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BLAINESWORLD
#665
6.29.2009 In this issue: 1. Reflections 2. FYI 3. $2.99 special 4. Reviews . . . THE PROPOSAL, etc. 5. TV alert 6. Attack 7. Websites 8. Computer tip 9. Background music 10. A quote I like 11. Thought for the day 12. Advance planning department _________________________________________________________ 1. Reflections A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I were apart much of the week due to the fact that she went to Kripalu for JourneyDance training (see BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD immediately following Section 1D) . . . and though her trip home was delayed a day because of bad weather, she got back just in time for us to join friends for a fun improv course at 35below in Asheville . . . that's her with Tom Chalmers, our instructor: ![]() We were all very impressed with the way Tom taught
the session . . . he had us laughing throughout, and he also had us feeling surprisingly confident about what we were doing as the afternoon progressed . . . we also learned perhaps the two key words in improv: "yes" and "and," in contrast to words we should avoid: "no" and "but." B. On my own, I went with other friends to a minor league baseball game featuring the local Asheville Tourist vs. the Greenville Drive . . . it was the first game I've seen in many years, and it was a lot of fun. I knew I was in for something special when I called up for my tickets and the person who answered was Jay Burnham, the team's radio announcer . . . we had a nice chat about the area, minor league baseball and Bill Veeck (one of my marketing gurus/personal heroes). Game night was absolutely beautiful . . . our box seats behind home plate were great and for $10 each, a real bargain given all that you got . . . a great game that the Tourists managed to win with a late rally, beer for just a buck and such goofy events throughout the evening as T-shirts that were shot in the stands, a mascot race, eating wing contest, etc. In addition, you could even pose for a picture with your head on top of a player's body:
![]() Yet the best part happened while we were leaving the
ballpark . . . . . . we left toward the end of the game and while walking toward our cars, a foul ball came over the fence . . . I ran to catch up with it and grabbed it, then gave it to our friends' son Conor . . . it was the first such ball I ever "caught" at a game, bringing back memories of when I was a kid and went to dozens of Mets' games . . . my cousin Blaine (yes, another Blaine!) always managed to grab balls in batting practice and somehow I never got one . . . so this one was something special. C. During the week, I also began using my hypnotism training . . . three brave friends volunteered to be my first "subjects," and so I worked with them on such areas as weight loss and nail biting . . . I mention this because the offer still remains to: GET IN TOUCH: If you'd be interested in having me hypnotize you for smoking cessation, weight loss or anything else you'd like to work on . . . I'm doing this work in and around Asheville for the time being, but I'm slated to be in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania area in late August or early September . . . should you want to work with me, just drop me email to: bginbc@aol.com and put HYPNOSIS REQUEST in the subject line. D It was a tough week for celebrities . . . Michael Jackson dropped dead at 50, and the same day, Farrah Fawcett died from cancer at 63 . . . then "Pitchman" Billy Mays died, also at 50, and lastly, comedian Fred Travelena passed away at the age of 66. Personally, I was saddened to hear about all these deaths . . . yet to try to put this into some sort of perspective, keep in mind the following quote: "Pop icons and American heroes are not one in the same," to quote Bob Shieffer of CBS NEWS. * Even better, see his entire commentary by clicking this link from my Facebook friend Patrick in Pennsylvania: http://tinyurl.com/ndrndb * And on the same subject, Sue in Pennsylvania wrote: Not sure if this [tribute to Michael Jackson} is of interest to you . . . I follow the author and have read her books, etc. Dear Susan, Today many of us were stunned as Michael Jackson went to his final resting place. I don't know about you but I was more than stunned, I was deeply moved because I have seen him work so hard and so long to be someone he was never designed to be. You see when we attempt to live our lives for the acceptance and opinions of others rather than true to our nature, we bring undue stress, pressure and possibly even health problems to our body. As a long time fan of Michael Jackson, I have to tell you I LOVED his TRUE nature . . . even though it's not what we saw very often in the last several years. I have recorded a special up close and personal video for you to watch . . . my personal tribute to Michael Jackson, with insights that will help you realize how important it is we live true to who we are. Let's learn from Michael's life how it went from being brilliant to tragic. I know you will be moved as I was and take away some important insights from watching this. Go watch it now: http://tinyurl.com/kr2t3t Please, be true to your nature! The world needs you! And YOU deserve the life you were designed for! God Bless You, Carol Tuttle http://www.caroltuttle.com
