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AB-CHAIN is closing

Dear friends!

To our huge regret, we have made the decision to stop the work of the AB-CHAIN project. This decision was not easy, but we sincerely believe that it will be right for all of us.

Despite the optimistic forecasts, certain tendencies that emerged in the market led us to the idea that the successful development of our product is impossible. And here is why:

  1. As you know, our main client segment was ICO projects. Unfortunately, their share on the market has rapidly decreased, and new projects appear less and less;
  2. Contrary to forecasts and our expectations, now ICO projects are not ready to invest in Internet advertising at the same high level that was demonstrated in 2017;
  3. The cryptocurrency market is going through hard times. We are not the only project that has undergone such critical changes. Such large projects like Lordmancer II, BitConnect, Prism, ETC  were forced to cease operation or significantly cut staff.

During our existence, we managed to complete many bold and complex tasks:

  1. Advertising widget placed on the sites of publishers to display advertising, that is able to collect all the necessary statistics. It supports both standard media advertising formats and responsive text formats;
  2. The publisher’s cabinet that allows changing the settings of connected websites, with statistics of ad impressions on all sites, a wallet with automatic payment for ad impressions, and a flexible widget customization interface which allows obtaining the code for placing a widget for any ad space on the website;
  3. Advertiser’s office with flexible customization of advertising campaigns, responsive and static ads and budgets. Wallet for receiving payment in ETH. Advertising campaign statistics;
  4. A reception of payment in RTB tokens is implemented In the advertiser’s office. When paying in RTB tokens, the advertiser is given an automatic 50% discount on the network commission;
  5. Due to a sudden increase in suspicious activity in the advertising network, a mechanism for investigating fraud protection was implemented. As a result, an approach was developed and a network of bot sites from dozens of individual publishers connected to the AB-CHAIN network was cleaned;
  6. A remarketing pixel that allows launching remarketing advertising campaigns to return customers was implemented in the network;
  7. Look-alike campaigns were implemented in the network
  8. A Smart-contract with a system for automatic withdrawal and distribution of publishers revenue in RTB was developed and implemented

Being decent and responsible, we consider it necessary to inform you in detail about the motives of our decision. Therefore, all our investors will receive an individual e-newsletter with a detailed description of the procedure for closing and receiving a return on investment.

Thank you for being with us!


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To Be The Man…

There is an old saying in professional wrestling: “To Be The Man, You Gotta Beat The Man.” It’s a simple premise, overall. To prove you are the best, you have to win against the best.

In the end, The Prodigy beat The Best Player in Big Brother and proved this to be true once more. Tonight, Ian became the Man by beating Dan, the Man 6 – 1.
Continue reading “To Be The Man…”

Ian Won HOH Part 2

After both threw the first part of the HOH competition to Dan, Danielle and Ian competed in the second of the three part final Head of Household Competition tonight. Ian won, making it an Ian/Dan head-to-head competition live Wednesday, for a guaranteed spot in the Final Two and the choice of who will sit next to them.

Ian, thinking he’s guaranteed to be in the finals because of his ‘Renegade Alliance’ with Dan, was put under fire immediately after his win. A planned attack by Dan and Danielle that Dan hopes will help his chances of convincing Ian to throw the final part of the HOH to him. Dan put his plan in to motion, making an intentional slip to ‘reveal’ his alliance with Ian to Danielle. Continue reading “Ian Won HOH Part 2”

The Harp From Hell

“You gotta admit, I played this stinkin’ city like a harp from Hell!”

– Penguin (Danny DeVito), “Batman Returns”

The best villains in classic literature often tend to be those who don’t reveal their true ambition to the hero until the final act. If one were to look at this season as literature or a story written out, then Dan has proved to be the season’s Iago. Seen as an ally to the “heroic” couple of Danielle and Shane, Dan fully revealed his true intentions to the heroine in the final act. With his move to get removed from nomination and then to eliminate the one remaining power couple in the house, Dan has paved his way to victory by placing himself in a safe position to make the Final Two. His diabolical plan to subvert his main ally is complete, and his move seals his fate as one of the biggest villains in BB History.

At least, that’s what you’ll learn if you ask Danielle tonight.

Continue reading “The Harp From Hell”

Dan & Ian Nominated, Danielle Won Veto

Danielle, after winning her second HOH of the season, followed it up with a second Veto win. Keeping all the power in her hands, she can now decide whether to keep her nominations of former coach Dan and resident genius Ian the same. With Shane the only person safe at the moment, using it is unlikely. However with Dan still in the house, it is entirely possible that he can talk his way off the block.

Having previously had a plan together to take out Shane before the final three, Dan could use that to sway Danielle. It could already be the plan. Even so, Danielle is known for being emotional, and her attachment to Shane could override her day-one alliance with Dan. Continue reading “Dan & Ian Nominated, Danielle Won Veto”

Shane Down, Danielle Up

Shane chose to use the Veto today, taking himself off the Block and securing his place in the final four. With the Quack Pack back together, Ian chose Danielle as the replacement nominee, keeping his ‘Final Two’ partner Dan safe. With Danielle on the Block next to Jenn and only Shane and Dan voting this week, it’s probably the safest she’s felt while sitting in the hot seat so far this summer.

After promising Jenn that she would never vote her out, Dani’s in a good position with her as a Jury Vote because she won’t have to go back on her word. Yet Jenn is not giving up (though she should), vowing to campaign to stay and feeling like she has a lot of game left in her. Of course, if she has actually played the game during the first two thirds, that argument would be worth a lot more.
Continue reading “Shane Down, Danielle Up”

Shane Won Veto

With Big Brother winding down, the final five played for Veto. Ian having nominated Shane and Jenn, the worst case scenario for the Quack Pack was Jenn winning, forcing one of their numbers to leave. That didn’t come about when Shane took the win in what sounds like a physical puzzle challenge. Lucky for him, as Dan and Danielle have been considering taking him out before Final Four. Assuming he won’t pull a Marcellas and not use the Veto on himself (though overestimating Shane is easy to do) Ian will have to choose either Danielle or Dan to take his place.

Ian has put his faith in to the Quack Pack, most specifically Dan, who he has made a Final Two deal with, breaking out the old alliance ‘the Renegades’ which got Dan to the Final Two before. Being included in the alliance (complete with the fist-bump pistol shoot ‘secret’ handshake) is a thrill for the young man, so it is unlikely he will choose Dan as the replacement nominee, leaving Danielle as the only option. Continue reading “Shane Won Veto”

Dan Wins Veto

 With Ian finally upstairs in HOH, his second time around again proved his loyalty to the crashed, burned Quack Pack he somehow resuscitated and recovered. By nominating Frank and Jenn, he kept Dan off the block and went so far as solidifying a final two deal with the former winner after Dan won the much anticipated OTEV Veto Competition today. His first win of the season, on his birthday, no less.

Dan now having the power to save either Frank or Jenn from the block, who he formed an alliance with last week that kept both him and Danielle in the game, means we will see which side he thinks will get him farthest in the game. So far it looks as though his loyalty to the QP will last at least another week, as Ian his HOH.

Continue reading “Dan Wins Veto”

Dan’s Big Veto Move

During the last 24 hours what may be the best game play in Big Brother History has gone down. At the center of it all? Dan, winner of Big Brother 10, author of How to Get On Reality TV, and Big Brother strategy mastermind. It all began with 24 hours in solitary confinement. Although he was subjected to strobe lights and really annoying party ‘music’ (CBS sure didn’t break the bank on that one), Dan had one thing that nobody in the BB house gets – time to think and time to plan.

Dan went in to Solitary confinement after the Veto Competition on Saturday afternoon, and a few hours in to the confinement he stopped talking to everybody, having already played it cool with Danielle, not talking to her since Veto. Of course, Danielle took that personally. Whining to Britney that Dan was mad at her, and wondering why. Britney, thinking that Danielle was reading too much into it and playing emotionally, assured Danielle that he wasn’t mad and was just sleeping, or couldn’t hear them. Dan came out of solitary confinement in the Have Not Room, he appeared pale and shaky. Having been subjected to constant strobe lights and music made it impossible for him to actually rest, and he looked exhausted. However, at the sink he stood and gave the camera a quick wink. There was nothing wrong with Dan.
Continue reading “Dan’s Big Veto Move”

Jenn Won Veto

After the epic Double Eviction episode on Thursday night that sent Boogie home and Ashley to Jury, Frank won yet another HOH competition and moved his stuff back upstairs. It’s been an extra fun HOH for him since he opened Pandora’s Box and was locked in while the rest of the house searched for quarters in balls so they could play the claw game in the Arcade Room. The Golden Ball was the goal and the winner, Ian, now has the new Golden Ball Veto.

In making his nominations the next day, Frank didn’t hesitate to nominate his main target Dan along with Danielle, Dan’s closest ally in the house.

Continue reading “Jenn Won Veto”

Blonde Bombshelled

Few players in this game have been as polarizing as Janelle Pierzina. After two seasons, viewers had come to either love or hate her- rarely were people inbetween. What was never in doubt before this summer was that she was one of the hardest players in the game. Janelle combined this with a game play that had strong social overtones thanks to friendships with Howie and Kaysar, and the result was a player who has been widely regarded as one of the best never to win the game.

When viewers watched Janelle this season on the feeds, it was clear something was different. Perhaps too much time had passed since her last season. Perhaps her changed perspective on life (following marriage and motherhood) had turned this once-monster player into less of a force to be reckoned with. Janelle’s investment in this season seemed weaker than in past seasons, and her game play was off all season.
Continue reading “Blonde Bombshelled”


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HTTP APIs – connect the web elegantly

What’s an HTTP API?

