Ok so 3 more posts today that I’ve dug up – I’m an information JUNKIE on this stuff lately. Give em a browse and let me know what ya reckon. They’re just from a few different sites I’ve been surfing lately that are generally good for information like this…

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Bombers sign Suber, Kent to extensions

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Now, the 6-5, 250-pound Newton is taller than all but one of Oregon's defensive starters and he weighs more than eight others. There is always the possibility that, sometime in the second half, Newton will engrave his name upon this …

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What are RSS newsfeeds?

RSS stands for Rich Site Summary, or for Really Simple Syndication. Both mean the same thing, so don’t let it confuse you. An RSS is something a website (or a blog) offers to readers provide a “news feed” of their information. It’s available for everyone to add to their own “news reader” for free and gets displayed on your desktop or in your web browser.

It works almost like a stock ticker, delivering exactly the information that you have anonymously “subscribed” to, eliminating the need to go out and check your favorite outlets for new information, because they’re already delivered to your computer.

Who needs RSS?

Well, everyone need it. It’s so much more efficient than going to get it, or getting endless email newsletters. Having the paper delivered to your home makes more sense than driving to the store every day, doesn’t it? In the same vein, let’s say that you want only the latest news about only certain subjects, and routinely go out and check several websites to see what’s new. Using RSS, those individual websites will deliver that news right to your desktop, suitable for reading, clicking, printing, or ignoring.

How can you use RSS?

There seems to be no single definitive answer, because there are so many ways to use it. I’ll tell you about the easiest way to get RSS feeds that I know of, but by no means is that the only way. That is; on your homepage of your web browser.

First, you need an RSS newsreader, (a.k.a. “aggregator”). The good news though is that you may already have one. Since millions of people have Yahoo, MSN, Hotmail or Google accounts, I’ll walk you through adding a news feed to your MSN home page. Go to my.msn.com and sign in. If you don’t already have a hotmail account, go ahead and create one. If you’d prefer, you can go to my.yahoo.com and do the same) It only takes a minute go get a new account.

After signing in to My MSN, you’ll see quite an array of news, weather, sports, ads, stock quotes, local information etc. Think of this as your canvas, and you’re free to arrange or remove the information how you see fit. Each of these sections you see can me easily moved or deleted. To move them, just click and drag from the top right of each subject area. To remove them, click the minus (-) sign in the top left of the subject area. Feel free to delete them all, since you can always add them back later.

Now go to top left of the screen, right above the “Welcome” area you’ll see “Add content” below your name. When you go there, you get four choices (Tabs) for adding content. The default tab that comes up is “Search”. and from here you have four options and each is clearly defined. If you know the exact web address (URL) for a company’s newsfeed, you can enter it right here. The other three tabs might be worth exploring too, since they let you browse by company names and subjects. Then you just click a box for all you want.

After signing in to My Yahoo, you’ll notice that there are already several news feeds from Reuters listed there, with “Top stories”, “world News”, “Politics” and “Business”. Above those stories, you’ll see a big yellow box in the center explaining how you can “Add Content”. Click the link to “add content” and you’ll come up with a search box allowing you to “find content” about a given subject. Type in a search phrase, and you’ll be presented with search results that all have an “Add” button next to them. Hit the “Add” button by the ones you want, and then hit the “Finished” button at the top right, and you’re done. You just added that RSS news feed to your My Yahoo page. Scroll down at the My Yahoo main page, and you’ll see those news headlines you added at the bottom of your list. To rearrange the order of your news feeds, just hit the small “edit” button at the top right of each news section. To remove a news feed, just hit the X like you would to close any window.

Customizing your own news feeds

Now suppose you don’t need to “find” a news feed on a subject, because you already know you want to add a particular one. Well that’s easy too. Al you have to do is identify what the “RSS feed URL” is for the information you want to add. Most blogs or news organizations show you these now on their websites.

Look for a small orange box on the website that says XML or the words “RSS Feed” or “News feed” and click on it. In the case of large organizations, like CNN for example, you’ll be taken to a page with a nice set of instructions, and a whole list of RSS news feed URL’s that you can manually copy and paste into your news reader.

Sometimes though, you’ll be taken to a page that looks like gibberish code. Don’t let that scare you like it did me the first time I saw it! When that happens, you are actually looking right at the feed itself, and all you have to do is copy and paste what’s in the address bar of your web browser, right into your news reader. That’s called “knowing the specific URL of the feed” on MSN, and “”Add RSS by URL” in Yahoo.

In My Yahoo, to manually add a news feed, go to the “add content” area, and choose the link to the right of the Find button that says “Add RSS by URL”. Once you paste your URL in that window and hit “add” the news headlines should show up there. If they don’t, then you may have copied the URL wrong, or added a space at the end. Then just hit the “Add to My Yahoo” button and you’re done! In MSN, you’ll paste the URL of the news feed right into the search box, then check the box when it shows the result.

Delivering exactly what you want and only when you want is how the internet is supposed to work. Things are only getting better.

In researching this article, I notice that My Yahoo seems to be having problems adding certain manual URL’s. Oh well. Nothings perfect.

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Scott Hendison is an internet consultant based in Portland Oregon, but working with companies in five countries. He specializes in search engine placement and E-commerce POS solutions. For over 100 other articles he’s written please visit his website and see his unique SEO tools.

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Will Oregon Football soon wear Jordan? in Jordan Brand Forum

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Selling “Different” Homes

I had a listing last year with a pool which is not a popular feature in Oregon and it's 9 months of rain. I posted it prominently in the listing and even had it on the custom sign. You will not have as many suitors …

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No Auburn fans in Portland | Oh! America

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Quarterback camps focus on training the quarterback to be the best possible player he can be. Rigorous training that is focused only on the quarterback position provides a foundation for learning the skills necessary to be an effective member of the team.

There are several types of quarterback camps: One day QB camps. Week long camps. And my favorite because you get the best value, a weekend camp. Many people favor the quarterback receiver camps because of the fact that there is someone there to throw to, so the “campers” get real experience on how they need to play their position.

There are quarterback camps all over the country. Although costly, they are a worthwhile investment for anyone showing the drive, commitment, and skills needed to be a professional football player. Some camps are invitation only, while others only require that you sign up and pay the fee. These camps fill up fast though, so it’s best to sign up as early as possible.

QB camps are available for all ages. There are camps for children, as well as for professional players. At the kids’ camps, professional players sometimes show up to play with the kids, sign autographs, take pictures, answer questions, and give tips on how to succeed.

Not all quarterback camps are created equally. Many camps have NFL quarterbacks come and do meets and greets. Some campers love this while others are not so fond of these camps. There is little drilling and practice, and kids learn little about how to actually play the game. Other camps concentrate on making the kids work hard, drilling, and practicing moves like throwing repeatedly. Your personal preference will decide which camp you will attend.

Quarterback camps are expensive, and they don’t last very long. Once the camp is over, the children have to rely on their own memories to help them keep practicing. Most QB camps cost around $350-$550 range.

However, there is now an alternative to traditional summer camps. QB videos cost around $39.

You can now buy QB training videos and DVDs that show you the same QB drills that were taught at the quarterback camp! It is much easier to grasp a concept when you can see it in motion over and over again than it is sitting at a desk without any access to the information you were given.

Video training allows quarterback camps to take place right there in your own back yard, and for a fraction of the price.

Todd Krueger is a former NFL Quarterback that was a 8th round draft pick in 1980 by the Buffalo Bills. He also played with the Houston Oilers, Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Wranglers in the USFL.

Last year he trained over 500 Quarterbacks. 11 got football scholarships!

To See Great Qb Drills go to http://www.playqb.com

If you have any questions you may reach him at playqb@cox.net

Join My Quarterback Training Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/groups/edit.php?members&gid=50323276812

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Holiday Shopping

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Rx Solutions, a pharmaceutical grade skin care line featured in the December 2010 issue of America's Pharmacist Magazine, is now available at Creative Compounds, a compounding pharmacy in Wilsonville, Oregon. … After years of research Rx Solutions offers products that correct the signs of aging, reduce wrinkles, shrink pores and restore the skin's natural radiance. The line consists of five custom therapies designed to meet specific needs of various ages and skin types. …

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It can be hard for Portland homeowners and property managers to know when they need a new roof in OR. Of course, sometimes it is very obvious that you need to hire a roofing contractor in Portland or elsewhere. If a tree falls on it, then getting a new roof is a no-brainer.

Other times, though, the signs that you need repairs or new roof installation services can be hard to spot. Hiring a reliable roofing contractor who provides inspections, installations, and roof repair in Portland, though, will help you keep your roof in the best condition.

