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film / tv / politics / web / celeb

Why I Stopped Binge-Watching TV

By Daniel Carlson | Think Pieces | February 6, 2014 |

By Daniel Carlson | Think Pieces | February 6, 2014 |

I started watching Deadwood the other day. Yes, it’s 10 years old, but I never got around to seeing it when it originally aired from 2004-2006. That was right after I graduated from college, and I didn’t have a cable plan with HBO. The DVD sets, when they were released, were also prohibitively expensive for a recent grad, even used, and so it became one of those shows I wanted to see but just never did. Now, though, using a relative’s HBO Go account (a practice not totally outlawed by HBO CEO Richard Plepler), I’m able to see the show. And in this era of binge-watching and breathless recaps and unleashed GIFfery, I’m trying something different: I’m going slow. I’ve watched three episodes in about 12 days.

And it’s been wonderful.

I’ve binged on a lot of TV. Let’s also be clear what I mean by binge-watching, too: I’m talking about the kind of mini-marathons where you can watch three or five or seven episodes in a row, or where you might polish off a network-standard 22-episode season over a long weekend. The kind of consumption where you aren’t so much watching TV as mainlining it, riding diminishing highs as your eyes dry out and go numb from hours spent in one narrative world, your head constantly rattling with the theme song, your sweaty thumbs moving to click or tap for the next episode without your having to think about it. That’s bingeing, and I’ve done my share of it. I burned through the first season of Friday Night Lights on DVD. When I caught up with Breaking Bad’s first three seasons via iTunes, I moved through those 33 episodes in a couple of weeks. All I remember about the last half of the first season of The Wire is that I barely moved from my bed while it unspooled. My journey through the first season of Battlestar Galactica could have come from Portlandia. You get the idea.

I loved it, too. But I was never far from awareness of the bloat that comes with bingeing. When it’s something poppy — like Friday Night Lights — you wind up feeling a little blurry on certain details and the precise order of causes and effects. What’s supposed to be three (or five, or seven) installments in a story, even a highly serialized one, becomes instead one long run. When you’re watching something rich, though, you can feel yourself getting stuffed well before you stop eating. I went way too quickly through that first season of The Wire. It’s a deliberately paced series that’s heavy on character and built on nuance. It makes itself known in small beats, unspoken conflicts, and the tension between competing desires. All the pieces matter, and I couldn’t wait to slam them onto the table and glue them together.

Digital streaming — and DVDs before that — has created a staggering amount of access to some fantastic TV series, but glorying over the ease of use, it’s easy to forget that these shows weren’t meant to be watched in marathons. Not at all. Not even a little bit. Writers and directors and showrunners would just as soon you didn’t have to deal with commercial breaks (without them, they could drop those little hinting bits of dialogue that remind you of where you left off a couple minutes earlier and just get back to the story), and those random weeks-long gaps between new episodes of network series aren’t doing viewers any favors, either. But there’s an individual rhythm to episodes, especially when you’re dealing with those dense, layered dramas that have been exploded in the past 15 years. They’re set up with the knowledge that viewers will taken seven days or more between episodes. There’s so much to absorb, and pushing to watch more and more at once can make that harder to do.

Bingeing is popular for a couple of reasons. It feels like a genuine achievement, in a way: you climbed a mountain, only that mountain was made of anti-heroes. You chewed through a modern classic in a fraction of the time that everyone else did, since those saps had to watch it one week at a time. This is why things like GetGlue — now TV Tag — were formed; to quantify media consumption as competition. Bingeing is also a handy way to recast a sedentary activity (holding very still for six-plus hours) as something emotionally worthwhile (crying when your favorite character dies). Bingeing doesn’t mean sitting in front of the TV aimlessly; it means having a purpose, and dedication.

So I’ve decided to stop, or at any rate, I’ve decided to try to stop. This is a little tough since I gave up cable a few months back, and Netflix, Hulu Plus, and HBO Go are all designed to facilitate rapid-fire streaming of one episode after another of dozens of series. No waiting. But I think it’s going to be worth it. As I’ve worked my tentative way through these first hours of Deadwood, I’ve felt myself eager to watch another episode as soon as the credits roll, but I tell myself to hold back. I want to let the show work on me at a different speed, and I want to take time to enjoy the journey. There is no prize for finishing a series quickly, and I’m not in any kind of contest with others. I don’t get anything for rushing. I’m already seeing benefits, too. Stories are clearer, and giving the narrative time to settle between episodes makes the fictional world more stable and welcoming. I’m less focused on getting to the next episode and more focused on absorbing this one.

Most of all, I want to keep in mind what we always seem to overlook when we binge: once it’s gone, it’s gone for good. There won’t be any more. Deadwood, for example, is years in the grave and only has 36 episodes across its three seasons. Even at the outside, a series will only run for a few years. And while in the U.S., that might make for anywhere from a few dozen episodes to almost a hundred, if we’re talking British series, the runs are vastly shorter. The original version of The Office is 12 episodes and a pair of specials; Spaced is 14 episodes; Luther is currently at 14; you get the idea. What good does it do me to discover a new series, find out I like it, and then force myself to gorge on it? Why rush to spend what we can’t get back?

Daniel Carlson is the managing editor of Pajiba and a member of the Houston Film Critics Society and the Online Film Critics Society. You can also find him on Twitter.

One of the Most Hilarious Sh*t Poor Stories of My Youth, and the Fascinating Process Involved in Plasma Donation

Now Miley Is Showing Her Boobs to the Germans, Plus Lex Luthor Spoilers

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Los Angeles Go Boom!

By Dustin Rowles | Trailers | November 12, 2010 |

By Dustin Rowles | Trailers | November 12, 2010 |

Below is the trailer for Battle Los Angeles, from director Jonathan Liebesman (Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning), a movie that was originally pitched as something akin to Cloverfield in Los Angeles. As you can see from the trailer, however, it's more like Cloverfield meets Black Hawk Down meets every Roland Emmerich ever made. It's just a tremendous amount of destruction and explosions and a couple of shots of Michelle Rodriguez holding a gun. Mostly, though, just destruction. And some sad, plaintive music. It's gonna be absolutely old-man balls ridiculous.

I'm kind of looking forward to it.

Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here or follow him on Twitter.

Today is November 12, 2010, Otherwise Known as BUTTHOLE DAY!

Rachel Maddow Interviews Jon Stewart | Plus, Four Other TV News Stories You May Have a Vague Passing Interest In

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Friday, October 3, 2008

My meeting with the Nutritionist, Teri Taylor, went very well. The changes that I had made were what I needed to do. I was pleased to find out that I could have soy products as well as berries. That opened up my options tremendously. I had cut out most berries as sugar feeds cancer, but Teri taught me that if I am to eat berries or any other type of sugar, then I need to eat protein and fiber along with it. The protein and fiber helps my body breakdown and digest the sugar in a way that doesn't negatively effect my body. That doesn't mean that I will be adding sugary foods such as candy, cookies and soda back into my diet, but it does allow me the flexibility to have a dessert once in awhile and not feel guilty about it. I am now armed with how to combat the effects and it feels wonderful. Especially since the holidays are right around the corner. I am happy to know that I can still have a slice of my apple pie!

She also told me that fats have been shown to feed Melanoma and accelerate recurrences, so I need to be careful about how much fat I have in my diet. This includes the good fat that comes from healthy eating. Teri provided me with the amount of calories, fat, protein, carbs and fiber that I should be getting in a day as well as a list of food and their nutritional information. I never thought I would say this, but I need to add calories to my diet. How times change.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a productive meeting. It's always easier to work with anything when you have clear guidelines. Hurray for extra calories! CB

Anonymous said...

Tina I am a friend of your Moms and I just now got my computer running, I have had no idea what you have been going threw. I"m so sorry....but at the same time I'm happy things are going well. Your in my prayers, Tina. Stay strong,,,,,you will beat this whole thing!!!!

Patty Gibson

Jon Martin said...

It sounds like you have a lot of good information. That should hopefully make it easier for meal planning.

See you soon!


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Uri Avnery: Lieberman and the Decline of Israeli Democracy

By Uri Avnery

In its original German form – Liebermann – the name means "lovable man". It is hard to imagine a name less appropriate for the new Deputy Prime Minister of Israel.

He is not lovable, neither in his personality nor in his views – and that is the understatement of the year.

His personal lovability can be judged by the fact that he was once arrested for beating up a boy who had quarreled with his son.

This week, the arrival of Liberman at the center of the political system marks the start of a new chapter in the annals of the State of Israel.

* * *

The time is not accidental. In all the 56 years of its existence, Israeli democracy has never been at such a low point as it is today.

In the elections half a year ago, almost 40% of the electorate did not vote at all – double the usual percentage.

Since then, corruption affairs have followed each other. The President of the State is awaiting indictment on several charges of rape and sexual misconduct. The Prime Minister is the subject of a whole series of investigations for corruption, in collusion with an assortment of local and foreign billionaires. Two ministers are already standing trial. Over Ariel Sharon and his family, a dark cloud of corruption affairs was hovering when he suffered his stroke. There is a general feeling that the ruling group in Israel is cynical and corrupt.

