Deaths and Suicides linked to WCA: more evidence needed for ...

At DPAC we receive regular emails from people who have lost loved ones and attribute this to the process of the WCA, indeed with recent evidence of 73 deaths and suicides per week we are seeing these emails increasing. ?December 3^rd is being marked as a day of remembrance for all Atos victims. Disability activist Samuel Miller from Canada is taking this outrage against human rights as far as he possibly can in an effort to secure justice.

Samuel has made many efforts at the United Nations level on behalf of disabled people in the UK and the constant attacks they face under the Tory regime. We all owe him a debt of gratitude. He is looking for evidence of linked Atos deaths. DPAC supports this and want to help in any way we can ?below we repost the blog from Vox Political with permission from Mike from Wales.

Please help if you can by publicising and also subscribe to Vox Political at: http://mikesivier.wordpress.com/2012/11/25/ids-off-the-hook-with-icc-so-evidence-needed-of-atos-deaths/

IDS off the hook with ICC ? so evidence needed of Atos?deaths

?Brian McArdle. On the BBC?s Question Time last Thursday, Iain Duncan Smith flew into a rage when Owen Jones challenged him about what happened to Mr McArdle, ?57 years old, paralysed down one side, blind in one eye; he couldn?t speak. He died one day after being found ?fit for work? by Atos.?

People whose family members have died while going through the DWP/Atos work capability assessment are being urged to contact a disability specialist -?who has been seeking international legal action against the austerity-enforced injustice.

Vox Political reported back in September that Samuel Miller had contacted the International Criminal Court in The Hague, intending to file a complaint against Iain Duncan Smith, Chris Grayling and Maria Miller, the ministers at the Department for Work and Pensions, considered most responsible for ?draconian welfare reforms and the resultant deaths of their society?s most vulnerable?.

Mr Miller got in touch over the weekend, but said that the result had been disappointing: ?They stated that the International Criminal Court has a very limited jurisdiction. The Court may only address the crimes of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes as defined by Articles 6 to 8 of the Rome Statute.?

The Rome Statute is the document under which the ICC was established. Article 7, which covers crimes against humanity, states: ?For the purpose of this Statute, ?crime against humanity? means any of the following acts when committed as part of a widespread or systematic attack directed against any civilian population, with knowledge of the attack:

?(k) Inhumane acts ? intentionally causing great suffering, or serious injury to body or to mental or physical health.?

I thought this ? Article 7 (k) ? was a perfect description of what the DWP and its ministers are trying to achieve, and Mr Miller agreed. But he said: ?Clearly the ICC is striving to discourage the filing of austerity complaints.?

There is a way forward. He added: ?On a welcome note, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights recently acknowledged that austerity measures may violate human rights ? which certainly is a step in the right direction.?

He?s right. The chair of the UN committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Ariranga Govindasamy Pillay said on October 23 that, although member states face tough decisions when dealing with rising public deficits, austerity measures are potentially violations of their legal obligations to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.

?All States Parties should avoid at all times taking decisions which lead to the denial or infringement of economic, social and cultural rights,? Pillay said, citing an open letter to States Parties from the committee earlier this year that clarified the committee?s position on austerity measures.

By ratifying the Covenant, member states like the UK have a legally binding obligation to progressively improve, without retrogression, universal access to goods and services such as healthcare, education, housing and social security and to ensure just and favourable conditions of work, without discrimination, in accordance with established international standards. These rights must be achieved by using the maximum of available resources.

Pillay pointed out that austerity measures are also a disincentive to economic growth and thereby hamper progressive realization of economic and social rights.

The committee had pointed out that social insecurity and political instability, as seen in parts of Europe today, were also potential effects of the denial or infringement of economic, social and cultural rights.

The poor, women, children, persons with disabilities, older persons, people with HIV/AIDS, indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, migrants and refugees were particularly at risk, the committee had noted.

Having identified the possibility, we come to the burden of proof. Mr Miller said: ?My best hope lies in procuring coroner?s reports where the cause of death is found to be destitution and/or suicide.?

Inevitably, there is a problem. The UK Coronial system does not involve the collating of such information, nor does it look for national trends. The role of the Coroner is case specific, so wider information is not available. This is because the system of inquests into deaths was never intended to investigate whether those deaths were being caused by insane decisions of the government itself.

The law in relation to death certification may be amended in 2014 to provide for Medical Examiners whose role will be to examine such matters ? but that is two years from now, and the DWP/Atos system could pile up another 7,600 bodies in that time (using the generally-accepted average of 73 deaths per week).

Mr Miller has written to the DWP, seeking a change of coroners? duties to allow proper and robust reporting of trends such as stress-related deaths, suicides and/or destitution deaths of welfare recipients and recipients who perished shortly after being stripped of their benefits can be reported to both the DWP and the Ministry of Justice.

But I think we all know there is little chance of success there. This government is hardly going to hand over the tools by which its own ministers might end up in an international court. They?re insane, but they?re not stupid!

So people are going to have to do it themselves. We know about high-profile cases in which deaths have been blamed on Atos. Information about the others needs to be available now.

This is why I want to appeal for anyone who has lost a loved one because of the DWP/Atos work capability assessment system to get in touch with Mr Miller. He needs to know the verdict that was reached at the inquests into their deaths.

His email address is disabilityinliterature@gmail.com

I would strongly urge that anyone writing to Mr Miller keeps their correspondence to the point. It is to be hoped that he will receive a strong response, but this entails a large amount of work. It is therefore important to make that work as easy as possible, perhaps by putting the deceased?s name, address and the verdict at the top of your email.

Follow mike on twitter :@MidWalesMike

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Source: http://www.dpac.uk.net/2012/11/deaths-and-suicides-linked-to-wca-more-evidence-needed-for-justice/

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Matt Paxton Talks Hoarders, Career Advice, and ... - Career Thoughts

Matt Paxton is extreme cleaning specialist, best known for his regular appearances on A&E?s hit show Hoarders. His business, Clutter Cleaner, is dedicated to helping hoarders clean out their homes and make positive changes in their lives.

I caught up with Matt for lunch at Mom?s Siam (a great little Thai restaurant in Richmond, VA), and we had a long conversation about who he is, what he does, and why he loves to do it. He also offered a ton of great career advice for people who are struggling to find their path. No matter where you?re at in your life, I think you?ll find his advice helpful and inspiring.

To learn more about Matt, check out his book, The Secret Lives of Hoarders, or listen to his podcast. You can subscribe to on iTunes or stream it on his website, 5DecisionsAway.com.

As a bit of a warning ? if you?re the type of person who is offended by swearing, you should probably just go ahead and click away now.

Kevin Spence: You have a really interesting story ? it took you a long time to find your path after college.

Matt Paxton: I was a wreck, man. I was 24, I was an economist coming of college for the Federal Reserve. I hated it. I mean literally, try all for years for this job, you train through college, and I got the dream job. I?m an economist for the Federal Reserve. Got there, sat down, and in the first ten minutes I was like ?fuck, I don?t want this job.?

KS: That fast?

MP: You focus so much on getting it, then when you?re getting it, you?ve forgotten what the actual job was going to entail. And I was sitting there in this awesome cube up on the James River looking down and it was like ?man, this is everything my parents wanted me to have, everyone is so proud of me,? but I literally knew in the first ten minutes, like, ?fuck, I don?t want to do this.?

So I told my mom, and she was like, ?you gotta stick with it six months. You gave them your word, and you gotta do it.?

So on my six month review, they told me everything I?d done wrong, and I asked them, I said, did I do anything right? And she goes, well, we don?t talk about that in these reviews. All we talk about is what you need to improve on. I was like, that?s cool, I appreciate it, I?m out. And I quit. I was just looking for some reason to quit.

And I moved to Lake Tahoe, Nevada, and I was an economist for Caesar?s Palace casino, which was fun. Too fun. I was 25, and I got in some trouble, and I got hooked on everything. I mean, drugs, women, you name it. Gambling, specifically.