PS. Please share this with someone you love who needs support living more true to themselves. ***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD ***** This week, it goes to Toni Bergen, the woman behind the JourneyDance training that Cynthia went to last week (see also Section 1A) . . . to quote Cynthia: About 2 years ago, I did the JourneyDance teacher training with Toni Bergen. I never expected to teach, but became inspired when I realized the effect it had on me. I became so free in the dance. I taught and then stopped. Recently, I felt I needed more confidence to continue to teach. So, I went to re-do the training with Toni. Well, as it can be in life, you oftentimes get what you least expected (and it is usually much more than you could have imagined). I went to sharpen-up my choreographed moves. I came away with something that I will use in my continued teaching AND in my life. I came away with using my intuition and trusting myself. I came away with trusting that I do not have to do anything alone . . . that the group will inspire me. That I can and am an amazing teacher . . . and it is because I trust that even if I don't have it planned--particularly if I don't have it planned (life or dancing)--that something . . . call it spirit, intuition, trust in myself . . . will take over and the forthcoming freedom and joy will be there. Thank you, Toni, for teaching me that. If I could, I would take your training over and over because it is a lesson to be learned and practiced all the time. You teach that by example and by your amazing teachings. We are all of us amazing people with unique qualities if we only trust ourselves and the process. Toni brought me to my heart and my soul, and I am deeply grateful. FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT JOURNEYDANCE: http://www.journeydance.com/ Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 2. FYI If you have a pet, the last sentence in this paragraph contains information that I would have never thought to have asked about; i.e., until I read 1,000 THINGS THEY WON'T TELL YOU (see also Section 4C) by Jonathan Dahl and the editors of SMART MONEY: Laura Ireland Moore, an animal law attorney in Portland, Ore., says she represented a client who took her dog to the vet after stitches from a routine spaying came undone. The veterinarian repaired the stitches with metal sutures but neglected to put a cone over the dog's head to protect the wound during an overnight stay. The office was unattended through the night, and by morning the animal had chewed through the sutures-as well as 15 feet of its own intestines. The agonized dog had to be put down. The moral of this unpleasant story: "You should definitely check if anyone will be on the premises overnight," Moore says. FYI, part 2 * John in Pennsylvania: Here's the link to the video of Triplets (my band) playing at a party. You're welcome to post: http://tinyurl.com/lhpft3
MY TWO CENTS: Yes, this is the same John (Strauss) of Bucks County Community College fame--or is it infamy?--who did such a fine job playing at the several recent gigs that I have written about in past issues. * Hillary in NJ (with a REQUEST FOR HELP): Good hearing from you. You sound so happy. Next time you are up this way, give us a call. I would love to see you and meet Cynthia. I formed a team for Race for the Cure, Oct 4,2009 at Great Adventure. Anyone wishing help out, please go to: http://tinyurl.com/n42oj6
For anyone who doesn't know, I AM A SURVIVOR! * Maya in Pennsylvania: After the Athos 1 oil spill that dumped 265,000 gallons of heavy crude into the Delaware, a local and well-known band created a song called Maya van Rossum's Blues. I learned about the song well after the fact, but was honored by the mention. Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQslR413tPw