Getting New Roof Services From a Portland, OR Contractor

If you talk to some national chains, they will treat you just like any other customer. To them, roofing in Portland OR is no different than in San Antonio, Miami, Chicago or any other city.

In hiring a new roof contractor in Oregon you will have a professional who understands specific roofing needs that are unique to Portland’s climate and aesthetic taste. The more experience a contractor has installing new roofs in Portland, the more they will know about the right products and services for your building.

Roof Repair and New Roofs in Portland — Get a Roof Inspection

You will want to hire an Oregon roofing company that can give you an accurate inspection before they throw out a sales pitch and try to sell you on a new roof. It is best to ask your prospective roofing contractor to provide tangible proof that any parts of the roof might need to be replaced.

A qualified roofing contractor in Portland can discuss your options and alternatives for a new roof. Ask them to describe the differences in custom metal, shingle, flat roofing and tile products. Those who tell you the advantages and disadvantages of each type of residential and roofing supplies are probably more interested in providing a product that will work best for you, instead of just making money on your misfortune.

Home Insurance Money for a New Roof or Roof Repair in Portland Oregon

If the professional Portland roofing contractor who inspects your roof recommends repairs or maybe even a new roof, then you should research your payment options. Many homeowner’s insurance policies cover the cost of hiring a Portland roofing contractor to fix or replace damaged parts of the home’s roof.

Ask your prospective roofing contractor for a price quote before you install a new roof. Your Oregon roofing contractor can prepare detailed pricing information that you can keep for insurance records. In the process, you can decide which Portland OR roofing contractors offer competitive pricing.

Mark Starr covers articles on roof repair in Portland for the website Roof Portland, an Oregon based company specializing in residential and commercial roofing.

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Back with more news for you today. It’s amazing how much good information there is on this stuff out there if you know where to look. Three in particular that I found really valuable were…

The Positive Effects of Custom Neon Sign

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Splinters Woodworks: Custom 28 inch Birch Pizza Peel

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The nation’s top two unbeaten teams – No. 1 Oregon (11-0) and No. 2 Auburn (12-0) – registered stirring come from behind victories this week over 20th-ranked Arizona and 9th-ranked Alabama to stay on track for their probable match-up in the BCS National Championship Game.

Only two events this coming week could upset the apple cart, an Oregon loss to Oregon State in the Ducks final game, or an Auburn loss to South Carolina in the SEC championship game.

Oregon was down 19-14 at halftime but showed why it is a second-half team, scoring 34 points to Arizona’s 10, and going on to win 48-29. Duck QB Darron Thomas threw 3 touchdown passes and ran 20 yards for another, and LaMichael James – the nation’s leading rusher – gained 126 yards on 28 carries (4.5 yards per carry) and scored two more touchdowns.

James’ now has 19 rushing touchdowns, breaking LaGarrette Blount’s single-season record of 17 set in 2008 for Oregon.

The Wildcats, like every other team this year, could not keep up with Oregon’s speedy spread-option offense. The Ducks would run a play every 10 seconds if they could. “You can slow them down, but you can’t stop them,” said Arizona coach Mike Stoops. You’re right, coach, speed kills.

If you like offense, this was the game for you – Oregon racked up 537 yards and Arizona 506 – and remember, Arizona scored 29 on Oregon. So just how good is Oregon’s defense? You figure it out. Arizona, a 7-4 team, is ranked 20th by Sagarin.

Oregon’s 11th win marked only the second time the Ducks have had 11 wins in a season, the last being in 2001 when Joey Harrington took Oregon to the Fiesta Bowl.

The comeback by Auburn was much more improbable. Alabama’s Greg McElroy completed his first 12 passes and the Crimson Tide scored on its first 3 possessions with a 9-yard run by Heisman Trophy-winner Mark Ingram, a 68-yard strike to Julio Jones, and a 12-yard pass to Darius Hanks.

Alabama would go up 24-zip before Auburn could turn around and catch them. Heck, the Tigers were behind 21-zip before Auburn had a first down, and the Crimson Tide had racked up 314 yards of offense to Auburn’s 2.

If Cam Newton and his teammates were intimidated by Alabama’s 20 consecutive wins at home, they got over it, outscoring the Tide 28-3 the rest of the way to win, 28-27, on a 7-yard pass from Newton to Philip Lutzenkirchen with 11:55 left in the 4th quarter.

Newton, the odds-on favorite to win the Heisman Trophy as college football’s best player, completed 13-of-20 passes (65%) for 216 yards with touchdown strikes of 36, 70 and 7 yards. Newton is a running wizard on par with LaMichael James and Michigan’s Denard Robinson, but on this day he showed a strong, accurate throwing arm as well.

Pro teams will be lined up deeper than the number of teams available to sign Newton come draft day.

Should Auburn beat South Carolina for the SEC championship this week, Auburn will be playing for the national title.

In losing, Alabama did not help itself. Mark Ingram fumbled the ball following a long run. Greg McElroy coughed up another ball after a major-league hit by Nick Fairley, who recovered McElroy’s fumble. Then a couple of Tide defenders got crossed up on a pass that resulted in a 70-yard catch and run TD by Terrell Zachery that gave Auburn new life.

Despite Alabama’s game try, this is Cam Newton and Auburn we are talking about, apparently the football gods care a lot more about Newton than some of his critics.

There were 4 upsets this week, none bigger than 19th-ranked Nevada’s (11-1) 34-31 overtime win over previously unbeaten Boise State (10-1).

Boise State had coasted to 10 straight wins with victories over exactly 3 worthy teams – Virginia Tech, Oregon State and Hawaii. A 14.5-point favorite on the road against Nevada, the Broncos blew the game when kicker Kyle Brotzman missed a 26-yard field goal in regulation, and another 29-yarder in overtime.

Nevada’s redshirt freshman kicker, Anthony Martinez, did not miss his 34-yard field goal attempt in overtime.

Nevada had battled back from a 17-point halftime deficit to snap Boise State’s 24-game win streak, costing the Broncos a BCS bowl game bid, and snap the Wolf Pack’s 10-game losing streak to the Broncos. Nevada coach Chris Ault called the Wolf Pack’s upset win the biggest in school history.

In another upset, 14th-ranked Oklahoma (10-2) beat 10th-ranked Oklahoma State (10-2), 47-41, behind Sooner quarterback Landry Jones, who passed for a school-record 468 yards and 3 touchdowns. Two of the TDs came on 86 and 76-yard passes in the 4th quarter to seal the victory.

The Sooner victory left Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M in a three-way tie for the Big 12 South Division title with 6-2 records.

The other two upsets were less significant at this point in the season. Minnesota, a 3-9 team ranked 92nd, handed 24th-ranked Iowa its 5th loss of the season, beating the Hawkeyes 27-24. Iowa is now folding faster than a K-Mart deck chair.

Maryland, an 8-4 team ranked 42nd, took down 21st-ranked North Carolina State 38-31, costing the Wolfpack a spot in the Atlantic Coast Conference title game. The Terrapins got the job done behind Danny O’Brien’s career-best 417 yards passing and 4 touchdown strikes. Any Irishman born and bred could not help but like a player named Danny O’Brien.

By losing, Iowa, North Carolina State and Arizona were bounced out of the AP Top 25 Poll to make room for newcomers West Virginia (8-3 at 23rd), Northern Illinois (10-2 at 24th) and Hawaii (9-3 at 25th).

Nine ranked teams had quality wins, either beating their unranked opponent by at least 20 points, or beating another ranked opponent by at least 14 points.

The least impressive quality win was 4th-ranked TCU giving 168th-ranked New Mexico a 66-17 beating the Lobos will not soon forget. Or maybe the Lobos will forget it, since New Mexico (1-11) is ranked last in the nation in scoring defense among major schools, giving up 44+ points a game.

Other ranked teams with quality wins included 5th-ranked Wisconsin (11-1) over 69th-ranked Northwestern 70-23, behind Montee Bell’s 178 yards rushing and 4 touchdowns. The win was Wisconsin’s 4th straight by 20+ points, and marked the 3rd time this year the Badgers have scored 70+ points.

Since 8th-ranked Ohio State (11-1) and 11th-ranked Michigan State (11-1) joined Wisconsin in winning their last games this week, all three teams will share a tie for the Big Ten title with 7-1 conference records.

One of the three, Wisconsin, will play in the Rose Bowl because, even though Michigan State beat Wisconsin and Wisconsin beat Ohio State, Wisconsin is ahead in the BCS rankings that will determine who gets to go. Michigan State did not play Ohio State this season.