Good question. “API” stands for Application Programming Interface. In general, it’s a way for programmers to connect their software to an existing piece of software or hardware.

When hearing the term “API” many people think of a particular kind of API, but in reality the term covers just about any kind of software interconnection. Graphics programming libraries, database access, browser extensions, news and weather feeds, and so on — these are all APIs in one form or another.

HTTP APIs (or web APIs) let your software retrieve and modify information on a web server. For example:

Choices to make up front

There’s not just one kind of web API. You have browser APIs to interact with and control a web browser, modify its display or behaviour using JavaScript or a plugin architecture. Then you have server APIs, which typically allow a third-party developer to work with information stored on a remote server, sometimes from web browsers, sometimes from another server, sometimes from another bit of software.

I’ll be talking specifically about server APIs via HTTP. There are a lot of commonly-used technologies: RESTSOAPJSONRPCXML. They all have various pros and cons, but I’ll use PythonFlask (a popular microframework for Python), REST and JSON to demonstrate the concepts.

Setting up your API

Assuming you have Flask installed already, here’s a simple single-file website that works:

from random import randint
from flask import Flask, jsonify

app = Flask(__name__)

def hello(max_num=10):
    """ Return a Hello World message along with a random number """
    return jsonify(message="Hello World!", number=randint(1, max_num))

if __name__ == "__main__":

Some tutorials for other laguages:

Building a great API

URL structure

To make life easier for anyone using your API, you’ll need a good URL structure. This will make your API easier to work with, and save users a lot of time.

For example:

Data & response structure

Next you should have a sensible, consistent data structure. How exactly you structure your response depends on your requirements, but it should return useful information, and an appropriate HTTP status code. Common status codes would be 200 for a successful request, 403 for request denied (eg. invalid credentials), 404 for resource not found and 500 for a server error.

A basic message-only response:

{ "message": "Purchase OK" }

A bad message-only response:

{ { "status": {"message": "Purchase OK" } }

What’s bad about this? There is a superfluous layer of nesting, and needless extra keys.

A message containing a list of shopping basket items:

{ "items": [ { "id": 123, "description": "Parcel tape", "quantity": 1 },
             { "id": 456, "description": "Wrapping paper", "quantity": 1 },
             { "id": 789, "description": "Label", "quantity": 3 } ] }

Similarly, you could do things very wrong:

{ "ids": [123, 456, 789],
  "descriptions": ["Parcel tape", "Wrapping paper", "Label"],
  "quantities": [1, 1, 3] }

While it might look like we avoided the needless use of keys and made our data structure tidy and compact, it’s much harder to guarantee that the shopping basket ids, descriptions and quantities have been added in the correct order.

Try to make your data structures sensible, consistent, and readable to the human eye. Group related information information together.

It’s also worth making your response structures consistent across different API endpoints — for example, avoid calling a message “message” in one endpoint, “response” in the next, “note” in another.

Error handling

This is another essential. When there is an error, you need to make sure that your API handles it gracefully, and informs anyone who needs to know about it. A typical approach is to issue an error message in your JSON response in conjunction with an appropriate HTTP status code.

If it’s a serious error that’s not the API user’s fault, it’s also a good idea to send an email to your development team both advising of, and describing, the error so they can fix the fault. Include the exception name and a stack trace at a minimum. Depending on your requirements, you might also want to log it to disk.

Python’s logging module (version 2 | 3) is great for handling this.

Authentication and Access Control.

Depending on what you’re doing, this may or may not be necessary. For a public API, you probably don’t need to worry about it. If you’re using a local web server on a locked-down embedded device, it’s probably not an issue. But if you want to limit your audience or the volume of requests, you’ll need some way to restrict and allow access.

There are several common methods for doing authentication. It’s often a tradeoff between security and convenience. Weigh up how sensitive your API’s information is. If it’s financial information you’ll want it pretty tight, but if it’s a small list of products which can be viewed by the public anyway then it won’t be such a pressing concern.

One easy & simple way is to include an API username and key in the request URL, and check this against a known list. For example:

When a request is made to this URL you’d compare the user (bob) and key (P1neapple) to a list of allowed key/user combinations, and then compose an appropriate JSON response, or an HTTP 403 if they’re not allowed in. You could also omit the username entirely and simply use a long and unique key for each API user.

While easy and convenient, this method is not very secure as your user credentials will be stored in any place which logs the request URL. You should never use URL-based authentication when transferring sensitive information.

To make authentication more secure you could place API credentials in the request header, or use OAuth.

Some annoying things to avoid

Simplistic credential management: An entry in a settings file is fine if you only have one or two users but if you’re supporting quite a few then it could get unwieldy very quickly. Consider storing API credentials in a database to make managing access for multiple users easier in the long run.

No documentation: Make sure you have some. Besides making life easier for anyone who uses your API, its presence shows that you’ve put a lot of thought and effort into your API. Your target audience is developers who use your API, but remember they’re humans first. Keep your documentation simple and to the point.

User experience & needless requests: Your API users are likely to be developers, but they’re still users. Consider how they might expect to use it. Is there a sensible way you can provide all the information they’re likely to need without needing to issue multiple requests?

Sluggishness: If you’re returning lots of information speed can be an issue. This can come from any number of areas and you’ll need to run the appropriate benchmarks and tests, but in most data-heavy APIs you should look hard at your database queries – return only the columns/fields you need and make good use of JOINs.  If you’re using django (another Python framework), learn to love .select_related() and .prefetch_related()!

Any kind of API is a user interface for programmers. Even though it’s graphical, basic UI principles still apply: clarity, consistency, visibility, feedback, avoiding surprising behaviour, and a sensible mapping between what the user sees and what happens under the hood. Remember that the end-users are human, and you’re on the right track.

16 September 2016 by andrew    add a comment

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Top Commercial Ice Machines for Healthcare Facilities

In a healthcare facility, ice is used for specific tasks including post-operative use, dietary needs and treatment to reduce swelling and inflammation. For each of these tasks, ice needs to be readily available within an easy to use and easy to maintain unit. Let’s take a look at the best ice machines for healthcare facilities.

Residential Care, Hospitals and Doctor’s Offices: Countertop Nugget Ice Machine and Dispenser

For busy doctor’s offices or hallways within hospitals and residential care facilities, nothing beats the convenience of dependable countertop ice machines and dispensers. With this type of commercial ice machine within reach, medical staff can retrieve ice quickly and within close proximity to treatment areas.

Nugget ice is ideal for healthcare facilities as it is easy to chew, easy to mold and slow to melt, making it the best choice for dietary needs and ice packs. The dispenser mechanism speeds up the process for retrieving ice and minimizes the risk of cross-contamination. Ideally, healthcare facilities should look for countertop ice machine dispensers with touch-free controls. This type of control dispenses ice when a cup or other receptacle is sensed under the chute. Some dispensing ice machines are constructed with a built-in water dispenser as well.

Burkett Recommends: The Scotsman 260 Lb Air Cooled Nugget Style Wall Mount Ice Machine/Dispenser

Emergency Rooms and Laboratories: Undercounter Ice Machines

An Undercounter Ice Machine is a self-contained ice maker with an attached storage bin. This type of ice machine is designed to fit under countertop areas and provide quick access to ice without getting in the way of the fast-paced environment of an emergency room. Undercounter ice machines are also ideal for laboratories as they leave valuable countertop areas free for charts and documents.

Undercounter ice machines are available for every style of ice. However, flake, nugget and cube ice are most often used in ER’s and laboratory settings. Flake ice is perfect for sculpting into therapeutic ice molds, cube ice is very slow to melt and nugget ice offers a chewable texture for patients. When shopping for an undercounter ice machine, be sure to measure the total space available, which includes height, depth and width. Also, consider how the bin door opens.

Ice-O-Matic ICEU150HA Burkett Recommends: The Ice-O-Matic 185 Lb Self-Contained Half Cube Ice Machine

Physical Therapy and Sports Medicine: Flake Ice Machine and Bin Combination

Flake ice is perfect for filling or molding ice packs for therapeutic use. Shopping for a flake ice machine and a separate bin can be confusing and time-consuming. We suggest purchasing an ice machine and bin combination unit that is already matched up and ready to install. The full-size floor model combination units are perfect for physical therapy and sports medicine clinics as they provide a large volume of ice on a daily basis.

When shopping for a combination flake ice machine and storage bin unit, be sure to note the daily yield of ice produced as well as the bin’s total storage capacity.

Burkett Recommends: The Manitowoc 205 Lb Flake Ice Machine with Storage Bin

Find the right ice machine for your healthcare facility and keep your patients happy and healthy. With the right specifications in place, you can have a quiet, efficient and dependable ice machine for years to come.

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The Best Luxury Cars Without the Luxury Badge

When someone buys a luxury car, he or she is not just buying heated rear seats, autonomous driving capability, and an overly complicated infotainment system. The buyer is investing in a little thing called prestige.

Prestige is what you get when you buy a high-end Mercedes-Benz, Audi, Lexus, Jaguar, or the like. Prestige is the thing that makes people look at your car and think, “I wonder what that guy does…”

When non-luxury automakers attempt to build a luxury car, they can fill it with all of the luxury features and goodies they want, but it will never have the prestige of the luxury brands.

