Thursday, September 8, 2011

Organize Your Refrigerator for Maximum Storage Space and Convenience


According to GE, It May Be Easier Than You Think – Especially with Today's Innovative Storage Features


Follow GE Appliances on Facebook and Twitter

Friend GE Appliances on Facebook to view how-to videos, learn about new GE appliances, and join in the discussion with other GE appliance owners. Join today and follow @GE_Appliances on Twitter, or just locate detailed information about our products at www.geappliances.com.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- When it comes to closets and refrigerators, there's no such thing as having too much room. You can maximize the usable space in your refrigerator by following a few tips:About GE Appliances & LightingGE Appliances & Lighting spans the globe as an industry leader in major appliances, lighting, systems and services for commercial, industrial and residential use. Technology innovation and the company's ecomagination(SM) initiative enable GE Appliances & Lighting to aggressively bring to market products and solutions that help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. General Electric (NYSE: GE), imagination at work, sells products under the Monogram®, Profile™, GE®, Hotpoint®, Reveal® and Energy Smart® consumer brands, and Tetra®, Vio™ and Immersion® commercial brands. For more information, consumers may visit www.ge.com.Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6425215&lang=en

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6425215&lang=en




Wednesday, September 7, 2011

The Company Leading The Way In Custom-Made Closet Organizer Systems


Many people are unhappy with the way their current closet is designed; oftentimes people feel that they don�t have enough room for all their belongings and that their storage space looks cluttered or untidy. That�s why so many people now choose professional custom closet designers to help provide them with a custom closet solution that fits their needs and their budget.


The great part about choosing Closets etc to design your closet organizer systems is that each of their products is tested thoroughly in the factory to meet the very highest standards and ensure that once they reach the customer they offer the best possible experience in terms of both usability and aesthetics for custom closet organizer systems that will not only help clear the clutter, but offer a resplendent addition to your home.At this initial consultation, the design expert will bring samples from the company�s extensive product catalogue as well as the full company brochure to the client�s house and then conduct an in-depth interview which will help to determine the exact requirements of the client. After the interview, the design expert will take measurements to examine the exact parameters with which the installation team will be working. Within 24 hours of that initial consultation, an exact computer-rendered design will be created for the client based on both their unique design aesthetic requirements and the parameters of the location. This superior level of customer service means that the company routinely receives full marks in customer service ratings from their loyal clientele.To realize this solution, you'll need experts that are trained in all the latest closet design techniques and the software to help conceptualize that design. For experts that will work one on one with you to create the perfect closet design solution, you�ll need the help of Closets etc, a leading closet design company serving Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut.Closets etc. is a company with an unrelenting focus on customer service. As an example, they provide free in-home consultations to create the best space layouts for their prospective customers. The company has deliberately stayed away from "on-line" design tools, because their designers are the experts and they understand the unique lifestyle of each customer. This is why referrals from satisfied customers are the single largest source of business for Closets etc. and why so many people choose Closets etc. for their closet and closet organizer systems design needs.About Closets etc:When it comes to choice, you�re going to be pleased with the wide range of what Closets etc. has to offer. Their most popular product is melamine, which offers the clientele a durable, affordable product that is lighter in weight than wood and very easy to maintain. The use of melamine is also in keeping with the company�s highly respected environmental policy due to the fact that it�s created with 75% recycled products. In addition to their selection of melamine products, the company boasts a wide array of wood veneer and solid wood design options for those who favour the classical look.With decades of experience designing closet organizer systems that are both functional and visually appealing, Closets etc is your number one designer of custom closet solutions.

Closets etc. is the leading provider of custom made closet organizer systems across Rhode Island, Connecticut and Massachusetts. Created in 1987, the company has over two decades of experience in delivering custom closet design solutions that are both durable and attractive. For more information, please go to closets-etc.




Pairing Off: Like cheese, quirks become more pungent with age


I find that the older I get, the more ingrained my personality quirks become.


Read the complete column on MormonTimes.com.I usually dont notice, but I just got a fabulous new roommate, and I keep feeling the need to comment on my idiosyncrasies. Like how Ill go days with nothing but soda, bananas, and cheese and crackers. Or how Ive been changing into the same Jeremy Messersmith T-shirt, which I wash regularly, every day after work for the past week. Or how my closet is organized by color and texture.

Read the complete column on MormonTimes.com.




Tuesday, September 6, 2011

You told us!: Sometimes you just need to take time out. What do you do when you want a break from it all? Here's what our facebook fans said


* Head to the gym, swim, or cycle. When I do this, I go into the zone; I call it the "beautiful zone."--NAJWA COGILLS


* Go where I have no cell service!--MARISA VUKOVICH CAMPDon't miss out on cool new healthy living tips: CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK TODAY!* Going out with friends or watching Law & Order usually tops my relaxation agenda. Good books are a plus too.--MAYA WAGNER* Read magazines, bathe, swim, make love, or meet friends for coffee.--EMMA SASS* I like to organize my closet ... I'm not a clean or neat person, but for some reason, organizing all my clothes is really relaxing!--JOLEEN COLLINS DARRAGHfacebook

Don't miss out on cool new healthy living tips: CONNECT WITH US ON FACEBOOK TODAY!




1 place … 1 time … 3 events


Charlotte, NC, will play host to a trio of educational events backed by the full bandwidth of the Woodworking Network's media.


