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Power unshackled: Singapore's open electricity market
IN the early years of Germany's liberalisation of the electricity market that empowered consumers not only to pick a provider but also the energy source - wind or gas versus the conventional coal and gas and so forth - Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger appeared in a German company's commercial touting a mixed energy product. The ad starring the former governor of California and renowned environmentalist, called "Mix it", drew great attention back in 2001 amid the country's campaign to unbundle its power sector as part of a larger liberalisation agenda by the European Union.
Singapore's steady and measured campaign to open up its electricity market since 2001 - it was, in fact, one of the first in the world to deregulate the energy market but fell behind due to its cautious approach - just came full circle in May for the final batch of household consumers.
The city-state may not have a famous brawny, bodybuilding icon as ambassador but in its place, it has one unrivalled crowd-puller - a chance to save money on power bills (up to 30 per cent if you pick your retailer well).
That's a big magnet for the average Singapore consumer. Or, as Martin Lim, co-founder and chief executive of Singapore-based energy start-up Electrify, puts it: "This is a market where there are people lining up for free Hello Kitty dolls."
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It's baffling then that many households appear somewhat insouciant, opting to stay put with the default provider and incumbent SP Services and its regulated tariffs rather than to jump ship to one of the 13 retailers under the Open Electricity Market (OEM) since it was soft launched in Jurong just over a year ago and rolled out in phases across the nation. Blame that on complacency and "analysis paralysis".
"Electricity is something we have long taken for granted and suddenly, we have to think about it and read through stacks of documents and we don't want to have to do it. It requires a massive education effort," says Mr Lim.
Lingam, 57, a middle-class Singaporean and a private-condo dweller, considers himself rather thrifty - he takes the bus rather than his car to save on petrol and shops at Giant or NTUC rather than Cold Storage.
He also often "tapau-s" dinner at the workplace canteen, which sells food at subsidised prices, to have it home later with family.
Yet, he is not jumping for joy - not yet, at least - at the prospects offered up by a freer market - lower power bills and a glut of choices.
"I will give it a couple of months more and see. I'm sticking to SP for now because I'm too lazy to switch," he shares, and without pausing, quickly adds: "I don't want to switch to a company that goes bust soon after."
That's not an irrational fear. In January this year, one of the pioneers in Singapore's energy market, Red Dot Power - an independent retailer - bowed out amid fierce competition in the retail electricity sector, citing "financial challenges".
At the time of its much-publicised exit, Red Dot Power which had also participated in the Jurong soft launch, had amassed "many thousands" of accounts among businesses as well as households, according to Vijay Sirse, chairman and chief executive of vTrium Energy, parent company of Red Dot Power.
Consumers worry that other retailers may suffer the same fate and their lights could go out. "That's very pessimistic," says Mr Vijay, adding that the processes are "clearly established" to avoid supply disruption. "It's just a matter of paper work," he says, referring to the switch from the existing retailer back to SP.
Seeing red
Red Dot Power considers itself one of the first independent retailers or IRs to secure a retail licence from industry regulator Energy Market Authority (EMA) in 2015. (IRs are retailers that do not generate their own electricity versus "gentailers" that generate as well as sell power. Under the OEM, there are seven IRs.)
The firm began by retailing electricity to big businesses, offering to lop off 22 per cent from their energy bills. "I can say with reasonable happiness that we were the ones to start disruption in the market which today has become a norm... retailers are offering good discounts, not just for the C&I (commercial and industrial) consumers but also residentials," says Mr Vijay.
For a while, the strategy bore fruit - Red Dot led the pack of IRs and snagged nearly 1.6 per cent of market share. Last year, it raked in S$100 million in sales. But, none of that was a guarantee for success.
Its move not to go all guns blazing until its software solutions were fully revamped caused it to lose time and momentum as rivals jockeyed for market share. "We wanted to test every part of the architecture and so, we didn't go too aggressively on pricing," he adds.
Also, "significant volatility" in the wholesale electricity market where retailers buy their power and limited risk management avenues - there is only the Singapore Exchange's electricity futures for retailers to hedge contracts - prompted a rethink on the firm's business model.
The company eventually decided to drop off the grid as a retailer and bank instead on the business of technology solutions - battery storage for grid applications, electric vehicle charging stations and fuel cells.
"I have no regrets. The Singapore market is too small for too many players with some having entrenched market power. We were one of the first to get a licence and helped the entire process. That's our contribution... nobody can take that away from us," notes Mr Vijay.
Electrifying competition
"Now, it's over-crowded," he says.
That may be stating the obvious, notwithstanding the merits of opening up the market and igniting competition.
In the big business space that consumes 2,000 kWh monthly and up, Singapore has 22 electricity retailers. This category also makes up a bulk or 80 per cent of the energy consumption in the city-state. Under the OEM that covers all households as well as small businesses consuming less than 2,000 kwh monthly, there are 13 retailers - all 13 also sell to the big businesses.
In 2017 alone, based on data provided by the Energy Market Company (EMC), six new retailers joined the National Electricity Market of Singapore (NEMS), ostensibly to ready up for retail action under the OEM which covers consumers that accounted for some 20 per cent of Singapore's energy consumption last year.
"That's insane. So many new guys entered the market in the past one to two years and thought they can take part in OEM and make a lot of money. They are fighting over just 15 (or so) per cent of the market. That doesn't make good business sense," says Electrify's Mr Lim.
Some of them have discovered that the hard way. In the business space, five retailers have exited in the past year. None of them are part of the 13 under the OEM which had to jump additional regulatory hoops to participate in the residential consumer segment.
"It's not rocket science. For retailers to thrive, there must be an ability to create a margin between purchasing energy and re-selling it. Period," says Jochen Krauss, partner at consulting firm Simon Kucher & Partners.
"Cost is a critical make-or-break factor. That some have left is a sign that they were unable to cope with that," Mr Krauss adds.
One way to keep a lid on costs is to digitise highly repetitive processes and to create digital workflows without a manual interface. This, he says, can save costs by up to 5 to 10 per cent.
Another is to crank up omnichannel sales approach to enable a retailer to shift customers towards new low-cost channels.
According to Mr Krauss, there are now more than 1,000 energy providers in Germany and the average household can choose among 98 providers, many of whom are online-only players.
So, what's the magic number for a market the size of Singapore?
"This market is not really for more than 10 players," Mr Vijay reckons.
Andrew Koscharsky, chief commercial officer of green energy retailer iSwitch, concurs: "No room for more than 10 retailers doesn't necessarily mean financial ruin. Just consolidation. (It) will be orderly".
There appears to be consensus that consolidation beckons.
"There will be mergers... if a retailer has twice as many customers through a merger, then it will be better able to generate margins. Ultimately, the market will end up with a limited number of players with unique characteristics... price may not be the only determinant but also those who are super customer-friendly or offer sustainable energy or a good app and so forth (will survive)," points out Mr Krauss.
Just this week, iSwitch inked a pact to take over another retailer ES Power's contracts worth S$15 million involving business and residential customers. With that, there are now 12 retailers under OEM.
Flipping the switch
According to EMA, in a February update, the switch rates in the first and second geographical zones in the nationwide launch stood at 25 per cent and 18 per cent respectively as at end-January. It has yet to provide updates on the progress in the other two zones.
The switch rates thus far are higher than the single-digit first-year switch rates seen in other countries such as Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
Not everyone is impressed.
"In such a dense, aggressive environment where retailers are offering up to a 30 per cent discount, only 40 per cent have been converted. That to me is a 60 per cent failure. The reasons to switch are compelling but why are the rates so low?" one market watcher remarks, referring to the 40 per cent switch rates that the soft launch in Jurong had attracted as at end-January.
"While we are tempted to say it's a huge success, I'm trying to ask why aren't we doing better. Could we be doing more?" he adds.
Others deem the switch rates as encouraging. "The conversion rates are reasonably good. It will take some time... for generations, electricity was sold by only one entity. OEM is low volume, high consumer base. So, if the conversion rates are between 18-20 per cent, that's quite significant," says Mr Vijay.
Lights dim on SP
Singapore's liberalisation effort has seen SP's market share slip below 30 per cent for the first time in 2017. Its role, however, has far from diminished - SP operates the national grid to ensure supply and is the only one licensed to provide market support services such as facilitating customer transfers between retailers and meter reading.
Also, it still holds the biggest market share. "An incumbent in any industry has a massive advantage - of history, experience and brand. One will never be able to replicate this as it's a function of time and the security that consumers place on it," explains Mr Krauss.
Possibly for similar reasons, some big and familiar names in the sector have an upper hand.
Jeff, a Singaporean executive, played it safe and picked Keppel Electric as a retailer. Evidently, that's a wider trend among consumers.
In EMC's 2018 report, SP aside, Keppel is in top spot, having snagged a nearly 14 per cent market share with Tuas Power Supply following closely behind.
"I also didn't want to go to a roadshow just for grocery vouchers, man," Jeff adds.
According to Keppel Electric's general manager Janice Bong, the retailer has won over 100,000 customers under the OEM as of April. "We observe that branding and reliability are major factors when households choose their electricity retailer. Another factor influencing households to switch is promotional tie-ups with partners," she says.
Fixed price plans are also trending.
Alexis Tan, managing director of Simply Hamper Singapore, picked YTL's Geneco's 24-month fixed price plan under OEM so he could focus on his business and not worry about surges in electricity bills.
Smaller players have also steadily gained ground. iSwitch's Mr Koscharsky said the company, "one of the nimble players taking on the larger incumbents", has pulled in 70,000 sign-ups so far. That's out of the 1.3 million household accounts and 67,000 small business accounts that came up for grabs with the open market - or roughly 5 per cent market share.
He also points out that while "face-to-face" is still the dominant method of winning over accounts, digital marketing has risen as consumers increasingly expect both offline and online approaches.
Retailer fatigue may be setting in.
Mr Koscharsky points out that of late, a clear gap has emerged between the top four retailers and the rest of the pack: "We have seen a reduction in the number of serious competitors. The heavy online and offline (marketing) presence from OEM retailers has waned significantly since March. If a retailer has not reached over 60,000 sign-ups by now, it will be very hard to reach the scale required to justify the investment in retailing."
As for consumers, can low electricity tariffs continue to sizzle over the long term?
Mr Krauss cites Germany, one of the leaders in energy deregulation since the sector was fully liberalised in 1998, where there is presently a 23 per cent gap between the most expensive and cheapest electricity provider.
He adds: "Any provider can create a business case with lower prices if they are able to contain their cost. So yes, it is possible (that rates can stay low)."
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Let's dream! Bookings for 2020 will start at the beginning of December...
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To celebrate spring, we invite your children to a great Easter eggs' hunt Sunday, April 21st 2019!
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Discount of 20% on the 2nd week of rental in Mobil-home, Cottage or Studio (except period from 06/07 to 31/08)
Our new range: the Cottage for 2 people, combining the comfort and design of a hotel room to the independence of the campsite. Warm and cozy nights assured...