I lasted a year there, came home, and owed about 40 grand to a bookie, rolled home quickly, and my dad got real sick very fast. So I got home and three months later my dad died. And so I went on a two year bender and started traveling out west and was just partying. I ended up in Hawaii for about six months. I couldn?t get home, I was going just to see a friend, was there for a week, September 11th happened, and I couldn?t get a flight home for six months. I ended up living in Hawaii.

KS: Six months?

MP: Six months. It was bad. I was on frequent flier miles. I had no money. And all the flights out of Asia, you know, because they shut down flying for like two weeks, everything got pushed to Hawaii. You could not get home.

And all these people, we lived on the beaches. All these people were on their honeymoons and couldn?t get back. Everybody just camped on the beaches. It was actually really fascinating.

KS: That actually sounds pretty cool.

MP: It was so cool. I was 25, and the girl I was seeing, she was like ?ah, fuck it, let?s just do it.? We knew it was an experience, so we just camped out on the beach for a good ? almost month. It was awesome.

So I came home, and it was time to get my shit back together. And I owed that bookie a lot of money, and I started volunteering at Comfort Zone. A therapist I was seeing for grief after my dad died said, you know, you may want to think about being a volunteer here, and about ten other people told me that.

And finally I went, and I?d started my first entrepreneurial business, it was called Sandal Saver, which was a cleaner for flip flops and sandals. I was out in Hawaii and my sandals reeked. But I didn?t want to spend, I had a hundred dollar really nice pair of sandals, and I didn?t want to spend a hundred dollars, I didn?t have a hundred dollars, so I invented a $5 cleaner for flip flops and sandals.

I sold it for four years, traveled around the world selling that, it was really cool. I learned a lot. I always say, that?s my grad school. I?m the kind of guy that can?t, I couldn?t do grad school. Like, I need to be making money for me to care about it.

I lost about a hundred grand on it when it was all said and done, but I learned a ton and at the same time I was volunteering at Comfort Zone pretty religiously. And that was what sobered me up and that?s what really got me to stop gambling, and that?s what got me focused on ? that?s basically what got me addicted to positive stuff.

I met some really really good people there because you?re at your purest form, you?re literally camping in the woods helping people. And I got addicted to helping people and realized that?s what I wanted to do. As for how would I make money doing that, I had no idea.

At the same time I was just looking for extra work, because I knew I was going to shut down my Sandal Saver business. One day I was helping my grandma clean out her basement, and I knew she was grieving just like these kids were grieving. And it had nothing to do with the stuff, she was just missing my grandpa. And the more and more I delved into it, I was like, I?ll try the psychology part of this that we do at the camp. And it was absolutely an a-ha moment.

You hear all these big entrepreneurs talk about their a-ha moment. I think that?s a little cheesey, but for me, I think that really was my a-ha moment. And I just watched my grandma, when I started talking about the stuff, giving her shit about not cleaning it up, because the whole family would always give her shit about being messy. But when I just talked about my grandfather and just hung out and got the stories that were attached to these items?

KS: It made sense then.

MP: Once we started talking about the stories, the emotion and the attachment was no longer there. And so one day, literally, we cleaned out this basement that the family had been trying to clean up for 10 years. And then the next day one of her friends called, she?d told a friend at some Mahjong game, and by the end of the week, everyone she plays bridge with had called me to clean their attic. So I had done like four attics that week. Made more money that week than I had made in probably two years.

KS: There are some similarities, right? I mean, you went through some trauma in your life, but you dealt with it in a different way. Do people relate to that? Does it give you any kind of trust when you walk in, when people know you?ve been there?

MP: Absolutely. Totally. Oh my God, I failed for fifteen years. I mean, until I got on Hoarders, none of this made sense. For 12 years I was going on blind faith. I remember one day, on my 30th birthday, my mom gave me a pair of running shoes because I couldn?t afford a pair of one hundred dollar running shoes.

I had no money and I was 30, and that was one of those benchmarks when you?re like, man, you should have your shit together by now, you know? All my buddies had kids and were getting married and, some of my buddies were already getting divorced, and they?d been married for fifteen years and had their kids and everything. It was a real kind of check yourself moment, where I was like man, I have done nothing with my life. All I?ve done is fail. And I would keep just going through all these failures, and none of it made sense. And I was like, there must be something bigger.

And I knew that it had to make sense. I was like, something bigger, something else is going to happen. Like all these stories, and all these failures, they don?t make sense if something bigger doesn?t happen. And so I remember, like 3 or 4 years before I got on Hoarders, I started to know that what I was doing with these individual hoarders was real, because I?d seen these women get their lives back, and I knew I?d helped to give them the tools. I didn?t change their lives, but I gave them the tools for them to change their own lives and I knew that what I was doing was really spiritual and really cool, but it wasn?t on TV. It was just me and these two old ladies in a room and nobody saw it. So I was really going on blind faith thinking, ok, this is really going to be big somewhere. That?s when I started trying to get on TV.

KS: How did that happen?

MP: I mean, I?m skipping through about five years of just cleaning old ladies? houses and everyday coming home ? I would volunteer on the weekends at Comfort Zone and clean the old ladies? houses during the week, and everyday my mom?s worried about me. I had lost a lot of friends, and the perception in the real world was just failure, failure, failure, failure, and when everyone tells you you?re failing?

KS: It?s hard not to believe it.

MP: You start to believe it. And I remember saying, wait a minute, fuck those people man, they?re wrong. I remember telling myself like, I got into the Avett Brothers?

KS: Great band

MP: ?I got really into them, and a lot of their music would remind me ? I was living on a buddy?s couch, and he had gotten divorced. We called it operation happy. He had gotten divorced and I called off my wedding and I couldn?t even afford to rent a room actually, I just lived on the couch.

I remember saying, I?m either brilliant and totally focused, or ? because I would listen to that music and the music would tell me, fucking keep going, you?re a badass, at some point there?s something real here. I?ve always said the Avett Brothers ? thank God they were where they were in their career when I found them because they were trying to be, they were trying to get big. They?re huge now. But if they were already big, they wouldn?t have spoken to me.

KS: You wouldn?t have listened to them.

MP: I wouldn?t have listened to them. So they were so new and I wanted to be that underdog, I wanted to be that ? when I was growing up, we all found Dave Matthews our junior year of high school ? they would have to give you t-shirts to come see them play for free, because they were just trying to get people to come see them. And now I can?t even afford a Dave Matthews concert, you know?

There was a point in my life where I was running down on the trails, down at James River High School, and I was running a lot because I was running from something spiritually, you know. I was really trying to get my shit back together. So I was running a lot of marathons, trying to prove to myself that I could do anything.

I mean, literally, it was a on a trail. Either downtown or at James River. I was running 10, 15, 20 miles on these trails on Sundays. And I remember just saying, ok, everyone thinks you?re crazy, everyone feels sorry for you, but something big is going to happen in the next five years. And I know that I?m either crazy or brilliant, and I?m like right on the line.

I always compared it to a guy walking a fence. Either I?m really neat walking this tight rope thing, or I?m going to fall and rack myself in the nuts. I just believed that I wouldn?t have gone this far, I wouldn?t have failed this big if it wasn?t making a difference.

I remember telling that to my mom, and she just looked at me like I was crazy. Like, she just couldn?t even understand that concept. I?d just gotten married and I was still making about ten grand a year and the wife was like alright, you know, it?s time to do something else. And I was like, I need to get on TV.

And I remember her saying, that?s great, but how are you going to do it? And I was like, I don?t know.Facebook had just started really coming out, and there was a guy on Oprah Winfrey named Peter Walsh. I would write him emails every day. I?d post on his Facebook every day. Now days, you?d probably call it stalking. I mean, I harassed him. And all I was trying to do was ? I wasn?t trying to get on TV, I was just trying to clean up the houses after he left.

I wrote him an email saying, I can make you a lot of money, I?d love to talk to you. And I wrote his agent, and his publisher. And my phone rings immediately. And he?s like ?this is Peter Walsh,? and I?m like, ?whoah, hello, what?? And he?s like, ?you?ve got 30 seconds, how can you make me money??

And I was like, well, I can ?blah blah blah blah.? And he was like, if you?re ever in LA, let me know. We?ll sit down. And I was like, funny, I?ll be in LA next week. And I had no plans to be in LA. At all. I had no money.

