Open Question: How can I continue to operate a third party merchant account?

For the past three years, I've been running a profitable side business helping charities and some political candidates process online contributions. Our clients' recent success has meant that we've needed to re-underwrite our merchant account. Lo and behold, we are now being told that our business is a third party aggregator and is disallowed per Visa and Mastercard regulations, and that even high-risk merchant account providers would be reluctant to work with us because we do process some contributions on behalf of clients. A few things make me go Wha...? By our last count, several dozen businesses actively serve this corner of the market and serve as third party processors for charities. Many have been doing so for ten years or more. The names involved include groups most people in the nonprofit sector would instantly recognize, like Convio. What makes this more confusing is that Visa and Mastercard have a dedicated program just for third party merchant "service providers" that include several consumer-facing third-party merchant products including PayPal, Google Checkout, the much-buzzed about Square, and in our industry, the aforementioned Convio and Qgiv. I find it utterly bizarre that something could be banned from the face of the Earth in one breath, and given special status in the next, unless it can solely be explained by the hefty annual pays you pay Visa and Mastercard to be a third-party "service provider." Here's the situation: virtually every merchant provider we've contacted has given us the same negative answer. Our current provider is pressuring us to complete service provider registration, which we've recently agreed to do, in order to keep processing. If we face any interruption in our ability to process for our clients, there is a very good chance we could lose the business. As a small business, this is literally life or death for us. The merchant account consultants we've used to get this straightened out have been no help to us, and didn't even know the basic details of third party processing when presented to them. I need someone to tell me what the deal is. If third party processors are banned, how can big players like PayPal continue to process and even the aforementioned smaller players who do exactly the same thing we do? Is it just a matter of paying Visa and MasterCard to be service providers (which we're happy to do)? Has the entire online fundraising industry, which by the way powered the election of Barack Obama and the rise of countless underdog causes and candidates, been flying under the radar for a decade or more? Are these Visa/MasterCard regs a recent thing that doesn't take into account the central role companies like ours play in the nonprofit space and the political process? And most importantly, how can we keep a third party account up for the foreseeable future, as we migrate our clients to their own merchant accounts? We're "play it by the book" kind of people but the double standards evident here seem kind of ridiculous. more

Open Question: what to do when your xbox 360 has static on the tv?

today i turned on my xbox and than on the xbox market place i got purple lines of static making a buzzing noise (i dont know if this has to do with that but i have a vizio 32in. tv). more

Resolved Question: All soccer games should be banned during vuvuzela concerts?

Having won the rights to hold the worlds biggest sporting event (Olympics excluded) and spending hundreds of millions of dollars on stadiums, organization, security, publicity etc etc, why on earth would you then annoy the huge worldwide television audience with that intensely irritating buzz of cheap trumpets in the background. My question is..could this be the dumbest marketing move the world has ever seen? more

Resolved Question: Can I inject Opana IR?

I have about 15 5mg Opana IR pills. I've heard that they are the most potent opitates on the market. However after taking one orally I felt nothing. So I decided to take a second one. Still nothing. Then I read that you can increase the bioavailabilty by 40%, So I proceed to snort a 5mg pill. I didn't get any results. So then I decided to crush up 2 5mg pills and snort both pills at the same time. I still didnt feel any euphoria or as can be ascribed to opiates. By the end of the night I must have snorted and or eatend about 8 5mg Opana Irs. these are teh blue pills with the 612 on the back. I should mention that I was also taking hydrocodone so I don't know if that contributed to the itch factor. My question is was the dosage I admistered enough to get me buzzed, and if not Should I attempt to inject some opona directly into my blood stream? I'm not sure what the appropriate amount of Opana to inject would be for a beginner such as my self. And I have never injected any drug so this is new to me. I don't want to mess up and kill my self. I know this is a passe topic but if anyone has any insight to this It would be much aprreciated. Thanks! more

Resolved Question: Jehovah's Wittnesses: Do I have a correct understanding of your top ten buzz-words?

1.Voluntary Donations: The expectation that you put money (every week) into a contribution box in order to fund the printing of Watchtower magazines. 2.“Free” Bible Study: Since there is no such thing as a paid Bible study by JWs, this is basically a marketing tool. Correct? 3.Bible-Trained Conscience: When something is not completely apparent in the Bible (such as whether university is OK), you read a Watchtower Magazine, develop your opinion based on that information, and then report your opinion to others as your “Bible-trained Conscience.” 4.The Light gets Brighter and Brighter: Truth is progressive. There are “past truths,” “current truths,” and “future truths.” All truth originates from proclamations from the Governing Body and the best truth is future truth. 5.World Empire of False Religion, Babylon the Great, Christendom: Any Bible-based religion that outside of yours (Baptist, Catholic, Mormon, etc). All of them will be destroyed by Jehovah at Armageddon. 6.Turned to Satan: After careful study of the scriptures, a Jehovah’s Witnesses leaves the ORG and becomes a member of Christendom (an “apostate”). 7.Spiritual Pornography: Any written material that criticizes Watchtower doctrines and “pollutes one’s pure worship of Jehovah.” 8.Independent Thinking: Honestly considering arguments against the Watchtower (“spiritual pornography”) with an open mind. 9.Turning in your time: Submitting your weekly/monthly time card indicating how many hours you have spent distributing Watchtower Magazines. (Those who spend more hours get to higher levels and have more privileges.) 10.Theocratic Warfare Strategy: Telling lies (or withholding the truth) when doing so would benefit the organization. more

Resolved Question: POLL--AGREE or DISAGREE......random...?

FIRST time offense for drunk (or "buzzed) driving should be suspended license of one year AND 6 months jail? Cigarettes should be taken off market. Cell phone companies should have an actual person answer the phone. The world is in the worst shape ever, due to man. Todays society and morals are ruining todays children. You do not like summer. You love your job. Marijuana should be legalized for people over 21. You are prejudice against..............? Most people are honest. more

Resolved Question: New York New York New York- Tourist advice!?

I am going in 4 weeks time with my school for an economics trip from Thursday- Monday. I CANNOT wait, 4 weeks time i am on that plane to JFK.. eeeeeeekkkk BUZZING. However im asking on here for advice and recommendations about the following: Shopping Places to eat things to do places to have pictures taken ( i know it sounds cheesy) etc etc I know that we are up the empire state on the Thursday night & Chelsea piers Friday night. We also have a wall strett tour & marketing tour of Macy's. I am planning on spending roughly £550-£600 to NY for shopping, eating & general merchandise & sovereigns Thanks alot Joel more

Resolved Question: stimulants, caffine, energy drinks?

I'm 22 to start with, and with the huge market `legal` stimulants have created for themselves; redbull,relentless and monster are proving popular and sucssfull but have confused me, because none of them... no matter how much I drink affect me in any way :/ why is that?... wen some ppl apparently "buzz 4 ages" coffee included more

Resolved Question: What do you think of the Phoenix Suns wearing their "Los Suns" jerseys in protest of AZ immigration law?

Is this A) a well thought out protest meant to fight injustice or B) A clever marketing campaign to sell some "los suns" jerseys and try to build some buzz before the game. (ratings weren't that high for game 1) Also, why do you think they chose to use Spanglish instead of Spanish: Los Sols?? Finally, do you think this will ultimately hurt the Suns fan base or expand it?? http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Suns-to-wear-Los-Suns-uniforms-to-honor-Phoeni?urn=nba,238682&cp=8#comments more

Voting Question: Car remote alarm - How to make it work?

96 Camry - After market remote system. Panic alarm works from Remote Fob. But when opening/closing the door using remote, only lights flash but no honk or buzz. Is there a seperate horn for this than the main horn? Where would it be located? I never seen this working since I bought this car. So don't know it worked before. Any suggestions? more

Resolved Question: WHO SAID HYPERINFLATION IS NOT COMING?