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So far, we have scheduled multiple track days at The MAC Track (I try to go there once a week to practice on my small bikes, we will post a compilation at the end of the season), Portland International Raceway, a day at Pacific Raceways, and we are covering the 600 Novice class at OMRRA races (plus extended coverage with various racers).
See racing recaps (with onboard footage) from the top riders in the 600 Novice class Jeffrey Toevs, Pearce Lutz, Darrell Gore, plus rider interviews and profiles with Ryan Sutton, Mackenzie Ancien, and more.
We had so much fun doing our first MAC Track Invitational, we decided to do another one where we invited some of the OMRRA racers. Riders included Jeremy Coffey, Adolfo Valdovinos, Alex Taylor, Kumpy Kump, Pearce Lutz, and Bill Youngblood.
This was my first track day out of state as we traveled to Pacific Raceways in Kent WA. I brought my Yamaha R1 and R3 and split the sessions with each bike every other session. See the recap show with Mark Degross.
This was my first track day with Motocorsa, and as it turns out it was Motocorsa's last track day at PIR - as it appears the noise laws on Monday's have made it nearly impossible for them to continue to operate there.
Seven Riders, Four Photographers, Two Drones, Multiple Onboard Cameras, and One Private Track Day
See lots of photos and the video link from my 1st day of instruction at the Mac Track with Bill Youngblood on 07/02/2018.
See lots of photos and the video link from my 1st big track day of 2018 with 2Fast and Mark Degross at Portland International Raceway on 06/14/2018. This was also my first time bringing both my R1 and R3 to a big track.


text: Reference sources such as dictionaries, encyclopedias, almanacs, and atlases are tools that can help you delve deeper into the history, politics, policy, ethics, and other facets of immigration. Below is a brief selection of key reference tools to provide background information on immigration studies. For more help finding reference material, ask us!


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As part of this service, we ensure that post-Audit, the client firm is correctly licenced for the data being consumed. Ballintrae manage this entire process and co-ordinate between the Exchange and the client firm.
If you or your organisation would like to know more about how we can provide a wider understanding of fee liable data management and compliance, then please Contact Us.


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The government is going ahead with its plans to revamp part of Phnom Penh's largest water reservoir into a vegetable market, despite complaints from villagers, fishermen and vegetable vendors that the market would be counterproductive to their livelihoods.
Boeng Tamouk lake, also known as Tumnup Kobsrov, is about 15 kilometres away from the city centre. It is one of the last lakes in Phnom Penh relatively unaffected by development, according to Cambodian Urban NGO Sahmakum Teang Tnaut.
The project, which will see 20 hectares around the lake developed to host the market, has already been endorsed by Prime Minister Hun Sen, according to a letter issued on August 2 by the Council Ministers.
"The Office of the Council Ministers would like to inform that the Royal Government has already approved in principle the development of 20 hectares of land in Boeng Tamouk lake to build a market for the supply of vegetables and fruits, complete with parking space," it said. "We will relocate the vegetable market at Doeum Kor market to the new location in Boeng Tamouk lake."
Roeun Noeun, a 57-year-old who relies on fish to make a living, yesterday said he is now worried that he will no longer be able to make enough in order to support his family.
"There are many impacts because most villagers here are fishermen," Mr Noeun said. "They depend on the natural lake for fishing in order to support their family."
"My life depends on fishing and when the government fills the lake, we will lose our jobs," Mr Noeun said.
"The development cannot avoid impacting villagers, but the government needs to find a suitable resolution for the very people affected by the project," he added. "If the government needs to develop the lake by filling it, it must provide compensation or else we will rally."
A 35-year-old man who only goes by Pheaktra agreed that the project would prove to be detrimental to his ability to provide for his family. He is also worried that his grandchildren would not be able to experience the lake's current state.
"If the government fills Boeng Tamouk lake, then we will lose our jobs as fishermen," Mr Pheaktra said. "No one supports filling the natural lake."
"In the future, the next generation will no longer be able to see this natural lake," he added. "We can't go against the project because we are only ordinary people."
Chhin Ny, a 34-year-old resident living near the lake, said though it is clear the project is coming, villagers are uncertain over what comes next.
"We heard that they wanted to build a market, but we still do not know which side of the lake they will fill," Mr Ny said. "If the government needs us to move, then we have to follow it."
"As a reservoir, it will surely be affected by the reclamation," he added. "We don't know, but they surely have other ways to divert water."
Soeung Saran, acting executive director of Sahmakum Teang Tnaut, yesterday said a public forum should be opened to discuss the impacts of reclaiming parts of the lake.
"If we compare neighbouring cities, some of them managed to maintain their natural lakes, while others work on lakes in order to develop," Mr Saran said, noting that the government has already filled Boeng Kak and Boeng Tumpon, and is now moving to fill parts of Boeng Tamouk.
"Our civil society is surprised that the government is moving a step closer to fill Boeng Tamouk," he said. "I think that the government should find a suitable location for the market instead of filling the lake."
"Phnom Penh could be inundated if the lake failed," Mr Saran added. "Many people will lose their jobs, especially those living around the lake."
City Hall spokesman Met Meas Pheakdey yesterday defended the development, noting that the public will benefit from the market.
"We are using 20 hectares of the sprawling lake as part of a small development project," Mr Meas Pheakdey said. "We do not only focus on just conservation, we also focus on development."
He said that the government has no intentions of relocating Phsar Doeum Kor, but vegetable vendors who sell on Monireth Boulevard will no longer be allowed to sell on the streets.
It is speculated that the authorities will move the vegetable vendors to Tumnup Kobsrov.
"I want to clarify again that there will be no relocation of the Phsar Doeum Kor market, so please don't worry too much," Mr Meas Pheakdey said. "The authorities will manage all vegetable vendors along the streets because we cannot allow them affecting public order and creating traffic jams."
"When the centre of the market is finished, the vegetable vendors can sell there," he added. "But we do not want them selling on the streets anymore."
However, he does not yet know when the construction of the central part of the market will commence.
"We don't know yet when construction will start," he said. "But our plan says the central part of the market will supply vegetables."
A vegetable vendor near Pshar Doeum Kor market yesterday said most of the vegetable vendors are not willing to relocate to Boeng Tamouk.
"We will not go there because it is very far and we would have to spend $10 just to transport our vegetables to our customers in the city," the vendor said.