And he?s like, alright, next time you?re here, let?s get a beer. And I was like, I?ll be there next week. So I ended up buying a ticket, flew to LA with the rest of the money that I had, had a beer with him at the airport, and literally got on the next flight and flew back.

We met and then nothing happened from there. I worked another year cleaning up houses, just asking people if they knew anyone in TV, starting to talk to producers ? anyone. What I didn?t know was that at the same time, A&E was trying to make this TV show called Hoarders. And they didn?t know what it was really going to be about, they didn?t know much about it.

They wrote Peter Walsh trying to get him to come on TV. He?s like, ?I can?t do it,? and they say, ?well, we just need houses to clean. We have the talent, we need houses.? And he says, well there?s this guy in Virginia, Matt Paxton, and he won?t leave me alone.

And so they called me, and I was so excited. They had no interest in me being on TV, they just wanted sites. And they were going to pay me $200 a location, if I can give them a location. And at that time, $200 was an enormous amount of money.

KS: And it was easy money at the time. You were already getting the phone calls.

MP: I had 100 places they could have seen. So I?m still totally failing at every level at this point, and the producer came and met me, and I took her to five places, and she liked all five. She?s like, we?ll probably use all five of these, and she gave me a thousand dollar check. And that was like a million dollars to me. That was five months? rent, you know? And I?d just got married, and my wife was still living in DC, and I was floating back and forth between DC and Richmond.

The pressure was on, it was the first year of our marriage, and I remember saying, I?ve gotta get something out of this TV thing. But I could tell she dug me, the producer, like she thought I was a character. And I was like, this is my chance, man. Like, I better fucking nail this.

And there was a dude who had a restraining order against me, and I took her to his house. I pulled up, and I was like, this is my chance. I?m going to go for it. So I was like, I can?t go on the front lawn, I have to stay in the car. Legally, I?m not allowed to go withing a hundred yards of this guy. And her eyes just lit up, and she was like ?Ok.?

And I knew ? this guy was 75 and he loved women. The only reason he wanted he wanted his house cleaned was because he wanted to get laid one more time before he died. He?d told me that many times. And she was a cute little producer, beautiful, and I knew she?d get in if he just opened the door. And this guy, he had an airplane ? a fully assembled airplane in his basement.

KS: Wait. He had an airplane in his house?

MP: In his house. And he had dried meat, steaks, drying on the plane. And so visually, it was fascinating. It was just out there. And I knew if he?d just answer the door, I was in. Figuratively, because she would have to go in. But the whole mystique of me not being allowed in the house was pretty cool. And it totally worked.

She came out, and he came out, and he was like man, I really appreciate you respecting the law, thank you for not pushing me. And I was like hey man, no worries, I respect you for figuring out enough to get a restraining order against me, because at the time I was the only person certified to clean the hoarded houses in the county, and he was starting to get citations from the county. So he went and had a restraining order filed against me.

KS: Smart?

MP: So I couldn?t show up to do it. And he gets all these fines, so he got ahead of the loophole. It was brilliant. So I was like, I salute you for figuring that out, man. But he?s the reason I got on TV, because she was so blown away by that story and our communication with him. That was a Tuesday. She flew back to Seattle, and on Thursday they called me and said, can you go to Alabama on Saturday. And I was like, yeah, yes I can. They were going to pay me like 500 bucks for two days of work, which again was just so much money. Again, that was a Thursday. I flew out on Saturday. Friday, we found out we were pregnant with our first son.

KS: That?s a big week.

MP: A hell of a week. Because on Monday, I had not even known there was a possibility that I could be on TV. And by Saturday, I was on TV and I was going to be a dad. And so that week was huge. I knew that was it, that was my chance. And I just went out and destroyed it.

I mean, I?ve since ? I do a lot of podcasting, and I do Jay Mohr?s podcast a lot. Jay Mohr?s a comedian and actor, and he?s really taught me a lot about just totally embracing the opportunity and not just doing well, but like, crushing it. His whole belief is that, you go in there, and anytime you go to get a job, you make it impossible for them to say no. You do your research, find out what they want, and you fucking kill it. And I did ? not knowing him at the time ? I did do that. But it was out of desperation, not out of strategy.

And I knew, I was like, this is it, this is my chance. And if I blow this, I?m out. And my wife?s going to kill me. So I went in and killed it, and have been asked back every week since. And now the business seven years later ? I mean, literally, I summed that up in 10 minutes, but that was a 15 year thing ? and for fourteen and a half of those years, I was failing and everyone agreed that I sucked and I was totally worthless, and I really had to have blind faith that what I?m doing is special. I really believed I could change the world, just nobody knows yet. People will tell you I was crazy to believe that, but I totally believed it.

KS: Things must have blown up for you after that. When you think about it, every episode is an hour long infomercial for you in a way.

MP: For me it?s an amazing ? I mean, if you look at next year I?ve got a whole line of cleaning products coming out, I?m going to start out on Home Shopping Network and it will be a whole line of cleaning products. Home Depot, Lowe?s, Walmart, everyone?s picking it up. I?ve got a new show that will hopefully be coming out in 2013, just about me and my business. I have a book that ended being a New York Times Bestseller. All these things that happened ? my podcast is huge, I do three weekly podcasts now, and one of them is in the top hundred.

The other day I was in LA, and I was ? I had to go to Jay Mohr?s house, and then I was over at a party at Adam Corolla?s house, and all these people I get to meet with. I mean, it?s crazy that all these actors really dig what I do on Hoarders. And they dig it because it?s real and it?s honest. It?s not acting, it?s just pure me being me, and I really believe that mentality of, all my failures are going to be really special at some point, they?re going to help someone. That really helps the Hoarders relate to me, because I?m totally honest, and I?ve failed as big as they have. So they relate. And then the actors do too, because they?ve struggled at times too.

KS: One of the things that I thought was really cool about what you do, is that you hire a lot of people who either ? they?ve been in prison, or they?re recovering addicts.

MP: Absolutely. If you haven?t fucked up I don?t want you.

KS: Is that based on your philosophy, or is it that these guys just show up and kick ass?

MP: Both. They kick ass and they work their asses off because they have to. They?ve hit rock bottom. And so they relate very well to the hoarders. My job is not glamorous. I?ve strategically said, I?m going to make cleaning up poop look really cool. And I do with my words, but what I do is clean up shit. That?s not cool, man. There?s nothing cool about that. It?s disgusting.

KS: I kind of imagine that your interview process when you?re hiring people to pick this stuff up is like a Fear Factor episode.

MP: It?s so wrong. It?s so illegal. I?m like, where have you fucked up, how many years did you do, what did you do ? that?s really important to me. I need to know ? I don?t really care what they did, as long as it?s not a sexual crime or a child crime. I can?t do that. Or female violence, I can?t do that. But my two best guys are convicted murderers. It is what it is. I mean, it?s not a great thing, but they?re recovered. They were seventeen when they did it, they?re forty years old now, they did twenty years ? they served their time. But they fucked up, they did their time, they acknowledge it, they embrace it, they?re honest about what they did, and they have kids.

KS: I don?t think a lot of people realize how hard it is for those guys. Just to do anything.

MP: Oh, they can?t get a job anywhere. I mean, you can?t get a job ? I?m probably the only person who hires them, so they?re never going to mess up. People always say, well, you?re cleaning up really important private possessions for people, don?t you think they?re going to steal them? Of all the people in the world, they?re the least likely, because if they mess up they go back to jail for life. They just did 20 years. They?re not gonna mess up. They?re honest to God the safest guys I could have. By far. But I love them.

KS: What I noticed is that ? so you had some problems with gambling and drinking and things. You hire people who?ve also been in trouble. And your business is based on the idea of people recover from their problems. It?s all?

MP: Second chances. Everything I do is about second chances. I wouldn?t be here ? I had a buddy who got me out of Tahoe. A buddy who gave me a job. He?s since passed away, but he gave me a second chance. Nobody believed in me at that point. My father, my mother did not believe in me. He believed in me.

