Springfield News-Sun; No Longer Relevant, No Longer Local

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfu2MtuDMT0_SC_z9uBNrCX3VLk-3p1yGWwM0fz9OvuzhdNJW9oOEDSYp9QeA4x-gN-40VAQj-dw20DKfWliTz0SVF2pwred2-wZ1ZDkx0gy7Y0vp2d_VR2nY-qdxvQFGluRpSIIBcQY/s1600/Springfield+News-Sun.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="341" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfu2MtuDMT0_SC_z9uBNrCX3VLk-3p1yGWwM0fz9OvuzhdNJW9oOEDSYp9QeA4x-gN-40VAQj-dw20DKfWliTz0SVF2pwred2-wZ1ZDkx0gy7Y0vp2d_VR2nY-qdxvQFGluRpSIIBcQY/s400/Springfield+News-Sun.jpg" width="400" /></a>Cheeeeers, and here with the daily headlines from Bagwine, Ohio is IWS co-host and gadabout town, man about town with your Bagwine, Ohio daily news, Matt-Man.<br /><br />I would like to able to type that in, and mean it, but alas, I cannot.  And do you know why?  Of course you don’t, so please allow me to tell you why.<br /><br />I would like to get my hometown news from our hometown newspaper the <i>Springfield News-Sun,</i> and pass on any interesting local stories contained within the Gray Lady of Bagwine unto you, however…<br /><br />My hometown newspaper, the <i>Springfield News-Sun</i> is no longer local.  It is no longer relevant.  It is no longer the daily ledger of note on which upon its pages, contains the goings on of my city.<br /><br />It has become merely an arm of advertising for Cox Publishing, whose flagship newspaper in this area, is the <i>Dayton Daily News</i>, so what do we now get in our “hometown” paper?  Uh-huh…Dayton daily news.<br /><br />I understand the economics of newspapers.  In this digital age, printed newspapers are to information what Catholic monks were to the Gutenberg press, but c’mon <i>Springfield News-Sun</i> and Cox Publishing…<br /><br />Have a S<i>pringfield News-Sun</i> that reflects the news, notes, and information that is relevant to Springfield, or?<br /><br />If your printed papers of several communities are going to be bellowed out of the Dayton news factory, could you at least hire local folks to keep your websites updated with current local news?<br /><br />Oy Vay…the content on the Springfield News-Sun website is less timely and less topical than Yakov Smirnoff’s appearance in the movie, Buckaroo Banzai, and nearly as dry as his stand-up appearances in Branson, MO.<br /><br />I have felt this way for a long time, but here’s what finally propelled me to write on this topic.<br /><br />On Saturday December 1st, the front page of the <i>Springfield News-Sun</i> sports page featured an in-depth story about a high school basketball game that took place on Friday night.<br /><br />I love it…I love high school basketball…but here’s the problem Mr. and/or Mrs. Cox Publishing…<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52eNgWE-w6A7RT7lesBSs6Bh_t4Rsxt9jSHbNNm7PKcydZATFsb_Xnz5ZfevbZmes2-fLo7ExMVJxynJAcuIIeHDKSZySRxg0YPJmT2cKVe_m38g8tZsUUz_xOkkxEjHUSxPCsYInU-Y/s1600/dayton-daily-news-media-center-dayton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh52eNgWE-w6A7RT7lesBSs6Bh_t4Rsxt9jSHbNNm7PKcydZATFsb_Xnz5ZfevbZmes2-fLo7ExMVJxynJAcuIIeHDKSZySRxg0YPJmT2cKVe_m38g8tZsUUz_xOkkxEjHUSxPCsYInU-Y/s400/dayton-daily-news-media-center-dayton.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>The game written about was between Chaminade-Julienne and Greenview, neither of which are in Springfield, nor even in Clark County.  Do you really think the 145,000 or so people in Springfield and Clark County care about that game?<br /><br />Of course you know we don’t, but you don’t care, because in this area, Cox Publishing covers Dayton exclusively, and uses Springfield, Middletown, Hamilton and other smaller city newspapers as advertising dumps.<br /><br />Oh sure, each city paper gets a fill-in space here and there, but your newspaper “journalism” is directed by a template and formula that caters not to the local reader, but to the advertising that goes along with your radio and TV stations within the Cox Media Group.<br /><br />The only things local and relevant about the Springfield News-Sun anymore are the obituaries and the pizza coupons, other than that, us yokels here in Bagwine only know for sure that last Friday, CJ defeated Greenview in basketball.<br /><br />And we also know...<br /><br />That the Cox Media Group made its monthly advertising quota.<br /><br /><i>Cheers!!</i><br /><br />Matt-Man<br /><i><a href="mailto:mattmaniws@yahoo.com">mattmaniws@yahoo.com</a></i><br /><i><a href="https://twitter.com/MattMan_IWS" target="_blank"><span style="color: blue;">@mattman_iws</span></a></i></div>

