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Parenting children who know too much

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Photo: IntelFreePress(Flickr)

CyberParenting Topics on TheFish103.9FM Tuesdays.

In this “it is all about me” world of texting and social media, children can know way too much for their own good. More importantly, they are easily conditioned to keep the parent out of the equation when they are searching for answers and they risk becoming lost in the faulty-thinking of peer communities that frankly do not respect the individual.

“Group think”, (you have to think like me in order to belong mentality) dominates the discourse; it is peer pressure on steroids. Group think happens when we do not think for ourselves as liberated individuals; we leave God out of the equation, just like parents are left out of the equation.

Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: And with all thy getting get understanding. Proverbs 4:7

If children can “google” anything they want to know, what is a parent to do?

Chances are your child has been exposed to more than you realize. Whether it is in the form of images (sex and porn) that have not been put into proper context, or becoming engaged in risky activities, from consuming alcohol with friends after school, to engaging in conversation with a predator that started when he posed as a peer on-line, or living in an state of anxiety from harassment, children today are for certain more “worldly” than children of generations past.

Think about the content in the “Grant Theft Auto” video game, and you will come up with a pretty good check list.

I share these risks not to invoke fear, but rather to inspire a certain resolve for parents to assert genuine authority, God’s love, which empowers children to be discerning and liberated in this high pressured environment to lower standards for personal security.

Sometimes we need to “stand alone” from the crowd because we know just enough to be discerning about how individual liberty is compromised. This is where your home and a relationship with you offer sanctuary for your child.

What children need to appreciate is that learning and the wise acquisition and application of knowledge is a life long process. You can never “know it all” at any time for any circumstance.

Choose your counsel wisely.

Step 1: Acknowledge that children do know a lot of things and explain the value and source of wisdom.

First, be clear about your child’s relationship with God. It is the model for individual liberty of the American republic. God is sovereign and grants us free will. We give up limited power to government to protect this civil liberty.

  • A = God’s authority
  • a = free will of man
  • Aa = empowered liberty of the individual

(For more about this model of genuine authority in the parent-child relationship go to: The Authority In Me).

Encourage your child to pray about matters when he is feeling stressed or needs guidance. Offer to pray with him. Prayer empowers us to conquer worry and to receive enlightenment about what to do with new information, a problem or quandary because the ultimate source of Wisdom comes from our Creator.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; But fools despise wisdom and instruction. Proverbs 1:7

Next, reposition the parent in the equation in the search for answers and how to apply knowledge correctly. In this way, you can begin to train your child to choose counsel wisely.

My friend Peggy Harper Lee is a Rocklin mom and author of Spoiled: Fresh Ideas for Parenting the Entitled Child at Any Age. Recently we were chatting about parenting kids who know too much. She offered a great way to start a conversation with a 10-year-old child who “knows it all” – which can be adapted for any age.

Peggy Lee
Photo: Courtesy

Dialogue to explain your position as parent with authority about knowledge.

  • Child: You don’t know anything about this video game. Why can’t you just let me play with my friends? Everyone is doing it.
  • Parent: Son, let me ask you something. I need to know what you think about this.
  • Child: Okay.
  • Parent: Do you know more than you did in kindergarten?
  • Child: Yes. Who doesn’t? That is a silly question.
  • Parent: Okay. I know it seems like a silly question. But follow me, okay?
  • Child: Okay.
  • Parent: Do you think you will know more than you do now when you are 16 years old?
  • Child: Well….yeah.
  • Parent: Why is that? What will happen to give you more knowledge? What kinds of things will you know then, that you don’t know now.
  • Child: Well, I suppose there will be school work that I don’t know about today that I will be able to do then. Probably will learn more about girls. Oh! And I will know how to drive a car!
  • Parent: So how will you acquire this knowledge?
  • Child: What do you mean?
  • Parent: I mean, how do you get to know what is involved in driving a car? Or making friendships with girls, or accomplishing sophomore math and English?
  • Child: Hm…well I am not sure what you mean.
  • Parent: What I am getting at is that knowing about something isn’t the same thing as experiencing it, and using good judgment with the knowledge. This is called wisdom. It comes with experience.
  • Child: Hm…

So in the conversation above you have given your child something to think about. Let her think about it. Don’t command compliance. Rather allow her to embrace this concept that knowledge and wisdom are two different things that can affect her quality of life. Ultimately she has to choose the wise and correct course. More importantly, the idea here is to help your child come around to the correct logic that parents are sources of wisdom, and wisdom is not found via search engines or a peer community. Offer to compare notes with your child about various issues and topics because you have life experience and her best interest at heart.

We can never know it all in any circumstance. Photo: Horia Varlan (Flickr)

By the same token, as a parent, you also have an obligation to set up natural consequences in your home for your children to experience when they make unwise choices. So while you may not be saying “because I said so” as much as your parents, or your grand parents did, you can rule with firm boundaries that are authentic and allow your child to come to the natural conclusion for honoring the protective cover of your guidance. (For more on the topic of bonding around house rules, go to: The Authority In Me).

(Note: This concept of choosing counsel wisely is important for a productive work life as well. Kids who come into the workplace “knowing it all” do not make good employees or team players.)

Step 2: Explain how what you do with knowledge matters. What are the pitfalls?

Just because you know how to drive a car doesn’t mean that you have all you need to know about driving safely. This is why when you are training for driving, you must learn about the traffic laws and also, the importance of being courteous to others. It is for the safety of everyone involved. The traffic laws and driver training includes knowledge that comes from wisdom of life experience to save lives.

So you can ask a question such as, “What would happen if people didn’t understand that red means stop and green means go when they are driving a car?”

And so it is with the Internet.

It is possible for your child to know too much, and yet it is not enough because he lacks wisdom about how to use that knowledge, or to understand whether that knowledge will be helpful or hurtful to use.

Eunice Kim, a high school senior in New Castle, California, witnesses that texting makes it easy for kids to sell and purchase drugs (prescription pills).

An example is “googling” medical information to decide treatment. Some kids are self medicating to treat anxiety with Xanax or other medications such as Adderall or Ritalin to help them focus for tests, etc. It is easy to purchase on any school campus. This is an example where a child has just enough knowledge to do harm without the guidance of a doctor.

Another example is that curiosity about sex and sexuality can lead to exposure to pornographic images which can become addictive.

So knowing how to use a tool, a product or a connection and using it wisely are two different things.

3. Authenticate what you think you know before you act on it

Another benefit of conditioning your child to seek you out for wise counsel is that you can train her to authenticate information and knowledge. This is a life skill. Children need to authenticate what they think they know by sourcing and identifying context of the facts and “how to’s” they are presented, so she can think for herself, and not be one of the crowd going along to get along.

Discernment helps your child to exercise free will in a responsible way.

Most kids don’t want to be duped. If you help them understand how to avoid being tricked or manipulated into believing something that isn’t true, well, this is empowerment.

They will be drawn to you to learn more about it.

So authentication involves asking questions:

  • What is the source?
  • What is the context of a statement or finding?
  • What are the other points of view?

If a fact is presented do not assume it is true. Facts are not necessarily truth.

Fact: A sugar cereal is fortified with essential vitamins and tastes good.

Truth: This does not mean the cereal is nutritious or should be considered a part of a daily diet.  Who is making these nutritional claims? Look at all the ingredients and understand how they also influence your health (sugar and hydrogenated oils, etc.). Other things taste good that are nutritious, such as fruit.

Fact: Getting into a good college is a huge influence for your future and career.

Truth: You are not a statistic.  The career choices are not only connected to a degree from a certain college. What matters most is your own sense of purpose, discipline, and commitment to apply yourself to pursue your personal goals. Also ask if this school is actually preparing students for the changing job market? Inquire about the employment rates of graduates. (Check out What Color Is Your Parachute? 2013: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers and Setting realistic college and career goals).

Final cautionary note

Be careful of a desire to override your child’s decisions as they grow and mature. Your genuine authority is limited to protective cover – it is a safety thing. That is why it is wise for parents to pray about how to advise our children.

For more about genuine authority and how to establish authentic boundaries concerning free will and God’s love between a parent and child, go to The Authority In Me, Chapters 7, 8 and 9.

Joanna Jullien is an author and speaker on strengthening the parent-child relationship in a cyber powered world. She is the author of The Authority In Me: The Power of Family Life in the Network Culture, produces The Sacramento Cyber Safety Examiner column on, a contributor for Three Moms and a Mike, and is the CyberParenting advisor on The Fish 103.9FM, Tuesdays.

Joanna Jullien
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About Joanna Jullien

Joanna Jullien

Joanna ( and her husband have raised two sons in Roseville, CA. She has a degree from U.C. Berkeley in Social Anthropology (corporate culture). Her honors thesis was awarded the Kroeber Prize and funding from National Science Foundation grant. Joanna writes to help parents with the modern-day leadership challenges of raising children. She is a contributing writer for The Granite Bay View, the Press Tribune, the Sacramento Examiner, and editor of Banana Moments.