Other quality wins found 7th-ranked Stanford (11-1) shutting out 28th-ranked Oregon State 38-zip, 8th-ranked Ohio State leveling 46th-ranked Michigan 37-7, 13th-ranked Virginia Tech (10-2) breezing past 90th-ranked Virginia 37-7, 15th-ranked Missouri (10-2) ripping up 106th-ranked Kansas 35-7, 16th-ranked Nebraska (10-2) slamming 57th-ranked Colorado 45-17, 18th-ranked South Carolina (9-3) whipping 47th-ranked Clemson 29-7, and 22nd-ranked Florida State (9-3) humiliating 27th-ranked Florida 31-7.

Since Oregon leads the Pacific 10 with a perfect 8-0 mark, the Stanford Cardinal will likely get a BCS bowl bid as Oregon will play in the National Championship Game against Auburn if the Ducks can beat in-state rival Oregon State in their Civil War match this week.

Virginia Tech’s win garnered the Hokies the Atlantic Coast Conference Coastal Division title with a perfect 8-0 mark. The Hokies will now play Florida State (6-2) – the Atlantic Division winner – for the ACC championship.

Nebraska’s win means the Cornhuskers tie for the Big 12 North Division title with Missouri (both are 6-2), but the Cornhuskers will play Oklahoma for the Big 12 title because Nebraska beat Missouri 31-17 head-to-head in league play.

While three teams are tied for the Big 12 South Division title with 6-2 records – Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Texas A&M – Oklahoma will play in the championship game because Oklahoma is highest in the BCS standings.

Five other ranked teams managed to win, but not as easily.

Arkansas, ranked 12th and favored by 3.5 points at home, held off 6th-ranked LSU 31-23, in a win that was not significant in that Auburn leads the SEC West Division with an 8-0 mark and both Arkansas and LSU are now 6-2.

Razorback coach Bobby Petrino went for it on a 4th-and-3 in the 4th quarter and Ryan Mallett threw a perfect, 39-yard pass to Joe Adams for the winning touchdown. Mallett passed for 320 yards and 3 TDs, including scoring passes of 85 and 80 in the 1st half. Mallett set the Arkansas school record with 60 TD passes in two years, and the Razorbacks have now won 6 straight after losing to Auburn.

Michigan State, 11-1 and ranked 11th, beat 49th-ranked Penn State 28-22, 17th-ranked Texas A&M (9-3) held off 53rd-ranked Texas 24-17, 23rd-ranked Utah (10-2) barely nipped 56th-ranked BYU 17-16, and 25th-ranked Mississippi State turned back 85th-ranked Mississippi 31-23.

The Spartans of Michigan State had the game in hand until allowing Penn State 3 last quarter touchdowns, making the game a whole lot closer. Michigan State’s victory was their 11th on the year, their win broke an 8-game road losing streak to Penn State (their first win at Happy Valley since 1965), and gave the Spartans a share of the Big Ten title with Wisconsin and Ohio State (all finished at 7-1).

More important, Michigan State’s Big Ten crown, even though shared, was its first in 20 years.

Five other unranked teams recorded huge victories – West Virginia, Notre Dame, South Florida, Northern Illinois and Washington.

West Virginia (8-3) cost Pittsburgh (6-5) a Big East title shot by stomping the Panthers on their home field, 35-10. The Mountaineers upset rival Pittsburgh for the second straight year, and vaulted into the AP Poll at 23rd place. West Virginia, Connecticut and Pittsburgh are all tied at 4-2 in the Big East. Connecticut beat Pitt earlier in the season.

Notre Dame (7-5) beat Southern California (7-5) in Los Angeles, 20-16, behind a dropped pass for a sure score by Trojan Ronald Johnson with 1:17 left, after Notre Dame’s freshman QB Tommy Rees overcame 4 turnovers to lead the bowl-bound Fighting Irish on a 77-yard scoring drive with 2:23 left to play.

The win snapped an 8-game losing streak by Notre Dameagainst Southern Cal.

Keep your eyes on Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly. Remember that coach Mark Dantonio turned around Cincinnati’s football fortunes before taking over at Michigan State and doing the same for the Spartans. Brian Kelly took over after Dantonio and lifted Cincinnati to national prominence with 10-3, 11-3 and 12-0 seasons and 2 BCS bowl games.

Now Kelly is in his first year at Notre Dame and has already started to bring the Fighting Irish back to national attention.

South Florida, a 7-4 team ranked 59th, stunned 34th-ranked Miami-Florida (7-5) in overtime, 23-20, giving the Hurricanes their worst season at home since 1997. The powers to be were not happy, giving coach Randy Shannon the boot after the game. Shannon had turned Miami around from being “Thug U” to a clean program that graduates football players, but he apparently did not win enough games to stay employed.

Northern Illinois (10-2 and under the radar for most pollsters) absolutely destroyed Eastern Michigan, a 2-10 team ranked 184th, 71-3. The Northern Illinois Huskies won the Mid American Conference West Division title with a perfect 8-0 mark, and will now face Miami-Ohio, the East Division champion at 7-1, for the MAC title.

And the Washington Huskies (5-6) from the Pac-10 kept their bowl hopes alive by upsetting the California Bears (5-7) at Berkeley, 16-13, by going for the win on the last play of the game rather than settling for a field goal and a tie that would have sent the game into overtime at 13-up.

Credit second-year coach Steve Sarkisian with making the call that sent Chris Polk over right tackle from a yard out to earn an extremely hard fought 16-13 victory. The Bears were ranked 33rd nationally, and the Huskies 41st.

What is also significant about Washington’s 5-6 record is the fact that the Huskies have currently played the toughest schedule in the country this year. Washington has faced 7 teams that have been ranked in the AP Top 25 this year – Oregon, Stanford, Nebraska, Arizona, Southern California, Oregon State and Arizona State – and upset two of them, Southern Cal and Oregon State.

Oregon, Stanford and Nebraska are still currently ranked in the Top 25.

It makes a guy wonder how a couple of teams like TCU (12-0) and Boise State (now 10-1) would have fared playing Washington’s schedule. Trust me, the Horned Frogs and Broncos, despite their whining about being underrated, do not want to know.

Another interesting fact about Steve Sarkisian’s Washington players is that he has played 14 true freshmen this year (all of whom he would rather have redshirted), and started 8 of them. That is how much depth the Huskies lack. The freshmen Huskies have had to grow up in a hurry, but imagine where they will be in maturity next season.

Michigan State (now 7th), Arkansas (8th) and Oklahoma (10th) all jumped up 4 places in the AP Poll this week. Nevada jumped from 19th to 14th by beating Boise State, which dropped from 3rd to 9th.

Copyright © 2010 Ed Bagley

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Ed Bagley’s Articles is Writer, Author and Editor Ed Bagley’s personal web site with hundreds of original articles on 46 different subjects, including complete weekly coverage of the NCAA college football scene plus Ed Bagley’s Top 25 Poll as an alternative to the AP and Coaches Polls. Find 400+ sports stories with 90+ on cross-county, track & field, and distance running.

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Auburn National Championship Signs | College Football Bowl Merchandise

The Auburn Tigers 2010 BCS National Champions Navy Blue State Sign. Commemorate Auburn's 2010 BCS Championship victory over Oregon to cap off their perfect season in style with this State sign. It features a custom National Champions …

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Ok so you might find the next few links interesting. These are from around the web, just random snippets that I’ve picked up in my reading, but I found some very cool information in them. You might too. Here goes…

Memo to Oregonians: Don’t fret, you won’t have to pump your own …

A bill introduced in the Legislature would allow self-service gasoline in Oregon, but even the sponsor of the bill says she doesn't like it. … Burdick said she was only following the custom of introducing bills at the request of a constituent, in this case a fellow named James Comstock. "That was the hardest thing I've ever done pandering to a constituent, but I did it," Burdick …. Don't have an account? Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services: …

Custom License Frames – Oregon Scooter Club

Gena and I have been looking into the possibility of having custom license frames that read 'Oregon Scooter Club', including our logo. There is a company online that has given us a quote of approximately $18 each, with the cost decreasing as the quantity … Maybe we should have sign up sheets at the OSC Potluck and the Valley Pizza/ Ride Planning. I can't remember how long it takes to get them. Would like to have mine by March or April for the start of riding season. …

Oregon and Auburn have different approaches – Worldnews.com

Custom colors. Background ….. www.ballerslist.com Auburn vs. Oregon to face off in the national championship. Sign up to Baller's List free network to discuss the latest sports topics. The Auburn Tigers Are Heading to the BCS National Championship. Order: Reorder; Duration: 1:54; Published: 2010-12-30; Uploaded: 2011-01-09; Author: ESPN · http://wn.com/The_Auburn_Tigers_Are_Heading_to_the_BCS_National_Championship · Email this video · Sms this video …

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Back in 1995 I moved home with my family to a lovely sleepy village by the Sussex coast where most homes did not have house numbers – just house names. Our house was called simply ‘The Warren’. I used my sign making skills to make us a brand new hardwood house name sign for our new home. I routed out the house name in 3.5 inch ‘V’ grooved letters and gave them a gold leaf finish – very elegant I thought. The sign was lit up by an automatic security light that turns on when someone walks up the drive.