Springfield News-Sun; No Longer Relevant, No Longer Local

Cheeeeers, and here with the daily headlines from Bagwine, Ohio is IWS co-host and gadabout town, man about town with your Bagwine, Ohio dai...

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Home Free

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1KNT-mJu-vZNJhxO2dn2jPYF6Avv3XpWhCYqtQsYfo_s64oZrx-Rmt119lqTaKCLNnwr1l0PPs4CIrJk-juXs8PxlZnfDMyg_cb3quI_swaMu_d-6eEtdZ8vsOc9t_cvT6PCuk-cnMo/s1600/home+free+cookies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN1KNT-mJu-vZNJhxO2dn2jPYF6Avv3XpWhCYqtQsYfo_s64oZrx-Rmt119lqTaKCLNnwr1l0PPs4CIrJk-juXs8PxlZnfDMyg_cb3quI_swaMu_d-6eEtdZ8vsOc9t_cvT6PCuk-cnMo/s320/home+free+cookies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Even though I am eating healthy and exercising I still love to have something sweet, especially chocolate! I received these in my Healthy Surprise box and was craving chocolate so I grabbed a glass of milk and the cookies.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Let me tell you, if you love chocolate and are watching your weight, or have any kind of Gluten allergy then these are for you! They are so good, it's unbelievable.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> They are bite sized chocolaty, crunchy cookies and really helps with the sweet craving! They are the best cookies I have had in a long time! <a href="http://www.homefreetreats.com/"></a></div>

Home Free

Even though I am eating healthy and exercising I still love to have something sweet, especially chocolate! I received these in my Healthy Su...

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30 Days of Google #12: How to send a message and share a circle using Google+

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google circles are a feature of Google+ and they can be very useful for keeping in contact with a group of people. For example I have a circle called Google PD clan.</span><br /><br /><strong><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">How I send a message to the Google PD clan</span></strong><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever I want to send something to that group this is what I would do:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. In my Google+ stream I would write a message. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitljOIfpvghJtSGh-VaS-eumP9zkyHD0HYkHhixo-ZXjEG8Afe7LBASl9gR85uIJwnLd0F9FA7yleFaRJv3VedrCS9ZmT2PNuPtvl6O11gevMQY1PD9Xi6kyfP8BTvA8ps5A55iWakkHE/s1600-h/image4%25255B1%25255D.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7ize3J6u8YG1f3E0gzYvqrQma08_obilu94-j983Zj6cA-zAE2MegFsWiXG6m-xRGtGnqSkTHirKPmf4vBCTUvALXGHsjGztcdtSOyQN8_mnQDQgIX1_1JwS_Iv5bSAOLJ1AWd08L5A/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Decide which circle or person I am going to send it to, select them and press ‘Share’ (in this case to a circle called  Google PD clan)</span>.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdDH_KeC8bMidwkpQQ3o6c0WEpHppcxBIlDUN88ISE6dmI8k3afKktyV05FSolz6jIlox60m8xh1jGS0tS344eoxMnLSRQotswiSxJS2geIwpI7Ur7QrLpboNB692KdkpbIlMQEQafpN8/s1600-h/image8.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_0DddR6meyhMuKl_zZ1OjAU4if7fqCYHS6XjiuAGAlBJAvZxtnPPakR8CIS5f4xa7UDcgcSlmuMey6D8_7eYGZarE90qNkTTXVKHoezx0U3kVTymha7oobJ5ZpRyrjBqr3KUS83-_rog/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>How would I share the whole circle with the Google PD clan? </b></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If one creates a specific circle for a specific purpose (such as my 'Google PD clan' circle),  I could actually share my my whole circle with the group members.  To do this I would choose the option to '<i>share a circle'</i>.  The group members would then receive the shared circle option/invite but would have to accept it and name it.  </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPDjH8pPWmaekMSBvFaWo17r21S0gxjZCJTd_0MjbCTCzrbkfVAt0mEh-AlFmi7PA-aS_DqermKMjk6xTWIEA6zg9IpUvL1JfoK8J8c7CLxIRBrEHQr-ReCliHghVh8ovY0sAHswQPByE/s1600-h/image35.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image" border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipLBUgR-zj4CzWCxSvQYx1-twd2GFx1lzyNNvHdtKqH8Ar4Lex1tlHUmmFrqFOPyKgK9RXP2j2G1qc-saNP-4LrfuGzARxpYNfdq27wHiDnx8jPqV7lifkhYgtWbp-RQrKUR7qGevLXbI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image" width="242" /></a></div><br /><u><br /></u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why not try sharing a circle?</span><br /><u><br /></u></div>

