I'm a Tech Writer Thanks to This Calvin and Hobbes Comic Strip

I wasn't supposed to be here today. Growing up, I was obsessed with dinosaurs and dreamed of becoming a paleontologist—the thought of sifting through heaps of stone and soil was far more enticing than fighting fires or learning Ninjutsu, my two fallback careers. But then Calvin's dad went and blew my mind. More »

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/gizmodo/full/~3/xDHkU5sjieY/im-a-tech-writer-thanks-to-this-calvin-and-hobbes-comic-strip

iditarod nfl free agents 2012 encyclopedia brittanica nfl free agency jonbenet ramsey jason campbell doobie brothers

Tim Boetsch is hoping his fists, not his mouth, can earn him a title shot

The UFC's next title challengers at welterweight and light heavyweight are both fighters who have less-than-deserving records. Nick Diaz will fight Georges St-Pierre for the title at UFC 158, despite the fact he's coming off a loss and a suspension and Johny Hendricks has four wins in a row.

Chael Sonnen is a middleweight, but his ability to smack talk and bring attention to his fights means he will be fighting for the light heavyweight title after coaching against Jon Jones on "The Ultimate Fighter."

The message to other fighters near a title shot is clear -- the UFC wants title fights that tons of people will watch more than it wants ones that are fairly made with only competitive integrity in mind.? Someone like Tim Boetsch, who is fighting Costa Phillippou at UFC 155 this weekend, is a good fighter on a four-fight win streak.

What he is not is a vocal fighter who talks trash. Boetsch talked with MMA Weekly about how he doesn't intend to change his ways just to get a title shot.

?Just because I?m one of those guys who isn?t very vocal about calling people out and saying I deserve such and such an opponent. Michael (Bisping)?s very good at that and he?s made a career out of it, there are talks of him getting a title shot maybe before even I do, so he?s done a good job of promoting himself and that?s one way of doing it,? said Boetsch.

?I think the better way to do it, or the way I prefer to do it, is to step in the cage and beat people up, and eventually they?re going to have to give me a title shot because I?m going to run out of people to beat up.?

It seems like a better plan, but it didn't work for Hendricks.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/tim-boetsch-hoping-fists-not-mouth-earn-him-205621834--mma.html

nfl schedule how to cook a turkey emma stone Frys tryptophan BestBuy.com Kohls Black Friday

Team building in your office - MWB Business Exchange

It is not sufficient for your staff to simply work as individuals in the same office space or on the same project. To be efficient and effective, your staff must work as part of a team. The objectives of team building are to understand team dynamics and improve how your team interacts together.

Here are some tips on building an effective team:

1. Team dynamics ? consideration must be given to the overall dynamics of the team and its members

2. Team members ? a successful team comprises effective individuals who have experience in problem solving, are action oriented and demonstrate sincerity in addressing problems

3. Team relationships ? a successful team will consist of individuals who can give and receive feedback

4. Problem Solving ? in order to solve any problem, the team must have a clear goal and the team must be focussed on achieving this goal. This is achieved in a relaxed, accepting and comfortable environment with honest and open communication

5. Team Leadership ? a team leader must be competent and focused. They must also ensure a co-operative environment while building the confidence of each member of the team, setting priorities, demonstrating knowledge and managing performance with constructive feedback

6. Organisational environment ? the culture and climate of your business should be conducive to team performance

Working as a team is not the same as working in a group; in a team, there is group accountability instead of individual accountability. Team building fosters a team approach to working on projects. Some advantages include more flexibility in skills and aptitudes, more productivity and the encouragement of individual improvement and development.

Source: http://www.mwbex.com/industry-news/index.php/2012/12/17/team-building-in-your-office/

tami roman jetblue captain los angeles dodgers christie brinkley seattle mariners geraldo rivera supreme court health care

6 Steps to a Small Business Social Media Strategy | Social Media ...

One billion people actively use Facebook each month. Twitter boasts 500 million users. Seventy-two hours of video are uploaded to YouTube every minute. Sixty-two percent of adults worldwide now use social media.