rchristianson@vancepublishing.comFront and center is the 7th annual Closets & Home Organization Conference & Expo, cosponsored by CLOSETS magazine and the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals. The three-day Closets Conference will begin on Wednesday, Feb. 23 and end on Feb. 25. The Closets Expo, which will feature equipment, software, supplies and components for manufacturers and specifiers of closet, garage, cabinet and other home storage products, will be held Feb. 24 and 25. The Closets Conference and Expo is a uniquely focused event annually attended by home organization professionals from throughout North America.Secure online registration and additional information about the three co-located events is available at the newly redesigned and enhanced Closets-Expo.com. The site includes the updated schedule of events, current exhibitor list, event news and group discount hotel registration information.If that's not enough, there will also be hundreds of products on display at the Closets Expo, featuring the Extreme Garage Pavilion and new TechCentre. Capping it all off is a plant tour of a state-of-the-art production plant.By Rich ChristiansonReturning for a second year is the Custom Cabinet Conference, cosponsored by Custom Woodworking Business and the Cabinet Makers Assn. The Custom Cabinet Conference is a dedicated track of the Closets Conference, running Feb. 24-25, and will include an extended "Pricing for Profit" session. Attendees of the full Closets or Cabinet conference can choose to attend the sessions of greatest interest to them.The all-new Wood Tech Summit, sponsored by Wood & Wood Products, joins this prestigious lineup. The Wood Tech Summit, Feb. 24-25, will offer a platform for detailed presentations of large-scale integrated woodworking technology applications, with formats including educational sessions and roundtable discussions featuring wood industry technology leaders before a live audience. It will also feature demonstrations and discussions of leading-edge technologies.Unique education and networking opportunities are the common denominators of this triple play event. For example, during one space in time, a closets manufacturer can hone his core skills at the Closets Conference, improve his pricing model at the Custom Cabinet Conference and learn cutting-edge productivity tips at the Wood Tech Summit.For information about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities, contact Hall-Erickson Inc. by phoning (866) 730-6789 or (630) 434-7779 or by e-mailing closets@heiexpo.com.Dedicated information about the Custom Cabinet Conference also can be found at CustomCabinetConference.com.Education & NetworkingNew Closets-Expo WebsiteAll three co-located events, each sponsored by a different WWN publication, will take place February 2011 at the Charlotte Convention Center.

rchristianson@vancepublishing.com




Monday, September 5, 2011

A master makeover tames clutter


By Candice Olson


Since Patty and Allan were in dire need of more closet space, I designed some custom cabinetry for them. We created a clean white headboard for the bed and flanked it with two spacious built-in closets. These his-and-hers organizers really solve the storage problem, and their crisp whiteness helps to balance out the strong colors used in the rest of the room.This bedroom definitely had some great features: large dimensions, a cathedral ceiling and windows dressed in crisp white shutters. But the room was in need of some serious organization. Closet space was practically nonexistent, so more storage was a priority. Patty and Allan also spend a lot of time watching television in their bedroom, so integrating the TV into the new design was a must.HOME AND GARDEN TELEVISIONBy coming up with a colorful new plan of attack, this bold, beautiful bedroom really wins the battle against clutter. With the addition of spacious built-ins, fun fabrics and bright colors, a chaotic bedroom was transformed into a vibrant, functional retreat.Scripps Howard News ServiceTo highlight this vibrant new space, we installed two pendant lights on either side of the bed and some recessed halogen lights above the built-in wardrobes. We also added an updated track- lighting fixture to provide overall illumination.Patty and Allan were fighting clutter for control of their master bedroom, which had become a multipurpose battleground with the television, an office nook, the bed and an exercise bike all competing for floor space.I finished things off by bringing in a maple dresser, a couple of comfy white armchairs and a bright, colorful area rug.One important thing to realize with this design is how much the white cabinetry, window treatments and accessories really balance the bright colors elsewhere in the room.Candice Olson is an interior decoratorand host of HGTV's "Divine Design."When selecting paint and fabrics for this makeover, I kept largely to a fun, high-energy color scheme of teal blue and lime green. Then I selected a complementary color, a wonderful bright fuchsia, and repeated it throughout the room in the accessories and fabrics. A good example of this use of color is the wonderful new teal and lime duvet cover that sports just a punch of fuchsia.To soften the effect of the white shutters, I decided to frame the windows with a sheer white fabric covered in hundreds of tiny little mirrors. This fabric adds some glitz and sparkle to the bedroom, while the fuchsia trim along the bottom of the sheers ties them in to the rest of the decor.They wanted to conquer this chaos while creating a colorful sanctuary where they could hide from the pressures of life with three kids.

Scripps Howard News Service




Wood Tech Summit launches Feb. 24-25, 2011: the Wood Tech Summit will be co-located in North Carolina with the 2011 Closets Conference & Expo and the Custom Cabinets Conference


Vance Publishing's Woodworking Network has announced Wood Tech Summit, a two-day forum to be held Feb. 24-25, 2011, in Charlotte, NC.


* Jeff Klein--Closing RemarksJim Mathisjim Mathis & Associates12:00 pm-1:30 pm: Peer2Peer LunchTHURSDAY FEB. 24D. Hiring, Firing and Motivating Employees - Scott Boschetti, America's WoodworkerFocusing on integrated wood manufacturing and other advanced wood industry technologies, Wood Tech Summit will be held at the Charlotte Convention Center, in the heart of a major hub of U.S. furniture manufacturing industry. The Summit will be co-located with two other premier wood industry gatherings--the 2nd Custom Cabinets Conference for cabinetmakers and custom woodworkers, and the 7th annual Closets & Home Organization Conference and Expo, the largest annual event for the home organization industry.10:00 am-5:00 pm: Exhibit Hall Open2:30 pm-4:45 pm: Pricing for Profits--Sean Benetin, Millwork & More8:00 am-9:15 am: Breakout Sessions (Repeated 9:30 am - 10:45 am)* Enterprise Resource Planning driven-productionD. 14 Steps of the Sale - Derrek Holland, The Closet DoctorNote: Custom Cabinet Conference topics in red.WEDNESDAY, FEB. 238:30 am-9:00 am: Welcome1:45 pm-3:00 pm: -Breakout Sessions (Repeated 3:15 pm - 4:30 pm)Bill Fotsch, The Great Game of BusinessWood industry leaders from all facets of high-production wood manufacturing and supply communities--educational, research, manufacturing and suppliers--are expected to attend and present at Wood Tech Summit. Subjects to be addressed, to be driven by key sponsoring participants, include:Wood Tech Summit will offer a platform for detailed presentations of large-scale integrated woodworking technology applications, with formats including educational sessions and roundtable discussions featuring wood industry technology leaders before a live audience. Highly interactive, sessions of Wood Tech Summit will also be video-cast over WoodworkingNetwork.com, which provides the online platform for Wood & Wood Products, the leading publication for large-volume manufacturers of cabinets, furniture and other secondary wood products.B. Principles of Effective Manufacturing- Paul Fiala, Architectural InteriorsF. Moving from Residential to Commercial--Rick Thaler, OCB Architectural Woodwork7:00 pm-9:00 pm: ACSP Reception10:30 am-11:45 am: Reinventing Your Closets BusinessFRIDAY FEB. 25A. How to Leverage Content Creation - Kip Bodnar, HubspotKlein, ACSP PresidentTo reserve exhibit space, contact Hall-Erickson Inc. at (866) 730-6789 or (630) 434-7779. Learn more at Closets-Expo.com.A. Reinventing Your Closet Business - Jim Mathis8:00 am-9:15 am: Breakout Sessions (Repeated 9:30 am-10:45 am)2011 CLOSETS CONFERENCE SCHEDULEE. Making Dollars & Sense from Your Advertising Expenses--Dave Grulke, CMAB. Business Dashboard and Metrics Management - Dave Anger, Tailored Living11:00 am-12:00 pm: Closing General Session* Integrated materials handlingC. How to Become a Million-Dollar Salesperson - Sue Tinker, Closet Works9:00 am-10:15 am: Opening KeynoteD. Showrooms and Sales Management - Peggy Snyder-Houghton, Closets & MoreRich Christiansen, CLOSETS magazine, & JeffC. The Value of Outsourcing--Nathan Klomp, JB Cutting"Technology integration is critically important to the transformation of the wood manufacturing industry," said Laurel Didier, vice president of Vance Publishing's Woodworking Network. "We've seen a keen interest at recent industry events for sessions that allow deeper discussions of how woodworking design and manufacturing software, and wood manufacturing equipment and systems can interact and integrate. Since Charlotte is the heart of the residential furniture manufacturing industry, we think it is a great setting for advancing that discussion."5:00 pm-6:30 pm: Peer2Peer Roundtable Discussions3:00 pm-7:00 pm: Industry Plant TourE. Working with Designers & Architects--Joe Knobbe, Executive Woodworking9:00 am-3:00 pm: Exhibit Hall Open* Logistics and supply chain concerns* Mass customization of manufactured wood productsB. Lean Manufacturing - Wolf Nichol, Stor-X5:00 pm-7:30 pm: Top Shelf & Pioneer Award Presentations & Networking Reception* Laurel Didier, CLOSETS--Market ResearchC. Small Business/Big Marketing - Denise Butchko, Butchko and Co.Featuring the Custom Cabinet Conference

