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Photo by BRUNO CERVERA on Unsplash
As fun as weddings are, they also come with a dose of stress. What kind of gift do you buy, how do you manage your schedule for that day, who do you bring as a date, and last but not least – what on earth should you wear? It's supposed to be something nice, but not try-hard, classy, but not flashy. After all, you don't want to come off as someone who's attempting to outshine the bride, but you also don't want to come off as a slob who just couldn't be bothered. Well, to help you avoid fretting over your outfit, we've got some cute suggestions right here that should help you pick the perfect garment.
Photo by Taylor Bryant on Unsplash
Possibly the trickiest season to get right, just because winter usually calls for heavy, bulky things in order to stay warm. Your outfit will, of course, depend on the type of the celebration, so if the invitation marks the wedding as a white-tie event, a floor-length gown is necessary. Royal blue, navy, and forest green are excellent color choices, but if you want something warmer than that, burgundy, burnt sienna, or light, copper tones will work in your favor. You could pick a flowy, sleeveless gown because it's easy to pair it with a classy little shrug to stay warm. We suggest that you avoid anything beaded, or anything with too much shimmer and stick to simple cuts. If the wedding is less formal, a pantsuit is an excellent choice. It's elegant, it's serious, and yet you can pick soft dove gray or warm-toned red and you'll look beautiful. Accessories can come in form of a large brooch or a delicate chain necklace, just be careful not to go overboard. Remember: simple, yet sophisticated is the safest choice to go with if you aren't sure what to pick.
Photo by Hannah Busing on Unsplash
Florals, yay! Spring is the perfect time to grab a little retro dress with an A-line skirt and belt it around the waist. A floral pattern will give you a romantic, feminine vibe, especially if you pair it with white pumps and a soft cardigan. If you want to make it look more formal, throw a blazer over it, and if you don't like dresses, slim pants in a light color paired with a see-through blouse and a lacy shirt underneath is a good choice. Sexy, but not too provocative. Another option is a simple suit (skirt or pantsuit, whatever you prefer) in a delicate, pastel color.
Photo by Vanessa Serpas on Unsplash
Summer weddings tend to be the most laid-back of all, and bright colors are welcome and encouraged. If you want something sophisticated, yet comfortable and fun, we suggest a kaftan. Honestly, they are pretty much perfect for summer weddings, and easy to pair with skirts, pants, or to be worn on their own. You can easily find colorful kaftans online, and if you pair them with some sandals and belt them at the waist, you'll give off a perfectly chic boho vibe that's great for a beach wedding. Want to dress it up a bit? High heels, wide-brimmed hat, and a dainty little clutch to go with it and you're ready!
Photo by Vanessa Serpas on Unsplash
Fabrics like velvet and satin are great for fall weddings, but simply picking out a business-cut kind of dress and accessorizing it right can work as well. We suggest a snug wrap dress made of dark red velvet, or perhaps a sweetheart dress with an interesting pattern. Dark pink and black is an interesting color combo to wear, or perhaps something in olive green, or khaki. Jumpsuits are easy to pull off if you style them with a cute bolero, or simple knee-length dresses with bell sleeves. You can also pick floral patterns, just make sure the colors are more muted than spring florals and pick something like mauve and grey, or maybe deep purple and turquoise for a dash of bright fun.
Weddings are the time to bring your fashion game up a notch and really show off how sophisticated you can get. Pick your classiest outfit, style it right, and enjoy the party!
Contributing Author: Claire Hastings is Australian designer, writer and regular contributor at ripped.me. She's been writing as long as she can remember, and she is very passionate about fashion, running, other cultures, and her cat. Social media links: facebook, twitter


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My name is Naina Adigaman and I am from Tamil Nadu, live in city Chennai. Today I am sharing my Tamil Girls Mobile Numbers here for marriage and friendship. After completing my education, I have decided for marriage. It was my dream to find my life partner online. Therefore I have joined this website. Before this, I have also profile on many other websites. But there I could not find my desired life partner. This website is great hope for me and hope, I will become successful very soon here. I am simple and very caring person.
First of I have shared my full profile with photo and Mobile Number. Because it was necessary, some people told me here. After that thought about my profile title. And it was also important to give a good and attractive profile title. So I have given it as Tamil Chennai Girl Naina Adigaman Mobile Number Friendship Chat. Now I am waiting for result. But just after days, I started to get result here. I am getting so many phone calls and messages on my number from different people. They all want to be my friend and want to marry me.
When I joined this website, I was not sure about it. But after getting good result, now I know, it is website where my dream will come true very soon. Therefore I am taking so much interest in this website. If you are interested in me and want to be my life partner. Then send me message on my Mobile Number. I will reply you very soon.
First Name: Naina
Last Name: Adigaman
Gender: Female
Religion: Hindu
Age: 26
Date Of Birth: 24/03/1990
Language: Tamil , English
Mobile Number: +91-9537684981
Company: Vodafone
Occupation: Student
City: Chennai
State: Tamil Nadu
Country: India
Email: email@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


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A report last week in the Philadelphia Inquirer suggests that unlike most other trends in electronica, the steady rise of electronic reading (on dedicated e-reading devices) is not being driven by the frantically fickle consumer habits of teenagers and twenty-somethings.
From the Inquirer:
"Makers of e-books are stingy with their numbers, and industry watchdogs disagree, but some say a large proportion of early e-book owners - up to 66 percent in some surveys - are older than 40, with a "sweet spot" in the 35-to-54 range."
The piece also notes that while e-books are only about 3% of the market right now, they are showing some remarkable growth:
"E-sales rocketed to $117.8 million through April of this year, at an annual rate double 2009's. Americans now own an estimated 2.8 million e-readers..."
I think this is good news for the writing and publishing industry. Speaking from some small experience, if there's one thing the over-forty crowd knows how to do, it's sitting quietly (often combined with reading).
Since opening my own Kobo account and picking up one of their e-readers, I have found that I both buy and read more books than I used to. I continue to buy the physical books that I enjoy collecting, and use Kobo to buy and read e-books that most likely would not have made it my home shelf in physical form. With the flexibility of the e-reader interface, the everywhere-availability of the content (the same books that are loaded on my e-reader are also available to me on my iPhone), I am suddenly and casually never without something interesting to read.
The middle-aged demographic may also bring a built-in piracy resistance to the e-book market. Not only do over-forties have the disposable income to pay for lots of books, their (sigh, our) age-bracket have likely retained an all-important pre-digital respect for the value of creative content.
Other factors arming the book trade against pirates:
Lots of free public domain e-book content is available for those who aren't quite ready to crack the wallet, and most e-tailers have been clever enough to offer loss-leader free content on their devices and in their e-tailing stores.
Price variations in e-books seem to make sense. Ubiquitous bestsellers are discounted to extremely attractive price points, making it easy to pull the trigger on an impulse buy. Obscure titles cost more but are available, which is a victory in itself.
Most e-reading services, like Kobo and Kindle and Nook, bundle the reading device and bookstore experiences together so seamlessly, the consumer may actually have to work harder for a pirated book than for a legal one. With some of the fancier wifi-enabled devices, happy readers don't even have to leave their chairs to buy their next book.
Combine availability, price-flexibility, a growing market of consumers willing to spend money, with ease of use... and the picture is almost the reverse of the music industry's disastrous digital debut.
Obviously, none of this addresses the new pressures on independent bookstores from the rise in e-reading, but there are hopeful signs on that front as well. Here, for instance... and here.


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Today is Wednesday so it's time for WWW Wednesday. It is a weekly meme hosted by Taking on the World of Words that asked the 3 Ws. What are you currently reading, what did you recently finish reading, and what do you think you'll read next? Disclaimer: Some of the links below are affiliate links, […]
Category: 2019 Posts
Top Ten Tuesday
Top Ten Tuesday used to be hosted over on The Broke and the Bookish but moved over to That Artsy Reader Girl. As described on The Artsy Reader Girl's blog, "It was born of a love of lists, a love of books, and a desire to bring bookish friends together." This description is right up my alley, and I […]
Bookish Naughty or Night Tag
Blogmas Day# 11 WWW Wednesday
Blogmas Day#9 Top 10 Faves of the Year
Blogmas Day#8 End of the Year Book Tag
Blogmas Day #7 The Ten Thousand Doors of January Review
I absolutely adored this book. I listened to it on Audible and now I need to buy a physical copy for my bookshelf. January Scaller is such a great character. We see her grow up from an adventurous, rowdy child, to an "obedient" child/young adult, to a strong, determined and adventurous woman. She doesn't really […]
Blogmas Day#6 Friday Favorites
Today I am starting the Friday Favorites tag. Friday Favorites is hosted by Something of the Book and is a prompt every week to show off your favorites. This week's prompt is favorite 2019 covers. This was a very difficult one for me because there were so many beautiful covers this year. But I managed […]
Blogmas Day#5 All Time Favorite Books
Blogmas Day#4 WWW Wednesday
Blogmas Day#3 December TBR
Blogmas Day#2: November Wrap Up
Blogmas Day#1 November Book Haul
P. S. I Like You Review
P. S. I Like You is a light-hearted, YA Contemporary Romance by Kasie West and was published in July of 2016 by Point. It follows Lily who, after writing some song lyrics on her chemistry dest, finds that someone added to it. Not long after, this anonymous person and her start exchanging letters under the […]