Interest Rates Have Nowhere to Go but Up Buzz up! 191 Print On Sunday April 11, 2010, 1:00 pm EDT Even as prospects for the American economy brighten, consumers are about to face a new financial burden: a sustained period of rising interest rates. That, economists say, is the inevitable outcome of the nation’s ballooning debt and the renewed prospect of inflation as the economy recovers from the depths of the recent recession. The shift is sure to come as a shock to consumers whose spending habits were shaped by a historic 30-year decline in the cost of borrowing. “Americans have assumed the roller coaster goes one way,” said Bill Gross, whose investment firm, Pimco, has taken part in a broad sell-off of government debt, which has pushed up interest rates. “It’s been a great thrill as rates descended, but now we face an extended climb.” The impact of higher rates is likely to be felt first in the housing market, which has only recently begun to rebound from a deep slump. The rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage has risen half a point since December, hitting 5.31 last week, the highest level since last summer. Along with the sell-off in bonds, the Federal Reserve has halted its emergency $1.25 trillion program to buy mortgage debt, placing even more upward pressure on rates. “Mortgage rates are unlikely to go lower than they are now, and if they go higher, we’re likely to see a reversal of the gains in the housing market,” said Christopher J. Mayer, a professor of finance and economics at Columbia Business School. “It’s a really big risk.” Each increase of 1 percentage point in rates adds as much as 19 percent to the total cost of a home, according to Mr. Mayer. The Mortgage Bankers Association expects the rise to continue, with the 30-year mortgage rate going to 5.5 percent by late summer and as high as 6 percent by the end of the year. Another area in which higher rates are likely to affect consumers is credit card use. And last week, the Federal Reserve reported that the average interest rate on credit cards reached 14.26 percent in February, the highest since 2001. That is up from 12.03 percent when rates bottomed in the fourth quarter of 2008 — a jump that amounts to about $200 a year in additional interest payments for the typical American household. With losses from credit card defaults rising and with capital to back credit cards harder to come by, issuers are likely to increase rates to 16 or 17 percent by the fall, according to Dennis Moroney, a research director at the TowerGroup, a financial research company. “The banks don’t have a lot of pricing options,” Mr. Moroney said. “They’re targeting people who carry a balance from month to month.” Similarly, many car loans have already become significantly more expensive, with rates at auto finance companies rising to 4.72 percent in February from 3.26 percent in December, according to the Federal Reserve. Washington, too, is expecting to have to pay more to borrow the money it needs for programs. The Office of Management and Budget expects the rate on the benchmark 10-year United States Treasury note to remain close to 3.9 percent for the rest of the year, but then rise to 4.5 percent in 2011 and 5 percent in 2012. The run-up in rates is quickening as investors steer more of their money away from bonds and as Washington unplugs the economic life support programs that kept rates low through the financial crisis. Mortgage rates and car loans are linked to the yield on long-term bonds. Besides the inflation fears set off by the strengthening economy, Mr. Gross said he was also wary of Treasury bonds because he feared the burgeoning supply of new debt issued to finance the government’s huge budget deficits would overwhelm demand, driving interest rates higher. Nine months ago, United States government debt accounted for half of the assets in Mr. Gross’s flagship fund, Pimco Total Return. That has shrunk to 30 percent now — the lowest ever in the fund’s 23-year history — as Mr. Gross has sold American bonds in favor of debt from Europe, particularly Germany, as well as from developing countries like Brazil. Last week, the yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note briefly crossed the psychologically important threshold of 4 percent, as the Treasury auctioned off $82 billion in new debt. That is nearly twice as much as the government paid in the fall of 2008, when investors sought out ultrasafe assets like Treasury securities after the collapse of Lehman Brothers and the beginning of the credit crisis. Though still very low by historical standards, the rise of bond yields since then is reversing a decline that began in 1981, when 10-year note yields reached nearly 16 percent. From that peak, steadily dropping interest rates have fed a three-decade lending boom, during which American consumers borrowed more and more but managed to hold down the portion of their income devoted to payin more

Voting Question: How is my Reserch report coming along?

Grunge the subculture movement Remember a time when Nirvana, flannel and Seattle was cool, that time was better known as the Grunge era. Music spewed out of Seattle like a waterfall in the 90’s and into American pop culture. The very word grunge in essence means trash, sludge, or grime. This “Seattle Sound” was known by the dirty, heavy guitar riffs that many of the bands trademarked. It was also distinguished by iconic rock stars such as Kurt Cobain, Eddie Vedder, and various others. Grunge was in, and Seattle would be known as the music capital, and all the world would hear its sound..The Grunge Era in rock heavily influenced the music industry, and fashion of American society. The Grunge sound was now blaring on radio stations with successful bands such as Nirvana, and Pearl Jam at the top of the list. Emerging from Seattle the local bands there did not expect to be signed to any major record labels. Seattle endorsed mostly grunge music which originated from Alternative music that was developed in the 60’s to counter the pop in mainstream music. Although Seattle didn’t have many major record label companies it did promote music with Independent Labels such as Sub Pop. Sub Pop released a three-boxed set called Sub Pop 200, without this highly influential boxed set the sounds from Nirvana, and Soundgarden wouldn’t have even been heard throughout the world. Seattle entirely revolutionized the playing field for the music industry. Great bands would no longer have to play in the few confined centers like New York, or Los Angeles to get noticed. Seattle showed the music industry that there’s a scene going on everywhere even in the backwater places no one knows about, all you really have to do is look (Bell). The pure force of Seattle Grunge bands was so powerful that it provided a economic market of its own. Seattle was a haven for Alternative Rock. Music became such a large proportion of the economy that out of the one hundred, and forty dollars ten billion dollars a year that Generation X would spend, ten billion dollars of it would go to the music industry. The seven best Seattle band’s record companies profited with over two hundred million dollars in gross revenue from the sales of their albums (Bell 2). The almost unheard of Nirvana were getting more airtime from radio stations, would go on to sell four million albums in early 1991 with their hit album Nevermind. Pearl Jam would also come to sell four million by the end of the year with their album Ten (Freind 2). In a sense it was Nirvana mania Jack Endino implies this perfectly when he states “92 was the year Nirvana knocked Michal Jackson off the charts…Soundgarden was doing better… It was suddenly the cover of ------ Time magazine” (Heylin). With every genre of music there is a common theme. The Seattle Sound is directly uniform with the youth culture in the area (Bell). No one say it better than Duff McKagen bassist for Guns n’ Roses when he states “You gotta understand Seattle, it’s grungy, people are into rock and roll, and they’re building airplanes all the time, there’s a lot of noise, and there’s rain and musty garages. Musty garages create a certain noise” (Azerrad). By 1992 Nirvanas Nevermind was number one on Billboard’s pop album chart (Marin). Nirvanas song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” in the Nevermind album also became the anthem of every anguished teen of the era with its catchy riffs, and depressing weary lyrics (Freind). “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was so popular that it was constantly running four or five times a day on MTV, and was put into its Buzz Bin in September 1991(Marin). College age students and other members of Generation X related to this music as it was a time when they were looking for a sense of belonging, and self identity, of which they had found through grunge music (Bell). Few individuals were as talented, and influential for grunge music as Kurt Cobain. Although not the original founders of grunge music Kurt Cobain, and his band Nirvana where credited as announcing to the world that’s it’s the end of one era, and the beginning of another. Although Cobain never intended to become the generation’s spokesman, he wasn’t given a choice. He came from a time of greed, designer drugs, and image-driven celebrities, otherwise known as the 80’s. He didn’t want to be a hero, but people were willing to accept anyone they felt was real. The public reacted to his sound, and loved it, even while he was struggling with fame, drugs, and his identity he still captured his generations through his music (DeCurtis). Other Seattle bands owe a dept to Nirvana without their financial success Sub Pop would have gone bankrupt, and wouldn’t have been able to sign other grunge bands (Bell). Cobain’s song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was one of the defining moments in rock history it was a scream of rebellion, alienation, and rejection of societies commercialism from the youth culture of the day. In many ways it was Nirvana who brougbrought grunge to the mainstream, their success marked the end of the 80’s, and the beginning of the 90’s. Cobain’s last words in his suicide note echoed “It’s better to burn out than to fade away”. (DeCurtis) Seattle wasn’t just known for its music, it was also characterized by the fashion that originated from the region. Seattle drew in the youth of the area, and was conveyed as “The biggest town in the middle of a large nowhere” by Alden and Gilbert. Originally people would wear flannel, and Doc Marten boots to demonstrate against the fashion industry, it was an anti-fashion protest against the fake flashy style that the 80’s was known for.(Bell) People didn’t just start to randomly dressing up as lumber jacks with their flannel shirts , and leatherettes. Flannel shirts were worn as a safeguard against the Pacific Northwest climate(Marin). The black noise sound and smelly caveman look became vastly fashionable. Before you knew it everyone was wearing flannel. Designers saw theirDesigners saw their opportunity to profit from the grunge scene, and so this marked the beginning of the end for the grunge movement. (Bell) Soon it became a fashion statement to wear clothes that look like they were bought from Goodwill or worn as a hand-me-down from an older sibling. The anti-fashion protest had back fired on itself; the clothes that they wore were so publicized by the media, that it became an insult to the very music that inspired it. Models would be strutting in ski caps, combat boots, and dirty hair in fashion shows. Stylists were even being asked by young models to make their beautiful hair look a little bit greasier. It takes only one season to steal styles, and put it in the runway, but it takes about three years to see it at a store. Grunge however was different it was already at the store, and it was even on sale at Kmart, and the Salvation Army. Grunge became an easy target for designers, and commercialism. Just as grunge music had sold well to the publicso had grunge apparel, rich teens that were to proud to shop at the very place grunge fashion started the local Goodwill, would purchase overpriced commercialized clothes in shopping malls. There they would be buying a pair of purposely ripped jeans for 150$, and intentionally faded, and fringed flannel shirts for 65$. The former point to grunge fashion was to wear things that were cheap and looked cheap this purpose was destroyed by commercialism. (Bell)Basically my points are Music Industry & Fashion Could I get some brainstorming plllz What else is characterstic of Grunge ? THx Please evaluate this as a english teacher more