3:00 pm-7:00 pm: Industry Plant Tour




Sunday, September 4, 2011

3 events: Charlotte, NC, will play host to a trio of educational and networking events


The Closets & Home Organization Conference & Expo is expanding.


Osborne Wood ProductsU.S. Customized Finishes LLCWood Component Manufacturers Assn.The co-located events, taking place between Feb. 23-25, 2011, in Charlotte, NC, will combine the full breadth of Woodworking Network's three publications: CLOSETS, Custom Woodworking Business and Wood & Wood Products.WOOD TECH SUMMIT LAUNCHES FEB. 24-25Capella Hardware Co.Better Vacuum CupsMurphy Bed IntlUniboardTafisa Canada20-20 Technologies Inc.October Co. Inc.The 2nd Custom Cabinet Conference, cosponsored by the Cabinet Makers Assn. and Custom Woodworking Business, takes place on Feb. 24 and 25 alongside the Closets Conference. Attendees will have the ability to mix and match Closets and Cabinet Conference sessions to choose the topics of greatest interest.Wood & Wood ProductsRELATED ARTICLE: PRELIMINARY LIST OF CLOSETS EXPO EXHIBITORSRev-A-Shelf inc.Planit SolutionsGiles & Kendall Inc.Architectural Glass EffectsDecore-ative SpecialtiesWood Tech Summit is a new event joining the 2011 Closets Conference & Expo and Custom Cabinet Conference in Charlotte, NC.Funder America Inc.CLOSETS MagazineAdvanced Storage Distribution"Succeeding in the new reality" is the theme of the 2011 Closets Conference, co-sponsored by the Association of Closet and Storage Professionals. It will feature more than one dozen presentations geared toward helping closet, garage and cabinet professionals find new ideas and strategies for successfully navigating their businesses through the recession and better position themselves for the economic recovery. Included will be presentations focusing on sales, marketing and manufacturing issues.Flakeboard Co. Ltd.Wood Tech Summit will focus on integrated wood manufacturing and other advanced wood industry technologies; geared; toward helping attendees improve their productivity, quality and profitability.Register at Closets-Expo.comCustom Woodworking BusinessWalzcraftCCF IndustriesRoseburg Forest ProductsCustom Cabinet ConferenceH H SystemBiesse AmericaNot only will the 7th Annual Closets Conference & Expo feature the 2nd Custom Cabinet Conference, it will also feature the inaugural Wood Tech Summit.Drawer Connection Inc.Grass AmericaLamiGraf S.A.Doug Mockett & Co. Inc.Association of Closet and Storage ProfessionalsFulterer USA Inc.C.R Onsrud.Sidelines Inc.Jowat Corp.Kustom Material LaminatorsCompX TimberlineSecure online registration for the Closets Conference & Expo and Custom Cabinet Conference is available at Closets-Expo.com. The Website also includes a thee full conference schedule, a current list of exhibitors, event news and more.HandiSolutionsNARI of Greater CharlotteNorthern ContoursEveready HardwareGarage Gator.Gemini Coatings Inc.Stor-X Organizing SystemsCabinet Makers Assn.Preliminary List of Closets Expo Exhibitors (as of November 29, 2010)Hafele AmericaJB Cutting Inc.Sponsored by Wood & Wood Products, Wood Tech Summit is a two-day forum that will feature exhibits and interactive panel discussions live on the expo show floor, Feb. 24-25.GarageVac

Wood Tech Summit will focus on integrated wood manufacturing and other advanced wood industry technologies; geared; toward helping attendees improve their productivity, quality and profitability.




Where do I sign up?


TWENTY YEARS AGO, I WORKED for an organization that had payroll deduction for coffee, forbade conversation in the hallways and required all 20 employees to work 8.25 hours per day. (I got a check from the inevitable wage-and-hour settlement.)