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Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami
One of the biggest changes from this road trip is my willingness to check out museums. I used to view museums as a waste of time cause I didn't have the patience to really look at the art. Now, I take the time to understand the artist's point of view and my interpretation of their work. This post is about Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami, which has made my shortlist of great museums.
There were several exhibitions going on at ICA Miami, but 2 caught my eye. Note: even though I take the time now to try to understand art, doesn't mean I actually do.
Judy Chicago: A Reckoning
Judy Chicago is a pioneering feminist artist. In this exhibit, she "problematizes gender roles, artistic mastery and skills traditionally regarded as 'female' such as needlework and embroidery, as well as stereotypical 'male' skills, such as auto body painting and pyrotechnics." (from ICA's description)
I call these "the vagina plates".
Basically, she is super woke and challenges gender norms through her art. I'm not one to shy away from taboo topics, but to see vagina plates right up in my face made me feel shy. I really loved this exhibit because it showed me even I have some personal growth to do in terms of getting comfortable with the uncomfortable.
Larry Bell: Time Machines
This exhibit features Larry Bell's major bodies of work. He represented West Coast minimalism that married matter-of-fact materials and forms with intense sensorial experiences. (I have to be honest here: I had no idea what to take from ICA's description of him. Like, what's West Coast minimalism?)
His exhibit was really cool because it played with a lot of light. It was hard to take photos, though, because the camera couldn't capture what you were looking at. In the video below, there is some more videos of his work.
One that I couldn't capture in photo or video was this maze in a dark room. It wasn't really a maze, but it was a room with a bunch of random walls. When you first go in, your eyes have a hard time adjusting, but once they do, you see things different. You had to keep one hand along the wall as you moved along, and there were only two thin strips of light among the entire installation. It felt like I was there for a long time, and I started to freak out because I no longer wanted to be in the dark anymore. Definitely a piece of art that makes me feel emotions.
This museum is Juliet-approved!


text: Humans have been creating likenesses of each other for thousands of years but, with the introduction of photography, a new medium emerged for capturing the human image. Photography creates opportunities not just for biography and documentation, but also depth, empathy, and experimentation. Many modern portrait photographers transform their work from mere photo to art: communicating ideas and capturing the human subject with dignity.


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Online Store Purchases
All sales are final. No returns. We are happy to replace any product that does not meet your expectations with a similar product.
We reserve the right to substitute a similar product if necessary.
CSA Agreement
Thank you for becoming a CSA member with Common Root Farm! We are excited to grow veggies for you this year and we greatly appreciate your commitment to supporting your local farm.
The details and expectations of the program are outlined below. We look forward to providing you, and your family, farm fresh veggies in 2020.
Farm Card Agreement
Our Farm Card can be used at any of our farmers markets or through our online store. Once our season begins (you will be notified by email and we will post online) you can pick-up your farm card at market or on farm. The Farm Card is simple, you come when you want and buy what you want.
As of January 2020 we are committed to attending Olney Farmers Market March-December 2020. This market runs Sundays from 9-1 pm.
We plan to join 1 or 2 additional markets which will be announced early March. Our online store will also open starting in March.
If you have a balance left by December 31st 2020, we do not offer a refund.
The Farm Card cannot be exchanged for cash.
We look forward to sharing in the bounty of our farm this year. Now let's get growing!


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Chettinad style recipes originates from the Chettinad region in Tamil Nadu. Its one of the most aromatic curries from South India and is a culmination of variety of ground spices. It has the most distinct flavour among all the Indian curries one would have tasted. Yesterday I tried out the recipe with mutton. My preparation turned out to be quite delightful with the home crowd :).
It has a bit of sweetness coming in from the onions with a light tangy flavour from tomatoes. Though the recipe has a whole gang of spices in it, every bite seems to brings an unique flavour experience. The best accompaniment to this dish would be steamed rice, but it goes well with dosas as well.
Mutton - 750 gms, cut into medium chunks, boneless preferred but not necessary
Ginger - 2"
Garlic - 10-12, medium sized, if large cloves 5-6 should do just fine
Onion - 2 medium sized, finely chopped
Tomato - 3 medium sized, finely chopped
Curry leaves - 1 string
Shallots (small onions) - 110 gms, peeled
Cinnamon - 2"
Cloves - 4
Cumin seeds - ½ tsp
Fennel seeds - ½ tsp
Pepper corns - 1 tsp
Black stone flower - 1 tbsp, Its a kind of fungus (look for it in google images)
Marathi moggu - 3, i don't have the English name (look for it in google images)
Star anise - 2
Chilly powder - 1 tsp
Coriander powder - 2 tsp
Turmeric powder - ½ tsp
Oil - 3 tbsp + ⅛ cup
Coriander leaves (optional) - ⅛ cup, roughly chopped
Salt to taste
To prepare the marinade, grind all the ingredients into a coarse paste except onion, tomato, curry leaves and oil. Add mutton to the paste, mix thoroughly, add salt and keep it aside for around an hour.
In a pressure cooker, heat 3 tbsp of oil, add the mutton and keep stirring for a minute. Put the lid on and pressure cook till one whistle on high flame and two on medium flame till just done (no need to add water).
In a pan, heat ⅛ cup of oil, throw in the curry leaves and chopped onion. Add some salt and cook till onions are translucent. Now add the chopped tomatoes. Cover and cook till the tomatoes are pulpy. Add the mutton from the pressure cooker, mix thoroughly. Cook on high flame for 5 minutes (I'm assuming there is some water in the cooked mutton or else add ½ cup) with lid on. Adjust the seasoning, simmer and cook for another 10 minutes with the lid off. Optionally you can garnish with coriander leaves.
Mutton chettinad is ready. Enjoy this unique recipe with your loved ones and don't forget to write in your feedback and comments.


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Education on a Plate® offers colourful meal plates for kids aged 2 to 10 years that are practical, fun and informative. They're designed to encourage interactive learning in a relaxed and familiar environment during mealtimes, and feature everything from the alphabet and shapes for younger kids to telling the time and times tables for older children. Education on a Plate® products are proving very popular with kids, carers, parents and grandparents due to their ability to consistently engage children of all ages during mealtimes. Kids love the funky colours and designs of each plate and benefit from using these plates daily. Education on a Plate® products, are made of 100% melamine and meet all strict international regulations regarding BPA, PVC and Lead. They are BPA Free and dishwasher and freezer safe. These plates are the perfect gift of knowledge.
Education on a Plate® was inspired by my own story. My name is Natalie. I am a proud mother of three very active young boys. I am also a practising Physiotherapist and Acupuncturist. My passion for learning began later in my school life. I was a slow learner to begin with and remember struggling academically in my early school years. So many subjects seemed to come and go before I really had a handle on them and I remember wondering "when was I ever taught that?" Fortunately with time and a lot of study, I managed to do very well at school and went on to complete two further degrees at university. I have subsequently lectured and taught extensively in my fields of knowledge and have a real passion for teaching and educating others. Growing up, I often wished that education was just provided to me on a "silver platter" - so to speak. I always longed for things to be presented to me in a clear and precise way so that concepts were easier to learn and understand. As a mum, I am more determined than ever to make my kids' learning journey fun, enjoyable and interactive. These plates are full of useful facts and can become a useful resource whenever needed. I am committed to providing good quality, practical education in a fun engaging manner and my hope is that your kids enjoy receiving these gifts as much as you enjoy giving them. Education is a gift in itself and what better gift can you give a loved one, than the gift of knowledge. Best of luck choosing your favourite plates! Natalie


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BBC:-Voting is under way in Venezuela to elect a new assembly with powers to rewrite the constitution.
The opposition is boycotting the vote which it says is a power grab by President Nicolás Maduro.
The government says the constituent assembly is the only way to bring peace back to the country after months of violent protests.
On the eve of the vote, protesters blocked roads in the capital Caracas in defiance of a ban on demonstrations.
In a speech broadcast on TV, President Maduro predicted a "big victory", calling the vote "the most important election held in Venezuela's political system".
However, electoral council chief Tibisay Lucena acknowledged that some voting machines had been attacked and burned in parts of the country.
Oil-rich Venezuela is gripped by a political crisis with soaring inflation and daily food shortages. Violent demonstrations since April have left more than 100 people dead.
Many residents in Caracas were stocking up on essential items on Saturday in case unrest left shops closed into Monday, correspondents said.


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Art, Culture and History of Salento
Lecce, between churches and balconies, doors and masks, it is the city of stylistic excess, of the perfumes of the Mediterranean and of the great beauty. An open-air museum among the most fascinating in Italy and the pearl of Puglia, that will make you feel the first actors of a true Baroque theater. Scenic and welcoming, Lecce attracts thousands of tourists from all over the world every summer, bat is also much loved by Italians they want a dream holiday in beautiful Puglia.
Galatina is the third municipality for population of the Lecce province, historical symbol of the city is the Palazzo (or Castle) Ducale, dating back to the sixteenth century and once home of the Galatian nobility. There are many churches to visit, including: Basilica of Santa Caterina d'Alessandria (from 1870 declared a national monument), the Mother Church of Saints Peter and Paul, the Church of the Holy Souls of Purgatory. There are many other churches in the historic center, all very interesting from an artistic point of view.
Gallipoli is represented primarily by the wonderful Aragonese Castle. The historic center, located on an island offshore, hosts places of worship such as the Cathedral of Sant'Agata, with its richly decorated facade. Not far away, the Church of Santa Maria della Purità has a majolica floor. Although part of the Gallipoli Castle, the Rivellino Tower is independent of the main building. On the other side of the bridge, on the mainland, is the Greek Fountain, dating back to the Renaissance.
Otranto has a different charm, is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful villages of Salento, is a very old town, which preserves monuments, streets, stones and an atmosphere of other times. At least three things to see absolutely: the Aragonese Castle, the Annunziata Cathedral and the Church of San Pietro.
Santa Maria di Leuca is a fantastic place for summer holiday, with tourist facilities, worldliness, dance, sea, events, beaches, sun and festivals, but visit Leuca means and above all history, means retracing a centuries-old path in which each era and population has left tangible traces of its passage, it means to admire architectural beauties, unique and wild landscapes, it means to immerse oneself in particular and involving atmospheres, to inebriate with typical perfumes, of characteristic sounds, of unique flavors. The promontory Japigio governs everything from above: here it is easy for the eye to lose itself, enchanted by the magnificent ancient villas, by the view of the infinite sea, by the beauty of the Sanctuary of the Virgin "de Finibus Terrae", fantastic legacy of past populations; always from the promontory falls the impressive Cascata Monumentale, Leuca is all this.