* John in New Jersey (with a South Jersey SALES OPENING): I wanted to pass an opportunity along in case you know someone who may be interested. I am looking for two salespeople. I need two people to sell RVs for Driftwood RV Center. No RV experience is necessary. The jobs are located at our dealerships in Cape May Courthouse (Rts 9 and 83) and Egg Harbor Twp on the Black Horse Pike both in New Jersey. For information, contact Bob Androckitis, Sales Director, at 609.624.1221 or email him at: sales@driftwoodrvcenter.com. * And John again (this time with a FACE PAINTING OPPORTUNITY): I have another opportunity for someone who may know someone who does face-painting. I need someone to do face painting on July 11 and 18 at our location in Egg Harbor Township (on the Black Horse Pike near Atlantic City). This is a paid gig. If you know anybody interested, have him or her contact me via email at: marketing@driftwoodrvcenter.com. * Scott in Pennsylvania: Receive a free sample bottle of Kiss My Face© Aromatherapeutic Anti-Stress Shower/Bath gel . . . it has an infusion of fir needle essential oil to calm the mind and nerves while it gently cleanses the body . . . just click: http://tinyurl.com/km84ox
* Sally in North Carolina: Many of you already know the good news that Bob's band was in the Top 4 for the Last Band Standing Contest. Your votes helped them win the first round! Check out the website: http://www.wncmagazine.com/lastbandstanding
and please keep voting as that will determine in part (along with their playing) whether they win the whole thing. The show is at 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, at the Orange Peel in Asheville. Hope you can make it to cheer Buster on. * Ed in West Virginia: Click on the link below to see my television acting debut: http://tinyurl.com/la5haf
Channel 12, WBOy/NBC was doing a report on "Boating Under the Influence" at Tygart Lake. The DNR Officer ask me if they could pull me over" and do a breathalyzer on me. That's me riding the Green Sea-Doo and blowing into the portable breathalyzer. It was all staged. (I don't even drink!) * Jeff in New Jersey: We're conducting auditions for WHAT THE BELLHOP SAW . . . for more information, please click: http://www.villagerstheatre.com/ And then check "Auditions." PLEASE NOTE: Villagers Theater is in Somerset, NJ . . . I've seen many excellent productions there and with Jeff (Dworkin) directing, this promises to be another excellent one. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 3. $2.99 special My friend went to breakfast at a restaurant where the "seniors" special' was two eggs, bacon, hash browns and toast for $2.99. "Sounds good," his wife Julie said. "But I don't want the eggs." "Then, I'll have to charge you $3.49 because you're ordering a la carte," the waitress warned her. "You mean I'd have to pay for not taking the eggs?" Julie asked incredulously. "YES!!" stated the waitress. "I'll take the special then," Julie said. "How do you want your eggs?" the waitress asked. "Raw and in the shell," Julie replied. She then took the two eggs home and baked a cake. MORAL OF THE STORY: Don't mess with seniors! WE'VE (now proudly counting myself as one) been around the block more than once!! Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 4. Reviews A. THE PROPOSAL is a cute romantic comedy, starring Sandra Bullock as a high-powered book editor who faces deportation to her native Canada . . . to get out of the mess, she turns to her unsuspecting assistant, Rob Reynolds, who she's tormented for years . . . it was predictable in spots and the second half dragged, yet overall I'd recommend it if for no other reason that to watch Betty White prove that she hasn't lost a step at 87 . . . make sure you stay for the credits at the end . . . rated PG-13. B. PAUL BLART: MALL COP is now out in DVD format . . . my review from BLAINESWORLD #645 follows: Saw PAUL BLART: MALL COP for two reasons: 1) A friend had recommended it; and 2) Cynthia found out that the movie we were going to see (HE'S JUST NOT THAT INTO YOU) was the one she was slated to see with a friend . . . so we settled on this Kevin James comedy at the last minute . . . the premise was cute . . . it's the story about a would-be state trooper who can't pass the physical, so he instead gets a job working in security at a New Jersey mall . . .the first half was funny, too, but it tailed way off in the second half when it stopped being a comedy and instead became a rather ordinary tale about a group of bandits . . . yet I realize that we weren't the ideal audience for the film . . . we were accompanied by a teenager who had a good time . . . I thought James was OK in the lead role; however, it was the work of Jayma Mays (a frequent guest on the TV show UGLY BETTY) that caught my attention . . . she was endearingly charming . .. rated PG. C. SMART MONEY, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL MAGAZINE has an addictive column, "Ten Things They Won't Tell You" . . . it contains information that most folks don't know--and perhaps never even think about. Jonathan Dahl, editor-in-chief of the above magazine, and his fellow editors have now put together many of these tips into one book: 1,001 THINGS THEY WON'T TELL YOU (see also Section 2) . . . to cite the subtitle, it's AN INSIDER'S GUIDE TO SPENDING, SAVING AND LIVING WISELY. You'll find useful advice from 100 professionals on health