Because your customers or clients are using social media daily, communicating and marketing on social platforms is no longer a luxury. It?s a necessity.

?

6 Steps to Create A Small Business Social Media Strategy

Image

  • The first step to developing a strategy is to define your goals. Consider your overall business and marketing goals. Which of these translates to social media marketing?? Create both quantitative and qualitative goals. For example, you may want to ?generate six leads per month from social media,? ?increase website traffic from Facebook 30%,? or ?increase brand awareness.?

?

  • The second step is to choose the platforms that fit. It?s obvious thatFacebook and Twitter are rocking social media, but if your product or service is visual, you may consider Pinterest or Instagram.

?

  • The third step is to plan both content categories and content types. If you are a PR Consultant, for example, your content categories might include PR tips for small businesses, stories of how big companies handle PR crises in the media, client successes, and ?behind the scenes? sneak peeks.

Your content types might include links (to your own blog and outside websites, too), infographics, videos of yourself explaining a hot PR topic, or podcasts interviewing happy clients. Your content types may vary by social media platform, as some are more conducive to certain types of content than others.

?

  • The fourth step is to determine the posting frequency for each social media platform. Do research for the platforms of interest. Create a plan for how often you will post.

?

  • The fifth step is to create an editorial calendar. I suggest creating your own in Microsoft Excel (or Numbers for Mac). You can setup the spreadsheet in a way that makes sense for you. Plan a month in advance, and map out when and what you will post each day on which platforms. This will hold you accountable and help you spend less time on a daily basis, as the work is mapped out for you in advance.

?

  • The sixth step is to determine who will execute the strategy daily. Do you have time to manage your company?s social media presence in a way that will achieve the goals set? If not, you may need to hire a social media manager.

?

Did I miss anything? Don't be shy! Leave a comment below or send me a tweet @StephanieWinans.

?

Photo credit: plffft on Flickr via Creative Commons

?

Authored by:

Stephanie Winans

Stephanie Winans specializes in social media strategy and content curation for radio, artists, and small businesses. With a background in Marketing and Psychology and hands-on social media management experience, her focus is on helping brands use digital platforms to achieve business and marketing goals.

Follow her on Twitter @StephanieWinans or check out her blog at stephaniewinans.com.

See complete profile

Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/stephanie-winans/1045366/6-steps-small-business-social-media-strategy

kate upton Jason Kidd All Star Game 2012 directv rashard lewis curacao curacao

Hu Jintao's legacy: A strong but strained China

{ttle}

{cptn}","template_name":"ss_thmb_play_ttle","i18n":{"end_of_gallery_header":"End of Gallery","end_of_gallery_next":"View Again"},"metadata":{"pagination":"{firstVisible} - {lastVisible} of {numItems}","ult":{"spaceid":"2145868274","sec":""}}},{"id": "hcm-carousel-1737711617", "dataManager": C.dmgr, "mediator": C.mdtr, "group_name":"hcm-carousel-1737711617", "track_item_selected":1,"tracking":{ "spaceid" : "2145868274", "events" : { "click" : { "any" : { "yui-carousel-prev" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"prev","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } }, "yui-carousel-next" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"next","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // no more pages, don't beacon again // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } } } } } } })); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {(function() { try{ if (Math.floor(Math.random()*10) == 1) { var loc = window.location, decoded = decodeURI(loc.pathname), encoded = encodeURI(decoded), uri = loc.protocol + "//" + loc.host + encoded + ((loc.search.length > 0) ? loc.search + '&' : '?') + "_cacheable=1", xmlhttp; if (window.XMLHttpRequest) xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); else xmlhttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); xmlhttp.open("GET",uri,true); xmlhttp.send(); } }catch(e){} })(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings = '"projectId": "10001256862979", "documentName": "", "documentGroup": "", "ywaColo" : "vscale3", "spaceId" : "2145868274" ,"customFields" : { "12" : "classic", "13" : "story" }'; Y.Media.YWA.init(Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {if(document.onclick===YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.newClick){document.onclick=YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.oldClick;} }); }); });