30 Days of Google 30 Days of Google #12: How to send a message and share a circle using Google+

Google circles are a feature of Google+ and they can be very useful for keeping in contact with a group of people. For example I have a circ...

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30 Days of Google #11: How to create a new circle in Google+

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Google+ works on the concept of circles each with the level of privacy that you decide on. This post shows you how to create a circle after you have completed your profile in Google+.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. Make sure you have joined Google+ (on the top left of your Gmail account) and have filled in your profile.After doing that go to your Google+ page and go down the left side till you get to Circles. Click on ‘Create a circle’. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEdYRP8lnZD3Dnrxu9zhGStq95PBwN_cqoufDOMSIREQfbyzovEKuaY39_ufKZB_62k3lwDfDBV6qQnEBW_f8CkgM-aUPysjlNyVKhvjlJ9GjDTGnUQO2AoDeD_erET4lBDTJLV91g_c/s1600-h/image_thumb62.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[6]" border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJJfGCr7qYXAGsTB_LPLX02-fobenzVEG3ovt88JbhpvBXCq6KleYPfWWPkZpPdP4l8soIt4DVGB94lcfu3hG6F7bN4UMEKwgM69sZf8iBydfOyoMv4iMu8gkRK_WSanL4rYECF-AN9t8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[6]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2. Give your circle a name i.e. My technology friends</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDvCsQnIp0XYBrGlAxnMCoq_xaBhxWzvT8aE7UItCl43HMYj1w1M3u4W7m9FqtjABbBG_fRdNVO6X1mvKIACM28U0syLwIyj3fAGjKLPjcR5thBnl0V0dbtJRotC1Xgwikm34dx78I7xo/s1600-h/image_thumb82.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[8]" border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRWa2ezgbIdPNuksQVNVJYxjorvd9QF-rL9USzoSyoJ890zCmU8_oYuQ_NBCRhfaX0V7v86bES_9WhBcMhDKWXbJ6qVccuXp7lgkHRwaByLcOfn4fdMwzZMu-gsBGvsRtbNO35dTBfo8/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[8]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. Now choose how you are going to find people for your circle. Click on ‘Add a new person’</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbinMc06TcGxHFZEA63PFSSrcNdU2e7ecnVRuIWf868r0aLoR9K2kYGbQoxMoOtJ2eSTPpsp_WHk64kGiQqcV1OTiNx9p3UZs4k3GbRViHqbAWWtw0j57qVqV7ZezK2CiQnW411r0yqjE/s1600-h/image_thumb102.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[10]" border="0" height="118" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKRoGBh7kT2hvaMQwiYepOXFb-jgpUqqbdPM-MulCKEmkYuL-63FC_5IUPCHDHIdst1FrRqAFEbq5IMHeie3zdabtS9UjiNLnlnkx_c2qav00Imciko7GqhANItzG8FAi0mpcF-5oiYSI/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[10]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. A number of selections will come up in which case you click on the picture you recognise.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZQDe-ZTxa_G7s_f9TcHYDT4BXA9MDAZCrkwpy8d6_3HW7ReTUT7NstCoZTYhXg0A5mDxMSOGTjHElFZDoVhAuPXPeOpVOgAiv9b9alAbUkjs0TSIRCMinO7RA_Ow_f3nmjM9PPW1hrNA/s1600-h/image_thumb122.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[12]" border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOzIROZQr9g1FL9odxoJBr1cGDtVBy0zjfMrho62LAl-Ok5BMgs14ZKBXmUdrBtvXLHuVo6gkZWi9QI22-B0kAboGyC2M2XkmZMbW4YM7ERZXVyjQxffqjdRmHSYUbnJBj2AtLttSyMo/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[12]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. However if you don’t know the person which is possible in our case rather use the email address and only one person will show up. Click on the name and add that person.</span><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRuQxANVbx_GJGTjfuH8VP5P31Eu3O5drk7AXKmXK11Ywc5BBiKFIBstTjbDUOdt2aZ2sCcV1lx4K8ps3vuSEtZIvcvm5Vpw_2qgwRSPWw682F3bwpqYoSvYTFmKIHPcEkmcNpRcsilDU/s1600-h/image_thumb152.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="image_thumb[15]" border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCVZ8WyOGb4X3FuLUubuWzO1nLD1HsPlFyTCTM7utxQ1FS6FGfwNfBKhf21VqNBgf2rrTsCab-GQ4Y7glwnG9k6jANZ_4iimw0eRBWrXqHTUEINrIO4wmjPQJ47G7oCPt9CUmH-5cUtuY/?imgmax=800" style="background-image: none; border-width: 0px; display: inline; margin: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="image_thumb[15]" width="242" /></a></div><br /><strong><br /></strong><strong><br /></strong><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why not create a circle following the steps above? (Choose a few folk that you know have gmail addresses.)  Then send a message to that circle. To reinforce your learning about circles, here is a video that explains it really well.</span><br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/QNXd9DAhcZw" width="420"></iframe><br />Further reading<br /><a href="http://www.wikihow.com/Create-Circles-in-Google%2B">How to create circles in Google+</a></div>

