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Edited by: Mathew "Berek" Anderson - July 31st, 2008
At least once a day or every other day someone asks whether Warcraft can run on their system. A lot of the time people ask what the deal is with their frame rates. A lot of these questions go unanswered in the game manual and on the company website. I am going to address a few key issues to get your game up and running 110%.
One thing you have to remember is that although war isn't so graphic intensive like say half life 2, it is however a very memory hungry game! It will use every single byte that you have extra. With this in mind maybe half the questions will get answered right here and you will just go and close a few programs and restart your game to see a frame boost.
Said before, there is a great difference in Network and System lag. Network lag makes of course your character do something a second later after you click. You will often see this problem when you are looting and the server is getting bogged down or your end is. However with network lag you should still have nice speed when going through your menus and such and the mouse pointer won't be slowed down. System lag on your end will cause everything to be slowed down and your mouse will move slow, menus will even be slightly slowed down etc.
One easy way to tell the difference between system and network lag is to download a network monitor addon for Warcraft that shows your "ping." This is the rate a packet of data takes to travel between your computer and the server. Ideal is below 100. Playable still is in the low 100's with the game getting "network" lag higher than that.
"I just bought this new computer.. so i should be able to run Warcraft right?"
Sure you should be able to run it.. One thing is new computers that you buy say at .. wal*mart or target or somewhere tend to include only the minimum requirements to play the latest games. If that. Most of these new mass produced systems only come with *gag* a gig of ram. The first thing you should do is to go buy another gig of ram to boost you to 2. You will notice at least 10fps (frames per second) difference in your game.
"I upgraded my ram and I still get lag, but it isn't network lag? What gives?"
If you upgraded your ram to 2 gigs and your still getting choppy gameplay then the next thing to look at is what is bottleneck your system. See if your system is using onboard video. Most new computers are, so go buy a new video card. The manufacturers cut corners by slapping a chip on the motherboard to handle video instead of using a premium addon card with it's own memory. On-board video shares the system ram so it is a big bottleneck.
I upgraded my video card from an onboard ati-220 or something to a geforce 8600. In games that are on the whole way more intensive than wow, like prey and halo, i went from 30fps before (and less) to 100fps in prey etc. A big boost. Usually they don't just "sell" you the computer to play games well. They sell them on their functionality. Video cards are cheap. You can go pick an ATI 4xxx series card for under 300$. Under 200$ if you want a budget card. This will improve all your games, vastly.
"I have a semi-recent video card.. but it says I have a Celeron 1.8ghz cpu on my box, will this be slowing me down?"
Another bottleneck to address is CPU viability. In my system I have a Celeron. It brings me down a lot because the Celeron is Intel's budget processor. Doesn't have the onboard cpu cache like the other chips they produce and this brings it down. If you have a celeron chip than maybe you should look for a replacement. However, if your CPU speed is above 2.0ghz and all you want to play is WoW then you should be fine!
"Everything is fine, processor above 2GHz, video card with its own memory
(256 megs of ddr3 or above), Windows XP (Vista is still in its infancy and this alone may cause some issues), 2gigs of ram, still not hitting sweet frames."
You have a more than capable system to run wow but still getting crappy frames.. Another thing to take into considerations is if you are a pack rat. If you like to have MSN, Allah's website, Itunes or media player, and a few other things going while you play then thats your problem right there. One way to see what you have loading when your computer boots is to click: Start button, run, type in the box: msconfig.exe go to the startup tab. If you have like itunes helper, msn, and a few other programs that are not needed starting when your computer starts uncheck them.
If your computer is new, I bet you my left kidney that packaged software is causing your slowdown! The only things needed to start with your computer are windows key components, printer stuff / video things you need, your Nvidia/Ati drivers, sound drivers and that's it. Weather report.com, bigfix.exe or any trash program doesn't need to start with Windows.
To get maximum performance Warcraft should be the only program running besides windows key components. Especially if you have a nice shiny new computer with lots of ram and a premium video card. This way you can turn all the settings up in the video menu and enjoy Warcraft with a high resolution and some anti-aliasing (smooths the jaggies on the in-game graphics).
::Added tips for making your computer run World of Warcraft smoothly::
*Defrag your hard drive.
Warcraft access the swap file like.. a gazillion times a minute (yes i used gazillion). Click on start, programs, accessories, system tools and then defrag. Select the hard drive with wow on it and click analyze. Then view the report even if it says "Your system does not need to be defragged at this time." A system even fragmented at 3% and over needs a good defrag. 4% is a lot. I don't know why they didn't fix this in the many XP patches over the years but anything over 3 and 4% fragmented is insane. After you defrag (if your system was like even 3% fragged ) you will notice a pleasant difference.
*Disable your anti-virus software.
Software like Norton Anti-Virus and McAffee or whatever use an awful lot of memory. Most of them have memory leaks which cause the program to just plain eat up your available memory over time. Don't worry about disabling it while you play because unless your looking at massive **** sites alt+tabbed while you play then it won't hurt you. Start it back up after your done. Usually this can be achieved by right clicking on the icon in the corner of your taskbar and simply closing the program. If it wont, then control +alt+ delete and enter the task manager and manually close it.
Doing this should add like another 5-10fps or even more depending on the scenario.
*Make sure you have at least a few hundred megs of free space on your hard disk.
A major thing that is often overlooked is people often don't have enough space for the windows swap file to move around on their hard disk. Even 200megs free will ultimately cause a whole lot of slow down in your games. Because even though you have a lot of memory its your hard disk that access and moves the information around first. This can slow a system at least 25%. If you even have like 500 megs free i would look to delete a few program that you don't need. Maybe burn some of those mp3's onto a DVD or 2 to save space. (Which is something I've been meaning to do but haven't lately!)
Everyone seems to address all the hardware related issues but often overlooks this key point! Free some space up and you will squeeze some more performance out of your game.
*What else could be making it slow?
You could in the end have a virus or large amounts of spyware. I suggest doing a system wide and memory scan with your chosen viral detection software. There are numerous freeware scanners out there but the best "free" software I use , used to use, is AVG. Even if you don't know it, by going on myspace or other often trafficked user websites you could be picking up stray code worming it's way into your browser. Weird "*.exe" files running in the background (control + alt + delete to view current running programs )could be spyware. Google the executable's name and you should find an answer.
Well good luck and i hope that someone got some use out of this. These are my tricks and tweaks. There are other ways to increase frames massively like overclocking your system or video card but that voids the warranty on both. If anyone has any other tweaks and tips please add to the thread for everyone to utilize. Thanks! -inf
Edited, Jul 31st 2008 10:55am by Berek
Edited, Apr 27th 2019 6:39am by Szabo Lock Thread:


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For all the money that was spent on Snow White and the Huntsman, apparently there wasn't any allotment in the budget for enjoyment. This movie exists in an universe where any visual wonder can occur but not a single character ever cracks a smile. If you watch event movies lately, you know that there's a certain strain of seriousness that has crept in thanks to the Jason Bourne films and Christopher Nolan's Batman movies, which aimed for a more grounded, realistic treatment of larger-than-life characters. But when this approach is done badly, like it is with this movie, you're left with a fantasy world that has almost no magic in it. Geez, folks, making movies can't be this much of a bummer, can it?
