Disqus - Latest Comments for onlinedesign

Re: Police: Woman Assaults Cop After Public Lovemaking Interrupted

Laurel LaFlamme — Sun, 26 Mar 2017 01:26:51 -0000

The comment thread is BRILLIANT and hysterical! Oh! So funny I forgot the actual issue here, some sort of fabrication?

Re: Honda Starter Relay Switch Recall Hits US, Affects 45,153 Motorcycles

Laurel LaFlamme — Thu, 21 Apr 2016 21:08:00 -0000

Please! Please reach out and contact me at laurel.laflamme@gmail.com or 843-557-3270. I believe my husband's near death and significant injuries are the result of a faulty ignition switch on a brand new 2015 HONDA Interstate 1300 motorcycle.

He's not a novice biker. I WATCHED him unexplainably go from zero to... CRASH!

I'd love to speak with you please. Thank you in advance . - Laurel LaFlamme

Re: The truth about Sudden Unintended Acceleration

Laurel LaFlamme — Sat, 12 Mar 2016 15:20:27 -0000

I found this thread seeking ANY information related to Sudden Unintended Acceleration; especially as it relates to motorcycles and/or specifically Honda motorcycles.

After putting nineteen miles on a brand new Honda Interstate 1300 Touring bike, I WATCHED my husband go from zero to OH MY GOD HOLD ON FOR THE RIDE and crash into my neighbor's brick house.

While my husband was still in critical condition, we got a faulty electronic ignition switch recall from HONDA.

I never knew about Sudden Acceleration until doing massive amounts of research to find out WHY, HOW, CAN this really happen?

I need to know for my own sanity, if for nothing else.

The invitation to add other makes & models was given, so I added mine. Not to be off-topic, but in this day and age of social media, surely SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE might know how this happened or maybe it happened to them?

My husband is walking again after ten months of therapy but his healing pelvis and back fractures are a continuous source of pain to this day.

That moving vehicle, although only having two wheels not four, I'm CONVINCED sent a message to another part of the machine to wide open take off unexpectedly and without him telling it to.

All my research on SUA on all the many, many vehicle out there with this DOCUMENTED, PROVEN issue, points squarely towards SLOPPY CODING.

Let's say, if a Montero was in production with a few hundred lines of sloppy Code, do you realize that the robots (not human hands) who mass produce the vehicle will infuse about 45,000 of them all with the same defective Code?

It may or may not flare up and cause an accident in your particular vehicle, OR something might cause a random chat between one part of the vehicle to another and tell it to accelerate or do something else the driver did NOT put in motion.

That's the best way my little brain can understand this phenomenon.

But it DOES HAPPEN, it IS proven, and we are just at the mercy of high technology coupled with human error.

Human error occurs in everything we produce. But when it involves a vehicle you strap your family into that propels you at high speeds through traffic... IT IS A BIG DEAL.

A gargantuan, huge, big deal!

As for us, my husband rode an old-school, regular ole' motorcycle for years. He was not a novice biker.

The difference here was today's machines aren't remotely like bikes and vehicles of the past. They rely on electronics and thousands of lines of Code.

Therein lies both the blessing and the curse. I love living in a high tech world, but when a mistake ruins your family or kills or maims your loved one, or YOU... it's the floor-mat's fault.

Thank you for allowing me to vent and also participate in a very important discussion. I hope conversations like these continue.

Thank you for the well-written, article and interesting comment thread!

You can reach out to me on Facebook if you have a similar story to mine.

Thank you for your consideration.

Re: Shattuck case puts spotlight on rarely prosecuted crime

Laurel LaFlamme — Wed, 07 Jan 2015 21:11:22 -0000

"It is hard to make a good man out of a broken boy..." That's an EXCELLENT quote, and true on so many different levels.

Re: Josie Cunningham does it again.

Laurel LaFlamme — Thu, 01 Jan 2015 04:12:15 -0000

She's a glamor model? Really? Okay.

Re: Why Can’t We Take Pictures in Art Museums?

Laurel LaFlamme — Sun, 30 Nov 2014 14:45:54 -0000

That's an outstanding example. Visiting the Sistine Chapel is a trip of a lifetime for most. Who wouldn't want to document what they experienced?

Back in the day, we used cameras with film, got the trip pictures developed, stuck them in albums, and used the albums to show our family and friends. It was for the purpose of saving and sharing our memories.

Today, we can share our lives, and everything we see & experience along the way, in an instant; with the entire planet. Technology is amazing and a real blessing.

It's a real shame we're limited in what we can document and record as we experience great beauty and Art. Unless it damages a work of art to do so, or interferes with the serenity of someone else's experience, I say photograph away!