Private corporations throwing big money around sometimes becomes news, and it's only outrageous when practiced by companies that have come crawling to taxpayers for handouts. But here's the deal: I really don't think many private companies allow the hired help to be so prodigal, at least not for long, because that money is being diverted from the owner's pocket. Wal-Mart reported its vice chairman, Tom Coughlin, to the feds for padding his generous salary with gift cards--and disciplined employees who theoretically should have caught him sooner.The latest hand-in-cookie-jar scandals put me in mind of the bad old days at the Arkansas Teacher Retirement System under Bill Shirron. Watchdog reporting ended Shirron's career, and the newly energized trustees took prompt action when a subsequent director, Paul Doane, found creative ways to supplement his own compensation package.The personality of a workplace, its corporate culture, comes from the top. That's been part of my fascination with recent revelations about free-spending habits at the Little Rock National Airport, the Arkansas Scholarship Lottery and the Pulaski County Special School District. Until those meddling reporters and state auditors started sniffing around, those must have been fantastic places to work--at least for the boss and those in his good graces. (Is it my imagination, or do these kinds of playgrounds always seem to be run by men?)The boss, like Captain Queeg on his obsessive search for the missing strawberries, once spent an entire afternoon trying to determine why I hadn't been informed of the proper procedure for getting access to a closet when the usual keeper of the key was on vacation. On another unforgettable day, he reprimanded me for daring to sketch out an organizational chart for a new employee.Routine lunches on the agency credit card, expensive birthday celebrations, clothing, first-class travel with family members in tow, housing allowances, generous comp time for exceedingly well-paid managers, and so infinitely on. I've had six employers over the past 28 years, and I've never seen anything like this kind of corporate culture. But, of course, that's because I've spent my entire career in the private sector.The munificence of these public agencies has become public knowledge entirely because they are public agencies. (Imagine a world without the Freedom of Information Act, or in which each agency can decide for itself just how free it wants its information to be.) And these outrages are outrageous because these are public employees spending public money.Meanwhile, over at the Little Rock National Airport, the commissioners are suddenly in austerity mode, even forgoing industry conventions that presumably have been valuable in the past. Most astonishing, however, is the proposal that the commission start reviewing all of Executive Director Ron Mathieu's expenses. These commissioners are mostly seasoned business executives, so I'm amazed they don't know this fundamental rule of management, best expressed by "Good to Great" author Jim Collins: "The moment you feel the need to tightly manage someone, you've made a hiring mistake."Gwen Moritz is editor of Arkansas Business. E-mail her at GMoritz@ABPG.com.As I walked out of that asylum for the last time, which still ranks among the happiest moments of my life, he stopped me in the parking lot and suggested that I return the baby shower gifts that co-workers had given me a year earlier. When I learned of his death years later, the world seemed to me an ever-so-slightly better place.

Gwen Moritz is editor of Arkansas Business. E-mail her at GMoritz@ABPG.com.




Saturday, September 3, 2011

Ring in the new


I love fresh starts. I consider myself expert at them. Come January 1, I jump out of bed (if I haven't overindulged them previous evening), and set out with a vengeance to clean and organize my entire home--heck, my entire life. Down come the Christmas tree and holiday decorations. Out go the leftover pumpkin cheesecake, creamy eggnog, and garlic mashed potatoes. I purge closets, shred old bills, and fill up a new calendar with upcoming date and short-and long-term goals. Oh, and like just about every female I know, I embark on yet another dubious weight-loss program with dreams of dropping those stubborn extra pounds.


Speaking of legacies, 2011 marks Long-Term Living's 60th anniversary. We'll be bringing you special anniversary-related features throughout the year. Contributing Editor Richard Peck kicks off the celebration in this issue with his picks for the 10 most influential figures in LTC over the past few decades. You may agree with his choices ... or not. We welcome your feedback.Happy New Year!So being a cheerleader of makeovers, extreme or otherwise. I am pleased to introduce to the Long-Term Living community a redesigned, refreshed, and reinvigorated print magazine. Months in the making, this new design reflects careful consideration of our readership and the long-term care (LTC) market. In today's media-saturated environment, even legacy titles like Long-Term Living must continually tweak and update their offerings or risk becoming stale and irrelevant. And while we haven't veered from our mission of being the industry leading source of practical, in-depth, business building, and resident care information, we look forward to bringing you ever more useful content through our print, online, and event platforms to help you and your peers excel in your field.

by Patricia Sheehan, Editor-in-Chief




Changes ahead


The new year has officially begun; this month's column deals with the old and the new. We at PVA Publications have turned a new page in our operations. We have been located at the same address, in the same building, in the same city, for almost 20 years. In that time, we outgrew our old space. The old office had files, pictures, and stories from when PVA began back in 1947. We are sort of the repository of the organization's history. As a result, archived material was stacked from floor to ceiling, and our computer servers were stashed on a shelf in the storage closet. There was no conference room, and we were lucky to accommodate two wheelchairs at once.


RICHARD HOOVER, EDITORWith that, I will stop with the old and new and invite any of you who happen to be in the Phoenix area to stop in and visit us in our new office. We have plenty of room and will be delighted to see you. Happy New Year!--T. Boone PickensHowever, we will retain some of the old with the new: the same address, suite number, and city. We will also put out the same publications with the addition of redesigning the PN website as we did SPORTS 'N SPOKES last year. All will be the same high quality.I do not propose to be an expert on physical rehabilitation or on everyone's physical limitations. However, I spent some time thinking about the matter and realized the development of my upper-body strength, which I had spent a lot of time on when I first got injured, had stopped many years ago. I just assumed it would always be there.However, you will begin to notice some changes in PN. Beginning with this issue, we will start retitling and improving some of the traditional sections you like to read. For example, The PVA President's Message will be called "From the Top," and Readers Respond will be "You Said It. ..." The changes will be gradual; you will still find all the information, just with a new "face." We have put a lot of work into updating the look and feel of the magazine and hope you like it.I urge those of you who may be having upper-limb problems, whether you are a quad or para, to consider starting again what you began when you were first injured. It just makes sense to try to keep as much as you can rather than lose it due to inattention. This would be a good new year's resolution to make and keep as much as possible.In December, we moved into a new office that almost doubles our old space, and we are now truly state of the art, technologically speaking. This new space gives the staff more privacy to practice the art of journalism without the distractions of co-workers' conversations. We will be able to discuss our websites--from a conference room with all appropriate staff around a large table hooked into a data console--displayed on a large video screen without everyone hovering over the web manager's shoulder and trying to see a 19-inch computer display. And finally, I will be able to have not only my wheelchair but several others in the office at the same time.Well, folks, big news! Muscles begin to decline due to age, and we lose a lot of what we used to have. I visited several doctors, had steroid shots, and had months of physical therapy before I found a good sports/rehab physician who explained the whole aging process. He also recommended a simple but effective solution: Start strengthening what you have left and make it work better. He recommended a good physical therapist who created a workout program for me with range-of-motion exercises and weightlifting. I am talking about stuff getting muscle tone and strength back. I have been doing it now for about two months with therapy visits three times a week and workouts on my own twice a day. My right shoulder has improved significantly, and most of the pain is now gone. I intend to continue this as long as I can.For another take on the old and the new, I want to speak my piece on a matter near and dear to me that I hope will make many of you stop and think. When I first became involved with PVA, I would go to our conventions and meetings and get behind the old WWII and Korean War vets and chafe at their slow, inconsistent speeds of their wheelchairs. I recently realized I had turned into one of them and was beginning to have a real problem with my right shoulder. Many of my Vietnam era compatriots exhibit the same malady. VA's standard fix is to put us in power wheelchairs or have us use power-assist wheels on our manual chairs.