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October 22, 2018

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We had No Idea what We were Getting Into

50yearsWhen Rich and I married fifty years ago we were young—he actually needed parental consent to get a marriage license! We were in love but had no idea how that love would be disappointed and tested. We didn’t know where married life would lead, the severity of life’s storms, or the crippling pain of loss. Guess our mindset was simple—we’ll live happily ever after.

Reaching a landmark anniversary brings reflection, such as, what was the key to getting here? Was it…

  • Learning to forgive?
  • Putting the other first?
  • Not majoring on minors?
  • Encouraging personal endeavors?
  • Grit and determination?
  • Not compromising our commitment?

All of those factored in, and we were fairly conscientious about them, but I don’t think any of them provide the answer.

Our marriage didn’t succeed because we put the other first, but because we each put God first. Our commitment to Him protected our commitment to each other. Looking to God to fulfill our hopes and dreams, rather than to each other, was critical.

I remember Rich’s surprise early in our marriage when I told him I didn’t expect him to make me happy. I had discovered a secret—all my joy, fulfillment, and satisfaction would come from God, not my husband. No spouse can satisfy the longing of our hearts and, looking back, I think that realization was a key factor to our success.

Marriage is not about reaching a milestone anniversary—50 years or 20 or 65. It’s about trusting God to help you keep a promise:

Till death do us part.

My reflections on fifty years of marriage?

“All that we have accomplished you have done for us.” (Isaiah 26:12)

6 Comments (+add yours?)

  1. Susan Bucci
    Aug 31, 2018 @ 17:27:19

    Thank you, Barbara.
    So deep & so clear!
    Marriage is about trusting God to help you keep a promise….
    Till death do us part.

    You have such a way with words💕

  2. memoryspark
    Sep 01, 2018 @ 04:41:10

    This is a very good reminder. Being in the first few years of our marriage, my husband and I are still growing and needing reminders like this.

  3. Linda B
    Sep 30, 2018 @ 13:53:00

    Well said Barbara. I’m just catching up on your blog posts!

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Doug Barber discusses the clicks to bricks trend:

18th December 2014

With an increasing amount of consumers choosing to shop online rather than in-store, it could be assumed that the future of the high street is looking bleak – however, as previously mentioned on this blog – a selection of online retailers are now choosing to take their brands offline – moving from ‘clicks to bricks’ by opening their first brick and mortar stores, to inject some much needed vitality back into the heart of high street.

Simply Be and Jacamo on Oxford Street

This year Barber Design was proud to be a part of this trend, with the design and implementation of Simply Be and Jacamo’s first flagship store on Oxford Street; bringing their online plus sized clothing range to one of London’s busiest high streets. As part of the strategy Key elements were brought into the retail environment to emulate the online experience. The store concept is also being rolled out to other strategic locations across the UK.

In an interview earlier this year, Angela Spindler, the chief executive of the NBrown group who own the Simply Be and Jacamo brands stated the intent behind the planned store openings:

“The reason for us opening stores is not because we want to maximise retail sales, it is because we want to maximise online sales.”

Simply Be and Jacamo are not alone in seeing the benefits of moving to brick and mortar stores, Nasty Gal, the incredibly successful American online fashion retailer opened their first store in Los Angeles this year. A 3,500 square foot retail space featuring a selection of apparel, intimates, accessories, tech and gifts, alongside vintage pieces, a magazine library, a live cactus garden and a shoe salon. The founder and chief executive described the move:

“We are engineering sharable moments, both visual and experiential, into our stores. We are creating real-life social media by engaging the community we have built purely online. Where that goes is truly limitless.”

Many retailers are following suit and offering more than just retail in store; striving to make the most of their physical stores. An on going trend for the ‘experiential in retail’ is helping build brand recognition and engage with consumers within the whole shopping experience which online shopping inherently lacks.

Urban Outfitters’ Space Ninety 8 concept in Brooklyn, New York, brought together it’s tried and tested retail model alongside a market place for local designers merchandise, a restaurant, bar, gallery, and rooftop garden. Creating a space for people to not only shop but also stay and enjoy the entire brand experience.

Larger retailers are not the only ones to develop such local services in store, Rapha a previously online company developed their stores, called Rapha Cycle Clubs, to be inspiring meeting places for local cycle enthusiasts first and a retail store second; successfully positioning their brand as a hub for the sport within the community. The addition of an instore café providing quality food and beverages as well as live streaming of racing provides a shopping experience that isn’t possible online.

Increased physical presence on the high street can directly impact online sales too, John Lewis saw investment in their physical stores lead to a 30 percent rise in local online sales. This same investment can also help smaller companies and start-ups gain presence online through having pop-up stores in key locations. It can be very difficult to get noticed online and reach the right consumers, but having a pop-up store – even for a short time – will give shoppers tangible brand interaction which may result in them sharing their experience of going there by tweeting or sharing an image online, leading to an increased online presence.

Although there is an increasing amount of people choosing to shop online, some 95% of all retail sales are captured by retailers with bricks and mortar presence. With experiential shaping the future of retail design, online retailers have much to gain from taking their brands offline and connecting with consumers in a way that their online offerings simply can’t achieve. This opens up exiting opportunities for retail designers as now any online brand serious about maximizing their brand values is coming to the high street with some fresh thinking and is dedicating space to ‘the customer experience’. Traditional retailers are following suit and allowing space for customers to play, relax and interact with their brand. Rather than the demise of the high street we are looking at the birth of ‘true retail innovation’ across multi channel platforms.

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Tuesday, March 6, 2018

Celebrate National Dress Day with Shopping Our Stash!!!

Today March 6, 2018 is National Dress Day check it out!! Mimi dreams up great ones!!  So in honour of National Dress Day we are having a Dress challenge at Shopping Our Stash so what do you have to do you ask? create a project with a dress on it or inspired by one (please add picture to you post).  On Scrap & Stamp with Frenchie she gave the directions to make a "stand alone fold" it fits in an A2 envelope, so of course I just had to make one.

Here is how it stands alone.
First I dug out a Stampin'up stamp set, a beautiful you, I bought it a year ago at last year's Sale-a-bration (so I could get another stamp set free that I've never used) now that's digging in my stash. the patterned paper is from a pack (I bought two one in pretty colours one in neutrals) over a year ago at $$rama.  I paper pieced the dress and hat.

Paper piecing was quite the adventure, the patterned paper is very light weight and while fussy cutting I not only cut a sleeve off once I did it twice, I thought you learn from your mistakes?

The sentiment is on the back center panel.

See how it closes to fit in an A2 envelope

I would like to support these challenges.
Seize the Birthday ~~ no toppings

Thanks for stopping by and checking out what I've been making, don't forget to head over to the Main Blog and see what the rest of the design team have made.

lauren bergold said...

beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeautiful image and that fancy fold accents it to perfection! (ps: i did a lot of coloring for my EO cards tomorrow and honestly it just makes me EVEN more impressed/enviou of your SKILLZ!) ♥

Chris Dring said...

Gorgeous card! Love that stamp, AND you fussy cut and have it on a fancy fold card! Beautiful!

Robyn Oliver said...

Fabulous card Barbara, super image and cool folding, love the colour too

KT Fit Kitty said...

Wow, Barb, such a cool card style! I will have to check out the tutorial on your friend's blog - thank you for the link! Your paper-piecing looks fabulous!

Lindsey said...

I haven't seen that stamp used before, and WHOA, your use of it is gorgeous!!!! And let me just commiserate - fussy cutting, ugh, those sleeves do look tricky. But so worth it for this amazeballs card!

Tracy said...

This is such a fun card type.
Beautiful card and love the lady image.
I did have a wee chuckle at you cutting the sleeve off.....twice.

Mimi said...

Barbara, you are so inspiring-- you always try new things and end up with the coolest cards! This is wonderful. Your lady is totally elegant, and way to go on paper-piecing her dress! Whenever I paper-piece a dress I feel like I am playing with paper dolls and I love it!!! Great project.

Barbara said...

I didn't know that there was a national dress day! But this card sure is a great example of how to do it right. Love that you shared this with us at Seize the Birthday. Hope to see you again.
Design team member, Barbara


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Barron Games International is a family-owned business growing in Buffalo, New York. Everything we do hinges on our commitment to our true mission: Customizing Family Fun. In just ten short years, we have managed to earn a stellar reputation among other amusement industry giants and we strive to grow our brand even more in years to come.

We pride ourselves in providing high-quality, entertaining, and profitable arcade equipment in addition to offering extensive technical support and parts service. From conceptual design and manufacturing to branding and distribution, Barron Games is here to help.

We specialize in sports games (like foosball and hockey tables), but we also offer a line of skill redemption games, kiddie rides, video redemption games, and other amusement products for all ages!

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We’ve created tables for international banks, internet startups, professional athletes and sports teams, even man-cave-style rec rooms for hours of fun at home. It’s all fun and games when it’s all fun and games!

For samples of some of our recent custom projects, browse our gallery of customized tables or more information about ordering one of your own, contact our Sales Team.