Snow White and the Huntsman is actually the second Snow White movie we've had this year, which is probably two too many. Both movies show how Hollywood tends to "reimagine" familiar properties: either by being irreverent (Mirror Mirror) or by taking everything so paralyzingly seriously (Snow White and the Huntsman). In this latest version, Kristen Stewart plays Snow White as the fair princess who's been locked up in the tower by an evil queen (Charlize Theron). Once the queen finds out that the secret to her eternal beauty is taking White's heart, she wants the girl killed. But after White escapes into the forest, the queen hires a huntsman (a charmless Chris Hemsworth) to bring her back. The huntsman soon decides not to capture her but, instead, protect her from the queen's men. Thus ensues an endless amount of chasing, then fighting, then chasing, then fighting. Eventually, some dwarfs show up.
Taking its cue from Twilight, Red Riding Hood and The Lord of the Rings, Snow White and the Huntsman very, very much longs to be a dark fairy tale, the sort where the skies are always charcoal gray and the characters are forever uttering their dialogue with an air of heavy significance. Anyone who grew up with Grimm's Fairy Tales or even The Dark Crystal knows that fantasy realms aren't always filled with sunny delights, but a film like this treats its dour mood as a badge of honor. God help these people, they actually think they're making a meaningful motion picture.
If you had an accomplished filmmaker or a great story, that seriousness can work, adding resonance and gravitas that help enliven a familiar tale. Unfortunately, Snow White and the Huntsman instead has Rupert Sanders, who's making his feature directing debut, although the press notes inform me that he's an "acclaimed commercial director and state-of-the-art visualist." Apparently, he's a state-of-the-art visualist in exactly the same way every other "visionary" filmmaker is. Everything looks sleek and shiny when it doesn't look foreboding and grimy. (And to ensure there's a Star Wars reference in here somewhere, there's even a riff on the showdown between Luke and Darth Vader from The Empire Strikes Back.)
As for the story, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but this is yet another movie in which a character is informed that she is "the one," which translates in practical terms to mean that she is going to deliver a rousing third-act speech to the troops that proves just how much of "the one" she is. So what you have is a mix of Lord of the Rings and Gladiator and a bit of The Matrix, and in between are vague tweaks of the Snow White story that you remember. (The dwarfs aren't jolly; there's an apple but no old lady in a cloak; and absolutely no way does anybody sing a cheery tune.) None of these revisions in the classic tale help the film—they're done simply so that some poor reviewer can make some stupid proclamation like, "This isn't your father's Snow White!" Yes, it's not—it's not much of anything, frankly.
I'm not opposed to Kristen Stewart just because she's become a superstar after the Twilight films. (First time I saw her was in a small but important role in Into the Wild, and I thought she was quite striking.) But while stripping away Snow White's demure, sweet persona and turning her into a somewhat assertive action hero may please progressively minded folks, it mostly just makes her a deeply boring character. Stewart never sparks to life in the role—you never get to enjoy her Snow White come into her own. She starts glum, and she ends up just slightly less glum. Same goes for Hemsworth. Even if you found his Thor to be terribly dopey, at least the big clod was fun to be around. By comparison, his huntsman is like every stoic loner you've seen in the movies, right down to the hidden soft side underneath. But I can't remember a time when the work of an action hero looked more joyless. I don't care how much devastation the evil queen has wrought upon the kingdom—things can't be this somber.
As with Mirror Mirror, Snow White and the Huntsman's showy role is that of the villain, and Theron treats the character as if she's the neediest drama queen you'd ever meet. But even she can't bring much vigor to this movie—you feel her wanting to go brazenly over-the-top with her performance, but the film keeps hemming her in. It goes without saying that Snow White and the Huntsman looks great, but after a while I stopped caring about that. Frankly, I stopped caring about anything that was happening in this movie. As hopelessly goofy as Mirror Mirror was, at least it had some spirit to it. Better that than a movie encased in its own solemnity. Snow White and the Huntsman doesn't have an original idea in its head—but in Hollywood, that doesn't matter. Feigning seriousness is good enough.
Grade: C
Grierson & Leitch is a regular column about the movies. Follow us on Twitter, @griersonleitch.

subset: commoncrawl


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(CNN) -- The militants pulled into the northeastern Nigerian village of Chibok under cover of darkness, their target a girls' boarding school filled with students ahead of final year exams.
Armed and wearing military uniforms, they told the girls they were there to protect them.
The girls started to assemble in the yard as ordered to, not realizing the men were from Boko Haram -- the group whose name roughly translates as "Western education is sin" -- until it was too late. More than 200 were loaded onto trucks and spirited away: the group's leader later announced that he would sell them.
Since the mass abduction on April 14, the world's attention has been focused on Chibok, but CNN was the first global news organization to send a team to the scene of the atrocity.
The journey from the relative safety of Nigeria's capital, Abuja, to the remote countryside stalked by Boko Haram can take eight to 10 hours, but logistics and security concerns meant that it took CNN international correspondent Nima Elbagir's team four days to complete the trek.
For most of the route, the road was tarmacked and the team constantly stopped at checkpoints manned by the military, police or vigilantes looking out for militants. But for the final 45 minutes the tarmac and checkpoints disappeared and the team swerved through the bleak, potholed landscape at full speed with flak jackets beside them.
Read more: The road to Boko Haram's heartland
Some girls managed to escape Boko Haram, making a desperate dash for freedom after the militants loaded them into cargo trucks.
"We would rather die than go," one of those girls told CNN. With fear in her eyes and voice, the young woman, who asked not to be identified, described what happened on that horrendous night.
Read more: Escaped schoolgirl describes ordeal
Families had sent their girls to Chibok Girls Secondary School for a desperately needed education but Boko Haram's attack left the school a burned-out shell.
Chibok is part of Borno state, where 72% of primary-age children never attended school, according to the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria.
The militants destroyed everything they could at the school. One of the girls who managed to flee said their attack had ended both her education and dreams of becoming a doctor.
Read more: How Boko Haram cripples children's future
Outrage over the mass abduction has prompted a global campaign, calling for the girls to be freed through the Twitter hashtag #BringBackOurGirls.
But in Chibok the outrage is overlaid with despair. CNN's Nima Elbagir spoke to the mothers of two of the missing schoolgirls.
They described hearing gunfire before discovering their daughters had been taken away.
The kidnapping has left an indelible mark on Chibok. During the day, it looks like a normal village. But at night the fear and terror is visible.
The women, elderly and children go to sleep -- and the young men stay awake, doing patrols, keeping vigil.
The men arm themselves with whatever they can -- machetes, homemade bow and arrows, in the hope that they will be able to protect their families. CNN's team joined them.
Read more: Boko Haram threat keeps village awake
Nima and her crew returned to Nigeria's capital, Abuja, safely.
Around the world, the #BringBackOurGirls campaign continues and foreign governments including the United States, Britain, France, Israel and China have offered help to Nigeria's government find the girls.
But the schoolgirls are still missing, their relatives still praying for their return and the residents of Chibok still haunted by the attack that left them cowering in the bush as Boko Haram plundered their village.
Full coverage of CNN international correspondent Nima Elbagir's Chibok journey will screen on CNN International on Saturday 17 May at 2100 CET, Sunday 18 May at 0030 CET, 0400 CET and 1200 CET and Monday 19 May at 0730 CET.