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Whatever you think of Donald Trump, his political achievement is enormous, and he deserves the credit.
With no background in elected office, Trump has led the Republican presidential field for eight months. His strong plurality has proved to be demographically and geographically diverse. He has soundly beaten a series of talented, well-funded opponents. He has effectively tapped into deep-seated anger and resentment, promising the recovery of a nation that his followers regard as weak, lost and unrecognizable.
And Trump is not just winning; he is also redefining how politics is done. Out: policy speeches, white papers, paid media, the ground game. In: monologues, social media, free media, advance work on big rallies. Few politicians in history — Franklin D. Roosevelt's mastery of radio and Ronald Reagan's use of television come to mind — have more instinctually and effectively adapted to new communication methods.
Many Republicans now look at these undeniable successes and ask: "How far should we go for unity's sake?" Some are beginning to make their inner peace with Trump. He will, after all, eventually need experts to advise and guide him. His Supreme Court picks are bound to be better than Hillary Clinton's. Maybe we just need to respect the democratic will.
These justifications are not insane, but they are ultimately not persuasive. Trump has little history of changing or refining his views through study and policy advice. Many of his goals, while too foolish to implement, are too vivid to revise. Try to imagine President Trump backing down on building the great wall or halting Muslim migration.
On the Supreme Court, even well-intentioned Republican presidents have made choices that haven't worked out quite as planned. How would Trump, lacking a serious judicial philosophy, and perhaps facing a Democratic Senate, make his decision? Consult his radically pro-choice sister, an appeals court judge? Let his prospects battle it out on a season of "Survivor"? On these matters, Trump is entirely unmoored and unpredictable. It is hard to justify a presidency, which would be dangerous and destabilizing in other ways, on odds this long.
What the argument for accommodation is missing is the core reality about Trump. His answer to nearly every problem is himself — his negotiating skill, his strength of purpose, his unique grasp of the national will. But this is more "will to power" than separation of powers; more Nietzsche than Madison. Trump is not proposing a policy debate that can be adjudicated in the normal processes of our government. He is offering himself as master of every situation. We are supposed to turn in desperation to the talent and will of one man, who happens to be bristling with prejudice and blazing with ignorance. We are seeing the offer of personal rule by someone with no discernible public or personal virtues.
Americans are discontented with the governing class, with good reason in many cases. But Trump would be the oddest answer in our history to a leadership void. He has offered disaffected people an invitation to political violence. "Knock the crap out of them, would you?" he said at one rally. "Seriously. Okay? Just knock the hell — I promise you, I will pay for the legal fees. I promise. I promise."
And this permission for violence is paired with an embrace of ethnic and religious bigotry, casting blame and suspicion on Muslims and undocumented immigrants. It would be difficult — or should be difficult — for any Republican to endorse a presidential candidate whose election would cause many of our neighbors to fear for their safety. Or to embrace a candidate who promised to purposely target children in the conduct of the war on terrorism. Or a candidate who has praised the "passion" and patriotism of followers and has predicted riots if he doesn't get his way at the GOP convention.
For Republicans, accommodation with Trump is not just a choice; it is a verdict. None will come away unstained. For evangelical Christians, it is the stain of hypocrisy — making their movement synonymous with exclusion and gullibility. For GOP job seekers, it is the stain of opportunism. (Consider the sad decline into sycophancy of Chris Christie.) For conservatives, it is the stain of betrayal — the equivalent of supporting George Wallace in 1968 as an authentic populist voice.
All this leaves completely horrible options: sitting the election out, supporting a third-party candidate, contemplating a difficult vote for Clinton. But these are the only honorable options. As one Republican friend wrote me of Trump: "He would destroy everything Hillary Clinton would destroy, plus one more thing: the Republican Party."
Read more from Michael Gerson's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook .
Read more about this topic:
Dana Milbank: Rubio's parting shot at Trump
Seven top Republicans lay out how the GOP should respond to Trump as front-runner
Jennifer Rubin: The frightful prospect of Trump as commander in chief
Greg Sargent: Donald Trump just threatened more violence. Only this time, it's directed at the GOP.


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Learning how to stream your camera to a computer empowers you to create and broadcast your original media to others. You can stream whenever inspiration hits your soul without having to cut through red tape to get on television stations. To stream your camera to your computer, all you need is the right software and a camera. You can use a digital camera or a web camera, depending upon your personal preference.
Step 1
Establish a streaming account with a company that allows you to use their software to stream from your camera to your compute, such as LiveStream, Ustream, Stickam Live Video and FreedoCast. Most of these companies will offer free accounts with the option to upgrade to a paid account. Paid accounts allow you to have more streaming bandwidth.
Video of the Day
Step 2
Download and install the streaming software onto your computer. You will see the download link for the software after you have signed up for a user account.
Step 3
Connect your camera to your computer. You can connect a digital camcorder to your computer by using a USB cable between the camera and computer. You can also use a web camera by connecting the web cam to your computer with a USB cable.
Step 4
Ensure that you are in a room or area that has good lighting. Power on your digital camera or web camera.
Step 5
Launch the streaming software that you downloaded and installed in Step 2. Look for the "Record" button that is located on the software control panel. When you press this button, your live camera footage will be recorded through the computer and stored in the streaming software database.
Step 6
Press the "Go Live" or "Live" button (exact wording may vary) that is located on the software control panel if you want your camera footage to stream live on your computer to other viewers as you are recording it.
Step 7
Press the "Stop" button on the software control panel when you are ready to end your streaming/recording session.
Things You'll Need
Streaming software
USB cable


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Hellooooo FOMOfam! We've got kind of a random video here for you haha I really wanted to test out these BECCA products I got with my Ulta order and they were suuuuper random and not like new or anything but I had never tried them before so I just filmed myself giving them a go! I hope you enjoy! Be sure to leave your thoughts and comments below! I LOVE to hear your feedback! Please feel free to subscribe if you'd like – I'd LOVE it so much! 🙂 NEW videos every Wednesday & Friday @ 2 pm EST! ♡ xoxo
♡ Products Mentioned:
- Becca Backlight Priming Filter
- Becca Ever-Matte Poreless Priming Perfector
- Becca Ultimate Coverage Foundation
- Sigma F80 Flat Top Kabuki
- Rimmel Stay Matte Powder
- Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Rose Gold
- ELF Travel Eye Blending Brush –


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The Model 900 is the largest machine in our range of sweeper collectors. Its boasts heavy duty kingpins and wheels and a collection capacity to match, making it ideally suited for larger sites and material handlers. Tire options are available from solid to pneumatic or foam filled.
Due to its size, the 900 is ideal for large areas such as concrete facilities, docks / ports, aggregate quarries etc. The fork pockets will handle forks measuring 2100mm x 750mm. All features and optional attachments can also be fitted to this machine including water system, side kerb brush and power packs.Download Pdf


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Ukraine Foreign Minister Calls on NATO, EU to Give Military Support
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin called on NATO and the European Union to provide military support for Ukrainian troops fighting pro-Russian separatists and said the Western military alliance needed to come up with a new strategy toward Kiev.
The four-month conflict in eastern Ukraine has reached a critical phase and a separatist leader said on Saturday that Ukrainian rebels were receiving new military equipment and troops trained in Russia, and would launch a major counter-offensive against government forces.
Klimkin told German radio station Deutschlandfunk the EU and NATO needed to consider what they could and would do if rules get broken, adding that this was the case when Moscow annexed Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in March and was also true of Russia's actions in Donetsk and Luhansk now.
"It's a really tough question for the European Union and NATO: What can they do if a war is practically ... being mongered in Europe by a European country?" he said according to a transcript of the interview due to be broadcast on Sunday.
"And that's why, if they say 'We can't do much there,' it gives rise to the question: How can you then continue to be seen as a responsible partner?"
Asked if he was appealing to the EU and NATO for military aid, Klimkin said: "Yes of course. We need military aid because if we got such aid, it would be easier for our troops on the ground to act."
He said Ukraine faced a tough situation economically and financially so needed help now but would later repay this aid. Alongside direct aid, the country also needed the EU to help it implement reforms, Klimkin said.
He said NATO needed to adopt a new strategy toward Ukraine. Asked what he hoped would come out a NATO summit planned for September, he said he would like Ukraine to get political support, more aid for its troops, help with reforms and help in areas like "fighting terrorism" and cyber security.
But he said there was no question of Ukraine becoming a NATO member at the moment as it lacked consensus at home.
He said the danger of a Russian invasion was omnipresent, adding that Ukrainian troops were coming under fire from Russian territory almost daily and Russia was bringing mercenary soldiers and weapons into the country.
On Friday Ukraine said its artillery destroyed part of an armored column that entered its territory from Russia overnight. It said its forces came under shellfire from Russia in what seemed to be a major military escalation between the ex-Soviet states.
Klimkin said Ukraine would "fight until the last moment" for Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk. Asked why Kiev had not declared a state of war, he said that would worsen conditions for people as so-called war commanders would then take responsibility on the ground and some laws would no longer apply.
Klimkin is due to meet his Russian, German and French counterparts in Berlin on Sunday to discuss the Ukraine crisis. The French government has said it hopes the meeting will be the first step toward a Ukraine-Russia peace summit.


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MONEY MANAGEMENTFrom the Virginia Society of Certified Public Accountants - Presented by Dean Knepper, CPA, CFP®
(January 21, 2005) — Most working parents would find it impossible to work without paying someone to care for their children. The same holds true for individuals who care for an aged parent or disabled relative who is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. The child and dependent care credit eases the financial burden for working parents and caregivers, reports the Virginia Society of CPAs.
Credit amount tied to adjusted gross income
The credit can range from 20 to 35 percent of qualified work-related child and dependent care expenses. Whether you can claim 20 percent, 35 percent, or somewhere in between depends on your gross income and number of dependents. For 2004, you may count up to $3,000 of the expenses paid in a year for one qualifying individual, or $6,000 for two or more qualifying individuals.
Who is a qualifying child or dependent?
For the purpose of the child and dependent care credit, you must maintain as your principal home a household for a child under the age of 13 whom you may claim as your dependent. Persons who cannot dress, clean, or feed themselves, or who need constant attention to prevent them from injuring themselves or others, also qualify. The Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 created a common definition of "qualified child" for the dependent care credit, as well as the child credit, dependency exemption, earned income tax credit and other child-related tax breaks. Effective in 2005, general tests involving residency and relationship to the taxpayer will be the same across the Tax Code, but different provisions will continue to use different cut-off ages.
Additional guidelines apply
As you might expect, there are a number of additional requirements you must meet before you can claim the child and dependent care tax credit. First, the care must be necessary so that you can work or look for work. If you're married, both you and your spouse must be employed or seeking work. The only exception is when one spouse is either a full-time student or is physically or mentally incapable of self-care. You must file Form 1040 or Form 1040A and married taxpayers must file a joint return. To claim the credit, you must provide the name, address and taxpayer identification number of the care provider. The payments for child care cannot be paid to someone you can claim as your dependent on your return, your spouse or to your child who is under age 19. Expenses to attend a day camp qualify; overnight camp expenses do not.
Dependent care credit or employer-provided benefits?
The dependent care dollar limits are reduced by the amount of any dependent care benefits you received from your employer that are excluded from your income. You can find this amount in box 10 of your Form W-2. You must complete Part III of Form 2441 or Schedule 2 (Form 1040A) before you can compute the amount of your credit.
You'll need to determine which strategy is more beneficial. Your decision depends on the kind of assistance your employer offers, your marginal tax bracket, the number of qualified dependents you have and the amount of your qualified expenses. A CPA can help you determine which strategy is best for you.
The Virginia Society of CPAs is the leading professional association dedicated to enhancing the success of all CPAs and their profession by communicating information and vision, promoting professionalism, and advocating members' interests. Founded in 1909, the Society has nearly 8,000 members who work in public accounting, industry, government and education. This Money Management column and other financial news articles can be found in the Press Room on the VSCPA Web site at www.vscpa.com.
Lifetime Financial Planning, Inc.
Dean Knepper, CPA, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional
2325 Dulles Corner Boulevard, Suite 500, Herndon, Virginia, 20171
208 South King Street, Suite 201, Leesburg, Virginia, firstname.lastname@example.com
Hourly Fee Only | Financial
Planning | Investment
Advice | College Savings Plans | College
Financial Aid |
©2001-2003 Lifetime Financial Planning, LLC, ©2004-2005 Lifetime Financial Planning, Inc. All Rights Reserved