Voting Question: www.tradebhavishya.com is it brilliant nifty tips?

Buy or Sell- Telecom stocks Buy or Sell- Telecom stocks Telecom sector has been into a lot of news these days. One is the 3G auction which is finally taking off and the other is Bharti’sacquisition of Zain. With all such market buzz, does it make sense to accumulate telecom stocks? The sector still needs to witness some consolidation and we might see that process starting this [...] March 21 2010 | Posted in Idea Check, Market Outlook | Read More » Weekly Outlook Weekly Outlook Markets have been showing a great deal of resilience in the last few weeks and Indian indices outperformed their global peers by a margin last week. I see a lot of momentum building up in select midcaps and small caps. Take an example of Hanung Toys which I had written about 1 week back when the [...] March 21 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » NIFTY Outlook NIFTY Outlook In my last post, I had indicated how markets are looking bullish in the short term due to prevailing scepticism in the market. The left out junta is again waiting for a deep correction and true its character, the market is not providing that opportunity. 5300 is one level a lot of traders would be [...] March 17 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » Bulls are back! Bulls are back! Markets have been trending up nicely and bulls are in firm control of these markets. What is more encouraging for the bulls is the fact that many players had either booked profits before the budget or had gone short in anticipation of fiscal stimulus. Now most of such players are in the “left out” or [...] March 9 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » Have the bulls returned? Have the bulls returned? As written in my earlier post, a trade above 4900 has the probability of hitting 5000 on the NIFTY. Does this indicate that the bulls have taken hold of the markets, once again? This looks very likely although there are still some hurdles that need to be crossed. The first resistance is 5050-5100 which can invite [...] March 3 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » Budget Day Today! Budget Day Today! In the short term NIFTY is currently in a downward trend although medium trm trend is sideways and longer term trend is bullish. This means that short term traders can go long only when NIFTY trades above 4900 for short term targets of 5000 and beyond. Medium term traders would do best to stay on the [...] more

Resolved Question: DOES WWW.TRADEBHAVISHYA.COM NIFTY SERVICE IS OK?

Buy or Sell- Telecom stocks Buy or Sell- Telecom stocks Telecom sector has been into a lot of news these days. One is the 3G auction which is finally taking off and the other is Bharti’sacquisition of Zain. With all such market buzz, does it make sense to accumulate telecom stocks? The sector still needs to witness some consolidation and we might see that process starting this [...] March 21 2010 | Posted in Idea Check, Market Outlook | Read More » Weekly Outlook Weekly Outlook Markets have been showing a great deal of resilience in the last few weeks and Indian indices outperformed their global peers by a margin last week. I see a lot of momentum building up in select midcaps and small caps. Take an example of Hanung Toys which I had written about 1 week back when the [...] March 21 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » NIFTY Outlook NIFTY Outlook In my last post, I had indicated how markets are looking bullish in the short term due to prevailing scepticism in the market. The left out junta is again waiting for a deep correction and true its character, the market is not providing that opportunity. 5300 is one level a lot of traders would be [...] March 17 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » Bulls are back! Bulls are back! Markets have been trending up nicely and bulls are in firm control of these markets. What is more encouraging for the bulls is the fact that many players had either booked profits before the budget or had gone short in anticipation of fiscal stimulus. Now most of such players are in the “left out” or [...] March 9 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » Have the bulls returned? Have the bulls returned? As written in my earlier post, a trade above 4900 has the probability of hitting 5000 on the NIFTY. Does this indicate that the bulls have taken hold of the markets, once again? This looks very likely although there are still some hurdles that need to be crossed. The first resistance is 5050-5100 which can invite [...] March 3 2010 | Posted in Market Outlook | Read More » Budget Day Today! Budget Day Today! In the short term NIFTY is currently in a downward trend although medium trm trend is sideways and longer term trend is bullish. This means that short term traders can go long only when NIFTY trades above 4900 for short term targets of 5000 and beyond. Medium term traders would do best to stay on the [...] more

Resolved Question: Reqd Expert's Advice on how to find percentage of Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd stock market share holding?

Reqd Expert's Advice on how to find percentage of Welspun Gujarat Stahl Rohren Ltd stock market share holding by Mutual fund , because it is a buzzing stock ? more

Voting Question: Which is a better Boss pedal?

I Have a little problem i use a metal zone and a regular boss ds-1 my problem was too much buzz from both pedals but i didn't like the buzz so i got a regular boss noise gate and i set it the sens at zero and the decay at zero and nothing happens they still dominate over the noise gate!!! its good for buzz from amps but i need something on the pedalboard to quiet my metal zone and ds-1 what do you use? or What is the most dominating noise suppressor on the market today? more

Resolved Question: Does Rush Limbaugh think...?

that the best healthcare is one that is universal with a public option and not a free open market system? He stated that if the healthcare bill was passed he would move to Costa Rica. Now he says that he will only go there for their healthcare, but "Limbaugh would therefore be leaving a more "free market" health care system to be treated in a system which, for instance, has a strong public option and near universal coverage of its citizens". So is Rush Limbaugh upset that there was no public option in the new healthcare bill? http://www.examiner.com/x-5738-Political-Buzz-Examiner~y2010m3d22-Video-Rush-Limbaugh-backtracks-on-pledge-to-move-to-Costa-Rica-if-health-care-bill-passes more

Resolved Question: Has anyone used http://www.purchasetwitterfriends.com? Does it work?

I'm helping out with marketing a business and they really need more followers on twitter to create a buzz. And the website says that they'll get you 10,000 followers, but are those followers going to STAY? Or are they gradually going to unfollow you? Because if they are then it's a stupid waste of money, and this is serious business. Money is involved. more

Voting Question: Google Buzz -- Are you using it?

And if you're or have, - do you like it? - not so - do you hate it? And, why? I'm surprised that Google did not issue a beta release. How so? What was their strategy? It makes sense to me that Google wants a share in the market of social web networking. How does Google Buzz compare to the other social Networking sites? I'm only using Twitter and recently I have started on Google wave. more

Resolved Question: Drinking Listerine mouthwash to get a buzz?

I'm in high school, and painfully shy. I can't seem even to open up and be myself, because of extreme self-induced paranoia I've developed over the past 4 years. I am too shy to make my own friends... and it seems the only time I can ever be genuinely social at school is with alcohol. I tried brandy, wine and rum whenever it was convenient. Unfortunately for certain reasons I can't obtain these anymore. So, since stealing alcohol didn't work, I resorted to feeble attempts at stealing bud light from flea markets. Never got any yet; I don't have the courage and shop-lifting is entirely against my own beliefs. But I feel as if this is it. I read that Listerine has a high enough alcohol content; after drinking 600ml and suffering annoying stomach aches without any buzz, I've realized that Listerine probably won't work for me, at least, not at the moment. But I hate being so fucking tied-up and uncomfortable for no fucking reason, and alot of the times my friends think I don't like them... I'm extremely conscious of my own voice inside class rooms, and it is like I barely socialize until I'm outside, and then only when I'm comfortable. I'm tired of pretending I'm stronger then I really am; I have tried for the past 4 years to overcome my fear of rejections / paranoia / self-consciousness. I do not have social-anxiety disorder. I don't have autism. I don't have anxiety / ADHD. If you think I'm denying realistic possibilities, then fuck off. My life is insane and pointless with this 0 self-esteem and nothing works (NOTHING except alcohol). So far, all that has worked is a little bit of liquid confidence. Yup. Nothing else. So please, without any stupid, bitch-ass remarks or lame jokes, give me any suggestions on how to overcome my paranoia and how to feel + act the same everywhere as I do when I'm comfortable? (with best friends, at home, etc.) I get too offended, too easily. Sometimes I unconsciously turn into a kiss-ass, and it pisses me off. I don't wanna hear any bullshit about how I'm killing my liver, etc. I honestly don't care about that.@starstruck actually, the point of this question was to get an alternative to alcohol. You can call this a pity party; it might be, but it wasn't intentionally. I am trying to get a solution. more

Resolved Question: HELP w/ CALCULUS Application to Economics Prob?

