ------------?

2). First novel of Harry Potter series was the Philosopher's ---------?

3). As of June 2008, the book series has sold more than ---------- million copies?

4). To see its popularity has been translated into ------ languages ?

5). English-language versions of the books are published by ----------- in the United Kingdom ?

6). In Canada it is published by ------------?

7). In Australia it is published by ------------?

8). In United States it is published by ------------?

9). The seventh book of this series was released on -------------?

10). And this series ---------- is currently scheduled for release on 15 July 2011 ?

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Samstag, Januar 21

Cute potato is back - Yeepie

Yes she is.

Today the postman brought me a big, heavy package from Australia
I made a little movie showing to you how I unpack the package in order to get a first overview. I load the film on You Tube just because it does not seem to work differently other ways. If he's there I'll probably set him here - I'm really excited and am going to watch tonight's treasures, which includes the package.

  1. Oh thank you so much for sharing the video with us all. I so enjoyed watching the unveiling. I'm so happy you like the bracelet & that it does fit you.

    Loved the experience of sharing my life with so many others

  2. oh wow!!! thank you so much for videoing it....there was so much loot in that box,i was aamzed at everybodys generosity...
    glad she is home safely...xxxx

  3. Glad she made it home safe and sound....have been thinking about her since I sent her on her way!


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“Ann is absolutely AMAZING! I have been going to her for several years now and I can’t imagine going to anyone else. I love the fact that not only does she explain what she is doing or what type of product she is using, she connects with you on  a personal level.  She takes the time to get to know you and your family.  Not only is Ann a Hair Designer, she is the true definition of an artist!”

-Melissa McCracken

“I’ve always had fuzzy, wire, wavy hair.  At Cut It N Strut It, Ann styled and colored my hair to give it a smooth, sleek look that I love!  She showed me which products to use to give me the look I want.

-Terri Roth

“I have been to Ann Marie for several years now.  She is by far the best hairstylist I have ever had.  She is extremely knowledgeable, a wonderful person, and just a lot of fun!  I get a lot of compliments on my hair and have sent people to her.  This is perhaps the best compliment I can give about her skill and talent.

-Stacy Gardner

“So glad I have found Ann!  I love the way she styles my hair.  After going to different hairstylists and being dissatisfied, I have finally found some place to stay!”

-Joyce Emery

“I was looking for a hairdresser for a short time and I was given Ann Marie’s name.  When I went to her, she was fantastic.  She did my hair exactly what I wanted.  She is very good to her clients and tries to meet their every need.  She has a very uplifting personality.  It’s a joy at every appointment!”

-Virginia Mikstay

“Ann Marie is a fantastic colorist, stylist and person.  She is an expert at her craft and wants nothing more that to see her clients satisfied.  She has gone out of her way to accommodate me as I moved into the Canton area.  I’m thrilled that I was referred to Ann Marie.”

-Kristina Schnepf

“Ann Marie is an exceptional hairdresser and person.  Her hair designs are modern and edgy but personalized to the individual and their lifestyle.  I get so many compliments on my hair color/style and attribute them all to Ann.  I refer friends, family, or strangers every chance I have!”

-Cathy Horner

“Ann Marie gets to know her clients and provides that extra special personal experience.  Her knowledge of color and product expertise shows.  She is high energy fun and strives to give her customers the best service possible.”

-Jodi Morris

“Ann Marie is an energetic, positive hair magician1 I always feel so valued and special while in her salon.  My time with Ann Marie makes me so happy.  I always leave feeling elevated and beautiful.  Ann Marie is a true professional in the beauty industry.  Her knowledge of products and skills with hair are outstanding.  Run, don’t walk to get into   Cut It N Strut It today!”

-Paula Ledoux

“I have been going to Ann for many years and would highly recommend her.  She noticed premature hair loss at an early stage.  I went to my dermatologist who confirmed the hair loss and commended Ann for detecting it so early.  I am never bored with my hair color and cut.  Ann is the best!”

-Natalie Arnold

“Ann has been my stylist for over seven years and my cut is PERFECT every time!  But this is not the only one reason why I keep coming back.  Ann always makes me feel so welcome.  I feel like the only client she has when I am sitting in Ann’s chair.  I always look forward to my visit.  It’s like spending girl time with my best friend….and looking hot while doing it!”