I?ve got a duty to believe in these guys. But I would say I?ve got an edge. I know ? I think it?s a secret that these guys are so good and they?re going to work so hard. It always blows me away. I hope that nobody actually figures that out, because if someone is going to pay them more, they?re going to excel wherever they go.

You know, I don?t want them to leave, but second chances ? it?s like Rudy man. It?s like an underdog. The whole underdog mentality. That?s so much cooler than some boring guy from the suburbs who worked at Capital One and just lost his job. That?s boring.

Now, I use it to my advantage heavily and they know that. I tell them, I?m going to fucking sell your story of second chance all day long. I?m going to tell the whole world you were a convicted murderer and use it to our advantage.

KS: That?s really interesting too, because there are a lot of ? even some big companies that hire people. But they try to keep it secret. They?re scared it?s going to hurt their image?

MP: We scream it. We tell everybody. And I tell the guys, look, I?m totally going to use you and your story to our advantage to get us working more. And it?s worked.

KS: So with the work that you do, you aren?t working with situations where you can tell people, we?ll be out there in two weeks.

MP: Everything we do is an emergency. Everything?s an emergency. We don?t schedule out more than two weeks ever. That?s another problem, we have to really deal with faith. So we started last night, when I went to bed, we had no work for this week. And I woke up this morning, and we were booked for Tuesday and Wednesday. I mean for seven years now?

KS: That sounds incredibly stressful.

MP: It?s extremely stressful. And every week I?m out of work. I?m not on a contract with A&E. I could get kicked off every week. And I almost have a couple times. But I ? you get used to it. That?s part of being an entrepreneur. You?re only going to work as much as you?re willing to hustle. But also, on the same side, it?s totally up to me. I don?t have to worry about some asshole boss five levels up who I?ve never met who has some agenda that I don?t know anything about.

KS: You don?t have to do the TPS reports.

MP: Yeah, exactly. There?s no TPS reports in what I do. Either I do a great job and I do well or I don?t. And if I do a great job and change this lady?s life, they?re going to tell someone. And that?s another very awesome thing. I very specifically, or strategically, choose to do this every week. When we help someone, we make sure they know that we?ve helped them change their life. We make sure they tell everyone they know. I mean, nobody gets the emotional tie to a service like we do. And then they?re blown away because these two big scary black guys who used to be ex-murderers, they?re also emotionally ? we?ve totally flipped their emotion. And they actually feel like they?ve helped us.

There?s a lot of strategy behind what we do. We position ourselves ? there?s an old book called Positioning. It?s an old marketing book from the 70s, and we use that a ton. We position ourselves in their minds and in their hearts. So we don?t have to advertise, because we totally ? we totally shocked them by having these really good employees who they thought were scary guys. And we?ve totally over delivered on their life. We?ve helped them at a horrible time, and helped them change their life. So we don?t have to advertise because they tell everybody they know. Anytime anyone they know is in that same bad situation, they tell them about us. We never have to advertise.

KS: I?ve been watching the show, and I?ve noticed that the hoarders seem to open up to you more easily than they open up to the doctors. At least in the edited clips they show on TV.

MP: What the issue with that is, some of that?s editing. But some of that is, when you?re at your worst point ? anytime I show up at your house, that?s rock bottom. If I?m asked to clean your house, that means your house is one of the 20 messiest houses in the country. You?re really fucked up.

I mean ? so they?re ? how can I say this. Someone at that bad of a level, they don?t want professional help. And very specifically, I?ve built my system around being a buddy, not being a professional therapist. I don?t want to be a therapist, because they think therapists are judging them.

They know ? I?ve been very loud about me and my guys? mistakes, so if anyone shows up in a Clutter Cleaner logo, they know right away that that guy?s not going to judge them, because they?ve probably fucked up worse than the hoarder has. We call it equalizing is our process. It?s very strategic how we?ve built this brand over the last 10 years, because we want people to know as soon as they see the Clutter Cleaner brand, this dude?s going to be my equal, he?s going to work with me, and he?s not going to judge me. And then they always ask their personal stories. And now they know, most likely, they were in jail. But a therapist comes in and a lot of people automatically think that the therapist is going to judge them.

KS: They?re not on the same footing. They?re above them.

MP: That they?re above them. That they?re not equal relationship. Equalization is huge. We built that process ten years ago, and thank God, because I was at my low point. If I had not fucked up for fifteen years, if I had not failed for fifteen years, I couldn?t be equal with these hoarders. So it?s funny, fifteen years later, thank God I messed up. Because even they were all mistakes, for those fourteen years, now that?s my equity. That?s my bank account.

You can?t have any worse stories than me. Every hoarder who tells me their horrible story, I?m like oh yeah man, I was living in a gutter in Lake Tahoe when this guy beat the shit out of me. I told this story on Howard Stern, I mean, I literally will never forget the night that the bookie was like, you owe forty grand. I literally remember thinking, how many guy?s dicks and I going to have to suck to come up with forty grand? And that was a legit, like, that was an option on the table. And not a good one. A pretty bad option. But it was like, that might be something I have to do. So when I tell that story to hoarders, they?re like, ?oh man, I?ve never been that low. Sorry.?

But the equalizing is so important. So important. And I think the other side of that is, where entertainment is going now, is that reality TV has become so fake that people really appreciate true reality. So no matter what, if I?m talking to you, if I?m talking to Howard Stern, if I?m on Opie and Anthony, a podcast, TV, whatever I?m in, I make it a point to tell a very true, horrible, embarrassing, honest and real story because people relate to that, and they?re dying for real content.

On the entertainment side of my business, I have a belief that honesty is the next celebrity. Just being a good actor isn?t enough anymore. As consumers, we need honesty. We need to relate. Because of Twitter, because of Facebook, you just can?t be famous anymore. You?ve gotta be real and approachable. I will literally spend two hours a day on Twitter responding to anyone who writes me, because each individual consumer now, they expect a response. You know, twenty years ago, you didn?t write someone you knew from TV. But now, you get mad if they don?t respond. You get angry. That motherfucker didn?t write me back.

KS: Who does he think he is?

MP: Yeah! What an asshole. So it?s very important that you maintain. And you can?t have some intern who is responding. It?s gotta be you.

KS: You can tell. It?s bizarre. I don?t know exactly why, but it?s obvious when it?s not them.

MP: You can tell absolutely. I mean, but you think of the people I met. I met Jay Mohr on Twitter, I met Jay Leno on Twitter, I met Howard Stern on Twitter, I mean all these guys who have helped promote my career. All these huge guys on Twitter and all these podcasts.

KS: How did that happen? You just sent them messages?

MP: I was watching Leno one night, and Jay Mohr was on, and he made a joke about Hoarders. And so I tweeted Jay Mohr, I wrote, ?thanks Jay Mohr, saw you @JayLeno, love you guys, thanks for the Hoarders love #hoarders, Jay Mohr is the funniest guy alive.?

And it was on midnight east coast, and when I woke up the next morning, there must have been a hundred people, of his fan base, that said you gotta get Paxton on your show, he?s awesome, he?s out there man, you gotta ? they loved that real, that honesty.

And so now it?s funny, when I made that commitment early in of being completely honest and real, which is against the grain ? I do believe that you have to go against the grain ? whatever the grain is, you?ve gotta go the opposite. It?s the only way to be seen. I truly believe that, and I did it early enough where nobody else was doing it. Now a lot of people are doing it. But I was able to be loud enough at the beginning because nobody was doing it.

And I?m a nobody man, I?m a trash guy from Virginia, and if I go to LA I?m booked for a week because I can do 100 podcasts. I can do 100 interviews, because people like ? I?m now known as the guy who is so honest and real. It?s part of my brand. And it all started watching tweets and guys on Facebook. I?ll tweet anybody now, I don?t care. I?ve been harassing Kathy Griffin for a year now because she will not respond to me. I?m trying to get her on my podcast, and she won?t do it. Will not do it. I can?t even get her to respond to me.

KS: I thought she was supposed to be D-List.