A CFO is trying to sell a new CXT pickup truck. Surveys conducted of potential consumers show that there is a substantial amount of "buzz" and interest in the new CXT, although many customers were less likely to buy one when they discovered it has poor gas mileage and runs on diesel. This "buzz factor" needs to be taken into consideration when introducing this product to the market. As more products are sold, the buzz is expected to drop. In this situation, one can determine a functional form for "buzz": B(x) = a - bx^2, where a and b are constants bigger than zero. As a result, your PROFIT then becomes: P(x) = R(x) - C(x) + B(x) a) How will positive and negative buzz affect the profit? b) What does x-intercept represent in relation to "buzz" affecting profit? c) The financial backers are worried that bad buzz will affect profits, and thus want an initial production level that will still yield profit. Can you find a range of production levels where there will still be a profit? How does this range compare to the production levels that yield a profit when you don't consider buzz? *** any or all help appreciated...thanks SO MUCH <33 more

Resolved Question: SEO experts: What do you think of Google Buzz?

Do you think businesses will investigate marketing on Google Buzz once it's developed - because Google owns it? Would tapping into Buzz raise Google search rankings higher than other social networking outlets do? Any response appreciated! more

Resolved Question: How do you like my story so far?

i know i've posted this before. just need more opinions. :) September 17, 2018. The stock market fails. Mass suicides follow. November 2, 2018. No more money is being produced in the United States. February 9, 2019. Cults are formed. People who stayed true to their religion gather in churches for shelters. Car dealerships are burnt down. Houses are abandoned. February 17, 2019. Riots break out. People finally realize if they’re not smart in this “new” America, they’re going 6 feet under without a grave. March 1, 2019. Half the senate has either been gunned down, kidnapped, or just too coward to open their basement door. The military tried to rear its ugly head, but stubborn Americans showed them whose boss. April 23, 2019. The downfall of the proud and free U.S.A. has come to pass. Time for the aftermath. Today. June 2, 2019. Atkinson, Maine. Beads of sweat fell down the perimeter of my chin. My feet stung as they hit the durable asphalt. It had been weeks since I saw a sign of human life. I didn’t see them, but they probably saw me, looking from basement portholes, tree houses, or even from living room windows. All of them thinking the same things: “Friend or Foe?” or “This man is crazy, he better seek shelter before the followers of David get a hold on him.” The only reason people would even open there front door would be to barter with neighbors, or to forage for food. Why, you ask am I wandering the streets, instead of cowering inside my comfy Chicago apartment. My brother Zeke. Zeke was studying at the University of Maine when the downfall began. The college was approximately 34.7 miles away from the town of Atkinson according to the map tucked snuggly in my boot. I was beginning to think I was on a wild goose chase. Then again, I was thinking about a lot of things. I was thinking about the future of America. I was thinking about the lives of all the good people in this country who have died. I was thinking about what had happened to the children that attended the abandoned school I just walked by. My thoughts were buzzing, until a shrill and somewhat annoying scream broke them. I darted my head left, then right, trying to discover the location of the yell. I did the only thing my instincts were telling me to do. Run. I ran and ran and ran and ran. The scream was located, two house up from my location, about 30 feet. I could tell the voice was female. I approached the house at a high speed, almost tripping on the first step to the deck. I grabbed the door handle and thrust it forward. The scene I saw was a scene I rather erase from my memory than tell it to you. For it was a scene I try to forget, because it haunts me to this day. The scene not only made my journey much more difficult, but made me do an action that I will never forgive myself for. I need opinions and constructive criticism if you have it. i Also want suggestions. And if you want, rate it 1-10 more

Resolved Question: Give me a star if you like this story!?

Hardly anyone remembers Camel anymore. They were a British band whose popularity peaked in about 1977, not to be confused with Frampton's Camel, which was Peter Frampton's (remember him?) band of the same era. Camel was a "progressive-rock" band (like ELP, Yes, and Genesis, though they sounded nothing like any of those bands) whose airplay was limited to "AOR" (album-oriented radio) FM stations. Their biggest hit album was "Moonmadness", though they were fairly well-known for their earlier album "The Snow Goose". Anyway, Camel toured the greater U.S. in about 1977. In Portland, they would be coming to the Paramount, and REO Speedwagon (I was never much of an REO fan) would open for them. The Paramount Theater in Portland (there was one in Seattle too) was just about the best place in the world for a rock concert. It held a little over 3000, was beautifully decorated, with chandeliers and exquisitely detailed and brightly colored woodwork everywhere. Standing was not allowed, there was no "festival seating" (the kind of seating where everyone stands). The place was fully carpeted (even the walls were carpeted to a height of about 6 feet) and acoustically, it was one of the best venues for a rock concert ever. So it was with much anticipation and excitement that I made plans to attend the concert with two friends of mine from school. Tracy was diminutive fellow with a lisp and an unending appetite for drugs. His next-door neighbor, Steve Harrell, was of higher than average intelligence but every inch an anarchist. His cerebral but socially out-of-it ways made him lots of fun to get high with. And, he was a fellow Camel fan. Strategies were outlined for attending the show. Now, the Paramount had no reserved seating, so there were two ways to ensure a good seat: One, you could show up verrrry early and camp out in front of the doors (the groupies usually did this), or Two, you could wait until the precise moment the doors opened, and crowd in at the corner of the block, beating all the chumps who had lined up along the sidewalk, the line sometimes reaching all the way around the perimeter of the building. As always, we would opt for Method Two. I was the driver for this event, I had a new lime-green Pontiac Ventura with a Craig Car Stereo cassette deck I'd installed myself, so I was usually picked to drive. We arrived about two hours before show time. We were incredibly lucky to find a parking spot right on the corner, just across the street from the doors. Here, we could imbibe all we wanted, then simply hop out and walk up to the doors when they opened. Wonderful! Steve, being the bravest, went off to try to score some wine at a little market up the street. He managed to procure some liquor by bribing an old alcoholic street person, giving the old guy enough for his very own bottle. Then he returned to the car with the goodies: A half-gallon of warm, pink chablis for Tracy and him to share, and for me, my very own fifth of warm, pink chablis. Of course it was yucky-tasting, but that was hardly the point: We could get totally shitface-drunk, then just walk up at the right time and get excellent seats for the concert. All our concert-going experience and brainstorming had brought us to this perfect situation. We were very proud. I finished off my fifth in about 30 minutes, as we knew the doors would be opening soon. Tracy and Steve were too grossed out by the flavor (and temperature) of the wine to drink as much as I did, but they had drank enough to develop a healthy buzz, especially when combined with all the usual weed that was obligatory for concert-going. We noticed a clamor on the corner. The doors were about to open! We climbed out of the car and crossed the street into the dense crowd, which was when I first noticed that I was nearly too drunk to stand up. After pushing our way into the crowd, the only way I could remain upright was by propping myself against other concertgoers. Once the doors opened, we raced into the auditorium and secured seats in the third row, near center stage! On the stage, there were three huge projection screens set up in back, as Camel had a sort of slide-projection show that would play behind them, very advanced visual-stuff for a rock band at the time. Everything had gone perfectly, except one thing: My stomach and the pink wine were not getting along very well. So I sat there, hoping the nauseous feeling would pass. It got worse when it was announced that REO Speedwagon would not be there. I don't remember the reason for their cancellation, but they were to be replaced by a Portland band I had never heard of, and would never hear of again, called "Wrinkle". Just about then, I realized that puking was inevitable. I calmly got up and walked very fast to the restrooms in the basement of the Paramount. Now, before I begin describing my technicolor yawn, you need to know two things: One, I have had severe hay fever my entire life, and I get more

Resolved Question: What do I do after a girl doesn't text me back?