-Amy Barrick

“Ann Marie’s conversation and interaction is electric!  From the time you enter the salon, sit down and chat, she is focused on what brings you in, what issues with your hair you are happy with as well as what you would like to change.  This is the first salon I’ve been to where a quick touch up, shampoo and cut is not the order of the day.  Rather,           Ann Marie teaches and educates on products best suited for my hair and offers fresh and new ideas for a new look!”

-Patty Jackson

“Ann Marie knows her stuff! She’s great with every aspect of my visit…… be it cut, color, highlight, low light or styling, it’s always perfect!  Her background has really enhanced the knowledge she has in color.  She knows what she is doing!  She’s the best!”

-Rhonda Reed

 “First of all….. Do you know how hard it is to find a good hairdresser??  I was referred to Ann from a friend I believe in 2011 and have never, ever considered going anywhere else.  I recently moved away from Canton and will never ever go to anyone else.  Ann knows exactly what she’s doing.  We experiment with hair colors and I basically let her do what she wants without any fears.  Always a wonderful experience.  She’s always accommodating with appointments and constantly getting in new products to try.  Not only is she my hair dresser…… she has become a wonderful friend!  LOVE HER!

-Janet Puza

“Ann Marie knows hair!  She knows what will look great on a person the minute they walk through the door.  She takes a personal interest in her clients.  I always look and feel wonderful when I leave her salon!  She is up-to-date on cuts, color, and styles.  She works magic on hair!”

-Becky Race

“Coming into Ann Marie’s salon is a wonderful experience.  I have been to many salons and never been as happy with the cut and color of my hair.  I always look forward to my appointments.”

-Karen Kilgore

“Best service for hair in Ohio.  I tried Ann’s studio about 7 months ago and fell in love.  Very professional but also a great time.  I only go to Ann and I live an hour away.  She is the only person I trust with my hair and eye brows.  Not only all that, she is AFFORDABLE!!  Would strongly recommend to not only girls, but guys.  My hair has never looked or felt better.

-Jake Dunwiddie


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Settlements along the Volga >
Settlements along the Volga

      Between 1764 and 1772, 106 colonies were established along the Volga River near Saratov. Historically, these colonies became known as "Mother Colonies". Colonists were assigned to settlements according to their religious confession.
      As the colonies grew, they became overcrowded, and beginning in 1848 a series of "Daughter Colonies" were established, mostly to the south and east of the original colonies. The daughter colonies were inhabited by descendants of the original colonists.
      Another group of new colonies were established at this same time in the midst of the Volga German colonies by a group of Mennonites from West Prussia. Another group of these Mennonites settled in the Volga region to the north of Samara. They were soon joined by a group of Evangelical Germans who established another group of colonies.
      Read more about the colonists arrival in Russia.

Last update 5 September 2014.
Main Colonies
Resettlement within Russia
Additional Resources
  • For colony spelling and name variations see the Volga German Gazetteer
  • Volga Colony Index by Ray Heinle
  • Volga Village Chart by Patrice Miller
  • In 1898, A. N. Minkh, a member of the Saratov Scientific Archive Commission wrote a series of articles about the German colonies on the Volga for the Russian Encyclopedia and Historical Geographic Dictionary of the Saratov District.


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Cry Out America! 9-11-2001

Declare a holy fast; call a sacred assembly. Summon the elders and all who live in the land to the house of the LORD your God, and cry out to the LORD.
Joel 1:14

On this day may we fully awaken and return to the Lord. God prescribed in Joel 1:14 how we are to return, we are to “Consecrate a fast; call a solemn assembly. Gather the elders and all the inhabitants of the land to the house of the Lord your God, and cry out to the Lord.” In obedience to the Lord, we have gathered here on this occasion to do exactly that.

Science: Creation and the great eclipse of 2017

August 21, 2017
Peoria, IL
92-93% coverage
Begins: 11:50:37
Maximum: 13:17:20
Ends: 14:41:5

O Lord, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory above the heavens.
Out of the mouth of babies and infants,
you have established strength because of your foes,
to still the enemy and the avenger.
When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
and the son of man that you care for him?

Civil Rights: Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.
A Baptist preacher.