One dark December evening we had to call out the local Doctor from our health center urgently for our youngest son who was having chest pains and breathing difficulties – The doctor said he would be with us in about 5 minutes – about 20 minutes later the Doctor arrived and whilst examining our son he complained bitterly that he wasted a lot of valuable time trying to locate our Home. – According to the doctor he could not see our house name in the dark and had to drive up and down our road shining his flashlight looking for the correct house name for 15 minutes! The good doctor also complained that this is a common problem for him during hours of darkness. He mentioned that even homes with house numbers can be difficult to locate from a car at night, let alone properties like ours with just a house name. He also stressed that any of the 999 Emergency Response Services also have the same problem finding homes in the dark and that the consequences of them not finding my address quickly at night could be a lot worse.

On leaving, the Doctor suggested I make my house name more visible in case I need a doctor again. – So much for the elegant gold leaf wooden plaque I just made – it could not be seen from the road at night and as the security light only comes on when you are walking up the path it could also not be seen from a car.

That’s when my Wife, Julie came up with the clever idea of making a reflective house sign for our home – just in case a Doctor had to be called out again or in case of any other emergencies.

I got straight to it and made us a wooden house name sign with white reflective lettering from the same material we used to make traffic signs at work. – It wasn’t long before my neighbours noticed the house name shining up at night and asked me to make reflective signs for their homes. I soon realized the potential in making decorative & reflective house number and house name signs as a business and set up trading as ‘Ornamental Signs’. Initially I test-marketed the house signs by cold calling in my locality Door to Door with display boards to get a good idea of what kind of house sign designs, shapes and sizes would be most popular with home owners.

We then started to sell our reflective house signs through craft fairs, local garden centers and DIY stores. In 1999 we started to offer our reflective house signs direct to customers via this website – online orders grew so much that we discontinued selling through retail outlets and craft fairs in 2001. Now we only offer our reflective house signs direct to customers via our website

Originally we made house signs from hardwood, but I soon found that the wooden house signs needed to be re-varnished every two to three years to keep them from deteriorating – so I looked for a more durable alternative that would need no maintenance. After testing ceramics, cast iron, cast aluminium, plastics & reconstituted slate I decided on reconstituted slate because of its superb hand casting qualities, outdoor durability and inert characteristics that allows us to decorate the house plaques with modern long lasting paints.

With reconstituted slate we can produce high quality house signs that look like cast iron but will never rust, – they can be hand painted with fine detail like ceramics, yet are completely frost proof. We can spray paint them with a variety of coloured backgrounds giving customers a choice and they readily accept the heat laminating process used to permanently adhere the reflective text and numbers without deterioration or distortion.

We prefer to keep the actual details of our seven stage manufacturing process and the materials we use to ourselves, so that competitors wont be able to copy our quality process that enables us to offer our unique 7 year worldwide guarantee.

I suppose I should be grateful for being ticked off by the doctor back in 1995 – we have now grown to be the number one UK manufacturer of custom made reflective house signs, employing specialist sign makers & house sign artists to enable us to offer a wide range of quality, decorative house signs that are more easily visible at night.

After trading for 10 years as a sole proprietor I incorporated the business to Yoursigns Ltd in 2005 with me as the Managing Director. We relocated our operations to a larger house sign studio in Newport, Isle of Wight. – The company expanded further and in January 2007 we moved our House Sign making facilities to Ash near Canterbury, Kent. In February 2008 we relocated our House Sign Studios to even larger premises in Sandown, Isle of Wight from where we currently make all our signs.

Thanks for reading this article, I hope you have enjoyed it

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Hold Your Applause, Please « The Daily Muse

As classical music became the more exclusive property of the upper class in the late 19th century, the custom of withholding applause was a sign of sophisticated, proper behavior. It signaled one's membership in a …

Subaru sign new deal in Oregon | Executive Office Space News

Subaru sign new deal in Oregon … The property will be custom built and the development team have filed a permit with the City of Portland for permission to construct the distribution center and office space. …

‘Project Runway’ winner Seth Aaron Henderson designs dresses for …

Turley's personalized day, however, doesn't end with two custom dresses. CCA will provide a limo for a shopping spree, a day at Vancouver's Beigeblond salon and a dinner with Henderson next Saturday. As a committed follower of "Project Runway," Turley's aspiration was a no-brainer. Though Turley said she cheered Henderson from her living room during the show's seventh season, …. Don't have an account? Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services: …

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After some home inspections, it’s normal to receive reports about minor defects that need to be repaired. Of course, you would want to hire a skillful tradesman. But how would you know if someone is skilled or not, considering that there are tons of contractors out there involved in Seattle real estate? To make sure that the house is in good hands, here are the signs of a competent tradesman that you need to lookout for:

- A good contractor has a respectable reputation in the industry. You may ask your co-workers, neighbors, and friends for some recommendations, but it would be better to ask referrals from other people who are also in the trades, such as your plumber, or a tile shop in the neighborhood. There’s no professional who would put his/her reputation in line just to vouch for anyone, so it’s likely that these people who give you referrals really admire the work of the contractor they’re recommending.

- A skilled tradesman provides a local address to his clients. Check his business card if his address is indicated. Such people are not likely to just disappear on you.

- Another sign of a skillful contractor is that he has a long list of references. Remember, even a bad contractor has had some satisfied clients along their professional life, or maybe friends and family members might even act as one when you call. Because of this, the more references there are, the better, as it would be less likely to be rigged.

Knowing the indicators of a competent tradesman is as important as knowing the signs of a bad one. The following are some of he signs of a terrible contractor:

- If a contractor wants to work without any permit or he wants you to get it yourself, this is a sure sign that you should not hire him. Legally, all major improvement projects must have a building permit and after that, inspectors will go examine the work. If he wants to skip it, it only means that he doesn’t want anyone checking on him. If the tradesman asks you to apply for the permit, it’s possible that he’s not properly licensed by the state government and he wants you to be the middleman between him and the inspector.

- Contractors who solicit business door to door cannot be fully trusted. It may sound great if he offers to work on your home for a small deal, but you don’t know anything about him and you’re not sure if he’ll work right. Moreover, in case the work he has done gets starts to break, you can’t contact him again to fix the problem.

- If a tradesman looks crooked, you should think again about hiring him. Of course it’s not right to judge anyone based on one’s outside appearance, but you must feel comfortable because you’ll be letting him inside your home. You don’t want to give him the keys to your home if he flips his cigarette butt in your furniture or leers at your daughter.

If a tradesman does not want to look at you straight in the eye or if you merely don’t feel right about the guy, it’s okay to remove him from your list. There are a lot of other qualified contractors out there, anyway. You just need to make sure that everything’s going smoothly when you’re buying a home from the available Seattle homes for sale.

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Sarah S. Daniels is a freelance writer who specializes in writing content about real estate, business and investment. Check out great Seattle homes for sale and Seattle real estate listings.

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Oregon artist brings past alive with vintage signs | KVAL CBS 13 …

Oregon artist brings past alive with vintage signs. Tom Towler, founder of Tom's Custom Made Vintage Signs, displays his work on Nov. 18, 2010 in his workshop in Ashland, Ore. Towler has been painting signs for more than 40 years. …

OSU Beavers Mens Countdown – Android

Sports Application for Android – Oregon State Beavers Mens Basketball Countdown keeps track of your team. This widget is custom made for the Oregon State Beavers with custom graphics and color scheme. Oregon State University…

italiancharmsbracelets.net | Italian charms bracelets – passion …

They will then have either a gold-plated or 18-karat gold charm face. Solder or glue joins the face of the charm to the stainless steel link. Sometimes a gemstone is added to the design of the charm. He gave me this beautiful bracelet. …

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Commercial Remodeling Guidelines For Retail Stores

A successful commercial remodeling project should make the retail location look more attractive and welcoming, while also increasing efficiency and comfort for employees. If you are giving your retail space a facelift, consider the following tips to help you give your location a leg up on the competition.