RICHARD HOOVER, EDITOR




Friday, September 2, 2011

Zookeeper collecting gear for trip to study African vultures


A rain coat hanging unused in the closet could help vultures in South Africa. So could heating pads, welding gloves and other items.


The Cheyenne Mountain zoo vultures know Turner, and she said they are curious but cautious. They have personalities and can be trained, much like dogs.A fast blood test has been used on the zoo birds, and if the process works with wild vultures in South Africa, it could be used to gain knowledge about vultures around the world. The work also will go toward building VulPro's educational program.Soon after her return from South Africa in February, Turner and four other zoo staffers will go to Panama as part of the zoo's ongoing participation in the Panama Amphibian Rescue and Conservation Project. Several zoos and organizations are working together to help save nearly extinct species.New World vultures, like the turkey vultures in Colorado during summers, rely on their strong sense of smell to find their meals. Old World vultures, such as the Cape Griffon vultures and the Eurasian Griffon vulture at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, use their keen sight to find food.Vultures spread out their wings in the sun for warmth and also to kill parasites that might have hopped on when feeding on a carcass."They don't have many predators, really humans are their number one concern," Turner said.During warmer months, the zoo vultures often can be spotted on the rocky ledges above the giraffe enclosure. During the winter, the African Rift Valley birds roost inside the heated giraffe barn.While Turner is a zoo ambassador on her trips, she expects to share stories and lessons learned with Cheyenne Mountain Zoo visitors.The vultures of the world are scavengers that often get a bad rap for doing the dirty work of cleaning up after predators. They actually are rather clean birds, Turner said."Their eyes and their gaze are so much like eagles," Turner said.Turner got a grant from Natural Encounters to conduct detailed health tests on wild Cape Griffon and African White-backed vultures, something that VulPro hasn't had the money to do.The whole procedure from capture to release should be done within 10 minutes for each bird, because they don't want to stress the vultures.Turner is part of a team of zoo keepers who care for all of the African animals, but the vultures are her favorites. However, her own conservation efforts are not limited to creatures with wings.With this trip, Turner is chasing her passion for the feathered scavengers.The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo vultures arrived in 2004 and are rehabilitated wild birds from South Africa. Wild vultures are threatened by inadvertent poisoning, power lines and the use of their body parts in traditional medicine.She'll work with the group to capture, tag and test the birds.Jenyva Turner, animal keeper for the African Rift Valley at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, will travel to a nature preserve near Johannesburg in a few weeks to work with an organization called VulPro.Contact the writer at 636-0162.The Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is home to three Cape Griffon Vultures, including one of only two breeding pairs in the United States - the other pair is at the Los Angeles Zoo. There are only 10,000 estimated to be living in the wild, Turner said."There's still educational work to be done with vultures," Turner said.-"I've always loved birds, vultures came later. They've grown on me over the years. I have a new found passion to save them," she said, recalling the time when she spotted a tree full of turkey vultures sunning themselves and showing off their 6-foot wingspans (the vultures at the zoo have even wider wingspans)."I think any time keepers or zoo staff get to go on these kinds of adventures it makes the guests' experience so much richer."The latest round of the zoo's ongoing fundraiser, Quarters for Conservation, featured the vultures, with zoo visitors dropping in 31,000 quarters as votes as of the end of November. A portion of zoo admission fees, memberships, and education and animal program fees are dedicated to zoo conservation projects selected by keepers.

Contact the writer at 636-0162.




Everything In Its Place With Closet Organizers


Most people like you love to keep everything in its place. They like also to clean up every room of the house often. However, it can take some hours to get everything in the correct place, specially if you don�t have a kind of storage organization guide. Everyone knows that getting organized is either a small or a huge battle. It depends on how thoroughly you clean and organize your stuff. Closet organizers are definitely the storage space that will make your life easier. You can increase the current storage space as much as you want. There are many options to achieve either a double or triple space, depending on how organized you are and the available space to work with. Try to make the most of available dimensions and existing storage will not be a problem anymore.


How to arrange a closet organizer?You will save on headaches as well as a lot of energy just by having a guide on how to keep all your belongings well organized. A closet organizer will make the cleaning process easier than ever. You will be able to see your clothes all the time. Forget about spend a lot of time on finding that shirt you bought last year and don�t know where exactly is. It is probably a women�s dream to have a double-sized wardrobe. Now it�s possible to double or even triple your closet space with closet organizers. Once you have installed it you will stay and get organized forever.Shoe storage in closet organizers is a very critical component for those who have many pairs of shoes. You might think on including a couple of racks, called multi-rack shoes attachments into the already installed organizer. Another possible solution, which works pretty well in various houses styles, is to add a multilevel floor racks or multiple-compartment on the wall; some manufacturers call them pull-out shelves where you can store also sweaters, scarves, socks amongst many other complements.There also exist kind of advanced closet organizer systems with special options for shelves. They are called �comprehensive organizer systems�. Shelves in there can be broken to get dividers, which will be known as sections. From here on, your mind comes to help you on the process of sorting the closet. It�s also very important to have in mind unusual used items such as suitcases or other heavy objects, off-season storage boxes as well as sweater bins. All this stuff should be out of the way to don�t disturb when is not in use.Closet designers have people like you in mind. They want to help you on doubling your closet space. Every single detail inside a closet organizer has been included to provide you the most without wasting space. Usually they come with one hanging rod. However, it is possible to have two hanging rods and even designs including a walk-in. A typical option would be as follows:
  • Jackets, shirts and belts on the top rack.
  • Pants overlapped on hangers on the bottom rack.
  • Straight-hanging trousers and dresses on a large area provided usually on the right side.