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Please be advised that 11th Street (between Elizabeth & Washington) will be closed on January 23rd & 24th in order to deliver large material and heavy equipment from the City of Brownsville Warehouse to the project site ( Brownsville Performing Arts Academy). The street will be closed with temporary barricades.


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Featured publications
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Whatever the benefits of telework – and there are many, including more flexible working time, increased productivity and less commuting – there are drawbacks, as many of the one-third of Europeans who were exclusively working from home during the pandemic will attest. Primary among these is the 'always on' culture that telework engenders, encouraging workers to respond to emails, phone calls and texts from work long after the working day or week has ended. This situation may be aggravated if the organisational culture at work incentivises employees to accept heavy workloads and put in overtime, often unpaid. All of which upsets work–life balance, leading to conflicts between work and home life, insufficient rest and health problems like work-related stress and sleep disorders.
An ageing Europe and rising public expenditure on long-term care have signalled for some time that the fundamentals of care provision need to be addressed. However, the shocking death toll in care homes during the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that many long-term care services were ill-equipped to protect their vulnerable users have lately focused the public mind on the issue. Most people in the EU will need such care for themselves or someone close to them at some stage in their lives. Demand is already escalating, as the rise in the long-term care workforce – by a third in just a decade – testifies. Calls for a European care strategy rightly insist that care users be listened to, but here we highlight others in the system whose needs deserve attention too.
According to the dictionary, an organisation is an organised group of people with a particular purpose. To achieve this purpose, tasks are divided between the members of the group, and the task of some of those people is to manage the others. Interestingly, whereas most tasks are allocated based on competence and qualifications, the allocation of the task of managing people is often based on a different rationale. Many managers are appointed to their role because they exceled at the tasks that are carried out by the people they are supposed to manage. Many business owners take on the management of their staff, regardless of whether this is where their strengths lie. But people management is not easy and requires skills that, contrary to what is often assumed, are not just learned by doing.
As Europe braces for a winter wave of the Coronavirus, behind the public health indicators that rightly dominate the headlines, a revolution in working life is under way. In early spring, millions of people throughout Europe took their work home and tried to rapidly adjust to the new world in which they found themselves. The unfolding changes in working life from this sharp shock look set to be a 'révolution tranquille', where longstanding principles and practices could be fundamentally changed for decades to come. The decisions that are made now will ultimately determine the nature of how this revolution will unfold, and what it will mean for workers and employers alike.
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the human health sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue, and their capacity to negotiate agreements. The aim of Eurofound's studies on representativeness is to identify the relevant national and European social partner organisations in the field of industrial relations in the EU Member States.
Dieser Bericht hat zwei Schwerpunkte. Erstens wirft er einen Rückblick auf die Umstrukturierungen der letzten Zeit in der EU seit Januar 2019 bis einschließlich zu den ersten Auswirkungen der COVID-19-Krise. Im zweiten Teil wird eine Analyse von Fällen länderübergreifender Umstrukturierungen vorgestellt – Fälle, die sich auf die Arbeitnehmer in mehr als einem Land auswirken.
Following a sluggish response by many Member States to introduce or modify gender pay transparency measures, as it recommended in 2014, the European Commission intends to table a proposal for EU-level legislation on pay transparency later in 2020. In this context, a new Eurofound study investigated whether key people at company level see these measures as useful or beneficial. The results show that the richer pay audits are favoured over the simpler pay reports in terms of their perceived usefulness. Both managers and employee representatives agree on this.
Megatrends, such as digitalisation, globalisation, demographic change and climate change, are transforming the world of work, with knock-on effects for working conditions and job quality. Against this background, this report examines working conditions and job quality from a sectoral perspective, using data from the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS). The report first outlines the sectoral characteristics underpinning employment – economic structure, demographics, occupational level and employment status.
The gender pay gap in gross hourly earnings in the EU was 14.8% in 2018. To help combat discriminatory pay practices by employers, the European Commission recommended in 2014 the introduction of pay transparency measures in all Member States. But more than half still have not implemented any such measures. Ursula von der Leyen announced in 2019 the Commission's intention to table measures introducing binding pay transparency measures as part of new anti-discrimination legislation. Where do Member States currently stand on the agenda?
In the context of the ongoing trend of a fall in collective bargaining coverage, and recent calls at EU level to promote collective bargaining coverage as an instrument to support fair and decent wages, new data from Eurofound's fourth European Company Survey (ECS) show that two-thirds of workers (in private sector establishments with more than 10 employees in the EU) are estimated to have their wages set via a collective wage agreement.
European Restructuring Monitor
The European Restructuring Monitor has reported on the employment impact of large-scale business restructuring since 2002. This series includes its restructuring-related databases (events, support instruments and legislation) as well as case studies and publications.
European Working Conditions Surveys
The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) launched in 1990 and is carried out every five years, with the latest edition in 2020. It provides an overview of trends in working conditions and quality of employment for the last 30 years. It covers issues such as employment status, working time duration and organisation, work organisation, learning and training, physical and psychosocial risk factors, health and safety, work–life balance, worker participation, earnings and financial security, work and health, and most recently also the future of work.
Challenges and prospects in the EU
Eurofound's Flagship report series 'Challenges and prospects in the EU' comprise research reports that contain the key results of multiannual research activities and incorporate findings from different related research projects. Flagship reports are the major output of each of Eurofound's strategic areas of intervention and have as their objective to contribute to current policy debates.
Eurofound's work on COVID-19 examines the far-reaching socioeconomic implications of the pandemic across Europe as they continue to impact living and working conditions. A key element of the research is the e-survey, conducted in two rounds – in April and in July 2020. This is complemented by the inclusion of research into the ongoing effects of the pandemic in much of Eurofound's other areas of work.
European Company Survey 2019
Eurofound's European Company Survey (ECS) maps and analyses company policies and practices which can have an impact on smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, as well as the development of social dialogue in companies. This series consists of outputs from the ECS 2019, the fourth edition of the survey. The survey was first carried out in 2004–2005 as the European Survey on Working Time and Work-Life Balance.
Sectoral social dialogue
Eurofound's representativness studies are designed to allow the European Commission to identify the 'management and labour' whom it must consult under article 154 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). This series consists of studies of the representativeness of employer and worker organisations in various sectors.
National social partners and policymaking
This series reports on and updates latest information on the involvement of national social partners in policymaking. The series analyses the involvement of national social partners in the implementation of policy reforms within the framework of social dialogue practices, including their involvement in elaborating the National Reform Programmes (NRPs).
New forms of employment
This series reports on the new forms of employment emerging across Europe that are driven by societal, economic and technological developments and are different from traditional standard or non-standard employment in a number of ways. This series explores what characterises these new employment forms and what implications they have for working conditions and the labour market.
European Company Surveys
The European Company Survey (ECS) is carried out every four to five years since its inception in 2004–2005, with the latest edition in 2019. The survey is designed to provide information on workplace practices to develop and evaluate socioeconomic policy in the EU. It covers issues around work organisation, working time arrangements and work–life balance, flexibility, workplace innovation, employee involvement, human resource management, social dialogue, and most recently also skills use, skills strategies and digitalisation.