30 Days of Google 30 Days of Google #11: How to create a new circle in Google+

Google+ works on the concept of circles each with the level of privacy that you decide on. This post shows you how to create a circle after ...

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Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 12/03/2012

<ul class="diigo-linkroll"> <li> <p class="diigo-link"> <a href="http://www.economist.com/blogs/analects/2012/12/microblogging-and-world?fsrc=scn/tw/te/bl/intweetable">Microblogging and the world: Intweetable | The Economist</a> </p> <p class="diigo-description">"OF THE 264 Twitter accounts belonging to governments and world leaders, and the 350,289 tweets that have been sent from those accounts to their 51,990,656 followers, not a single one was sent by a Chinese leader." says the Economist in their blog about China. In a fascinating article that accuses Chinese leaders of a sort of "state led autism" it talks about how one major social media outlet (Twitter) is ignored and blocked by the Great Firewall of China but how their news service is now not only tweeting but linking to YouTube videos (which is also blocked.) The Economist uses this as a fascinating example of how being so insular is going to harm and ultimately limit the rise of China. If you follow China and current events, whether you like Twitter or not, this is a fascinating read and one you may want to bring to your students as well.</p> <p class="diigo-tags"> <span>tags:</span> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/twitter">twitter</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/teaching">teaching</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/government">government</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/government_teacher">government_teacher</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/currentevents">currentevents</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/social_media">social_media</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/china">china</a> <a href="http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher/tumblr">tumblr</a></p> </li> </ul><p class="diigo-ps">Posted from <a href='http://www.diigo.com'>Diigo</a>. The rest of my favorite links are <a href='http://www.diigo.com/user/coolcatteacher'>here</a>.</p>

Teach This! Teaching with lesson plans and ideas that rock 12/03/2012

Microblogging and the world: Intweetable | The Economist "OF THE 264 Twitter accounts belonging...

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Healthy Surprise

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgBbiiH3tatOIZD5qZzwcbSQ2hP6ce9HGmjQGQQWB5-db9PK5Apd_2IsAQQKMfZU2vHfA3q0DjbfVugv-RLAGTXcHx0wgv4e7uq0psZdlxgxshyphenhyphenYIyc31Ldwi3Kza0lEtLOhh6wLdgrI/s1600/healthy+surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZgBbiiH3tatOIZD5qZzwcbSQ2hP6ce9HGmjQGQQWB5-db9PK5Apd_2IsAQQKMfZU2vHfA3q0DjbfVugv-RLAGTXcHx0wgv4e7uq0psZdlxgxshyphenhyphenYIyc31Ldwi3Kza0lEtLOhh6wLdgrI/s320/healthy+surprise.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">As a child I was always overweight and constantly dieting and exercising as well throughout my teen years. Just last year I decided this is it, I don't want to be this way anymore and made a change. I joined Curves and have lost a total of 74 pounds. I am still eating right and going to Curves. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I love some of the new healthy snacks I've found recently through a site called Healthy Surprise, think of it as Whole Foods grocery store in a box mailed to your house! When the box showed up one day on the doorstep I was so excited to see what was inside so I dug right in, and wow was I surprised or what with all of the goodies that they sent me! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> Some of the products I have tried I loved! In the box I received: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><b>That's It Fruit Bars</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>A Lara Bar brownie </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Cocmocorn caramel popcorn</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Hail Mary Almonds </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Gone Nuts (cashews,almonds and cacao bits)</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>bag of Kale Crunch</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Bobo's Oat bread </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Coconut and Apricot bar</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b> Cocoroons Apple pie flavor</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> The best thing about this is it's a monthly subscription and you can get healthy snacks delivered to your door.</div>