If you want all of the luxury that modern vehicles have to offer but could pass on the prestige, check out these cars.  Continue reading >>>

What Was That? Some New Model Names for 2017

2017 Porsche 718 Cayman and 718 Boxster

In 2015 Americans bought more new cars than in any previous year, but those numbers can’t hide one of the auto business’s dirty little secrets: even when shoppers buy lots of cars, not every model sells well. We’re now winding down the 2016 model year, so we know which models won’t return for 2017. There are a few we won’t miss too much (take care, CR-Z!), but happily, a number of good models that won’t come back for 2017 have already been replaced or will move on under new names. Here are some vehicles we’re glad will return, even if they’ve had to adopt an alias to do so.

Continue reading >>>

Look Toward Genesis for Your V8 RWD Driving Pleasure

Once upon a time, America was chock full of rear-wheel-drive (RWD) cars with beefy engines. They comfortably cruised Interstate highways and transported an entire generation of families. Most of those cars today have been replaced by front-wheel-drive sedans with turbocharged engines or all-wheel-drive car-based crossovers.

The Chrysler 300 and Dodge Charger are perhaps the only remaining RWD American sedans that can be had with a V8 engine. Even the all-new Lincoln Continental, once the epitome of rear-drive land yachts, will return with V6 power and either front- or all-wheel drive.

Buyers who long for a V8 RWD luxury sedan will have another option, though. They’ll just have to look toward the newest South Korean brand to get it.

Continue reading >>>


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nyc sales events

12 NYC Sales Events to Check Out

NYC has tons of business and career opportunities for sales professionals. If you’re not already taking advantage of events and networking opportunities, you should consider giving one a try. While it might be tricky to pull yourself away from your busy schedule, you’ll find these meetings and conferences more than make up for the effort with numerous professional advantages. By making an effort to connect with the NYC sales community, you can expand your professional network, find mentors outside of your organization, and further your sales skills.

Monthly and Quarterly NYC Sales Events:

1. Building the Sales Machine

  • Date: TBA
  • Price: $15
  • Good for: Sales professionals at startups

Building the Sales Machine offers quarterly sales and networking events, which feature an experienced panelist who has scaled sales teams at various companies. Attendees have the opportunity to ask top sales leaders questions about the unique challenges of building a sales team as a startup. Guest speakers typically include CROs and VPs of Sales at successful startups such as HubSpot and Yodle.

2. Women in Sales (WIS)

  • Date: Next event on January 23, 2018, others throughout year
  • Price: $10-15
  • Good for: Female sales professionals looking to advance their career and network

Women in Sales is one of CloserIQ’s quarterly event series. WIS brings together female sales professionals to share knowledge, foster mentorship and grow community. These two-and-a-half-hour events, scheduled in the evening, offer designated periods for networking and refreshments as well as a panel discussion from featured panelists who have extensive experience growing their sales careers at high growth startups. Use code “WIS20” for 20% off admission!

3. NYC Enterprise Sales Forum

  • Date: Next event May 16, others throughout the year
  • Price: Varies; some events are free
  • Good for: B2B sales professionals involved in enterprise sales

The NYC Enterprise Sales Forum is a Meetup group with more than 2,000 members. It is part of a global organization, Enterprise Sales Forum, based in NYC. Monthly events offer attendees networking opportunities as well as the chance to learn from enterprise sales experts. Past topics included how to access enterprise decision-makers, cultivating a successful attitude as a B2B sales professional, and others.

4. NYC Sales Development Forum

  • Date: Next event May 24, others throughout year
  • Price: $15
  • Good for: Sales professionals. Some events are specifically for managers.

This is another Meetup group, boasting more than 1,000 members. Events are structured to provide networking, speakers, roundtable, and Q&A. NYC Sales Development Forum offers a variety of events, some of which are geared towards sales managers and others for SDRs. Topics often focus on how sales professionals can successfully navigate relationships with prospects and coworkers.

5. NYC SalesTech Meetup

  • Date: TBA
  • Price: Free
  • Good for: Sales professionals who work with technology and data

SalesTech is a Meetup group with more than 500 members, specializing in the technological aspects of sales. Meetings are focused on relevant topics (i.e. Big Data and the sales pipeline, lead generation). Networking opportunities are provided in addition to educational discussions.

6. Dale Carnegie Sales Training: Winning with Relationship Selling

  • Dates: June 21-June 23; August 2-August 4
  • Price: $1,895
  • Good for: SDRs and other sales professionals

Dale Carnegie Training holds three-day training sessions for sales professionals interested in relationship-oriented selling techniques. Training focuses on building lasting relationships with clients that produce consistent sales results. Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are available. Sales professionals may also take this training as an eight-week course.

Annual NYC Sales Events and Conferences

1. Sales Machine Summit

  • Date: June 14
  • Price: $199-$699
  • Good for: B2B sales professionals

We’re a proud partner of SalesMachine17, hosted by Salesforce and Sales Hacker. This is an all-day event with more than 1200 sales professionals in attendance. The event offers numerous opportunities for networking as well as discussions with leaders in sales and entrepreneurship. Past speakers include Gary Vaynerchuk, Seth Godin, and Trish Bertuzzi. The conference offers both general access passes and VIP access passes. Signup here for 20% off admission!

2. Sales Summit East

  • Dates: TBA (early 2018)
  • Price: $495-$1,095
  • Good for: SDRs, sales leaders and entrepreneurs

Sales Summit East is a two-day conference full of networking events, keynote speakers, and three “master classes” with noted sales leaders. Some events scheduled for this year’s conference are sales and marketing with Trevor Crane, sales negotiation with Tony Perzow, and a cold email prospecting panel. Attendees can choose to attend for one or both days and VIP passes are available.

3. Social Media Strategies Summit

  • Dates: October 17-19
  • Price: $1399-$1894
  • Good for: Sales professionals and managers interested in social selling

The Social Media Strategies Summit is a two-day conference (with an optional pre-summit training session) focused on generating revenue through social selling and marketing techniques. Although many speakers come from a marketing background, this conference is useful for sales professionals who want to learn more about lead generation, social media strategy, and data analytics.

4. Ignition 2017

  • Dates: November 29-30
  • Price: $2995 (group discounts available)
  • Good for: Business executives and entrepreneurs in technology and media

Ignition 2017 is the annual conference sponsored by Business Insider. The conference brings together leaders in technology, telecommunications, and media to discuss digital transformation and how business executives can successfully make noise in today’s digital environment. The event has a lineup of superstar speakers: Jeff Bezos, Sheryl Sandberg, Elon Musk, and Arianna Huffington (among others).

5. Connect to Convert 2017

  • Dates: August 21-23
  • Price: $795-$995
  • Good for: B2B sales professionals interested in lead conversion and technology

An annual NYC-based conference presented by LeadsCon, B2B Leads Con is a two-day conference (with optional pre-conference day) focusing on the nitty-gritty details of lead generation and conversion in B2B sales. Networking opportunities are part of the program. Content tends to focus on how to utilize technology to close deals. 2017 speakers have not yet been announced but will likely include CEOs and other notable business leaders.

6. Forrester Customer Experiences Forum

  • Dates: June 20-21
  • Price: $2,150 (Forrester clients) or $2,350 (non-clients)
  • Good for: Customer experience leaders and professionals

Forrester’s conference focuses on customer experience (CX), offering attendees the opportunities to learn from CX experts and Forrester analysts. More than 1,600 participants are expected to attend this year, the majority of whom are at the director level and above. Conference focuses on how business leaders can prioritize CX with today’s technology and analytic insights.

James Meincke

Director of Marketing @ CloserIQ. Previously Recruiter @ ManpowerGroup & Freelance Social Media Strategist. University of Wisconsin Journalism & Strategic Communication Grad.


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Americans Are Ready for the Smart Home

According to a survey released today by Coldwell Banker Real Estate and CNET, Americans are embracing the smart home, with almost half of Millennials already adopting smart technology.

Smart house flat illustration concept

While once only reserved for lofty dreams of aspiring to live like the ‘The Jetsons,’ the smart home is finally going mainstream as Americans fully embrace the technology.

Coldwell Banker Real Estate partnered with CNET, the world’s largest and most trusted online source of consumer technology news and reviews, to conduct a survey examining consumer trends related to the use of smart home technology. The survey found that more than 1 in 4 Americans own smart home devices and nearly half of Millennials (18 to 34) have already adopted the technology.

Smart home 2

It’s no wonder smart home technology is gaining popularity as the devices offer many major benefits, including saving money (an average of $1,100 a year)! Eighty-one percent of those surveyed said they’d be more likely to buy a home if smart technology was already installed. Also, a whopping 91 percent of those who own smart home products would recommend the technology. Plus, 87 percent said that smart technology made their life easier, and 72 percent said smart home products provide them with peace of mind when it comes to home security.

In addition, the survey found that parents with children under 18 are almost twice as likely to have smart home products than those without children. Parents were also willing to pay more for a home with smart technology (59 percent) compared to those without children (47 percent).

And not surprisingly, the smartphone has become the remote control for the smart home, with 76 percent of those with smart home products controlling them with a mobile device. As for which rooms benefit from smart home technology most, the living room (51 percent) was deemed the smartest, followed by the bedroom (45 percent) and the family / rec room (35 percent).

For a full set of survey results highlighting trends related to the incredible innovation taking place in our homes, check out the data sheet here.