The corruption and cynicism of this group expresses itself also in its public behavior. Politicians in Israel – and around the world – have never been notable for their fulfillment of election promises. But here this has reached a new low – everything is being betrayed quite openly, in full view of the public.

Ehud Olmert campaigned on the basis of a specific and detailed plan – the "Convergence". Now, without batting an eyelid, he announces that it has been abandoned. He has only one plan left: to stay in power, whatever it takes.

Amir Peretz collected votes as the leader who was about to carry out a real "social" revolution, to put an end to the oppression of the weak and the underprivileged – the elderly, the sick, the unemployed and all the rest. The gap between rich and poor in Israel is one of the widest in the industrialized world. Peretz also promised to work towards peace with the Palestinians.

On the morrow of the elections, Peretz betrayed his promises openly, shamelessly and with Chutzpa. In order to further his personal career, he did not claim any social ministry, accepting the Ministry of Defense instead. Since then, he has been demanding the expansion of the military budget at the expense of social outlays. Instead of peace, he made war. This week he also violated his undertaking not to sit in a government that includes Avigdor Liberman. Almost all the Labor Party ministers are partners to this blatant betrayal, with the honorable exception Ofir Pines-Paz, who has resigned. (Four of his colleagues in the Labor Party, including Ehud Barak, are competing to take his place.)

The first noteworthy act of the Olmert-Peretz team was to get Israel into a superfluous and hopeless war. The irresponsibility of this decision to start a difficult and complex war compares only with the irresponsibility with which the war itself was conducted in all its phases. To add insult to injury, they blocked the appointment of an independent Judicial Commission of Inquiry.

The war has left the public with a profound sense of distress, on top of the disgust aroused by the political betrayals and the corruption affairs. Our democracy now appears completely rotten, corrupt and incompetent. A Hebrew proverb says that "the breach in the wall calls for the thief". The present situation calls for fascist forces.

Enter Liberman.

* * *

THE SPIN managers of Olmert and Peretz try to calm us down. What’s so special about Liberman, they ask us.

So he advocates Transfer, the expulsion of the Arab citizens from Israel. He threatened to destroy Egypt by blowing up the Aswan Dam. He demanded the execution of the Israeli Arab Knesset members for meeting with Syrian and Hamas leaders. So what? Rehavam Ze’evi, whose memory was honored this week by a special commemoration session of the Knesset, proposed ethnic cleansing, and General Effi Eytam, the chief of the National Union party, uses similar language.

Such a person should not be allowed to enter the government? Why not? After all, Liberman has already been a member of the government, and so had Ze’evi and Eytam.

This argument misses the point. The Liberman who joined Sharon’s government five years ago represented a marginal group of new immigrants, which was not taken seriously. Sharon was a strong leader, and his ministers were unimportant. But the Liberman that has joined the Olmert government is something else: the leader of a strong party that is getting stronger, under a Prime Minister who is a small party functionary, with whom most of the public is fed up.

The Liberman party is quite different from the fictitious Kadima Party and the decomposing Labor Party. It is organized on military lines, with Liberman as its one, unquestioned leader. It has organized most of the immigrants from the former Soviet Union, and is expanding into other communities, too. It appeals to the poor and downtrodden. It resembles the Bolshevik party that Liberman knew as a young man in the Soviet Union. (To coin a formula: Bolshevism minus Marxism equals Fascism.)

When the democratic system arouses public contempt, and when the view that "all politicians are crooks" and "the system is rotten to the core" is gaining ground, such a person is a real danger to democracy.

* * *

AN OLD maxim says that Israel can fulfill only two of its three desires: to be a Jewish state, to be a democratic state and to hold on to all of the territory between the Mediterranean and the Jordan. It can hold on to the whole territory and be democratic – but then it will not be a Jewish state. It can hold on to the territory and be Jewish – but than it will not be a democratic state. It can be a Jewish and democratic state – but then it cannot hold on to all the territory.

This has been the basis of Israeli policy from the very beginning. The main argument for Sharon’s "Separation" and Olmert’s "Convergence" was exactly this: that in order for Israel to remain Jewish and democratic, it must give up those parts of the occupied Palestinian territories with a dense Arab population.

The extreme Right has an answer that resembles the egg of Columbus: all three aims can indeed be attained. The solution is ethnic cleansing – the expulsion of the whole of the Arab population.

That is difficult to carry out in a democratic system. Therefore, this aim almost automatically means that there must be a "strong leader". Meaning: an overt or disguised dictatorship.

Mostly this is not said openly, but by hints accompanied with a wink. Liberman, too, does not say so openly. But if one listens closely to what he says, one can draw the conclusions oneself.

* * *

THE MOST depressing phenomenon at this moment is the lack of public reaction.

The betrayal of the Labor Party could have been expected. Amir Peretz did indeed swear that he would never sit in a government with Liberman, but in order to remain a minister he is quite prepared to sell his principles. No great outcry could be expected from Meretz either, after Yossi Beilin had his well publicized breakfast with Liberman and heaped praise on him and his herrings.

But the general public does not seem shocked, either. Here and there some articles did appear, but they did not point out the existential danger threatening the Israeli republic. Even the Arab public in Israel, whose very existence is menaced by Liberman, has not set in motion a real protest. On the 1976 "Land Day", when the Arab citizens protested against the expropriation of their land, it looked different. As it did in October 2000, when the Israeli Arab public protested against a suspected threat to the al Aqsa mosque.

What is the reason for this weak reaction, which is so like the last days of the Weimar republic?

There is a growing disdain for the democratic system. There is a general fatigue after the shocks of the last year. There is a withdrawal into private cares. For the "persons in the street", it is difficult to imagine the dangers. He and she are so used to democracy, that they cannot imagine what it means to live without it. They are sure that "It Can’t Happen Here".

Perhaps they are right?

At the end of the 19th century, there was a French general called Georges Boulanger. Everybody expected him to carry out a military coup d’etat at any moment. But the general hesitated, postponed the much talked-about coup again and again, until somebody threw in his face: "General, at your age Napoleon was already dead!" It is said that this broke the spell, the authorities started to take action and the general fled abroad.

Perhaps Liberman will also turn out to be a scarecrow. But I would not bet on it, if the Israeli public does not wake up in time.

-Uri Avnery is an Israeli writer and peace activist with Gush Shalom. He is one of the writers featured in The Other Israel: Voices of Dissent and Refusal. He is also a contributor to CounterPunch’s hot new book The Politics of Anti-Semitism.

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Town of Palm Beach News

Families Belong Together Rally by Mar-A-Lago

June 30 rallies across the State of Florida were held for “Families Belong Together” in light of the recent news surrounding immigration, family separation, and the Trump presidency.

One specific rally was held in West Palm Beach, a march where people walked from Flagler Dr. to Mar-A-Lago, where President Trump spends his vacation time. According to Palm Beach Daily News, 400 people attended this rally. 700 marches were held for “Families Belong Together,” on June 30.

More notably, on Capitol Hill, women held a similar rally which ended with about 500 arrested, according to Vox. The Women’s March organized this rally, which was aimed at abolishing Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or “ICE” which has made recent headlines.

Among one of these women arrested, actress Susan Sarandon was arrested with the 500 people who were present at the event. Other rallies in Florida included Orlando, Fort Myers, Miami and many more.

Due to the rally on June 30, in Palm Beach and construction on the bridge on S Ocean Ave, protesters had to walk 40 people at a time and traffic delays occurred, according to Palm Beach Daily News.

Families Belong Together Rally by Mar-A-Lago

Key speakers at this event were State Representative, Lois Frankel as well as West Palm Beach Mayor, Jeri Muoio. Both of the speakers marched with the protesters.

The goal of these rallies is to raise awareness of children being separated from their parents when crossing the Southern border to come into the United States. Many of this came to light when it news broke that 1,500 children “had gone missing.”

Related>>> How Much Will President Trumps Visits Cost Palm Beach

One of the goals of Families Belong Together is for the Trump administration is to end the “zero tolerance policy” enacted in this current climate. One of the key groups organizing “Families Belong Together” is American Civil Liberties Union, otherwise known as ACLU according to CNN.

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Jeanette has written for online magazines run by some of the biggest regional newspapers, college newspapers, and for various companies. She is most interested in local politics, music, and the 'foodie' scene of Palm Beach.