European Quality of Life Surveys
The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) is carried out every four to five years since its inception in 2003, with the latest edition in 2016. It examines both the objective circumstances of people's lives and how they feel about those circumstances and their lives in general. It covers issues around employment, income, education, housing, family, health and work–life balance. It also looks at subjective topics, such as people's levels of happiness and life satisfaction, and perceptions of the quality of society.
Forthcoming publications
Closing gender gaps in the labour market by achieving the equal participation of women is among the key objectives of the new Gender Equality Strategy 2020–2025. Despite significant progress in reducing the gender employment gap, it has stagnated over the past few years. Moreover, segregation in employment across sectors and occupations is still pervasive.
The long-term care (LTC) sector employs an increasing share of workers in the EU, with increasing shortages. The LTC workforce is mainly female and a relatively large and increasing proportion is 50 or older. Migrants are often concentrated in certain LTC jobs. This report maps the working conditions, the nature of employment and the role of collective bargaining in the sector. It also discusses policies to make the sector more attractive, combat undeclared work and to improve the situation of a particular vulnerable group of LTC workers: live-in carers.
The EU strives for the upward convergence of its Member States, where their performance improves and gaps between them decrease. Nearly a decade after the Great Recession, the COVID-19 crisis has again put this objective under pressure. This policy brief focuses on convergence in material well-being in Europe. Trends in several indicators largely follow the economic cycle, with upward convergence in good times and downward divergence in bad times.
New forms of employment: 2020 updateForthcoming
Social, economic and technological changes are giving rise to new forms of employment. These differ from 'traditional' work either in the relationship between employer and employee or in the unconventional work patterns and places of work that characterise them. While these new forms of employment can contribute to more inclusive labour markets, legalise undeclared work and offer preferential working conditions, some also raise concerns about, for example, job quality and representation. This report updates Eurofound's 2015 mapping of emerging trends.
New digital technologies have expanded the possibilities of employee monitoring and surveillance, both in and outside the workplace. In the context of the increasing digitalisation of work, there are many issues related to employee monitoring that warrant the attention of policymakers. There are the often-cited privacy and ethical concerns but also important implications for worker–employer relations, as digitally enabled monitoring and surveillance inevitably shift power dynamics in the workplace.
Representativeness of the European social partner organisations: Local and regional government sector and social servicesForthcoming
This study provides information allowing for an assessment of the representativeness of the actors involved in the European sectoral social dialogue committee for the local and regional administration sector. Their relative representativeness legitimises their right to be consulted, their role and effective participation in the European sectoral social dialogue and their capacity to negotiate agreements.
Industrial relations: Developments 2015–2019Forthcoming
This flagship report consolidates findings in the industrial relations field from research conducted by Eurofound over the course of its multiannual work programme for 2017–2020. It considers the strengths and weaknesses of European social dialogue, including the linkages with national social dialogue and the capacity constraints of the actors. A national comparative analysis draws on projects that have mapped the key features of national industrial relations systems.
How can working conditions be improved to make work more sustainable over the life course? This question has been the guiding principle for analysis of the 2015 European Working Conditions Survey data during the period of Eurofound's work programme for 2017–2020. This flagship report brings together the different research strands from this work and gives a comprehensive answer to the question. It includes an analysis of trends in working conditions, examining whether these are the same for all workers or whether inequalities between different groups of workers are increasing.
Wealth distribution and social mobilityForthcoming
This report builds on Eurofound's existing research on social mobility, assessing the distribution and transmission of wealth in Member States. It examines the roles of inheritance and household debt in explaining the transmission of advantage or disadvantage between the generations across Member States. The analysis is based on Eurosystem's Household Finance and Consumption Survey (HFCS).
This report analyses the involvement of the national social partners in the implementation of policy reforms within the framework of social dialogue practices, and their involvement in elaborating the National Reform Programmes (NRPs) and other key policy documents of the European Semester cycle.


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Legal Disclosure - Kleinwalsertal Tourismus eGen
Operator information
Outdooractive GmbH
Missener Straße 18
87509 Immenstadt
Phone: +49 8323 8006-0
Fax: +49 8323 8006-190
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Registry court: District court Kempten
Register number: HRB 9987
Sales tax identification number according to § 27a UStG: DE 261707005
Please note that the above contact information (email and phone) does NOT include customer service. If you have any questions regarding the service of the offer, please contact: email@example.com
Dispute resolution
The European Commission provides a platform for the out-of-court online dispute settlement at http://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/.
Outdooractive GmbH
Missener Straße 18, 87509 Immenstadt im Allgäu


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Dad sent me another creative self-portrait complements of someone else's sunglasses. Dad's photography has been getting better and better. He has some really beautiful photos which help me supplement my photo blog when I get too busy or exhausted to take new ones. I find it hard to take photos of people but I love portraiture and can look at people all day long. Dad, a Vietnam Vet, has no problem getting great shots of people. We make a great team. How could you not love a father like that? Cowboy hat, boots and all...
Monday, November 24, 2008
Posted by Ka`iana at 11:07 PM
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BOSTON, Dec. 27, 2012 -- PAREXEL International Corporation announced today that on December 21, 2012, the Company acquired all of the outstanding equity securities of Liquent, Inc., a leading global provider of Regulatory Information Management (RIM) solutions. Liquent provides an integrated platform of software solutions for regulatory submissions and product registration management, as well as a range of complementary business process outsourcing capabilities. Liquent was founded in 1994, and its clients include more than 200 biopharmaceutical and life sciences companies. With headquarters in Horsham, Pennsylvania, and additional offices in the United Kingdom, Germany and India, the Company employs nearly 300 individuals. Prior to the sale, Liquent was owned by Marlin Equity Partners. The purchase price was approximately $72 million (which was adjusted at closing to reflect Liquent's cash, indebtedness and working capital balances at closing), and was funded through the expansion of one of the Company's existing credit facilities.
Josef von Rickenbach, Chairman and CEO of PAREXEL stated, "The acquisition of Liquent further strengthens our regulatory capabilities by adding a robust information technology platform. Through Liquent's flagship software platform, InSight�, our clients will have access to comprehensive regulatory agency submission planning, viewing, tracking, publishing, and registration management throughout the entire lifecycle of a medicinal entity. We are pleased to be able to provide this new offering and believe that it will enhance the portfolio of products and services that we provide through our Perceptive Informatics business. We expect the acquisition will also benefit the PAREXEL Consulting and Medical Communications Services business, where we will be able to leverage Liquent's significant expertise in regulatory information management outsourcing through its Liquent Direct� solutions."
In conjunction with the completion of the acquisition of Liquent and other factors covered in this release, PAREXEL also updated its forward-looking financial guidance for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 (ending December 31, 2012) and for the full Fiscal Year (ending June 30, 2013). PAREXEL has increased its forward-looking service revenue guidance for the second quarter as a result of accelerated project performance, and for the full Fiscal Year as a result of the positive contributions from the Liquent acquisition, as well as better overall performance. Including these factors, the Company anticipates reporting consolidated service revenue in the range of $415 to $420 million for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013, and in the range of $1.675 to $1.695 billion for Fiscal Year 2013 in its entirety. Of the increase, the Liquent acquisition is expected to contribute a small amount of service revenue in the second quarter and between $17 and $23 million in service revenue during the second half of Fiscal Year 2013. Previously issued consolidated service revenue guidance was $400 to $410 million for the second quarter, and $1.630 to $1.660 billion for the Fiscal Year.