Senior Manager, Public Relations for Coldwell Banker. Grew up in south Florida as an avid Seminole fan and attended college in the mountains of North Carolina. Athena wanted to wake up in that city that doesn’t sleep so headed to Madison Avenue to start her marketing career. Athena has been with this awesome brand for more than 15 years and can be found generating buzz about CB in every way possible. The one area of her job she loves the most is overseeing the Coldwell Banker Homes for Dogs Project in partnership with where hundreds of thousands of dogs have now found their fur-ever home. In her spare time, you can find her either digging up a new area in her yard for another flower bed or planning her next travel adventure. She resides with the Bukowski of our generation (AKA her husband) along with her cats Jolene, Ziggy and Lucy in Atlanta, Ga.

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8 Summer Programs in Minnesota for High Schoolers

If your teen is on the college track, then you probably don’t need to be told that the admissions process is competitive at top schools. Still, there are ways of standing out from the crowd that can help your high schooler make important decisions about their future. Also known as pre-college programs, summer programs are intensive academic camps in which students can expand their skills in a given discipline while adding to their applicant profiles. Enrolling in these camps is a great way to show colleges you’re serious about a career in your chosen major.

At CollegeVine, we’re passionate about finding talented high schoolers the best Minnesota summer programs to help them achieve their goals. Here are eight great pre-college programs your teen may want to consider this summer:

Why Summer Programs Are Beneficial for High Schoolers

If you haven’t enrolled your high schooler in a summer program, you might be missing out on the chance to help them find positive role models to support them on their college journeys. Along with meeting peers who share their interest, teens have the chance to interact with tenured professors and current college students. Additionally, they can tour workplaces and interact with  industry professionals, gaining inspiration from their hard work and achievements. And who knows? Your teen may even find a mentor who can guide them on their academic journey and help them find a job after graduation.

Of course, summer programs aren’t just for students who have already chosen a career path. On the contrary, these programs can help teens identify potential fields of study and explore academic subjects that they might not have considered. After all, just because your teen doesn’t enjoy their high school algebra class doesn’t mean they aren’t destined for a career in STEM. Summer programs offer a unique opportunity to see what’s available prior to committing to a major.

Still trying to decide which pre-college program is right for you? Here are eight great options available in the state of Minnesota:

1. Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop

Is your teen passionate about social justice issues? If so, consider enrolling them in Augsburg University’s Minnesota Debate and Advocacy Workshop (MDAW). During this course, students will develop their skills for research, argumentation, advocacy, and debate. Activities include seminars, labs, group discussions, and performances from guest speakers. Scholarships are available to those who qualify.

  • Affiliate Organization: Augsburg University
  • Grades: 9th, 10th, & 11th
  • Cost: $2,140
  • Deadline: 6/8/19

3. Summer Mathematics Institute

Students who are happiest with a graphing calculator in hand — and those who want to learn more about career in math — should consider Augsburg’s Summer Mathematics Institute. During this week-long residential program, students will explore the Theory of Equations while developing their talent for solving problems likely to appear on the MSHSML, AMC, AIME, and ARML tests. Interested candidates should complete Algebra II prior to applying and be passionate about studying higher-level math.

  • Affiliate Organization: Augsburg University
  • Grades: 9th, 10th, & 11th
  • Cost: $600
  • Deadline: Not stated

3. Scrubs Camp

If your teen sees a future is in the healthcare field, consider enrolling them in one of the Scrubs Camps, located at multiple colleges throughout the state of Minnesota. During this summer course, talented high schoolers will have the chance to learn from full-time professors and current college students. Additionally, they’ll be able to tour local healthcare facilities, networking with doctors and dentists. Along with exploring various healthcare careers, the program will offer tips on different educational pathways to success. Schedules vary based on the location and available resources.

Check out  our pre-college summer programs guide to learn about even more programs and select one that’s right for you.

Build a Profile That Will Impress Admissions Officers

Our Early Advising Program helps students in 9th and 10th grade discover their passions and build strong academic and extracurricular profiles to succeed in high school.

4. Summer Computer Science Institute

Aspiring computer scientists, programmers, or engineers may want to consider the Summer Computer Science Institute at Carleton College. During this three-week program, students will develop their skills through a combination of classroom instruction, lab activities, and guided research. Not only will students have the chance to learn from full-time faculty members, but they’ll also be able to interact with current college students in the computer science field. The program concludes with an SCSI Research Symposium in which students share the results of their research with peers.

  • Affiliate Organization: Carleton College
  • Grades: 10th & 11th Only
  • Cost: $3,250
  • Deadline: 3/22/19

5. Building Cultural Bridges Summer Camp

Of course, summer programs aren’t just for STEM students. At Concordia University’s Cultural Bridges program, students can develop their talent in a range of areas including science, literacy, music, dance, art, and sports. Over the course of two weeks, teens will interact with students from a variety of cultures and language groups. Additionally, they’ll have the chance to learn from university instructors, current students, and teachers in the local school district. As a bonus, the program provides students with both breakfast and lunch, so they don’t have to worry about getting hungry while learning about the world.

  • Affiliate Organization: Concordia College
  • Grades: 9th, 10th, & 11th
  • Cost: $200
  • Deadline: 6/15/19

6. Hamline Mock Trial

Mock trials are a crucial aspect of any legal education, so why not give your policy minded teen a head start with this mock trial camp? During the one-week Mock Trial program from Hamline University, students will work with a team of their peers to develop skills in critical thinking, communication, and oral presentation. As a bonus, they’ll get real-time feedback from local lawyers, judges, and other experts in the legal field. Scholarships are available on a first come, first served basis to students in need, so apply early for the best chance at securing one.

  • Affiliate Organization: Hamline University
  • Grades: 9th, 10th, & 11th
  • Cost: $750
  • Deadline: Not stated

7. MCAD’s Pre-College Summer Session

Artistically minded students will be drawn to this program from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Along with developing their skills in studio art, students will hone their understanding of design principles and practice their critical thinking during this two-week course. As a bonus, participants will have the chance to interact with and learn from professional artists working in a variety of mediums. To apply for the Pre-College Summer Session, submit a one-page essay explaining how the program will help you realize your goals, along with five to 10 digital images of your work. The best samples showcase both the student’s technical aptitude and their conceptual talent.

  • Affiliate Organization: Minneapolis College of Art and Design
  • Grades: 10th & 11th
  • Cost: $2,300
  • Deadline: Not stated

8. ThreeSixty Journalism

If your high school student is passionate about communicating via the written word, consider the ThreeSixty Journalism program, available at the University of St. Thomas. Applicants can choose to attend one-week, two-week, or three-week programs focused on the art of writing and reporting. Additionally, the program strives to help Minnesota students from diverse backgrounds tell stories specific to their lives and experiences. To apply, submit a reference, a non-fiction writing sample, and your response to the following essay question: Why do you want to participate in the ThreeSixty Journalism summer camp?

  • Affiliate Organization: University of St. Thomas
  • Grades: 9th, 10th, & 11th
  • Cost: $975
  • Deadline: Not stated

Interested in summer programs available through Macalester College? Check out our post on the topic for details.

Whether you need help finding a summer program in Minnesota or prepping for the college applications process, the CollegeVine Mentorship Program can help. We’re passionate about helping students build robust applicant profiles so they can get into their dream schools. From choosing high school courses to selecting extracurriculars, we do it all. Check out our Early Advising program to learn more about how we can design a roadmap to your dreams.

Want more tips on improving your academic profile?

We'll send valuable information to help you strengthen your profile and get ready for college admissions.

April Maguire
Blogger at CollegeVine
Short bio
A graduate of the Master of Professional Writing program at USC, April Maguire taught freshman composition while earning her degree. Over the years, she has worked as a writer, editor, tutor, and content manager. Currently, she operates a freelance writing business and lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their three rowdy cats.


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Is A Real Estate LLC Really Necessary?

A Real Estate LLC (Limited Liability Company) business structure has become a preferred entity of real estate investors for holding title to investment properties. That’s not too surprising considering the advantages of forming an LLC:

  • It limits personal liability.
  • It provides tax treatment flexibility.
  • It’s relatively simple to establish and maintain.
  • It’s less costly to set up and maintain.
  • It offers more flexibility in how you distribute profits.
  • It makes it easier to pass real estate investments to your loved ones.
  • An individual or a company beyond the United States can own it.

Let’s dive deeper into each of these benefits in relation to forming LLCs for your real estate investments.

Benefits of Forming a Real Estate LLC

An LLC Limits Personal Liability

In an ideal world, no accidents or mishaps would happen anywhere. But unfortunately, they do. And they can happen anytime, even on the most well-maintained and well-managed property. An icy sidewalk or a tenant’s wild party can bring unanticipated injuries to a visitor on your rental property. Even though the circumstances weren’t your fault, you, as the owner, would likely be the target of the lawsuit if the guest decided to sue.

Your personal assets would be at risk in the lawsuit if you personally owned the rental property. But if you instead form an LLC to own the property, you establish your real estate holding as a separate entity from your personal self. Therefore, your personal assets would be protected, and only the LLC’s assets would be exposed in the lawsuit.

With much of what happens at an investment property beyond your control, that’s peace of mind that can help you sleep at night!

An LLC Offers Tax Advantages

Whether they have a single owner or multiple owners, LLCs offer the option of pass-through taxation of profits and losses.

By default, just as it does for all LLCs, the IRS considers a real estate holding company with one owner a sole proprietor (“disregarded entity”) for tax purposes. Income and profit or loss of the LLC pass through directly to the owner’s personal tax return and must be reported on a Schedule C.