MP: Yeah! And you would think she needs the company. But she doesn?t ? I don?t think she does her own Twitter anymore, you know? But if you look back at it for me, and if you come back to your story, where you decided ok, I?m going to do this full time, I?m not going to work for someone else anymore, you made a commitment that night, to you and your family. We?re all going to hit that commitment, that decision phase. When you go, when you make that commitment, you gotta jump, full leap of faith, and you have to have a really strong set of beliefs that are not going to be accepted by the norm.

If you?re doing what everyone else is doing, you?re probably not going to be that successful, because there are a hundred other people who are going to be doing it. Chances are there?s someone who?s going to be more talented than you, and a harder worker than you.

That?s my ? I say that every week on my podcast. You will never outwork me. It?s not possible. You will be better looking than me, you will be smarter than me, you will be wealthier than me, but you will never out work me, it?s absolutely not possible. You will fucking die before I quit. I totally believe that. That?s one of my beliefs, and you just have to stick to it.

I will outwork you no matter what, and I approach every situation like that. As a battle. Like I really do, and I take it very personally. You just have to stick to these beliefs, and you have to go after it. You have to crush it, like Jay Mohr says. Don?t just try to be the best. You?ve gotta be the fucking best. Like, IT. Nobody?s better than you. And I believe that. I?m the best fucking trash man in the world. That?s a lot better than being the number eight accountant on the fifth floor.

Now, financially has that rewarded me? It has now, this last two years. But the first fourteen years? No. I?ll make more this year than I made in the last fifteen years combined, but it took me fifteen years to get there. Not easy for my mom, not easy for my wife. It will be easy for my kids because they don?t know any different. I was lucky, I waited for the kids. If I had the kids really early, I don?t think I?d be able to stay this committed to a process like this.

I think you can do anything in life. It?s just a matter of how much are you willing to hurt, and how much are you willing to work. The good news is, if there?s a hundred people like me trying to hustle, the first time it gets hard, fifteen are going to quit. Then the next time it gets hard, another 25 are going to quit. So I mean, just by not quitting I?m going to be in the top 10. Because everyone else has that option, they allow themselves to quit. I will never quit.

Now, I will strategically stop, if it?s financially and mathematically the wrong thing to do, but you?ll never see me quit just because it?s hard. When it?s difficult, and I?m looking at it like, ahh, I should probably quit, it would probably be easier for my wife just to quit right now, well that?s an opportunity because most everyone else is going to quit. So to me, I love that. I embrace that. I like it when things get hard, because now I know everyone?s going to start to make those decisions.

KS: You really kind of made your own path. Even the job title that you have right now?

MP: I made it up.

KS: ?it didn?t exist.

MP: No. And now there?s guys all over the country saying that they?re extreme cleaning specialists. I just made it up one afternoon in an interview.

KS: Did you have like a list of candidates for your title that you chose from?

MP: No, I just actually said it and it stuck. And now, it?s funny, even my number one competitor which is Corey Chalmers, who is a good friend, but he is by far my number one competitor in the country, but it?s for real, we love each other but we don?t.

We both believe we?re the best, and to complicate the story more, Hoarders actually started off as a pilot for his company. The pilot show was actually about Corey?s cleanup company, and for some reason he didn?t end up on the show for almost 3 years. Not sure why, but it helped me

So I thank him all the time, I?m like, thanks for fucking that up man, because you gave me three years on TV before he got on. I would never have been on TV had Corey never messed up.

KS: You?ve got a lot of screw ups to be grateful for.

MP: Oh my God. There are so many mistakes out there that helped my life.

KS: The reason I started this site was, I wanted to help people understand that they don?t have to sell themselves out. You know, I wanted people to know they could do something they love. What advice would you have for them?

MP: You have to turn off all the other voices. If you?re single, you turn off all the voices. If you?re married or have a partner, then that voice matters. But that?s it. I used to struggle with, alright, what is my mom gonna think, what is my grandmother gonna think. It used to really bother me that my mom had to tell her friends that I didn?t do anything.

I was engaged to another girl, and I remember she really wanted me to get a new job. And her now husband is a systems process analyst. That?s who she needed to marry, not me. I never want to be a systems process analyst. I don?t know what the fuck that means. But for years, I just wanted ? my mind wanted to do what I do now, but I so badly just wished, I would pray that I would grow up and be able to be a systems process analyst.

Man, if that?s not who you are, just move on. Spend your energy on creating something new. For me, you?ve just got to totally, totally block out those voices. They don?t matter, man. You?re on your own, you?ve got to create your own path. Your own path doesn?t involve everyone else?s opinions.

If you truly care what your parents think, don?t even start. It?s a waste of your time. Like if you need peoples? approval. Well, that?s not true. I need peoples? approval. I mean, I?m on TV. I?m a needy guy. But at the end of the day, I?ve gotta be comfortable for ten, fifteen years ? an extended period of time, going against the grain and knowing it?s going to pay off eventually.

But every morning you?re going to want to quit. And you can?t. So you just can?t care what other people think. Your path is not going to be created by other people. If you go on a path that someone else created, you?re not a trailblazer. You have to be comfortable being a trailblazer, and it might take ten years of hurt before you get your first even hint of positive feedback. But I mean, I love it. My high, I mean, I used to be an addict. I?m a recovering addict, and my high now is working and being a dad. I love helping people, I love creating things. Like, that?s my drug.

KS: You?ve replaced your other addictions with an addiction to your job. You?re not always at home. A lot of people, you know, tons of people struggle with keeping a balance between?

MP: You?re not going to have a balance. Balance is a great word. You?re not gonna have a balance in this path. Some things are gonna give. I have no friends anymore. Everything I do is work. I?m either with my family or I?m working. There is no free time.

People ask all the time, what do you do for fun? Couldn?t tell you. I don?t. I work. Now, I love my job. Luckily, what I do is totally fun for me. But when I?m driving somewhere, I?m doing an interview on a podcast or a radio station. If I?m on a train, I?m doing an interview somewhere. There is no downtime. I don?t watch football anymore, my kids don?t care about football. So my free day at home, I don?t work on Saturdays and Sundays anymore if I?m home. If I?m on the road, man, I?m filling up 20 hours.

I don?t sleep more than four hours a night. Haven?t for years. I have to focus as much as I can on the road. I mean, this is a great example. My family is gone for two days. So I?ve got a lunch with you, a dinner with someone else tonight, and I?ve got three interviews this afternoon. Like, I?m going to use as much as my downtime so when I am with my family I?m going to be able to give them one hundred percent.

Could I be a more present dad? Probably. I?ll always be working on that. My wife really needs stability, and financially that?s difficult for me, because I might work really hard for six months and then have no paychecks for six months. So I?ve had to learn how to communicate with her better, we?ve definitely ? it?s been hard on our relationship. We?re stronger for it now, but that first year was not easy.

I?ve been doing this for fifteen years, so I?ve seen the good happen two or three years later down the road. My wife?s never lived that way, so she doesn?t know that believing in something and hoping that it?s going to pay off ? the first time she saw that happen, I think she was more pissed than she was happy because I was right. Now we?ve been married for five years now, and she sees a lot more now. She says, I know, it will work out. And like, that makes me so proud. But she?s a really good balance for me, because she does all our bills. I don?t have anything to say with our home bills. Each month we sit down and say, how much money do you have to make this month? And she?s in charge of all that. She needs to have control of that stuff for her to have some type of balance.

She makes me all the time, just, stop on new ideas. And my dad all the time, my dad was notorious for that. My dad was a really creative and cool guy, but before he died, he couldn?t not create. He never knew how to collect. So he died broke. And my wife and my mom really hammer into my head, you must only have these five ideas, and until they make enough money for us to live on, you can?t go on to another idea. I?ve got two more ideas right now that are better than anything I?m doing right now. I can?t touch it. And I made the commitment to my family that I won?t. I stopped gambling years ago, and I can?t, because in my family?s mind that would be cheating. It would be putting something else ahead of the family.

So I have my business, that?s what I?m allowed to gamble with if you will. But with very set limits from my family. My mom and my wife, they?re my bosses. And I don?t mean that my wife?s a boss, but they?re my check. When you?re an entrepreneur, you?ve gotta have someone you?re accountable to. And that?s my wife and my mom.