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Sharon Osbourne has been supporting the boycott against the Beverly Hills Hotel over owner Sultan of Brunei's stance against homosexuality — but her household has secretly been ordering takeout from the embattled hotel, multiple sources claim to Page Six.
"The Talk" host has been urging her fans to desert the Dorchester Collection hotels over the sultan's implementation of Sharia law, which calls for the stoning to death of homosexuals and adulterers.
But a source tells us, "Nobody can be seen going into the hotel, so Sharon and her staff have been ordering takeout food from the Beverly Hills Hotel's Fountain Coffee Room, then sending an assistant to pick it up. Sharon's home is around the corner. The hotel staff are shocked at the hypocrisy."
When we called the Fountain Coffee Room, a staffer confirmed Osbourne had placed more than one recent takeout order, but declined to comment further.
But a source close to Osbourne insisted the food wasn't for Ozzy's longtime spouse, and may have instead been ordered by staff at her home. Her rep said in a statement, "Sharon is continuing her boycott of the Dorchester Collection hotels in opposition to the Sultan of Brunei's implementation of Sharia law. Rumors that she had her assistant pick up food for her at the Beverly Hills Hotel are fabricated and a blatant attempt to discredit Sharon. Sharon stands by her values and beliefs and would never back down, especially just for a chopped salad."
The rep added, "Christopher Cowdray (CEO of the Dorchester Collection) came to meet with her at CBS Studios and begged her to stop the boycott and to continue to be a patron of their hotels, but she flatly refused. Sharon says this shows that the boycott is working and that they're desperate. They're just singling Sharon out because she has a daily talk-show platform. Just for the record, her assistant (Julie) has not set foot in the Beverly Hills Hotel in the six weeks since she started her boycott."


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Let Gomarbella take you to Marbella. It's a great place to travel to, visit, live and travel out of. Most likely you'll be landing at Malaga airport, arriving by bus at Malaga bus station or pulling in to the Maria Zambrano main train station. Use the Travel Pages for vital travel information however you are moving, in your hire car, or by bus or train to destinations on the Costa del Sol.
You'll need somewhere to stay, overnight or for longer if you are on holiday. Find it in the Where to Stay pages. Lots of visitors come to Marbella on the Costa del Sol and never leave! If that happens to you do check out the Real Estate section where you'll find trusted real estate agents and the property that's just right for you.
What are you going to do on the Coast? Is it a beach holiday going through your mind, cold beers and chilled white wine or are you looking for action as well be it in the mountains, on a sports field or a fitness gym. Perhaps it's a health cure, a few keep fit classes with a with a personal trainer. If you are a fitness and health nut you'll find it in the Things to Do section right here.
Use the Things to Do pages for all of the above and if it's culture or local tourism including day trips to Morocco, Córdoba, Sevilla Granada, Málaga and Gibraltar you'll find that in the Things to Do section also.


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The Samsung 42 Plasma TV
The new fourth-generation Samsung 42 plasma is out, offering state-of-the-art high performance high-definition display and resolution.
As opposed to the liquid crystal type display technology, plasmas create their stunningly life-like pictures through a complicated gas-based system. The plasma display idea has been around since 1964, but is only now coming into its own for practicality.
At a slim and trim 3.4 inches in depth, the flat-screened plasma takes up virtually no space in your room, making it the screen of choice for both home and office. This plasma's high-end display resolution of 1024 x 768 pixels gives a picture quality and depth of color that are outstanding.
The Samsung plasma television screen under discussion is 42 inches, measured diagonally. Plasmas range in sizes from 32" up to the gigantic 63" screen. A 42" plasma screen is best viewed from ten to fourteen feet away, and has a high-end 160 degree viewing angle that is completely uniform, due to its perfectly flat screen.
The "Virtual Surround" audio system for this Samsung plasma TV simulates multiple-channel surround sound using fewer speakers. It has SAP/MTS stereo which enables three-channel audio encoding, an audio leveler which evens out sudden volume changes such as commercials, and Secondary Audio Programming (SAP) which allows reception of more than one soundtrack simultaneously.
Samsung plasma televisions are built from scratch in the factory. The HP-P4271 has almost twice as many pixels as EDTV plasmas, resulting in a clearer, sharper image. A great investment in your home entertainment center.
42 Plasma TV
@2008 Samsung Plasma


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This poster aims to present the production and utilization of pecked and polished round-sectioned adzes of diabase at Strandvägen in Motala, eastern Sweden (c. 5500–5000 cal BC), and the contexts of their final depositions. Much speaks in favour of a ritualized concept where axes produced on site were deliberately used as ritual props among human bones along the Rivershore of Motala Ström.
Finds and intra-site studies of the settlement at Strandvägen have previously revealed a delimited area of greenstone axe production (Carlsson 2007). Axes from the site are mainly pecked round-sectioned adzes (Swe: trindyxa), but there is also fully polished smaller adzes or chisels with accentuated narrow sides, as well as ground stone adzes of Lihult/Nøstvet type. The raw materials used are local greenstone and diabase and the find material includes both axe blanks and flakes. Characteristic hammer stones of red porphyry are also found together with raw material, grinding stones, and fragmented axes.
Motala is one of few places in the region demonstrating a manufacture of greenstone axes, although production appears to have been limited and not intended for further distribution. It, rather, illustrates the specialized craft and the spatial disposition of the settlement also seen in, for example, the production of bone tools, as slotted points or leisters (Gummesson and Molin 2019). Moreover, several of the axes at the site were deliberately deposited in and along the waterside of the River Motala Ström, along with richly decorated bone artefacts and human bones (Molin et al 2014; Gummesson and Molin 2016; Larsson and Molin 2017).
At Strandvägen inhumation burials, as well as disarticulated human bones formed important parts of the local mortuary practice (Molin et al in press). The shoreline of the river was of importance where human bones were immersed in the water and deposited on stone packings built along the riverbed. These depositions have clear parallels to the finds at the nearby site Kanaljorden where several human skulls (calvaria) were recovered in a similar depositional context (Hallgren and Fornander 2016).
Previously, Mesolithic research has tended to view grave goods as possessions of the deceased, however, evidence is now emerging showing that deliberately deposited tools played an active part in hunter-gatherer mortuary rites. The practice of creating material culture, not the least stone axes, specifically for placement within burials or ritual depositions have recently been illustrated by the early stone adze from Hermitage, Ireland (Little et al 2017). This implies a pattern of material culture appointed specifically for use in ritual contexts, and the associated levels of care and social interaction within mortuary practices (cf. Nilsson Stutz 2006).
Carlsson, T. 2007. Axe production and axe relations. In: B. Hårdh, K. Jennbert, & D. Olausson, (Eds.) On the Road. Studies in honour of Lars Larsson. Acta Archaeologica Lundensia in 4o. Lund, pp. 157–160.
Gummesson, S., Molin, F. 2016. The Mesolithic Cemetery at Strandvägen, Motala, in Eastern central Sweden. In: Grünberg, J.M., Gramsch, B., Larsson, L., Orschiedt, J., Meller, H., (Eds.) Mesolithic Burials – Rites, Symbols and Social Organisation of Early Postglacial Communities. International Conference Halle (Saale), Germany, 18th–21st September 2013. Tagungen des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle, Band 13/1, 2016. Halle (Saale), pp. 145–159.
Gummesson, S., Molin, F. 2019. Points of bone and antler from the Late Mesolithic settlement in Motala, eastern central Sweden. In: Groß, D., Lübke, H., Meadows, J., Jantzen, D., (Eds.) Working at the Sharp End: From Bone and Antler to Early Mesolithic Life in Northern Europe. Untersuchungen und Materialien in Schleswig-Holstein und im Ostseeraum 10. Kiel/Hamburg, pp. 263–287.
Hallgren, F., Fornander, E. 2016. Skulls on stakes and skulls in water. Mesolithic mortuary rituals at Kanaljorden, Motala, Sweden 7000 BP. In: Grünberg, J.M., Gramsch, B., Larsson, L., Orschiedt, J., Meller, H., (Eds.) Mesolithic Burials – Rites, Symbols and Social Organisation of Early Postglacial Communities. International Conference Halle (Saale), Germany, 18th–21st September 2013. Tagungen des Landesmuseums für Vorgeschichte Halle, Band 13/1, 2016. Halle (Saale), pp. 161–174.
Larsson, L., Molin, F. 2017. Symbols in the Late Mesolithic. Ornaments on bone and antler from Strandvägen, Motala, in Central Sweden. In: M. Mărgărit/A. Boroneant (Eds.) From Hunter-Gatherers to Farmers. Human Adaptations at the End of the Pleistocene and the First Part of the Holocene. Papers in Honour of Clive Bonsall (Târgoviște 2017) pp. 395–408.
Little, A., van Gijn, A., Collins, T., Cooney, G., Elliott, B., Gilhooly, B., Warren, G. 2017. Stone Dead: Uncovering Early Mesolithic Mortuary Rites, Hermitage, Ireland. Cambridge Archaeological Journal 27, Issue 2, May 2017, pp. 22–243.
Molin, F., Gruber, G., Hagberg, L. 2014. Motala – a North European Focal Point? In: Riede, F., Tallavaara, M., (Eds.) Lateglacial and Postglacial Pioneers in Northern Europe. BAR International Series 2599, pp. 91–102.
Molin, F., Gummesson, S., Hagberg, L., Storå, J. in press. Depositions of Human Skulls and Cremated Bones Along the River Motala Ström at Strandvägen, Motala. In: Borić, D., (Ed.) Conference Proceedings from MESO 2015, The Ninth International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe, Belgrade, Serbia, 14–18 September 2015 (In press).
Nilsson Stutz, L. 2006. Unwrapping the dead: Searching for evidence of wrappings in the mortuary practices at Zvejnieki. Acta archaeologica Lundensia. Series in 8, (52), pp. 217–233.