The Liquent acquisition is expected to have a dilutive effect on earnings per share as reported under Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) in the range of $0.02 to $0.04 for Fiscal Year 2013, including the amortization of intangibles and other costs. Excluding the amortization of intangibles and other costs, the acquisition is expected to be accretive. In addition to the impact from Liquent, the Company expects to have slightly better operating performance. Taking into account the afore-mentioned factors, PAREXEL now anticipates reporting GAAP diluted earnings per share in the range of $0.33 to $0.34 for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 and in the range of $1.32 to $1.39 for Fiscal Year 2013. Adjusted earnings per diluted share are expected to be between $1.36 and $1.43 for Fiscal Year 2013 (adjusted earnings per diluted share is a non-GAAP measure that excludes the impact of certain items that were recorded in the first quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 and reconciled to GAAP in the Company's press release dated October 30, 2012 including the sale of a building, a favorable adjustment to restructuring reserves, a charge relating to a dispute, and one-time adjustments to deferred tax assets, but does not include any items related to the acquisition of Liquent).
Previously issued guidance was for GAAP earnings per diluted share to be in the range of $0.31 to $0.33 for the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013 and in the range of $1.30 to $1.40 for Fiscal Year 2013. For the full Fiscal Year, adjusted earnings per diluted share had been expected to be in the range of $1.34 to $1.44 (adjusted earnings per diluted share excluded the impact of the special items that were recorded in the first quarter as referenced above).
With regard to other events, delays in decision-making by clients are expected to lead to softer new business wins in the second quarter of Fiscal Year 2013, and a shift of pending requests for proposals into the third quarter of Fiscal Year 2013. The Company has taken this into account in the revised financial guidance that has been issued in this press release.
In addition to the financial measures prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), the Company uses certain non-GAAP financial measures. The Company believes that presenting the non-GAAP financial measures contained in this press release assists investors and others in gaining a better understanding of its core operating results and future prospects, especially when comparing such results to previous periods or forecasted guidance, because such measures exclude items that are outside of the Company's normal operations and/or, in certain cases, are difficult to forecast accurately for future periods. Management uses non-GAAP financial measures, in addition to the measures prepared in accordance with GAAP, as the basis for measuring the Company's core operating performance and comparing such performance to that of prior periods and to the performance of its competitors for the same reasons stated above. Such measures are also used by management in its financial and operating decision-making. Non-GAAP financial measures are not meant to be considered superior to or a substitute for the Company's results of operations prepared in accordance with GAAP.
About the Company
PAREXEL International Corporation is a leading global bio/pharmaceutical services organization, providing a broad range of knowledge-based contract research, consulting, and medical communications services to the worldwide pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries. Committed to providing solutions that expedite time-to-market and peak-market penetration, PAREXEL has developed significant expertise across the development and commercialization continuum, from drug development and regulatory consulting to clinical pharmacology, clinical trials management, medical education and reimbursement. Perceptive Informatics, Inc., a subsidiary of PAREXEL, provides advanced technology solutions, including medical imaging, to facilitate the clinical development process. Headquartered near Boston, Massachusetts, PAREXEL operates in 73 locations throughout 51 countries around the world, and has approximately 14,000 employees. For more information about PAREXEL International visit www.parexel.com .
PAREXEL is a registered trademark of PAREXEL International Corporation, and Perceptive Informatics is a trademark of Perceptive Informatics, Inc. All other names or marks may be registered trademarks or trademarks of PAREXEL International Corporation, Perceptive Informatics, Inc. or their respective owners and are hereby acknowledged.
This release contains "forward-looking" statements regarding future results and events, including, without limitation, statements regarding the Company's expected financial results, future growth and customer demand. For this purpose, any statements contained herein that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed forward-looking statements. Without limiting the foregoing, the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "intends," "appears," "estimates," "projects," "will," "would," "could," "should," "targets," and similar expressions are also intended to identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements in this release involve a number of risks and uncertainties. The Company's actual future results and actual events may differ significantly from those suggested or indicated in the forward-looking statements contained in this release. Important factors that might cause such a difference include, but are not limited to, risks associated with actual operating performance; actual expense savings and other operating improvements resulting from recent and anticipated restructurings; the loss, modification, or delay of contracts which would, among other things, adversely impact the Company's recognition of revenue included in backlog; the Company's dependence on certain industries and clients; the Company's ability to win new business, manage growth and costs, and attract and retain employees; the Company's ability to complete additional acquisitions and to integrate newly acquired businesses or enter into new lines of business; the impact on the Company's business of government regulation of the drug, medical device and biotechnology industry; consolidation within the pharmaceutical industry and competition within the biopharmaceutical services industry; the potential for significant liability to clients and third parties; the potential adverse impact of health care reform; and the effects of exchange rate fluctuations and other international economic, political, and other risks. Such factors and others are discussed more fully in the section entitled "Risk Factors" of the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2012 as filed with the SEC on November 8, 2012, which "Risk Factors" discussion is incorporated by reference in this press release. The Company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the future. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company's estimates or views as of any date subsequent to the date of this press release.


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Latest Infectious Disease News
THURSDAY, May 23 (HealthDay News) -- A shortage of a critical tuberculosis drug has hampered the efforts of health departments across the United States to contain the spread of the highly infectious lung disease, federal officials report.
The drug, isoniazid (INH), was first used in 1951 and is one of four drugs considered to be the core of any first-line treatment for tuberculosis (TB). Patients must take the drugs for six to nine months, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
However, a national survey of local health departments around the country in January found that many health departments and clinics were having trouble getting INH. According to the report, published in the May 24 issue of the CDC publication, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, the shortage first became severe in November 2012 and was attributed to manufacturing and supply problems.
The January survey, conducted by the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association online, was sent to 68 jurisdictions in all 50 states, including health departments in 10 large U.S. cities.
The survey found that 79 percent of the TB programs that responded said they were having difficulty obtaining INH, 41 percent said they would run out of the drug within a month and 15 percent no longer had any of the drug left.
To deal with the shortage, 69 percent of the TB programs said they switched suppliers, 72 percent prioritized high-risk patients, 68 percent delayed treatment and 88 percent tried alternative treatments. Forty-four percent said they switched to more expensive TB drug regimens.
The CDC researchers said that while the shortage of INH is easing, many health departments still can't get supplies of the drug and have changed their treatment practices to deal with the shortage. The CDC is working with local, state and international officials, along with suppliers of INH, to alleviate the shortage.
-- HealthDay staff
Copyright © 2013 HealthDay. All rights reserved.


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Author Archive
As we get closer to that 1st game on Saturday, March 3rd at Scottsdale Stadium, you can feel the excitement all the way from SF. Baseball is almost here. Today is Day 16 of Camp here in Scottsdale, and the Giants Players are chomping at the bit to get going. Tomorrow will be a big day. Players will be arriving bright and early (7am) to take part in the annual PHOTO DAY, where several baseball card, AP photo, scoreboard and CSN Bay Area cameras will capture the players for the 2012 season. We will be covering that with some cool photos behind the scenes. Then a little bit later, the Giants will be hosting an intrasquad game. Giants vs Giants. We will be streaming the game live on SFGIANTS.COM beginning at 9am PST along with commentary from Marty Lurie and special Guests Brian Murphy and Paulie Mac from the KNBR Morning Show. You can join in the conversation via Twitter #SFGLive – After tomorrow, we will be one step closer to Opening Day. See you in the AM!