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You can't impress developers (but sometimes you can)

Last week, after a long Halloween day, I scrolled through my Reddit subscriptions and read a familiar headline: You can't impress developers. So don't try. My post from 5 years ago hit the front page of HN and was cross-posted to /r/programming.

I didn't read all the comments or respond, but I understand why many people disagreed. The title was purposefully a bit click-baitish, but I still agree with my core viewpoint: Don't focus on impressing other developers. Focus on your users.

At the time, I was at the tail end of an extended tenure as a manager. I was obsessed with the end product. After a hiatus, I'm a back to working as full-time JavaScript programmer. While JavaScript has its idiosyncrasies and plenty of room for abuse, I find modern JavaScript to be fairly pragmatic. My team, in particular, is results focused. What impresses other developers is quickly adding features which will directly impact our product and users.

We have a hackathon this week, where we will all have the chance to impress each other, and I'm certain we will. The trickest code won't win, but the trickest feature might.

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Erste’s successful takeover of Banca Comerciala Romana

Romania's Competition Council approved Erste Bank AG's takeover of Banca Comerciala Romana SA, the country's biggest lender, pending final ratification of the transaction by parliament. Erste Bank, Austria's second-biggest lender, in December agreed to pay € 3.75 billion ($4.82 billion) for 61.9% of the Romanian lender that's also known as BCR, beating a rival bid from Banco Comercial Portugues SA. That stake includes the 25% plus one share held jointly in the lender by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corp. „The majority stake was sold to the investor that offered the highest price.” Romanian Finance Minister Sebastian Vladescu said last month that the government and Erste Bank agreed upon a Sept. 21 deadline to complete the sale of BCR. The council yesterday also approved a July 26 decision by the government to limit damages deriving from would-be claims on BCR linked to the 1999-takeover of Romania's bankrupt bank Bancorex SA. Authorities determined at the time that Bancorex had accumulated losses totaling $2 billion from bad or preferential loans. Vladescu said last month that the government adopted a decision limiting would-damage payments to no more than half of the € 3.75 billion Erste agreed to pay for BCR. Any claims should be filed no later than Dec. 31, 2013, according to the decision. (Bloomberg)


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Canadian Dollar Continues to Increase in Value, Effect on Mortgages

Jeff Evans

The Canadian dollar continued to go up in value, reaching 98 cents US yesterday for the first time since May. This is usually what happens when the Bank of Canada raises interest rates, as they have twice recently and are expected to possibly do again in their next rate update.

The underlying difference at this point, which is the Bank of Canada rate, could actually be a fourth factor responsible for the slowdown in the real estate markets, along with tighter mortgage lending rules, the introduction of the HST in BC and Ontario, and the traditionally slower summer real estate season. With higher variable rates and the real possibility of even higher variable rates in the next year, it is a sobering thought for many prospective homebuyers, especially in Vancouver where real estate fetches such a high premium.

The higher rates will also result in slowing down the economy, which will cause people not to have as much money and subsequently be more careful about borrowing for a home purchase.

It is usually a good time to think about buying in times like these, as the economy is slower and rates are low. When the economy picks up again and people have more money, it is going to be that much difficult and more expensive to get a home in areas like Vancouver with so many people occupying such a small area.

Are you ready to take advantage of the low interest rates and the soft housing market and get into the housing market? Fill out the form below and we will get started!

Author: Jeff Evans

I am a mortgage broker, hair salon owner, squash player, student, and husband, aspiring to do good for people.

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Good news regarding OSFI rule changes
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This is just a quick note to let viewers know that IF you are one of the people with 20% or more down-payment and are in a position that the new OSFI rule changes affect your pre-qualification, that I can extend the current guidelines into the new year by up to 120 days provided that I have an application and am able to get a pre-approval in place with a lender for you before January 1.Read More
OSFI B20 mortgage guideline changes 2017 – Part 2
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This is a continuation of the article published here about the OSFI B20 morgage guidline changes for 2017. If you are familiar with mortgage brokers at all (which you probably aren't) you would know that we also have alternative sources of lending for situations where a mortgage borrower will not qualify with a prime institution.  We have what we call "B" lenders, who have higher rates but more flexible lending criteria, and we have private lenders, which are individuals and corporations who can lend money on on anything that suits them.Read More
OSFI B20 mortgage guideline changes 2017 – Part 1
Jeff Evans
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B20?  Is that some kind of vitamin?

It certainly sounds like a vitamin, but unfortunately, it is something else altogether.  The Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions is the regulator for all federal mortgage lending institutions.  They set the regulations for mortgage companies like banks to follow (or ignore). The latest updates to the B20 mortgage regulations could bring some potentially very disrupting changes to the real estate market, especially if you are wanting to get a mortgage in Vancouver, or you are a mortgage broker in Vancouver. In summary:Read More


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Why must I fill in a proper description for a song ?

7 years ago

Many new users coming here on the site are often irritated when they see their first songs rejected because of an empty or incomplete description.

I will try to enlighten you to our ways.

1/ The description is a written description of your song. It helps listeners visualize what your intentions are. If you have lyrics in the song, put them there.
2/ The description can help listeners understand some of the choices you made
3/ You don't talk about FightClub
4/ The description is a great way for you to put keywords on your song ! The Electrobel Search Engine uses those ! Also google and other search engines will be able to show your page when people search for those keywords.

So where do people see my description ?

1/ On the song's page
2/ In the Electrobel player
3/ On Facebook when your song is validated (And if you allowed Ebel to post your songs on your wall)
4/ On Facebook when people used the SHARE link, or just copy/pasted your song
5/ On the Electrobel embedded flash player for myspace or other html site
6/ On Google or other search Engine's results page.

As you can see filling your description is really in your best interest.
But all arguments aside, filling in a good description is a way of showing your involvement in the song you made. That it wasn't some auto-generated piece of garbage, but something you put your soul and thoughts into .


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//Pet Health Insurance

Pet Health Insurance

Pet Health Insurance 2017-01-23T00:52:07+00:00

Health insurance is just as important for your pet as it is for you and your family! Pet health insurance will help cover the veterinary medical costs for your pet if an accident or unexpected illnesses occurs after the initial date of enrollment. It is beneficial to choose a policy early in your pet’s life. Plans also do not cover pre-existing conditions. You will be prepared for the unexpected with pet insurance, and rest assured that your dog or cat will always receive optimal treatment in the unfortunate case of an accident or emergency.

How Does Pet Health Insurance Work?

After treatment, the insurance company will require that you submit your paid invoice along with an insurance claim form to be reimbursed at the rate determined by the insurance company. There is no extra change for being referred to a specialist or visiting an emergency clinic, and some companies will also provide discounts for supplements and therapeutic diets.

We encourage you to explore your options and decide if pet insurance is right for you and your pet. For more information or to get started with enrolling your pet in a health insurance plan, please contact us to speak with one of our staff members.


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Tested. Trusted. Tough. For those looking for a versatile, long-lasting skin protection salve that has seen more peaks, valleys, and continents than most humans will see in a lifetime, they've found it in the Dermatone Tins. Used for more than 30 years to help prevent frostbite, sunburn, windburn, and chapping, the Dermatone Tins are conveniently packaged in a durable, re-sealable container
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GUEST POST from Ashley Love

Tips for how to get media attention as a solopreneur from guest blogger Ashley Love for

Raise your hand if as a solopreneur you’ve been envious of the media coverage that people like Marie Forelo and Gary Vaynerchuk. I won’t lie. I was completely envious of all of their media attention. It completely validates your business when places like Forbes and Entrepreneur want to feature you and your business. So how does the average solopreneur earn a spot in a coveted publication?

Today I’m breaking down the steps you need to take if you want to see your face in those types of publications.

Step 1: Do Your Research

When I was a journalist, I saw a huge problem in how much research people did before pitching. Do your homework!Determine which publications would be best suited for your brand. (This needs to be mutually beneficial, but more about that later).

Once you have a list, ask yourself these questions for each publication: What topics do they routinely feature? What types of people do they feature? Which journalists write about your niche? Do they have a regular section or column?

Step 2: Make the Pitch

When pitching a journalist, make sure to include your credentials. I grew up in a doctor’s office (family business), but I’m certainly not qualified to write about medical and health topics. Share your experience so the journalist knows you’re an expert in your field. Maybe you have a ton of education? Maybe you’ve won awards? Maybe you achieve stellar results? Whatever makes you an expert in your field, share it.

Also, reference previous articles the journalist has written in your pitch to show you’ve done your homework. Trust me, they’ll love seeing that you took the time to read their work.

Email is the best way to reach journalists. Voicemails get lost and, frankly, they don’t have time to listen to them and get back to you. Also, don’t discount social media. Make connections with journalists on Twitter or other social media and build a rapport with them. This will eventually come in handy, I promise.

Don’t be discouraged if you don’t make headlines your first go-around. Even if a journalist chooses not to write what you pitch, they’ll save your contact information if they need a source for a future story.

Step 3: Be Accessible

Don’t send an email to a journalist and then disappear. If you’re going on vacation, don’t pitch a journalist the day before. Wait until you get back from your trip to make the pitch. Always be sure to include a phone number, email address, and social media channels in your email. If a journalist can’t get ahold of you via your email, they have other means to contact you. This also allows a journalist to check out your social media and website to validate your expert status.