"Rev. Martin Luther King... found the Bible so compelling that his undergraduate degree was in Bible studies and his Ph.D. was in theology." (1)

"Moral principles have lost their distinctiveness. For modern man, absolute right and wrong are a matter of what the majority is doing. Right and wrong are relative to likes and dislikes and the customs of a particular community. We have unconsciously applied Einstein's theory of relativity, which properly described the physical universe, to the moral and ethical realm ... This mentality has brought a tragic breakdown of moral standards, and the midnight of moral degeneration deepens." (1, from sermon "A Knock at Midnight")

Unfortunately, in 2017, the culture of death and politics of government dependence has created a culture with no ethics, morality, or humanity, in other words, "the midnight of moral degeneration."

Disciple: Notes from Stuart Briscoe

Notes on being a disciple of Jesus Christ from Stuart Briscoe's message delivered at Maranatha Bible and Missionary Conference Week 5, 2017.

The word disciple is used 100's of times in the new testament. One of the first actions Jesus took in His ministry was to recruit disciples.

the four critical rules of firearm safety

"Do not unsheath me without reason. Do not wield me without valor."
- unknown

The Four Critical Rules of Firearm Safety:

1. Consider all weapons to be loaded at all times.

2. Never point a weapon at anything you do not want to put a bullet through.

3. Never put your finger on the trigger unless you want to shoot.

4. Know your target and what’s behind it.

Civil Government: The Mayflower Compact

An example of an agreement to form "a civil Body Politick, for our better Ordering and Preservation, and Furtherance of the Ends aforesaid"

Mayflower Compact (emphasis added)
Agreement Between the Settlers at New Plymouth : 1620

Liberty: The Higher Law and Moral Framework of Liberty

Samuel Adams taught that people will not give up liberties or be subdued if they have knowledge and virtue. But if they are ignorant and immoral (un-virtuous), they will be defeated without foreign invaders. Krisanne Hall says "with knowledge there is power." (1)

What informed the founders that they would be willing to give their lives, fortunes and sacred honor to fight for liberty?
They had knowledge! (2)

Declaration of Independence

IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

Independence Day

The American colonies were once ruled by a bad King, much like God warned Samuel about when we trust in and depend on earthly kings instead of God:

“’This is what the king who will reign over you will do: He will take your sons. . . He will take your daughters. . . He will take the best [of everything you have]. . . and you yourselves will become his slaves.’”
- Paraphrase of 1 Samuel 8:7, 11-18

Memorial Day Videos

Love these.

Archive copy attached below for personal use of The Lost Secrets of Memorial Day from

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31 October 2008

If you are a service provider, you better have a phone number!

Outlaw has recently commented on the ruling of the European Court of Justice ('ECJ') in the case of Bundesverband der Verbraucherzentralen und Verbraucherverbände – Verbraucherzentrale Bundesverband eV v deutsche internet versicherung AG.

The Plaintiff sued the Defendants on the ground that the latter did not provide its phone number to its potential customers before the conclusion of a commercial transaction. DIV did give policy buyers the phone number, but only after the conclusion of a contract.

The case was refered to the ECJ for a preliminary ruling on the interpretation of Article 5(1) of the E-Commerce Directive which provides that:

‘1. In addition to other information requirements established by Community law, Member States shall ensure that the service provider shall render easily, directly and permanently accessible to the recipients of the service and competent authorities, at least the following information:
(a) the name of the service provider;
(b) the geographic address at which the service provider is established;
(c) the details of the service provider, including his electronic mail address, which allow him to be contacted rapidly and communicated with in a direct and effective manner;

The ECJ was asked to adjudicate on whether Article 5(1) required websites which fell within the ambit of the Directive to provide any other additional means of contact other than their postal and emal address.

The ECJ ruled that companies have a duty to provide a means of contact on their websites in addition to their postal and email addresses. The ECJ further ruled that an acceptable means of contact includes a telephone number or a contact form that is answered within an hour.

This ruling will have a wide ranging commercial impact as it will force service providers to put in place a more advanced system to communicate with their customers than they currently do. This will have considerable financial impact on the business model of those providers.

27 October 2008

A possible sentence of 5 years for breaking, entering and killing a 'virtual' husband.

For those of us who still believe that actions on MMORPGs can never carry any repercussions in the offline world, the recent imprisonment of a Japanese woman who killed her 'virtual husband' online, should make us think twice.