I met this pretty girl last night in one of my friends dorm at college and we chatted for a lot of the night. We had a lot of things in common including the same major and minor. I told her i was in the marketing club and that she is going to join it with me and come with me every wednesday too it. I was able to ask her for number as the night went on and she said sure to hanging out sometime later in the week etc. She was little bit drunk and I was buzzed too. She then asked me to ring her number on my cell so she has mine. As the night came to a close, I walked her back to her dorm in the freezing cold and just inside the front of the dorm we made out and kissed a lot and then I left. Now my question is: I texted her tonight and we had a small chat going thru the text until I told her to come over to my dorm to watch a movie. She said yea, maybe Ill have to see what else is going on and ill get back to you...well, she never got back to me--do you think she was really drunk and forgot about me? Or do you think she remembered me but didnt want to come over etc.? please, help! more

Voting Question: What happens when a girl doesn't text me back?

I met this pretty girl last night in one of my friends dorm at college and we chatted for a lot of the night. We had a lot of things in common including the same major and minor. I told her i was in the marketing club and that she is going to join it with me and come with me every wednesday too it. I was able to ask her for number as the night went on and she said sure to hanging out sometime later in the week etc. She was little bit drunk and I was buzzed too. She then asked me to ring her number on my cell so she has mine. As the night came to a close, I walked her back to her dorm in the freezing cold and just inside the front of the dorm we made out and kissed a lot and then I left. Now my question is: I texted her tonight and we had a small chat going thru the text until I told her to come over to my dorm to watch a movie. She said yea, maybe Ill have to see what else is going on and ill get back to you...well, she never got back to me--do you think she was really drunk and forgot about me? Or do you think she remembered me but didnt want to come over etc.? please, help! more

Voting Question: What do I do after I kiss a girl?

I met this pretty girl last night in one of my friends dorm at college and we chatted for a lot of the night. We had a lot of things in common including the same major and minor. I told her i was in the marketing club and that she is going to join it with me and come with me every wednesday too it. I was able to ask her for number as the night went on and she said sure to hanging out sometime later in the week etc. She was little bit drunk and I was buzzed too. She then asked me to ring her number on my cell so she has mine. As the night came to a close, I walked her back to her dorm in the freezing cold and just inside the front of the dorm we made out and kissed a lot and then I left. Now my question is: Today is the day after last night (Saturday) and im sure she will be going out tonight like I will too...now do i text her at like 9 in the night and tell her wuts up and if she wants to hang out and so on. Or do I wait till she texts me? Or do I wait till later in the week to say something? HELP!! I really want to hang out with her tonight but im nervous that I might be looking desperate/needy/making it a big deal than it is. Or am i just over analyzing it?? more

Voting Question: What happens after I get a girl's number?

I met this pretty girl last night in one of my friends dorm at college and we chatted for a lot of the night. We had a lot of things in common including the same major and minor. I told her i was in the marketing club and that she is going to join it with me and come with me every wednesday too it. I was able to ask her for number as the night went on and she said sure to hanging out sometime later in the week etc. She was little bit drunk and I was buzzed too. She then asked me to ring her number on my cell so she has mine. As the night came to a close, I walked her back to her dorm in the freezing cold and just inside the front of the dorm we made out and kissed a lot and then I left. Now my question is: Today is the day after last night (Saturday) and im sure she will be going out tonight like I will too...now do i text her at like 9 in the night and tell her wuts up and if she wants to hang out and so on. Or do I wait till she texts me? Or do I wait till later in the week to say something? HELP!! I really want to hang out with her tonight but im nervous that I might be looking desperate/needy/making it a big deal than it is. Or am i just over analyzing it?? more

Resolved Question: Cat Pizza --- What Do You Think?

I make it with alfredo sauce instead of tomato sauce, and then for toppings I add: small chucks of tuna, sardine bits, and anchovie bits. The finished pizza can be tried out on people before presenting it to the cats. I recommend the neighbors children, during a TV watching Pizza Party, when the room is dark. And do not cram any pizza slices into the childrens mouths, at least not after they start screaming. If the children tolerate the Pizza well, then you are ready to try it on the cats. You can add a bit of heavy cream as a final topping. Place the Pizza slices on small plates and put these on the front porch about 10 feet apart. If you have the knack for making good cat pizza, you will find many takers among the neighborhood cats. Most will nibble eagerly at the toppings. Only a few cats will eat serious amounts of the crust. This is OK. The crusts dry up and can be fed the to birds and the squirrels, who then get fat and delicious, and thus provide lovely dessert for the cats. Birds that are bubbadocious and tree rats that are lardy-butt do not escape all predacious cats of hunting prowess, like my beauty Diana-Meowy-Face, a true huntress of the yard. I'm thinking that the fish related ingredients might be freeze dried, and the alfredo sauce could come in a mylar pouch, and the crust could be like a Boboli perma-crust. Cat pizza could be sold by mail order as a food item at Amazon.com. Also it could be a dry storage item at local markets. There would be a little booklet showing how to make the Pizza, and how to stuff it into the mouths of children to test its quality, and how to present it to the local cats as their reward for being so aloof and filled with the dignity of good citizens. Who is with me? I would like to sell this cat pizza product through the same marketing channels, including Emma the Trouble Magnet, (aka Machine Gun toting Highland Venus), who has always been splendid in marketing my products, like my new and improved God's Balls Dogfood IAMSTHATIAMS. By the way the three dog night bed warmer harness is getting a lot of buzz. People have been looking for some use for those fluffy warm lazy useless dogs that do nothing but eat and sleep -- poodles in particular, but also cocker spaniels, and bloodhounds. Always seeking to be the Little Servant of all Mankind -- Dolphin314etc Hurray for Small Business! more

Resolved Question: Why do I have high tolerance for medication?

here's the thing, any type of medicine, and I mean ANY type, from cold remedies, nasal decongestants to over the counter and even prescribed pain killers, THEY DO ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO ME!!!! I HATE THAT D: D: I just took an hour ago a prescribed nasal decongestant that is supposed to be the strongest in the market, and what did it do... you guessed ... NOTHING, pain medication? I'd rather chew on my hand, that works better. even with alcohol, it usually takes me 5 ~ 6 shots of Jameson to give me a "buzz" LOL although I have had alcohol maybe 8 times my entire life.... any thoughts? more

Resolved Question: Sci-fi passage: "Child of One." Polished or Cruddy?

Note: All of the sci-fi I have read so far that includes robots always has the robots as either extremely human or not human at all. In this passage (the first page of the first chapter) we're introduced to "Braize," a robot with a neural network for a brain created by the story's protagonist, a melancholic 18ish year old living on a semi-arctic planet (terraformed) orbiting around some star somewhere. I tried not to infodump as my first try had that problem. Also the robot is naive and childish because it's brain is only four years old (my rational for 8 year old speech abilities is that parts of the synapse configuration for the left temporal lobe was taken from a four year old's "brain scan." yes, the brain is semi-programmed with synapses) Anywho, the book's premise deals with what humanity actually is and the problems of uncanny valley. Well, here's the text: Chapter 1 "There are two types of robots; conceptuals and logicals. Or, less technically, robots who are aware of their surroundings and those who simply parse incoming stimuli with algorithms. Logicals are the ones which are used in the factories and as everyday helpers. Hence, they are mass produced. But the conceptuals are a bit more interesting. The conceptuals' mind works, fundamentally, the same way a human's does save a few physiological principals such as biological limitations and irrelevant evolutional instincts. Conceptuals have no market value as their surrounding ethical issues are troublesome. It is hard to run something off an assembly line that has the potential to gain a personal opinion. Also, conceptuals need education as they learn the same way as people. Therefore, they are not sold, instead, must be built by an individual for private purpose." -Advanced Robotics Part 3: Intro to Neural Networks and Instinct Maps The morning felt like it had for each of my 18 years. Cold and dry, arctic in nature. Sounds of rain reverberated from the roof. The alarm buzzed with sawtooth menace; 5:50, Bross central metric (around 6:45 if I had lived on Earth.) My internship started at 6:80, a thought that nagged for my departure from bed. I flicked on the light. On the floor beside me lay Braize, who was instantly whisked from the limbo that is mechanical sleep mode. "Oh Orrie," He said to me, half chuckling in immature bliss, "you're awake!" "It's raining out," I commented, "a little early for spring." We were just easing out of this long aphelion. By 'we' I mean our planet, Bross. Or as it's known in the rest of the upper spiral rim, "The frozen overflow accommodations." It seems as if being in the same system as the planetary capital grants no added respect. But, I digress. My face soured, "Do I smell..." Sure enough, Nan was re-painting the wall in the foyer, as she had threatened to do the previous night. Her reasoning is that if she makes the house as undesirable as possible I'll move out earlier. She seems to be under the impression that I'll be gone by my mid 50s. I have a job - well paying for that matter - and when I rank up enough money I will leave. "What do you smell?" queried Braize in the cutest way possible, I forgot I'd left him hanging. "I smell paint, Nan's at it again." What a great way to start off a very important epoch of one's life. Paint. Hence, I made toast to counterpoise the fumes. Braize joined me, him and I ate this breakfast of kings. I could imagine the glucose and carbohydrates being dissimilated from this meal and cycled through the endless track of blood vessels to be devoured by those hungry cells. The same was being done inside Braize, but on a much simpler level. Sorry, another tangent. All I can say is that I've got a lot on my plate. I think I'll skip the part where Nan and I have our daily stand off, and the part where she glares at Braize with her technophobic eyes in a dreadfully haughty manner. I used to argue with her, unfortunately as experience would mention so frankly all my words pass over her head by proclamation. I know how melancholic I sound right now, but don't worry, I sound this way all the time. I tried not to use clichés but some might have slipped through :PBraize's brain is cellular therefore needs nutrients to run like any animal cell. That's why he eats human food. (he also breathes but it's not noticeable) more