Step 4: Update Your Website

Journalists are constantly on tight deadlines, so you want to make working with you easy. Have a media section of your website where they can easily find and download your headshot, logo (both color and black and white), product images, and any other relevant images or information to help with their story.

Step 5: Use the Community Calendar

Instead of sending a press release to a journalist who gets 1,000 a day and doesn’t read most or any of them, submit your event-related content to the publication’s free community calendar. When there’s a hole in their publication, journalists look to the community calendar to find anything exciting enough to warrant a story. Also, most papers regularly publish their community calendars online and in print. If you plan far enough ahead, your event could be in the paper for weeks.

Also, invite relevant journalists to your events. Sitting at a desk and writing on a deadline is stressful. They love getting out of the office and seeing things in action. Give them a chance to ditch their desk and come enjoy some quality time at your event. Bonus if you have free food available.

Step 6: Create Connections

This one is important. Remember, I said to reach out to journalists via Twitter and not just send a boring press release. If you make connections with journalists, you can offer them exclusives about your business. Just be careful about offering too many exclusives; other journalists you may have a relationship with may feel left out and become less willing to print your news. Be cautious but if done right, you can expect amazing results.

Step 7: Be real

Don’t use buzzwords or jargon just because you think they sound cool. Most journalists for local publications are told to keep their writing on a sixth-grade reading level so it’s accessible. Using industry words no one else understands won’t help your case. Save those pieces for industry-specific publications. Keep your pieces human and authentic. Be unique, but don’t oversell your services or event. If you exaggerate your business, you’ll become the boy who cried wolf and no one wants that.

We all want to be featured in big-time publications, but don’t be afraid to start locally. The more articles about you, the better. The more backlinks pointing to your website, the easier it is for a journalist to justify featuring you to an editor.

Ashley Love is an international award-winning brand strategist and business mentor. She holds a B.A. in English, a B.S. in Political Science, an M.A. in Multimedia Journalism and an M.A. in Public Relations. She’s worked with major nonprofits, politicians, startups, and solopreneurs. She’s a former editor of the lifestyle section of a local newspaper. Now she focuses her attention on helping female entrepreneurs embrace their passions and create a laptop lifestyle. You can find her regularly hanging out in her Facebook group, The Classy CEO.

Think Like a CEO

Tired of checking things off your to-do list, yet feeling totally stalled? Use this checklist to craft meaningful goals that actually move your business forward.


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It was great to have the opportunity to witness the launch of your book. I enjoyed every moment of it.

I wanted to tell you how lovely the book launch was. You did a marvellous job. I really enjoyed everyone who spoke and was deeply touched by both you and your brother. There was much ‘authenticity’ in how everyone spoke.

Fantastic event yesterday, Jill.

Thank you so much for a really touching afternoon. When you read your chapter I realized how my perception of life is exactly like yours was: life is a struggle. It was the same “aha” moment for me. I will try to dance with life and let life dance me! Thank you for that. I am looking forward to more new insights with each chapter.

Jill, what a wonderful, heart-filled book launch, and what a lovely book. I came home last night intending to go to an old friend’s 60th birthday party and ended up sinking into your book instead. I’m reading it slowly, but am already a third of the way through and shall be savouring it  over the next days and weeks. Just wanted to let you know how much I’m enjoying it. The candour and humour are truly engaging, the rhythm lively, and the stories make me want more! Congratulations again!

TO ORDER BECOMING: contact me directly or go to to order on line with PayPal.

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Be the change you wish to see in the world” is a saying often attributed to Mahatma Ghandi. As I looked for the quote itself in order to include a link, I came across a New York Times article called, “Falser Words Were Never Spoken“!

Upshot is that the closest thing Ghandi appears to have said is this:  “If we could change ourselves, the tendencies in the world would also change. As a man changes his own nature, so does the attitude of the world change towards him. … We need not wait to see what others do.”

Certainly different from Be the Change…  yet not entirely unrelated.  Both formulations speak to our attitudes and actions as we consider our role in the world, and perhaps also as we seek to make the world a kinder, saner, more equitable place.  While personal and social transformation do go hand and hand, there is no suggestion that personal transformation alone is sufficient.  It takes many, working together, often over long periods of time to effect real change.

Yet it’s undeniable that when we change ourselves, the “field” changes.  Our actions matter absolutely.  And this is where my thoughts and hopes and fears find themselves today, this day before the US presidential election, on which, in my opinion, so much is riding.

We cannot control the outcome of the election, no matter how much we care, how much soul searching we bring to bear.  We can vote, help get out the vote, talk to people, but ultimately we are not in charge.  Still, what we have within us, what we care about, what we do, who we are, affects  (in no small measure, I might add), that which is outside of us; it does matter to the course and tendencies in the world — regardless of any particular outcome, even an election.  I find that scary yet, nonetheless encouraging and motivating.

The article also addresses a piece that Henry David Thoreau offers about where we put our attention, the choices we make.  Thoreau says that,  “if one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams, and endeavors to live the life which he has imagined, he will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.”

Again, we may not know the outcome of our particular actions, but if we are working to change ourselves in ways that move toward our dreams, and what we care about, there will be successes, movement, transformation.

Jill Schroder is the author of BECOMING: Journeying Toward Authenticity.  BECOMING is an invitation for self-reflection, and to mine our memorable moments for insights, meaning, andgrowth.  Check the website for a sample chapter, or see the reviews to get a flavor for the volume.  Follow me on Twitter, let’s be friends on Facebook :-)

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[reddit] Saved: N64 Turok: Dinosaur Hunter source code discovered!

January 14, 2017

[reddit] Saved: ALPHA experiment observes the light spectrum of antimatter for the first time [x-post /r/CERN]

December 20, 2016

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[reddit] Saved: Spoofing the Address Bar with the Malware Warning. Loading Edge Internal Assets without restrictions – Broken Browser.

December 7, 2016

[reddit] Saved: Canada mapped by trails, roads, streets and highways (x-post r/dataisbeautiful)

September 22, 2016

[reddit] Saved: I built a circuit that calculates pi with a physical incarnation of the Monte Carlo Method, and raindrops!

August 23, 2016

[reddit] Saved: Writing an OS: Baby Steps

June 13, 2016


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Continuing Education in Dog Training

Current Spay and Neuter Research: New Insights Regarding Behavior and Health Presented by Dr. Nancy Kay
Puppy Socialization by Sarah Whitehead
April 2017 - "Bond Based Choice Based Teaching" 3 Day Seminar At Canine Assistants, Atlanta GA.
"The Power of Choice Presented by Irith Bloom" - September 2017
PPG Annual Summit in Orlando, Florida – November 2017 – 4 days of intensive seminars on canine behavior

Can Psychological Trauma and PTSD in Dogs Really Affect Behavior? presented by Dr. Franklin McMillan
PPG Annual Summit in Tampa, Florida - 4 days of intensive seminars on canine behavior

PPG Force Free Summit – November 2015 - in Tampa, FL. 3 days of intensive educational seminars
October: Aggression Cases – Pam Dennison Webinar
How to work with Deaf and/or Visually impaired dogs – Dr Morag Heirs

• “The Seductiveness of Shock” - Kathy Sdao
• “Out of What Box” – Jean Donaldson
• Annual Conference of the Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS).
• “Over Threshold: The Changing Definition” - Eileen Anderson
• “Separation Anxiety” - Malena DeMartini Price

• Annual Conference of the Society for the Promotion of Applied Research in Canine Science (SPARCS).
• Pet Tech Pet CPR & First Aid Training Program
• Thyroid Disease – Dr Jean Dodds
• “The Genius of Dogs” - Dr Brian Hare

• Cara Shannon webinar: Building & Maintaining Veterinarian Relationships
• University of North Texas – Dept. of Behavior Analysis 1 day seminar
• Karen & Bob Deeds: “From Unknown to Understood: A Dog’s Journey to the Real World” 2 day seminar
• Sherrie Yushchak webinar: Integrating Services with a Veterinarian
• “Boom, Puppies & Noise” - Helen Nicholls
• “Six Rules for Loose Leash Walking” - Bina Lunzer
• “Dog Park Etiquette & Safety” - Carol Byrnes
• “A Recipe for Behavior Modification” - Angelica Steinker
• “The Pitfalls of Negative Reinforcement” - Jean Donaldson

• University of North Texas – Dept. of Behavior Analysis 1 day seminar
• Reactive Dog webinar - Cara Shannon