Healthy Surprise

As a child I was always overweight and constantly dieting and exercising as well throughout my teen years. Just last year I decided this i...

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Looking for a job: Your wants versus needs

<br /><div class="ArticleHeadline" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; margin-top: -30px; text-align: left;"><div class="hdr_org_bld" style="color: #ff6600; font: normal normal bold 18px/normal arial, helvetica;"><h1 id="articleHeadline" style="color: #000066; font-size: 18px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span id="cbArticle_lblHeadline">Looking for a job: Your wants versus needs</span></h1></div><b><span id="cbArticle_lblByLine">By Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer</span></b><br /><div class="cb_share_more_wrapper"></div></div><br style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;" /><div class="ArticleContent" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; text-align: left;"><div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" class="media-image" src="http://artstg.icbdr.com/sites/all/files/styles/large/public/Requirements%20vs%20like--to-haves_0.jpg" typeof="foaf:Image" /></div>When you're job searching, it can sometimes seem like you're in a dysfunctional relationship. It's always about what the companies want and what you're willing to compromise to make them happy. Consider this your intervention: You're in this relationship, too, and it's time to start asking for what you want.<br />When evaluating a position, decide what's on your list of requirements and what items are preferred, but not necessary. This will help you get what you want and increase your chances for long-term career happiness and success.<br /><br /><strong>Career path </strong><br />Are you moving closer to your dream job? When looking for a job, consider what direction you want to take your career. Doing so can help you narrow down which jobs to consider. Ask yourself: Is this relevant to my educational background, does this get me a step further in my career, or can it open up new doors for me? Is having a career important, or am I looking for a job strictly to pay the bills?<br /><br /><strong>Dress code</strong><br />Is your <a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/find-the-job/8-jobs-for-fashionistas/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;">inner fashionista</a> a factor in the job you're seeking? Dress code can have more of an impact on career satisfaction than you may think. Does the position you're looking for require you to wear a uniform? Will you be expected to wear a suit most of the time? How much of your salary are you willing to spend on work clothes? Consider what you'd prefer to wear, and look for companies that are compatible with your style.<br /><br /><strong>Education </strong><br />Some companies offer tuition reimbursement and other educational opportunities to their employees, including access to seminars, workshops and certifications. Research the companies that interest you, and find out what they offer. While you'll typically find more opportunities at larger companies, organizations of any size may provide some degree of training.<br /><br /><strong>Insurance and benefits</strong><br />Are you on somebody else's insurance plan, or are you looking for a job with health benefits? Determine which type of insurance you'd prefer and which benefits may not be as important to you. This will help you figure out what questions to ask hiring managers when discussing benefits.<br /><br /><strong>Location</strong><br />Are you willing to relocate for a great job? Is commuting an option for you? Or are you more interested in staying local? Being more flexible may give you more opportunities in your job search. Also, consider if working from home is an option. Is it realistic, and do you have the self-discipline to work independently?<br /><br /><strong>Salary</strong><br />Do you have a certain income that you need to make to pay the bills? How flexible are your salary requirements? Although salary negotiations don't usually happen until after you receive a job offer, keep in mind what kind of budget you have and what your paycheck needs to be.<br /><br /><strong>Travel</strong><br />Are you looking for a job in which you can travel? Consider how much you'd be willing to travel for a job. Some positions require driving long distances or flying, while others only require working at one location.<br /><br /><strong>Wellness opportunities</strong><br />Wellness opportunities such as paid gym memberships or bicycles are increasingly being offered to employees to encourage healthy lifestyles and keep insurance costs low. Are you interested in better managing your well-being? Determine whether the companies you're researching offer wellness opportunities to their employees.<br /><br />After you decide what you want out of your job, you'll have a clearer picture of what positions you should be seeking and which companies offer the most relevant benefits. The key to any good relationship is being honest about what you want and working to get it.<br /><br /><em>Susan Ricker is a writer and blogger for </em><a href="http://www.careerbuilder.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;"><em>CareerBuilder.com</em></a><em> and its job blog, </em><a href="http://www.theworkbuzz.com/" style="color: #666666; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><em>The Work Buzz</em></a><em>. She researches and writes about job search strategy, career management, hiring trends and workplace issues.</em></div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />

Looking for a job: Your wants versus needs

Looking for a job: Your wants versus needs By Susan Ricker, CareerBuilder Writer When you're job searching, it can sometimes seem like y...