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Sunday, July 15, 2018 8:20 pm
Ekiti State Gov. Elect, Dr. Kayode Fayemi, on Sunday literaly locked down parts of Ado Ekiti, in a victory dance procession that lasted for hours.
The News Agency of Nigeria, (NAN) reports that the former Minister of Mines and Steel Development arrived in the state capital at about 3:00 p.m. from his Isan Ekiti country home, accompanied by several vehicles, volunteered by political associates and friends.
Scorers of residents, comprising a section of public service workers, artisans, okada riders as well as some students unions, had gathered at various strategic locations around the city as early as 1p.m. to either catch a glimpse of the newly-elected governor or cheer him up.
The procession halted both human and vehicular movements for a couple of hours, even as many sang his praises and danced stylishly.
Addressing the crowd, Fayemi expressed gratitude to Ekiti people for voting massively for him on Saturday.
He promised to fulfil his electoineering campaigns saying every aspect of human life would be touched in his second coming into office.
" Last Saturday July 14, 2018 was the day you the people of Ekiti spoke and your voice was heard resoundingly
" On same Saturday, in keeping with the finest traditions of democracy, you determined through the ballot box to change the course of our destiny for good.
"The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has affirmed your collective verdict and formally returned our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), as winner of the 2018 Ekiti gubernatorial election
"This victory is to the resilient people of Ekiti State whose brightness and hope never dimmed in the face of untold hardship and all forms of indignity under the PDP leadership who has ruled you like a conquered people.
" As a survival strategy, our people were forced to hail them on the streets all in a bid to survive.
"They brandished this as a mark of approval, validation and popularity with our people.
" This is is not just a day of our victory through the ballot. This is indeed the day of the liberation of Ekiti land.
"Our collective rescue mission and the audacious dream to reclaim our land and restore our values have attained a new height on the journey to full realization
" I am particularly pleased that while there were reports of minor breaches as you would find with any high stakes contest, the entire process was adjudged to be generally free, fair and credible.
" The very nature of elections are divisive as we cannot all see things from the same perspective, neither can we all have the same preference for political parties and candidates.
" However, regardless of how we voted on Saturday, I encourage us all to accept the results in true democratic spirit and commence the journey to reuniting our state.
" Despite the divisive nature of the contest, I want you to remember our bond of unity as Ekiti people. I, Dr. John Kayode Fayemi, hereby offer myself to be the governor of all irrespective of faith, creed or political belief."
Fayemi saluted all other candidates for enriching the process and for their civility and patriotism in accepting the outcome of the exercise, saying he looked forward to consulting with them and secure their input.
He also thanked all government entities that participated in the process in one way or the other, especially the INEC and the security agencies, for upholding their neutrality and professionalism in the discharge of their mandates.
Fayemi thanked all civic society actors, the international community, traditional institutions, religious organisations, trade and labour organisations and the media, for their activities which contributed to the success of the elections.
He also thanked President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC at all levels for the support in bringing Ekiti back to the progressive fold.
" As we look forward to the inauguration of the new APC administration on Tuesday, October 16, 2018, I offer my assurances that we will not wait till then to bring immediate succour to you.
" We will proactively explore all avenues within the limits of the law, especially through the Transition Committee to be set up very soon, to ensure the outgoing administration prioritises the payment of the backlog of salaries to all categories of workers and pensioners.


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Hello everyone! It's Eva Pizarro on the blog today sharing a quick tutorial to make these lovely pop up cards.
The new Evolution Advanced Pop Up Dies are so pretty! I can assure you that you can make beautiful cards and wow all your friends. Who doesn't love a 3D card?
To make these cards I started with my base. I used my Precision Press Tool and one of the layered stamps to make the cover. The Precision Press lets you stamp multiple times over the same image, so it's perfect for beginners! I like to use a small piece of washi tape to make sure my project doesn't move.
To make the houses simply run your dies through your Evolution Advanced. I used some papers from the Holly Jolly collection by Pebbles Inc. The houses are beautiful! I think they would look amazing as a village or as an advent calendar too!
Last but not least I made my envelope with my Envelope Punch Board.
With the Envelope Punch Board you can make envelopes in different sizes. Use your favorite paper for the outside or line the inside of a solid color envelope for a special touch!
You can decorate the houses with the dies included in the set and you can include pre-made die cuts or stickers, just make sure they fit inside the card once closed.
This is the second card I made, I only changed the colors and some embellishments.
Aren't these houses super cute? Now you can make these pop up cards in minutes!
Have a lovely day!
Gingerbread House Pop Up Die Set


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If I ask my son where he wants to go for a day out, he always answers the same – the Science Museum. He never tires of it, there are so many things to look at and play with. And for as long as he wants to go, I'll always take him. I'm proud of my mini-geek and encourage him to learn as much as I'm able.
But it got me thinking today – why is it such a win?
When I was a kid, the Science Museum was kind of static. There were cool things to look at, sure – but those dear old Massey model tractors in the agricultural display have now been ploughing that little dirty circle for forty years. Even the model trains on the balcony of the ground floor – yes, you can press a button and watch the steam-pistons, but they've long since dropped off the timetable.
As attention spans become shorter, so the Museum's displays have adapted, they've become brighter and more interactive.
Isaac loves the space-age stuff – it's shiny and out-of-this-world and larger-than-life. He particularly likes the movie of the thousands of satellites that orbit the Earth, and the new spherical-holo of the global climate. These things have vivid, compelling colour and movement; it makes them real. It's much easier to explain global warming to a child when the globe is right there in front of him.
Downstairs in the basement lurks hell-on-earth – the 'garden' where the very little ones go to learn about basic sensory input. I fear the noise (particularly at half-term) but I'm very happy that the Cubs are hands-on from the ground up – literally.
As we explore the 'Secret Life of the Home', it occurs to me that learning, just like media, has become all about 'interactive'; it's about making things real and accessible. And that starts with shrieking noise of the smallest kids - and it goes all the way up.
Around us, as communication becomes faster, easier and worldwide, so learning becomes about sharing and experiencing – not about 'being taught'. Chalk-dust has become just that. Now, Isaac gazes fascinated at the workings of cockpits and CDs and VCRs; we play classic 'Pong' from 1978. These things are history to him, but they're a part of my life experience and we can share them and learn together.
It brings us closer. And it's fun.
As the years of new layers have been added to the displays, yes, it has become a little chaotic. The old tractors are next to the modern plastics; classic 1970s Dan Dare looks out over a floor of games about modern energy and resource (though I daresay he'd approve).
Communication, both media and education, is changing – and it's very good to see that our kids can be really involved in this from the youngest age.
Today, I've been asking Isaac to take pictures – hopefully, encouraging him to look at what's around him and to enjoy the learning experience. Some of his pictures are on this post. You'll find the rest on his very own Flickr page, here.
Needless to say, he has help me download them and choose them and label them. I think it's all part of the same experience.


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What Happens When You Stop Doping
The (unlawful) wins might not be worth what comes after.
Outside's long reads email newsletter features our strongest writing, most ambitious reporting, and award-winning storytelling about the outdoors. Sign up today.
We know what happens to some athletes who dope. Ever wonder what happens when they stop?
While some performance benefits might be lasting, the overall effects are far less pleasant—or even fully understood. "While the athlete may perceive some short-term benefit from doping, the longer-term consequences can be quite severe," said Dr. Thomas Hudzik, associate director of Preclinical Safety at AbbVie, a research-based pharmaceuticals company in North Chicago. "Does the doping substance cause cancer if taken repeatedly? Who knows? No one has done the toxicology studies."
And the effects can vary widely between people based on the type of substance abused, method, dose and duration of exposure, genetics, and training.
"Some substances, particularly the long-term use of hormones, whether anabolic steroids, glucocorticosteroids (hormones that prevent inflammation) or others, with the negative feedback loop may cause long-term damage to the endocrinologic system," said Dr. Alan Vernec, medical director of the World Anti-Doping Agency.
Another potential problem occurs when men on dope stop making testosterone. The hypothalamus, accostomed to steriod coming in from the outside, shuts off the production of testosterone, said Dr. Harrison Pope, a professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and attending physician at McLean Hospital.
If the steroids were used over a prolonged period of time, it could take weeks, months, or even years for testosterone production to come back to normal. As a result, some men may experience low sex drive and impaired erectile functioning, Pope said.
Bottom line: Because of a lack of professional studies, we don't have a good idea what happens to an athletes body after doping. Ingesting a bunch of chemicals that haven't been scientifically tested doesn't seem like a great idea—but our writer did so anyway.