NEWS AND NOTES FROM DAY 9 – The Giants worked out from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. today, the longest practice has gone thus far this spring. Players worked on fundamentals then took batting practice.
WE'RE LIVE! – For the first time this spring, Giants pitchers faced Giants batters in live batting practice. It was somewhat of a dangerous live bp as Hector Sanchez drilled Matt Cain in the leg with a line drive comebacker and Jeremy Affeldt hit Pablo Sandoval in the side with a fastball. Both Cain and Sandoval were okay. Buster Posey faced live pitching for the first time since his season ended last year.
QUOTE OF THE DAY – "I don't think I've ever been that excited to take live bp, ever!" Buster Posey on taking live batting practice for the first time today.
SAY HEY! – Willie Mays made a brief appearance this morning, sitting in the Giants clubhouse and talking with players, coaches and staff. Mays usually comes in a few times a week and it's fun watching all the rookies ooh and aah the Hall of Famer.
PAT THE BAT – Former Giants outfielder Pat Burrell made a surprise visit this morning. He immediately walked onto the field as the players were practicing and gave Aubrey Huff a big hug.
LIGHTS! CAMERA! – Comcast Sports Net Bay Area's Amy Gutierrez arrived in camp today to do sit down interviews with Giants players and coaches. Comcast will use these interviews during the broadcasts throughout the regular season. The MLB Network was also in Giants camp today with Matt Vasgersian conducting interviews.
COMING UP – The Giants will have an intrasquad game on Thursday, March 1.
For more complete coverage of Spring Training go to sfgiants.com
Spring Training Notes – February 24, 2012
NEWS AND NOTES FROM DAY 7 – Today was the first full squad workout with all 66 playersparticipating in camp. The day began with a 20 minute meeting in the clubhouse where manager Bruce Bochy addressed the team.
BY THE NUMBERS – The Giants now have a total of 66 players in camp. The roster consists of 33 pitchers, 7 catchers, 16 infielders and 10 outfielders.
QUOTE OF THE DAY – "It's great to have everyone here. It was a great workout today" – Giants manager Bruce Bochy on today's first full squad workout.
CAMP VISITORS – Don Carson, the owner of Don and Charlie's, which is a very well-known restaurant in Scottsdale, dropped by Giants camp today to watch the team practice. Don is very good friends with clubhouse manager Mike Murphy and tends to drop by several times throughout the course of the spring. Don and Charlie's caters in the press box during home games. The restaurant is a famous spot for coaches, players, front office staff, scouts and all baseball enthusiasts.
GOTCHA! – Giants first baseman Aubrey Huff played a little prank on Giants beat writers Andrew Baggarly (CSN Bay Area) and Chris Haft (MLB.com) by shooting them with silly string today.
DID YOU KNOW? – Fans can watch the Giants practice over these next seven days before the games start. The gates at Scottsdale Stadium open up to the public at 10:00 a.m. every morning. Today there were approximately 250 fans in the stands enjoying the sun and watching the Giants players do drills and take batting practice. This is also a good time to try and get autographs.
LIVE FROM SALTY'S – CSN Bay Area's "Chronicle Live" show will be broadcasted live tonight from Salty Senorita's restaurant in downtown Scottsdale from 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. PST (6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. MST). Brandon Belt and Brandon Crawford will be guests on the show.
For more complete coverage of Spring Training go to sfgiants.com
NEWS AND NOTES FROM DAY 6 –Brian Wilson completed his second bullpen session of camp and he seemed to throw a lot harder than he did on Monday. Tim Lincecum also threw for the first time since being scratched with back stiffness. Dan Runzler also looked good in his session. Giants pitching coach Dave Righetti was pleased with how all three pitchers' bullpens went today.
HI, MY NAME IS – New Giants outfielder Melky Cabrera made his first appearance at Giants camp today as this was the day that position players had to report. Minor league infielder Chris Dominguez also arrived today as well as outfielder Juan Perez.
BY THE NUMBERS – The Giants now have a total of 66 players in camp. The roster consists of 33 pitchers, 7 catchers, 16 infielders and 10 outfielders.
QUOTE OF THE DAY – "This is the best young catching talent that I've ever had in camp" – Giants manager Bruce Bochy on the Giants young catching corps.
CAMP CELEBRITIES – Former Giants great Will Clark is currently in camp. Clark leaves tomorrow but will be back in late March for another week. J.T. Snow and Jeff Kent are due to arrive tomorrow.
SMILE! – Giants team photographer Missy Mikulecky made her annual debut at camp today, taking pictures of players that the Giants Community Fund will use for their yearly Junior Giants pamphlet. Some of the pics that Missy had to get were of Jeremy Affeldt brushing his teeth, Javier Lopez applying sunscreen to his face and Nate Schierholtz eating vegetables.
PLEASE SIGN HERE – Today was the last day for players to sign baseball's, bats and jerseys for the Giants' Community Relations department. Madison Bumgarner, Mike Fontenot, Conor Gillaspie, Aubrey Huff, Buster Posey and Ryan Theriot, all spent a lot of time this morning and afternoon signing dozens of items.
GO WARRIORS! – Emmanuel Burriss and Brandon Crawford went to U.S. Airways Arena last night to witness the Warriors pull out a great win against the Suns. However, Burriss didn't see the best quarter as he left in the third with the Warriors ahead by 20.
For more complete coverage of Spring Training go to sfgiants.com
Spring Training Schedule- Madison Bumgarner Edition
So ever wonder what a players schedule is like during these first two weeks of spring training when there are no games? Below is what Giants starting pitcher Madison Bumgarner's routine is during these first two weeks.
8:00 a.m. – Arrive at Scottsdale Stadium
8:05 a.m. – Change into Giants workout clothes (t-shirt and shorts)
8:10 a.m. – Eat breakfast in the clubhouse (there's a lot of variety to choose from – waffles, eggs, fruit, yogurt, oatmeal, cereal)
8:45 a.m. – 9:55 a.m. – Try and kill time by playing games on my phone or the media relations department will try and get me to do interviews
10:00 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. – Team meeting where the coaches go over the different stations that day
10:05 a.m. – 10:20 a.m. – Warm up and stretch
10:20 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. – Loosen arms by playing catch
10:30 a.m. – 11:20 a.m. – Everyone is broken into four different groups and we go through four different stations that last approximately 12 minutes. The first station is for baserunning and bunting. The second station is for pitcher's fielding practice. Station three is where we work off the mounds and station four is for bunting and slash hitting in the batting cages
11:20 a.m. -11:45 a.m. – Pitchers conditioning where we run
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Usually hit the gym in the clubhouse and go lift for about an hour or so
12:45 p.m. – Shower
1:00 p.m. – Go home
Happy Birthday!