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/hu-jintaos-legacy-strong-strained-china-055242442.html

dwight howard Olympics closing ceremony PGA Championship 2012 John Witherspoon hope solo hope solo george michael

UCI asks CAS president to help choose inquiry team

Foto de archivo del 28 de julio de 2002 del ciclista Lance Armstrong, centro, levantando el trofeo de campe?n del Tour de Francia. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

Foto de archivo del 28 de julio de 2002 del ciclista Lance Armstrong, centro, levantando el trofeo de campe?n del Tour de Francia. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

GENEVA (AP) ? The International Cycling Union turned to the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Wednesday for help in choosing a team to investigate the governing body's links to the Lance Armstrong doping case.

Australian lawyer John Coates, the president of the sports court's board, has suggested names for a three-member inquiry panel that soon will begin work.

"We would like to thank John Coates for his recommendations, which we will follow to the letter," UCI President Pat McQuaid said in a statement.

The commission will include a "respected senior lawyer," a forensic accountant and an experienced sports administrator all "independent of cycling," the embattled governing body said.

The UCI said it already has contacted lawyers and sports officials recommended by Coates, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee executive board.

The inquiry is seen as a key to restoring the UCI's damaged credibility following the Armstrong affair. A report and recommendations are due by June 1.

On the panel's agenda will be accusations that cycling's leaders covered up suspicious doping tests given by Armstrong during his 1999-2005 run of Tour de France victories, and unethically accepted donations totaling $125,000 from him.

The longstanding claims were revived by the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency report last month that detailed massive doping by Armstrong's teams, but were not directly addressed in a 1,000-page dossier of evidence.

"The purpose of this independent commission is to look into the findings of the USADA report and ultimately to make conclusions and recommendations that will enable the UCI to restore confidence in the sport of cycling and in the UCI as its governing body," said McQuaid, who was elected its president weeks after Armstrong's record seventh victory.

Hein Verbruggen, McQuaid's predecessor, remains honorary president and has been the target of severe criticism for leading the UCI during an era when a culture of doping allowed Armstrong's teams to dominate the sport's greatest event by cheating.

The UCI endorsed USADA's findings last month, banning him for life and stripping Armstrong of all of his race results since August 1998, including the seven Tour titles.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-11-07-UCI-Armstrong%20Inquiry/id-662fa13bc64244f3ad61c6a2cf7eb1ec

Alex Karras houston texans houston texans BCS Rankings 2012 the walking dead the walking dead Walking Dead Season 3

Use These Ideas To Improve Your Home - Juss Free Vector Art

If you?re thinking about doing home improvement work, get a home inspection first. If you?ve owned your home for at least a decade there may be some damage that could affect the safety of your home. Have a home inspector come through and check your entire house, then pay for any repairs before you spend all your money on improvements.

Home improvement costs often skyrocket when homeowners fail to take un-livability into consideration when scheduling an intensive remodel. If you can?t cook in your kitchen or bath in your bathroom, you will end up eating out a lot and possibly staying in a hotel for a few nights. These costs add up quickly if you weren?t expecting them. Add another line to your budget for food and lodging if necessary.

Check all your power tools before operating them. Look at all the safety guides and protections. Sometimes professionals will remove safety guides from their power tools because they think this makes their job easier. Make sure all of your safety guides are attached and in working order before operating any power tool.

If a natural disaster has recently occurred and you need to hire a contractor you need to be careful. There are some shady characters who wait for emergency situations to occur and then take advantage of those that are unsuspecting and who have a trusting heart. Do research before you hire someone to do repairs on your home.