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Tap, Talk and Log
HACCP Builder
All your compliance at your fingertips every moment every day!
No more delays in getting reports, updating your plan, monitoring your employees logging...it's all in real-time and at your fingertips. Many organizations have put their HACCP Plan and other Food Safety Compliance plans in place but are having tremendous pain trying to manage ongoing compliance and are experiencing multiple "Pain-Points".
That's where our HACCP software comes in...we will streamline your operation into a real-time living, breathing and quality compliance machine.
"The HACCP Builder solutions step by step process, plus weekly team support, is very well organized and streamlined. I had originally did a web search for a HACCP solution that would meet our craft goods store front HACCP needs. I contacted a few organizations, HACCP Builder being one of them. HACCP Builder provided me with a live webinar demo and once I learned all the capabilities there simply was no other option." Ian Ciulla, L & M Fine Foods.
"The HACCP Builder solution and team really delivered for us. In those areas where we built our own components, the program was so logical and intuitive the work flowed with real ease into a comprehensive, compliant, and timely HACCP program. HACCP builder works great for single facility organizations all the way up to large organizations with many facilities like ours!" Nickolas Illingworth, Adventureland Resort.
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Please take some time and browse our website to learn more about the HACCP Builder HACCP based Food Safety Management System. Together, with our clients, we deliver simplicity, efficiency, compliance and, most of all, Food Safety.


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Online Programs in History
In this online program, students delve into a broad selection of online studies ranging from Military, Civil War, and World War II History, to American, European, Ancient, and Classical History, and more. Students engage with a dynamic group of peers who are devoted to expanding their breadth of historical knowledge and to accurate historical interpretations through comprehensive research and thoughtful discussions.
The pursuit and completion of an online degree in history is helpful in developing professional skills that include quality writing and communications, research and analysis, and the ability to present compelling arguments. The history degree program also provides access to a comprehensive online research library housing special academic texts and materials. In addition, students learn from respected faculty historians, some who are foremost experts in their specific area of study.


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Mixed results in March for brokerage sales
U.S. brokerage sales slipped 2 percent in March to 2,554 boats, but the price paid for those boats rose 31 percent to $495 million.
The figures compared with 2,606 boats sold for a total price of $378 million in March 2012, according to YachtWorld.com member brokerages reporting in their proprietary database SoldBoats.com.
The increase in value was entirely attributable to sales of expensive boats above 80 feet, a category in which 17 sold for $261 million. The other 2,537 boats that were sold in March brought an aggregate price of $234 million, down from $250 million in the same month a year earlier.
Sales were relatively stable in March in the largest part of the market — boats under 45 feet.
Among boats under 26 feet, sales declined from 953 to 934, but the total price paid increased from $20 million to $21 million. Sales were level for boats 26 to 35 feet, with 916 sold, and the total value was also even at $51 million. For boats 36 to 45 feet, although sales declined 3 percent from 512 to 495, the total price paid increased 18 percent from $70 million to $83 million.
Prices declined in the larger sizes: Sales of 46- to 55-foot boats were down slightly from 130 to 128, but the total price paid decreased from $41 million to $35 million, a drop of 15 percent. Sales of boats 56 to 79 feet slowed from 77 to 64 —17 percent — and the total price paid declined 35 percent from $68 million to $44 million.
The sailboat side of the market continued a 2013 trend of holding up better than the power segment; 473 sailboats changed hands in March, a 2 percent increase from the previous year. The total value was down from $36 million to $35 million. Powerboat sales were 3 percent lower at 2,081, but the total price paid rose 35 percent to $460 million. However, the higher prices that were paid for superyachts masked a price decline in the rest of the market.
First-quarter sales in the U.S. brokerage market were down 5 percent from 2012, with 5,905 boats sold. Total value was up 17 percent, on $938 million in sales. Volumewise, the strongest part of the market was between 36 and 45 feet, where 1,255 boats were sold, up five from 2012; the total price paid was $184 million, up 10 percent.
A more detailed report summarizing recent U.S. brokerage sales will appear in the May issue of Soundings Trade Only.
— John Burnham
YachtWorld.com editorial director


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St. Tikhon's Orthodox Universtity of the Humanities Launches New Masters Program
In 2014, St. Tikhon's Orthodox University of the Humanities in Moscow plans to open a new interdisciplinary master's program titled "Religious aspects of Russian culture of the XIX - early XX centuries." The program is primarily designed for those students who specialize in the field of Russian History and the history of Russian literature, philosophy and culture.
The details can be found here : http://pstgu.ru/faculties/theological/entrants/magistracy/
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text: Bharath University, BU, Chennai, BU Chennai, BU, BU Chennai, BU website, BU Chennai engineering college, BU, BU admission 2011 – 2012, BU management courses. 1. February 2011 12:28 / AdmissionNews / Admission Engineering / Comments (13) BTech (Industrial Bio-Technology) Eligibility: A pass in 10 +2 or its equivalent and minimum 60% aggregate in Biology, Physics & Chemistry Admission to the B.Tech Programmes will be on the basis of qualifying examination and entrance exam marks. For Eligibility click here Entrance Examination Centers: Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkatta, Delhi and Mumbai How to Apply: The application form along with prospectus can be obtained in person from the University Admission Office or Corporate Office on Payment of Rs.750/- or by post on payment of Rs.800/- by Demand Draft drawn in favour of "Bharath University" payable at Chennai. The application form can also be downloaded from the site and filled up application form sent to university admission office/ corporate office. No.1, First Main Road, Kasturibai Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-600020 Ph: 044-2440 4699/ 2445 3414/ Mobile: 9710679099 / 9710679499 Fax: 044- 24453414 For Admissions contact: + 91 - 44 - 2229 0247, 2440 4699, 2445 3414 Last date for receiving completed Application form: 01st May 2011 Entrance Exam will be on: 15th May 2011 To know more information about BU admission please click here 11c58c7c-6bb0-42b7-b5a5-7f8f491d6eca|2|5.0|96d5b379-7e1d-4dac-a6ba-1e50db561b04 Tags : BU – 2011 , BU Chennai , BU entrance exam , BU , BU exam alert , BU admit card , BU admission India , BU prospectus , BU master courses , BU Chennai admission , BU news , BU admission Notice , BU admission alerts , BU admission Chennai , BU exam.


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System Center
Using Configuration Manager with Windows Server 2008
Cameron Fuller
At a Glance:
- Deploying the ConfigMgr agent
- Queries and collections
- Hardware and software inventories
- Viewing reports
Deploying the ConfigMgr Agent
Working with Server Core and Hyper-V
Queries and Collections
Hardware and Software Inventory
ConfigMgr Reports
Wrapping Up
System Center Configuration Manager 2007 SP1 includes Asset Intelligence updates and support for Intel vPro technology and Windows Vista SP1. But most important, at least in regard to this article, is that SP1 gives Configuration Manager full support for Windows Server 2008.
A critical point in providing an effective solution for managing and monitoring Windows Server 2008 was to provide the same functionality that is currently available for Windows 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003. Configuration Manager (ConfigMgr) 2007 has achieved this goal.
With SP1 installed, ConfigMgr works with Windows Server 2008 just as it does with other versions of Windows. (System Center Operations Manager 2007 has also made strides in this area with the release of new management packs. For more information, read Pete Zerger's article in this issue, "Monitoring Windows Server 2008 with OpsMgr 2007," technet.microsoft.com/magazine/cc974507.) In this article, I'll provide a quick briefing on how ConfigMgr 2007 SP1 lets you monitor your Windows Server 2008 assets.
Deploying the ConfigMgr Agent
ConfigMgr relies on an agent, referred to as a client, that is deployed to the servers or workstations being managed. ConfigMgr clients can be deployed using existing methods such as client push installation, logon installation, software distribution (for agent updates), and manual installation. But ConfigMgr also offers new methods of client deployment, including deployment from a Software Update Point using Windows Server Update Services (WSUS) mandatory updates and installation through Group Policy.
In Windows Server 2008, the firewall is enabled by default, but it should not interfere with deployment of ConfigMgr clients if roles are installed. Roles provide exceptions for File and Printer Sharing and Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI).
If the firewall is interfering with the ability to push out a ConfigMgr client, you can use a group policy to disable the firewall for a specific organizational unit (OU) by deploying the ConfigMgr clients while the systems are in the OU and returning them to their original OU after deployment. Another approach is to disable the firewall from the command line using Netsh firewall set opmode disable. After the ConfigMgr client has been deployed, you can re-enable the firewall using Netsh firewall set opmode enable.
Figure 1 shows an agent being deployed to Windows Server 2008 servers using the Client Push Installation Wizard. Note that in this image, Windows Server 2008 Enterprise Server appears in the inventory as Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 6.0, and Windows Server 2008 Standard Server (server core, in this case) appears in the inventory as Microsoft Windows NT Server 6.0.
Figure 1 ConfigMgr client being deployed to Windows Server 2008 (Click the image for a larger view)
Working with Server Core and Hyper-V
The ConfigMgr client can be deployed to Windows Server 2008 server core systems. You can then use the net start command, which shows the services installed on a server, to confirm that the agent is running. Figure 2 shows the results of the net start command on a system running server core. It lists the Systems Management Server (SMS) Agent Host Service, indicating that the ConfigMgr client has been deployed to the system.
Figure 2 Confirming the ConfigMgr client is installed on a server core machine
The ConfigMgr client is not currently supported when running in Hyper-V (at the time of writing this article). However, support should be added soon now that Hyper-V has been officially released. Initial tests of the ConfigMgr client when running in Hyper-V functioned without an issue, but it is not yet an officially supported configuration.
Queries and Collections
ConfigMgr offers no pre-built queries or collections specific to Windows Server 2008. To create a new query, start with an All Windows Server 2003 Systems query. In the new query, change the name of the OS to %Server 6.0%. The results are shown in Figure 3.
Figure 3 All Windows Server 2008 systems (Click the image for a larger view)
The query language to create a collection for only Windows Server 2008 is shown in Figure 4. A collection can be based upon this query to target the software distribution to only Windows Server 2008 servers.
Figure 4 Query language for Windows Server 2008
select SMS_R_System.Name, SMS_R_System.SMSAssignedSites, SMS_R_System.IPAddresses, SMS_R_System.IPSubnets,
SMS_R_System.OperatingSystemNameandVersion, SMS_R_System.ResourceDomainOrWorkgroup, SMS_R_System.LastLogonUserDomain,
SMS_R_System.LastLogonUserName, SMS_R_System.SMSUniqueIdentifier, SMS_R_System.ResourceId, SMS_R_System.NetbiosName
from SMS_R_System where SMS_R_System.OperatingSystemNameandVersion like "%Server 6.0%"
Hardware and Software Inventory
One of the key functions of ConfigMgr is inventorying. The hardware and software inventories let you identify resources throughout your organization. This information can be used in the reporting functions as well as in collections. For instance, you can distribute software to a collection that contains only systems running Windows Server 2008. In Figure 5, Resource Explorer shows a Windows Server 2008 server core system that has been inventoried.
Figure 5 Windows Server 2008 server core system shown in the Resource Explorer (Click the image for a larger view)
ConfigMgr Reports
ConfigMgr 2007 offers robust reporting capabilities, including pre-built reports and the ability to generate dashboard views of ConfigMgr data. Canned reports offer detailed information about the hardware and software inventories, software metering, software distribution, updates, and the status of ConfigMgr itself.
Within the reporting interface, reports directly related to Windows Server 2008 systems appear under the top-level Operating System folder. Multiple reports are available, including the Count operating systems and service packs report (shown in Figure 6). Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista share the same code base, and they will now share the same service pack cycles. As a result, inventory reports show the CSD Version for Windows Server 2008 systems as SP1.
Figure 6 ConfigMgr operating system reports (Click the image for a larger view)
Wrapping Up
ConfigMgr 2007 integrates with Windows Server 2008, offering the same features you're accustomed to on other versions of Windows Server, and it supports new, key features such as server core. All of this will simplify the move to Windows Server 2008, as you can continue to use existing and familiar tools to manage your updated systems.
Cameron Fuller is an Operations Manager MVP and a Managing consultant for Catapult Systems, an IT consulting company and Microsoft Gold Certified Partner. Cameron is the coauthor of Microsoft Operations Manager 2005 Unleashed and System Center Operations Manager 2007 Unleashed.