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  1. […] Families Belong Together Rally by Mar-A-Lago […]

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Lake Sarez is situated in the Pamir Mountains of Tajikistan close to 3,000 m asl. Its location is one of the most remote in the world. It formed following a very large landslide, set off by an earthquake in the winter of 1911. The landslide, with a volume of some 2-3 km3 , plunged down a mountain side to form a dam between 500 and 600 metres in height and two kilometres wide to block the Murgab River. This river is a tributary of the Bartang River which, below the confluence with the Murgab, flows for 120 km through a gigantic mountain gorge to join the Pianj River, itself a tributary of the Amu Darya. The Amu Darya is one of the two major rivers that drains into the Aral Sea 2,000 km below the dam site. The Pianj and Amu Darya rivers form part of the frontier between Tajikistan and Afghanistan and further downstream their combined waters flow through Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan.
The fallen mass of rock and earth was named the Usoi Dam after the village that it completely annihilated. The dammed waters of the Murgab River produced Lake Sarez, named for a village that was submerged by the rising waters. Initially, the level of the lake rose at a rate of about 75 metres a year. Today it is more than 60 km in length and has a maximum depth in excess of 500 metres. Its total volume is about 17 km3 , approximately two-thirds the volume of Lake Geneva. The lake surface is close to 3,200 m asl, surrounded by peaks rising to more than 6,000 m. The Usoi dam is the highest dam, natural or man-made, in the world. Set in the heart of the Pamir Mountains, the lake itself and its surroundings form a magnificent mountain landscape. It is also located in a region that has been central to major political and military tensions for more than 200 years. During the 19th and early 20th centuries the three rival empires, Czarist Russia, Great Britain, and China competed on a gigantic and heroic scale that became known, following the writing of Rudyard Kipling, as the ‘Great Game’. Much earlier a main branch of the Silk Road passed through the Pamir and carried Marco Polo and his uncles to the court of Kublai Khan. The present republics of Central Asia were moulded by Soviet Russia from a series of Khanates, together with territories of no clear political allegiance. Currently, with a massively disturbed Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir, and India, all virtually within walking distance, and with Iran, Iraq, and Turkey as neighbours with more than a passing interest, political instability may seem the order of the day.
The Pamir Mountains, in general, represent one of the most active seismic regions on the world’s geophysical map. Lake Sarez, therefore, is a focal point for a great amount of concern. A disaster of significant proportions could be triggered in several ways. A major earthquake could shatter the Usoi dam and send an enormous flood wave down the Bartang Valley and into the Pianj and Amu Darya rivers; the dam could collapse under the pressure of the water as the lake continues to rise; the piping of water through the dam, which is occurring today, could enlarge and cause the dam to collapse; or collapse could be induced by the continued rise of the lake level (by about 5 cm/yr during the 1990s) and eventually over-topping it. Finally, another large landslide, caused either by an earthquake, or the spontaneous failure of the mountain wall above the lake, could fall into the lake and generate a giant wave to over-top the dam. Even if the dam was not broken by such a wave, the wall of water rushing down the Bartang Valley could set off fast moving mudflows and trigger secondary landslides by under-cutting the talus slopes along the valley sides. This could be sufficient to eliminate all the thirty villages in the valley, and even more as the disturbance entered the Pianj Valley. It has been estimated that, in the worst case, the lives of five million people could be affected. Furthermore, the torrential flood waters could extend as far downstream as the Aral Sea itself, with the additional danger of disturbing the toxic sediments that have been exposed as the sea has dried up.
The problem is rendered the more complex by a number of other factors. The vicinity of Lake Sarez is extremely remote and physical access along the Bartang Valley is a challenge. The final approach to the dam involves a difficult ascent on foot along steep mountain slopes, with a gain in altitude of more than 1,000 metres. This would render road construction, if heavy equipment would be needed, extremely expensive and technically difficult to maintain. The regional approach also constitutes a challenge; there are two main roads into the upper Pianj Valley and Khorog, the regional capital. One of these is very long and involves transit through a small part of the territories of Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan and a high-altitude section (above 4,000 m) across the Pamir Plateau. The other, more direct, requires passage of the Pianj gorge, with very unstable slopes and a narrow road bed subject to rockfall, mudflow, landslide, and avalanche. Both roads are closed by heavy snow for several months of the year.
The difficulty of access alone would appear to eliminate large-scale engineering solutions, such as reinforcing the dam artificially, or attempting a controlled partial drainage and lowering of the lake level.
Below the Usoi dam there are more than 30 small villages in the Bartang Valley, with a total population of about 7,000 mountain people (Ismaili). Most villages (kishlaks) are sited on alluvial cones near to the river and use all available gently sloping land. Many of the villages are subject to floods, landslides, mudflows, and avalanches annually; while these natural hazards are individually of small magnitude, compared to that posed by a potential failure of the Usoi dam, they are frequent in occurrence and constantly restrict access to the valley and would constrain any needed evacuation. Any landslide-induced flood wave capable of over-topping the dam would place all or most of the villages at risk.
Soviet and Tajik scientists became aware of the threat posed by Lake Sarez some decades ago. Early warning and lake-level monitoring systems were established. The warning signals, however, were only directed to Moscow and Dushanbe. Thus, in the event of a medium- or large-scale flood, any secondary warning to reach the Bartang villages from either Moscow or Dushanbe would likely arrive after the event, if at all. With the collapse of the USSR even this approach to early warning and lake-level monitoring ended. Then followed the civil war of 1992-1997 when the problem of Lake Sarez was put aside.


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Discussion Forums - Book Bazaar Book Bazaar

Topic: All offers in one post :)

Club rule - Please, if you cannot be courteous and respectful, do not post in this forum.
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Subject: All offers in one post :)
Date Posted: 12/6/2007 8:59 AM ET
Member Since: 10/27/2007
Posts: 643
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Let me say that my books (unless otherwise noted) are in excellent condition, having  been gently read once , and from a smoke and pet free home! I believe these are excellent offers for books you will be proud to repost. Some are actually giftable. PM me for details or questions.

Michael Connelly -9 for 4- (7 are in the Harry Bosch series)

James Patterson -5 for 2 - (one was bought used, but great condition HC with jacket)

Vince Flynn- 5 for 2 (Term Limits & Consent to Kill are giftable / absolutely new condition!)

Harlan Coban -5 for 2

All the above are paper backs purchased in the past year. If you  don't need them all, they are 2 for 1. The giftable Flynn's can not be together in  the 2 for 1.

Check my profile for free offers.

Thanks  for looking! Please PM me as well as post here.

PS: I still need the following DeMille's. I sure would love to make  a deal.

 May Day

Talbot Odyssey

By the Rivers of Babylon

Death Squad

Last Edited on: 12/10/07 2:59 PM ET - Total times edited: 1
Date Posted: 12/7/2007 10:35 PM ET
Member Since: 10/27/2007
Posts: 643
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Still available!

Date Posted: 12/7/2007 11:03 PM ET
Member Since: 12/27/2005
Posts: 549
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I'll take advantage of the Harlan Coben deal.  We love this author!  I'll send you a PM.

Date Posted: 12/8/2007 1:42 PM ET
Member Since: 10/27/2007
Posts: 643
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The rest of the offer is still available!

Thanks, Rebecca. I mailed your box earlier. Enjoy the books.


text:
Lone Star State

Born and raised in Longview, Texas, Brandon Maxwell grew up enamored by the glamourous women that passed through the clothing boutique where his grandmother worked. The designer shifted focus back to his home state and headed to the desert town of Marfa, Texas (the art destination with a non-fuctional, installation Prada boutique) to design his spring collection. Eschewing overt references like cowboy boots and fringe jackets, the designer painted an honest picture of Texas power dressing (think 1980s oil-boom style in a Dallas country club) in bright red, pink, yellow, and aquamarine.

Clear Cut

The collection's stand-out accessories were translucent acrylic hat boxes and rectangular cases with gilded handles shaped like a horseshoe. The former carried bottles of rosé with custom Brandon Maxwell labels, while the latter held red, gray, and white iterations of cowboy hats made in collaboration with Florida-born, New York-based milliner Gigi Burris. Trimmed with cotton grosgrain ribbons, the hand-crafted styles were informed by hats Maxwell's grandmother owned.

Auto Motives

Maxwell's show was held at Manhattan's Classic Car Club, a membership-only organization located at Pier 76 along the Hudson River that provides access to exclusive vehicles from Ferraris and Aston Martins to iconic American muscle cars. Kia Motors, a partner on the designer's show this season, made a substantialdonation to Marfa's underfunded school system and provided teachers in the town with its latest car the Telluride. The new mode of transportation will allow them to commute to Austin and Dallas for continual professional training.

Happy Ending

At the end of his show, Maxwell walked onto the magenta carpet runway with his mother Pam Wooley. Shortly after, the designer's entire team came out from backstage as guests and models cheered loudly, smiling from ear to ear. The heart-warming scene was only made warmer by a kiss and embrace between Maxwell and his husband.

Image Via Imaxtree

Photography: Sonny Vandevelde

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All of our Karate Instructors have very deep backgrounds in karate.  All are up-to-date on USOC SafeSport Certifications and NCIS Background checks.  Each certify annually to coach with USA Karate for Signature events.

DougheadshotHead Instructor, Sensei Doug Jepperson

Dan Grading

7th Dan – Wado International Karate-Do Federation
7th Dan – Chuck Merriman, Lee Grey USA Karate-Do Kyokai

Sensei Jepperson began his karate training in Salt Lake City, Utah in 1966 under Ed Parker, founder of American Kenpo. A few years later, Toshio Osaka, 8th Dan Wado Ryu, moved to Salt Lake and Sensei Jepperson switched schools after seeing one demonstration of Sensei Osaka’s technique.

Sensei Jepperson is one of the few Senior Wado people in the world to have taken Dan testing with all three Wado groups. Shodan with the founder of Wado Hironori Otsuka, years later testing with his son Jiro Otsuka for Sandan, then testing in front of T. Mano the President of JKF and Wado Kai for his 4th Dan. After this Sensei Jepperson trained exclusively with Tatsuo Suzuki 8th Dan Hanshi, Master Otsuka’s senior student and most renowned Wado instructor in the world, 5th Dan and 6th Dan.