Opt to do your laundry every time your hamper fills up, instead of waiting for your dirty laundry to pile for a week. Throwing your laundry in the washing machine every two days cuts down the amount of time you need to spend folding, waiting for the washing machine and the dryer and puts less strain on your machine.

If you have decided to replace your roof with metal you can take your time in doing so because there are many to choose from. Make sure you pick the one that will save you in heating and cooling costs, that are fire resistant, water and snow proof, and last longer.

If you have a problem with the home improvements your contractor completed, complain. Start with the contractor himself and tell him which parts of your contract he?s violated. If you don?t get a resolution by phone, follow up with a letter via registered mail. From there, go to your local consumer protection office and ask for help.

When looking for wise home improvement projects to undertake, consider adding a dedicated space for computer networking equipment. The electronic needs of the modern home are always growing. A clean, dry, well air-conditioned space, with easy access to electrical power and network wiring, will give current and future owners, a convenient hub for electronics wired throughout the house.

Home improvement projects that involve changes to the plumbing can sometimes take unexpectedly longer. There are many instances where plumbing changes may require an extensive re-routing that was not identified during the planning phases. You can however plan for these uncertainties ahead of time by purchasing drinking water and making arrangements with neighbors to use their showers and toilets.

When making renovations on your home, you should make sure you hire a contractor you trust. In order for the employee and contractor to both feel satisfied, they should have a certain level of understanding and trust with one another. If that level of trust and understanding is not there, then it is very likely that one or both of you will be unhappy about the results.

If thinking about a way to do some home improvements that will really add a touch of class to any room, consider doing crown moldings. Crown moldings come in a variety of different shapes and can conform to any ceiling. They will add a touch of elegance and value to any room in the home.

As the article states, there are many resources out there to assist with home improvement projects. A conscientious homeowner will do much research before beginning any type of home improvement project to insure that they have the correct materials and tools on hand to complete the project and ensure a successful improvement.

Hung Boderick gives advice regarding Re Roof

pineda john edwards heart condition mena suvari joyful noise one life to live jeff fisher van der sloot

Egypt descends into more chaos, military assumes control

Can't wait to see how ZOG will swing this one without slaughtering every Egyptian who refuses to vote The Muslim Brotherhood, or the off-shoot of it into power. Maybe they need diabold machines, or Premier Election Solutions, as it is now known.

Egypt descends into more chaos as parliament is dissolved and military assumes control.

http://theextinctionprotocol.wordpre...sumes-control/

Quote:

June 14, 2012 ? EGYPT ? Egypt?s highest court declared the parliament invalid Thursday, and the country?s interim military rulers promptly declared full legislative authority, triggering a new level of chaos and confusion in the country?s leadership. The Supreme Constitutional Court?s ruling means that parliament must be dissolved, state TV reported. The court also ruled that a former member of President Hosni Mubarak?s regime may run in a presidential election runoff this weekend. The court found that all articles making up the law that regulated parliamentary elections are invalid, said Showee Elsayed, a constitutional lawyer. Parliament had been in session for just over four months. It was dominated by Islamists, a group long viewed with suspicion by the military. The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces, in control of the country since Mubarak?s ouster, announced that it now has full legislative power and will announce a 100-person assembly that will write the country?s new constitution by Friday. Due to a separate decision by the high court Thursday, Former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafik will be allowed to run in this weekend?s runoff election. The court rejected a law barring former regime members from running in the election. Shafik was the last prime minister under Mubarak. The runoff Saturday and Sunday pits him against Mohamed Morsi, head of the Muslim Brotherhood?s political arm. Riot police and military personnel, some in armored vehicles, were outside the court ahead of the rulings. Military intelligence officers were also present.


Last edited by Dawn Cannon; 1 Hour Ago at 12:30 PM.

danica patrick school closings top chef texas rail gun harrisburg great pacific garbage patch ben affleck and jennifer garner