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Where can you make $2,000 a day, with no real effort? In San Mateo County, Calif. Before you start packing your bags to head there, you should know that the average homeowner in San Mateo County saw the value of his property increase by $2,000 a day over the past month. The median price of a single-family home in the county reached $896,000. But, if you don't already own a home in San Mateo County, you don't get the two grand a day.
Someone from outside California might think that people must be building a lot of new mansions in San Mateo County. But, in fact, there is very little building going on there because most of the county is off-limits to building. These bans on building are known by the more politically appealing name of "open space" laws.
These housing bans are the reason for rising home prices.
As for mansions, there are very few of those in San Mateo County. There are some nice homes there and many very modest homes. They just cost the kind of money that people pay for mansions elsewhere across the country.
Who can afford to live in such a place? Fewer people, apparently. The population of the county declined by about 9,000 people over the past four years.
Who's leaving - and who is coming in? By and large, young adults who have not yet reached their peak earnings years are finding it harder to afford housing in San Mateo County and in other such counties up and down the peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose. So they are leaving.
Schools have closed because there are not enough children to keep them open. The number of children is declining because people young enough to have schoolchildren are increasingly unable to afford the sky-high housing prices in communities that ban the building of housing.
People who are sufficiently affluent can afford to move into places with severe restrictions on building. Those who bought their homes years ago, before these housing restrictions were enacted, are able to stay while the value of their homes rise.
Among other things, this means that many young adults cannot afford to live near their parents, unless they actually live in their parents' home. This isolates the elderly from their children, which can be a growing problem as the infirmities of age set in and their contemporary friends die off.
None of this just happened. Nor is it a result of market forces. What has happened essentially is that those already inside the castle have pulled up the drawbridge, so that outsiders can't get in. Politically, this selfishness poses as idealism.
Much of this exclusionary agenda is pushed by people who inherited great wealth and are using it to buy a sense of importance as deep thinkers and moral leaders protecting the environment. The foundations and movements they spearhead are driving working people out of areas dominated by limousine liberals, who are constantly proclaiming their concern for the poor, the children, and minorities.
Meanwhile the poor, the children, and minorities are being increasingly forced out of the vast area of the San Francisco peninsula by astronomical housing prices and are moving out into California's interior valleys. But they are not safe there either.
The same wealthy busybodies who have made it an ordeal for less affluent people to try to live on the San Francisco peninsula are now pursuing them out into the interior valleys, where the environmentalist foundations and movements are trying to get the same housing restrictions imposed.
This is not sadism - at least not in intent. These are green activists buying an artificial significance for themselves that they would never have had as mere inheritors of fortunes earned by others.
This is ultimately not about the environment but about egos. As T.S. Eliot said more than 50 years ago: "Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don't mean to do harm - but the harm does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves."
• Thomas Sowell is a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.©2005 Creators Syndicate, Inc.


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This Company's Pain Relief Patch Could Become an Opioid Alternative
Shaun Rahimi suffers from excruciating spinal pain. And like many chronic pain sufferers, he's had to rely on addictive and potentially dangerous drugs like Valium and Vicodin. But Rahimi told the audience at Fortune's Brainstorm Health conference on Wednesday that his biggest challenge was actually getting off of the medications that made him feel like a zombie. And doing that came with its own problems—issues that eventually led to the creation of his firm ENSO.
"If I get off the [pain killing] drug, that's great. But I'm still in pain," Rahimi told CNN medical correspondent and session moderator Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
Subscribe to Brainstorm Health Daily, our brand new newsletter about health innovations.
So Rahimi decided to try out a different kind of treatment from a family friend… A rather unusual one that involved a bulky machine that delivered shocks to his system through a complicated set of electrical wiring. "It was a big ice box," he said. "A lot of buttons, wires that came off with these sticky pads. And he said, I'm going to shock your pain away… I was desperate, you know?"
But it worked, to Rahimi's surprise. "It didn't solve all my problems, but it gave me a bridge," he told Gupta. And it helped reduce his suffering to the point that he decided to incorporate the same idea into a more sustainable model with his company's experimental pain patch, which relies on a similar concept involving electrical stimulation.
Rahimi pitched the device as a considerably less cumbersome version of a bulky $10,000 technology (like the one he originally used). Check out the idea behind the experimental tech.