Shoe storage in closet organizers is a very critical component for those who have many pairs of shoes. You might think on including a couple of racks, called multi-rack shoes attachments into the already installed organizer. Another possible solution, which works pretty well in various houses styles, is to add a multilevel floor racks or multiple-compartment on the wall; some manufacturers call them pull-out shelves where you can store also sweaters, scarves, socks amongst many other complements.




Thursday, September 1, 2011

Wood Tech Summit ID's technology trends


CHARLOTTE, NC -- The inaugural Wood Tech Summit, held Feb. 24-95 during the Closets & Home Organization Conference & Expo, provided fresh insights into trends driving technology adoption in the wood manufacturing industry.


The interactive panel discussions included presentations by representatives of Holz-Her U.S., Stiles Machinery, Biesse America, C.R. Onsrud, Eurosoft, Microvellum, KCD Software, 20-20 Technologies, TradeSoft and Planit Solutions.

The interactive panel discussions included presentations by representatives of Holz-Her U.S., Stiles Machinery, Biesse America, C.R. Onsrud, Eurosoft, Microvellum, KCD Software, 20-20 Technologies, TradeSoft and Planit Solutions.




Wood Closet Organizers - A Brief Overview


There are a number of benefits to owning a wood closet organizer. Perhaps the greatest benefit is the most obvious one - a dramatic increase in your usable closet space. Some closets are just not big enough for all of your clothes, shoes, and other belongings. When you have too many items in your closet, things tend to get a bit unorganized and cluttered. Items pile up, get misplaced or lost in the heap, and it gets increasingly difficult to find what you need. If you have difficulty finding the shoes or clothing you want to wear because of the closet clutter, then it's time to install a closet organization system.


One of the most popular choices in closet organization systems are wood closet organizers. These attractive systems come with a number of adjustable shelves, clothes hanging rods and pullout drawers. You can buy organizers that are prebuilt and ready to be installed as soon as you get it home.Kits need to be assembled before they can be installed - but they come with instructions that are easy to follow. The only downside to a closet organizer kit is that you can not easily customize them. They come with a predetermined number of rods, shelves, and drawers. If you need more you can buy them separately at the time of purchase and install with the kit.Wood closet organizers come in many different types of wood such as pine, oak, and maple. If you do not want to spend too much money on your closet organizer you can simply buy an organizer kit. These are available in wood, metal, plastic and particleboard. Particleboard is a pressed wood product with a laminate cover applied to the surface. Particleboard organizers look like solid wood but are less expensive.These organizers can also be customized before you buy them. If you need extra drawers or shelves in your closet you simply request the number of drawers or shelves you need before you buy it. Customized closet organizers can be expensive but some people feel that they are worth the money.You may find you need additional space to hang clothes or store shoes or other items in your closet. If this is the case, you can simply add a few more shoe racks or an extra hanging rod whenever you need it.

In conclusion, installing a wood closet organizer is a great way to get your closet in order. When you have your closet organized, you can find everything you need in just a matter of seconds. All items will be neatly stored and easy to reach. While an organized closet may not seem like that big of a deal at first, you will discover how it willsave you time, reduce your frustration, and even improve your mood.




Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Add the Great Outdoors and Glad Into Your Spring Cleaning Routine


(Family Features) Spring is not just the season to clean out closets and cupboards, but it can also be a great time to spruce up your community -- from the neighborhood block to the public beach -- and to make sure outdoor spaces are ready for everyone to enjoy as the weather warms up.


Turn a Trash Can into Treasure: Need an activity for your next neighborhood block party? Turn trash cans into works of art. Paint strips of chalkboard paint on the cans and let the kids label the bins for trash, compost and recycling. Use stencils and paint pens on wood crates for smaller collection areas in the house for newspapers or soda cans. The project also provides a great opportunity to teach everyone about how to recycle and why it is important.Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1592845Give New Life to Old Clothes: Get neighbors, friends or family together to host a spring cleaning clothing drive to collect and distribute gently used clothes to those in need. Set up shop at a school, church, park or where you work. Distribute trash bags in advance to those participating.Get Active: Cleanup projects not only provide an opportunity for your family to do good for the community, but to also bond and be active. Spend a weekend afternoon cleaning up a stream and then hike along the bank. After picking up litter on the beach, play soccer or Frisbee.Cunningham shared easy ways to expand your annual spring cleaning outside the home to help clean and beautify your community:"What I love about our spring events is not just the immediate difference you see volunteers make on the beaches, in the parks and for the recreation areas of this country, but it is also the lasting impression the work makes on everyone in the community," said Gail Cunningham, managing director of the Great American Cleanup. "It reminds us that we all can do our part to make our neighborhoods beautiful and that there are simple ways to do it."For more information about Keep America Beautiful or to find Great American Cleanup events in your area visit www.KAB.org .One organization can help. Keep America Beautiful is the nation's largest volunteer-based community action and education non-profit focusing on litter prevention, waste reduction and beautification. Every year between March and May, the organization's Great American Cleanup mobilizes three million volunteers who spend 5.7 million hours to clean 33,000 communities in 30,000 events nationwide.Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com

Wendy MacDonald wmacdonald@familyfeatures.com 1-888-824-3337 ext. 235 http://editors.familyfeatures.com




Double Your Space With A Wood Closet Organizer


Over the years we accumulate many belongings. When we have a small closet these belongings can really pile up and become very unorganized. When you buy a wood closet organizer, you can actually double the space in your closet. For someone with many belongings this is a good thing. For example, an increase of twice the closet space can mean the difference between having a few pair of shoes and many pair of shoes.