The game in question, Maplestory, allows its players to participate in a number of games as well as social activities/relationships including marriage through avatars. The lady in question was virtually married to another player (who was not her husband in real life and lived 1000 km away from her). She was apparently angry when she discovered that her 'virtual' husband divorced her without informing her of the matter. She allegedly illegally accessed the log-in details of her 'virutal husband' and killed off his character.

According to BBC News, if the lady is charged and convicted, she is likely to face up to five years in prison and a fine of up to $5, 000. The BBC also reports that the lady has been imprisoned in a jail situated in the town of her 'virtual' husband.
On a technical plane, it would be interesting to find out how she was able to access his log-in details.

The legal issues posed by this case are even more interesting. Is the sentence in question proportionate to the crime? How is proportionality decided? Is the imposition of the sentence legitimate if the players are not aware of the possible consequences of their actions before / at the time they agree to take part in the game? Finally why does the town of the 'virtual' husband have jurisdiction over the matter? This case presents an interesting insight into the problems of legitimacy raised by the application of certain offline rules to virtual actions.

15 October 2008

One step closer to an Orwellian world.

What is the Government`s answer to the growing and multifold use of internet and mobile phones: a central database of the traffic generated by both technologies!! The Government justifies its proposal on the premise of 'keeping up' with new technologies. CyberPanda is shocked at this very weak and unpersuasive rationale for such a drastic proposal which is very much reminiscent of Big Brother watching you. Under the current proposal, the information about internet/mobile traffic will be kept for two years and will very likely be held centrally on a searchable database.

The Home Secretary, who unveiled the new proposal today, used all the right terminology: terrorism, sex abuse, murder, drugs trafficking to justify this unprecedented step. The loaded terminology used should not detract one away from the fact that the proposal is very much a threat against the privacy and freedom of expression of net/mobile users. There will be an opportunity for consultation before these proposals are incorporated in the upcoming Communications Data Bill. It remains to be seen what is the aim and scope of the consultation and whether it will, in reality, amend the current proposals in a substantial manner.
Click here to view the image used above in its original context.

9 October 2008

We give thanks for not blogging in the Italian waters.

The attention of CyberPanda has been caught by an interesting case from the Italian shores covered by The Register.

Mr Carlo Ruta has been found guilty by the courts of the offence of 'stampa clandestina' which means clandestine publication, in respect of publications of posts on his blog. In the judge`s view, given that the blog had a headline, it amounted to an 'online newspaper' and hence was regulated Law 62 (which regulates online clandestine publications). Mr Ruta was fined and ordered to take down the blog.

CyberPanda is surprised by the ruling of the italian courts and does not see how a blog can be compared to a newspaper. In addition, the argument used by the courts to reach this conclusion (namely that the blog was a newspaper because it had a headline) is logically flawed. It remains to be seen whether this very illogical and harsh ruling will be followed in the future or whether this ruling was reached solely on the basis of the content of the blog in question (politics and mafia). This ruling is a step in the wrong direction as it not only curtails freedom of speech online but also the curtailment of this right, can not be supported by a logical legal/factual argument.

Brace yourself for your encounter with Geode.

BBC News Technology has reported that Mozilla, the creator and developer of the Firefox browser has launched Geode, which is a geolocation technology. As most of Firefox`s features, Geode is an add-on feature which users add if they wish to avail themselves of this technology. It is important to point out that Geode is still at a pilot stage and Firefox is at the moment focussing on how users respond to this new technology.

One of the encouraging features of Geode is that it leaves the user firmly in control of what information is transmitted about their location. It remains to be seen how this will be achieved on a technological plane. CyberPanda agrees with the BBC that asking a person whether or not s/he wants to reveal his/her location might not be the best way forward. It would be best to find a way to gain the consent of the individual through a different means (e.g. opt-in options).
On a deeper level, CyberPanda questions the utility of personal geolocation information: it is one thing finding out where Cafe Pasta is found in Soho quite another to find out where John Doe is up. In addition, CyberPanda struggles to see how disclosure of such information (for the individual) can be justified: what greater public interest is being served by this disclosure and is the fact that the user consents to such disclosure, enough to render such level of surveillance legitimate?

8 October 2008

Patent protection for online music file systems?