KS: It?s easy to get lazy.

MP: Oh my God, I have to make sure that I have an office to go to. Personally. Some people can work from home. I can?t. I?ll be sitting there watching the CW at 1:00 on a Tuesday if I?m at home.

I have to be an entrepreneur now. That?s who I am. I couldn?t go work for my father in law. If that?s what I had to do to support my family I would, but I would be miserable. But now, I love every single thing that I do. I love my podcast, like, that?s my fun.

I stopped drinking pretty much on the road. I used to go out and get hammered on the road, like, I?m building brand by being out and meeting people in a bar. No I?m not. I need to be in getting my emails done and getting my projects done, so that when I get home I can get off the plane and go right to my kids and give them every minute that I can. I do believe that I need to everything I can on the road or in the office to make money to support them.

Everyone?s gonna tell you you suck, and everyone?s gonna tell you you?re gonna fail. And if you listen, you will.

Source: http://careerthoughts.com/matt-paxton

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GOP opposition to diplomat Rice begins to crack

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Republican opposition to the possible nomination of Susan Rice to be secretary of state is showing signs of cracking.

Arizona Sen. John McCain now says he'd be willing to meet with Rice, the current U.N. ambassador, and consider her much-scrutinized explanation about how the Sept. 11 attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, unfolded.

McCain has said GOP senators would do "whatever is necessary" to block Rice if President Barack Obama were to nominate her to replace Hillary Rodham Clinton at the State Department.

On Sunday, McCain was asked on "Fox News Sunday" if Rice could change his mind. McCain said "sure" and that he'd like to meet with her.

McCain and other Republicans have accused the White House of distorting the deadly Benghazi attack for political gain.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2012-11-25-US-Libya/id-d3d40f7f1b39458dab92ce5abd58d9da

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[FS] Cape Cod Mesh Clearance! Breast Cancer, 6D, 10D, 12D

Not trying to spam the BST with Wax mesh sales, but here it is

I have 3 pieces of 6D Cape Cod Mesh 15 shipped
1 piece of Breast cancer 10D 23 Shipped. $7 bucks get donated to the ABCF
1 piece of 12D Cape Cod Mesh 18 shipped

3 pieces of 10D white (not pictured) 13 shipped each

IMG_0381.jpg

If you want any custom colors or a goalie stick strung, feel free to PM me.

Source: http://forums.insidelacrosse.com/showthread.php?252030-Cape-Cod-Mesh-Clearance!-Breast-Cancer-6D-10D-12D

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BMW i8 Concept Roadster two seater on display at 2012 LA Auto ...

BMW is excited and confirmed rumors floating around that their new i8 Concept Roadster will be making its appearance at 2012 Los Angeles Auto Show on 28th November. While this two seater is being introduced, BMW will also be bringing out a new 'i' model which will be a sportier version of the BMWi3. Previously seen at Beijing Motor Show, the concept will have same carbon fiber construction as seen in i8 coupe which is also scheduled for launch in 2013.

The roadster is a two seater with a sloping roofline and same drivetrain as the coupe which means that it will sport a 1.5 liter turbocharged three cylinder petrol engine offering 220 bhp while an electric motor will have around 134bhp driving its front wheels. Being a front, rear and all wheel drive is what will make this roadster efficient while at the same time working in combustion, electric and combined modes will further augment performance.

Battery pack is located in the central tunnel which enables a 50:50 weight distribution. The roadster will have a 4.6 second acceleration time from 0 to 60 mph and a top speed of 155 mph. Its battery pack allows for electric driving upto 20 miles on a full recharge which can be achieved in 1 hour and 45 minutes through a high voltage outlet. Production is expected to commence in late 2014 while prices will range around ?80,000.

Under the banner of its sub-brand BMW i, the BMW Group is developing a range of purpose-built vehicle concepts and complementary mobility services which meet the changing needs of customers and redefine the understanding of personal mobility. As well as adopting intelligent technologies and innovative design, BMW i is pursuing an all-embracing approach defined to a significant degree by sustainability throughout the value chain.

Following the presentation of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept, the BMW Group introduces the BMW i8 Concept Roadster to the mix. This third BMW i model embodies the future of cutting-edge and emotionally appealing mobility concepts. Its sporting design headlines the qualities of an open-top two-seater blending lightness, dynamic capability and efficiency with a very special aesthetic allure.

The combination of intelligent lightweight design and state-of-the-art hybrid technology imbues the BMW i8 Concept Roadster with genuine sports car performance, yet its fuel consumption is no higher than you would expect from a small car.

Among the most eye-catching features of the BMW i8 Concept Roadster are the upward-swiveling, windowless doors and a range of purpose-oriented on-board equipment including electric kickboards stowed under a transparent tailgate. The sports car is based around the innovative LifeDrive architecture, itself underpinned by a lightweight modular construction and the use of high-quality high-tech materials. The BMW i8 Concept Roadster is a plug-in hybrid powered by an eDrive drivetrain combining a high-performance electric motor and petrol combustion engine. The lithium-ion battery supplying the motor with power can be recharged in an extremely short space of time from any domestic power socket. Together, the car's minimized weight, low center of gravity and finely judged balance, coupled with a combined system output of up to 260 kW (354 hp), promise unbeatable dynamic capability, exceptional efficiency and unbridled driving pleasure.

BMW i8 Concept Roadster with eDrive ? driving pleasure with unbeatable efficiency and dynamics.

Barely a year after the unveiling of the 2+2-seater BMW i8 Concept, BMW i is presenting the second variant of this innovative hybrid sports car, a machine designed to light up the path to compelling and purpose-oriented mobility. Like its Coupe sibling, the emotionally charged BMW i8 Concept Roadster combines intelligent lightweight design with the leading-edge drivetrain technology eDrive, while its open-top two-seater construction delivers an even more intense driving experience. This is a car in which outstanding performance potential goes hand-in-hand with extremely low fuel consumption and emissions.

Compared with the Coupe variant of the BMW i8 Concept, the BMW i8 Concept Roadster has a slightly shorter wheelbase and overall length. With its compact dimensions and distinctive exterior paintwork, the sports car exudes a feeling of dynamism before it so much as turns a wheel, while striking features of its design include upward-swiveling, windowless doors and a transparent glass panel at the rear. Underneath this cover two electric kickboards are stowed, providing a visual showcase for the fun factor in mobility and adding another layer to the car's recreational appeal. Inside, a revised material and color concept provides an extra dose of sportiness. Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Roadster with eDrive is a high-performance plug-in hybrid, and it fuses the specific advantages of an electric motor and combustion engine to optimum effect. Exceptional efficiency and dynamic capability are the upshot.

Modular LifeDrive architecture offers a preview of the future.?
Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Roadster is also built around the innovative LifeDrive architecture, a fusion of independent functional units. For example, the carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP) Life module gives the car an extremely lightweight passenger cell, while the Drive modules ? made primarily from aluminum components ? bring together all the car's operational driving functions, such as the powertrain, chassis and safety structure. Impressively extensive use of high-tech materials allows this innovative concept to chart new territory in terms of weight minimization, structural rigidity and crash safety. This is good news not only for the car's dynamic performance, but also for its range and fuel economy. Intelligent lightweight design, encompassing the use of innovative materials, has allowed the unavoidable additional weight of the high-output hybrid drivetrain to be cancelled out in full. Plus, the LifeDrive architecture has been carefully adapted to the sports car character of the BMW i8 Concept Roadster. The front and rear axle modules are connected by an "energy tunnel", which houses the hybrid battery. This allows the engineers to give the car a low center of gravity and ideal balance.

The distinctive two-way split of the LifeDrive concept is also reflected in the car's design, which renders the basic elements of the body clearly distinguishable. Expressive surfaces and precise lines create a harmonious transition from one module into another. This overlap and interlocking of surfaces and lines ? "layering" in BMW i speak ? is displayed both on the body and in the interior of the new car.