Giants lose to Indians 7-1
Tempe, Ariz. – The Giants lost to the Indians tonight 7-1 at Scottsdale Stadium. Barry Zito started for the Giants and took the loss, throwing 6.0 innings with 5 strikeouts, while allowing 4 runs (2 earned) on 7 hits. Jeremy Affeldt threw 1.0 inning while allowing 1 hit and Dan Runzler pitched a perfect 9th, striking out 1.
The Giants lone run came off a solo home run to left field from Miguel Tejada in the bottom of the 7th inning. Buster Posey finished the game going 1-for-2 with a single and a walk. Brandon Belt went 1-for-1 with a single.
Tomorrow, the Giants travel to Surprise Stadium to take on the Royals. The Giants will send LHP Madison Bumgarner (1-3, 4.76) to the hill to face RHP Vin Mazzaro (0-1, 5.84). First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and can be heard at sfgiants.com.
Giants get blanked by Angels 8-0
Tempe, Ariz. – The Giants were blanked by the Angels 8-0 today at Tempe Diablo Stadium. Matt Cain threw 3.0 innings, but gave up 5 runs on 7 hits. Aubrey Huff finished the game 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and Buster Posey reached base in all three of his at-bats, going 2-for-2 with a pair of singles and a walk.
SF relievers Ramon Ramirez, Santiago Casilla and Marc Kroon combined to throw 3.0-scoreless innings. Cody Ross left the game in the 1st inning with a strained right calf after running in to catch a line drive by Alberto Callaspo.
Tomorrow, the Giants host the Cleveland Indians at Scottsdale Stadium. The Giants will send LHP Barry Zito (2-0, 2.30) to the hill to face LHP David Huff (1-1, 8.25) of the Indians. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
The Orange and Black Attack is now on SF GiantScoop!
On behalf of your promotions team, the Orange and Black
Attack, I would like to say how happy we are to be a part of the SF GiantScoop!
Through this blog, the Orange and Black Attack will keep you updated on all the
fun happenings of your promotions team in both AT&T Ballpark and all
around the San Francisco Bay Area.
While this blog will let us reach out to you, treat
our blog as a way to interact with us as well. We are the promotions team
for your San Francisco Giants, so we want to hear from you! If anything is ever
on your mind, make sure to post in the comments section to make your voice
The Orange and Black Attack is extremely excited to get this
season underway and to bring you as much online content that we can. Make sure
to keep checking this page so you don't miss anything from your promotions team
to you and all the other fans of your 2010 World Series Champion San Francisco
Also, to learn more about the team, check out http://sanfrancisco.giants.mlb.com/sf/fan_forum/orange_black_attack.jsp to read quick bios and fun facts about each member.
Mike Heimowitz
SF Giants Marketing and Entertainment Coordinator
Giants, Rockies get rained out
Scottsdale, Ariz. – Today's game between the Giants and Rockies was canceled in the middle of the 3rd inning due to rain.
Tomorrow is the Giants first off day of the spring, with play resuming Wednesday, March 23 as the Giants will travel to Tempe Diablo to face the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. RHP Matt Cain of the Giants (0-0, 0.00) will toe the rubber against RHP Ervin Santana (1-1, 3.65) of the Angels.


text: BusinessObjects may seem like a dauntingly complex topic, but BusinessObjects XI Release 2 For Dummies makes is a snap. Even if you're new to business intelligence tools, this user-friendly guide makes it easy to access, format and share data, analyze the information this data contains, and measure your organization's performance. In no time, you'll be finding your way around Universes to see how everything is shaping up, viewing and creating reports, building powerful queries on your organizations database, and measuring your company's performance using BusinessObjects XI Release 2. This completely jargon-free handbook will put you in complete control of the ways and means of a truly exciting and powerful suite of business intelligence tools.Discover how to: Make business decisions with help from BusinessObjects Use BusinessObjects XI wizards Perform a server installation Create and define a Universe Set up desktop reporting Customize and use InfoView Measure performance with Dashboard and Analytics Take advantage of data marts and understand how they fit into your BusinessObjects system Created by a team with more than 15 years combined experience working with BusinessObjects tools, BusinessObjects XI Release 2 For Dummies comes complete with several short lists of useful information, including tips on how to prepare for a successful BusinessObjects integration and helpful resources beyond the pages of this book. You'll also find an overview of Crystal Reports, BusinessObjects' companion reporting tool.


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See our Best of Detroit 2020 winners.
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Related How-Tos
By Alice Truong
Real estate in Hong Kong is limited, and flats are notorious for being tiny and pricey. With that in mind, start by deciding what neighborhoods are best suited for you, recommends Janine Barnes of Crown Relocations in Hong Kong. Is budget the biggest concern? Proximity to work? Ample space for the kids? Once you determine what areas work for you and your family, it's a matter of working with brokers to find a home. Most real-estate listings, whether to rent or buy, are done via a broker in Hong Kong.
Local realty agencies are camped out throughout the city and specialize in the areas they are located in. Actual offices will have the most up-to-date information, but websites give a good idea of what's on the market.
Some of the larger residential real-estate agencies are Midland, Centaline, Ricacorp Properties, Century 21, and Savills.
Hong Kong is divided into three main areas: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon Peninsula and New Territories — each with its own set of diverse neighborhoods. In general, Hong Kong Island is more affluent and home to some of the most expensive real estate in the city, especially in areas such as the Peak and Happy Valley. Most large businesses are also located on Hong Kong Island. Kowloon can be more affordable, but some up-and-coming and increasingly pricey neighborhoods include West Kowloon and Olympic. New Territories, though less accessible via the MTR, is a popular option for families because homes typically have more space.
Popular expatriate neighborhoods include Mid-Levels (the area about halfway up Victoria Peak from the harbor, south of Central) and SoHo (which gets its name from being south of Hollywood Road in Central) on Hong Kong Island because of its nightlife and proximity to Central. For families with young children, Discovery Bay on Lantau Island, and Repulse Bay, South Bay and Deep Water Bay, all on the south side of Hong Kong Island, are options boasting homes with more space as well as proximity to notable international schools. (See our guide to Hong Kong schools.)
Negotiating a Lease
Rental contracts in Hong Kong typically run two years. In the second year, though, either the tenant or landlord can often choose to terminate the lease penalty-free by giving two months notice. As far as standard rental contracts go, it stops there. Carefully sift through lease documents, which can vary from a few pages to about 50, to make sure you're aware and comfortable with the provisions. A common tenant-unfriendly agreement is making the tenant responsible for wear and tear of the flat. Landlords are generally accustomed to negotiating clauses and terms in the lease, including rent price, furniture and appliances, and minor renovations. Your broker or a lawyer can often help with negotiations.
The broker's commission is usually equal to one month's rent, split 50-50 between the landlord and tenant. Most landlords require two months worth of rent for a deposit and the first month's rent paid upfront. Government rates and building management fees usually tack on an additional 10% to 15% each month, though it is common practice for the rent to cover these charges. Tenants are usually responsible for paying for utilities, including, electricity, gas and water. When the lease is signed, the two parties split payment of the government stamp duty in half, calculated, as of 2010, as 0.5% of the annual rent.
In order to snag the home you want, expedite the process by having your passport or Hong Kong ID, and employment letter and contract handy. Prospective tenants often have to put down a deposit and sign a provisional agreement to hold onto an apartment. But Ms. Barnes of Crown Relocations in Hong Kong warns that these contracts hold little weight: If the tenant breaks the agreement, he or she loses the deposit; if the landlord does so, the deposit is refunded to the tenant. "The landlord can get a higher offer," she said. "[The provisional agreement] is almost not worth the paper it's printed on."