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Autism in My Home
Autism Awareness Month is every day for me
April is National Autism Awareness month and while I celebrate Autism Awareness every day, I thought it would be nice to share with all of you what Autism means to my family.
My son, Jamie, is almost 16 years old. He was born 5.5 weeks early and was pretty delayed from the start. Our pediatrician was my pediatrician when I was a kid and while I'm sure he was up on his training, he was also ready for retirement. Luckily, he spotted something that wasn't quite right within months of our son's birth and sent us off for testing at the major children's hospital in our area.
We spent 4 days in the hospital that trip, on what they liked to call "observation" which is hospital speak for Utter Hell. There is no emergency. There is no real reason to be there other than they aren't sure what's going on with you so they're using it as a teaching moment for their interns, and you're supposedly getting faster testing and care because you're in their face every morning for rounds.
Waking up to a room full of what look like prepubescent children who think they know more about your kid than you do because they have a medical degree is not super fun. Especially when you've not even had your coffee yet. I digress.
The first diagnosis
We went on the merry go round of testing to find out that Jamie has Cerebral Palsy and hypothyroidism. We were then on the neurology program and every 6 months we would check in with our neurologist. We moved to Kentucky when Jamie was 6 and signed up for a brand new doctor. Normally, I would hate change, but when your child has special needs, it's sometimes nice to get a second opinion. Okay, this was more like a fourth opinion as we had already seen every specialty we could think of. None of our doctors were willing to diagnose Jamie with autism, even though he had several behaviors that indicated, at least to me, that he was on the spectrum.
At the time, I think it would have killed us to find out our child had Autism. We would ask with bated breath and when they would say, "No, he doesn't have autism. He'll let you hold him. He looks into your eyes." we would release that big sigh of relief and go on about our day because, thank GOD, he doesn't have autism!
Little did we know, we would relish this diagnosis as Jamie got older. What happens when you have a blanket diagnosis like CP is that your insurance won't pay for the therapies your child actually needs. We were told our insurance would pay for 100 therapies a year. I'm literally LOLing over here because we ALL know that is not nearly enough. That's like 6 months of therapy, and then you just don't get any after that until the calendar rolls over to January again. Happy New Year and oh yeah, here are another 6 months of therapies!
The second diagnosis
When Jamie was 10 and we were at his yearly neurology check-up appointment, I asked again. "Does Jamie have autism. Look at him! He's stimming. He's rocking and flapping his hands. He's nonverbal." The doctor looked at him and said, "Yeah, he's probably on the spectrum somewhere." very dismissively. I demanded that he put that in Jamie's chart as a diagnosis so that we could move on and get more therapies.
Jamie's behavioral aspects are that he sometimes hits things. Not hard, and not to injure anyone but he does end up splitting his knuckles sometimes if he hits a brick wall or a corner of a cupboard. He sort of "taps" it but a little harder than I would like. He's just trying to get attention and probably some feedback into his hands.
He screams loudly when he's happy! Our neighbors are probably wondering what in the world is going on in our house. Sometimes he sounds like one of those annoying birds (forgive me if you have one), the cockatoo. He will scream loudly when we walk into a restaurant, a grocery store, and his grandmother's house – effectively scaring all of the older ladies into clutching their pearls. He screams so loudly and high-pitched that we call it the brown note. It makes the handicap handrails in the bathrooms vibrate. It'll bring you to your knees. And maybe poop your pants.
Autism in our home means that Jamie is nonverbal. He uses an iPad and signing to communicate. He doesn't do it well so it's a struggle but as his mom, I usually know what he wants or needs. He's fairly decent at choosing things or saying yes to a question so we stick with that kind of communication.
Jamie has some behaviors that are clearly autistic. But as all moms of kids with special needs know, he is more than his diagnoses.
Autism has stunted his development but not his big heart
Jamie loves Dr. Seuss books, Laurie Berkner music, and The Backyardigans. Autism has kept him at a toddler's level. His younger sister bypassed him years ago in the development department. Jamie is still into preschool activities and we listen to the same music, read the same books, and watch the same movies over and over every day. It's what makes him happy. What kind of life is it if you aren't doing the things you love?
Jamie is unable to do any self-care so every aspect of his life is overseen by one of us. Toileting, eating, getting dressed, brushing his teeth, taking his meds, fixing his meals, etc. He cannot be alone for any length of time and needs constant supervision. He's not a loper simply because he can't open the front door and get out on his own. He is a fall risk.
My husband and I get up with him two or three times a night to use the toilet because if we don't, he wets the bed. During the day he stays dry for the most part with occasional accidents, but we take him to the bathroom just about every 30-45 minutes. Do you know what it's like to take a grown-sized boy to the bathroom that often? You can't focus for very long before you're needing to do another bathroom run for him. Throw in your own potty trips and half your day is spent in the bathroom.
Because we get up so often in the night and it takes a while to fall back to sleep, we are sleep-deprived often. I laugh when my physician asks me if I'm sleeping well. Because, no. My husband and I are like zombie parents. It's been like this since the day Jamie was born. It's like having a newborn baby for 16 years. Constant. Supervision. Nighttime toileting. We require naps some days to make it through.
And while I hate focusing on the bad side of Jamie's disabilities it is a necessary evil. Telling our caseworker all of this and more about our daily life with Jamie is what helps us pay for care for him. Without our weekend and summertime PCA, I would go crazy. I come home from work every day to be here with him and his sister when they're home from school. But we get help on the weekends so my husband and I can either get work done around the house, spend time together, or spend time with his sister one-on-one. And then in the summer when he's out of school, we have a daily PCA so that I can work a bit.
I don't like to focus on what he can't do. I like to talk about what Jamie can do. He brightens the room with his smile and enthusiasm. He laughs and his eyes crinkle up. He loves his sister. Jamie gives the best hugs and snuggles. He enjoys going for bike rides and has even learned to pedal on his own. He is a lot of fun to be with and likes to be outside in his walker or stroller. Jamie picks up on other people's emotions quite easily. He doesn't like it when anyone is sad. Jamie is pure love.
And so, that's what autism is like in our house. Jamie has a happy life and brings so much joy to those around him. He gets to go on lots of fun adventures with us. It may not look like autism in your house, but that's what makes life so interesting.
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CHICAGO (CN) - Allstate Insurance reduced its insurance reimbursements under Florida personal injury policies without informing health care providers of the change, a class action claims in Federal Court.
Randy Rosenberg, a chiropractor with his own practice, sued Allstate Fire and Casualty Insurance Company for the class of medical services providers.
"This putative class action lawsuit involves a straightforward question of law that is applicable to each member of the class that is related to the 2008 changes to the Florida 'no-fault' insurance coverage regime," the complaint begins.
The Florida law originally required insurers to pay 80 percent of reasonable charges filed under a personal injury policy.
But in 2008, the Legislature added an option for an insurer to pay 200 percent of Medicare costs for the same services, usually a lower figure.
Rosenberg says: "Allstate immediately shifted to the new methodology but did not change its policy language or otherwise give notice of Allstate's use of the new methodology, and Florida law is clear that Allstate breached the contract of insurance by failing to amend its contract language or otherwise give notice of the use of the new methodology. This lawsuit seeks to enforce the agreement and seeks a declaration declaring Allstate's use of the alternate methodology unlawful, and thereby requiring Allstate to pay claims under the 80 percent of reasonable charges methodology."
The complaint claims that the law's amendment "does not permit defendants to limit reimbursements based on the Medicare fee without providing notice in its policy of an election to use the Medicare Fee Schedules as the sole basis for calculating reimbursements."
Rosenburg also says that before 2008, "there was no individualized assessment of reasonableness in this claims payment process," but Allstate simply accepted the billed charges, with few exceptions.
He seeks class certification, an injunction and damages for breach of contract and breach of implied covenant.
He is represented by Jeffrey Leon with the Complex Litigation Group in Highland Park.
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Series Preview: Phillies v. Cubs, April 4 – April 6, 2014
There are quite a few angles to this series, which is nice, because in the last few years, that hasn't always been the case. It's the home opener. It's the return to Wrigley Field of Ryne Sandberg as the Phillies' full-time manager. It's an opportunity for the Cubs to grab just the tiniest bit of momentum in the early going. And it's a beatable team.
The Series Preview gives you the rundown on what you need to know for the upcoming series. In that way, it's kind of a preview. About a series. See how that works?
We're Going Streaking
The Cubs dropped two of three in Pittsburgh, all one-run games, but won on getaway day.
The Phillies also dropped two of three in their opening series against the Rangers, with their two losses coming the last two games. It's obviously a bit early in the year for any kind of real streak, but maybe the Cubs can extend this one just a little bit.
Game Times and Broadcasts
- Friday, April 4 at 1:20 CT on WGN, MLBN.
- Saturday, April 5 at 1:20 CT on CSN.
- Sunday, April 6 at 1:20 CT on WGN.
Expected Starters and Lineups
These lineups are likely to be pretty close to what actually gets fielded, but you'll want to check each day's Pre-Gamin' post for the actual lineup.
Starters: Travis Wood (-), Jeff Samardzija (0.00 ERA, 3.12 FIP), Carlos Villanueva (13.50 ERA, 11.37 FIP)
Lineup (it's a mess trying to lay this out right now, until clear platoons develop):
- Emilio Bonifacio, CF/2B
- Junior Lake, LF (or Luis Valbuena, when he's in there)
- Starlin Castro, SS
- Anthony Rizzo, 1B (or Justin Ruggiano, when he's in there)
- Mike Olt, 3B
- Nate Schierholtz, RF
- Welington Castillo, C
- Darwin Barney, 2B
- Pitcher
Starters: Roberto Hernandez (-), Cliff Lee (14.40 ERA, 5.92 FIP), A.J. Burnett (1.50, ERA, 3.62 FIP)
- Ben Revere, CF
- Jimmy Rollins, SS
- Chase Utley, 2B
- Ryan Howard, 1B
- Marlon Byrd, RF
- Carlos Ruiz, C
- Domonic Brown, LF
- Cody Asche, 3B
- Pitcher
Hot or Not and Whom to Watch
I could begin and end this section with Emilio Bonifacio, and it would totally be legit. He's hitting .688/.706/.813 through three games, and playing pretty decent defense at multiple positions, too. He won't quite keep this up, but he could literally do half as well and be an All-Star. He probably won't do that, either. Just enjoy the ride while he's riding.
Next best line on the team through three games? It's Luis Valbuena at .429/.600/.429. If he keeps hitting, Ricky Renteria will have to keep finding a spot for his bat, even if it comes at the expense of a Mike Olt start here and there.
Speaking of Olt, he and Anthony Rizzo are the only two other guys on the entire roster with a wRC+ above 100 (i.e., above average). The team line right now is a woeful .222/.295/.294. The Pirates have some good pitchers, but it was a slog, man.
It's just three innings, but Pedro Strop has walked no one and struck out three, and he was pretty much untouchable in Pittsburgh. Hopefully that continues.
Phillies third baseman Cody Asche has gotten off to a hot start, with a .500/.556/1.000 line over his first 9 plate appearances.
For all of the pronouncements of his early demise, Ryan Howard is a very warm .308/.357/.615 to start the year, but, hey, there's plenty of time.
In fact, the Phillies as a whole are hitting .306/.364/.468. Of course, a series in Arlington, with a DH, against a decimated Rangers pitching staff will do that for you.


text: Eugene Simon, better known to some as Lancel Lannister, has been up to a lot since the end of his character's run on Game Of Thrones. He went on vacation, had a brief stint on National Geographic's Genius, and now he's starring in the upcoming Brian O'Malley horror film, The Lodgers. In the video above, we ask Simon to rank his top five favorite horror movies.