Resolved Question: Gerrard and Torres on the market?

Rafa might sell them apparently? WHAT?! Would Rafa actually do that? Or is it just buzz? more

Voting Question: Toyota Camry 08 V6 Problems?

Toyota Camry 08 V6 Problems? In a nutshell: During cold weather - say around 30-60 F - I hear noticeable and annoying electric buzzing noise around dashboard. When cold starting the car, I get this noise a lot, and emits less frequently after a while. Also during cold weather, A/C fans makes this loud "whurring" sound during cold start, and dies down after you let it run for a while. During non-cold weather, I can hear the A/C fans, but not as noticeable. In any weather, I hear a metal clicking or thumping from the engine compartment when I drive off (after starting the car and drive forward). I don't get this noise when reversing. It is most noticeable during cold start, or if I don't drive it for a couple hours. Already took to dealer, and is frustrating sometimes since it is hard to get the technician to hear anything in a very noisy environment. I can take them to a quieter environment, but by then problems may not be evident anymore after cold start(and this is after I left the car at the car dealer for a day and coming in the next day to show them the issues). Any ideas? ---------------- Regarding the metal clicking, it only emits the sound once, and no more after that. It does make this sound on a consistent basis every time I start the car. Previous suggestions to the cause of this noise has been the ABS self-check mechanism My family has always bought Toyotas since the 80s, and we have put our full trust in this brand, but this Camry and even the one before from '01 has really been a let-down in our trust in their quality and reputation. 2001 Camry: Salesman gave us a great deal, and we the price low enough to where he wasn't too happy with it but still let us by with the price. What did he do? So our car was supposed to come with leather, but the one we drove out doesn't come with one. Leather will be installed afterwards--installer will take the seats and get leather installed. In the end we got leather that was thin and plastic-like. Yes, it's our fault for not doing anything about it. Within 2 years the leather was chaffing like no other, and the leather just looks butt-ugly. I guess the salesman had our leather installed at some el-cheapo after-market place. 53 minutes ago 2009 Camry(everything installed and shipped form factory): Came with poor-quality leather--badly wrinkled and hard. Maybe from a bad cow? And no, I'm not expecting Lexus-quality leather. The leather the car came with was unpleasing to the eye especially brand new car fresh out the assembly line. Noisy ride---Buzzing and squeaking hear and there. The dashboard occasionally makes an annoying buzzing sound, and the centerpiece where the A/C and stereo controls are squeaks here and there. Engine clunking at cold start(normal)--After hearing from many Toyota technicians, the V6 engine was designed in a way where it makes noisy tapping sounds at cold startup due to the mechanics of it. Knowing the details of it puts me at peace, but having to hear the tapping sounds every time I cold start the car always always reminds me of a cheap clunker. Toyota Service--A technician accidentally dinged the clear-coating of the car with his camera while taking pictures of the leather(the bad-cow leather). Car was taken into body shop for weeks due to a poor job of repainting that particular side of the car with the damage. Car came back fine, but coins were missing, magnetic travel-size checkerboard was missing, Bath and Body works anti-bacteria sanitizer gone, a red smudge on the interior of the sunroof window, and a few things missing here and there. Might as well have left the ding there and do nothing about it. My Biggest Frustration-- I mentioned earlier that it is almost impossible for the technicians to hear the issues I addressed. In that case what can I do? Yes, take it to them and tell them to do something about it, but what's the use of that if they keep telling me they can't hear anything wrong with it? I'm in a position where I know there is something wrong, but I just can't prove the problem to the technicians.***Replying to DL*** Yes, I did take it to the dealer and left it there for a whole night so I can show the technician what I am talking about. In fact it was with the head manager of the technicians. No success.And please...don't come in and start criticize my knowledge of cars. I do know how the A/C and the engine functions functions together within the car. And it especially does not help to "layman" term everything, and I can always do my research and understand the mechanics of what you are talking about. Don't understand the power of Internet. And let me make this clear, I'm not hear to whine and yap about every little squeak or undistinguishable sound the car makes. Family has owned Toyotas from the previous decade, and none of them had the issues I was discussing. I have a reason for this "complaining" you are talking about---well sorry for complaining, but if you don't feel like seriously answering the questions, then please don't bother answering in the first place. more

Voting Question: What are some buzz words for a marketing coordinator resume?

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Resolved Question: WHAT LANGUAGE SHOULD MY REALTOR AVOID WHEN LISTING MY HOME?

I know this is a bad time to sell, but I have no choice. I am not behind in my payments, etc. I had to move due to family reasons and now want to get out. Some realtors suggest buzz words like "motivated seller" and "bring all offers." I consider these terms as signs of a desperate seller. I've done my homework and will be listing my home for a good 15% BELOW local comps based on listing price per square foot. I'm even listing 2-4% BELOW recently sold local comps - just to be done with it. My concern is two fold. If I ask too much, it will languish on the market. If I ask too little, I will be still subject to low ball bottom feeders and might imply something is wrong with the house (there isn't). In fact, the home is in BETTER condition than those with the higher listing prices per square foot! I want to price it so that as soon as it hits MLS, there should be a flurry of activity with (hopefully) reasonable and competing offers (a bidding war). Should I 'stage' the house with a 'house sitter?' Will that potentially bring in a faster sale, more money and give the impression that this is not a desperation sale (which it is not)? The house is clean, elegant and has 'good bones,' but probably could use 4-5% of sales price to get it in mint and fully updated condition with granite counters, etc. Are virtual tours, 'boom' photo's and 'Youtube' video listings worth anything - or are these just gimmicks? Thank you in advance for your input. more

Resolved Question: What are earning opportunities for affiliate and network marketers in India in 2010?