• United Animal Nations Emergency Animal Rescue Service Volunteer Training Workshop – Dallas, Texas.
• Association of Pet Dog Trainers Annual Conference – Atlanta Georgia
• Dr. Alexandra Horowitz – “The Umwelt of the Domestic Dog: Imagining the Dog’s Point of View”
• Victoria Stilwell: “The Wow & How Factor”
• Dr. Patricia McConnell: “Are You Thinking What I’m Thinking? An Introduction to the Central Questions in
Cognition and emotion in Dog Behavior”
• Dr. Clive D I Wynne: “The Origins of the Scientific Study of Puppy Love”
• Monique A R Udell: “New Discoveries About Dogs’ Understanding of Humans”
• Dr. Myrna Milani: “When Human-Canine Realities Collide”
• Suzanne Clothier: “Puppy & Other Tests”
• John Rogerson: “Turning the Tide”
• Dr. Rise VanFleet: “Canine-Assisted Play Therapy: How Dog Trainers Can Help”
• Dr Rise VanFleet: “Overcoming Frustrations with Those Hapless Humans”
• Dr. Barbara Sherman: “Veterinary use of Behavioral Drugs: A Review of Such Studies”
• Kristen Collins: “Damaged Goods: Working with Puppy Mill Dogs”
• Suzanne Clothier: “Treat/Retreat: Using Autonomy & Safety to Create Confidence & Skill for the Shy/Fearful
• Jean Owen: “But he Can do it at Home…No Really He Can!”
• Pia Silvani: “Feisty Fidos: Reintegrating Them into The Canine Community”
• Telecourse BAT – Behavior Adjustment Training – by Grisha Stewart. March 2010
• Case for Dog Bite Hierarchies – Cara Shannon – June 2010
• Barking & Mobbing - Ray Coppinger – June 2010

• University of North Texas – Dept. of Behavior Analysis 1 day seminar
• Alexandra Kurland - “Going Micro: The Evolution of Equine Clicker Training”
• Kay Laurence – “Reinforcement Patterns, Reinforcement Styles and How They Affect the Outcomes”
• Steve Martin – “The Art of Training”
• Ken Ramirez – “Evolution of the Zoo Trainer: A Personal Perspective”
• Steve White – “Skinner and World Collide!”
• April 2009: Trish King, Sue Sternberg & Brenda Aloff 3 day seminar in Dallas, Texas.
• Brenda Aloff – “Learning is a Psychological Process” seminar April 2009
• Sue Sternberg – “Sociability” seminar April 2009

• “Kids & Dogs” webinar by Colleen Pelar, All About Dogs, January 2008
• Trish King – Abandonment Training Telecourse February 2008
• Steve White – “Transforming your Everyday Training” seminar April 2008
• Brenda Aloff – “Hind Brain Front Brain Paradigm” seminar April 2008

Ready to find out more?

Check out all of Kathrine's professional services!

Kathrine Breeden is the owner and operator of Be Kind to Dogs force free dog training business. She is a member of Truly Dog Friendly. Force free relationship and trust-based dog obedience training, in home dog training, dog training tips, dog training tools and is a professional dog trainer. Prepare for a new puppy, train your puppy, how to train your dog and prepare a resident dog prepare for a new baby. Some of the services she offers include, but aren’t limited to, In-Home Dog Training, Off-Site Dog Training, Pre-Puppy Preparation, Behavior Training, Phone behavior and training consultations, training freebies through her Facebook group, Open House lectures, “Ask the Trainer” lectures, force free training and much, much more. Kathrine is a force free trainer and behavior consultant that is a member of the No Shock Collar coalition. Her philosophy is that Force Free & Positive training results in a dog that follows an owner because it wants to, rather than following out of fear. Truly Dog Friendly, Arizona Pet Professionals, Best Friends Animal Society and is proactive in animal rights campaigns. Dog behavior training, how to train your dog or how to train your puppy in a gentle, positive reinforcement force-free way, or need dog training advice through a consultation, please contact a professional dog trainer, Kathrine Breeden, for dog training dog trainer in Ahwatukee, AZ, Chandler, AZ, Gilbert, AZ, Mesa, AZ, Tempe, AZ and surrounding Arizona areas. Dog Training, Dog Trainer, Dog Bites, Dog Peeing, Aggressive Dog, Dog Barking, Dog Videos, Dog Events, Dog Wedding, Dog Friend, Best Dog Trainer, Award Winning Dog Trainer, Dog Trainer in 85286, 85224, 85225, 85226, 85244, 85246, 85248, 85249, 85286, 85233, 85234, 85295, 85296, 85297, 85298, 85299, 85140, 85143, 85142, 85280, 85281, 85282, 85283, 85284, 85285, 85287, 85201, 85202, 85203, 85204, 85205, 85206, 85207, 85208, 85209, 85210, 85211, 85212, 85213, 85214, 85215, 85216, 85274, 85275, 85277, 85250, 85251, 85252, 85254, 85255, 85256, 85257, 85258, 85259, 85260, 85261, 85262, 85266, 85267, 85271, 85118, 85253


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The Cabinet Subcommittee on Investments (CSCI) visited Belize Natural Energy (BNE) along with the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service (BELTRAIDE) and the Belize Bureau of Standards (BBS) in exploring energy investment opportunities on May 6th, 2016. In attendance included the Chair of the Subcommittee, Hon. Tracy Taegar Panton, Minister of State in the Ministry of Economic Development, Petroleum, Investment, Trade and Commerce along with Hon. Manuel Heredia, Minister of Tourism and Civil Aviation and Hon. Vanessa Retreage, Attorney General at the Attorney General’s Ministry. The BNE team provided the delegation with a very insightful tour of the facilities including the components on oil and gas.

The Cabinet Subcommittee on Investments (CSCI) is a ministerial committee that was established in early 2013 to review large scale investment projects and conduct assessments ensuring meaningful investments while maximizing benefits to the people and Government of Belize. BELTRAIDE serves as the secretariat. For further details on investment opportunities in Belize, feel free to contact BelizeINVEST, a unit of BELTRAIDE at investment@belizeinvest.org.bz or +501-822-3737 / 0175.


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La Casa de Panel

General description

The world of energy is constantly and rapidly changing! Are you eager to take part in this transition? Does solar energy fascinate you? Do you want to become an expert in solar panels?

Then you must be really excited to have a chance to participate in our course! Especially since it takes place in France...

Do you want to discover the country of wine & love? Do you want to discover our amazing specialty, la Chartreuse and fall in love with? Do you want to see with your own eyes our traditional dance? Do you want to discover the beautiful Alps? Or you just genuinely want to learn more about solar panels?

If you answer yes for at least 3 of them, Grenoble is waiting for you!

So take your good mood, your energy, and don't be shy, just apply ;-)

Academic information

Fields of activity:
Electrical/Electromechanical Engineering , Electronic/Electrotechnical Engineering , Environmental Engineering , Materials Engineering , Power Engineering
Content and topics:
They will receive lectures, understand the process about how dimensioning a solar panel farm with a group project, and make a company visit.
Learning goals and objectives:
Participants will understand the importance of the ecological transition and improve their knowledges about how a solar panel works.
Examination type:
ECTS credits issued:
Not known yet

Information for applicants

Selection criteria:
Answers to the questions, motivation letter and interest in the topic.

Practical arrangements

All of the following are covered by the event fee:

Three meals per day, at least one hot per day.
Public transports and walking.


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Best Foot Cream for Cracked Heels

Have you spent a boat load of money on moisturizing products for your face, yet your dry cracked heels and feet are totally neglected?

During the cold months of winter, feet end up cracked and dry which seems to continue into the summer months.

This year, decide to do do something to make your feet look and feel better than ever!

In this article, we’ll provide an overview of some of the best foot cream brands on the market for your dry, cracked heels.

What ingredients are in foot creams?

Foot creams typically contain a combination of occlusives, that act as a barrier layer to prevent moisture from leaving your skin.

They also contain humectants which help your skin hold onto more water  and emollients which penetrate the skin and reduce water loss.

How do I prevent dry, cracked feet?

Prevention of drying and cracks is very important.

Using moisturizing treatments in the form of cream or lotions can aid in retaining moisture and thus stopping a problem before it occurs. These treatments can also aid in healing skin that is already cracked.

In mild cases of cracked heels, moisturizing them should fix the problem.

Consider the following steps to help with your dry feet:

1. WASH YOUR FEET DAILY. Wash your feet daily with soapy, warm water. However, you don't want soak them because it can deplete the natural oils on your skin which may lead to dryness. Dry your feet thoroughly particularly between the toes. The spaces between the toes are prone to fungal infections like athlete’s foot.

2. USE A QUALITY FOOT CREAM. Use a quality foot cream or lotion that contains quality elements such as humectrants, emollients, and occlusives.  Using a cream with these elements will help draw in water and then seal in moisture.

3. REMOVING HARD SKIN. If you notice hard skin and calluses on your soles, you can remove them by using foot file or pumice stone. Be careful not overdo it. You can scrape too much, causing irritation, possible cuts, and  soreness.

4. WEAR FOOT PROTECTION. Any communal place that is damp like locker rooms, swimming pools, and other related areas are a hotbed for fungal infections. Wearing foot protection is a must!

Our staff studied the top selling product on the market to determine the good from the bad.  We took into consideration the ingredients, price, and quality.

Here are a three in depth reviews of foot creams to relieve those dry, cracked heels.

O'Keefe's Healthy Feet Foot Cream  3.2 ounce jar

This easy-to-apply cream works quickly to repair dry, cracked heels.