text: The mechanisms by which host plants contribute to their colonization by hemibiotrophic and biotrophic fungal and oomycete pathogens is a poorly understand aspect of molecular plant pathology. The aim of this study was to identify Arabidopsis genes controlling cellular processes that influence susceptibility to the biotrophic oomycete Hyaloperonospora parasitica. Chapter ... read more


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Be Prepared For Your Exams!
2018 NYS Regents Exam Schedule
January 2018
Monday, January 22nd through Thursday, January 25th
June 2018
Tuesday, June 5th - Global History and Geography (For the first administration of the new Transition Regents Examination in Global History and Geography - Grade 10)
Tuesday, June 12th through Friday, June 21st - All Other Exams
August 2018
Thursday, August 16th and Friday, August 17th
As the year progresses we will update this page with Midterm and Final exam dates, along with all review class information.
Have a great year!


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Annexation OverviewAnnexation is the legal process for expanding city boundaries. A territory may be added to a city through a voluntary application by the owners of land adjoining a city, an 80/20 "voluntary" annexation, or involuntarily through a city petition.
Voluntary AnnexationA voluntary annexation can occur when all the affected property owners agree to be annexed. The property owners initiate the process by applying to the city council. The application must include the date, signatures of all property owners, a legal description of the property, and a map showing the proposed annexed territory in relation to city limits.
Once the council approves the application, the city clerk will file a copy of the resolution, map, and legal description of the land with the Iowa Department of Transportation, County Recorder, and Secretary of State. The annexation process is completed once the Secretary of State has recorded and filed the map and resolution.
The City Development Board must approve the annexation if the property is located within two miles of another city before the city's boundaries can be enlarged. The City Development Board consists of five members whom are appointed by the Governor. This process requires the city council to mail a notice of the application for annexation to the city councils of each city within two miles of the property, the impacted County Board of Supervisors, and the regional planning authority at least 14 business days before any...
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Archive for December 2015
5 Big Tips if your Elderly Loved One Is New to Using Oxygen
Home Care Services in Denver Metro, CO If your loved one's doctor has just prescribed oxygen, you might feel intimidated by the prospect as his family caregiver. While there are some important things to understand about oxygen use, it's not as complicated as you might think. Here are a few tips to help you navigate…Read More
Top Myths Surrounding Exercise and the Elderly
Elderly Care in Arvada, CO No matter your loved one's age, seniors can benefit from regular exercise. Seniors don't have to engage in strenuous workouts or sessions at the gym to enjoy the benefits of exercising. In fact, if you design a workout plan with the help of your home care professional, just one or…Read More
This is Older Driver Safety Awareness Week!
Senior Care in Centennial, CO As our loved ones age, they go through many changes both physically and mentally. Aging loved ones may increasingly need more help around the house, more help with daily tasks, and even more help to be safe drivers. During the week of December 7-11, Older Driver Safety Awareness Week, elderly…Read More
4 Nutrients That Your Elderly Loved One Needs in Their Diet
Elderly Care in Aurora, CO Getting the right nutrition for everyone that you love can be pretty challenging as a family caregiver. It's even tougher if your elderly loved one doesn't see the need to be eating healthier. Educating yourself about some of the main nutrients that are important can help you to focus on…Read More


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This exciting We're Going on a Bear Hunt Activity Pack is full of differentiated worksheets, games and craft activities to complement We're Going on a Bear Hunt by Michael Rosen and Helen Oxenbury. Great for supporting teaching of nature vocabulary, prepositions of movement, people and family vocabulary, as well as useful story language, including semi-fixed expressions such as 'be going', 'have to' and 'can't'. At the same time, learners develop fine motor skills, literacy skills, social skills and understanding of the world.
Activities are specifically designed to allow for differentiation of ability and context and come complete with COMPREHENSIVE ACTIVITY SUGGESTIONS that help promote higher engagement, interaction and language that goes beyond word level.Download Preview
This pack includes ALL of the following:
* Coloring sheets – There are 4 different sheets to choose from. See the activity suggestions for fun interactive ways to maximise language practice.
* Sort by size sheets – Children develop beginning maths skills while practising people or family vocabulary.
* Small world play craft – A simple and effective craft to create your very own bear hunt landscape. See the activity suggestions for lots of great ideas on how to maximise language practise through both making and playing with this fun craft.
* Storyboards – Choose from several variations of these storyboard templates. Ideal for differentiating according to different needs and abilities. There are versions with and without text, tracing options and interactive find and stick possibilities.
* Jigsaws – Choose between three different difficulty levels – 15 piece, 9 piece and 5 piece jigsaws. Follow the activity suggestions for inspiration on ways to maximise language practise and include dynamic elements.
* Story slider craft – A great story retelling tool that kids can make to practise sequencing skills, while consolidating language from the story. Perfect for sharing with families.
* Magic folding book – Kids will love making the hidden bear image appear with this exciting craft. Great for consolidating key language and story retelling too.
* Graphing dice and graphing templates – Choose between 3 different dice – story nature elements, family/people or both. Make them up before class or get the kids to make their own. Once assembled, follow the activity suggestions to play fun games while practising the target language.
* Bear marionette – A simple marionette that you can use to revise body vocabulary and have fun playing with. See the activity suggestions for ideas.
* Mini-books – Choose from 10 separate versions of this mini-book to suit the needs of your specific learners and context. Some versions involve literacy work, others are more suited to oral comprehension or productions activities. All of them great options to revisit and practise language from the story.
* Write and draw templates – a range of templates, with and without guidelines for kids to complete any related project.
* Matching Cards – Use these cards to play fun matching and memory games.
* Mini-cards – Excellent for a range of games and matching tasks. Sets include nature elements, family and people vocabulary. Print multiple sets for pair and small group work.
* Flash Cards – Use in a variety of ways to introduce and practice new language, develop literacy skills or as visual prompts for language games.
The above images demonstrate what is provided in this pack. Download the preview for a closer look at the pack contents: Download Preview The entire pack contains 205 pages of information and resource templates! See the preview for the SUGGESTED LANGUAGE FOCUS and the complete list of vocabulary items included in the card sets.
Please note the We're Going on a Bear Hunt story is not provided with this resource but is available in major book stores. You can also access collections of storytelling videos on our We're Going on a Bear Hunt Story Resource Page. There are also lots of other related songs there too!
Further Details
This activity pack is supplied as a PDF file and is not editable.
Please note that parts of this resource require to be printed and self assembled. For best results Kids Club English recommends that you laminate flash / mini / matching cards for improved durability. Laminating materials are not included.


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Last Updated 01/08/19 – 01/08/19 to 14 Oct 2008
Working with the Nations
Here at Marketing the Change we are proud to be locally based and have an impact on non-profits and companies across the world. If you are located in a country that we have yet to work in please drop us a message at email@example.com or use our contact form to get a discount on our services.
- Website & Web Design Liverpool
- Website & Web Development Liverpool
- Search Consultancy Liverpool (Seo Liverpool)
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Employee Type:Full time
Location:IL Chicago
Job Type:Production Maintenance
Job Posting Title:Maintenance Mechanic II
Job Description:
Job Description:
Must be responsible with no, or minimal supervision, to set up, change over, and tear own all production line equipment.
Must be able to operate all production machinery
Must be able to handle all facets or repair to the plant, building, grounds, and production equipment.
Must be efficient in completing Preventive Maintenance Work Orders
Must be able to perform, with minimal or no supervision, maintenance and repairs on all conveyors, and other production equipment.
Must be able to perform a through preventive maintenance analysis on any equipment utilized by the facility.
Must possess a basic understanding of electricity (low and high voltage), and understand how to utilize a meter for testing and troubleshooting.
Must have basic welding skills and be willing to expand in these skills to include different types of welding (TIG and MIG)
Must have basic knowledge of the wastewater systems.
Must have basic knowledge of brine room system.
Must have basic knowledge of ammonia system
Must be able to maintain and install plumbing fixtures and piping.
Must be able to maintain and repair all building fixtures.
Must be able to assist in the installation, operation, and maintenance of all new equipment.
Must actively participate in training courses provided by BVF
Other duties assigned by Manager
Disability Assistance
TreeHouse Foods is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer and offers opportunities to all job seekers, including those with disabilities. If you need a reasonable accommodation to assist with your job search or application for employment, please contact us by sending an email to firstname.lastname@example.com. In your email please include a description of the specific accommodation you are requesting and a description of the position for which you are applying.
EEO Considerations
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, disability or protected veteran status.
Joining our Talent Network will enhance your job search and application process. Whether you choose to apply or just leave your information, we look forward to staying connected with you.Join Our Talent Network