Find a Reliable Contractor
Remodeling takes away from the time your store is open to customers, so it’s crucial to hire a contractor who meets deadlines. Additionally, look for commercial construction contractors that are licensed, bonded, and insured. Do not be afraid to ask a contractor to meet with you before you make a final hiring decision. If a contractor does not arrive to a preliminary meeting on time, you may have good clue about what working with him will be like.

Make a Great First Impression
First impressions are important, especially for retail stores. Aim for a look that intrigues and welcomes customers. To make your customers feel safe, create a layout that allows a visual scan of the entire store upon entrance. Further enhance the customer experience with shelving units that are not too tall, aisle spaces that are comfortably wide and merchandise that is beautifully arranged in a logical manner.

Use Light to Your Advantage
Lighting can create a certain mood and spotlight products you want to accentuate. Consider using low ambient light with track lights to point customers to featured merchandise. To create a relaxed mood while complementing products, build lights into shelves and custom cabinets.

Paint According to Your Goals
Different colors trigger different emotions. For example, the color orange makes most people feel cheerful. Paint your retail space in a colo
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r that will help you achieve your commercial goals.

If you own a bakery, it would be wise to choose the color red, which is known to make individuals feel hungry. Green is a color that can trigger emotions such as growth, health and hope–great for a location that promotes wellness or sells plants. The color blue promotes the feeling of love, tranquility, acceptance and understanding–perfect for a retail store that sells spa products or gifts. Yellow is known to boost a customer’s memory and can help them feel joyful, smart and organized–ideal for a store that sells stationery products or organization solutions. Use colors to produce emotions that complement your product line.

Remodel to Enhance Your Brand
Northwestern University professor of marketing Philip Kotler has written, “In some cases, the place, more specifically the atmosphere of the place, is more influential than the product itself in the purchasing decision.” In this way, retail remodeling can enhance your brand.

Retail space remodeling can be an intimidating process. However, as providers of Portland remodeling services, we here at Sitka Projects can say that retail owners who plan carefully achieve excellent remodeling results. Knowing your target audience and having a firm grasp on your goals for the customer experience are the first steps in making a mediocre retail space explode with life.

By: Ben Anton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Sitka Projects’ construction experts have completed dozens of retail remodeling projects over the years. If you need commercial remodeling from Oregon professionals, visit us at SitkaProjects.com and sign up for a complimentary estimate of Portland remodeling services today.

For entrepreneurs who are looking to expand their business, vinyl banners attracting new customers is an opportunity to do just that. It’s a great way to catch the attention of potential clients. It is a tool that has been used successfully in the past and continues to be used in the present, with no indication of it stopping.

Everyone in business knows how strong billboards are. That’s why they are so costly to use in advertising. These are much like billboards without high-priced tags attached to them. And, they still provide the visibility you’re aiming for, much more than newspaper and magazine ads could ever offer.

It’s also better than television and radio because these too are quite limited. They are also very expensive. On the other hand, vinyl banners can be left on display for as long as is needed, such as advertising promotions or sales.

Of course, they can be looked at as investments. Because they are created using long-lasting and durable materials. In fact, they resist against the damaging UV rays, moisture, and other weather conditions that could potentially damage them. In addition to that, you can choose from all kinds of sizes.

Smart entrepreneurs use them in trade shows at their booths to attract not only new business, but also salespeople and they are extremely popular in the real estate industry, to name a couple. Having them personalized with professional print is inexpensive and feasible for most businesses, unlike other forms of advertising. The latter will require production budgets, photographers, actors, scripts and the like.

Furthermore, these banners come with grommets. So, they make installation quite easy, regardless of where they are going to be placed. They can also be mounted indoors, too to further entice clients once inside. Armed with this small investment, one’s business can bloom.

PinsonSigns.com is your Salem signs source.

Based in Salem, OR with printing suppliers around the country, PinsonSigns.com™ is a designer and supplier of full color digitally printed signs and banners serving the entire United States. We employ the latest in ecommerce technology, allowing our customers to design, upload and buy their yard signs, vinyl banners, frontlit posters, backlit posters, static cling posters, decals and magnetic signs online quickly and easily, 24/7. Our products can be ordered in as little as five minutes and delivered to your door in six business days or less. In the sign business since 1993. Changing the way you buy signs™

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Vinyl Banners Portland Oregon, Custom Signs Company

http://www.pdqsignsonline.com/ Located in Portland Oregon, PDQ Signs specializes in the design and production custom Vinyl Banners, signs, vehicle lettering and wraps. Duration : 0:1:14.

Skin Care Lines Don’t All Deliver As Promised | Skin Care Products …

Rx Solutions, a pharmaceutical grade skin care line featured in the December 2010 issue of America's Pharmacist Magazine, is now available at Creative Compounds, a compounding pharmacy in Wilsonville, Oregon. the products will … After years of research Rx Solutions offers products that correct the signs of aging, reduce wrinkles, shrink pores and restore the skin's natural radiance. the line consists of five custom therapies designed to meet specific …

Second Generation Custom Sign Technology Unveiled by SignsUS.com …

SignsUS.com, Inc., an Internet-based sign manufacturer specializing in e-commerce applications, has just released SignMagic, its second-generation Online Sign Design Center. The custom sign software enables anyone to design, price, …

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Wood Retaining Wall Options For A Home

If you’re currently trying to discern whether or not you could benefit from building a retaining wall, try answering the following questions:

1. Do you own a home or property situated on or near sloped, uneven ground?
2. Do you live in a particularly wet climate where flooding and soil erosion are prevalent?
3. Are you looking to add a touch of uniqueness and beauty to your yard and/or property?

If you’ve answered “yes” to any one of the questions above, it’s time to consider installing one.

The Benefits of a Retaining Wall
Retaining walls have a number of uses as well as offer many practical advantages to the homeowner. Generally, the main purpose is to prevent the erosion of sloped earth that may threaten to shift and slide; thereby, potentially damaging or destroying your home or property. They are also particularly effective tools in climates with heavy precipitation, e.g., the Pacific Northwest. Not only will an effective one properly support sloping earth, but it will also act as an effective means of draining water runoff and reducing hydrostatic pressure. Furthermore, they provide a number of agricultural benefits. For warmer, dryer climates, a wall can delay seepage of water from land, and for wetter climates, properly drained walls can divert water from areas prone to flooding.

In addition to practical purposes, these structures maintain a certain aesthetic value as well. As such, adding one may increase the resale value of your home, while also enhancing your own enjoyment of your property. For example, a wall can be constructed in a series of steps or levels, granting you unrestricted creativity to include all kinds of plantings, flowers, or other elements that will a
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dd texture, color, and new life to each successive level. Not to mention, stepped retaining walls have proven to be a more effective form of erosion control.

Retaining Wall Options
Since these structures provide support for vertical grade changes, an effective one must be constructed in such a way as to accommodate and redistribute the lateral pressure caused by sloping. As a result, they vary in size and type, and often include materials like stone, brick, concrete, vinyl, steel, and pressure treated timber.

If you’re brainstorming ideas for a retaining wall, the following are commonly used types.

Gravity retaining walls rely on their mass to hold back pressure. Often these walls are constructed from large pieces of stone, concrete, or other heavy materials that are often a composite of elements including steel, rock, timber, soil, and concrete.

Sheet pile retaining walls are utilized for soft earth and limited space. These walls are typically constructed from thin sheets of steel, vinyl, or wood which are driven into the ground.

Cantilevered retaining walls were more popular before the introduction of gravity walls. These walls are typically taller and fashioned from thin stems of steel-reinforced concrete often cast in the shape of inverted T. In effect, they will “cantilever” loads, diverting pressure downward toward the strong base instead of forward. The advantage to this particular type of wall is that it uses less material than most others.

Anchored retaining walls employ the use of anchors placed behind the wall (into the earth) for support. The size and shape of anchors vary, and a number of different methods are used to place them. They are typically used when either high loads are expected or the wall itself is required to be thin, rendering it too weak to stand alone.

Finally, soil nailing is a technique actually used to reinforce the wall. Usually, a number of relatively slender elements, like steel bars, are installed through the wall at a downward angle. This allows them to be easily modified during the construction process and, typically, built from the top down.

~Richard McNeal, 2009

By: Richard McNeal

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Want more information on materials for a cedar or vinyl retaining wall installation? Visit the Rick’s Custom Fencing website to view several landscaping options and fence materials for Oregon homes and businesses.