Wooden organizer kits come ready to install but they need to be assembled before you can install them. The kits come with the instructions and are easy to put together. Once assembled you can then install them into your closet.You can buy a wooden closet organizer system in several different kinds of wood. They come in pine, oak, cedar, birch and maple.You can buy closet organizers with drawers, shelves, shoe racks, and clothes hanging rods. You can have some systems customized into a configuration that meets your closet storage needs. Of course having a custom wooden organizer for your closet can be a little pricey. If you are looking for something a little less expensive, you can buy metal, wire, or particleboard closet organizer kits. These kits are pre-built "systems-in-a-box" complete with shelves, drawers, and shoe racks already included in them.These systems look like a solid wood organizer but cost considerably less. You have the option of buying a complete ready-made kit or individual shelves, rods, drawers, and shoe racks to make your own closet organizer. Going the individual pieces route will be a bit more expensive because each piece will cost you. When you buy a kit, it all comes together for one low price.If you need extra shoe racks, shelves, or drawers you will have to buy them separately to customize the system for your specific needs. For instance, the shoe aficionado with many pairs of shoes will need extra shoe racks. Someone with a lot of clothes may need more clothes hanging rods. However, if you desire more than a few basic modifications, you may need to go beyond a pre-built kit and have a completely custom system designed and installed for by a local cabinet shop or contractor.

These systems look like a solid wood organizer but cost considerably less. You have the option of buying a complete ready-made kit or individual shelves, rods, drawers, and shoe racks to make your own closet organizer. Going the individual pieces route will be a bit more expensive because each piece will cost you. When you buy a kit, it all comes together for one low price.




Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Get Your Dad Organized This Father's Day With a Man Cave


Wine, ties, books -- all great gifts for dad on Father's Day, but why not give him what he really wants -- a dedicated area of the house that is his, otherwise known as a Man Cave. Man Caves are gaining rapid popularity as modern men seek a room in their house to escape to and socialize with their friends. The official Man Cave website ( www.mancavesite.org ) has countless pictures of Man Caves submitted by readers.


Here are some tips from Closet Factory for starting the transformation:Sort through the clutter. Discard what's broken and sell anything that you're not using. Consider having a rummage sale. Concentrate on reorganizing the things dad wants to keep. Group like things together. For example, store everything for auto repair in one area, sporting gear in another. Putting cabinets and racks into a garage will help add additional storage. Attach shelves or cabinets to your garage walls, or put up freestanding units. Store the heaviest items on the lowest shelves. Add a floor over the concrete, nothing fancy but it will change the look of the garage. Most importantly, create room for all the Man Cave essentials: Dad's favorite memorabilia, TV, a small fridge, bar and anything that makes him comfortable.Media Contacts: Arieff Communications Adrienne Arieff aa@arieff.com 415 538 9363 Jason Mitchell jason@arieff.com 212 531 6235A Man Cave can be made from any spare room in the house, or to consider as the new den of the 21st century. However, most wives and moms aren't willing to give up a room for a Man Cave. Don't fret if this is the case -- just move the Man Cave to the garage. Closet Factory , the leaders in organizational storage systems, offers numerous storage options to help to transform a section of a garage (or an entire garage) into the ultimate Man Cave.For more information visit: http://www.closetfactory.com/garage.phpImage Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1628874

Media Contacts: Arieff Communications Adrienne Arieff aa@arieff.com 415 538 9363 Jason Mitchell jason@arieff.com 212 531 6235




CMA returns for 3rd Custom Cabinet Conference


AUSTIN, TX--The Cabinet Makers Assn. and Custom Woodworking Business will partner once again to present executive-level education programs for managers of custom woodworking and cabinet companies. The 3rd Custom Cabinet Conference (CCC) will be held in conjunction with the 8th Closets & Home Organization Conference & Expo scheduled for Feb. 15-17, 2012 at the Austin Convention Center.


The 2012 CCC will feature a carefully selected mix of business, marketing and technology topics. In addition, the CMA will offer CCC attendees an opportunity to earn CMA certification credits. The program is formally being rolled out at the AWFS Fair in Vegas July 20-23.For information about exhibiting at the Closets Expo, contact Matt Powell of Hall-Erick-son Inc. at 630-434-7779 or mpowell@heiexpo.com. (Posted 6-22-11)To receive additional information about the 3rd Custom Cabinet Conference as it becomes available via email, contact rchristianson@vancepublishing.com or 847-415-8024.

For information about exhibiting at the Closets Expo, contact Matt Powell of Hall-Erick-son Inc. at 630-434-7779 or mpowell@heiexpo.com. (Posted 6-22-11)




Friday, August 19, 2011

Double Your Space With Closet Organizers


Closets are probably one of the most necessary parts of any modern home, and one of the frequently used sections of a house. By function, we tend to keep closets away from the visitors' view, and so often we allow the closets to be disorganized.


By creating a layer of shelves one on top of another, or by stacking different levels one on top the other, you can double and even triple the storage space in closets.Vetical stacking works the best in most cases. While in some really crammed closets, the use of "hinged" and pullable drawers will also work well.By some ingenuity and some planning, you can easily reclaim double and even triple your closet space with closet organizers.Closet storage space is seen as part of the very important aspects to make a home convenient and functional for the homeperson. With the demands of more and more storage, closets represent the area where, with some work, we can improve storage space.If you are looking for a closet organizer for a baby or a kid, bear in mind children are never as tidy as adults and there must be some leeway for your young kid to learn to get organized. So let him learn.The principle of increasing closet storage space is to use the principle of "layering" ," levelling" or "stacking".Once your closet is organized, you can spend the time used searching through your closet on more productive things.

Once your closet is organized, you can spend the time used searching through your closet on more productive things.




Author: Peter Lim


Wednesday, August 17, 2011

How To Effectively Organize Your Closet


Do you find your closet in a confused and untidy situation? Does it often take a lot of time to get something out of it? Is the thought to open your closet a nightmare as you feel that heaps of clothes will tumble on you? In case you answer in the affirmative for any one of these above mentioned questions, then you are in urgent need of an organizer system for your closet. Well � here we present a closet organizer system which would arrange things properly in your closet and keep it clutter free. This organizer system also saves you from the embarrassment of heaps of clothes falling on you as soon as you open your closet.