With no income tax for the LLC to pay, the owner avoids double taxation (i.e., she only pays tax at her personal tax rate for the rental income and appreciation in property value). Another benefit is that the owner of a single member LLC can use mortgage interest as a tax deduction.

Real estate holding companies with more than one owner are known as a multi-member LLCs. The IRS will typically tax a multi-member LLC similar to a partnership. An LLC set up that way will need to file an informational tax return, but will not pay taxes as a company. The LLC’s members (owners) will report and pay income tax on their individual tax returns via a Schedule C or K (with Form 1065).

An LLC Has Less Setup And Compliance Complexity Than Corporations

Registering an LLC and ongoing compliance obligations are less complicated than with corporations. With an LLC, you’re not required to have officers and directors to oversee your business as you would with an S corporation or C corporation. Your LLC’s owners can manage your business, or you can assign third-party managers to do the job.

An LLC Cost Less To Setup And Maintain Than Corporations

With many states charging higher fees to companies with a larger number of authorized shares, you will likely find it will cost less to register and maintain LLCs for your real estate investments than it would if you were to incorporate. The fees vary from state to state. Do your homework, so you know what to expect.

An LLC Provide Flexibility In How You Can Distribute Profits

In an LLC’s operating agreement, you can state how profit distributions should be handled. Rather than having them on a pro rata basis to owners as with an S corporation, you can instead reward select members for the hard work they put into the LLC regardless of their ownership percentages.

An LLC Makes It Simpler and Less Expensive To Pass Real Estate To Your Heirs

With an LLC, you can proactively gift your real estate holdings to your heirs each year. By doing so, over time, you can pass your real estate owned through an LLC to your loved ones—without being required to execute and record new deeds. This saves money because you avoid the state’s transfer and recording taxes and fees.

An LLC Allows For Foreign Ownership

With an S corporation, only U.S. entities and investors can be owners. LLCs (and their real estate holdings) can be owned by individuals or by organizations outside of the United States.

How To Form An LLC For A Real Estate Investment Property

Below is a list of basic steps for forming a real estate LLC:

1. Choose a name for your LLC

Although you may not plan to get too creative with the name, you’ll still want to check your state’s Secretary of State database or do a corporate name search to see if the name you want to use is available. Also, use CorpNet’s free trademark search tool to see if any other business has already filed for a trademark on the name.

2. Obtain an EIN for your LLC

An EIN is the equivalent of a social security number for your business. It’s the unique identification number your LLC will use to open a bank account and use on certain documents. EINs are issued by the IRS and free of charge.

3. File Articles of Organization

You must file articles of organization with the state in which you want to form your LLC. The information required varies depending on the state, but generally expect to share:

  • Your LLC’s name and address
  • The nature of your business
  • The name and address of your registered agent
  • The name of the members (owners) and managers of your LLC

You can file your articles of organization online through the Secretary of State website or print, complete, and submit it. To avoid the hassle and to make sure it’s done properly, consider having CorpNet take care of filing your articles of organization for you.

4. Create an LLC Operating Agreement

Even though most states don’t require LLCs to have an operating agreement, I suggest you consider creating one for your real estate LLC—especially if it’s set up as a multi-member LLC. An operating agreement defines the roles and responsibilities of owners and can help you avoid misunderstandings and arguments about the management of your LLC.

5. Obtain the Business Licenses and Permits You Need

Depending on where you’re operating your LLC, you may need certain business licenses and permits. Contact your Secretary of State office, county, and municipality to find out what requirements apply to you. CorpNet can also help you identify which licenses and permits you’ll need and keep track of your renewal dates.

6. Open a Separate Bank Account for Your LLC

 Commingling personal and business funds is never a good idea—and for LLCs, it’s prohibited. If you’re caught mixing personal and business finances, you pierce the “corporate veil” that separates your personal assets from your business. That’s bad news because if someone sues your real estate LLC or it runs into financial difficulties, you could find your home, savings accounts, vehicles, and other personal belongings at risk of being included as damages.

7. Know What You Need to Do to Stay Compliant

Although less complicated than the to maintain a corporation, your real estate LLC will need to take care of some ongoing compliance tasks to stay in good standing with the state. Make a list and track the due dates, so you don’t slip up and risk losing your status as an LLC. If you need assistance in keeping tabs on all that, consider using our free cloud-based business compliance and monitoring tool, CorpNet B.I.Z. (Business Information Zone).

Is An LLC For Real Estate Right For You?

While a real estate LLC present many potential benefits to investors, they aren’t a suitable option for everyone in every situation. As with any matter that has legal and tax implications, I encourage you to talk with your attorney and accountant before you decide to form an LLC or other business entity.

And when you’re ready to take the next step, CorpNet is here to help you handle all of your business registration and compliance filings. Contact us today to get started.

2017-09-12T11:30:43-07:00 August 16th, 2017|Categories: Startup and Launch|Tags: , , , , , , , |

About the Author:

Nellie Akalp
Nellie Akalp is an entrepreneur, small business expert, speaker, and mother of four amazing kids. As CEO of, she has helped more than half a million entrepreneurs launch their businesses. Akalp is nationally recognized as one of the most prominent experts on small business legal matters, contributing frequently to outlets like Entrepreneur, Forbes, Huffington Post, Mashable, and Fox Small Business. A passionate entrepreneur herself, Akalp is committed to helping others take the reigns and dive into small business ownership. Through her public speaking, media appearances, and frequent blogging, she has developed a strong following within the small business community and has been honored as a Small Business Influencer Champion three years in a row.

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Fake Science: More Common Than You Think

Yet again the edifices of peer review were shaken by recent retractions in The New England Journal of Medicine and Cochrane Reviews. The article (and another “expression of concern publication”) retracted in the NEJM was authored by a Brigham and Women’s Hospital researcher (an institution of which I am a graduate), Dr. Piero Anversa, who has been implicated in the fraudulent publication of as many as 31 cardiac stem cell articles. Meanwhile, under seeming political pressures from a group of patient activists that decried an analysis entitled: “Exercise as treatment for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome,” deeming it a personal affront to their suffering, the editors of the prestigious Cochrane Reviews decided to withdraw it. The scientist who did the actual review for the journal lodged a bitter complaint about this “editorial” decision; it is hard to miss the irony here of Cochrane Reviews being a supposed impartial arbitrator of medical scientific quality that drives clinical decision-making. Fraudulent scientific results, politics trumping science, what is a reader to believe?

Continue reading “Fake Science: More Common Than You Think”

Towards a Cureus Data Repository

*Co-authored by John R. Adler & Achim Schweikard

Most scientific articles come with some form of data. For Cureus, our data includes medical images, graphics, drawings and tables. Access to such data enables a reader to verify the content and credibility of an article while also better understanding it. Many types of data, provided they are findable via search, can have value to readers independent of the article with which it was originally connected; medical imagery and genetic sequencing information being cases in point. For example, with modern methods of machine learning requiring large data sets for training, journals are a logical repository for such information. Therefore a peer-reviewed article that provides access to data will oftentimes prove much more valuable than that same article without data. Especially for internet-based media with access to large amounts of digital storage space, data sharing between authors and readers would and should become a standard. As an example, instead of showing data for a single representative case in an article, which is typical for traditional journals, we could make data for all cases in this article available to readers. Readers could then download such enhanced data sets directly in electronic format.

Continue reading “Towards a Cureus Data Repository”


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Thursday, October 22, 2009

Buell Motorcycle Thanks Customers, Dealers and Employees For an Unforgetable Ride

Photo Credit: Buell Motorcycle

Buell Motorcycle Company officials have thanked the company's customers, employees and dealers for an unforgettable ride, following the announcement by Harley-Davidson, Inc. that it will discontinue the Buell product line as part of Harley-Davidson's go-forward business strategy. The new long-term strategy aims to drive Company growth through a focus of efforts and resources on the Harley-Davidson brand.

"I want to personally thank all our past and present Buell employees, dealers and suppliers for their efforts. I also want to thank Buell motorcycle owners for their support and passion for the brand," said Buell Motorcycle Company President Jon Flickinger.

Photo Credit: Buell

Flickinger said a limited number of new Buell motorcycles remain available for sale through authorized dealerships and production will wind down by October 30. He also stressed that Harley-Davidson will provide replacement parts and service through dealerships and that warranty coverage will continue as normal for motorcycles.

"I will always be proud of what we have accomplished. It is a testimony to what a small group of passionate and inspired people can do, and with brilliant innovations, we've produced some of the best-handling bikes of all time," said Buell Chairman and Chief Technical Officer Erik Buell. "I personally look forward to exploring how I can continue to work with Harley-Davidson to bring advanced product technology to riders.

Photo Credit: Buell Motorcycles

"I have also had the great fortune to meet and get to know many Buell riders over the years, and they are an amazing and interesting group of free thinkers," Buell said. "May you ride with pride into the future. And may your roads ahead be as adventuresome and rewarding as mine have been for the last 26 years."

Photo Credit: Buell Motorcycles

Source: Buell Motorcycles

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Today’s Productivity Tip: Maximize Your Morning Routine

Get your week off to a great start with the Day-Timer blog. Each Monday we feature a new tip to help you gain a more productive week at work and at home.
Today’s tip: Have a morning routine

It’s important to have a good start to your workday. Here’s a great way to make mornings a more valuable time of productivity.

Try this:

Create a regular morning routine and make it your #1 repeating task each day, at the top of your to-do list. (I simply write “Do AMR,” short for a.m. routine.)