It seems reasonable that selling the images is inappropriate. Common sense and respect dictates that's a no-no. The lack of common sense and common courtesy in some ruins it for the rest of us.

My personal opinion is, if we see it with our eyes, we should be allowed to photograph it for the preservation of our own life experiences.

When I no longer walk this earth, how are my great grandchildren going to know I ever saw Starry Night with my own eyes, if not documented?

Anyway, this has been a very dignified and interesting thread. I accidentally found it while doing research for the proper term for a work of art with hidden images; as in Van Gogh's hidden lamb and fox on the shoes.

I know it's called something, just can't seem to find it.

Re: Candy Crush Level 586 Cheats and Tips

Laurel LaFlamme — Sat, 08 Nov 2014 18:05:28 -0000

Ahhh, the ole' whappie slappy switcher hand, as I call it. Great tip. That'll be very useful getting the nuts off the belt. Thanks!

Re: Video: Watch What Happens when People Goof-Off at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Laurel LaFlamme — Fri, 30 May 2014 16:43:01 -0000

Thank you very much. I'll tell Joey you said that and it will brighten his day!

Re: Video: Watch What Happens when People Goof-Off at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Laurel LaFlamme — Tue, 27 May 2014 15:20:50 -0000

Excellent comment, Gale. If you don't mind I'm going to quote you on my FB Page. My husband, a veteran who saw combat, just posted this video, too. I think we all need reminders... it's also a shame that more ADULTS don't already "get" the significance of why they are visiting the Tomb in the first place.

Re: Video: Watch What Happens when People Goof-Off at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

Laurel LaFlamme — Tue, 27 May 2014 15:17:32 -0000

Exactly. Well spoken, Jim!

Re: Atoms Fall – Powerful Hard Rock From The Dust Of The Southwest

Laurel LaFlamme — Thu, 26 Sep 2013 02:01:01 -0000

I absolutely love this band! I think they're lyrical geniuses and it's great to have such a refreshing new sound in rock music today...

Re: Aries- The Ram

Laurel LaFlamme — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 11:48:18 -0000

Mark, you have some most excellent topics here ~ highly impressive. The first two paragraphs nailed me to a tee! Some other characteristics, like body build and "...it's rare to see an overweight Aries...not so much.

I also do not fall into the "bossy to the point of arrogance" category. I'm probably answering my own question once again, but just to have a better understanding of these concepts, it is correct to assume (in the teachings of Western Zodiac) that there are varying degrees of these personal attributes we can fall under?

On the weight issue, I gained 50+ lbs (or 4 Stone+, I think it would be in UK...) after surgery a few years ago. That was in ADDITION to the junk already in my trunk. To be blunt, I got fat. Over the last year I found a phenomenal program to help me not only lose all that weight, I'm now building lean muscle. I turned it all around.

Holy smokes, I did just answer my own question with info from your site! Guess I stand corrected. At this writing, I do have a more athletic build...I've gotten very very strong and even passionate about healthy living...to the point of helping others learn to do the same. Hmm - wow.

"While they are passionate in their romantic lives, they can become bored and impatient easily. They often don't understand the sensitive needs of others, and may become irritated by needy or fragile individuals."

I do understand the the sensitive needs of others, however I have a low tolerance for nonsensical foolishness and whiny, weak people. I just thought that just amounted to me showing and acting my age? I have learned to only surround myself with positive people in my life and seldom have to deal with the "fragile" peeps who take comfort in beating the "woe is me" drum.

Life is too short and precious to waste on moaning and complaining. That kind of stuff DOES easily irritate me. Each Aries must be slightly different in how they assimilate these traits?

You have profound concepts here whether one agrees with the literal teachings or not. Just by examining potential traits we may or may not have, it creates an introspective atmosphere for analyzing and examining our own behavior(s). Cool stuff!

On a side note:
I have some friends I'd like to visit in the UK one day. Now I know who to go to when I'm ready to make the journey to The Old Country! I'll definitely seek out your assistance at that time. Thank you!

Re: How to measure that you’re Drunk – By Ice Cubes !

Laurel LaFlamme — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:29:19 -0000

Great - a party tool to let Ravers know they're loaded! All kidding aside, I think it's a great idea. Now if there was a conscience monitor that shocks people into caring that they're drunk! I'm sorry, people KNOW if they've had too much to drink and when they've imbibed too much drink to drive...they simply don't care. If they cared, they'd call a taxi, a friend, a SPOUSE, a designated driver, OR keep the Party inside one location (at home) -- whatever.