Current Positions

USANKF Karate Board of Directors, Member US Olympic Committee

USANK “USA” Karate Technical Committee USA Karate, member of US Olympic Committee.

USANKF, Senior Caucus member  USANKF – National Referee  USANKF – Certified Coach  WIKF (Wado International Karate-Do Federation)-USA, board of director,  WIKF-USA Technical Committee

Sensei Pamela Jepperson
Children’s Program Director
Park City Karate ™ Team Manager

Dan Grading

3rd Dan – 2015
2nd Dan – 1994
1st Dan – 1989

Sensei Pam ‘married’ into karate.  Her husband, Doug, and his sons were already well into their karate careers when they met.  Initially, her job was filming, photographing and ‘coaching’ from the stands.  Training began in Tennessee where she earned her 1st Dan.   Her strength lies in teaching and coaching our youngest athletes.

When her Ninja’s take a belt test or compete, win or lose, you can trust that Sensei Pam is right there at the mat with them.  Seeing their effort, and their complete joy at having done something well means more than any gold medal.  ‘Every child is an athlete’ is a code by which she teaches and coaches.  It’s very easy to see the Elite athlete and feel pride in their accomplishment.  Harder, but – perhaps – even more rewarding is watching a young child earn their first belt, or score their first point or even – win that first medal.

Sensei Pam introduced ‘Sportsmanship Medals’ to our program.  No participation medals for us.  Our youngest karate kids, will tell you that it’s hard work and self control that is to be rewarded.  Many times, these Ninja’s will bring in a Sportsmanship Medal earned at a regional tournament to show their classmates.   The pride they exude – knowing they earned that medal by demonstrating best effort and good sportsmanship – is awesome.

Sensei Kai Beckett
Park City Karate™ Team Coach

Dan Grading
2nd Dan – 2018
1st Dan – 2015

Sensei Kai began his karate training with Park City Karate™ in 2011.  Kai has been a competitor since 2012 in regional, national and international tournaments, earning a Silver Medal in Kumite in the USA Open in Las Vegas along with numerous medals in regional events.

Sensei Kai is a gifted instructor with all ages.  He is able to communicate with our 4 year old Ninja’s on their level and be equally effective with our Junior and Adult students.  His athleticism, passion and hard work elevate everyone with whom he trains.

Sensei Kai continues to pursue Elite level training, traveling to work with National Team Coaches.

Sensei Jon Groot
Park City Karate™ Team Head Coach

Dan Grading

4th Dan 2015
3rd Dan 2005
2nd Dan 2001
1st Dan 1997

Jon has spent over 23 years training as a martial artist. For the past ten years he has been an instructor with Park City Karate helping both youth and adult students improve their physical prowess and self-confidence. Jon’s undergraduate degree in Education combined with his graduate studies in Exercise Physiology have helped him become a better, more educated martial arts instructor.

Competition Experience
Over 60 medals won in 10 years of national and international competition

USA National Team alternate, US Open Champion +35, 4 time Utah State Champion, 5 time USA WADO National Team member

  • Doctoral Degree in Exercise Physiology, University of Utah
  • Master’s Degree in Exercise and Sport Science, University of Utah
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Education, University of Utah

Minor in Coaching, University of Utah


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Weather Forecast

FBI seeking 'armed, dangerous' fugitive from northwest Minn. robbery, shooting

Derek Jon Paddy1 / 2
2 / 2

Editor's Note: This story was published Dec. 1, 2017.

REDBY, Minn. --- The FBI has issued a fugitive alert looking for Derek Jon Paddy, who is believed to have fled Red Lake Indian Reservation in northwest Minnesota after an armed robbery and shooting.

The 21-year-old is considered armed and dangerous.

According to a warrant, Paddy was involved in an armed robbery on the reservation on Thanksgiving Day and then was reported as a shooter in an incident on Thursday, Nov. 30.

The Native American is described as 5-foot-11, 180 pounds with brown eyes and black hair.

His tattoos include “Dreamcatcher” on right forearm, “Loyalty” on on top of right hand, “Chi-Town Native” and “pistol”  on inside of left forearm and a large dollar sign on top of left hand.

The FBI has been investigating the case, but didn’t report on where the armed robbery took place or if anyone was injured in the shooting incident.

Scanner chatter indicated the shooting occurred at about 2:15 p.m. Thursday, and that the suspect could be headed toward International Falls or the Warroad area and could be armed and dangerous.

Chief Deputy Jon Froemke with the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office in International Falls confirmed that law enforcement in the area had been asked to be on the lookout for a suspect Thursday in a black Chevrolet Impala. Froemke did not know whether anyone was injured.

“There was a shooting and a suspect was possibly headed this way,” Froemke said.

Redby is about 30 miles north of Bemidji on the shores of Lower Red Lake.

Anyone with information should call the FBI at 763-569-8000.


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You are the application architect on your team.
You have a straightforward architecture consisting of an ASP.NET MVC Web Application that depends on a Class Library, which contains the Business Logic.
The Business Logic uses another Class Library that contains the Data Access code.
No code in the UI should ever use the Data Access library directly.
You need to enforce this architectural requirement.
Which Visual Studio tool should you use?

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Answer: A

Hotspot Question
You are the lead tester for Contoso, Ltd.
The company is using Microsoft Visual Studio to develop a new software product.
Management wants to test the product as it is developed. Some components that require testing have dependencies that are not yet built or are otherwise unavailable.
You need to test the components.
In the table below, identify where only a shim or a stub can be used in the situation.
Make only one selection in each column.

Only 2 values can be selected (1 each column)

You are a developer.
Your company has a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server (TFS) installation for a project.
The TFS installation uses the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) for Agile Software Development project template.
The developers have standard Contributor permissions, and the Scrum Master has Project Administrator permissions.
The project development team performs time of regression testing of all stories at the end of each release.
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user stories by using the iteration filter Under, Release 1, and related Bugs.
Filter the bugs by by State < > Done.
C.    Have the Scrum master right-click the query Rl Open Defects, and select add to team
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You are an automation engineer for your company.
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Answer: D
In real exam was UAT value too-here i can not see it … will go with System testing but think is not right-should be UAT.

Historically your IT group has done a poor job of reporting issues and successes to key decision makers in a timely manner, due to incomplete or inconsistent application lifecycle management (ALM) practices.
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Kanban teams prefer to use a Cumulative Flow Diagram to visualize work across the entire backlog. Visualizing the backlog in this manner can help to identify bottlenecks in the process. Scrum Teams can also use a Cumulative Flow Diagram.
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You are a developer for Contoso, Ltd.
The product owner sends an email with a list of requirements that need to be built outyou’re your company’s social media product.
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You manage several developers who are working on multiple applications.
A business analyst requests an audit trail of work item changes for all prospective releases.
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B.    Enable a check-in policy that requires a work item be associated with the check-in.
C.    Enable static code analysis during the automated build.
D.    Require developers to update the comments field of their tasks with details of any code
changes for their tasks.
E.    Request that developers enter the work item ID in the check-in comments for any code
changes they make.
F.    Enable the automated build option to associate work items with the build.

Answer: BF

You are using Microsoft Test Manager (MTM).
You are using the Microsoft Solution Framework (MSF) for Agile Software Development process template.
Your team has all required permissions to run the reports on the SharePoint project portal.
You need to track the progress on resolving bugs by your team for the past week.
Which Excel report should you run?

A.    Bug Trends
B.    Bugs by Assignment
C.    Run the Team Trend report.
D.    Bug Progress

Answer: A

Your network environment includes a Microsoft Visual Studio Team Foundation Server 2012 (TFS) server. A single build machine is installed with one controller and two agents.
The working directories are configured to use the following working directory:
Your system drive is running out of space and some builds often fail with the following error:
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Your network environment is configured according to the following table:

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Archive for the ‘Flex’ Category

Background Audio Playback for mobile Adobe AIR apps!

Tuesday, October 18th, 2011

If you build a mobile Adobe AIR app to play or stream audio, the user expects that the music continues to playback when the app goes in the background. When I developed ON AIR powered by ( application using Adobe AIR and targeting tablet devices), had to solve this problem.

Dependent mobile platform, you have to do different things to enable the audio playback in the background!

BlackBerry PlayBook Tablet OS

The PlayBook normally pauses your app, when the app is going into the background and stops everything including the playback of the audio. This is the default behaviour. QNX (Part of RIM/BlackBerry) provides two ActionScript3 libraries which allows to the OS UI Components (qnx-screens.swc) in your app or use OS features or capabilities like QNXSystemPowerMode (qnx-air.swc). These libraries will be shipped with the latest version 4.5.1 of Flash Builder. To add the BlackBerry ActionScript Libraries to the project, you have to enable a property “Add platform specific libraries to library path” in the Project Properties (Flex Build Packaging -> BlackBerry Tablet OS).

After enabling the libraries, you only have to add the following lines which sets the PowerMode when the app inactive in the background to THROTTLED.

import qnx.system.QNXSystem;
import qnx.system.QNXSystemPowerMode;

qnx.system.QNXSystem.system.inactivePowerMode = QNXSystemPowerMode.THROTTLED;

In the PowerMode THROTTLED, the AIR runtime is stopping the rendering but still executes the code to playback the audio.