If you’ve been keeping up with my blog posts lately you’ll know I’ve come to adding a few news posts from around the web on this subject. I’ve got a couple more today that are new and updated, so let me know what you think of em…

Ex-Portlander Heidi W. Durrow kicks off book tour with paperback …

Password. Remember me. I forgot my username or password ». Don't have an account? Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services: AIM Google OpenID. Site Search. Search Local Business Listings … On an icy night that invited less hardy souls to stay put, some three dozen people turned out at Northeast Portland's Broadway Books to welcome home Heidi W. Durrow as she read from her prize-winning novel, "The Girl Who Fell From The Sky." …

Imagine Your Reality , Archive » My words/themes for the year

For me persistence is continuing to run my business, network, and make sure people know that I exist and can help them…but it also means choosing to be persistent about my projects, to not slack, but instead follow through …

Coast Radio News: Jensen named as First Citizen – sleet in the …

Jensen, who grew up on the Siuslaw River, was an active member of the business community for many years before retiring. He was nominated for the award by Del Phelps who said Jensen's community service began at Florence High School where he … considering banning booing, clapping, and carrying signs at commission meetings. Chairwoman Lynn Peterson says the goal of the draft policy is to make meetings safe, secure and friendly to all. PORTLAND, Ore. …

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Cigars Offer A Respite From Daily Life Stresses

Anyone who watches the news knows of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s love of cigars. He even had a special tent put up outside of the capitol building in Sacramento so that he could enjoy a smoke with special guests. The tent had tables and chairs and bowls of California almonds to snack on and even a chess board for an occasional game with a guest. There was an iPod with music selected for him by some of his staff and an electric small cooler with water and Coke supplied for his guests. His favorite cigars are Cohiba ones now even though in the past he has enjoyed other kinds.

This all seems to have been a ritual, just as in the past, smoking some sort of tobacco was also a ritual, usually to solidify a peace treaty among the various American Indian tribes. Tobacco is only known to have been grown in the Americas before modern times and was used as a money substitute. Tobacco has been found from the Pleistocene Era, two and a half million years ago in Peru.

The Mayas scattered as far as the Mississippi valley and the Toltec s, who created the mighty Incan Empire, borrowed the smoking custom from the Mayas who remained behind. The Mayas who settled in the Mississippi valley shared the tobacco smoking custom with other tribes they met. They believed that their god, the mighty Manitou, revealed himself in the rising smoke used after the evening meal. Tobacco was smoked, chewed and even was infused in an enema by some.

Louis and Clark took tobacco on their exploration trip to the west coast. They divided what they had for Christmas when they reached Oregon with each of their crew and presented the ones who did not smoke with a handkerchief instead. When they ran out, it was stated that they tried using crab tree bark as a substitute. After the Mexican War, there was more of a desire for the darker and richer tobacco use
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d in Latin countries leading to an explosive use of the cigar.

Now, men especially, are building smoking “man caves” in their houses. Building a separate room keeps the rest of the house free from the smell of the smoke and most are equipped with special ventilation. Usually these rooms have easy chairs and a television and have either ceramic or vinyl tile on the floors. This, of course, is not to say that women do not smoke cigars because some do. It was rumored that the elderly Princess of Turn and Taxis in Germany smoked large black cigars.

Cohiba Cuban cigars are actually two kinds of cigars, one produced in Cuba and the other produced in the Dominican Republic from seeds brought from Cuba. Castro gave the ones made in Cuba as gifts to high level officials which is why they eventually developed a cult status. These cigars were produced under high security for him and now this Cohiba brand is known all over the world and is commercially sold. They come in different sizes and are named for that size, such as the Panatella, the Corona Especial, and the Lancero. After the nationalization of the cigar industry in Cuba, many of the cigar makers fled to the Dominican Republic to grow their tobacco and ply their trade.

In this country, there are specialized tobacco stores equipped with humidors that hold the cigars at an even temperature and humidity. People even buy these humidors for use in their homes. Good cigars can be very expensive and must be kept at the proper humidity so that they do not dry out. Also, tobacco beetle eggs are sometimes still in the filler tobacco, and hatch whenever the temperature exceeds eighty two degrees and begin eating their way out of the cigars leaving holes throughout.

Some cigar companies offer cigar rolling parties and provide someone to demonstrate how a cigar is made at your home or office for special guests. You can also have your own blend made just to your taste if you are that sophisticated of a cigar smoker. And you can have special labels made with your name or date of your wedding or the birth of a baby.

Cigar aficionados use special cigar cutters for removing the ends of the cigar and there are expensive special lighters that you can buy either on line or in your local cigar store. Cigars can also be bought in many liquor stores and sometimes even at a supermarket. However, the specialty stores are best for purchasing high quality Cohiba Cuban cigars. Aging improves the cigar and allows for the various tobaccos used to blend and release oils that develop the flavor.

Cigars are all one hundred percent tobacco, as opposed to cigarettes which have paper wrappers and chemical additives. There is either chopped or leaf tobacco on the inside and a whole leaf as the wrapper on the outside. They are tightly rolled.

People enjoy the ritual of smoking cigars nearly as much as actually smoking them. Most roll the cigars in their fingers before cutting the ends, and then after lighting the cigar, they roll the smoke in their mouths to enhance the taste. They watch the ember as the cigar burns and inspect the softly tube shaped ash before knocking it off in the ashtray and then inspect the live ember again and again. As the cigar burns, the flavor deepens and sharpens as less filtering through the filler occurs. You can see the satisfaction on the faces of friends enjoying the cigars together in friendship. They are never inhaled as are cigarettes and pipe smoke. Its all about the taste.

In many ways, this ritual is similar to the passing of a peace pipe by the American Indian tribes long ago. You just do not share a single cigar as these people did the pipe. You share a special blend that is your favorite with friends. It is, after all, a peaceful thing to do.

By: Jordan Rocksmith

Article
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The Cuban Seed is a boutique manufacturer of Cuban cigars
offering Cohiba Cuban cigars for the most discriminating of palates.
(www.thecubanseed.com/cigars/Cohibas)

Many experts in the lighting field believe that the overall outlook for neon signage seems to be very optimistic. Neon signs have a record of 100 years of successful use in advertising. If there were no neon signs cities and towns would be darker places and the neon sign industry would cease to exist, but that is not likely to occur.

Let’s start with some general information about neon such as why it’s used, uses other than advertising, where it’s used here and in other countries, neon signage around the world, and so much more. Everyone knows its main use is for advertising and that’s what keeps the neon sign industry going, but it has many other uses that are beneficial to the public. Enjoy watching TV? Neon is used in in television tubes. Do you have a neon wall clock? Neon lighting is use in the home and in many businesses to enhance and highlight dark areas. It is used in gas lasers is used to remove eye cataracts and for other medical problems. Many people have flown, but did you know this? It has been used in beacons and it has can be seen by pilots have seen it 20 miles away when it was impossible for them to see other kinds of lights. Neon lights can be seen through the fog. Many travelers have found it very helpful when looking for a motel on a foggy night. Neon does all this and more.

However, neon’s biggest and most widely-known use is in neon signs. What makes it so useful for signs? There are two reasons for this. First neon is a first-rate conductor of electricity, and secondly it has the amazing ability to give off light that can be seen at great distances. As hard as it may be to believe neon technology started in Europe in 1675. It’s not that neon signs were invented then but just the idea that would grow into the modern neon sign. In fact, strange as it may seem electricity was not even discovered yet. These two ideas developed independently because neither was dependent upon the other being in place.

It wasn’t until 1910 that in Paris a, man called Georges Claude came up with the idea for neon signs. His first effort was a sign for a barber shop in that city. How and when did they first come to the United States. Earle Anthony, the owner of an auto dealership in Los Angeles, apparently heard about neon signs and visited Paris. The result was two Packard neon signs which he purchased for $1,250. The year was 1923. The idea spread quickly because both businesses and the public took hold of this new concept in advertising. Traditional sign advertising was hit with the brilliant explosion of neon signs. These first signs were called “liquid fire” no doubt because of the bright red light they emitted seem to signify danger.

The first sign that came to Las Vegas was a sign advertising a place called the “Oasis Cafe House”. Who realized then that the city would become one of the country’s two premiere neon signage showcases? It was a notable event but few people, gave much thought other than that.