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from coast to coast

Happy Monday everybody!<br /><br />It's like spring here today and I'm loving it. The girls and I are going to go outside for a nice long w-a-l-k (shhh. we can't say walk out loud, it sends the dog into hysterics) to the park and finish some outdoor christmas prep. But before we head out I wanted to share a quick before and after with you.<br /><br />Nothing too crazy, but something that has bugged me for years.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizejWnLNDbrSYakaoyOPwoRSTqkiRHZgKA0P_eV6n2NhdjiXf73oZt2Dvq7F1vBIfB3aVsIPLhTLG5G_TKO9vlp7SUio2lHn3AoQDO2VA7fR3PRpytWUKghyphenhyphenirU314s0YL-QT3YG5OtWYk/s1600/P8189130.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizejWnLNDbrSYakaoyOPwoRSTqkiRHZgKA0P_eV6n2NhdjiXf73oZt2Dvq7F1vBIfB3aVsIPLhTLG5G_TKO9vlp7SUio2lHn3AoQDO2VA7fR3PRpytWUKghyphenhyphenirU314s0YL-QT3YG5OtWYk/s640/P8189130.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />The stairway down to our finished basement/family room/playroom/doesn't-get-cleaned-often room. It is hard to tell from the picture (as it's an awkward place to photograph) but it is just a big huge vast space of...nothing. And nothing drives me bonkers more than a HUGE blank wall.<br /><br />I know, 'Get off your arse and hang a picture then, big deal'. But a piece of art or a picture that would fill up that space would be mega bucks and a gallery wall is not an option as this requires a crane practically to hang one nail. The hubs would not go for that. And since he's the one that gets up on the ladder, good man that he is, I thought I'd be nice. Want to save up my 'will you please do this crazy project with me' points for bigger spaces.<br /><br />After keeping my eye out for something big and cheap, I finally found a great solution at my favorite salvage place.<br /><br />So the ladder came out,<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zy-8bXq3oEVVGvpFt4PzMFiV-JtW83SiZTRdqF9h4U6zEgsVupy-QwyGUXDCyT2jtDE_wYXRaQqpumXcNHXN_dvvJay264opdfkccyNd-swEK5fnzAHuvwUrsrSmPZeHfcpFuBBgVEP1/s1600/IMG_0263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_zy-8bXq3oEVVGvpFt4PzMFiV-JtW83SiZTRdqF9h4U6zEgsVupy-QwyGUXDCyT2jtDE_wYXRaQqpumXcNHXN_dvvJay264opdfkccyNd-swEK5fnzAHuvwUrsrSmPZeHfcpFuBBgVEP1/s640/IMG_0263.JPG" width="472" /></a></div><br />some circ de soleil moves happened,<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzSBxNhwNTGD3ipLSRppC5vfar8vA8pB0MRS5zh0ValFJrxLknY7cwATZ0Oqoah3W7tJQ1cWnUw66a5Hkf7BcWOknK2UbA1hxmHawQVyyEo4ksadLd4D6yU2yEElcXMQWyV9RO2jdvIvh/s1600/Map2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSzSBxNhwNTGD3ipLSRppC5vfar8vA8pB0MRS5zh0ValFJrxLknY7cwATZ0Oqoah3W7tJQ1cWnUw66a5Hkf7BcWOknK2UbA1hxmHawQVyyEo4ksadLd4D6yU2yEElcXMQWyV9RO2jdvIvh/s640/Map2.jpg" width="552" /></a></div><br />and problem solved.<br /><br />An old map from a school that had closed in the area. Now we grab a bit of education on our way down to watch TV. And we hung it just high enough so that little hands can't rub, rip, pull or whatever else little hands tend to do.<br /><br />Do you have any area of your house that drives you crazy? Have a precarious spot that you've had to hang something? Wanna come to the park with us?

from coast to coast

Happy Monday everybody! It's like spring here today and I'm loving it. The girls and I are going to go outside for a nice long w-a-l...

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