Perhaps you are now thinking � Is this true? Can it really happen? The answer to your queries is a big �yes�. It�s a proven fact that such organizer systems can arrange clothes and other stuffs in your closet in an ordered manner.Who requires it?You can organize your closet yourself in the easiest way by using shelves. Shelves save space, come in various adjustable sizes and give a tidy look to your closet. You can also introduce bins as a part of your closet for storing certain essential things. In case of women, shoe racks form an important part of the closet.So, don�t wait more. You are just a mouse-click distance from your dream closet organizer. A simple click on the correct website will land you in the organized and tidy domain of closet organizer system. The decision to invest in a closet organizer or even purchasing baskets, bins or a set of hanging shelves will transform your clumsy closet to a tidy and arranged one!Such organizer systems save us a lot of time as well as space while handling clothes and some other necessary things. Such systems can be designed to match the taste and living standards of individuals. The entire closet gets a tidy and balanced look � thanks to a closet organizer system.Also, an organizer system for your closet brings a vast change in your surrounding by making it a lot more clean and tidy. Another reason in favor of using a closet organizer is that it increases your skill to manage things properly and helps your life become more comfortable, full of peace and time saving as well.Closet organizer for the bedroomIt�s not that disorganized people require it more than others. Well, it�s a fact that they need it but often people who are hard-pressed for time also need a closet organizer. As these people don�t have much time on their hands, they seek a closet organizer as it saves a lot of time by way of proper arrangement of the stuffs.Another category of the closet organizer system is the closet organizer for bedroom which is both pocket-friendly and well organized. It helps to create a peaceful environment in the bedroom. These systems are so well assembled that they can be good rivals of any other piece of interior decoration. At present, such systems are available in the form of modular units. You can also combine and coordinate them to create your own unique style.

So, don�t wait more. You are just a mouse-click distance from your dream closet organizer. A simple click on the correct website will land you in the organized and tidy domain of closet organizer system. The decision to invest in a closet organizer or even purchasing baskets, bins or a set of hanging shelves will transform your clumsy closet to a tidy and arranged one!




Author: Abu Jaber


Closet Organizer Tips


While searching for that perfect closet organizer to suit your storage needs, it�s important to consider how much space you need. Sometimes it�s hard to throw beloved items away for the sake of storage space, but you don�t necessarily have to if you have the proper closet organizer. If you�re trying to create storage space as well as organize your closet in a more efficient manner, there are several items available for purchase that will make your task easier.


InstaHangerStacks and Stacks has a unique closet organizer for sale called the InstaHanger. The instahanger takes up a very small amount of space and can hold up to 60 pounds of clothing. It attaches to the wall and can be closed when not in use, making it a flexible and unobtrusive closet organizer. The InstaHanger is perfect for indoor or outdoor use because it is made with weather resistant materials.wicker basketA visually appealing closet organizer is a wicker basket or a rope basket. Organize-Everything.com sells wicker baskets in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. Baskets are a great way to fold and store lesser-used items such as off-season clothing or extra towels. You can place a group of baskets on top of another closet organizer, such as a storage cube, for extra versatility.-As you look through your clothes get rid of items that you don't wear anymore. These would include anything you've outgrown, is out of style or is worn out. This is a great time to de-clutter the closet and to give clothes still in good shape to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.-A Denver closet organizer suggests using plastic containers for clothes storage in dry climates like Colorado's. This will actually keep certain clothes from getting too dry and becoming brittle. Plastic containers also stack better than cardboard.Jamb. For extra storage of clothes and towels, Stacks and Stacks also offers the Jamb It Slack Rack. This closet organizer is installed easily on to the door jamb and can hold up to 10 items. This is a very creative storage solution, as most people would not expect to find extra storage space on their door jamb.-Each season's clothes should be grouped together. This not only works in the closet but in other storage spaces such as drawers. It will make it much easier to find these when needed.

Jamb. For extra storage of clothes and towels, Stacks and Stacks also offers the Jamb It Slack Rack. This closet organizer is installed easily on to the door jamb and can hold up to 10 items. This is a very creative storage solution, as most people would not expect to find extra storage space on their door jamb.




Author: Brian Channell


7 Tips That Help Unclutter Closet Organizers During Changing Seasons


Closet organizers make your storage space much more functional. But if you don't have a big walk-in type closet you may not be able to store all your clothes there throughout the year.


While we�re on the subject of accessories, Stacks and Stacks also offers a closet organizer for hats and caps. Whether you have 8 hats or 42 hats, there�s a storage solution to fit your specific need. This closet organizer can hang on the back of your closet door, on the closet rod, or on the wall. For larger hats, Stacks and Stacks also sells hat boxes in a stylish, modern design.For those who don't have a big walk-in closet, here are some tips to help you overcome the problem of clothes seasonality:Another closet organizer gaining rave reviews at Stacks and Stacks is the Campus Closet Collection. Campus Closets are modular, stackable closet organizers that provide extra storage drawers for sweaters, towels, toys, undergarments, and everything else in your closet that requires a storage solution. Each drawer on these closet organizers slides in and out for easy access, and the entire closet organizer is durable and capable of supporting extremely heavy loads.-Bulky winter clothes should be stored elsewhere during the summer and summer clothes should be kept somewhere else during the winter. Since you'll only be wearing these in season, it doesn't make sense to have them taking up valuable space all year. Spring and fall clothes are often worn year round, so they can stay.If you feel you're in need of additional storage space and closet organizers, there are many options available. Do-it-yourself systems can be found at all hardware stores and many closet designing companies are now available to help people who struggle with storage solutions.Keeping any storage space useful and uncluttered will take a little effort but will be worth it. Just an hour or two in the spring and again in the fall is really all you'll need once you first get organized.For extra floor space, consider using hanging storage closet organizers. Stacks and Stacks sells these items specifically for shoes, dresses, sweaters, and accessories. They hang directly on the closet rod, allowing for additional vertical storage. If your closet floor is cluttered, vertical storage is a helpful solution.-If you're using cardboard it might be a good idea to also wrap them with clear plastic to help keep out insects in addition to moisture. You can also add a bar of soap inside the container or box to discourage bugs from taking up residence.-As you put the out of season clothes away, do so by sameness. Coats, sweaters and heavy items would go together in containers. Other like items such as light jackets and long sleeve shirts can be placed in the same storage box or container. Boots and other seasonal footwear can also be stored but should be cleaned first.

If you feel you're in need of additional storage space and closet organizers, there are many options available. Do-it-yourself systems can be found at all hardware stores and many closet designing companies are now available to help people who struggle with storage solutions.




Author: Jeff Schuman