When discussing neon signage in America the Las Vegas Strip(or “The Strip” as it is often called) and New Yok City’s Times Square are the logical starting points. It is easy to see how they earned their titles. Both receive millions of visitors each year who view neon displays that are almost blinding. Las Vegas may have an edge over Times Square because it receives many more visitors because of its casinos who provide the city’s neon display. In comparison Times Square signs are subject to more frequent changes due to the fact that businesses in that city change often while Las Vegas has casinos that are the mainstay of the city’s revenues and the casinos are always in business.

The Las Vegas Strip is home to a world famous iconic neon sign that was erected in 1959. The sign was the idea of Betty Willis, who worked for a local sign company. The sign contained the words “WELCOME TO Fabulous LAS VEGAS NEVADA”. The sign was never copyrighted because Willis considered it her gift to the city. This sign is synonymous with the City of Las Vegas. The Willis sign is number one on the list of the world’s 10 most impressive neon signages. Las Vegas is also home to the world’s largest neon sign which carries the name Hilton and is owned by the Hilton Hotel Corporation. This sign was erected in 1996 and covers over 70,000 feet, The Hilton name is 164 feet wide and the letters are 28 feet high. At a price tag of approximately $9 billion it could easily be called the world’s most expensive neon sign.

Times Square received its first neon sign in the mid-1920′s. The density of illuminated signs in Times Square has reached the point where it’s beginning to give the Las Vegas Strip a run for its money. This density is the result of the smaller size of Times Square compared to that of the Las Vegas Strip which runs for miles. In any case both of these locations are filled with thousands of signs.

Turning our attention from these two neon showcases there are other places in the Us that have notable neon signs. However, they are naturally not on the same level as the previously mentioned giants of neon signage. In Elk City, Oklahoma at the National Route 66 Museum proudly exhibits the giant iconic Route 66 neon sign. The city of Saginaw, Michigan claims it has the largest neon sign in the state an d the largest figural sign in the nation. Figural neon signs show humans and animals. This neon sign is 35 feet high and fifty feet long.

The list of the top 10 neon signs in this country has many neon signs that are nationally known. Many of them are long gone. They all once brightened a city street. Number one is Boston which had its Schrafftt’s n sign which was a symbol of the company’s candy and chocolate business. Second place on the list went to the “Vegas Vic” sign which was standing tall on the city’s Fremont Strees from 1951 to about 1995 when it was retired.

In number three position is the Great Grain Belt Bear sign in Minneapolis which was used a great many years since it was installed in 1940, and is now up for sale. Fourth is the Coppertone Girl sign that was erected on Miami’s Biscayne Boulevard to advertise the company’s product, suntan lotion. It was a city landmark and was there from 1959 to the 1990′s. What made the sign so noticeable was the puppy that was tugging on the little girl’s bathing suit. Next on the list is the Skipping Girl sign from Abbotsford, Australia. She was called”Little Audrey” and she advertised the Nycander Company’s product, sugar. She was gone in 1968 but due to the public’s outrage at the loss of this landmark she was replaced by a replica in 1970. Portland, Oregon’s “Made in Oregon” sign which advertised sugar was erected in 1941. It was changed over the years and remained in place when the company left the building in the 1950′s.

The Westinghouse Company’s sign in Pittsburgh to the number seven spot. It had been up since the early 1920′s and was taken down in 1998. Taking the number eight place is the Magikist’s Company of Chicago with its sign advertising carpets. The 41,400 pound lips on this sign were regarded as a city landmark However, all of the previous neon signs mentioned are gone. The number nine sign, the Reno Arch in Reno, Nevada which was built in 1927 and is still going strong. Last on the list is the Traveler’s Insurance umbrella sign which can be found in Des Moines, Iowa. It was built in 1963 and still in operation.

No mention of neon signs would be complete without including a list of the world’s 10 most impressive examples of neon signage. It should be of no surprise that number one on the list is the iconic WELCOME TO Fabulous LAS VEGAS, NEVADA neon signage. This is followed by the Times Square display. Third place goes to Hong Kong’s 15 minute entire skyline light show, The next spot belongs to Osaka’s Dotonbun signage which was the inspiration for the move, “The Blade Runner”. Shanghai’s Najinj Road takes position number five with Tokyo’s Ginza and Shibuya occupying the number six place. The Vegas Boneyard (where old and iconic Las Vegas signs are restored and displayed) is next. This is followed by the signage showing Vintage Times Square neon signs from the 1920′s to the 1950′s.

As for the last two on the list the Caesar’s Palace neon signage is in ninth place and Bankok’s soi cowboy road completes the list. It is interesting to note at this point that at an earlier time London’s world famous Piccadilly Circus would have most certainly come in near the top of this list. It received what many have called the first neon sign to come to Europe, a popular soft drink sign, which was replaced a new version in 2003. However, today all of the neon signs in Piccadilly Circus are on one building with the names all being large international corporations.

Many organizations have sprung up in all parts of this country. Their purpose to to collect, restore, and exhibit old classic neon and iconic neon signs. One of these is the Neon Museum of Philadelphia which opened in 1983 and shows neon signs from businesses. The Neon Museum in Las Vegas has iconic neon signs from closed casinos and businesses. It has more than 150 historic restored and non-restored neon signs. It is non-profit and was established in 1996. The American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, Ohio was founded in 1999 and is asid to have over 2,800 signs of all types including neon. The Los Angeles Neon Museum opened its doors in 1981 with the intention of preserving old neon signs and other forms of neon art. In a related vein a gallery and workshop called Let There Be Light opened up in New York City in 1972 to train artists how to use neon.

After illuminated sign usage started in the United States other cities followed although at a much slower pace. Tokyo seems to be one of the first cities outside of the United States to get them. They were installed in a city park in 1926. Australia’s first one appeared in a Melbourne suburb in 1930. Johannesburg, South Africa got its first one in 1935. India didn’t get its first one until about 1940. Shanghai, China had to wait until 1982 to get its first one. Puskin Square in Moscow got its first sign in 1989. It was a popular soft drink sign. Stockholm. Sweden received its first one around 1936. On the other hand, Zurich Switzerland is reputed to have no neon signs.

Even so, their are some cities in the world that have banned the use of neon signs within their jurisdictions. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, trying to combat his country;s growing power problem, banned them and brightly-lit billboards. In January 2010 the city of Sao Paulo, Brazil, which is the world’s fourth largest city, banned them to try and stop its rising pollution problem. In the US in 1996 the town of Avon, Connecticut passed an ordinance banning the use of what they called exposed tubes, but neon signs encased in plastic were alright to use. The town’s residents questioned the reasoning behind this ordinance. More recently a ban against the production and sale of illuminated tubes has gone into effect in Vermont and Massachusetts with other states looking to follow suit. Illuminated tubes not using mercury are permitted.

The city of Madrid, Spain, has an ordinance that prohibits all illuminated signs in the city’s center so as to reduce contamination, conserve energy, and to make the city more aesthetically pleasant. This ordinance covers all neon used in pharmacies, theater marquees, business signs, and bars. Madrid had had illuminated signs for over 70 years up to this point.The city of Duluth, Georgia prohibits neon signs, and even though these signs are not prohibited in Mesa, Arizona the city’s present day ordinances and policies weigh heavily against the survival of illuminated signs.

Starting in the 1960′s there was a movement in the United States and Canada against illuminated signs. The city of Vancouver banned the use of these signs on what once were brilliantly-lit streets which then became dark passageways that left the city with a cold, heartless, look.

Since we are talking about neon signs it might be a good thought to get an idea about the neon sign industry. In 2008 neon sign company total revenues were about $2.9 billion. The sign industry, as a whole, had revenues of about $11 billion. At that time there were some 35,00 sign shops, including illuminated sign shops, in this country. These amounts have grown in thw succeeding years.

What is a commercial neon sign worth? That’s really hard to say. However, when it comes to prices collectors might pay for them there are some figures available that show what they have paid for highly-prized illuminated signs. In fact, in June of 2006, at a memorabilia sale a Thunderbird Hotel illuminated sign sold for $26,000., while one that said Cloud 9 sold for $21,275., and the star part of a Holiday Inn sign went for $3,220. This shows what people are willing to pay for collectible neon signs. Prices for the commercial kind vary according to size and other factors.

Now it’s time to compare neon signs with another form of lighting, LED. Before getting into the advantages and disadvantages of these two methods as they pertain to their commercial use.

Let’s start by seeing what LED is and some information about it. The letters LED mean light emitting diodes. LED was first used as a replacement for incandescent indicators and for laboratory equipment displays. Later on it was used in television sets, watches, radios, indicators, and calculators. It isn’t only until recently that LED prices have dropped allowing for sales to residential and commercial markets. Outdoor lights and Christmas lights are part of LED home lighting products. With the energy crisis in effect and some foreign countries looking for ways to reduce energy costs LED lighting companies can probably look forward to a profitable future when it comes to their products.