Here is the documentation about the PowerMode of QNX.

Google Android

On Android, the audio playback in the background is dependent of the device OS version. As multitasking on Android is available since version 3.0 (Honeycomb), only apps running on devices using Honeycomb or later will playback audio in the background.

To ensure that the app is still running when the user isn’t doing anything, you should add following line to keep the app awake.

Here is the corresponding ActionScript3 documentation. To enable the AIR app to change system idle, the Android part of the AIR App Descriptor file has to contain the following uses permessions.

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.DISABLE_KEYGUARD"/>
<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.WAKE_LOCK"/>

Apple iOS

Normally, an AIR app (or native app) on iOS is stopping the audio playback when the app is going in the background. With Adobe AIR 3.0, you can enable the Background Audio Playback for AIR application. Add the parameter UIBackgroundModes with the value audio to the iOS part of the app descriptor of your application.

Currently, AIR 3.0 has problem with the screen lock of iOS, which is disabling the background audio playback.
To prevent the screen lock on iOS, your app should use the System Idle Mode KEEP_AWAKE.

Amazing launch of ON AIR on the three App Stores!

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

I really overwhelmed of the amazing launch on the different App Stores, especially on Apple’s iTunes App Store: ON AIR for the Apple iPad was downloaded 872 times in the first 27 hours after the launch! The ON AIR for the BlackBerry PlayBook was downloaded about 470 times in first 8 days since release on BlackBerry AppWorld. As the Android Market has an problem to display the correct number of installations, I can’t really tell you how many installations of the ON AIR for Android Tablets were downloaded. But I guess the number isn’t as high because the app was designed to run on Tablet using Android Honeycomb (3.x) like Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 or Motorola XOOM.

This afternoon, I also checked some of the international iTunes App Store in the following category: iPad Apps > Music > Free > Bestseller:

Germany: 13th place
UK: 15th place
US: 33th place
Switzerland: 20th place
Brazi: 19th place
Australia: 29th place

Overall, I think was a great start for this project, because I’m sitting in front of my computer and can’t get the smiling out of my face! The main reason for it, I’m working on my projects quiet for a while, because it was also my private project to test new stuff coming to the Flash Platform. So I really happy that I finally launched the project. ON AIR is available for BlackBerry PlayBook, Android Tablets and Apple iPad now!

Thursday, September 1st, 2011

Finally, last night the last App Store approved my application. ON AIR is available at all three App Store: BlackBerry AppWorld, Android Market and Apple iTunes AppStore.

Information about all my projects include the ON AIR can be found on my Labs page. ON AIR allows you to search or listen to your favorite artists, tracks or albums. You manage your music library and scrobble the music you currently listen. Find nearby events and upload your tagged event photos directly to Flickr linked to the event page.

A subscription (PAID) is necessary to use the radio capabilities of the application.

The application provides following functionality:

  • Listen to stations and Scrobbling (Paid Subscriber Only!)
  • Love and Ban Tracks
  • Add Artists, Albums and Tracks to your Library.
  • Search and Viewing informations about: Artists, Albums, Tracks, Events and Users
  • Attending Events
  • Landscape and Portrait Mode
  • Location based services (Find Events)
  • Uploading tagged Event Photos to Flickr
  • Add support for shouts
  • Device Integration: Use the buttons of the device to control application (Play/Pause/Skip/Change Volume). (Only BlackBerry PlayBook)
  • Open Music store to buy and search for artists, tracks and albums. (Only BlackBerry PlayBook)

Here are the links to the application ON AIR at the different App Stores.

I also created a group on, where you post and share infos: Submit bugs, make feature requests, etc…

Thanks to the team for allowing me to use their logo for my application.

Development and Design

The application is based on Adobe AIR 2.7 using Flex 4.5.1, which is optimzed for iOS application for Adobe AIR. As part of this project, I created my own Flex Library for the This library is implementing the latest webservice API using OpenSource Flex MVC Framework Parsley. I will release this library as soon as I have finished the documentation for it.

For Design, I used Adobe Illustrator and Adobe Photoshop. I also used Adobe Flash Catalyst for my transforming my design into assets, because Flash Catalyst is a great tool to convert assets into FXG files for ActionScript Skins(Create Workflow to create FXG assets for ActionScript Skins). The reason why I didn’t used Illustrator for step is that I found no way to export multiple FXG files from Illustrator file.

In the next days, I will write some blog post about what I learned in this project. For example: How to create Progressbar for Mobile AIR applications.

Strobe Media Playback for Adobe Web Experience Management released!

Monday, July 18th, 2011

Today, I released an other small project which allows to use the Strobe Media Playback inside of Adobe’s Web Experience Management Platform (formly known as Adobe/Day CQ5). Strobe is based on the Open Source Media Framework. The playback is deeply integrated so that you can directly specify all parameters inside of CQ5 component and it can use the content repository of CQ5 or any web and streaming server as media source.

The current version of the component is using the Strobe Media Playback version 1.5.1 and Flash Player 10.1. A future version of the component will also provide the possibility to use the hosted version of Strobe, the Adobe Flash Media Playback.

More information about the project can be found here.

ActionScript3 Library for Yahoo! PlaceFinder Webservice released

Saturday, June 25th, 2011

Last night, I released an other small library, which allows you to use the Yahoo! PlaceFinder Webservice with Flex and ActionScript3. The library is based on Parsley, because I have developed the library for my projects which use Parsley as application framework.

Yahoo! PlaceFinder Webservice allows to find addresses based on address parts or GPS geolocation information (latitude and longitude).

As Yahoo will discontinue and shut down their Maps Web Service in September, the Yahoo PlaceFinder Webservice can be use as replacement of GeoCoding APIs of the Maps Web Service.

An example, the documentation and the library can be found here.

Flash Mobile Device Simulation and Update for PlayBook Device Simulation released!

Thursday, May 26th, 2011

I released the first version of the Flash Mobile Device Simulation and an update of the PlayBook Device Simulation tonight. After the great response on the PlayBook Device Simulation, I decided to extend the solution and provide something similar for all mobile platforms supporting AIR applications. I recreated the ActionScript Simulation Library  and the AIR Simulator application from scratch. The Flash Mobile Device Simulation provides features which are available for all mobile platforms and core functionality for the comminication between the mobile application and the AIR Simulator application. The PlayBook Device Simulation extends the Flash Mobile Device Simulation with PlayBook specific features.

The first version of the Flash Mobile Device Simulation supports Geolocation and Accelerometer and provides the possibilty to import simulation information as XML data, for example as GPS Exchange Format 1.1 (GPX) waypoints.

Additionally to the new features of the Flash Mobile Device Simulation, the PlayBook Device Simulation was updated to implement the latest BlackBerry PlayBook SDK 1.0.1 and supports qnx.system.QNXSystem. To run the PlayBook Device Simulation, you have download both ActionScript libraries.

Updated the Spark Slider with Track Highlight

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

The latest version supports the toggling of the Track Highlight visiblity using the property showTrackHighlight and changing the Track Highlight color using the property accentColor. The default color of the Track Highlight using the themeColor. Everything works like the old MX Slider.

Also I fixed the problem with the clicking the Track Highlight.

The source code of the sliders is available on GitHub.

First version of PlayBook Device Simulation released!

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Today, I released little private project “PlayBook Device Simulation” that allows to use PlayBook specific API when develop with the AIR Debug Launcher (ADL). The solution consists of two parts: an ActionScript3 Library (PlayBook Device Simulation) and an AIR application (PlayBook Device Simulator).

I ported some of the classes of the QNX AIR Library, so that the classes have some functions and variables (1:1). Currently supported classes and features: AudioManager, Device, MediaServiceConnection and QNXApplication. My solutions supports features, which can’t be test with the VMware Image of the PlayBook Device Simulator, like Power Management (Battery).  Another reason to test the solution is that won’t get any error messages (VerifyError: Error #1014: Class qnx.pps::PPSChannel could not be found) when using any of the supported classes.

Technically, I’m using the ServerSocket API of Adobe AIR to connect the Mobile AIR Application with the PlayBook Device Simulator. This allows a two communication between the Mobile AIR Application and the simulator.

Additional information about integration and usage can be found on the project site:

Playbook development with device specific libraries using QNX PPS and why is ADL throwing errors

Saturday, February 5th, 2011

The Playbook SDK of Blackberry provides additional libraries to use device capabilities which aren’t available in the standard Flex Hero SDK. These Blackberry specific libraries provide access to the controls of the device and contain the QNX specific UI Controls, MediaPlayer/MediaServiceConnection and Pop Dialogs. Blackberry (or QNX) realized the integration using the messaging system of QNX, called PPS Service (QNX Persistent Publish/Subscribe). You can find additional information about PPS here.

AudioManager (qnx.system.AudioManager)

Provides access to the Audio Controls of the Playbook.

MediaServiceConnection (

Allows the communication between application and the music controller in the upper controlbar of the Playbook.

Device (qnx.system.Device)

Device specific information and allow the application to monitor the battery state of the device.

QNXApplication (qnx.system.QNXApplication)

Allow the application to monitor if the device runs out memory or if the user makes a  Swipe Down Interaction.