Do the following steps:

  • Make your daily to-do list, organized by what’s most important
  • Set your daily schedule
  • Review yesterday’s notes
  • Check your physical inbox
  • Scan work-related blogs and news headlines
  • If you must check email first thing in the morning: set a specific time limit, scan subject lines first, and create follow-up tasks for any message that takes longer than 2 minutes for you to reply

Here’s why:

There are many benefits to a morning routine:

  • It creates structure and gives you motivation when you most need it
  • Keeps you from getting sidetracked from the most important task of the day
  • Fights procrastination by giving you direction
  • Allows you to choose your top 3 or 4 priorities of the day
  • Sets your mind to “eat the frog,” or start work on today’s most challenging task
  • Starts your morning with a victory, an easy first task to cross off your list
[photo by abbyreed]
Day-Timer Spokesperson Jeff Doubek can be reached at


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Posts Tagged 'Islamic Art'

The Artful Overlapping of Old and Modern Iran

A work by Houston-based Iranian-American artist Soody Sharifi is now on view in the Keir Collection of Islamic Art Gallery. Courtly Love, an archival inkjet print from 2007, is an adaptation of a 15th-century painting in the Keir Collection. The original painting is an illustration of a tale from the Khamsa of Nizami, a collection of five tragic love poems. It depicts a scene from the romance of the Iranian king Khusraw and Armenian princess Shirin. Drunk and guilty of an amorous tryst, Khusraw has arrived at Shirin’s palace on horseback. Shirin, peering out from a window, is counseled by an older woman and refuses him entry. The scene is witnessed by a variety of attendants, including three scribes holding poetic manuscripts below. A darker mood is also present; anxious angels who know the inevitable tragic outcome of the story hover at upper left, while two gardeners with golden shovels foreshadow the twin graves in which the lovers will lie for eternity.

Khusraw at Shirin’s Palace, painting from a manuscript of Nizami’s Khamsa, last quarter of the 15th century, ink, colors and gold on paper, The Keir Collection of Islamic Art on loan to the DMA, K.1.2014.738

Courtly Love is one of a series of works that Sharifi has termed “Maxiatures,” a play on the term “miniatures” that is commonly used to describe the small format of Islamic book paintings. Sharifi’s works are large. For them, she has selected well-known examples of architectural paintings that illustrate Persian literary classics, such as the Khamsa, to serve as a basis for adaptation through the addition of new figures taken from photography. She also works with the architectural elements in the original image, changing their scale and contents. In this work, some of the original painted figures have vanished, and those that remain become unwitting bystanders to a new cast of figures inserted into the scene: contemporary, young Iranians, mainly women, going about daily tasks. These include making a call at a phone booth, jumping rope, playing with a hula-hoop, painting toenails, installing a satellite dish, and looking over the balustrades and through windows. Three young men speak to the women from outside the garden walls—the circumscribed formalities of courtly love referenced in the title of the work, and perhaps referring to the themes of the original painting.

Soody Sharifi, Courtly Love, 2007, archival inkjet print, Dallas Museum of Art, gift of Richard and Glen de Unger in gratitude to Walter Elcock for his attentiveness and support for the Keir Collection, 2018.40

Sharifi’s work appears to be concerned with issues of dual identities, of a past and present that is especially acute for Iranians of her generation who were exiled by the revolution of 1979. Given that the figures in her works are young, this may represent the nostalgia of young Iranians today who still live in proximity to the elegant palaces and gardens depicted in historical paintings, perhaps inhabited now only by ghosts, like the figures in 15th-century paintings. Her concern with dualities—of language, of national identity, of traditions and contemporary technologies, of political tensions—seems to be present in this work, where contemporaneity hovers over a past that can no longer be reached. Certainly, there is also a sense of humor—it is clever and funny to see modern people in these poetical constructs.

Soody Sharifi’s work is displayed in the Keir Collection Gallery alongside the painting that inspired it so that the public can appreciate her interventions, decode her intentions, and enjoy the presence of both works of art at once. Join Sharifi in person as she shares insights into Courtly Love at our next Late Night on February 15.

Heather Ecker is The Marguerite S. Hoffman and Thomas W. Lentz Curator of Islamic and Medieval Art at the DMA.

Installing 13 Centuries in One Gallery

Art is on the move with less than a week to go before the Museum’s permanent gallery space dedicated to the long-term loan of the Keir Collection of Islamic Art opens on Tuesday, April 18. The largest public presentation of this renowned collection will feature works that range from rock crystal to metalwork, ceramics, textiles, carpets, and works on paper.

Cross-Cultural Connections

Hi, I’m Taylor Strander, a senior from McKinney Boyd High School and a DMA Teen Advisory Council member. As the school year draws to a close and graduation looms near, I thought it was a perfect time to reflect on my busy year at the DMA! I have spent a great part of my school year exploring the DMA collection and collaborating with staff on a project for my ISM class.

What is ISM? ISM stands for Interdisciplinary Study and Mentorship – a program specifically designed for high school students who have an idea of the career they want to explore beyond high school. The goal of the class is to develop interpersonal and networking skills in the hopes of obtaining a mentor that can offer their expertise in the creation of a final product. As someone interested in studying art history in college, I immediately sought to find a mentor who worked in a museum and was immersed in art every day. I distinctly remember growing quite fond of the DMA after my first visit with my elementary school class, and since then I have seized every opportunity to learn more about the Museum by participating in the Teen Docent Program and serving as a Community Engagement Volunteer.

Due to my prior experience, I thought it would be most fitting to select a mentor from the place that catalyzed my passion for art. So I began my weekly commute to the DMA to meet and brainstorm with my mentors, Jessica Thompson and Whitney Sirois, on my final project for the class. Working with them has offered me a deeper understanding of the field of museum education and has strengthened my desire to pursue a career in a museum one day. My final project turned out to be something greater than I ever could have imagined and best of all, it is something that can be implemented in the Museum today.

So, what did I create? In order to gain a better grasp on the role of a museum educator, I designed my very own Bite-Sized Tour and Art-to-Go Family Tote Bag complete with four different activities.

During my first meeting with Jessica and Whitney, I was inspired by the DMA’s exhibition Spirit and Matter: Masterpieces from the Keir Collection of Islamic Art, which features a variety of Islamic works from the internationally renowned Keir Collection. It was important to me to reference this collection for my project because Islamic art seems to be misunderstood and its influence on global cultures is often forgotten. After some heavy research, I used my newfound knowledge of Islamic art to create a Bite-Sized Tour entitled “Cross-Cultural Connections.” This guide highlights Islamic works and directly compares them to other objects in the DMA’s permanent collection in an effort to encourage visitors to notice similar qualities or influences across cultures.

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The second component of my final project is an Art-to-Go Family Tote Bag, which is meant to reinforce visitors’ understanding of Islamic art through different activities that highlight specific artistic elements. Family Tote Bags are great because they offer fun, on-the-go activities for a variety of different age groups and learning styles. For the tote bag, I came up with four separate activities – write, make, draw, and talk.

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The writing activity asks visitors to reference Islamic calligraphy to create their own epic poem. The make activity allows visitors to make their own astrolabe, a navigational tool that revolutionized Islamic culture. The drawing activity invites people to design their own geometric patterns inspired by Islamic textiles and ceramics. Finally, the talk activity encourages visitors to discuss Islamic art influences within the Museum’s permanent collection. Islam’s holy month of Ramadan has just begun, so take a moment to explore the many connections you can make to this world religion and its artistic traditions on your next visit to the Museum.

A special thank you to my mentors, Jessica and Whitney, for giving a young person like me an invaluable experience that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. Your words of wisdom and constant support will not be soon forgotten. And finally, thank you to the DMA for transforming before my eyes into a place that I know all too well, a place that feels like home.

Taylor Strander
Teen Advisory Council Member

Opening Night: Spirit and Matter

Tomorrow Spirit and Matter: Masterpieces from the Keir Collection of Islamic Art opens during our September fall block party Late Night. Huffington Post ranked it at #1 among “need to see” art shows this fall and it is a “Critic’s Pick” in The Dallas Morning News. This morning, exhibition curator and DMA Senior Advisor for Islamic Art Dr. Sabiha Al Khemir shared a sneak peek of the exhibition with national press.

Be among the first to see these intricately decorated objects spanning numerous centuries and continents tomorrow night and join Dr. Al Khemir for a talk on the works of art at 7:00 p.m.

Highlights of Light

It’s the final week to visit the DMA-co-organized exhibition Nur: Light in Art and Science from the Islamic World, on view through Sunday, June 29. The acclaimed exhibition, which features more than 150 objects from ten centuries, highlights rare and beautiful examples of the rich heritage of the Islamic world and the influences and contributions it has made to cultures throughout history.

Culinary Canvas: Almond Cookies (Nan-e Badami)

This month’s recipe is inspired by our current exhibition Nur: Light in Art and Science from the Islamic World, which explores Islamic art and science throughout the centuries and around the world. Several beautifully decorated pieces of pottery can be found in the exhibition, including this striking bowl from Kashan, located in modern Iran. The Persian Empire spanned this area during ancient times and its cultural thread has continued, influencing food in the region today. In fact, Persians were one of the first to produce sugar and create recipes for cookies–some dating back to the 12th century–and sweets remain an important part of Persian celebrations today. Try this simple Persian recipe to add an interesting new flavor to your cookie repertoire and then be sure to stop by the Museum before Nur closes next month!