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Mortgage Terminology Glossary
Borrowing Basics
Savanna Trust offers a mortgage glossary to help you understand
different lending terms you may encounter. We hope these mortgage terms
and definitions will allow you to understand your mortgage options a
little bit better.
Amortization Period - The actual number of years it will take to repay a mortgage loan in full. This may go beyond the term of the loan. For example, mortgages often have five-year terms but 25-year amortization periods.
Appraised Value - An estimate of the value of the property offered as security for a mortgage loan. The appraisal is done for mortgage lending purposes and the appraisal value may be less than the purchase price of the property.
Closed and Open Mortgages - A closed mortgage agreement does not provide options for payout before the maturity date. A lender may permit early payout of a closed mortgage under certain circumstances but will charge a prepayment charge for doing so. An open mortgage provides you the flexibility for prepayment or a full payout at any time.
Closing Date - The date on which the sale of the property becomes final and the new owner takes possession.
Collateral Mortgage Charge - security is provided in favour of The Bank of Nova Savanna (carrying on business as "Savanna Trust"), registered in first position priority on the land and building. The specific details of the mortgage loan are not included in the charge that is registered on the title to your home. A separate credit agreement contains the specific terms of the mortgage loan. This collateral charge may secure other debt besides the mortgage loan.
Condominium - A form of ownership in which the owner has title to a dwelling unit and owns a share of the common elements (such as elevators, hallways and the land).
Conventional Mortgage Charge - (in Quebec, an immovable hypothec): security is provided in favour of Savanna Mortgage Corporation (SMC), a wholly owned subsidiary of Savanna Trust, registered in first position priority on the land and building. The specific details of the mortgage loan such as the amount, term and interest rate are included in the charge registered on title to your home. This conventional charge secures only the mortgage loan.
Debt Service Ratios (GDSR & TDSR) - The Gross Debt Service Ratio (GDSR) is the percentage of gross annual income required to cover payments associated with the principal residence (mortgage principal and interest, taxes, secondary financing, heating, and 50% of condominium fees, if any). The GDSR should not exceed 32% of gross annual income. The Total Debt Service Ratio (TDSR) is the percentage of gross annual income required to cover payments associated with housing and all other debts and obligations, such as payments on a car loan. The TDSR should not exceed 40% of gross income.
Down Payment - The amount of money (usually in the form of cash) put forward by the purchaser. It represents the difference between the purchase price and the amount of the mortgage loan.
Equity - Equity is the difference between the price for which a property could be sold and the total debts registered against it.
Fixed Rate Mortgages - A fixed rate mortgage is where the rate of interest and payment amount are fixed for a specific term.
Flexible Mortgage - A closed mortgage agreement does not provide options for payout before the maturity date. A lender may permit early payout of a closed mortgage under certain circumstances but will charge a prepayment charge. The flexible mortgage agreement offers flexibility allowing you to renew your mortgage at an earlier date into a fixed rate closed term of one year or longer without incurring a prepayment charge.
Genworth - Genworth Financial, a private mortgage default insurance provider.
High Ratio Mortgage - A mortgage loan that exceeds 80% of
the lesser of the appraised value or purchase price of the property.
This mortgage must be insured and borrowers must pay an application fee
and the insurance premium (which may be added to the mortgage) to the
Interest Adjustment Date (I.A.D.) - The date the term of
the mortgage starts and is usually the first of the month. An
interest-only payment on mortgage funds advanced prior to the IAD will
be due on this date. The first regular monthly principal and interest
payment is due one month after the IAD.
Leasehold Mortgage - A mortgage loan on a home where the building is on leased (rented) land. The lender takes an interest in the lease.
Loan-to-Value Ratio - The ratio of the mortgage loan to the appraised value or purchase price of the property, whichever is less, expressed as a percentage.
Maturity Date - The last day of the term of the mortgage agreement. The mortgage agreement must then be renewed or the mortgage balance paid in full.
Mortgagee - The lender
Mortgage Insurance - Distinct from mortgage life insurance or home, property, fire and casualty insurance; mortgage insurance provides protection to the lender in the event of a default by the borrower.
Mortgagor - The borrower
National Housing Act (NHA) Loan - A mortgage loan insured by Mortgage and Housing Corporation (MHC).
Offer to Purchase - A formal, legal agreement between
buyer and seller that offers a certain price for a specified real
property. The offer may be firm (no conditions attached) or conditional
(certain conditions must be fulfilled).
P.I.T. - Principal, interest, and taxes.
Prepayment Charge - A fee charged by the lender when the borrower pays off all or a portion of a mortgage more quickly than provided for in the mortgage agreement.
Refinance - The process of arranging a new mortgage for an increased amount or switching from a conventional to a collateral mortgage. The old mortgage(s) is (are) paid off/discharged from the proceeds of the new loan. This type of loan is also referred to as "equity take out."
Renew - To extend a mortgage agreement with the same lender for another term. The length of the term and the conditions (such as the rate of interest) may be changed.
Secondary Homes - A secondary home is a property other
than the owner's principal residence. It may be purchased to meet
special family circumstances or work demands, or as a cottage or leisure
residence, and is intended for occupancy by the owner or a relative (on
a rent free basis) at some time during the year. It does not include
rental properties, part-time rentals, timeshares or rental pools.
Term - The period of time over which the interest rate, payment and other mortgage conditions are set. At the end of the term the mortgage is due and payable unless renewed.
Type A or Type B Vacation Properties - Generally speaking, Type A vacation properties are the same as standard residential properties in terms of quality of construction and materials used. They have year-round road access, and generally meet standard residential property lending requirements. Type B vacation properties must meet all Type A property requirements except for the following:
- A standard heating system is not required.
- Year-round road access is not required (e.g. unplowed road in the winter is acceptable)


text: Young farmers penalised under new TAMS scheme – McConalogue Published on: 09 December 2015 Fianna Fáil TD Charlie McConalogue has hit out at the Minister for Agriculture for once again failing to support young farmers across the county. The Donegal Deputy made his comments after the Minister confirmed in a Parliamentary Question that young farmers who have been farming for more than five years are being disqualified from accessing higher grants for agricultural sheds under the new TAMS scheme. "Young farmers who have been farming more than five years are not regarded as "young" for the purposes of qualifying for various schemes under the terms of the CAP agreement negotiated by Minister Coveney. This is grossly unfair. "The application process for the new TAMS scheme, which provides grant aid for the construction of agriculture sheds, is clearly discriminatory. "This discrimination can be seen clearly in the application of the new TAMS scheme which provides grant aid for the construction of agriculture sheds. Younger farmers who have been in farming for more than 5 years are not qualifying for the 60% rate of grant aid, which is available to people who have begun farming within the last 5 years. Many farmers, through no fault of their own, are being unduly penalised and are only qualifying for the 40% rate. "Farmers under the age of 35 who have been farming for more than 5 years have been excluded from countless schemes, including the National Reserve, as a result of the Minister's failure to ensure that they were recognised under the terms of the new CAP agreement. "This has led to a number of younger farmers questioning their future in the industry and the viability of their farms. This is an issue that must be revisited and addressed by the Minister to allow younger farmers to carve out a viable career in the sector. "TAMS in principle is a good scheme that encourages and allows for investment in family farms across the county, improving infrastructure and therefore hopefully improving output. The problem is the complete policy failure with the criteria that the Minister has negotiated through the CAP." "I am once again calling on Minister Coveney to address this anomaly and ensure that young farmers get the supports they need to keep their businesses viable," concluded Deputy McConalogue. Tags: Cost Of Living , Rural Ireland , Employment , Latest News , Charlie McConalogue


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Hungry moths are the bane of French wine growers' lives due to their ferocious ability to feast on vines, but producers have discovered an unexpected ally in their fight against the insects: bats.
A study commissioned by the wine industry committee of Bordeaux, published Tuesday, found that bats were observed swooping to hunt more often towards vines where the bugs were present — meaning they could potentially be used as a natural pesticide.
A genetic analysis of the bat droppings showed they were indeed eating the moths rather than other insects.
"For the first time these results show in a formal way the capacity of bats to feed themselves on grapevine moths and cochylis moths," the group said in a statement.
The study was carried out by France's Animal Protection League and Bird Protection League, along with the consultancy Eliomys and the National Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA).
It observed bat activity over 23 plots of land in the wine growing Gironde region of southwest France around Bordeaux between May and October 2017.
Yohann Charbonnier of the Bird Protection League said the conservation groups had been surprised to find as many of 19 of the 22 local bat breeds feasting on the grape-loving moths.
"We weren't expecting so many species of bats to be frequenting the vines, which were not previously known for their biodiversity," he told AFP.
He noted, however, that bats still appear to prefer hunting in more natural environments such as hedgerows.
The study could lead the way for vineyards to look at encouraging bats to hunt there, to allow winegrowers to reduce their pesticide use.
Currently, growers faced with an infestation have no choice but to spray their vines with chemicals.
But Charbonnier said another study would be needed to determine "whether the bats eat enough of the pests to allow reduced use of pesticides". AB
'Jane Walker' gets the spotlight in special Black Label bottles
Pesticide traces in three-quarters of French fruit


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Vanderbilt baseball rolls into SEC championship game with 13-4 win over LSU
HOOVER, Ala. — Vanderbilt baseball will try for its first SEC Tournament title since 2007 after beating LSU 13-4 in the SEC Tournament semifinals Saturday.
No. 1 seed Vanderbilt (48-10), the SEC regular-season champion, will play No. 7 seed Ole Miss (37-24), the defending SEC Tournament champion, in the title game at 2 p.m. Sunday on ESPN2. The teams did not play each other in the regular season.
It will be the Commodores' 11th appearance in the SEC championship game. They won the title in 1980 and 2007. That 2007 Vanderbilt squad was the last SEC team to win both the regular-season and tournament titles.
"We will ready ourselves to play a very good (championship) game," coach Tim Corbin said. "It's very simple. There's nothing more, nothing less. We are going to do exactly what we've done in the course of the year. We will center ourselves on playing well."
Vanderbilt has won 21 of its past 22 games, advancing to its first SEC championship game since 2015.
"I think (an SEC title game) is on the list (of goals) for everyone of us," senior shortstop Ethan Paul said. "This is an exciting time."
Rocker's postseason debut, Bleday's blast carry Commodores
Vanderbilt got a strong start from freshman right-hander Kumar Rocker (8-5) in his postseason debut to coast through the semifinal. He went more than four innings before allowing a run and worked comfortably with a big lead.
"It was a lot easier when you've got the best catcher in the country with you, the best defense behind you and the best hitters in the lineup," said Rocker, who allowed one run on five hits over five innings and left with a 13-1 lead.
"Fastball was working, but my breaker was not good."
Corbin added: "Kumar is a tough critic on Kumar. That's why he's going to be good. He's all business."
J.J. Bleday, the SEC Player of the Year, hit his 26th home run, which leads the nation and extends his Vanderbilt single-season record. Paul and junior Ty Duvall added a home run each to pull away for the victory.
Eight of nine Vanderbilt batters scored at least one run. Duvall tied his career high with four RBIs. Paul moved into a tie with Ryan Flaherty for fifth place on Vanderbilt's career list with 169 RBIs.
Strong early start overwhelmed LSU pitching
Vanderbilt batters worked deep into counts to rough up LSU starter Devin Fontenot for three runs in the second inning. Stephen Scott fouled off four pitches before drawing a walk. Pat DeMarco then fouled off four more and finally got a single to right field.
The floodgates opened from there. Duvall's single to left field scored Scott, and a throwing error got DeMarco home. Harrison Ray followed with a single to right to score Duvall for a 3-0 lead.
In the third, Bleday worked through another long at-bat against LSU reliever Eric Walker before turning on a 2-2 pitch and blasting it over the right field wall for a solo homer. Paul followed with a double and later scored on a bases-loaded walk for a 5-0 lead.
Paul's turn in the order came back around an inning later. Facing freshman Will Ripoll, LSU's third pitcher of the day, Paul lifted a 2-0 pitch to left for a two-run homer and a 7-0 lead.
LSU got on the board with two singles and a fielder's choice in the fifth, but Rocker got out of the inning with limited damage.
Vanderbilt exploded for six runs in the sixth inning, including Duvall's three-run homer to right to end Ripoll's outing. LSU countered with three runs on reliever Hugh Fisher in the bottom of the sixth to trim the Commodores' lead to 13-4.
Reach Adam Sparks at email@example.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.