O'Keefe's Healthy Feet Foot Cream

  • Highly concentrated
  • Delivers results in just a few days
  • Unscented
  • Hypoallergenic
  • Non-Greasy
  • Made in the USA using imported ingredients
  • Builds a layer of protection around the foot for immediate relief and lasting protection
  • One of the main ingredients is Allantoin, a moisturizer that prevents and treats dry, rough, scaly, itchy skin. Another active ingredient is a high concentration of glycerin, which absorbs and retains moisture and helps to soothe dry skin.

  1. Odorless
  2. Non-greasy
  3. Protective layer retains moisture
  4. Concentrated
  5. Good value in relation to price
  6. O’Keeffe’s has been in business for a long time and is known for quality products
  7. Clinically proven to be effective

  1. This cream is odorless and some might prefer a scented cream
  2. May produce a slight, temporary stinging sensation if the skin is cracked

Gold Bond Foot Cream Triple Action Relief Foot Cream

Pamper your feet with this rich,nourishing mask and foot repair cream!

Gold Bond Triple Action Relief Foot Cream image

  • Works quickly to hydrate all areas of the feet
  • Non-greasy
  • Absorbs quickly
  • Removes calluses and fixes cracked heels
  • Lightly scented
  • Contains seven moisturizers plus the nurturing power of vitamins A, C, and E
  • Cools & revitalizes, contains peppermint oil
  • 100% money-back guarantee
  • Contains aloe to control foot odor
  • Nourishes healthy tissue to speed up the repair of damaged skin
  • Also comes in a powder and spray
  • Main active moisturizing ingredients urea, glycerin

  1. Quality active ingredients
  2. Created for dry, rough and cracked heels
  3. Fast, lasting action
  4. Protects and repairs
  5. Improves circulation
  6. Effective against calluses and corns
  7. Controls foot odor

  1. Some find the product too thick and would prefer that it in come in jar instead of a tube.
  2. This cream has a light smell. Some may prefer a cream that is unscented.

Elizabeth Parker Foot Cream 4oz

A non-greasy foot cream? It is possible with the Elizabeth Parker Naturals Organic Foot Cream for Dry and Cracked Heels.

  • Safe, natural ingredients that not only nourishes but rejuvenates the skin on the feet
  • This cream can ease inflamed feet since it comes with anti-inflammatory agents which can decrease swelling and pain, and improve the circulation of the feet. It also comes with MSM which is a natural pain-relieving agent.
  • Contains no artificial ingredients, preservatives or additives plus it is cruelty-free
  • Produced in a leading edge facility in the USA which exceeds all GMP standards
  • The cream will never leave a tacky and greasy film on the skin because it does not contain any kind of mineral oil or petroleum jelly-based products.
  • This cream contains an abundance of essential oils and butters to nourish and detoxify the skin including manuka honey, organic aloe vera, coconut oil, cocoa butter, Shea butter and blue-green algae.
  • Packed with Vitamins A, C, and E so the skin will always feel healthy and revitalized. provides healing antioxidants and extra nourishment.

  1. Safe, all natural ingredients
  2. Minimizes and heals redness and itching
  3. Does not contain any irritants, additives, and fragrance
  4. PH balanced
  5. Packed with powerful anti-inflammatory ingredients, vitamins, and minerals

  1. A little more expensive compared to other products.
  2. The directions suggest to apply 3-4 times per day which may be too time consuming for some people.

Our Top Pick!

So out of the three recommendations, what’s our top pick? While all three creams are superb products, we think one stands above the rest as the best overall product—O'Keefe's Healthy Feet Foot Cream.

O'Keefe's soothing blend is teeming with emollients such as urea and allantoin and humectants like glycerin that draw water into the outer layer of skin. These ingredients also soften the substance (keratin) that holds the top layer of skin cells together, allowing dead skin cells to fall off.

Image Source: Photo by Alicia Zinn from Pexels

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VDAC - Vehicle Donation to Any Charity

America's Best Local Charities

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VDAC is a free, convenient service for converting that extra car, truck, or RV into a tax deductable donation benefiting America's Best Local Charities. You can donate online or call 877-999-8322 to make your donation.

Don't donate your car or truck to some charity you have never heard of. Our trusted service makes sure your vehicle is properly handled so you get your tax deduction and your charity, America's Best Local Charities, gets the benefit of your donation.

Start now by clicking on Get Started below. If you are not ready to donate, find out about donating your vehicle by browsing all the valuable information and links on www.v-dac.com.

Or call 1-877-999-8322
(Please note that when you click the link above, you will leave the ABLC web site.)


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Category Archives: What ever happened to?

What ever happened to?

The Mutton Birds

Formed in New Zealand in 1991 by Don McGlashan, Ross Burge and David Long, the band released 3 albums (along with a couple of live albums and a collection of “B-sides and Bastards”) before they disbanded in 2002. They released some great songs, including ‘Dominion Road’, ‘Your Window’, ‘Wellington’, ‘Along the Boundary’, ‘Pulled Along By Love’, Goodbye Drug’, and a pretty good cover of ‘Don’t Fear the Reaper’. Unfortunately, the band didn’t receive much notice or success outside New Zealand and Australia, despite a late-career move to the UK. Check them out; they deserve not to be forgotten.

More information can be found on these sites:


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Apple is likely about a month away from finally releasing the iPhone 8, a handset destined to become Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date. Despite the sky-high price point we’re all expecting, however, the iPhone 8 is likely to also become Apple’s fastest selling iPhone ever — that is, if Apple isn’t plagued by the supply shortages that have accompanied all of its big launches of late. Seriously, how crazy is it that it still takes four weeks to get a pair of AirPods? It’s been eight months since AirPods were released! But we digress…

The iPhone 8 will be Apple’s first completely redesigned iPhone in three years, and Apple fans are practically losing their minds from the anticipation. We all know what to expect for the most part thanks to all the leaks, and we’ve all seen iOS 11 since it’s been available as a beta since June. But what happens next year when iOS 12 rolls around and Apple cooks up a range of hot new features aimed specifically at the iPhone 8? One designer used his imagination to dream up new features and big changes in iOS 12, and the results are absolutely stunning.

Just yesterday we saw a graphic designer whip up iPhone 8 images that show what the phone will likely look like in real life. Adding the fit and finish of an actual Apple product to the iPhone 8 design we’ve seen time and time again resulted in a gorgeous device that we can’t wait to have in our hands. Now, another designer has taken things a step further to imagine what iOS 12 might be like next year.

A graphic designer who goes by the name Prince Studio on Behance recently published a series of iPhone 8 mockups. The phone itself looks fantastic, but in this case we’re more interested in what’s on the phone.

Prince Studio dreamt up an entirely new feature set that Apple might introduce with iOS 12. In the designer’s vision, the software gets a big visual overhaul to make use of the iPhone 8’s bezel-free design, and to accommodate an iPhone with no home button.

A virtual home button replaces the physical home button of old, and it’s flanked by context-aware shortcuts that give the user quick access to things like the camera, alarms, the app switcher, or even a back button. The notification system has been overhauled as well.

There’s also a new “quick switcher” concept proposed in the mockups, but we’re not sure Apple would ever do something like this.

The new Dark Mode, on the other hand, looks like something Apple definitely would do. And after seeing these concept images, we really hope it finally becomes a reality.

Below, you’ll find a quick video that shows the Dark Mode in action, and you can check out plenty more on Prince Studio’s Behance page.


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Open bi Repository Server

open bi: the flexible Business-Framework, open for every data source

The unique technology of the open bi server enables combining data from every possible data source. Therefore combining ERP data with Marketing data is no longer a challenge.

Your data always remains in the source system. The information will be pulled and aggregated in real time from the open bi server.

As a unified framework open bi is open vor every type of source system. It is also core of a variety of portal solution. You can create campaign pages dynamically but also connect to data sources using the Microsoft Office Add-on. The server translates your data into a universal structure - which makes different sources combinable in realtime.

Open bi does not replicate data. The data is translated into a universal language and sent to the frontend. Currently there are more than 50 data sources, like SAP BW, MySQL or Google available. More data sources are coming soon. Adding a new data source takes usually up to one business day. In general every data source can be connected to our system.

open bi – open for every data source!


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CLIMIT PhD Seminar 2016

The CLIMIT PhD Seminar 2016 is held at Scandic Ringsaker Hotel at Hamar (Norway), on October 20-21.

The Seminar will be an excellent meeting place for young researchers where you can learn more about CO2 capture and storage (CCS). The seminar is also a very good opportunity to get a broad overview of the latest achievements within CCS. As previous years, the seminar focuses on presentations from ongoing PhD projects within CCS. In addition, a field trip is included to study the local geology of the Brumunddal area, which among other features presents the best CO2 storage analogues in Norway. A draft programme and practical information is found below.

This year’s seminar is arranged jointly by the CLIMIT Programme and the SUCCESS research centre.

You can register for the seminar from this link. Please, note that the deadline for registration is September 15.


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Blog Archives

Forza/Filmspeed Contest

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If you liked last week’s video from Forza 5, enter to win one of the boards used in the video signed by Tanner Foust.