MediaPlayer (

Build-in MediaPlayer of the BlackBerry Playbook

Dialogs (qnx.dialog.*)

The dialogs are native QNX OS dialogs and using PPS to communicate with your AIR application.

TextInput (qnx.ui.text.TextInput)

Provides the option to define which Keyboard layout will used by defining the type using the parameter “keyboardType”. The image below shows all the available keyboard types.

ADL throws an error when using Playbook specific stuff

If your application is using any of these class above and you try to run your application use ADL (AIR Debug Launcher), the ADL will throw an error (VerifyError: Error #1014: Class qnx.pps::PPSChannel could not be found.) that compiler can’t find the PPS specific class qnx.pps.PPS or qnx.pps.PPSChannel. This error will thrown because these classes are only available on the device or emulator.

I’m personally prefer to develop using the ADL and  only do my final tests using the device or emulator. So I found two solutions to avoid that ADL is throwing the error described above.

1.Solution: Monkey Patch the class PPSChannel

This solution works for the QNX TextInput. Monkey Patch describes the overlaying the original class by adding a modified class with the same name and package into your project.

  1. Open the Library Path in Project Properties
    (File -> Properties -> Flex Build Path -> Library Path)
  2. Selected the qnx-air.swc and change the Link Type from External to Merge into Code
  3. Create a package  called qnx.pps in your project and add a new class PPSChannel into the created package. Use a simple file (File -> New -> File) , otherwhise Flash Builder 4 will not create the class when using ActionScript class.
  4. The class PPSChannel should look like the code below
    package qnx.pps
    	public class PPSChannel
    		public function PPSChannel(){
  5. Recreate the project!
  6. Run the application using ADL

You can download a Flex Project with this solution here.

PS: Don’t forget to remove the class and switch back the Link Type to External when running the application on the emulator or device!

2.Solution: Conditional Compilation

This solutions works perfect when using any of the device integration like AudioManager, MediaServiceConnection, Device or QNXApplication. Because these things can’t be used without running the application on the device or emulator, it makes sense to them off while developing with ADL.

Conditional Compilation allows to include or exclude code based on constants added to the compiler arguments in Flash Builder or using MXMLC.

The constants of the conditional compilation should look like line below.

In the source code of the application, you have to add the constant above the functions and attributes of the class which should be included or excludes by compilation.

public var audioManager:AudioManager;

public function init():void
			audioManager = AudioManager.audioManager;
			audioManager.addEventListener(AudioManagerEvent.OUTPUT_LEVEL_CHANGED, handleOutputLevelChanged);
			audioManager.addEventListener(AudioManagerEvent.OUTPUT_MUTE_CHANGED, handleOutputMuteChanged);

Set the parameter to “false” running the application with ADL or to “true” using the emulator or device.

Adobe Flex 4 LiveDoc for Conditional Compilation

The second solution helps also if you develop a multi device/screen application and you need a deep integration into the device without creating an extra project for each platform. The developer has only to change the parameter before exporting/building for a specific device or screen.

Stay tuned! At the moment, I’m working on a Flex library and AIR client which allow to trigger all the Playbook device events.

Documentation of Playbook ActionScript 3 Libraries

Spark Slider with Track Highlight

Tuesday, January 25th, 2011

I’m working on a Playbook application and wanted to recreate the VolumeSlider provided by the QNX ActionScript Library with Flex.

When I tried to convert my Illustrator into Skin for a HSlider in Adobe Flash Catalyst, noticed that the Spark Slider has no Track Highlight. The old MX Slider contains an optional Track Highlight, which can be switched on/off with the parameter “showTrackHighlight”. It was also possible to change color and skin of the Track Highlight on the MX Slider

I extended the original Spark Slider to add a Track Highlight using the Spark Skinning Architecture. At the moment ,I’m working to support the toggling of the visiblity based on the parameter “showTrackHighlight” and the possiblity to change the color of the highlight.

The source code of the sliders is available on GitHub.

With a little bit of modification on the skins, my slider could look like the screenshot below.

Playbook Volume Slider based on modified Spark HSlider with Highlighted Track

Update: 27.04.2011

The latest version supports the toggling of the Track Highlight visiblity using the property showTrackHighlight and changing the Track Highlight color using the property accentColor. The default color of the Track Highlight using the themeColor. Everything works like the old MX Slider. Also I fixed the problem with the clicking the Track Highlight.


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Patriot Cinemas - Nickelodeon Cinemas
Portland , ME
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Closed Captioned and Assisted Listening Devices available at the box office.  Please be prepared to leave ID.  ID will be returned when equipment is returned at the end of the show.

Patriot Cinemas - Nickelodeon Cinemas
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All shows before 6pm ( ) are Bargain Matinees

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Patriot Cinemas Gift Books make the perfect gift for the movie lover in your life!


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PayPal theives

I used PayPal once, then I kept getting these notices to pay them. So I went to their website and tried to pay them. But their website is opaque, dysfunctional and just plain stupid/mean. I wasted hours trying to pay this bill online. What online company is so impossible to pay online? Only after they charge me an outrageous late fee, and put a mark against my perfect credit, do they send me a bill in the mail. What a bunch of crooks.

Posted: February 20, 2015 at 8:00 pm

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Iran News ...

Iran's Majlis Speaker calls for expansion of ties with Egypt

Cairo, Feb 2, IRNA - Iran's Majlis Speaker Gholam Ali Haddad Adel here on Saturday called for expansion of ties with Egypt and underlined that his current visit to the country is the best indication of Iran's determination to this end.

Haddad Adel made the remarks at Cairo airport prior to his departure to Al-Iskandariyah.

During his stay in Cairo, Haddad conferred with high ranking Egyptian officials including President Hosni Mubarak during which he described the exchange of views between the two sides as very friendly and satisfactory.

The visit took place in line with normalization of ties between Iran and Egypt, he said.

The visit proved that the two sides are ready to resume new round of diplomatic relations and broaden all-out ties, he pointed out.

The two sides have not made any decision on starting new round of cooperation but they have agreed to help broaden mutual ties through exchange of delegates, Haddad said.

Iranian Majlis speaker left Cairo to Al-Iskandariyah where he will visit the city's library which is regarded as the biggest library in the world and also inspect the city's cultural and historical monuments.

Haddad-Adel's three-day visit to Egypt is part of his two-nation African tour which will later take him to Sudan.

His visit is taking place at the official invitation of his Egyptian counterpart Ahmed Fathi Sorour.

... Payvand News - 02/02/08 ... --

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Dean B | all galleries >> barkley images - Low Level Aerial Photography > Waterloo Tower Quex Park
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Mountaineers Everett Lookout Peaks

Showing Bob Kerr's first ascent dates for climbed peaks (0 out of 20, or 0%)

RankPeak Elev-Ft
Range (Level 5) Prom-Ft
Ascent Date
1.Mount Pilchuck5340Mountain Loop Area2900
2.Mount David7420Glacier Peak-North Stevens Pass Area2460
3.Dock Butte5239Skagit Range2309
4.Sauk Mountain5541Skagit Range1661
5.Alpine Lookout6235Glacier Peak-North Stevens Pass Area1195
6.Lookout Mountain5699Central North Cascades1139
7.Church Mountain6315Skagit Range1115
8.Winchester Mountain6510Skagit Range870
9.Dickerman Mountain5723Mountain Loop Area843
10.Green Mountain6500Central North Cascades780
11.Rock Mountain6880Glacier Peak-North Stevens Pass Area720
12.Mount Townsend6280Eastern Olympic Mountains640
12.Park Butte5480Skagit Range640
14.Surprise Mountain6330Wenatchee Mountains570
15.Mount Higgins Lookout Site4849Mountain Loop Area449
16.Hidden Lake Lookout6890Central North Cascades330
17.Mount Si4180Alpine Lakes Area300
18.Huckleberry Mountain5856Central North Cascades176
19.Sourdough Mountain-Lookout Site5985Skagit Range145
20.Anderson Butte-Lookout Site5400Skagit Range120

Front Runners List: Click here to see list completion progress by climbers that log their climbs using Peakbagger.com.

Multiple Ascents Grid: Click here for a grid showing all of Bob Kerr's ascents of peaks on this list (including up to 10 rounds of repeats).

Compare Climbers: Click here to compare ascents of up to 5 climbers working on this list.

Map Showing Location of Peaks

 = Peaks climbed by Bob Kerr   = Unclimbed peaks

Click on a peak to see its name and a clickable link.

(Map only shows peaks ranked by clean prominence)

Click Here for a Full Screen Map

This page has been served 922065 times since 2004-11-01.

Copyright © 1987-2018 by Peakbagger.com. All Rights Reserved. Questions/Comments/Corrections? See the Contact Page Terms of Service


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Jungle A'Peel

(13 reviews) Write a Review
16.00 Ounces
Calculated at Checkout

Creamy Peanut Butter, Crunchy Organic Banana Chips and Organic Sugar mashed up. High Five!!