Nota Bene
Find out if your apartment is under mortgage and if the landlord has bank consent to rent it to tenants. If there is no bank consent and a landlord defaults on the mortgage, the bank has the right to ask tenants to vacate immediately. Individual owners might not have bank consent because there is a slight premium on a bank-consented rental mortgage, since it is considered investment property.
What strategies have you used to find your new home? What's the best way to map Hong Kong's housing market? Share your expertise in Journal Community.


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Dynamic Mat workout
Excellent Instructions and easy to follow
The Peak Pilates Dynamic Mat Workout DVD is cross-conditioning at its best. Rhythmic, flowing and focused, it connects one movement to the next, building greater endurance, flexibility, strength and performance. Initially designed for those in the Peak Pilates education programs, this DVD is now available to everyone in order to experience the flow, energy, and rhythm that distinguishes Classical Pilates from other approaches.
Peak Pilates Master Trainers Clare Dunphy and Colleen Glenn lead you through this two-part program keeping you interested and energized. Part One is a high energy 30-minute mat workout that is challenging and safe for all levels, targeting the abdominals, arms, thighs and buttocks. The focus is on the flow of the routine with an emphasis on transitions, which connect each exercise from one to the next. Part Two is a 10-minute upper body workout utilizing 2–3 lb. hand weights for optimum results. We highly recommend viewing the chapters on Key Concepts and Fundamentals before doing the mat workout. These chapters provide you with tips on how to stay connected and get deeper into the exercises. Don't miss the Special Feature at the end, designed to challenge your memory and help you practice the flow.
Recommended for this workout:


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Quick Trips
Quick trips: What's the big deal about Nashville? Everything
I hit town two hours ago, and I'm already on stage at the Bluebird Cafe.
The performers aren't, though. Tonight, four singer-songwriters take turns holding forth in a circle on the floor, while the tiny stage is occupied by two tables of wine-sippers. The Bluebird likes to mix things up.
These days, it's hard to get into the Bluebird, a little 100-seat hovel in a strip mall. That's the fault of the ABC series Nashville, which resumes with new episodes Jan. 15.
I figured it was time to head off to Nashville myself, in search not of fame and fortune (I don't even own a guitar) but of what all the fuss is about. The Bluebird's a great place to start an exploration of this song-centric city, which The New York Times extolled as the new "it" city.
"The Bluebird is a listening room," warns Nancy Kruh, Nashville friend and photographer. "If you talk, you will be shushed."
The audience is expected to listen rather than yammer? Charming concept. Indeed, as Adam James launches into a done-me-wrong rocker, somebody at the next table emits a few words and is promptly met with "Shhhhhh!"
Tonight's other featured singer-songwriters are folk-rocker Jameson Elder; Michael Castro, a funky, genre-defying artist who writes engaging songs, sings soulfully and whistles enviably (you might have seen him on American Idol Season 8); and Heather Morgan, a staff songwriter for Sony ATV who throws down a lot of good hooks. The four rivet us for two hours as we easily top the cute little $7 food-and-beverage minimum.
From the Bluebird's home at 4104 Hillsboro Pike (which is more residential street than pike), my friend drives me to check out Music Row: two streets packed with recording studios, music company offices, music lawyers' offices and the big honkin' ASCAP building. (The American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers makes sure those folks get royalties every time their songs get sung, even badly.) Have no doubt: Nashville is the beating heart of the music business.
As if that weren't enough to brag about, Nashville has a Parthenon. A replica originally built for Tennessee's 1897 Centennial Exposition, the Greek edifice now houses art and hosts events, and as we drive by, kids are cavorting on its lawn.
We roll past the Union Station Hotel (good place to stay in a 19th-century rail station) to end the evening on Lower Broadway, where music pours from neon-jeweled honky-tonks as crowds meander from joint to joint, block after block.
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The next day, we pick up where we left off, heading back to Lower Broadway to pop into Ernest Tubb's Record Shop, one of the coolest record shops in town (the other is Jack White's Third Man Records) and gawk at the walls of show posters at Hatch Show Print (which has since moved into the Country Music Hall of Fame)..
A block away, we prayerfully enter the Mother Church of Country Music, Ryman Auditorium. First opened as the Union Gospel Tabernacle in 1892, this hall has housed everything from Broadway shows to boxing. It was home to the Grand Ole Opry from 1943 to 1974. When the Opry moved to Opryland, there was talk of tearing Ryman down, but Nashville wouldn't let that happen, and a renovation brought it back to life in 1994. It now plays host to major names in every music genre, and the Opry returns in winter (lower crowd) months.
Whomever you go to see at the Ryman, you could well hear from other stars who aren't on the bill. The performers know their friends are in the audience and often call them up — the local talent pool in Nashville is mega-deep.
If you go to a show at the Ryman, take a pillow. Those church pews are hard. If you can't see a show there, take a tour ($14 for a self-guided one that includes an eight-minute video). This is a major piece of Nashville history, haunted by the ghosts of talent past.
A few blocks away from the Ryman, near the new, giant convention center called Music City Center, we're awed by the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, a city block full of exhibits that tell the story of country music's various paths. There they are: Maybelle Carter's guitar, Earl Scruggs' banjo and Bill Monroe's mandolin, right behind a really big crowd of people looking at … a Taylor Swift video. Well, that's all right. Swift gave $4 million to the museum.
Worth noting: Toby Keith and the Dixie Chicks are trapped in the same display case. Somebody has an evil sense of humor.
The museum and its unbroken-circle Hall of Fame are testimony to how seriously Nashville takes it music history and talent, and a just-opened Songwriters Hall of Fame gallery in Music City Center adds an exclamation point.
Nashville's more than music, of course. It's also home to good food (loved my spinach and ricotta crepes at Marche and Mexican caramel artisan ice pop at Las Paletas), college (Vanderbilt, Belmont and more), hiking (Radnor Lake's a good spot), art galleries, Cumberland River cruises and Andrew Jackson's house, the Hermitage. Also, it's green — beautifully, lushly green.
But the music is magic in Nashville, and there's only one way to conclude this trip: with a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. The Opry, a Nashville institution, is a live, two-hour radio show, complete with voiced commercials (Boot Barn's annual Stinky Boot Sale). It's a hoot, and far more varied that we expected.
We hear (on pews with cushions, thank you) insane bluegrass from the Lonesome River Band, a touch of Cajun from Jimmy C. Newman and vintage country from Bill Anderson, the Whites, Ray Pillow and Connie Smith. Riders in the Sky cover Rawhide (and gently rope the announcer while he reads a commercial), Exile does I Want to Kiss You All Over (because how could they not?), Brandy Clark charms with a rollicking husband basher, Stripes, and Angie Johnson, a former contestant on The Voice, rocks her single, Swagger. In the evening's women-rush-the-stage moment, Charles Esten — Deacon on Nashville — belts out I Climb the Walls. It's a grand ol' stew of country flavors.
All in all, there's a whole lot to make a fuss about in Nashville. Am I fan now? Heck. They had me at "shhhhh."