Latest interpretation of the BMW i design language.?
The BMW i8 Concept Roadster's emotion-led design vividly spotlights the car's qualities, with lightness, dynamic capability and efficiency highlighted to particularly prominent effect. For example, the two-seater embodies the perfect synthesis of technology and aesthetic appeal, and exudes unbridled driving pleasure even when stationary. Key to creating this impression of sporty dynamics are large body panels, a hunkered-down stance and numerous aerodynamic elements such as contact surfaces, spoiler lips, Air Curtains and aero flaps. These features substantially reduce the hybrid car's Cd and enhance both efficiency and range.

Dynamic front end.?
The front end offers a particularly revealing window into the open-top two-seater's dynamic talent. One defining element is the headlights with pioneering laser light technology, which follow the hallmark BMW i U-shaped design template. A semi-transparent "V" opens out from the front end of the flat bonnet towards the windscreen and beckons the eye to the electric motor below. A spoiler lip positioned on the windscreen frame guides the airflow over the heads of the passengers. And for journeys when the weather cannot quite be trusted, the planned two-section folding roof might well come in handy.

Athletic silhouette.?
Short front and rear overhangs and a low-slung silhouette define the side view of the BMW i8 Concept Roadster and underline its athletic character. Alluring lines and forms generate a strong forward-surging stance even before the car powers off the line. The doors, which open by pivoting forwards around the A-pillar axis, further enhance the BMW i8 Concept Roadster's emotional impact. Below the doors, the side skirts create a powerful wedge shape which opens out towards the rear. At the same time, the open-top two-seater cuts a light and flowing figure and appears as if carved from a single mold.

Striking rear.
Like the front end, the rear also sits low to the road. Its headline feature is a transparent cover revealing the two folded electric kickboards accommodated below. Adopting the hallmarks of BMW i design, the kickboards are perfect for relaxed cruising along promenades and paths or around city squares. There can be few more attractive advertisements for individual mobility. A visually imposing rear diffuser, three-dimensional air outlets and the U-shaped rear lights give the BMW i8 Concept Roadster an extremely wide appearance and emphasize its sporting credentials.

Functional aesthetics: layering in the interior.?
The interior of the BMW i8 Concept Roadster is defined by three levels showcasing its various functions. As with the car's body, the interlocking of surfaces and lines is also one of the stand-out features of the interior design. The outer layer frames the supporting structure, while the inner "comfort" layer comprises seat surfaces and stowage compartments. The cockpit fills the third "technical" layer, bringing together the instrument panel, steering column and steering wheel with the instrument cluster, central information display and control elements. The prominent driver focus of the cockpit and the low seating position, which adds further depth to the open-top two-seater's credibility, are particularly eye-catching. All the controls are in just the right position and, like the other functional components of the interior, designed to further enliven the driving experience. An 8.8-inch (22.4 cm) screen displays all the relevant driving information in three-dimensional, high-resolution quality.

The color and materials concept also provides some stand-out touches. The Roadster's interior is defined by a mixture of plastic, carbon and leather, with the off-white of the outer layer and the bold orange tone of the naturally tanned leather generating a sporting atmosphere rich in contrast. The cockpit and center console also show slight modifications over the Coupe. The overall effect of the interior is one of quality, purity and emotional appeal.

Plug-in hybrid:
The perfect alliance of dynamic capability and efficiency.?
Like the Coupe, the BMW i8 Concept Roadster with eDrive is a plug-in hybrid combining two different power sources and employing the specific advantages of its electric motor and combustion engine to optimum effect. The hybrid drivetrain's key components gel together with outstanding smoothness, allowing it to offer peerless dynamic capability and maximum efficiency. In other words, the open-top two-seater produces the performance of an out-and-out sports machine yet posts the fuel economy of a small car.

The 96 kW (131 hp) electric motor on the front axle works in tandem with a turbocharged three-cylinder petrol engine sending 164 kW (223 hp) through the rear wheels. Both units are in-house BMW Group developments and generate an aggregate system output of 260 kW (354 hp) and peak torque of 550 Newton meters. That is enough to accelerate the BMW i8 Concept Roadster from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in five seconds on the way to an electronically governed top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph). Despite this performance, the two-seater burns just three liters of petrol per 100 kilometers (equivalent to fuel economy of 94 mpg imp) in the European test cycle.

The electric motor sources its energy from a lithium-ion battery which can be fully charged from a domestic power socket in less than two hours. The high-output battery is located in the energy tunnel between the front and rear axle modules in order to keep the car's center of gravity as low as possible ? and therefore to maximize the car's dynamic performance. The space-saving and well-balanced packaging of this and other drive and chassis components gives the sporting two-seater ideal 50:50 weight distribution.
With its battery fully charged, the BMW i8 Concept Roadster can cover up to 30 kilometers (19 miles) on electric power alone. As such, far from filling in as a bit-part player, the electric motor plays a role equal to that of the petrol engine. If required, a high-voltage alternator hooked up to the combustion engine generates extra power, which is then stored in the hybrid battery. This range-extending function during the course of a journey allows the two-seater to travel further between charging stations.

Another special feature of the BMW i8 Concept Roadster is the ability to send power through the front, rear or all four wheels at the same time. Intelligent control electronics ensure that the optimum drive configuration is available for the situation at hand. The driver can view the driving mode currently engaged and monitor the activity of the two drive sources on the large information display in the cockpit. Furthermore, the electronic systems ensure maximum energy recuperation under braking or when coasting. All of which means that the driver can enjoy maximum dynamic performance, unbeatable directional stability and minimal consumption and emissions at all times.

Connectivity: the perfect link between mobile living environments.?
BMW i sums up the idea of mobility geared to the demands of the future and the needs of its customers. To this end, BMW i drivers will have a new generation of driver assistance systems at their disposal which significantly enhance both safety and comfort. For example, the camera-based proactive Collision Warning system, Parking Assistant and Traffic Jam Assistant ensure all on board can enjoy a safe and relaxed journey.

In addition, BMW i is developing an array of innovative connectivity functions which provide a seamless link between its models and their owners' lives outside the car. Remote functions accessed via a smartphone help users to locate their car in large car parks (Car Finder), show nearby charging stations, allow the battery to be charged at pre-set times and inform drivers on the current status of their vehicle. Plus, the battery and interior can be brought up to peak operating temperature before the driver sets off on a journey. The Last Mile Navigation function, meanwhile, assists drivers after they have parked their car, with route instructions transferred directly onto their smartphone directing them along the last leg of their journey on foot ? to a museum or restaurant, for example. And the Intermodal Route Planning function effectively integrates the car into the local public transport network and provides information on current parking availability at the driver's destination.

Interface design aids intelligent mobility.?
Two large displays inside the BMW i8 Concept Roadster make up the interface between the car, its passengers and the outside world. Positioned alongside the instrument cluster behind the steering wheel, the central information display flags up all relevant information and assists the driver in the use of connectivity applications. A third display shows the automatic climate control settings currently engaged. All the screens display their information in 3D, and the cutting-edge, visually appealing graphics are also impressively clear.

Instrument cluster.
The instrument cluster displays important driving data using two variable-form ellipses. Positioned alongside the digital speedometer, the efficiency display allows drivers to view how much energy they are currently using ? or recovering through the recuperation process. Added to which, the display also contains extra navigation details and information on the car's range when running purely on electric power, its range when powered by the combustion engine alone and its range using both power units in tandem. If the driver switches to energy-saving ECO PRO mode, the display turns blue in color to signal the shift in functional emphasis, and the ellipses now also vary in form. By the same token, moving into SPORT mode treats the driver to an emotional orange hue. As well as the changes in color, the displays also provide information tailored to the driving mode selected and to assisting the driver as effectively as possible.

Central information display.
The central information display in the BMW i8 Concept Roadster makes a key contribution to intelligent mobility. It allows the driver to view the current status of the hybrid system, provides a platform for menu navigation and route guidance, and uses innovative connectivity functions to offer drivers a gateway into their lives outside the car. This ensures drivers remain up to speed at all times on how the combustion engine and electric motor are being used, while also being able to monitor the energy flow within the system.