Did you catch the astonishing video of the Forza 5 Motorsport team’s real-life flick book last week? Well, we’ve got three pieces of the artwork featured in the video to giveaway – and they’re signed by the film’s star (and Top Gear USA presenter) Tanner Foust. Want one? Of course you do. Head to the link below to watch the video and enter… (Ts & Cs apply)

Forza 5 Flip Book

With the entire game world  focused on the release of Grand Theft Auto V this week and me holding out for a few other upcoming games, I was beginning to feel a bit left out. And then I saw the teaser yesterday for a new promotion for Forza 5. I was a bit confused as to why they were going to this extent to create an animation from stills from an animation. Don’t I feel silly now? Have a look at the incredibly beautiful results released today. I can’t wait for the new game.

From the Top Gear website:

“This project was ambitious but… not so rubbish,” says Tanner Foust, TG USA host, racer extraordinaire, and driver of the world’s fastest camera car – the modified McLaren MP4-12C that created this astonishing flick book.

The film was created by placing 680 aluminium boards printed with grabs from real Forza 5 gameplay, placed exactly six inches apart, on the side of Barber Motorsports Park in Birmingham, Alabama. Tanner was then told to drive past them at fiendishly precise speeds with a £93,330 camera on the back, creating this ambitious, stunning petrol-powered flick book.

Director, Jeff Zwart, says, “In creating this I felt like I’d turned the camera inside out. But there was a lot of science in working out how we’d get it to work. Different sections of the track required different speeds – 80mph, 100mph, and 120mph – but it wasn’t as simple as just hitting the speeds. You had to get there and stay there,”

Tanner adds, “All the science behind it was very exact. Exact frame rate, measuring the exact distance between the boards, and hitting exact speeds. The McLaren was ideal. It’s classy in the way it makes ridiculous speed, and the suspension’s really smooth.

“If we’d used a Porsche, the visibility would have been too bad for me to see what was going on with the boards, if we’d used a Lambo the brutal shifting would have snapped the camera off. This is a scientific car, and I needed to apply a lot of difficult science to make the film, so it was perfect.”

As Tanner says, “this was the sort of cocktail napkin idea that never comes to pass because it’s incredibly involved. And it would’ve been very easy to do it in CGI, but we did 100 per cent for real and it’s very, very cool.”

To learn more and see how the film was made, please visit the Forza 5 site.

The Vision Behind Filmspeed

The Car Behind Filmspeed

The Math Behind FilmSpeed

The Calm Before the Storm

Bordelands 1000OK, its true. I have been a bit obsessed with Borderlands and Borderlands 2 and although they are fantastic games, I must admit that one cannot survive on badassitude alone. Mind you I am not stopping until my current character, the Mechromancer, is at least level 50. I have already played the Siren and Commando to levels 40 and 35. But I need something else. So why not play Grid 2? I have made it through four seasons and the game difficulty level certainly has stepped up. The competition online is always fun as well. I was really enjoying World of Tanks until the beta servers had issues last week and the game came to a screeching halt. It is back online now but all settings were reset and progress erased. And yes, there are several game apps that still keep my engaged, The Simpsons Tapped Out and the new Plants vs Zombies 2, not to mention Scrabble of which I am a true devotee. But it’s not the same.

But we all see the big wave coming. The new consoles, whichever you choose or especially if you get both, will start a spending tsunami as it will be difficult to decide where to spend your money first.

I have preordered an Xbox One, so my game selections are all for this console. Call of Duty Ghosts, Battlefield 4, Forza 5 and Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag are all must-haves, since I have played almost every iteration of those games and they are amongst my favorites. Certainly there are many advantages and improvements that the new consoles are touting and that game developers are all exploring to make full use of the new technology. Each game has so many improvements that you really need to visit each one’s website and learn more.

Yeah, I can’t wait to try out the enhanced character customization in the new Call of Duty and look forward to advances like the dual focus scopes, but what I am happiest about are the dedicated servers that hopefully will do away with issues that plague the current game. This new one really does look good.

Battlefield 4 has many new features including the new Commander Mode which allows players to oversee and support their team from a console, tablet or PC. The environments are so rich and complex and the level of multiplayer combat that can be achieved is staggering. I also welcome the Battlefield series’ dedication to be more realistic than its competition, although I must admit that the inherent difficulty that accompanies this realism is not always something I wish to take on. Then there are the destructible environments or what they call “Levolution” which allow players to dramatically change the playable space by destroying skyscrapers and splitting aircraft carriers.

I have spent more time playing games in the Forza series than any other and as a true car lover I am getting Forza 5 on day one. Apart from being a driving simulator, probably still the best one too, this game allows you to be a part of car culture in ways that no other even seriously tries. I love both the Grid and Dirt series, but they do not feature the ability to collect and augment your car collection. Where else can I see a car in a film or on the street and run home and recreate it exactly on the Xbox? Or buy a design that someone else posted? Where else can I see the detailed interiors and exteriors of the world’s most expensive and exclusive cars? And with the level of detail available using the new console, this game will be even better. Adding the Spa Francochamps track and bringing back Laguna Seca prove that Turn 10 knows its audience. Throw in the Top Gear exclusives for insight and humor and the Forzavista mode for pure car photography that borders pornography and there is no way that car lovers can NOT buy this game. Plus the reveal trailer shows racing through Prague. Did I mention that I was born there?

I have played all of the Assassin’s Creed games and thoroughly enjoyed each. My personal favorite being Assassin’s Creed Brotherhood mainly for its amazing locations and for Ezio Auditore, of course, who many believe is the strongest of all of the series’ characters. Assassin’s Creed 4 Black Flag features seamless transitions between ship and walk/run modes which results in much smoother gameplay. The new environments take full advantage of the new consoles graphic capabilities. The attention to historical detail, a mainstay of the series and what make it so unique, is illustrated in everything from the characters to their weapons and clothing, the towns and islands and the ships. Much like reading a good novel, playing a game in this series always encourages me to learn more about that point in history. I can think of no other game that can make that claim.

Now for me, playing those four games is a given, but one of the games I am most eager to try is Tom Clancy’s The Division. The plot line of The Division may be familiar but the execution seems to be top-notch. The trailers that have been presented thus far show this to be another strong contender in the now crowded open-world RPG sandbox arena. The graphics look fabulous as does the attention to environmental detail. The ability for players to join in and play together in various ways and from various devices, similar to Battlefield 4’s Commander Mode, is also enticing. The user interface is beautiful as is the way players gain information from the environment. Add to that the destructible environments, impressive lighting and particle systems and the ability to run through a post-apocalyptic New York City and you have another game that I must have on day one.

And I haven’t even mentioned TitanfallDestiny or Ryse, all of which look amazing. I will save those for another post. You know what we really need? Borderlands 3. Do I really have to wait until 2015?

The Multiplayer Experience

L1020022-1000The world of gaming is vast and offers a different experience depending on the type of game you play and with whom you play. There are so many fantastic single player games that are well-written and beautifully scripted that one can easily spend all of their time being the star of their own action film. But multiplayer games offer a different level of excitement and interaction.

I am a fan of the single player modes of the blockbuster series like Call of Duty, Battlefield, Assassin’s Creed, Mass Effect and Far Cry. I nearly always play the single player first, although I play the multiplayer modes before finishing the single player experience. There are games such as Battlefield and especially Call of Duty, where diving into multiplayer sessions becomes a daily event. This was also true for me with Mass Effect 3 for a while, but as much as I love them, for some reason not with Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry.

Racing games are another situation completely. As I have mentioned in the past, I am an avid player of the Forza, Grid and Dirt series and even try my best at F1. In each of these, I spend countless hours playing both the single player and then the multiplayer aspects of the games. Forza definitely excels in this arena with the most robust and interesting variety of race types and locations in my opinion. I have also played many of the Need for Speed games although I always prefer the driving feel of the cars in Forza and the Codemasters games. The racing game you play decides much of the type of experience you can expect. The Codemasters games (Dirt, Grid, F1) are very popular with European and Australian audiences and it is often difficult to find enough players at times that someone on the East Coast of the U.S. may want to play. The intensity level of the competitors also ranges widely from game to game. Some games have loyal and dedicated followers who know the tracks and cars so well that newcomers will find it frustrating. I have also found that the level of sportsmanship you can expect to find varies greatly.

L1020027-1000Civility is also something that varies greatly from game to game. I play Facebook Scrabble with a dozen or so strangers at a time. Some of these players have been playing a non-stop series of games with me for years now. A few have proven to be the most polite and thoughtful people with the highest degree of sportsmanship that one can find. On the opposite end of the spectrum, there are the small-minded, bigoted and homophobic players that dominate the world of Call of Duty. As much as I enjoy this game, it seems to attract people, especially males, who seem to think it clever and amusing to display behaviors that on the street would get their asses kicked. Some sport in-game logos that refer to the N word and contain various homosexual put downs. The comments made by players in this game particularly almost always require me to mute players that I do not know. It is a sad realization of the stereotypes that non-gamers have of the gaming world. My sister is an avid gamer and owns all of the major consoles. She maintains that the Playstation audience is better behaved and less offensive than that of the Xbox community, even within the same game. I understand that the Xbox community is considerably larger and it makes sense that it attracts all types of players, but it is a sad fact that people (of all ages by the way) act this way in public.