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Public Finance in a Complex World
- SchoolHarvard Kennedy School Executive Education
- FormatIn person
- All dates January 12-17, 2020
- Duration 6 days
- LocationHarvard Kennedy School, Cambridge, US
- Price $9,100
- CategoryFinance
About the course
Every country around the world has embraced public financial management reforms over the last two decades. Many have not met expectations.
Yet the demand for reform is great, particularly after 2008, as countries came under greater pressure to pursue austerity measures but still deliver government services.
Public Finance in a Complex World is an executive program providing a rigorous, evidence-based approach to public financial management. It brings together officials in charge of implementing reforms in their countries along with leading experts from multilateral organizations to examine the challenges associated with successful systemic reform.
This one-week public finance management executive program goes far beyond traditional approaches that have yielded decidedly mixed results. Harvard faculty and expert practitioners will lead you through a deep examination of what constitutes effective reform. They will also focus on political and organizational change, with an emphasis on national traditions, capacities and needs.
Who should attend
Public Finance in a Complex World is designed to bring together senior officials tasked with designing and implementing reform initiatives in their countries. Leaders with responsibility for budgets, internal or external audits, and financial controls in Ministries of Finance and line agencies, as well as legislative branches of government, will benefit from this program.
Recommended applicants include:
- Budget directors
- Budget officers
- Treasury specialists
- Government accounting officers
- Planners
- Internal/external auditors
- Procurement specialists
- Parliamentarians involved in budget processes
- Private sector consultants and members of international organizations working in these areas
Participants from the United States and other developed countries will also find benefit in this program as many of the frameworks taught, including problem-solving, collaboration, and being a change agent can be applied across geographical boundaries.
Learning outcomes
Public Finance in a Complex World will provide you with an enhanced understanding of:
- Approaches to balance the demands on public financial management systems, including common calls for austerity and the simultaneous pressures for increased spending
- The options available to improve public financial management performance in a wide variety of countries
- Strategies to adapt common reform options to local contextual challenges
- Ways of facilitating the implementation of reforms by distributed agents across governments
Please note that instructors are subject to change and not all instructors teach in each session of the program.
Matthew Andrews
Matt Andrews is Senior Lecturer in Public Policy. His research focuses on public sector reform, particularly budgeting and financial management reform, and participatory governance in developing and transitional governments. Recent articles focus on forging a theoretical understanding of the nontechnical factors influencing success in reform processes. Specific emphasis lies on the informal institutional context of reform, as well as leadership structures within government-wide networks. This research developed out of his work in the provincial government of Kwa-Zulu Natal in South Africa and more recently from his tenure as a Public Sector Specialist working in the Europe and Central Asia Region of the World Bank. He brings this experience to courses on public management and development. He holds a BCom (Hons) degree from the University of Natal, Durban (South Africa), an MSc from the University of London, and a PhD in Public Administration from the Maxwell School, Syracuse University.
Marco Cangiano
Marco Cangiano is currently an Assistant Director of the Fiscal Affairs Department (FAD) at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington. He is a graduate of the University La Sapienza in Rome and holds a post-graduate degree from the University of York (United Kingdom). Last year he was visiting scholar at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, the Australian Government's Treasury, and Chile's Budget Office. Since joining the IMF in 1991, he has worked in a number of departments on a wide range of countries, participating in more than 60 missions, many as mission chiefs, covering the full range of the IMF activities. Between 2008 and 2012 he was the head of the FAD Public Financial Management division responsible for Europe, Anglophone Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. During this period he was also a member of the multi-donors Public Expenditure and Financial Accountability (PEFA) steering committee. In the preceding four years, he was the Acting Deputy Director and Chief of the Budget Strategy Division at the Office of Budget and Planning under the direct supervision of the Office of the IMF Managing Director. Prior to joining to the IMF, he worked at the Research Department at ENI (Italian State Oil Holding Company) and consulted on cost benefit analyses and financial feasibility studies for banking institutions and local authorities. Over the years, he has coordinated training activities on fiscal management at the IMF/World Bank Joint Vienna Institute, the Arab Monetary Fund in Abu Dhabi, the IMF regional technical assistance centers in East Africa and the Middle East, and the Centre for Excellence in Finance in Ljubljana; lectured on a range of fiscal subjects in Washington and abroad, including at the NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and the OECD Senior Budget Officers meetings and seminars; and published on pension reform, fiscal transparency, tax policy, and energy economics. His research interests are how to strengthen fiscal institutions and design public financial management reforms. The most recent research projects he coordinated at the IMF were Fiscal Consolidation in G-20 Countries: The Role of Budget Institutions and Fiscal Transparency, Accountability, and Risks in the Wake of the Financial Crisis. He has published on pension reform, fiscal transparency, tax policy, and energy economics. He has co-edited a volume Public Financial Management and Its Emerging Architecture that was published in April 2013.
Neil Cole
Mr. Neil Cole is the Executive Secretary of the Collaborative Africa Budget Reform Initiative and the Chief Director of the African Economic Integration unit at the South African National Treasury. Prior to this, Mr. Cole worked in the Budget Office of the National Treasury – first as the director responsible for budget reforms and later as the head of the Expenditure Planning unit.
Mr. Cole did postgraduate studies in economics at the University of London and holds an undergraduate degree in public administration and communications from the University of South Africa. Mr Cole's association with the Kennedy School dates back to 2003 when he attended an Executive Education program in Public Financial Management.
Mr. Cole's expertise is in strategic planning, budgeting and budget execution. He has participated in several global forums on aid effectiveness and contributed in the drafting of the Accra Action Agenda and the Busan Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation.
Philipp Krause
Philipp Krause specializes in public administration and budgeting, particularly ministries of finance. He is leading the public finance team at ODI's Centre for Aid and Public Expenditures and manages the research programme of the Budget Strengthening Initiative. Philipp has previously worked on public sector issues for GIZ and the World Bank, and advised governments in Latin America, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. He has written scholarly articles and reports on public administration, budgeting, and fiscal governance, as well as monitoring and evaluation. Philipp holds an MA from the University of Potsdam and a PhD from the LSE.
Paolo de Renzio
Paolo de Renzio is Senior Research Fellow at the International Budget Partnership (IBP) in Washington, DC, and an Adjunct Professor at the Institute for International Relations at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio). At IBP, he coordinates a research programme on governance, fiscal transparency and development, and is part of the team that produces the Open Budget Index. Previously, Paolo worked as an economist in the Ministry of Finance of Papua New Guinea, as a public sector specialist with UNDP in Mozambique, and as a Research Fellow at the Overseas Development Institute in London. He has been a consultant to the World Bank, the OECD, the European Commission and various donor agencies and international NGOs. He has published in various academic journals like World Development, Governance, Development Policy Review, and has recently co-edited a book called "Open Budgets: The Political Economy of Transparency, Participation and Accountability". Paolo holds a doctorate in International Relations from the University of Oxford (2011), where his thesis focused on the impact of foreign aid on public financial management reforms in developing countries. He also has a Masters in Development Studies from the London School of Economics (1997), where he also taught from 2006 to 2009, and an undergraduate degree in Economics from "L. Bocconi" University in Italy (1994).
Renaud Seligmann
Renaud Seligmann is currently Manager of the West and Central Africa Financial Management Unit at the World Bank. He oversees the Bank's involvement in public financial management, private sector accounting and auditing and operational financial management services for West and Central Africa. A French national, Renaud started his career as a financial judge at the Court of Accounts, the French Supreme Audit Institution. His focus was on aggregate fiscal risk in the public sector, performance budgeting and public sector reforms. He had a special interest in the health sector, leading financial and performance audits of cancer services, bio-terrorism and blood transfusion. He then became Deputy director of external audit at the United Nations Board of Auditors, where he led the first UN-wide audit of the response to the South Asian tsunami and was in charge of the audit of the UN Secretariat, UNICEF and other funds and programs, before joining the World Bank.
Renaud holds a BA (hons) in politics, philosophy and economics from Oxford University, a Master's Degree in political sociology from Sorbonne-Paris I University and a Master's in public policy from the Paris Institute of Political Studies (Sciences-Po). He is also a graduate from the French National School for Administration executive leadership program. He taught a political philosophy course in the public policy Master's program at the Paris Institute of Political Studies.