care, education, finance, automobiles, house and home, insurance, goods and services, travel, entertainment, pets, food and drink, and a whole lot more. However, what convinced me that this was a book that I could rely on was the fact that it cited Courtney Yelle--a good friend and one of the most knowledgeable guys I know--as one of the experts: * Courtney Yelle was in his Bucks County, Pa., yard raking leaves when a gleaming pickup truck pulled into his driveway. Yelle says that a clean-cut workman emerged and told him it looked as if his driveway needed to be repaved-which Yelle admits, was the case. But before he would commit, Yelle, former director of Bucks County Consumer Protection, said he'd need a written estimate along with the worker's phone number and address. The guy said he'd leave it in the mailbox, according to Yelle, then backed out of the driveway and disappeared forever. Yelle says that the "worker" was a seasoned scam artist who approaches people's homes offering to do jobs at bargain-basement prices, often on the premise that he has leftover materials from a nearby project. In reality, if he does the job at all, he'll do shoddy work with low-grade materials, says Wendy Weinberg, former executive director of the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators. While it sounds like common sense to be suspicious of solicitors, clearly these curbside con artists can be convincing: Lisa Curtis estimates they bilk homeowners out of $20 million per year in Colorado alone. Some stuff in the book I already knew, but I nevertheless appreciated the fact that it was included so I could share with others--such as this tidbit: * Whether they're candy "honor boxes," wishing wells, or plain old tin cans, those ubiquitous countertop collection boxes you see around so many checkouts are often not what they appear. In most cases, the charities aren't getting all the money people drop into the container; rather, they're renting out their name to for-profit vendors for a flat fee or a small percentage of the intake in exchange for posting the charity's logo. . . . Most charity watchers agree: Go ahead and toss in your spare change if you want to, but don't expect it to be doing much for the cause. "If you're serious about helping the charity," says Daniel Borochoff, "then get out your checkbook and write them a check." And, lastly, I appreciated this reminder that I'm amazed so few folks know about: * Media Mail service--known as "book rate" until 2001--has been around for years, but few people use it because it isn't well publicized down at the local post office. Why not? Because Media Mail is primarily used by business customers, according to a USPS spokesperson. But anyone can--and should--use it to mail books, films, printed music, sound recordings, manuscripts, or computer-readable media including CDs and DVDs. Just be sure that's all that's in the package: To be shipped using Media mail rates, a package cannot contain advertising or a letter to Mom, and the maximum weight is 70 pounds. Indeed, if a postal clerk is suspicious of a box or envelope's contents, he can open it for inspection. 1,001 THINGS is a book I'll refer to often . . . you will, too, so buy a copy for yourself and while you're at it, for others you think could benefit from becoming a more savvy consumer. D. Ronald Reagan was one of five American Presidents to have kept a consistent diary about his terms in office and the only one to record accounts of his life every day--except for when he was in the hospital recovering from an assassination attempt . . . and even then, he had this to say the day after being shot: "Getting shot hurts." I had the pleasure of listening to many of his entries in THE REAGAN DIARIES, edited by historian Douglas Brinkley . . . it was a behind-the-scenes look at what took place in the Reagan era, and I found it fascinating. Regardless of your political affiliation, you'll also enjoy this book as long as you don't expert anything particularly profound . . . many of the entries were concise and to the point, and Reagan does not do much bad mouthing of his enemies . . . it seems he never cursed or at least not in these entries . . . and what he did believe strongly in (taxation is bad, Communism is evil, etc.), he made it well known without getting bogged down into details or reasons why he felt this to be so. What I also got out of this book was his love for his wife Nancy, as evidenced by such passages as the following: * When she was away on her frequent "Just Say No" anti-drug crusade, Reagan wrote in his diary about going "upstairs to a lonely old house," * and noted their anniversary as "29 years of more happiness than any man could rightly deserve." * He also stated, "I pray I'll never face a day when she isn't there." Eric Conger handled the narration . . . his worked added to my enjoyment of THE REAGAN DIARIES. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 5. TV alert C. CLEAN HOUSE: MESSIEST HOME IN THE COUNTRY ends its seven-episode hunt on Wednesday at 9 p.m. on STYLE NETWORK . . . according to host Niecy Nash, "I am willing to endure these houses so my fans don't have to." B. Can Joey Chestnut defend his title at NATHAN'S HOT DOG EATING CONTEST? See for yourself by watching the spectacular on Saturday at 11 a.m. on ESPN . . . in case you were wondering, he ate 66 hot dogs in a record-setting performance . . . and he's a remarkably at 218 pounds, spread over his 6-foot frame. C. For your fireworks on Saturday, July 4, catch A CAPITOL FOURTH at 8 p.m. on PBS . . . Barry Manilow will appear and Jimmy Smitts will host . . . since PBS times and dates often vary, check local listings . . . then at 10 p.m. on CBS, there's the GOSTON POPS FIREWORKS SPECTACULAR featuring Neil Diamond . . . Craig Ferguson hosts. D. ANGEL AND THE BADMAN has Lou Diamond Phillips in this remake of the John Wayne classic, featuring Wayne's grandson Brendan in a supporting role . . . Sunday at 9 p.m. on HALLMARK Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 6. Attack At the height of a political corruption trial, the prosecuting attorney attacked a witness. "Isn't it true," he bellowed, "that you accepted twenty thousand dollars to compromise this case?" The witness stared out the window, as though he hadn't heard the question. "Isn't it true that you accepted twenty thousand dollars to compromise this case?" the lawyer repeated. The witness still did not respond. Finally, the judge leaned over and said, "Sir, please answer the question." "Oh," the startled witness said, "I thought he was talking to you." Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 7. Websites A. THANKS to Scott in Pennsylvania for sharing this informative website on his Facebook page: http://www.dialahuman.com Dial A Human and get rid of those annoying phone prompts. Talk to a REAL person! I wanted to check this out, so I called Continental and did press O and O . . . it didn't work at once, but when I kept punching those numbers in, I eventually did get to a live operator. B. THANKS to Barbara in Pennsylvania for providing this link to a rendition of "Stand By Me" that you simply must view at the same time you listen to it: http://tinyurl.com/b4w6vl When it loads, you may have to click on the Play arrow on the left--and then wait a few seconds at most . . . you'll love it! C. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: http://www.blainesworld.net In case you wonder what I do with your name if you become a subscriber to the newsletter, please check out my Privacy Statement . . . it can be accessed by clicking "Newsletter" to the left, then "Privacy Statement." Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 8. Computer tip THANKS to Danny in North Carolina, my computer guru, for helping me find this FREE CD burner: http://cdburnerxp.se/ It is a simple-to-use application to burn CDs and DVDs, including Blu-Ray and HD-DVDs. It also includes the feature to burn and create ISOs, as well as a multilanguage interface. Everyone, even companies, can use it for free. It does not include adware or similar malicious components. In addition, it allows you to remove all contents from a rewritable medium. FOR MORE INFORMAITON: Should you need computer help and you're anywhere in West North Carolina and/or even East Tennessee, Danny is the man . . . he really knows his stuff, and he has been most helpful to me . . . his email address is: dnbrice@gmail.com, and his number is 828.683.4912. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 9. Background music A pianist was hired to play background music for a movie. When it was completed, he asked when and where he could see the picture. The producer sheepishly confessed that it was actually a porno film, and it was due out in a month. A month later, the musician went to a porno theatre to see it. With his collar up and dark glasses on, he took a seat in the back row, next to a couple who also seemed to be in disguise. The movie was even raunchier than he had feared, featuring group sex, S/M and even a dog. After a while, the embarrassed pianist turned to the couple and said, "I'm only here to listen to the music." "Yeah?" replied the man. "We're only here to see our dog." Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 10. A quote I like There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.--John Andrew Holmes MR. CURIOUS HERE: I really enjoyed the above quote . . . yet when I tried to find more information about the person who said it, I couldn't seem to come up with anything . . . does any reader know who Holmes was/is? Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 11. Thought for the day My brief life as a woman The headline is no joke . . . it is the title of a blog entry that is a MUST read for men, though methinks that women will like it too: http://tinyurl.com/mr4f44 I'm sorry that I can't just present the whole piece, but copyright restrictions prevent me from doing so . . . I inquired about getting permission to run in BLAINESWORLD, but when THE NEW YORK TIMES asked for $330, I decided to take a pass. That said, please do take to read the article that begins as follows (I do have permission to include this material): As my wife and I sat on the couch one night this past winter, reading and half-watching the inevitable HGTV, I started sweating hard and my face got so fevered and flushed that I felt as if I were peering into an oven. The blog goes on to describe the symptoms experienced by the author as a result of his undergoing cancer treatments. Back To Top _________________________________________________________ 12. Advance planning department A. Janet in New Jersey: Soul Shamanism: Life Changing Class New Tools that will Empower You Learn to connect to soul, spirit and self in profound ways. Saturday and Sunday, June 27 and 28 $275 by 6/22 $325 after 18 Bank St., Suite 300, Morristown, NJ; 973.647.2500 Shaman and Wisdom keeper Janet StraightArrow brings you into deep connection with yourself and life. An initiated Shaman from many traditions, her mission is to help people simply, clearly and truly open up to the magnificence of creation and themselves offering gifts that will make this time of awakening and change easier for all. See more details by clicking: http://www.OasisForTheSoul.com
B. Imagine being able to discover your passions and then living your life according to what matters most to you . . . that's the premise behind THE PASSION TEST, an informative book by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood that yours truly will be discussing at the July 9 meeting of the Book Discussion group at the Center for Creative Retirement in Asheville. Time: 11:30 a.m.; feel free to bring a bag lunch To quote the authors, living such an existence will prove to be: Exciting, fulfilling, thrilling, on fire, purposeful, turned on, motivated, entertaining, easy, fun, unstoppable. It's a life aligned with destiny. For more information and/or directions, send me an email . . . address it to: bginbc@aol.com and put the words PASSION TEST in subject line. C. Vilasi in New Jersey: Calling all Singles: An unusual evening . . . full of possibilities. If you are single and looking or know friends who are single and looking, please extend this invitation to a date under the stars . . . where your destiny may meet your desire. At The Hope Hill Farm, Asbury, NJ (near Clinton, NJ) On July 11 from 7-11 p.m. Cost: $35 includes an exquisite ambience, excitement, phenomenal food, exotic beverages, jazzy music, new friendships and one question on romance from our clairvoyant. Private sessions will be available. Appointments recommended. $5 OFF when you bring another single of the opposite sex! RSVP appreciated . . . this is a non-alcoholic event! Contact: Experience.Nirvana@yahoo.com or 908.996.7536; ask for directions
if you need them.
D. Rich in Pennsylvania: Riley Cote of the Philadelphia Flyers will be holding his 2nd Annual Cote Carnival to benefit MS! The First Annual Carnival raised $16,914. This year's will be held on 8.23.09. Time: 12-3 p.m. Location: Swanky Bubbles, 482 Evesham Road, Cherry Hill, NJ Admission: $50.00: 12 and Under: $20.00 Admission covers food, drinks and entertainment. There will be player and alumni appearances with the opportunity to receive autographs and participate in silent auctions and raffles. A small donation will be required for autographs. For more information, please click: http://www.cotecarnival.net/ Back To Top _________________________________________________________ PS. Here's hope that everybody has a Happy July 4th . . . and to get you in the mood, here's something different; i.e., songs from 1776--the movie musical that I urge you see (or revisit) sometime in the near future: http://tinyurl.com/lw44oy In the upper right hand of the screen, you have the option to play all 8 songs that can be accessed here . . . make sure you listen to my favorite from the show, "Momma Look Sharp" . . . an added tip: at the bottom of the screen, take advantage of the option to view the videos in high quality. Also, please join me in praying that we soon get our remaining soldiers back from Iraq and Afghanistan . . . and that peace comes to Israel and her neighbors. . . make it a great week, too! ---------------------------------------------------------- SUBSCRIBE/UNSUBCRIBE INFORMATION To subscribe to this publication, please send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put SUBSCRIBE in subject line . . . if you wish to unsubscribe, just send an email to same address and put UNSUBSCRIBE in subject line. |