Seer Systems, a US company, has been awarded patent protection for a system and method of merging various types of data, distributing the data over the internet and playing the media file. The EFF has filed a reexaminiation request with the US Patent & Trademark Office on the grounds that the system in question does not fulfill the requisite elements needed before patent protection is granted. This is an interesting case and CyberPanda agrees with the EFF that patent protection is not appropriate in this case due a lack of novelty. Another important consideration is the impact of such IP protection on technological innovations and the interests of consumers.

4 October 2008

Beware of conversations with users of TOM-skype

The Information Warfare Monitor has published damning evidence of a series of worrying acts related to TOM-skype (the Chinese version of Skype) which are taking place in China. The evidence shows that TOM-skype blocks keywords from chat conversations and more worryingly spies on (and reports!!) the contents of the messages passing between Skype users. The evidence gathered, so far, indicates that 'extensive surveillane' is taking place with 'little regard' to the privacy and security of Skype users.

TOM-skype is a joint venture between eBay and the Chinese company TOM-Online. Skype denies any knowledge of and involvement in TOM-skype's additions but it has aware of the censorship features introduced by TOM-skype.

Now this is not only a concern for skype users in China but also for any other skype user who engages a conversation with a skype user in China.

CyberPanda agrees with the EFF that Skype and Ebay have to take decisive actions to put an end to such activities. In particular, Skype has a marked responsiblity towards all its users and can not evade liability by flashing the 'We did not know it' card. Finally, it should be determined to what extent the concerned parties (Skype, TOM online and eBay) have been actively backing this extensive level of surveillance.

Disclaimer: The logo used above belongs to Skype.

1 October 2008

To pay or not to pay, that is the question.

Blizzard has won $6m in damages in the trial it brought against MDY earlier this year. In a nutshell, Blizzard brought a claim against MDY on the grounds that Glider, a software produced by MDY infringed the copyright of Blizzard in the World of Warcraft ('WoW').

The US District Court ruled that Glider did in fact break the terms of the licence which users of WoW agree to before playing WoW. Commentators have argued that the award of damages could have been more substantial if MDY did not succeed on some of the grounds it presented to the Courts. It remains to be seen whether MDY will appeal against the judgement. Readers of CyberPanda will remember the reservations advanced by CyberPanda in an earlier post on the legal reasoning used by the Courts to reach its ruling. These concerns are still very much present at the moment and in the view of CyberPanda, MDY should seriously consider appealing the ruling as the legal reasoning used to determine liability in this instance is very much overstretched and illogical.

The case is far from over as MDY is due to appear in court again at the start of 2009 when the Courts will rule whether or not has breached the provisions of the US Digital Millennium Copyright Act and whether Mr Donnelly will have to pay the damages from his own pocket.
Disclaimer: The image used above is subject to the rights of its owner. Click here to view the image in its original context.


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Wednesday, January 28, 2009

Deathmatch Round 1 Part 3

I'm sure eventually I'll cover some other stuff on this blog like in the good ol' days (Super Bowl? Mosley/Margarito? There you go, they've been covered.), but for now, on this glorious snow day, we have more Round 1 results from Deathmatch.

Cash 4 Gold killed Shelley. Shelley went very politely and she will be missed.

Clyde Frog took out Michael Scarn (Seforim Sale, Slow Punch and noted hermaphrodite bedwetter Eli Manning can no longer win as well, as well). Clearly Scarn should've had a real gun with him, instead of relying on his improv skills.

Kig-Ram was poisoned by the Klinger Water and was disgusted by it. Klinger representatives are now 3-0 so far in Deathmatch.

In the first matchup of captains, Meles killed Greg lol. Lol, lol. (Wake up Foo, Tovi, and Guiel?! say goodbye to their chances of winning.)

And finally, after staving off an attack from an Electron Density zombie, Gravity was Raped in the Face. And just like that, Mohinder really is running out of excuses as to why he can't figure out what caused the heroes to lose their powers. Kudos to Raped in the Face who although it can't win since its idiot captain Matt Berger got himself killed, is still going out and getting the job done. Well done Raped in the Face!

1 comment:

Jersey said...

1. Shelley took the vacation of a lifetime.

2. Kig-Ram shouldn't drink Klinger water. He should crackers.