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Long-time Nordic Game partner Epic Games/Unreal Engine 4 is offering an intensive masterclass in game design and user experience at East Sweden Game in Linköping, Sweden next month.
Epic will conduct the entire eight-hour masterclass twice, on two separate days: Thursday, 29 November and Friday, 30 November. Both days will be hosted by Epic Games senior designer Jim Brown.
With more than two decades of experience in the video game industry as a designer, writer and manager, Jim has directed Epic's development teams as design lead on dozens of titles across a wide range of genres and platforms. As a founding member of Epic's UX department, he's constantly striving to improve the player's experience and reach a wider audience.
The Epic Games masterclass at East Sweden Game in Linköping will:
• Establish what a game is and describe its defining characteristics
• Explore each of these individual characteristics with hands-on activities
• Demonstrate how each characteristic can impact the player's overall experience
• Provide participants with examples of simple changes that can improve the quality and reach of every design
While this masterclass is design-focused (visual design, systems design, user experience design, etc.), it will include aspects that are perfect for anyone involved in the game design process.
People from other industries are also encouraged to participate, but may need to make the leap from game design to general design on their own.
Learn more and register for the Epic Games masterclass in game design and user experience at East Sweden Game in Linköping (29 November or 30 November) right here.


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A heady nostalgia cocktail of Duck Hunt, Metal Gear, Contra, Punch-Out!, Mega Man, Back To The Future, Crank, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Mario, The A-Team!, Paperboy, Frogger and more.
N4G is a community of gamers posting and discussing the latest game news. It's part of NewsBoiler, a network of social news sites covering today's pop culture.


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Welcome to Down Right Cute, written from the perspective of a Nurse, the heart of a Mom, and the passion of an Advocate. I am SH and I am part of a busy family of six living in Alberta, Canada. All our children are no more than 3 years apart. This makes life super busy but we would not have it any other way. Our family goes through many of the experiences a typical one does with the exception that we have a very happy family member with Down Syndrome.
As we have moved forward in life together, we have discovered that living and caring for our fourth child with Down Syndrome (DS) has had many challenges that I, as an experienced mom, have been able to meet head-on with tremendous love, support, and courage that I did not know I had. What I have learned so far in this journey from our prenatal diagnosis of DS to now, is that yes, my child will not develop exactly along the same developmental milestones as my previous children. However, he will meet all those milestones in time. He is on a different growth curve and different developmental timeline and that is okay. The delays in milestones and the challenges we have had to overcome, are not too much different from the milestones and ongoing challenges that my other children have.
The quality of life of someone with Down Syndrome today, is far different from in the past, even from just 10 years ago.
Individuals with Down Syndrome nowadays learn to read, write, talk, socialize, hold jobs, and are capable of living on their own provided that they continue to have proper support and guidance. It's this story I am interested in living and this story that I want to share with the world.


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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: In and Out (04/30/09)
TITLE: Hope for a Tired Crank | Previous Challenge Entry
By Bryan Ridenour
I've spent hours wondering why I've been discarded, tossed aside like a ragged shirt or a holey pair of socks. I miss entertaining an audience. Maybe, it's time to retire…at least rest. I need assistance to my room and no one stands ready to help. I miss my room…my hideaway…my refuge. However, going there alone is not an option. I need a gentle nudge and then off to sleep I go.
Voices in the hall, grab my attention. The door cracks open, two people slip inside to investigate the room's contents. One I know well, the other, a young pig-tailed girl, I have never met. The stranger scanned the room, eyes darting from one novelty to the next, lingering on some, ignoring others. Then, our eyes met. Did I detect an attraction? Her gaze sped on, hesitated, and drifted back to me.
"Would you like to play?" the little girl asked, smiling.
My smile answered 'yes'.
She playfully scooped me up and swung me round and round. This is not my conventional manner of play, but I don't complain. Smiles and giggles turn my despair to cautious hope.
"Let's sit on the floor," she said, plopping in a dizzy heap.
She pushed me into my room but not for sleep. She knows I am most fun when I make a grand entrance. Memories of the melody, fragments of the lyrics swirl in my mind, and then I hear my song, almost forgotten. My anticipation builds, but I must wait for the right time. When my excitement can be contained no longer, I dance. The pretty little girl cheered and clapped and we lost track of time, replaying the routine over and over again.
"Sara," someone called. "It's time to go home."
She stood up, cradling me in her arms, placing me on a cluttered shelf.
"Bye, little Jack," she said, waving over her shoulder.
And then if knowing the longing in my heart, she turned and burst into song:
The monkey chased the weasel
The monkey stopped to pull up his sock
Pop! Goes the weasel"
"Good night, Jack," she whispered, pulling the door shut behind her.
"Good night, little one," I thought, smiling. "Good night."
"Pop Goes the Weasel" is an English language nursery rhyme and singing game. It has a Roud Folk Song Index number of 5249. Despite some assumptions this song can only be traced back to the mid-nineteenth century, when a music sheet acquired by the British Library in 1853 described a dance 'Pop Goes the Weasel', which was 'An Old English Dance, as performed at Her Majesty's & The Nobilities Balls, with the Original Music', which had a tune very similar to that used today and only the words "Pop Goes the Weasel". There is evidence that several people tried to add lyrics to the popular tune. (Compliments to Wikipedia)
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(503) 315-7344Tap to Call This Lawyer
Lindsay Soto
- Family Law, Juvenile Law, Divorce
- Oregon
Claimed Lawyer Profile
Attorney Lindsay Soto in a native Oregonian and graduated in 1998 in the University of Oregon in Eugene, Oregon with BS Political Science. Lindsay then attended Howard University School of Law which he graduated Cum Laude in 2002 and started working for a small firm for 3 years. On 2005, he established his own law firm, The law office of Lindsay Soto which provides legal assistance in Salem Oregon which includes Family Law, Divorce and Juvenile Law. He also takes in child custody, child and spouse support cases, restraining orders and stalking cases.
Practice Areas
- Family Law
- Juvenile Law
- Divorce
Jurisdictions Admitted to Practice
- Oregon
Professional Associations
- Oregon State Bar  # 024613
- Member
- Current
Websites & Blogs
- Website
- Salem Oregon Family Law
Social Media
Contact & Map


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Test global excludes once per page load
Reported by Scriptish | September 18th, 2011 @ 09:53 PM
Atm global excludes are tested against a url once per script for every page load; they only need to be tested once per page load.
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Action: Crassula helmsii: Bury plants
Key messagesRead our guidance on Key messages before continuing
- We found no evidence on the use of burying with soil alone to control Crassula helmsii.
'No evidence' for an action means we have not yet found any studies that directly and quantitatively tested this action during our systematic journal and report searches. Therefore we have been unable to assess whether or not the action is effective or has any harmful impacts. Please get in touch if you know of such a study for this action.
Lightproof barriers have been shown to be effective in removing C. helmsii in some cases, and burying the plant under soil could be another potential approach. This could be carried out at the same time as creating a new pond, using the soil that is dug out to fill in a C. helmsii-infested water body. Studies investigating the use of burying with soil once a lightproof barrier has been put in place are discussed in 'Use lightproof barriers'.


text: Met Office warns of hazy conditions as Saharan Dust returns Loop News Created : 7 January 2019 T&T News Photo via the NOAA. The Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service is warning of hazy and dusty conditions due to an influx of Saharan Dust. However, the Met Office said in a social media update on Sunday that the conditions should be mild. "A mild increase in Saharan dust can be expected from tomorrow. Even though it is not a significant event, persons with respiratory ailments are advised to take note." Here's a look at today's weather, courtesy the Trinidad and Tobago Meteorological Service: Trinidad, Tobago and the remainder of the Lesser Antilles Fair, hazy and at times breezy conditions would be interrupted by patches of cloudiness in a few areas, during the late morning to afternoon, producing light or moderate showers. Night time will be cool with a light breeze and a few brief showers. Temperature Trinidad: 31'C (max) Tobago: 30'C (max) Seas Seas are moderate with waves up to two metres in open waters and less than one metre in sheltered areas. Sunrise & Sunset Sunrise: 6:25am Sunset: 5:57pm Tides Trinidad High tide: 5:16 am, 4:28 pm Low tide: 10:47am, 11:16pm Tobago High tide: 4:58 am, 4:17pm Low tide: 10:34 am, 11:01 pm Get the latest local and international news straight to your mobile phone for free:


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Last night I stayed up pretty late, watching Kill Bill part one, but wisely decided to turn it off and go to bed when I realised they were going to show part two right after it. I'll watch it another time.
I was pretty sleepy this morning, but I slept well and woke up pretty quickly. We had an easy, but healthy morning - we both did some floor exercises, got breakfast, and we hung out while our room was cleaned.
After that we headed back to Lionel-Groulx, near Atwater Market, to find Ariadne Knits, a yarn store that was recommended to Hazel. We bought OPUS cards on the way, so it should be easy for me to buy a weekly ticket tomorrow morning. We also found an honest-to-god store (it was, unfortunately, shut) called ORLY. When we got there, we met one of the owners of Ariadne, who was very nice, and got a bit of shopping done on the way back.
This afternoon we've had naps, been good with food, and watched a lot of medical reenactment shows. Reading it back, it sounds pretty dull, but to me it's been awesome.
We also saw a show about optimism by Michael J Fox, which I really enjoyed. It was an interesting program, even if I didn't really learn anything, but mostly it was just really good to see him on TV again. The guy was in a few of my favourite movies and shows when I was a kid, and it's good to know that his disease hasn't made him bitter or depressed - he's just treating it like "Oh well... what's next?", and followed in Lance Armstrong's footsteps to help support others with the same condition.