With broadband and internet penetration on rise and buzz across India about affiliate and network marketing is it possible to make decent money this new year? more

Resolved Question: Is the beginning of my short story any good? Would you want to continue reading? (picking best answer)?

okay, ive never had anyone read any of my story's and i have NO idea if they are any good and im kinda nervous? PLEASE rate out of 5 and if it was anything good. ive tried to start it out slow, did i do okay? or is it trash? any criticism is appreciated greatly. :) The police station is like most other buildings in the small town. The old fashioned rusty doors squeak as they’re opened and close. There have never been many cases bad enough for a jail house to be built. Instead, the prisons are shipped out of town on a small, bared wagon. But like everything else in the town, it is used at least once a year, and then forgotten until needed again. The town itself is no more than a cross of a couple of long streets, only two intersections are located in it. The first intersection is the life of the town. People are frequently buzzing around the area, traveling to the farms west bound of the section or the shops, south. The north end of the town is covered in small, dirty, ugly houses with leaky roofs and weedy, crunchy, yellow grass. The second intersection lies west right by the farm lands. Three houses cover each corner. It is never busy there. Only the wealthiest people in the town own land in the area. The grass is tender and green. The flowers blossom in vibrant bunches across the garden yards. The best flowers in the town belong to Rogerson Quinn. Shortly behind had been Miss Courtney Weles. The two were had fought with no mercy over who owned the best garden. Miss Courtney had a sharp taste for colours, always making them root better, and grow prouder then Rogerson’s. But his grass grew more warm smells and his flower patterns where gentler. Miss. Courtney had only her wealth to pride over; after all, she was the only person in the town who had a maid and a dog. Her maid’s name was Stella Wills. Stella had a sweet smile, and light, silky, milk chocolate hair. She had been over worked by Miss. Courtney, but kept her cool. The village was just waiting for her to snap. Miss. Courtney’s father had money, and died rich, leaving her plenty to last a luxurious life. Each day, she called a cab to drive her to the city where she shopped and dined all day and night. Her father’s dog remained at home. Ronald was a golden retriever, the most beautiful thing any villager had seen, though she was not particularly fond of him. She left him at home with Stella and Connor Blank. Connor was her father’s brother, and his close friend. But Miss. Courtney had her own opinions about him. Miss. Courtney may have had the money, and privacy she needed, but not the respect. You see, Miss. Courtney had a little bit of dirt on everyone in the town, from the little boy across the village who broke a plate, to the chief of police who stole an apple from the market cart, with her large ears and eyes, nothing was a secret in the small shabby town. If only she was here now, to tell us who had killed her. this is writtin in 3rd person and what happens next is a detective gathers three suspects (Rogerson Quinn, Stella Wills, and Conner Blank) and each have a flash back and tell what they remember happend that night Courtney was killed an say that they are inosent. The problem is, none of them can remember what happens right before her death. you end up finding out who the killer is at the end of the story. plz, rate this a... 1 - trash it 2 - needs work 3 - not bad 4 - pretty interesting 5 - amazing, really interesting and would you read more???i kinda have to talk about the flowers and grass b/c thats the conflict between Rogerson and Courtneyall i asked for is if my story and basic ideas were okay, not a spell check. i know my spellings lousy but i can only do so much at once. i want to know if my story is worth spell checking and serious reviewing. i dont wana do a ton of work for nothing. but thx, Lawrence i will deffinetly be fixing those sentances. more

Voting Question: Best time to have a baby?

I am a third year college student on my way to a degree in Elementary Education! I can't wait. I enjoy every aspect of the experience I have gained from my studies; however, this has also lead me to ask myself a lot of questions about parenting, and what would be best for my family. I am 20 years old. Graduated High School at 17. My husband and I have been married for two years. He has a good job that pays decent. I have scholarships that help us out with my college expenses. If I had not worked hard and recieved them, I don't know what I would do. I am the kind of person who really wants to plan out having a family. I want to have a child when I know the time is right and that we have everything they could need. Due to things I have observed and experienced, I don't want my husband to take on the full burden of earning money for our family. I want to be able to contribute as well. My sister-in-law, on the other hand, decided she wanted a baby, and was pregnant a week later. No job. No education. [was only 16 AND married. yes, married at 16]. No planning. No research. Nothing. I was really taken back by this. She tells me almost every time I speak with her that I can't understand the love between mother and child, since I don't have one yet. [she has went through this spell lately where she believes no other mom loves their child as much as she loves her own.] Well, no, I don't understand all of it. But I understand enough that part of that LOVE is to give my child a good start and a happy family to grow in. And every mother has this connection with their child. That has left me to wonder. What is the best time to have a child? After recieving a college degree? After starting work? It is becoming a growing trend that women have children after recieving a degree and stay at home one or two years before venturing into the job market. What are your views on this? It would enable a person to care for their child as a stay at home mom, but they would also have the promise of a career in a year or two as long as the family was financially stable enough. Thanks! This question has been buzzing in my mind lately. more

Resolved Question: what does a house market buzz mean?

it it good? bad?? more

Resolved Question: Marketing a new company??

What's the best way for a new youth business networking company to generate buzz? more

Voting Question: Muffler info please. Why does mufflers sound the way they do?

Hi, I have a few questions I'm looking for the answers for. I will number them and if you don't know all the answer then you can answer one+ question. All the questions I'm asking are about performance/high flow mufflers and the cars they go on. Thanks! 1: Why do imports with aftermarket exhaust sound the way they do? The popping and buzzing sound, that sounds like something loose in the muffler. I was looking at an import style muffler today, and it looks like a magnaflow muffler on the inside, Straight through and fiberglass packed around the walls. I seen nothing about the muffler that would make it sound any different then a normal glasspacked muffler. So what make the buzzing & pop sound? Is it the motor or the muffler? (not talking about quiet oem mufflers) 2: What would the sound be like if you put an import style muffler on a v8 car with rear mufflers. ? (ie: 84-96 corvettes or 93+ camaro have rear mufflers) 2.5: Same thing just backwards, what would the sound be like if you put a normal performance muffler on an import? (glassed packed and chambered) 3: What types of mufflers are they? only types of mufflers I can think of are chambered like a flowmaster, and glasspacked walls like a magnaflow, and glass packed with tubes. 3.5: Are they other muffler types? I'm trying to find out info on exhaust systems, I'm in the market for a better sounding exhaust on my 94 6spd corvette. Today I looked at the polished magnaflow cat-bak system and was impressed until the muffler shop showed me an off brand universal import muffler. They both had single in/dual outs, both where polished, with polished dual wall exhaust tips and both where the same looking on the inside. Both where straight through type mufflers with glass-packed walls. So now I'm re-thinking my whole exhaust theory. I thought import mufflers had some kind of "rattler", lose parts or hollow case that make them sound like crap. Today I had five mufflers in front of me to inspect. I had the corvette magnaflow, a universal magnaflow, A universal dynomax, The universal polished import muffler, And a universal flowmaster. Both magnaflow mufflers, Dynomax muffler and import muffler looked very similar inside. And the magnaflow and import muffler shared the same 5x8 oval case, and the dynomax had a more flat case. The flowmaster was a 3 chambered muffler so it was completely different inside and I understand why it would have a different tone. But the other 4 being SOOOO close to the the same inside and out, what would make the tone change? I could see how more dense packing could change the sound, and how the overall shape could effect it. But I believe they would all be minor changes. so that is the big question! In glass packed "straight through" mufflers, What sets the tone apart from muffler to muffler, to the brand? thanks for your time!******************************************** Ok Im well aware of exhaust kits avl for the c4 corvette. Im not asking for advice. I know what I plan to do with the vette. You guys did not read the question! I want to know what makes the tone of exhaust. Not what brand of exhaust to buy. I can nothing about a brand for my corvette. I have been worng about mufflers and I want to know the facts of muffler and WHY they sound the way they do. ONCE AGAIN! I DO NOT CARE ABOUT BRANDS OF EXHAUST SYSTEMS, OR WHAT YOU RECAMEND FOR MY CORVETTE. IM NOT LOOKING FOR ADVICE, I WANT FACTS ABOUT EXHAUST TONE'S NOT INFO ON CORVETTE EXHAUST SYSTEMS. I asked about a normal style preformance muffler on a import as well. Why would I ask that if I wanted advice on corvettes?> People please read, and dont answer questions not asked. please more

Resolved Question: How long will the Phenom II stay "Top-Of-The-Line?"?

I am building my own PC (see current specs, which will change over the next year until it's complete, down at the bottom) and I've had my eye on this CPU for my build: AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2Ghz 125Watt Quad Core CPU But, it's a big investment (who am I kidding, that's pennies and pocket change compared to the fastest i7) and I don't want to get it and have something newer, faster, and better come out. I've heard the buzz about the six core "i9" and six core Phenom II/III X6 that is set to debut in 2010 but I'm sure that the six core Intel will top out at $1200 or so and the AMD to top out at around $400 when it hits the market. I don't want to invest in the 955 if another, newer, better, faster, Phenom II X4 is set to debut any time within the next year. I guess what I'm asking is: Is it worth it to invest in the 955 now? Or should I wait and see if another Phenom II X4 will hit the market? Current: Antec 900 Case ASUS Crosshair III Formula AM3 socket ATX motherboard AMD Phenom II X4 955 Black Edition 3.2Ghz CPU XFX Nvidia GTS250 512MB GDDR3 PCI Express x16 2.0 G.Skill 4GB DDR3 SDRAM Corsair 650W power Supply Sony Optaric black DVD/CD 3.5" Drive Western Digital 5.25" Caviar Black 500GB SATA 3.0gb/s HDD ASUS VH202T 20" black widescreen monitor more

Resolved Question: Are car parts at auto zone any good?