Blue and White Bowl with Radial Design, 13th Century , Iran, Kashan, fritware, painted in cobalt blue under transparent glaze, Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Brush, Brooklyn, USA

Blue and White Bowl with Radial Design, 13th Century , Iran, Kashan, fritware, painted in cobalt blue under transparent glaze, Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas S. Brush, Brooklyn, USA

Almond Cookies

Yields about 60 cookies
Level: Very Easy

5 egg yolks
1 ½ cups sugar
3 tablespoons rosewater (optional, can be purchased at Middle Eastern markets)
2 cups finely ground almonds or almond flour
2 teaspoons cardamom
½ teaspoon baking powder

Preheat oven to 250° F. Line rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper.

In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with paddle attachment, beat yolks and sugar at medium speed until light. Add rosewater if desired.

In a separate bowl, stir together almond flour, cardamom, and baking powder. Slowly add almond mixture to mixer, stirring on low speed and scraping down sides of bowl until fully incorporated. Resulting dough should be slightly sticky.

To form cookies, scoop off about a teaspoon of dough then roll between hands to shape into a ball. Flatten ball between palms and place on baking sheet. Bake about 25 minutes, watching closely to ensure cookies do not brown.

When removed from oven, cookies will look very soft and should remain so at room temperature. Allow to cool on baking sheet then transfer to metal rack to cool completely.

Recipe adapted from Food of Life: A Book of Ancient Persian and Modern Iranian Cooking and Ceremonies.

Sarah Coffey
Assistant to the Chair of Learning Initiatives

Educator Resources: Islamic Culture

Quran Bifolio, Tunisia, Qayrawan, late 9th – early 10th century , vellum, ink, gold, silver, and blue dye, Furusiyya Art Foundation, Vaduz, Photo © Noel Adams

Quran Bifolio, Tunisia, Qayrawan, late 9th – early 10th century , vellum, ink, gold, silver, and blue dye, Furusiyya Art Foundation, Vaduz, Photo © Noel Adams

We are thrilled to present Nur: Light in Art and Science from the Islamic World at the DMA through June 29. The exhibition explores light in Islamic culture–in the physical and metaphysical sense–through both secular and sacred works, produced in places from Spain to Asia, dating from the 7th century to the 21st. The Islamic world is vast, and the diversity of cultures embraced by Islam is rich. To assist you in teaching about Islamic culture, we’ve pulled together some useful online resources:

9th-10th century, Iraq, luster-painted, Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., Brooklyn, USA

Bowl with bird, 9th-10th century, Iraq, luster-painted, Brooklyn Museum, Gift of the Ernest Erickson Foundation, Inc., Brooklyn, USA

Andrea Severin Goins
Interpretation Specialist

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All Stories

January 10, 2019| Health and Wellbeing /

Living with Arthritis

Arthritis can pose some challenges to everyday activities however, it’s important to learn how to manage the symptoms to continue to live a fulfilling life.

November 19, 2018| Health and Wellbeing /

Ways to Prevent Osteoporosis

Often called the ‘silent disease’, osteoporosis can develop without any signs or symptoms. Here’s some things you can do to help maintain healthy bones and prevent osteoporosis.

August 15, 2016| Health and Wellbeing /

Migraines can be a real pain in the Neck

Regular headaches or migraines can be very debilitating. When looking for the causes of ongoing headaches, doctors may look to see if the pain is radiating from the neck up. We take you through some of the more common neck issues that could be causing regular headaches or migraines.


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Kingfisher Moves to Acquire Mr. Bricolage

Kingfisher, one of the world’s largest home improvement retailer, has entered a bid to purchase French-based home improvement retailer Mr. Bricolage. Kingfisher, owner of the UK-based B&Q chain as well as French chains Castorama and Brico Depot, gives the company a key piece in its competition with Groupe Adeo, owner of the Leroy Merlin chain. The Competition Authority in France still needs to review the bid which could take until 2015.

Watch on Youtube

Expenditure in Home Improvement Products 2013


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Incredible Value in Brazil!

New one-day sightseeing tours explore the best of Brazil. Explore some of the beaches that make up the 4,655 miles of Brazilian coastline. Or navigate your way through some of the booming metropolitan areas in Brazil. Sunscreen is a must for the sunny days and dancing shoes are required for the world renown nightlife.

Joao Pesso, tours starting from $14

Maceio, tours starting from $21

Natal, tours starting from $24

Paraty,  tours starting from $34

Recife, tours starting from $20

Rio de Janeiro, tours starting from $45

Visit Latin America!

Latin America offers travelers a land rich in history, culture, and art. It consists of countries with ancient roots, beautiful rain forests, incredible beaches, friendly locals, and exquisite foods. It is no wonder that every visitor falls in love with this land that spans from Mexico in North America, all the way to the southern tips of Chile and Argentina, two of the closest countries to the Antarctic.

Take advantage of the warm climes by booking a Latin America vacation package. Now is the perfect time to enjoy a winter getaway during Latin America’s summer months!


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26 December 2010

Economic Solutions to Climate Change — A Boxing Day Round-up

Boxing Day. December 26. The day after Christmas. Day of consumer frenzy. It's as good a time as any to look back on the year and summarize all the great economic solutions we've suggested that no one has implemented — yet. So, grab a vegan eggnog, sit back, and replace those post-Christmas blues with some post-Cancun we-still-haven't-done-a-freaking-thing-about-climate-change blues.

There are lots of common sense ideas for fixing our economic system that no government has had the audacity to take on. For example:
1. Let's end subsidies to fossil fuels and the meat industry. Wham! Huge impact, practically overnight. Every parent and teacher knows ... if you keep rewarding negative, inappropriate behaviour, that behaviour will continue. Let's extinguish the two greatest causes of greenhouse gas emissions by not rewarding them anymore with subsidies.

2. We need to start subsidizing perpetual (renewable minus biofuels [no more burning] = perpetual) energy technologies. Rewarding good behaviour is one way to ensure it continues. (And since governments will be saving billions by no longer subsidizing the oil, gas, coal and livestock industries, why not re-invest that money where it will do some good?) Wham! The very next day, investment in green industries sky rockets!

3. We have got to start taxing carbon. Period. Wham! Overnight change in our relationship to carbon-based fuels and lifestyles. And none of this lily-livered 2¢ per litre of gasoline. A tax on carbon has got to hurt. (Remember, we have to stop rewarding destructive behaviours.)

4. We have to change the corporate charter. Let's just make it illegal (around the globe and across the board, to ensure a level playing field) for companies to externalize social and environmental costs. Period. Wham! Huge difference practically overnight. The law would be simple: Pay social and environmental costs before determining your profits. You'd better believe that shareholders would force companies to pay attention to lessening these costs.

5. Let's outlaw grotesquely, obscenely, insultingly huge incomes. Really, has the world become a better place as the wealth of the top seven richest people in the world has reached around $250 billion? No. As the rich get richer, the future looks bleaker. So, let's threaten to cap incomes and Wham! that would bring back tithing, charity and compassion in a hurry. You know, make them cool again. Bill Gates has made a good start ... but he's not even the richest guy in the world anymore.

6. It's time for a Global Green Fund. All the money we churn into militarism needs to be churned into a global fund for helping the most climate-change-vulnerable nations. After all, we're all in this together (the atmosphere knows no borders), and any coming wars will be climate/water/food security related — and held at bay by financial compassion on the part of those nations who are hit by climate catastrophe last.
Anyway, there's a few talking points for your New Year's Eve party this Friday night. The more we talk about these things, the more we turn them into possibilities!

Talk to you next in 2011. Here's hoping for a new year filled with compassionate climate change solutions!

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I would appreciate hearing your thoughts or questions on this post or anything else you've read here. What is your take on courage and compassion being an important part of the solution to the climate change emergency?


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Unknown Google tricks for better searching

Google Chrome is considered to be one of the most used browsers on the internet. It was introduced by Google in 2008, and it has grown to become the most advanced and equipped browser, which is preferred and accessed by almost everyone for an improved searching experience.

However, there are certain Google tricks unbeknownst to its regular users, which can improve their browsing and searching experience to an extent. These exclusive and lesser-known Google tricks and useful shortcuts comprise the following tips and tricks:

Super convenient keyboard shortcuts

When browsing the internet, everyone feels inclined to use a series of shortcuts, which would assist them in saving time. These keyboard shortcuts are equipped with convenience and expediency, which allows the user of Google Chrome save time and browse quickly.

Using keyboard shortcuts have become common phenomena. The keyboard shortcuts used on Google Chrome are advanced and differentiated from the existing keyboard shortcuts. The following list is a compilation of few of the unique keyboard shortcuts, which assist you in experiencing a pleasant browsing experience on the website:

Using these two key shortcuts simultaneously directs a quick access to Chrome’s Task Manager utility, which enables you to restore the fundamental functions on the website.
Close current tab.
While it quite a handful keyboard shortcut, it proves effective in opening the recently closed tabs, which might have been closed accidentally or due to an error.
Using these three keys altogether result in the opening of the ‘incognito’ window, which allows you to surf the internet without storing your history or downloads.
Add a bookmark for the page currently opened.
Display the downloads window.

Custom searches

With the advancement in browsers, the need for custom searches has become a common issue, which is addressed by Google in Google Chrome. If you want to use the browser’s address bar for running a quick search, you can simply type in the keyword in the search bar, which should be completed by the inclusion of (?) at the end.