My husband wanted to go shoot billiards with his buddies. They drove over together, car-pool style. After hours of pool-shooting bliss, they called all the wives to come get them - I was one of the them and gladly obliged.

That very night was the DUI Roadblock I got caught in. Only too proud to tell the Officer I was the Designated Driver to go pick up the silly hubbies!

Had that played out the usual way, someone would have gone to jail that night and lost their j*o*b! All those men have Security Clearance for employment that would be revoked with a DUI. Or worse, driven home drunk and killed someone or hurt themselves.

The technologically advanced Ice Cubes are nothing short of amazing! I loved the report. It's cool. Are high-tech cubes really the answer? An extra $37.50 might be the answer. Keep it in your pocket and take a taxi home when you're drunk! Period. Just sayin...

Re: Botnet-that-earned-1m-year-shutdown-by-Microsoft-and-Symantec

Laurel LaFlamme — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:14:29 -0000

It's interesting the very ads appearing randomly to the side of the article are the very ads that hijack our PCs and perpetuate the same kind of non-sense (on a smaller scale) -- "THREE PEOPLE UNFRIENDED YOU ON FACEBOOK - CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO" and "FREE COUPONS YOU NEED - just sign in here, give us ALL your info, download our App" and watch as we suck the life out of your computer, infect you with our malware, install toolbars you don't want and randomly post as YOU!

Spammers, cyber-bullies, cyber criminals, and other misfits are making the Internet chaotic for the rest of us! Law abiding citizens trying to promote their business honestly now have to endure all kinds of RIDICULOUS new rules to get indexed, social people having innocent fun are now harbingers of malware affecting everyone they know, and twenty-two year old have become the criminal masterminds behind some of the greatest scams of all times.

What ever happened to smart people learning a trade and honestly gaining their fortune? I've worked with some brilliant Programmers in my day, and NONE of them sit around trying to conceptualize things that do mankind ANY GOOD -- although I was privy to seeing the creation of a "text bomb" that will annoy the living daylights outta' you!

Great article - thanks for the report. This cyber-crime (that we're essentially powerless over) gives me the creeps. I'm going back to the puppies & kittens now...

Re: Understand How Marketing Has Changed

Laurel LaFlamme — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 15:36:33 -0000

When it gets too confusing for me, I always take it back to k.i.s.s. Keeping it simple and logical ALWAYS works no matter what changes come along.

The outstanding article sums it up correctly. Don't know your target audience? Then you don't have anyone to market TO. Start at the begging by knowing WHO to talk to. The internet is a vast ocean...

Back in "the day," a Scribd article strategically upload with a keyword researched seo'd Title got #1, 1st page Google in twelve minutes (timed.) No more - not that easy but it's going to be okay.

IF everything is balanced between structure and content, the message will prevail; evetually, but it will prevail.

I guess like anything else in life, the passion, dedication, and commitment to excellent customer relations shines above all else.

Consumers (and I AM one) are smart enough to see beyond smoke & mirrors! You're right about needing a little extra help or benefit to grab my attention and keep my loyalty. It's also about building relationships that matter & effectively conveying that sincerity. // good stuff here! Thank you for the insight.

Re: It’s “Top Heavy 2″ As Google Rolls Out Update To Its Page Layout Algorithm

Laurel LaFlamme — Wed, 07 Nov 2012 14:04:21 -0000

exactly.

Re: The big list of 100 tools, tips and tricks to work more efficiently online

Laurel LaFlamme — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:28:34 -0000

BUFFER rocks!

Re: The big list of 100 tools, tips and tricks to work more efficiently online

Laurel LaFlamme — Fri, 26 Oct 2012 02:27:53 -0000

Cool - thanks. I'll check that one out, too. I *love* discovery.

Re: Social Anxiety

Laurel LaFlamme — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 14:29:27 -0000

Exactly. So well-spoken that you literally took the words right out of my mouth.

Social Media Manager and Social Media Marketer, to me, are synonymous. What IS the difference? If they're one in the same, why does that matter or even have to be defined? To define a job status? Salary cap?

"The goal of social media, for most organizations, is essentially to market a product or service..." Right!

“I was on Facebook when it first came out,” she adds. “I haven’t had to learn these communications, whereas someone of an older generation has to learn how to use these things.”

Re: Selling Is Not About Relationships

Laurel LaFlamme — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:03:02 -0000

Exactly! Well spoken.

Re: Selling Is Not About Relationships

Laurel LaFlamme — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 03:00:55 -0000

At what point does "driven to excel" take excellent customer service into consideration? I'm a Consumer, too. I buy very nice expensive things and at times I shop at the Dollar Store; either way, I assure you I will not tolerate "dynamic tension" in any way, shape, or form. But that's just me -- I don't "play" that!