Now that we have a working knowledge of LED lighting is we can make a fairer comparison to neon signs as we mention the good points and the bad points of each. The basis for comparison is the use of the two lighting methods in advertising.

First, with regards to neon sign usage the advantages are as follows – they have a very long life when used properly, neon has a very high operating range and can run on on very high voltages using AC or DC current, they don’t always require special power supplies, and these signs have a very low power consumption. A unique advantage, only enjoyed by neon signs, is that they can be made into any shape. This very important advantage, the ability to be bent into shape makes it ideal for use in advertising, wall clocks, and lighting for homes and businesses. Finally, it’s inexpensive for small indicators and decorative lights.

Neon signs also have their disadvantages. They have low light output for input power, only produce a small range of the color spectrum, make only one color at a time, require a large surface area to be used for general lighting, and is expensive for use as signs and displays.

The advantages of using LED lights are these – the US Department of Energy expects the cost of producing LEDs to decline below that of compact fluorescent lamps called CELs in about 2013, high level of energy efficiency, more durable, extended product lifetime, and reduced heat load to the space(an added benefit from reduced energy usage).

The disadvantages of using LED lighting include the “warm” lighting generated by LEDs is more expensive than “cold” lighting, LEDs are more expensive than some more traditional lighting concepts, limited selection and options, color quality, and lack of product standardization.

The purpose of this article was to provide on the many topics related to neon signs that are not often known by the general public. What the future holds for each of these kinds of lighting is hard to predict. By just referring to the material presented the most reasonable answer might be that both of them will be in use for some time to come, but that could easily change due to improved designs and advances that either could develop, changes in the economy, or any one of a number of other factors. Both industries have very large financial resources and will do whatever it takes to obtain the greater share of the signage market.

In the final analysis there are two basic factors that will influence the sign industry with regard to profits and investment. Businesses want to employ whatever method that works the most successful for them. Consideration of future advancements in technology with regards to each form of lighting, prices, and many other factors is crucial plus examining the advantages and disadvantages of each. Another idea is which one draws a better response from the buying public. This could well be the deciding factor. Like all industries these two competitors will undoubtedly look to marketing research studies as a reliable guide to their decision making. Each of these two systems has only one goal in common and that is the same as any business or company and that is to try and make the right decisions that bring in the most money and that’s the name of the game.

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Joseph Tedesco attended schools in New Jersey and Florida and holds degrees in business and education. He has taught in both elementary and high schools. He has been involved in real estate management and sales. Mr. Tedesco has operated summer businesses in New Jersey’s summer resorts. He has traveled extensively in the US and other countries. He has worked for several large corporations. He is married and has a son. He likes to travel and exchange ideas with those he meets. Mr. Tedesco belongs to several organizations and is involved with his family in charitable work. He likes to read non-fiction books about the government, government agencies, and early American history. His favorite presidents are George Washington and Thomas Jefferson.

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Tips For Winter Deck Building

Winter may seem like an odd time to think about building a deck, but there are several benefits to starting a decking project now. Demand for contractors is low during this time of year, which means your deck can be completed more quickly, and sometimes at a lower cost. Plus, your deck will be installed and ready to go before spring begins.

Benefits of Building a Deck in Winter

Lower labor costs. Most people aren’t concerned with outdoor building projects such as cedar deck during the winter. Thus, skilled contractors are more readily available and may even be willing to complete a project for a lower price in order to drum up extra business. In addition, reduced employee turnover and the lack of labor bonuses in winter can also result in savings on labor costs, which the contractor may be willing to pass along to you.

Cheaper materials. With a drastically reduced demand for decking materials, wholesalers may be willing to offer contractors a deal in order to encourage winter building. Additionally, transportation companies that might have reduced seasonal rates during this time of year in order to make up for the busier seasons, and the savings are passed on to the contractors.

Earlier return on investment. Because expert contractors often have fewer demands on their time in the winter, they can complete a decking project more quickly without skimping on workmanship. When you build a deck during the winter, the most skilled contractors will often offer their services for the same rate as a novice contractor would charge during the spring or summer.

Stimulate the local economy. By building a deck during the off-season, you’re putting money into the hands of contractors, laborers and suppliers during a time when funds are usually tight. This helps the community as well as the individuals, allowing th
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e construction industry as a whole to provide better services at a better cost.

Things to Keep in Mind

Staining. If you build a cedar deck during the winter, keep in mind you’ll need to wait a while before applying deck stain, particularly if you live in a high-precipitation area. It’s important to allow your new deck to dry out over a stretch of warm, sunny weather, as any moisture remaining in the wood will prevent the stain from penetrating properly. Stain your deck in the spring, after you’ve had some warm weather but before the hot, sunny days kick in.

Permits. As with any deck building project, find out whether you need a permit for construction. Work with your contractor to ensure all of your legal bases are covered.

If you’re looking to install a new cedar deck this year, it’s not too early to get your project started. By building a deck during the winter, you can often get a quality contractor for a bargain price and have your new deck ready to go come spring.

By: Ben Anton

Article Directory: http://www.articledashboard.com

Want to learn more about building a cedar deck during the Northwest winter? Contact Rick’s Custom Fencing & Decking, the leading supplier of composite and cedar decking materials for Washington and Oregon homes.

Portland Architecture: Micro hydro in Gresham

Gresham sewage treatment plant (image courtesy Business Journal) In the current January 7 edition of the Portland Business Journal, Lee Van Der Voo reports that the City of Gresham has found a way to power about 80 percent of its…

Promopeddler Takes Home Another Top 100 Award and Claims Eighth …

Promopeddler.com, a company featuring the largest online catalog of promotional products, received their third consecutive award for placing in the Portland Business Journal's 100 Top Private Fastest Growing companies. …

‘Circulus’ mini-velodrome finds a home in Portland – BikePortland.org

Sign me up for help, support of any kind, etc… I trust Dan will employ this track as a fresh center for straight-ahead debauchery and bedlam in the ever softening and well-behaved Pacific Northwest. …. Just added Portland's newest bike- related business, Portland Bike Refinishing, to our links list – http://pbrbikes.com/home.html 24 mins ago; Wow. some very good/huge news about a bunch of connected bike/walk projects in North Portland. Story coming in an hour or so. …

Hope you enjoy the read as much as I did and please if you have something to say, use the comments form below to let everyone know your thoughts.

Have a great day!

Gooseneck outdoor lighting will add curb appeal to your store setting at night. These lights are terrific for showcasing a business logo that you are trying to advertise to the general public. Gooseneck lights will give your commercial setting the perfect touch of gorgeous illumination it requires. Gooseneck outdoor lighting comes in a variety of colors and styles.

Angle shade Gooseneck lighting is very popular to use as sign lighting. The owner of Design of the Interior (DOTI) located in Lake Oswego, Oregon used sign lighting fixtures which are now visible in all thirty- five stores in the country. They use Verona Illuminata sign brackets along the sidewalk to maximize visibility.

DOTI Global Sourcing is the premier sourcing agent for furnishings, fixtures, and equipment within any commercial facility. They manage the entire project for the client including interior design and installation. In fact even they are already well- known to their clients, they still advertise their store through premise signage for public interest. They believe that signage can increase their sales and revenue.

Gooseneck outdoor lighting is designed to provide illumination of signs and accent points on the exterior of the building. This is very ideal for restaurants, taverns or nightclubs looking to provide more exterior accents. It is often use in downtown redevelopment projects and malls. Gooseneck sign lighting is often used above awnings to brighten up the front of the hotel, restaurant, cafe or store without sending too much pollution upwards.

Sign lighting is sometimes taken into for granted by some businesses. They mistakenly believe that sign lighting is not necessary especially at night. In fact there is a huge visibility oversight, while potential customers walk and drive by businesses 24 hours a day. A well- lit sign using gooseneck lighting will welcome customers to the business 24 hours a day even if it is not open.

Many commercial owners these days are now focused in creating an intelligent light design scheme for their business. One of the best way to achieve maximum visibility is to implement some specialty outdoor sign light fixture to tell others about your services and your company.

Jose Emmanuel Almirante is an author for Sign Bracket Store. He gives tips and information on unique signage ideas for your store or business with an emphasis on lighting products such as, Gooseneck lighting, Gooseneck lights, Gooseneck Outdoor lighting and sign blanks.

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