There have been many times when neighborhood kids or family members drop in and we decide to all play a game together. This typically leads us to the realization that there are not many games that allow for three or four players on the same Xbox. There are arcade games, many of which are turn-based that allow for four players on the same box, but the total that allow for four on a screen are much less. We often play Castle CrashersSonic & SEGA All Star Racing or play a round of local combat training in Call of Duty. We used to play the Guitar Hero and Rock Band games often, but over time the guitar controllers have all become faulty. It is a shame because “getting the band back together” was really fun. Maybe it’s time to buy some new controllers.

If you know of great multiplayer games that allow for three or more players on the same Xbox, please let me know using the form below. If you have favorite multiplayer games (or games with multiplayer modes) that I have not mentioned, please send me your thoughts and I will follow up in the coming weeks. All comments welcome.

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This time I will check the popularity of various cocktails on Wikipedia. I will analyse only English content and try to discover which drinks become popular on a particular time of the year.

What do people drink?

There is a Wikipedia page that lists IBA Officail Cocktails and that was the starting point. I focused only on the articles linked from that list.

When we look at the total number of page views from last year we will see that the top 3 cocktails are:

  • Martini
  • Old fashioned
  • Mojito

For me Old fashioned on second position was a surprise. Here is the top-cocktails chart:

Top cocktails on Wikipedia

When do people drink?

Or at least: when do people think about drinks? One surprise is that in 2013 the page views were much higher that in 2014. This is can be easily noticed almost in every analysed article.

When we look at the popularity of individual cocktails during the last two years we can see that some drinks have their own popularity patterns. Mojito, for example, seems to be more popular in June/July whereas Martini and Old fashioned in the winter:

Top 3 cocktals on Wikipedia

 Which cocktails are becoming more popular this year?

Although the number of page views are generally decreasing this year, there are some exception. For example Moscow Mule (along with Negroni and Sidecar) have slightly higher number of readers that they had a year ago the same time. Look at the values for October:

Cocktails that become more popular this year (Wikipedia page views)

Some cocktails become very popular in short period of time because of certain events. Caipirinha, a drink based on Brazil’s most common liquor is a good example. We can see  similar number of page views during the year with significant boost in June/July, probably connected with 2014 FIFA World Cup (which took place in Brazil):

Caipirinha popularity during FIFA World Cup (Wikipedia page views)

New Year’s Eve

This pattern is not a surprise. New Year’s Eve means higher number of page views followed by a decrease in the beginning of January. However, there are some exception to this rule. Moscow Mule for example had it’s peak few days before Xmas. On the other hand, Grasshopper gained some attention in January. Also, notice the Blood Mary popularity on January 1st. It’s slightly less popular than on December 31, but still outstanding. Probably people considered that cocktail as a cure to hangover.

Cocktails popularty durign Christmas / New Year (Wikipedia page views)

One thought on “Cocktails

  1. Pingback: Example of good analytical posts about WP traffic. | Wiki Trends Blog

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Will Skype's extended engagement in education result in more tech-loving and savvy teachers?

Although I have become increasingly frustrated with Skype over the past weeks due to all sorts of incompatibility issues with other users’ Skype versions, camera problems and painful recording experiences of Skype calls which led me to temporarily switch to another program, I have always been an advocate for the use of Skype in an educational context and I will continue to be.

My criticism aside, Skype along with UK based think tank The Education Foundation have just recently announced a new initiative with some exciting potential: The Learning Lab. According to The Education Foundation The Learning Lab, situated in the heart of London, is “a unique combination of an inspiring events and showcasing space for education leaders and businesses”, both in the UK and internationally, “a state of the art professional development centre” and “a classroom, laboratory and studio space”.

You might be familiar with the Skype in the Classroom project that launched about a year ago and based on the experiences made The Learning Lab can be seen as a logic continuation. The new partnership has the ambitious aim to get all groups of the normally rather scattered education space in one boat.

It addresses early childhood educators as well as teachers in the K12 space and leaders in Higher Education to get inspired and explore the possibilities to integrate Skype lessons in their teaching but also mentions to give businesses and providers of learning solutions the possibility to showcase their products. As Skype’s Tony Bates writes on the company blog at the launch event “guests had the opportunity to see the facility's fully-equipped, reconfigurable classroom, featuring practical examples of it in use from teachers, students and partner organizations”.

The Education Foundation sees some additional use in offering workshops and roundtable discussion by and with policy makers and government officials. The future will show if this partnership has the potential to successfully merge the virtual Skype experience with the real world by allowing people in the education sector to learn from others and experience best practices as well as getting more knowledgeable about new products or services. If all works well we may see a bigger group of really tech-savvy teachers than we have now.

Drill, Baby, Drill: What will we look for when we mine on Mars?

It's unlikely that there's anything on the planet that is worth the cost of shipping it back

Surprising Science
  • In the second season of National Geographic Channel's MARS (premiering tonight, 11/12/18,) privatized miners on the red planet clash with a colony of international scientists
  • Privatized mining on both Mars and the Moon is likely to occur in the next century
  • The cost of returning mined materials from Space to the Earth will probably be too high to create a self-sustaining industry, but the resources may have other uses at their origin points

Want to go to Mars? It will cost you. In 2016, SpaceX founder Elon Musk estimated that manned missions to the planet may cost approximately $10 billion per person. As with any expensive endeavor, it is inevitable that sufficient returns on investment will be needed in order to sustain human presence on Mars. So, what's underneath all that red dust?

Mining Technology reported in 2017 that "there are areas [on Mars], especially large igneous provinces, volcanoes and impact craters that hold significant potential for nickel, copper, iron, titanium, platinum group elements and more."

Were a SpaceX-like company to establish a commercial mining presence on the planet, digging up these materials will be sure to provoke a fraught debate over environmental preservation in space, Martian land rights, and the slew of microbial unknowns which Martian soil may bring.

In National Geographic Channel's genre-bending narrative-docuseries, MARS, (the second season premieres tonight, November 12th, 9 pm ET / 8 pm CT) this dynamic is explored as astronauts from an international scientific coalition go head-to-head with industrial miners looking to exploit the planet's resources.

Given the rate of consumption of minerals on Earth, there is plenty of reason to believe that there will be demand for such an operation.

"Almost all of the easily mined gold, silver, copper, tin, zinc, antimony, and phosphorus we can mine on Earth may be gone within one hundred years" writes Stephen Petranek, author of How We'll Live on Mars, which Nat Geo's MARS is based on. That grim scenario will require either a massive rethinking of how we consume metals on earth, or supplementation from another source.

Elon Musk, founder of SpaceX, told Petranek that it's unlikely that even if all of Earth's metals were exhausted, it is unlikely that Martian materials could become an economically feasible supplement due to the high cost of fuel required to return the materials to Earth. "Anything transported with atoms would have to be incredibly valuable on a weight basis."

Actually, we've already done some of this kind of resource extraction. During NASA's Apollo missions to the Moon, astronauts used simple steel tools to collect about 842 pounds of moon rocks over six missions. Due to the high cost of those missions, the Moon rocks are now highly valuable on Earth.

Moon rock on display at US Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville, AL (Big Think/Matt Carlstrom)

In 1973, NASA valuated moon rocks at $50,800 per gram –– or over $300,000 today when adjusted for inflation. That figure doesn't reflect the value of the natural resources within the rock, but rather the cost of their extraction.

Assuming that Martian mining would be done with the purpose of bringing materials back to Earth, the cost of any materials mined from Mars would need to include both the cost of the extraction and the value of the materials themselves. Factoring in the price of fuel and the difficulties of returning a Martian lander to Earth, this figure may be entirely cost prohibitive.

What seems more likely, says Musk, is for the Martian resources to stay on the Red Planet to be used for construction and manufacturing within manned colonies, or to be used to support further mining missions of the mineral-rich asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

At the very least, mining on Mars has already produced great entertainment value on Earth: tune into Season 2 of MARS on National Geographic Channel.

Harvard scientists suggest 'Oumuamua is an alien device

It's an asteroid, it's a comet, it's actually a spacecraft?

(ESO/M. Kornmesser)
Surprising Science
  • 'Oumuamua is an oddly shaped, puzzling celestial object because it doesn't act like anything naturally occurring.
  • The issue? The unexpected way it accelerated near the Sun. Is this our first sign of extraterrestrials?
  • It's pronounced: oh MOO-uh MOO-uh.
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Study: The effects of online trolling on authors, publications

A study started out trying to see the effect of sexist attacks on women authors, but it found something deeper.

Surprising Science
  • It's well known that abusive comments online happen to women more than men
  • Such comments caused a "significant effect for the abusive comment on author credibility and intention to seek news from the author and outlet in the future"
  • Some news organizations already heavily moderate or even ban comments entirely; this should underscore that effort
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