13 Reviews Hide Reviews Show Reviews

  • 5
    Best taste

    Posted by Sky on 15th Jul 2018

    This is by far my favorite! I have tried a number of flavors ( except chocolate ones as I am allergic) and this is the best tasting in my opinion. Has chunks of bananas at times but not overwhelming with banana. Saves me from cutting bananas to make my Elvis sandwiches! Lol

  • 5
    Family Favorite

    Posted by Dana T on 25th Apr 2018

    If you're on the fence about flavors, give this one a try. It has tiny bits of dried banana that add amazing texture to this PB. It doesn't have a fake banana flavor like laffy taffy. It's a true banana and goes great on rice cakes or in oats if you don't just eat it right off the spoon.

  • 5
    Jungle A-Peal

    Posted by Elisa Burns on 9th Apr 2018

    My son ate the entire jar in one week, eating a sandwhich every day for lunch. It is the best flavor you have going! PS your delivery was prompt and we will be purchasing again.

  • 5
    Jungle A Peel Peanut Butter

    Posted by John R on 12th Mar 2018

    I finally opened and tried this flavor as well. Very good.

  • 5
    Love it!

    Posted by Unknown on 7th Mar 2018

    This is so great!!! Perfect blend of banana & peanut!!!

  • 5
    Simple but delicious

    Posted by Samantha on 17th Dec 2017

    Not too complicated, but really good. I love the crushed up banana chips throughout the peanut butter.

  • 5
    Jungle apeel

    Posted by Barbara on 29th Jun 2017

    Omgoodness, this is truly amazing. Everything about this product is divine. I love it....i recommend it to everyone...espexially banana lovers.

  • 4
    Banana bread yum!

    Posted by yuliya belopolsky on 21st Mar 2017

    So I've tried the cookie dough and the brownie batter and those are still my FAVORITES but this one is still VERY tasty with little dried banana chips so it gives a crunch. Tastes like banana bread when put into oatmeal YUM

  • 5
    love it

    Posted by Debra Guidorini on 23rd Jan 2017

    just the right combination--not too sweet


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Latest Reviews
Home » Hollywood » PRINCESS CYD

There is overwhelming beauty in Stephen Cone’s wonderfully crafted “Princess Cyd”; a successful, middle-aged author, “Miranda” (a character inspired by writer Marilynne Robinson); Rebecca Spence’s glowing, breathtaking performance, infused with wisdom and finesse anchors the film. She invites her sixteen-year-old niece, “Cyd” (Jessie Pinnick is equal to the pairing) to spend a portion of the summer in her Chicago home; Cyd’s mother has been dead for eight years, the gruesome details unveiled later in the scenario; Cone (“Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party”) is a master at allowing the story to evolve rhythmically, honestly.

The women gingerly tiptoe around their disparate feelings: spirituality grounds Miranda and illuminates her prose, whereas Cyd, in the embryonic stage of sexual awakening, challenges her aunt’s singular, solitary lifestyle. Their conversations reverberate with intelligence and respect. Their relationship gathers depth and integrity with acceptance and understanding, narrowing the generational gap, Miranda dons a bathing suit for the first time in eons (it still fits!) Cyd enters Mirada’s cerebral milieu by reading some of her works. With a few hiccups, it is fascinating watching the narrowing of the chasm between them.

The narrative incorporates a delightful, sprite of a girl, “Katie” , comfortable in her alternative lifestyle; Malic White adds whimsy, enchantment and stunning insight into the plight of a lesbian taunted and tormented because of who she is.

“Princess Cyd” is a graceful, radiant homage to lovers of the written word, be it poetry, fiction or non, it gifts wonderment, knowledge, starves off loneliness, and delivers a banquet of satisfaction far greater than any ephemeral, epicurean feast.

THREE & 1/2 STARS!!!

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Thursday, December 3, 2009

Preliminary Snow Forecast for Saturday

Basic Thoughts:
NC- Rain changing to snow, not enough precip for any significant accumulations. Timing of cold air will be key.
VA- Central VA is the key spot with enough precip and cold air to accumulate. If banding develops as depicted on latest model runs, most likely to be between Charlottesville and Richmond, where some places could see 7" in a perfect world. Generally 2-4" to the east of the mountains into the Piedmont.

And I'm not forecasting for the mountains, FYI

Will update as we get closer.


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wedding ring tattooIf you are thinking of being radical and getting tattooed instead of wedding rings, you are probably wondering which way to go with the tattoos. Here are some ideas:

  • Some people decide to simply get I do tattooed on their ring finger to signify their commitment. As a humorous variation the other partner may choose to get ‘Ditto’ done rather than ‘I do’
  • Some couples may decide that a simple way never to forget an anniversary is to get the date of the wedding tattooed on the ring finger.  A good way never to get in trouble over the anniversary!
  • Traditional tattoos of the script of one’s native tongue are also a great option. Certain traditional Celtic patterns make for great tattoo ring designs. Some may choose to go biblical, with their ring tattoos. The number or reference to a particular verse from the bible that may be particularly apt to the wedding ceremony is another option.

Wedding ring tattoos are concept that is really catching on even with celebrities, who choose one of the options above or as in the case of Eva Longoria, may get a tattoo done in the form of a wrist band as a variation of the same theme.

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Minimal but Mighty

As dog owners become more skeptical about products with long lists of ingredients, they are looking at limited-ingredient formulas and adopting a less-is-more approach to feeding their pets.

As consumers scrutinize nutrition labels and ingredients on their own foods, more and more are starting to do the same with the products they feed their dogs. Long lists of indecipherable ingredients that shoppers have neither the time nor the patience to understand are increasingly falling out of favor. Instead, limited-ingredient dog foods and treats, which typically offer a single protein source along with a minimal number of other ingredients, are seeing ever-growing popularity.

But easy-to-understand ingredient lists aren’t the only reason these diets are finding favor with pet owners. These diets often are made entirely or mostly with U.S.-sourced ingredients, a feature that is increasingly popular. A desire to limit exposure to additives, fillers, artificial colors, soy, wheat and so on is another motivator.

“Pet parents want these specialized diets because they know the important role a quality diet can play in their pet’s overall well-being,” says Pete Brace, vice president of communications and pet parent relations for Merrick Pet Care. “These specialized diets represent the presence of positive ingredients pet parents are seeking without all the negative, select ingredients they’re avoiding.” Based in Amarillo, Texas, the company offers natural and organic wet and dry pet foods and treats under several brands.

Because of how closely aligned limited-ingredient formulas are with the trends toward simplicity and wellness, these diets are increasingly finding favor with pet owners. Brace cites data from GfK, a global marketing research firm, indicating that through September 2014, limited-ingredient products accounted for eight percent of the natural pet food category—a percentage that will certainly rise as these products move into the mainstream and as manufacturers continue to innovate. For example, Brace says that Merrick is focusing on providing more options to meet specific health needs of the pets, as well as owner preferences like providing potato-free formulas.

These diets are also a helpful option for dogs with food sensitivities or allergies. Because of their restricted ingredients, these diets can help owners identify the cause of their pet’s problems. Formulas incorporating several different protein sources or with numerous non-protein ingredients can make it more challenging to determine which one might be troubling the animal. With limited-ingredient diets, pet parents can find and eliminate potential problem foods much more easily.

According to Lucy Postins, CEO and founder of The Honest Kitchen, a San Diego-based producer of 100 percent human-grade, dehydrated whole foods for dogs and cats, demand has grown consistently over the past several years. She expects this trend will only continue, particularly as awareness of these diets and their potential advantages increases.

“Most dogs can reap benefits from limited-ingredient foods, which may offer a healthier option than a food with a lengthy ingredients list,” says Postins. “This kind of diet cuts out most, if not all, of the problematic ingredients found in conventional dog food. Many of our customers have reported better digestion, a healthier skin and coat, and improved behavior and well-being from all of our recipes. Other reasons to consider this sort of diet could be weight management, health issues or as a supplement to conventional foods.”

Dispelling Misconceptions
Even though consumer interest in limited-ingredient products is on the upswing, pet specialty retailers should still be prepared to address some mistaken ideas about these formulas.

“We often see pet parents concerned their dog might not be receiving the ample amount of vitamins and nutrients regular formulas provide for their pets,” says Chanda Leary-Coutu, senior marketing communications manager for WellPet. Headquartered in Tewksbury, Mass., the company offers a variety of premium pet food brands for dogs and cats.

“While the ingredient list is limited, it is a misconception to think pets will not be receiving the right amount of vitamins and nutrients should they transition to this diet due to food sensitivities,” Leary-Coutu continues. “Wellness Simple formulas are complete and balanced, including a well-balanced mix of vitamins, minerals and even guaranteed levels of probiotics to assist with digestion.”

Leary-Coutu says as the demand for limited-ingredient products has grown, she’s seen more natural pet food companies adding these formulas to their product offerings, with some offering novel protein sources like lamb and duck, along with grain-free options.

All the new entrants into this category brings up another issue pet specialty retailers should be aware of, says Maribeth Burns, vice president of corporate communications for Orrville, Ohio-based Natural Balance Pet Foods, Inc., which makes premium wet and dry foods and treats for dogs and cats.

“Over the last several years, it has become more difficult for consumers to tell the difference between limited-ingredient formulas and other formulas, such as foods that are grain-free but not limited in ingredients,” she explains. “In order for pet parents to feel confident in their purchasing decisions, they need to be aware that limited-ingredient foods limit the number of ingredients pets are exposed to, but are still carefully formulated to provide complete nutrition for various life stages.”

