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The international coatings community gathered in April at The European Coatings Show, held in Nuremberg, the largest show to date. Its organisers highlight sustainability and functionality as the main talking points driving the industry. On show were products for manufacturing water-based paints and low-VOC formulations, bio-based materials and sustainable raw materials. Solutions for antimicrobial coatings and technologies for manufacturing functional products were also in demand.
From the exhibition floor, the coatings industry considers itself well prepared for the future, as a survey by a market research institute showed: two-thirds of the exhibitors rated the prospects for the industry as positive. About 20 per cent expect developments to remain constant, with only three percent expecting any weakening.
Acclaimed international experts brought the audience of the European Coatings Show conference up to date on scientific and research developments in a total of 24 sessions, including two on sustainable products in the form of waterborne coatings and bio-based coatings. For example, Renaud Nicolaÿ from the ESPCI (École Supérieure de Physiques et de Chimie Industrielles de la Ville de Paris) showed how highly resistant vitrimers with novel properties can be generated: they are ductile, self-repairing and recyclable, and do not lose their properties when recycled.
The European Coatings Show Award for the best conference submission went to Bas Tuijtelaars of DSM Coating Resins. His award was for research into the production of amine-free resins. In his paper, he illustrated the development of a water-based polyurethane dispersion to replace triethylamine as a neutralising agent. The jury was won over by the potential of achieving a balance between health protection requirements and efforts to achieve outstanding performance.
Aesthetic and haptic appeal
When it comes to the decision to purchase, the way a product looks is important. However, whether the packaging is pleasant to touch is also increasingly becoming a decisive factor. Besides this, consumers are attracted by products that are packaged in a way that promises sustainability or suggests a return to traditional materials. An impressive example in this field is from Schur with its recent development Papertouch, plastic films characterised by a special coating such that they feel like paper to the touch.
Waxed paper packaging solutions add a trendy homemade look to sweets and feel surprisingly soft and pleasant to touch. The Schur Flexibles Waxed Paper solutions are based on a technology that uses natural, untreated wax to coat the paper, which is more biodegradable than paraffin-based solutions, for example. The base waxes can also be modified with polymers and additives to increase the shine of the paper's surface and to optimise its sealability. The material's special wood fibre composites and various surface sealants make it possible to refine the papers further. Sweet packaging made from Schur Flexibles wax-coated materials is easy to open and reseal and can also be printed on with up to eight colours without any difficulties.
The paper surface is particularly hard-wearing and does not scratch. Flawlessly packaged candy drops & co. are a highlight on the sweet shelves. For example, the Schur Flexibles Waxed paper range is perfect for packaging sticky sweets as the waxed paper makes them easy to take out of the pack.
Paper Look packaging – meaning packaging films that feel and also look like paper – are a real trend in the industry. Consumers are attracted by products with packaging that looks like 'real paper'.
Schur Flexibles' Paper Look range includes two- or three-layered paper laminates. Various very different materials are combined by means of a solvent-free technique. This makes it possible to manufacture customised packaging that looks and feels like paper for a specific product.
At the same time, it fully meets all of the requirements with regard to barrier, gloss, durability and sealing properties and therefore protects the product perfectly. The Paper Look solutions are easy to process and can be HD flexo-printed with up to ten colours – which creates a really eye-catching display at retail.
Breaking with tradition
The light metal packaging industry is moving away from traditional BPA-based coatings due to regulatory demands, and consumer and NGO preferences. Flavio Marchi, global marketing director, Valspar Packaging explains that the company has been doing a great deal of innovative product development to address these concerns.
He comments, "Valspar has the broadest portfolio of coating solutions, including non-BPA offerings, providing the can makers and brand owners with choices. Our newest innovation, using our Safety by Design development protocol based on the pharmaceutical model, is the valPure® V70 series of coatings for food and beverage containers. valPure V70 was recently awarded the Bronze METPACK 2017 Innovation award during the show in Essen, Germany."
valPure® V70 is a next-generation non-BPA coating that gives can makers and brands the performance and protection they have come to expect from traditional epoxy-based coatings. V70 was designed to achieve the strongest performance while meeting the highest safety standards – even beyond those required by regulatory agencies, as supported by leading academic toxicologists and validated by the toughest critics, including NGOs. Researchers at leading universities including Tufts, Baylor, and Colorado State University studied this molecule and results are now being published.
"With the strides we're making in non-BPA innovation, it's an exciting time to be in the metal packaging coatings industry," Mr Marchi enthuses. "We're pushing the boundaries of technology, expanding our product line and gaining the trust of key industry stakeholders to further strengthen our position as the leader in next-generation non-BPA coatings."
V70 for two-piece beverage can and end applications offers drop-in solutions for epoxy-like performance while maintaining current line efficiencies on the same equipment. V70 for food can applications offers epoxy-like performance in solvent- or water-based formulations for exteriors on sheet or coil and for D&I can interiors. Major customers and brand owners are converting to valPure V70 products to meet their non-BPA conversion requirements.
Valspar is very proud of this innovation in non-BPA technology and pleased by its market acceptance and expansion into the industry. "We will continue developing, reviewing, and refining new technologies to meet the needs of our customers today and in the future," adds Mr Marchi.
Driving a revolution
Next generation, award-winning technology from Dow Coating Materials could drive a revolution in can coatings, by facilitating health-conscious food and drink producers to turn away from epoxy coatings using bisphenol A (BPA) and other materials of concern.
Yet with traditional epoxy coatings using BPA – a material that has raised health concerns – alternatives are in demand from progressive brand owners wanting to address evolving consumer demands.
Now, technological developments at Dow have facilitated a tried and tested option for flexible and rigid plastic food packaging to be applied to can coatings too: thermoplastic polyolefins, with a specially designed mix of functionalised and non-functionalised polyethylene or polypropylene in an aqueous dispersion.
Without materials such as styrene, epoxides and phenolic crosslinkers, breakthrough CANVERA™ Polyolefin Dispersions from Dow offer a water-borne, spray-applied replacement for epoxy coating systems, eliminating BPA use and delivering brand owners a new approach to safe, sustainable can coating that will appeal to health-conscious consumers.
Powered by patented BLUEWAVE™ Technology, which facilitates creation of ultra-thin, thermoplastic film coatings, CANVERA™ Polyolefin Dispersions can be spray-applied from water-borne formulations to the inside of cans, protecting contents from changes in colour, taste or appearance.
With cost effectiveness and seamless manufacturing productivity high on the agenda, producers also benefit from drop-in performance: the technology can be used on existing lines and applied directly to metal surfaces by the same equipment used for current epoxy coatings.
Dow's CANVERA™ Polyolefin Dispersions for metal can coating received a bronze 2017 Edison award. "Dow Coating Materials has been working on this progressive technology for several years, and it is really exciting to finally see it being adopted by the market place," remarks Neil Carr, business president, Dow Coating Materials, Performance Monomers and Plastic Additives. "CANVERA™ Polyolefin Dispersions offer a genuine breakthrough in can coatings, and are a great testimony of our business's ability to deliver science-based, sustainable solutions that aim to improve people's lives."
Eliminating concern
AkzoNobel strengthens its position in the food coatings segment by introducing Vitalure™ G2 10 – a new generation of polyester coatings for the internal protection of three-piece food cans and ends.
The new internal coating for three-piece food cans from AkzoNobel combines key features—excellent barrier performance, strong sulphur resistance, and sustainability—delivering a global platform which meets regional requirements across all geographical areas.
"Our objective was to develop a solution with barrier performance better than Epoxy technologies while eliminating materials of concern, including of course BPA," says Luc Viardot, global segment manager, Food, at AkzoNobel Metal Coatings.
"We aimed to provide our customers with a stronger platform in terms of chemical resistance for many types of food via a solution which can be used in multiple regions across the globe. This technology already has a proven track record in terms of application and chemical resistance in different regions. The metal can industry has faced many challenges over the last few years. However, challenges stimulate AkzoNobel to bring our customers the right answer in a timely manner. Our customer requirements are very different across the food metal can business and we strive to bring global solutions which can be adapted to meet regional and local needs. The product is designed to be applied in a 1- or 2-coat system depending on the properties of the food which is to be contained. The coating can be applied at low film weight and has excellent powder side stripe adhesion. We developed this platform together with our customers; we value their input at each stage of the project and we see the results now!"
It is apparent that coatings are bringing advanced solutions to both the inside and outside of packaging. On the one hand, the coatings market is driving forward sustainable and safer materials for inner protective layers, and there is also a trend in the market towards using coatings on the outer surface of packaging to boost shelf appeal and attract consumers.
Coatings address an abundance of concerns in the market and held by consumers today: health, sustainability, environmental, shelf appeal, corrosion resistance, and protection, ultimately leading to innovation and the development of forward-thinking materials for tomorrow's generation.