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01 January 2017
People are often interested in what goes on in the Innovative Fresh laboratory here in Heemskerk. Here's a short film to show #LabLife at Innovative Fresh.
Our team is highly-trained, enthusastic, and dedicated to ensuring that whether you are a grower, a supplier, or a retailer, Innovative Fresh is here to ensure that your produce is the Best in Fresh.


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Circus Ciniselli (Russian: Цирк Чинизелли) was the first brick-built circus in Russia; it is situated beside the Fontanka in Saint Petersburg.
The building, which still stands, was opened on 26 December 1877, with a large stage (13 meters in diameter) and stables (housing 150 horses). The architect was Vasily Kenel.
The Italian circus performer Gaetano Ciniselli (1815-1881) first visited Saint Petersburg in 1847, as part of the troupe of Alessandro Guerra. He returned to Russia in 1869, this time working with Carl-Magnus Hinne, his brother-in-law, in his circuses in Moscow and Saint Petersbrug. Ciniselli settled in Russia, and inherited Hinne's circuses in 1875.[1]
The Ciniselli family managed the circus until 1921, when they emigrated. They would often lease the building to stage high-profile entertainment events, such as the World Wrestling Championship in 1898 and Max Reinhardt's production of Oedipus Rex which featured Alexander Moissi in 1911. In 1918, Iury Iurev revived the play using the original set. This was followed by the production of Macbeth featuring Maria Andreyeva and Feodor Chaliapin.
Two halls in the building house the first circus museum in the world, opened in 1928 and boasting more than 80,000 exhibits as of 2002.


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Date: Mon, 14 May 2001 09:32:59 -0500
From: Curtis Klager
To: Mitch Harding
Subject: weird dream
I had a pretty weird dream last night, and you were in part of it. You were in a spelling bee, and I was sitting right next to you (as a spectator). You passed the first round, I forget what your word was…it is rattling around in my head somewhere, but I just cannot think of it. Anyway, on the second round, they gave you your word; or rather, they gave you a clue to what your word was, but the clue was something like, "This sometimes cowboy is tougher than flint, and says 'Make my day' and sometimes faces east." I'm paraphrasing here, but I hope to have conveyed just how obvious and simple it was. Also, on a wall right in front of us, was a poster for Clint Eastwood. So it was pretty obvious what the word, or words as it were, was. So you spelled out C L I N T, then said Eastwood, then began spelling it, E I G H- wait, uh, E I A S, *bzzzzz* you're out. I was incredulous. I could not believe you lost because you could not spell Eastwood.


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609 Howatt Drive Sw, Edmonton
Courtesy Of Jay Herrick Of RE/MAX Elite
This breathtaking former Full House Lottery Dream Home represents the pinnacle of luxury living. Backing onto a ravine in the exclusive estate subdivision of Westpointe of Windermere, this home exudes nothing but elegance and prestige. Built by Perry Built Homes, it has a distinct lodge feel inside with rich wood and stone accents. This fully-finished walkout bungalow was built to impress even the most discerning tastes with its state-of-the-art theatre room (designed to limit sound leak), stylish wine room, HardiePlank® siding, top-of-the-line Miele appliances, double-sided fireplace, heated floors (entire basement and master ensuite), central air, and Control4 sound system. You will also find a reinforced covered patio and a deck that overlooks the ravine and features an outdoor fireplace. Featuring almost 3,500 sqft of living space and an incredible garage, the truly unique feeling of walking into this stunning home cannot be described in words. This truly is a home that you must experience in person.
Courtesy Of Jay Herrick Of RE/MAX Elite
Residential Detached Single Family
Deck, Porch, No Animal Home, No Smoking Home, Patio, Fire Pit, Walkout Basement
Air Conditioning-Central, Dishwasher-Built-In, Dryer, Garage Control, Garage Opener, Refrigerator, Storage Shed, Stove-Gas, Washer, Window Coverings, Oven-Built-In, Wine/Beverage Cooler
Forced Air-1, In Floor Heat System
Backs Onto Park/Trees, Fenced, Landscaped, Playground Nearby, Public Transportation, Schools, Shopping Nearby, Ravine View
Listing information last updated on October 30th, 2020 at 12:16pm MDT.


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Cider Australia has declared March 14 Australian Cider Day to promote the 100% Australian Grown trust mark and educate drinkers about quality Australian cider.
New craft cider short course introduced at the University of Tasmania
The University of Tasmania has launched a new short course on the science and business behind craft cidermaking in Launceston.
Well-known WA cider business for sale
A well-known WA apple cider production and distribution business is for sale to someone who has a passion for running and working in their own cidery.
Cider Australia calls for regulatory integrity
Cider Australia is calling on the Federal Government to introduce a minimum juice content to streamline regulatory requirements and unlock growth.
New heirloom apple cider release by Willie Smith's
Willie Smith's today released two new small batch, heirloom apple ciders: Willie Smith's Yarlington Mill and Willie Smith's French Blend.
Cider Australia launches 2018 Awards
Cider making excellence will be under the spotlight at the annual Australian Cider Awards, which opened for entries today.
Willie Smith's releases latest single variety showcase
One of the world's most famous varieties of cider apple is being showcased by Tasmanian producer Willie Smith's in its latest limited-edition offering.
Cider pioneer Drew Henry mourned
Cider Australia has led tributes to pioneering orchardist and cider maker Drew Henry, who passed away earlier this week.
Willie Smith's marks World Cider Day
Willie Smith's is supporting World Cider Day by offering $5 schooners at venues across Australia.
Craft Cider surges ahead in 2017
Cider Australia members were optimistic about the future prospects for cider at the organisation's 2017 Annual General Meeting held in Melbourne on Monday


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Carmel Debreuil
The title comes from lyrics from a Madonna song. Who has the secret in this painting? What is it? I love masks because I love Halloween and the mystery of what or who is behind, but the title of this piece changes the feeling for me. What does it make you think? Do you have a secret? My muses for Baby's Got a Secret are Reve and Lacey.
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My Blog__ Honorable Mentions.
| By Mira
You read the Chicks and Bikes post Mish wrote the other day right? Well here are my honorable mentions for hottest (literally) bike blog out there right now.
Devan on a HOT Cinelli.
Scarjo. Huge girl crush, happy to see her on the site.
Flipping the bird feels so good.


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another obvious if you're here long enough, or you read some of the older posts. i love to draw and i doodle all the time. at math class - constantly. maybe that's why i get such bad grades...? anyway, some interesting examples. last year i managed to plant a whole page of field poppies and the periodic table (like each atom) on chemistry... yeah, i love it. it helps me concentrate and it can be a major inspiration for some cool things. for example the doodles that i drawn on the covers of my notebooks are going to be turned into fabrics for my personal project this year. isn't this great? you can see them here: doodles, doodles... and more doodles.
my advice for today: just get a pen and a little paper and draw carelessly. it's a lot of fun and it helps to develop your brain, especially imagination! just go, go, draw!
see ya,
love you,
author: queen of rainbow on 00:29
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)


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19 Oct MUFPP Annual gathering 2017: Cities exchanged good practices on sustainable food management
València, 19 October 2017. The first day of the 2017 Annual Gathering and Mayors' Summit of the Milan Urban Food Policy Pact (MUFPP) was dedicated to the motto "Dialogue between cities: sharing goals, experiences and results". In two working sessions, the participating mayors and city delegates were given the opportunity to share good practices in promoting sustainable food systems and to discuss the role of the Milan Pact in the current international development agenda.
In the first working session which was moderated by Stephanie Loose, Associate Human Settlement Officer at UN Habitat, the cities of Maputo, West Sacramento, Lyon, Venice Seoul, Almere and Birmingham shared their experiences in promoting sustainable food systems through food and nutrition interventions. This innovative, inclusive approach – across administrative boundaries, sectors and levels of government authority and including all relevant stakeholders such as civil society organizations, academia and the private sector – is urgently needed to ensure sustainable urban development.
The session showcased successful practices that have been applied in the cities represented as either panellists or discussants. Other city representatives shared their good practices during the debate, too.
Issues of common concern included coordination of sectors and actors, challenges of cross-sectoral collaborations, resources needed during the process and evaluation of results and impacts on both urban and rural populations.
The purpose of the second session, moderated by Maruxa Cardama, Urban Adviser at Cities Alliance, was to discuss how current city food policies are linked to the global policy frameworks, namely the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development including the sustainable development goals and the Habitat III New Urban Agenda.
The session began with invited speakers from Sao Paolo, Toronto, Dakar, Medellin, Rivas-Vaciamadrid, Quito, Tel Aviv and Denia who shared the very different approaches their cities are taking in consideration of these international frameworks. The initial speakers were joined by representatives of other cities dealing with similar challenges.
The participants called for the building of a common framework for action beyond the city, across jurisdictions and different level s of government. At present, the voices of cities working on food systems are not sufficiently heard by national delegations and international organizations. It was therefore stressed that it is important for all the different actors to work together to tackle the common problems in today's food management systems in an efficient way.