I have a 1998 Mercedes-Benz E320... Would you suggest me getting spark plugs and oxygen sensors from auto zone or at the dealership? I really don't like going to the dealership for parts but I feel much safer since the interior light bulb went out and I went to auto zone to get a replacement light bulb and it would buzz everytime i hit a bump, and then when going to the dealership getting the bulb it worked perfectly. so I'm thinking german car makers make their parts unique so after market parts in auto store wont work on their cars forcin u to go get it at the dealer.thats not true...people make me sick with the be prepared to pay a nose for everything on a benz...and you can get parts dirt cheap off ebay and everywhere its just I wanted to get parts for more cheaper and in person rather than ordering off ebay the reason I want to try autozone more

Voting Question: Should I make in effort in developing our 'friendship' into something more?

Ok....here's what's happening: Back in August, there was this girl who started to talk to me. She's a gorgeous looking girl with 2 kids and is pretty cool to talk to. Though the problem is we are complete opposites: she's more of a party girl and I party like once a year. Our taste in music is completely different: she's more into hip-hop and i'm more into rock/metal. She's a 'club girl' and i'm a 'stay-at-home and watch movies kind of guy'. Hopefully you got the picture. Anyways, until yesterday, I didn't know what to make of our 'relationship'. We would talk all cool at work and then suddenly we would be making out. I guess you could say we are 'friends with privileges'. For the past month, I was thinking 'What is it that she wants?' I would ask her but she would just answer my question with more questions. I've already explained to her how different we are, but she keeps saying things like 'Opposites attract' and ' part of her is looking for a guy to calm her down'. Well, yesterday, I went out with some friends and I drank( a rare thing for me) and I got pretty buzzed and I took initiative. I texted her, and I pretty much asked her what her real deal was. I asked if she wanted to be just friends, bf/gf, or f*** buddies. I told her i'm not the kind of guy looking for quick sex unless the girl wants it to be that way. That I want a girl who I can show my love, loyalty and prove that I'm not like pretty much every ex-bf that she's had. I pretty much opened up to her.... She then asks me 'Well, what do you want me to be? I can be either/or...' She then asks me how long its been since i've had sex(a year for me!!) and that for her its been a month. She then says, 'Let's try it out with no strings attached for the moment(f*** buddies). It's too soon to start again...' I then ask her what she means by 'start again'. She then says, "On a relationship....it's too soon for me'. I then told her that was fine with me but SHE would have to let me know when she wanted to 'get together' since she has mom duties. So as far as I know, she pretty much wants to test the market, along with me. As far as I'm concerned, she wants nothing more than just sex and friendship from me. But here is where I'm still confused. She used phrases such as 'for the moment' and 'too soon to start again'....and here is where my question comes in: even though i know what she wants from me, as time goes on, should i be trying to make an effort to make her my gf or should i just play it out, do nothing and just hope that she realizes that I am the ONE for her? I hope I explained myself well enough and sorry for the long story...lol more

Resolved Question: Times Private Treaties providing small brands the ‘X’ Factor?

Times Private Treaties investments seem to have provided the small brands X Factor in terms of brand building, mainstream advertising and reputation management. One of the recent successes has been a small lesser known e-waste recycling company Eco Reco which claims that they have seen a substainatial growth in the number of new clients since April 2008, when their first ad on Planet Earth Day appeared. Currently, the company has more than 200 corporate clients across India, such as Siemens, Reliance, Infosys, HCL and HDFC and many more including several companies of Tata Group, Mahindra & Mahindra and Castrol. The company feels that this is due to the buzz and brand equity generated by their informational and brand campaign in partnership with Times Private Treaties. Similarly a B2B compnay Unitek Power, which fundamentally provides industrial power solutions, belives that the brand reputation earned through advertising via a Times Private Treaties client has enabled them to win large orders. Last year this Kerala-based electronics company had signed an exclusive tie-up with the Italian pioneer, Borri Industrial Power Solutions The Unitek-Borri Power Solutions got Rs 32 crore order from L & T for Cairns Energy. Another example is Royal Hygiene, a new entrant in the feminine hygiene products range which has attained a number three position in the market by registering a growth of 225% in sales last year. The company attributes this success largely to their brand building efforts undertaken since May 2008 post their alliance with Times Private Treaties. Says, Rakesh Kaul, CEO of Royal Hygiene, “Ever since the alliance with the Times Group, there has been a substantial increase in the top of the mind recall over the past one year.” Times Private Treaties model is based on providing brand building and advertising opportunities to smaller less known companies to help them create their brand and unlock value. This model enables companies to advertise in BCCL vehicles in return for equity in those companies. This also helps the company to bring in many first time otherwise media shy advertisers and increase BCCL’s advertiser base. more

Voting Question: I am starting a promotions company aimed at providing buzz and guerilla marketing campaigns..?

I know the ins and outs of this business but the biggest obstacle is how to market myself to prospective clients. I am interested in food, beverage, alcohol, and event marketing in particular. The website is still in its initial phases and I am curious as to what I can do in the meantime. Any ideas? more

Resolved Question: Vegan cookbooks (been bothering me all day)?

This has been bugging me since I decided to make a chocolate cake this morning and found I was out of eggs. ( I'm not veg, but my mind turns in twisty directions!) can anybody tell me if there has ever been published a cookbook full of completely vegan dessert? This has been buzzing around in the back of my head since I found a vegan fruitcake recipe a couple of weeks ago and became overwhelming this morning. Also if there isn't one would you be interested in buying one if there was one on the market? more

Resolved Question: Still think "Cash for Clunkers" is a good idea for the economy?

The Inconvenient Truth about "Cash for Clunkers": Each Car Sale to Cost Taxpayers $20k Apiece, Reports Edmunds.com SANTA MONICA, Calif. — July 27, 2009 — Much has been written — both pro and con — about the Cash for Clunkers program that officially launches today. Complexity, limited eligibility and minimal funding are common criticisms. But so far, the chief failing has been overlooked. Edmunds.com, the premier online resource for automotive information, has determined that even if Cash for Clunkers reaches its budgeted cap, the program will only help drive about 50,000 incremental new car sales, so each one will cost taxpayers a whopping $20,000. How is this possible? Edmunds.com's research shows that typically 200,000 vehicles worth less than $4,500 are traded in for new vehicles every three months. At best the current Cash for Clunkers program will fund 250,000 such transactions in the same time period — a gain of only 50,000 vehicles. Given that this program is budgeted to cost $1,000,000,000, this increase will come at the cost of $20,000 per extra sale. "The incremental sales will be limited and at a considerable cost. In effect, we are paying consumers to do something most would do anyway," said Jeremy Anwyl, CEO of Edmunds.com. "So as a stimulus, the program fails. One could make a slightly stronger argument about the environmental benefits, but even there, the program could have been better designed." "Really, the best consequence is that many consumers are getting interested in the idea of a new vehicle after hearing about Cash for Clunkers; we have to hope that even if they don't qualify, they will buy a vehicle anyway," Anwyl told Edmunds' AutoObserver.com. "But, how long-lived will that be? Once the program reaches its cap, interest will die down, and sales volume will fall as quickly as it rose. What will motivate shoppers to brave the marketplace in the months following Cash for Clunkers?" Automakers must step up to continue the momentum. Anwyl points to the current Chrysler incentive program as an example of a creative marketing message that uses the Cash for Clunkers buzz to generate sales and to arm Chrysler dealers with a useful tool when working with Cash for Clunkers "rejects." more

Resolved Question: What are some ways to attract new customers to my store?

Any ideas how to generate a buzz..? Marketing ideas or something, any help would be appreciated. (stupid recession)It's a tea room, Kyle. We have tea and tea accessories, etc.. Small lunch menu, and smoothies. more

Resolved Question: How can I determine the alcohol content in a wine?

I like to drink wine. A new one appeared on the local market about six months ago. "Pomegranate Wine" advertises that instead of 4-5% alcohol by volume, it only has 1%. However, when I consume it, I tend to get a buzz on more quickly than I do with a regular wine. Could it be that the alcoholic content is higher? How can I check on this? more