When using Google Chrome, it is fairly obvious that its default search engine would be Google Chrome. You can change the default search engine to your preferred search engine by delving into the settings tab. You can look up for tutorials and techniques, which are geared towards customizing your search bar for an improved browsing experience.

Find hidden goodies on the browser

Google Chrome is inclusive of hidden goodies or, ‘Easter eggs’ which comes off as surprising to its users. To unlatch a hidden goodie, you can simply type ‘about:internets’ into the address bar of the browser, and you will be directed to the perspective and view of United States’ Senator, Ted Stevens, on the use of the internet. However, this feature is only exclusive to Google Chrome downloaded and installed on Windows XP.

Addition of large-sized comment boxes on the browser

It is no wonder that comment or feedback boxes on a particular website could appear significantly smaller in size, which keeps the user disinterested from using the website.
Google Chrome is equipped with the feature of customizing the size of a comment box, and you are simply required to stretch the outer corners of a web-based comment field to your preferred size.

Minimalistic style and design

Google Chrome has incorporated various browsing tabs to its Toolbar, which enables the users to access a website without any hassle. The incorporation of these browsing tabs adds flexibility to the search experience of a user. As mentioned earlier, the addition of a ‘Home’ tab allows its users to direct themselves to the default search engine installed on the website.

Improved and enhanced privacy

When surfing the internet, a user is always concerned about the use of his private information, and he begins using tools and software, which would keep his private information confidential to an extent. The newly launched version of Google Chrome was not big on privacy; however, this matter has been fixed since its inception.

Enable Incognito Mode in an instant

Google Chrome has acquired popularity for its incognito mode, which allows its users to carry out their browsing activities in a private manner, without saving the records of their browsing and downloads history. You can simply right-click on the settings bar, and look for the ‘Open link in incognito window’ option to start with your browsing session.

Alternatively, you can employ keyboard shortcut keys to access the incognito mode in an instant. You can simply select CTRL+SHIFT+N on your keyboard simultaneously to activate the incognito mode.

Adding a customized Google Toolbar to the browser

Over the course of years, the browser has been subjected to several modifications and updates; however, it still needs to work on updating its Google Toolbar. A Google Toolbar comprises unique features like an access to Google Bookmarks, accessibility to Gmail, spell checker, and the tool to send multiple URLs using email in few clicks.

Harry McCracken has devised an innovative way to browse the website, which is supported by the inclusion of Google Toolbar to the browser using an innovative technique, known as the Project Fakebar. You can learn more about this feature in your spare time to learn how to install it to your existing browser.

Equipped Firefox with its key features:

With the introduction of Google Chrome, it has become a cult-favorite, and it is heavily installed on large to small sized devices. However, the browser is highly subjected to security issues, privacy concerns, and bugs, which lowers its efficiency as a whole. It also keeps its users from experiencing a full-on Google-centric experience on the internet.

Firefox, another type of browser, can be customized accordingly by adding Google-centric features to it. You can ask a professional to configure your Firefox to make it equipped with Chrome’s innovative and quick features.

Additional features installed to the browser:

Google Chrome consists of exciting and innovative features, which were designed to improve the browsing experience of a user. You are simply required to use a keyword in a search bar, which will lead you to several websites at a time. In addition, the inclusion of Google Books, Google Maps, Google News, and Google Translator has upgraded the uniqueness of the browser to another level. You can also select a number of add-in extensions from Google Chrome store to enhance your overall browsing experience.

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Every year Kelley Blue Book puts out their list of the best resale value cars, and the 2011 awards show a few surprises – all of which are good news for consumers. In the 2011 Best Resale Value Awards, Kelley Blue Book (KBB) gives top brand honors to Subaru, while best luxury brand this year goes to BMW.

Here are the top 10 of KBB’s best resale value cars (including CUVs, SUVs, and pickups) for 2011. This is the overall list of winners which, curiously, has no domestic makes. Check out the extended list for 18 category champions (there, you’ll find some Ford products).

  • 2011 Audi A5With its crisp handling, responsive acceleration and attention-getting style, the 2011 Audi A5 sport luxury coupe is also a KBB best resale value car

    for this year. Automobile.com remarks: “All told, the 2011 Audi A5 is a solid choice for anyone looking for luxury, power and technology.”

  • 2011 BMW X5One of two BMWs on the best resale value cars list this year, the 2011 BMW X5 seven-passenger SUV provides an extra measure of sport and utility for buyers. Consumer Guide says: “X5 excels for its acceleration, sporty handling, and availability of a frugal diesel engine…The X5 M is one of the most potent SUVs you can buy, yet it’s not punishing as a daily driver.”
  • 2011 BMW X6Straddling the line between crossover and car, the luxury 2011 BMW X6 offers buyers what Edmunds says is “powerful and fuel efficient base

    engine, wickedly fast V8, capable handling, comfortable seats, solid construction.” KBB hails its road presence, elevated seating and expressive styling – and awards it a top 10 best resale value cars spot.

  • 2011 Honda CR-VKBB hails the value, efficiency and utility of the 2011 Honda CR-V compact CUV – and it’s a perennial winner of best resale value cars. In a KBB overview, the publication says “as practical as a backpack, this benchmark crossover is an easy, stylish, one-size-fits-most car choice.”
  • 2011 Jeep WranglerCrawling over rocks on the Rubicon trail or out on the roads, the 2011 Jeep Wrangler keeps its high resale value, according to KBB. Car and Driver notes: “The four-wheel-drive, go-anywhere Wrangler remains the quintessential rugged Jeep.”
  • 2011 Lexus GX – KBB calls the 2011 Lexus GX a “real SUV intended to haul cargo, people and trailers” – and names it to the top 10 best resale value cars. Consumer Guide comments that “For SUV shoppers who truly need off-road prowess and towing capability in their luxury SUV, [the Lexus] GX 460 is well worth considering.”
  • 2011 Toyota FJ CruiserHigh safety scores and serious off-road capability are reasons enough to buy the 2011 Toyota FJ Cruiser, which KBB singles out as best overall resale value in mid-size utility vehicle. Car and Driver observes: “The FJ Cruiser is more than just funky, chunky looks – it’s a capable off-roader, too.”
  • 2011 Toyota TacomaThe 2011 Toyota Tacoma wins yet another best resale award for mid-size pickup (it’s won every year since KBB began the awards in 2003). Edmunds says: “The 2011 Toyota Tacoma is a top choice in the midsize pickup segment thanks to its highly capable nature and wide array of configurations.”
  • 2011 Subaru OutbackFamily-friendly package nicely done, plus the security of standard all-wheel drive and choice of Subaru Boxer four- or six-cylinder engines are highlights of the 2011 Subaru Outback wagon named one of the top 10 KBB best resale value cars. CNBC.com says: “This wagon scores high for fuel economy and safety, and the Outback’s more rugged features include off-road ability and slightly raised rear seats that lend an SUV feel to the car.”

Search used cars for sale and find the best deals near you at iSeeCars.com.
To get a FREE iSeeCars VIN Report for a car, click here.


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Interview with M2D2: How Global Tech Hubs Showcase Startups to Investors at RESI

4 Apr

Mary Ann Picard

An interview with Mary Ann Picard, COO of the M2D2 Incubator

– By Greg Mannix, VP of International Business Development, LSN

Greg Mannix

One of the clear trends in Life Science funding is that investors are taking a keen interest in earlier and earlier-stage companies. Some investors will put money in at a very early stage, while others will come in a bit later, but what is very clear is that they all want to identify the most significant new technology breakthroughs in the life sciences and put those companies on their radar as soon as possible.

A majority of these hot, early-stage technologies are being developed in tech hubs all around the world. The Redefining Early-Stage Investments (RESI) conference series is an excellent opportunity for these Tech Hubs to gain visibility among investors who will want to track the technologies being incubated and accelerated in their facilities. This is why at LSN we have made a purposeful effort to create a nexus between these two key players in the life science ecosystem.

I recently spoke to Mary Ann Picard, COO at Massachusetts Medical Device Development (M2D2) Center about how RESI plays a part in the success of her program and its constituent companies.

Greg Mannix: First of all, I consider M2D2 a perfect example of a Tech Hub. Could you give me some context as to what M2D2 is?

Mary Ann Picard: M2D2 is an incubator program for medical device and biotech early stage startup companies. M2D2 is a joint project with UMass Lowell and UMass Medical School. No affiliation with UMass is required and no equity taken. Resident companies have access to a whole host of university resources and mentors.

GM: M2D2 has participated in several RESI conferences with a table in the Exhibition Hall. How does that visibility benefit your project?

MAP: The visibility is extremely beneficial for us. It helps us maintain a pipeline of resident companies and it provides ample opportunity to meet potential investors and industry partners.

GM: Did you meet with any early-stage investors while at RESI? If so, what is your goal for these meetings?

MAP: Yes, we did. Our goal is to match them up with early stage startups in their specific areas of expertise.

GM: By virtue of your presence at RESI, M2D2’s constituent companies have been able to attend the conference at a discounted price. Is this an opportunity that your companies have taken advantage of?

MAP:  Yes, they have taken advantage of the discounted price on several occasions.

GM: Any other observations?

MAP:  RESI provides a setup that is supportive to startups and conducive to establishing investor and business relationships.

With years of both business development and fundraising experience, Mary Ann Picard’s objective is to combine these areas of expertise to establish interaction among entrepreneurs, inventors, scientists, industry, investors, state agencies and others to contribute to a rich entrepreneurial business ecosystem in the Commonwealth.

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