Educate, Inform, Connect
Brace describes customer education as “essential,” a perspective Postins and other manufacturers share. “Education is particularly key in pointing customers to a limited-ingredient food,” Postins says, suggesting that retailers call attention to key ingredients and nutritional qualities. “We also believe in teaching pet store team members about common ailments and allergies that a limited-ingredient diet will frequently cure,” she adds.

Since there are specific formulas intended to address different issues, it’s important for staff to engage customers in conversation about their pets in order to make the most beneficial recommendation.

“Retailers should also encourage pet parents with food-sensitive dogs to take a process-of-elimination approach when it comes to giving pets different proteins,” Leary-Coutu says. “We also encourage consumers to consult with their veterinarians along the way.”

Pet owners need to understand the reasons for making for a particular food choice, says Burns. “It’s important that they can look to the store associate to provide this expert advice because in many cases, consumers might be entering the store having only been educated through branded advertising, such as television commercials.”

However, Burns continues, every pet has different issues, lifestyles and needs. Customers may not be taking this reality into consideration, which is why it is always helpful to discuss their pet specifically.

“This is where the store associates, and our veterinary technicians and nutrition experts, become valuable resources, educating the consumer in an effort to create a positive experience and build a long-term, trusted relationship that leads to repeat sales,” she explains.

Staff should also inform customers of all the limited-ingredient options the store offers, such as canned, dry and dehydrated formulas. And don’t forget about treats, Burns reminds. “In cases where pet parents are feeding limited-ingredient meals, they will also want to treat with a limited-ingredient formula to get the full benefits of the diet,” she says.

Limited-ingredient formulas also lend themselves well to cross-merchandising. Rather than confining them to a specific space on the shelves—and it’s always a good idea to create a designated space for these kinds of products to make it easier for customer to locate them— consider placing them by the remedies, grooming and even waste-management/house-training items, since these diets often help with poop issues. If there’s a special puppy section in the store, or one for senior dogs, locating limited-ingredient products in these areas is also smart since puppies and older dogs are often prone to digestive issues and sensitivities.

And be sure to ask open-ended questions when trying to determine the best fit for the customer. Postins suggests inquiring about the dog’s activity level, general health, allergies or sensitivities, any food preferences, lifestyle, what the dog is currently eating and why the owner is thinking about making a change.

One of the best ways to kick off the conversation? Brace recommends a basic, but effective, prompt: “Tell me about your dog.”

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Ruff Life Pet Outfitters: Excellence in Merchandising

Entrepreneur Gary Albert found retail success with an inviting industrial chic ambiance and a judiciously selected assortment of premium pet products.

A career in pet specialty retail can draw on any number of seemingly unrelated talents and skills—a background in marketing or bookkeeping, for example, or even a habit of tinkering with woodwork in one’s garage.

A theater background, on the other hand, does not come immediately to mind as an asset in the pet business.

Yet, Gary Albert has indeed repurposed his theater experience to great success in the industry. The owner of Ruff Life Pet Outfitters, a pet specialty boutique in Petoskey, Mich., Albert says his work with stage sets and a well-honed understanding of how to create a compelling visual scene has proven handy in his relatively new role as pet specialty entrepreneur. In fact, his theater sensibilities helped him to develop the store’s industrial chic aesthetic that has locals coming back again and again, and customers from afar asking him if it would be possible to open up another shop like it in their neighborhoods.

Still, as any storeowner surely knows, Albert’s knack for merchandising and design is hardly enough to guarantee the store’s financial success. Since the store’s opening in 2012, he has also applied some good, solid business sense and put his extensive retail experience to good use, as well. “Every year has been a year of steady and rapid growth,” he says.

However, he adds that the business was a gamble—albeit a carefully calculated one.

A lifelong dog owner, Albert had his eye on the pet industry for some time before making the move to become a storeowner. In doing his due diligence, his research revealed that the industry had experienced strong growth since the early 1980s and that people were spending more and more on their pets—proving to him that investing in the industry could prove highly profitable.

The endeavor also seemed a good fit for Albert personally. He was working in retail, selling cell phones, at the time and was seeking a career change that would afford him more flexibility in his schedule and an opportunity to spend more time on one of his main passions—his dog.

“The timing was perfect,” he recalls. “I had the capital, and even though it was supposed to be [for] my retirement, I thought, ‘If I don’t do it now, I will never do it, and I will regret it.’”

So, armed with his customer service skills, his academic theater experience and his retirement fund-turned-entrepreneurial capital, he set to work on opening a pet boutique that would focus on a carefully curated assortment of quality pet foods and mostly American-made supplies and accessories.

The first summer was lean, he recalls. “I was paying everything in cash,” Albert says, explaining that he had avoided using credit or taking on loans early on. “I didn’t want to do it out of the gate. I wanted to see if the business would fly, and if it didn’t fly, I wouldn’t be stuck with bills.”

He had earmarked a portion of his liquid capital for the store’s inventory, only to discover that he didn’t have enough product to meet consumer demand. He quickly funneled his profits into correcting the shortfall and began to rethink his position on credit.

But again, any risk he took on was calculated and well planned.

He hired a manager—someone he had a great deal of confidence in and who had a wealth of health and nutrition knowledge that would be useful in assisting customers. Lisa Turk, a former cardiac nurse, became his point person on pet nutrition.

Albert also gave careful consideration to the rest of Ruff Life Outfitters’ product assortment. “I was very prudent with what I brought in,” he says.
His focus has been primarily on dog-related products, premium goods made in the U.S. and items shoppers would not find in mass-market and big-box specialty stores.  “I’m not in the business to compete with the big-boxes,” says Albert.

Ruff Life’s assortment includes an array of beds, dishes, collars and leashes, and toys—the store’s biggest sellers. Albert also stocks people goods—pet-themed, slogan-bearing T-shirts and magnets, for example. The selection is meant to appeal to both the store’s year-round customers, as well as the many tourists that flood the area during the summer, which he describes as his “money-making months.”

The store’s product assortment also caters to outdoor enthusiasts. “My store has a distinct angle toward customers who are always outdoor with their pets—hikers, kayakers and other activities,” he says.

Meanwhile, the food selection is kept lean. The store carries two brands of kibble, two of raw food, and a couple brands of premium cat food. The trim, carefully selected premium offerings are performing well, according to Albert. “I wasn’t expecting food to do as well as it has, but it has taken off.”

However, one of Albert’s most notable accomplishments lies not only with the product assortment itself, but in the way it is presented and merchandised. Winner of the 2015 Retailer Excellence Award for Merchandising, awarded at this year’s Global Pet Expo in Orlando, Fla., Ruff Life Pet Outfitters is well known among its customer base for its unique and artistic ambiance. Eschewing conventional means of displaying pet products, Albert applied his studied eye for design when building out and merchandising the store.

“Having a background in theater and having managed a retail store, I know it’s all about the experience the customer has when they walk into the store—those five seconds as they walk through the door and they are hit with a store that has style,” he says. “I used my design aesthetic to create a place that people will be impressed and excited by.”

The store itself is located in what used to be a 20th century barber shop/bath house, says Albert, and when he took occupancy over the space, it was pretty much a blank slate. The interior design is an enthusiastic nod to the local area’s industrial past. Using vintage pieces mined from online and regional salvage sellers, Albert has avoided using traditional display fixtures to showcase his wares. At Ruff Life, merchandise can be found in laundry baskets, a vintage book depository cart and wood crates; or it may be perched upon an orchard ladder or farm scale and hanging from carabiners and heavy-gauge chain.

 “I went to a sporting goods store and bought all of the carabiners I could find, in different sizes, and just started hanging merchandise: toys, backpacks, slings, whatever I could,” Albert recalls. “It became the single most remarked-upon and one of the most successful decisions I made.”

Ruff Life’s look continues to evolve. Albert’s latest creation is a display of Polaroids taken of the store’s canine customers. The photos are mounted on corkboard within an ad-hoc industrial steel photo frame.

“I have started taking pictures of everyone’s dog when they come in, and I put them up on the board,” he says. “When dogs come through the store, our hearts just melt.”

Yet while the captivating merchandising and design strategies keep evolving, the main objective remains steady—to give customers a singular retail experience, while supplying them with quality products and, equally as importantly, helpful information. “One of the other things I wanted to be was a resource for dog owners,” Albert says. “When you go to a big-box store and ask them questions, you’re not sure if they know what they are talking about. I wanted to be in a position to educate customers as part of the sales process—but not in a preachy way.”

For Albert, education can come in many forms, such as helping a customer understand how supplements might help his aging dog or explaining to a shopper the importance of buying the most appropriate toy for her dog’s play habits.

He adds, “It’s all about helping people help their dogs and care for their dogs in a way they can feel good about.”

Edit ModuleShow Tags

Archive »Related Content

The Benefits of Pets in the Classroom

The opportunity to interact and care for pets is an experience children will carry with them, and it may inspire them to get a pet later in life.

Dog Rocks Signs New Distributor

The company finalized a new partnership deal.

Coastal Pet Creates New Designs

The company expanded its collar line.
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