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Did you know?
…that it could soon be possible to charge your cell phone in a few seconds? BSF-supported researchers from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and Drexel University's College of Engineering in Philadelphia are part of an international team that developed a new battery electrode design. Batteries require electrodes to store and disburse energy. This modern design allows batteries to charge quickly, while storing more energy than what is currently possible. Read more here.
…that eye movements could be the key to more understanding of ADHD? As part of a BSF-funded study, scientists at Tel Aviv University and New York University are studying a technique that measures tiny movements of the eyes, in the hopes of getting a better understanding of how to diagnose and treat ADHD. Emerging evidence shows that small involuntary eye movements are a promising new tool for shedding light on the hidden workings of mental processes like attention and anticipation, cognitive processes that are often impaired in individuals with ADHD. The new study suggests that carefully tracking eye movements offers a new method for monitoring people with ADHD. Read more here.
…that Israeli know-how is helping windows get "smarter"? BSF-supported researchers at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Stony Brook University, and the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) Brookhaven National Laboratory have discovered new effects of an important method for modulating semiconductors. The method, which works by creating open spaces or "vacancies" in a material's structure, enables scientists to tune the electronic properties of semiconductor nanocrystals. This finding will advance the development of modern technologies like smart windows, which can change opaqueness on demand. Read more here.


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Net Weight: 283 g
NUTRO™ Crunchy Treats With Real Carrots are a healthy reward for a great training session. They are wheat-free, corn-free and contain no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives. Feel good about rewarding your dog with delicious, real carrots and premium ingredients. Your dog will enjoy our natural dog treats.
Whole Brown Rice, Oatmeal, Dried Carrots, Chicken Meal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Natural Flavor, Molasses, Natural Carrot Cake Flavor, Cinnamon, Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols, Rosemary Extract
Crude Protein (min.) 10.00%
Crude Fat (min.) 4.50%
Crude Fiber (max.) 3.00%
Moisture (max.) 11.00%


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Hey guys and happy Monday (and Memorial Day weekend to my friends and family in the US). After a relaxing weekend, I'm ready to be back to work today (I think – I've got a busy week ahead!). It helped because I also got to get outside, enjoy some beautiful weather and reconnect with some friends and family. Here's a glimpse at our weekend in a nutshell:
Saturday morning sleep in + carrot waffles (seriously delicious!) with carrot juice & pulp, half a banana, sunflower seed butter, some cinnamon & an egg on top! Mikey and I enjoyed reading our books along with black coffee and some green juice & had nothing planned until later. What did that mean? Well, Saturdays will always seem like long run days to me regardless of if I'm running lots (haven't been) or training for something (I'm not). A few hours later, I threw back one of my remaining samples of X2Performance pre-workout and hit the road.
Even though the clouds were starting to form, it was a warm, beautiful day and the trails were full of happy Calgarians! I hadn't run more than 7 miles in months but decided to shoot for 8 miles, hoping secretly for 10 (I just wanted to hit those double digits!). With beautiful scenery and no plans until later that evening, I decided to push on and just keep cruising.
Before I knew it (okay, okay – it wasn't easy and in fact felt pretty tough the whole time!), I hit 6.5 miles and my turn-around point! I listened to an Earl Palmer sermon the whole way out and it finished just as I turned around and just as I was ready for some "bring it home," "pump it up" tunes. My last mile was 8.02 as I pushed for home with most miles in the high 8's and I finished my impromptu marathon in 1:55.
I juuust beat the rain and was pumped to just go out and do like Nike says! I had just enough time to shower before our friends Ash and Melissa came over for dinner out at Without Papers (pizza!) in Inglewood. it was great to connect and catch up with these two, and since they are fellow movie goers, we went to see the new X-Men movie. It felt like it was reaching a bit for a story but it was a fun watch (and who doesn't love hunky Wolverine?). 😉 Plus, many people pointed out that the young Professor looks a lot like Mikey…
Sunday was a great day that started with a sermon all about fear – I really encourage you to listen to it if you're feeling like your life is stunted or you are held back by different fears (money, death, the future…). It was great to sit with the Langs and also see our friends we haven't connected with in ages. Then we headed to the Calgary Farmer's Market for some lunch with Maurice and Muriel and enjoyed catching up since our trip last week. A few errands and a walk over to the Lilac Festival on nearby 4th Street later and the day was done! It was a good finish to the weekend and I topped it off with 2 fun FaceTimes with Anna in Houston and my parents in Walnut Creek.
What a good weekend connecting with people mixed with a good amount of relaxing and activity! What did you do over the weekend? Any meaningful moments with people, messages or activities to share? I'd love to hear. Let's start this week off strong in mind, body and heart. Live well & be well,


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Hampton Inn & Suites
Burr Ridge, IL
New Construction Project
Check out the story behind one of our favorite eye popping projects! VIP is very proud to have designed, procured, and managed this project. Having turned this job around for the owner in a short time frame, VIP's sales, interior design, project management, & logistics teams all went to work quickly. From the very beginning, the owner was able to visit VIP's Bloomingdale office multiple times to have a more "hands on" experience with the design selections and materials.
We provided top notch design, which included the brand submittal and any re-selections to fit the owner's needs, especially seeing as this was a custom job and the owner had a design style in mind before coming to us.
The team consisted of two interior designers on the job so as to speed up the process for the hotel to open on time. Seeing as this was a new construction property, we coordinated all of the FF&E for the hotel. Also, because this property is so close to our headquarters, we were able to visit during installation to help guide the contractors with any of their last minute needs.
Overall the property turned out to be a well coordinated and very modern design, which was what our owner was looking for. We were able to deliver all of the items on time with the help of our strategic sourcing and logistics departments.


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Biometric Pilot Will Scan Travelers in Real Time at Texas-Mexico Border – (home to Facebook) to spur interest. land program begins. "We found it to be riddled with technical and legal problems," said Harrison Rudolph, an associate at the center. The Georgetown center's.
How to buy land in Texas | Rethink Rural Blog – Source: Texas Rural Land Prices: Regions, Real Estate Center of Texas A&M.. The length and interest rate of the loan can widely vary.
VLB Land Loans – The Texas Veterans Land Board – VLB Land Loans. The VLB Veterans Land Loan Program is the only one of its kind in the nation, giving Texas Veterans the opportunity to borrow up to $150,000 to purchase land at competitive interest rates while typically requiring a minimum 5% down payment for tracts one acre or more. The program is easy to use and offers Texas Veterans exclusive.
Loan Calculator | Heritage Land Bank – A cooperative Texas bank specializing in financing farms, ranches, country homes, Interest Rate. %. Monthly Principal, Interest, Taxes, & Insurance Payment.
Capital Farm Credit | Premier Ag and Land Lender in Texas – Capital Farm Credit is the premier ag and land lender in Texas. Farm loans. home page. Apply for a Loan Office Locations Loan Calculator Interest Rates.
Capital Farm Credit | Premier Ag and Land Lender in Texas – Capital Farm Credit is the premier ag and land lender in Texas. Farm loans, ranch loans, country home loans, crop insurance and land loans. Farm loans, ranch loans, country home loans, crop insurance and recreational property loans.
Build Card House Cheaper houses on the cards with SST exemption for building materials, says deputy minister – PETALING JAYA: As basic building materials such as bricks, cement and sand will not be charged under the Sales and Service Tax (SST), Malaysians can expect house prices to be slightly lower. Deputy.can you get a construction loan without a downpayment Buy MGIC Investment Corp. And Radian Group – Great Risk/Reward Value Stocks – For example, say that you buy a $100,000 home with a $5,000 downpayment and a $95,000 fixed rate mortgage loan from citibank. citi rarely holds fixed rate loans. In order it sell it, Citi seeks to get.
Loan products – Home, Ag, Real Estate | Texas Farm Credit – Texas Farm Credit offers loans for rural real estate purchases and improvements, agricultural operations, agribusinesses and homes.
Cap Rate for Special Valuations – Home Comptroller.Texas.Gov – For agricultural or open-space land, Tax Code Section 23.53 requires appraisal districts to use a cap rate that is the greater of 10 percent or the interest rate specified on the previous Dec. 31 by the Farm Credit Bank of Texas plus 2.5 percent.
Veterans Land Board – Land Loans – Texas – The VLB Land Loan Program is the only one of its kind in the nation, giving Texas Veterans, military members and their spouses the opportunity to borrow up to $150,000 for land purchases in Texas that are one acre or more.
Raising the Bars – Last session's changes to property theft thresholds should further reduce incarceration rates in the coming years. concealing conduct in which the public has a significant interest. For starters,
Do Your Due Diligence When Buying 'Raw' Land | Bankrate.com – Because the land has no improvements, making it easier for you to just walk away from your obligation, your down payment and interest rate will be higher than standard mortgages; lenders may want.