Forward-thinking analysis of the driving situation.
The car's power electronics are linked up to intelligent navigation and traffic guidance systems to enable the hybrid drive system to work at maximum efficiency. In this way, information on route profile, speed limits and unavoidable traffic congestion are incorporated into the calculations of the energy management system so that the hybrid system's operating strategy can be adapted accordingly. For example, proactive charging of the hybrid battery allows the BMW i8 Concept Roadster to negotiate a traffic tailback on the road ahead using electric power alone ? and therefore without producing any emissions. In addition, handy displays such as fuel consumption history allow interesting reflections on past journeys and help to optimize the driving style of the individual at the wheel.

Perfectly prepared at all times thanks to diary synchronization.
Intelligent connectivity functions open the door to a host of other practical solutions when it comes to preparing the BMW i8 Concept Roadster for its daily workload. One example of this is automatic diary synchronization with the driver's smartphone. The system registers upcoming appointments and, when plugged into a power socket, ensures that the battery is topped up overnight so that the car is ready for action with a fully charged battery the following morning.

The BMW i concept.?
BMW i is about the development of visionary vehicles and mobility services, inspiring design, and a new premium perception strongly guided by sustainability. Under the banner of the young sub-brand, the BMW Group is developing purpose-built vehicle concepts which redefine the understanding of personal mobility. Key elements include groundbreaking technologies, intelligent lightweight design and the innovative use of materials, all with the aim of creating vehicles with extremely low weight, the greatest possible range, generous interior space, poised and authoritative driving characteristics, and exceptional safety. The BMW i8 Concept Roadster follows in the tire tracks of the BMW i3 Concept and BMW i8 Concept Coupe as the third concept car created under the BMW i sub-brand.

Sustainability plays a paramount role in the BMW i concept. It is an issue that runs like a thread throughout the value chain ? all the way from purchasing, through development and production to sales and marketing. And when it comes to the efficient manufacturing of its vehicles, BMW i goes a step further still.

The Leipzig production plant will see an additional 70 per cent reduction in water use and 50 per cent drop in energy consumption per vehicle over the years ahead. And the energy that is used will be sourced 100 per cent from renewable sources.

Specifications.
BMW i8 Concept Roadster.

Source: http://www.rushlane.com/bmw-i8-concept-roadster-two-seater-on-display-at-2012-la-auto-show-1252594.html

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Organic Wine for Health Benefits | Health Food x Drinks - Gillespie ...

Posted by Organic Food Expert in Wine & Spirits | 0 comments

Wine is the perfect complement to many foods, be it breakfast, lunch or dessert. You can use it in cooking certain culinary items, to impart an abundant taste and smell. And there are various benefits related to drinking wine. A kind of wine that is all the rage nowadays and it is quickly gaining kudos in the elitist and regular wine folk, is organic wine.

Organic Wine

Guess what happens wine is, and so its vast amounts of fans around the world. Included in this, the majority likes it because of its taste, the relaxing effects and also the health benefits, while a few are dead against it as it is after all an alcoholic drink which people do not encourage use of alcohol. So, there is a contradiction. But let?s drop the contradiction and opt for the majority. In this article, find out more about organic wine and its health benefits of wine.

Health Benefits of Organic Wine

Free from Chemicals

A chemically-free production ensures a chemically-free product. No pesticides, no fertilizers, no herbicides or fungicides ? basically something that is not meant to be a component, such elements are absent from organic wines. Which over time is better for you, the customer. Chemicals, if ingested, build up and collect in your body and degrade your body gradually. Wine should be fruity having a rich chemical-free taste, this really is promised in an organic wine.

Improve your bones

Have a drink now, decrease your risk of hip fracture later up to 20 percent. Scientists suspect the result is due to the fact that alcohol increases estrogen along with other hormones important to strong bones.

Sulfurless Property

Organic wines don?t contain sulfur dioxide or any sulfur based preservatives. So for all those with sulfur or sulfur products allergies, this really is good news. Traditional wines contain sulfur dioxide to permit the wine to age or perhaps be kept. Organic wines have only biological sulfur, this too in minuscule amounts, approximately 10 mg per liter. Sulfur dioxide in wine may cause very serious allergic reactions and it has been linked to enhancing the chances of getting a hangover.

Considerations

A 5-oz. glass of wine or 12 oz. of beer (one bottle) is equivalent to one drink. One drink each day for women, two for males, is considered a safe and beneficial amount. Excessive drinking will produce negative health effects.

Fight Heart Disease

A daily glass of wine could raise the blood?s level of inflammation-fighting omega-3 fatty acids.

Health Benefits of Organic Wine

Ditch Diabetes

Downing the cheer of your liking can improve your body?s sensitivity to insulin. The greater effectively your body responds for this hormone, the lower the chances of you developing Type 2 diabetes.

Less to No Additives

Preservatives, flavorings, chemical food substance etc. are absent from true organic wines. Which means you are drinking actual wine, not 10% wine, 90% artificial additives.

Blood pressure level

Blood vessels become dilated after one drink, which increases blood circulation and reduces force on the heart. The key is stopping just one to avoid adding stress towards the heart.

Benefits of Wine

• Ultimately organic wines comprise the wine spirit, so that all the benefits and benefits of drinking wine are applicable, without any chance of eating chemicals. So advantages for example:
• Reduces the impact of smoking
• Reduces chance of coronary and heart disease
• Raises HDL (good cholesterol) levels
• Reduces risk and occurrence of atherosclerosis

Source: http://wine.healthfoodxdrinks.com/organic-wine-for-health-benefits/

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Source: http://gillespieollie.typepad.com/blog/2012/11/organic-wine-for-health-benefits-health-food-x-drinks.html

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Email Marketing Software Advantages

By Steve Halim

More and more merchandising realizes the significance of using email marketing software to boost their online standing. This isn?t really surprising considering how advantageous this method is compared to the others indirect way of selling products. For those who are currently thinking about getting email marketing programs, following are some of the perks of this type of program.

Direct Client Contact
With email marketing, business owners can send sales pitches to a person?s email address with just a click of a button. This direct approach is much more compelling than simply posting ads all over the website, making it more likely for individuals to follow links and make a purchase.

Tracking
Moreover, great thing about these programs is that they make it easy to track target market activity. All kinds of information starting from who received the files, who opened them and which messages elicited a response are vital for planning ahead. With this information, businesses will be able to gather information on what worked on their clients and what didn?t. Based on this data, they can then structure another marketing pitch that will increase the impact to their clients.

Installation Options
Some programs can be installed on the computer and can be run independently while others need to be integrated with CRM software. This variation in choices makes the programs become easier for business owners to pick the best set up that would work for them.

Preset Actions
With software, business owners can simply schedule newsletters to be sent on specific dates and time, allowing them to concentrate on bigger concerns for the business. With the email marketing side taken care of, owners can deal with improving their product or service or even accumulating more names to add to their existing list. These programs are so advanced that individuals can have them set up to send messages weeks or even months ahead.

Inexpensive
In the long run, email marketing programs will prove to be an excellent investment. Studies show that ROI when it comes to online marketing, the results are pretty solid, allowing individuals to gain back their initial capital through sales. The cost of the program itself is little, depending on the sophistication of what the person purchases. In most cases, these programs come with a money back guarantee, allowing buyers to regain their money if they aren?t happy with the results.

Note though, that not all email marketing software are the same. Individuals should take the time to find one with a good reputation in the industry. Choose marketing software that can be effortlessly customized to gather user requirements. Some of the features that might prove useful include, but are not limited to:

? Easy management of the people in the list.
? Makes it possible for users to create groups, allowing them to send specific emails to specific people for highly targeted marketing approaches.
? Makes it easy for individuals to subscribe and unsubscribe.
? Offers statistics on the number of emails sent, which ones are opened and what email messages are forwarded to third party individuals. Tracking of how many emails generated direct sales, and which ones triggered un-subscriptions will also help a lot in creating new marketing pitches next time.

Reading reviews about the product will also help a lot in figuring out how it performs. Make sure to check out as many reviews as possible to get a clear idea of the program?s advantages and disadvantages. With the right choice of email marketing software, online businesses should find their venture flourishing; keep in mind though that email marketing should only be one part of the process.

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Source: http://ninjaseomethods.com/email-marketing-software-advantages/

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