I feel more inclined to lean towards Kevin B.'s statement, "A synthesis approach of challenging + relationship building has worked best in my experience."

I don't disagree with the article at all. It's true. I don't disagree with you, either. Perhaps, being balanced enough to know the type of customer you're dealing with is a good way to practice the craft, too. That does require a wee-bit-o relationship building.

thanks!

Re: Rant: Why NBC and The American Media Are An Embarrassment

Laurel LaFlamme — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:49:30 -0000

well stated.

Re: Rant: Why NBC and The American Media Are An Embarrassment

Laurel LaFlamme — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 13:46:24 -0000

KAT! I'm skimming your words; that's EXACTLY what I was about to write word for word in theory:

"Thought it was just me," at the time!

* Every time I wanted to hear the music or the drumming during the opening ceremony, Matt and Meredith talked right over it and drowned it out with doff color & disrespectful comments that added no value."

* Every time a country marched out and I wanted to see there beautiful colorful costumes, they cut to commercials and not one camera zoomed in to even show off their culture." - Very disappointing and a lot of the nations were highly disregarded & disrespected. It's an honor to be there and should have been treated as such! *shaking my head* Those young athletes were SO happy to be there and I wanted TO SHARE THEIR JOY, but it was ruined.

"I , too, DVR'd the show to ffwd thru commercials, but it was still painful to have to kill the pace and timing of a skillfully, well-planned event. And I never felt connected, because nothing was LIVE and I wasn't watching at the same time as the world. I felt "left out" on Twitter, and in general." --- ditto ditto ditto.

Thank you, Kat. You spoke well & nailed it for me. I'm still disappointed.

Re: Agree, Disagree? The Hardest Victory Is Over Myself.

Laurel LaFlamme — Sat, 28 Jul 2012 16:19:32 -0000

BOB! Wow - I never would've compared "nail biting" to an "addiction" -- you just helped me realize what my "real" issue is: IT IS AN ADDICTION. I wish I could underline that. I'M addicted to biting my nails. |||

I'll have to sit back & think about how I'm going to work with this new discovery. It's certainly not new that I'm a biter; that's visibly, painfully obvious (and quite shameful -- my poor lil fingers look HORRIBLE.) It's like I cannot help it and when I catch myself doing and KNOW I have to stop...but I give in & keep doing it anyway. Dude, it IS an addiction! (It's "out of balance") |||

That's actually quite comforting to me. It means that instead of just using "will-power" -- which does NOT work for me, there are some tried & true "methods" and/or "tricks" and/or "steps" I can take to lick this thing, (pun intended.) |||

NOT to make light of anyone with a more serious addiction -- I just wanted to thank you, Bob, for helping me realize what's really going on with me. Now I might be able to end this madness; "...the hardest victory is over myself!" It's like a light-bulb moment! |||

*** One more quick thought: As Bob alluded to, anything "out of balance" can be detrimental. So what? Ya' bite your nails -- big deal! For me, and others I'm sure, IT IS A BIG DEAL. |||

I "hide" my hands from others every chance I get, I "sneak," to do it, I "justify" the nail biting with stupid rationales like "my nail was rough -- that dry cuticle has to go" and before you know it, I'm in bleeding pain.

Worse part is I'm a professional! I've been to a business luncheon before where I thought I was going to choke to death (not literally, but that uncomfortable feeling when you need a sip with lunch) -- I couldn't drink my water because I didn't want any other professional there to see my nails wrap around the goblet. Man...that's messed up.

SO, along the lines of "...the hardest victory is over myself," I now have to sit back and figure our the WHY I'm doing this behaviour and what I can do in it's place. *shaking my head* Cannot believe I never saw it as an addiction before this very day?

Perhaps there WILL BE another someone "out there" who'll read this blog, read these comments & perspectives & decide to make a change in their lives, too. Now that's an awesome thought.

Re: 7 Ex-Jailbirds Who Made It Big in Business

Laurel LaFlamme — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 01:28:40 -0000

It IS interesting that so many of the charges were drug related. Addiction is an outward symptom of a much larger problem. Perhaps if there were more resources to treat mental illness, societal & relationship issues, there wouldn't be so many otherwise productive people locked up.

When I say "mental illness," I don't mean making errors in testing reality. I mean the more subtle forms of the disease including depression and anxiety. In troubled times many turn to various forms of addictions to escape.

Congrats to the few who came out on the other side all the better for it. Still, it's a real shame that it had to happen under such dire circumstances when there wasn't another way out.