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Genuine and Heartfelt
I came across Casey and his Personal Tao website at a time in my life where I felt propelled into unknown territory, where everything that I had worked so hard to become no longer seemed fulfilling. Over the last several months, Casey has become my personal coach, my counselor, my spiritual teacher, and my wisest friend all in one. I have found his advice to be practical and grounded as well as incredibly insightful, deep and personal. Casey is intuitive, sensitive and exceptionally accurate at assessing where you are in your life path. He tailors his teachings and advice to your needs as an individual providing you with tools and resources to help you in your path of discovery.
Recently I had the opportunity to spend time with Casey in Hilo on a personal retreat. Casey's unique approach based on kindness and grace is genuine and heartfelt. Casey and his family treated me as a special family member. They were generous and kind hosts always sensitive to my needs.
If you are wondering if Casey might be the right teacher/counselor for you at this time then I would recommend that you visit his website. It is an accurate reflection of who Casey is. Once you have spoken to him you will know. There is really no risk to you only opportunity. In summary, Casey is simply amazing!

subset: commoncrawl


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What is NFC
NFC stands for Near Field
Communication. It is a short-range radio technology that enables communication
between devices that either touch or are momentarily held close together.
‒ NFC is an open-platform technology that is being standardised in the NFC Forum.
‒ NFC is based on and extends on RFID. It operates on 13.56 MHz frequency.
‒ The NFC communication range is up to 10 cm. However, for the best user experience with Nokia phones it is recommended that the devices touch each other.
‒ The NFC standard supports different data transmission rates such as 106 kBps, 212 kBps, and 424 kBps.


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Overview | Specifications | Types | Troubleshooting
Air Conditioner Capacitor Types
An air conditioner capacitor is a capacitor used for both the compressor (commonly referred to as the hermetic pump) and the fan in an air conditioning system. For smaller systems, these motors are both single phase. For larger systems, they may use a three phase compressor and a single phase fan, or even both a three phase compressor and fan.
These capacitors can either be start capacitors or run capacitors.
Air Conditioner Capacitor - Start
The most common need for replacement of an Air Conditioner Capacitor is the starting capacitor used in single phase compressors or fans. Starting Capacitors create a phase shift during start up of the electric motor to help produce enough torque to bring the motor to full speed.
In hot environments, this capacitor may be over worked and fail prematurely. At this point, a replacement will need to be obtained to bring the system back online. Fortunately, these are very simple to select. Start with the voltage, then capacitance, and finally, you'll need to verify that the capacitor selected will fit within the space available by checking the measurements.
Air Conditioner Capacitor - Run
The other common type of air conditioning capacitor is the run capacitor. These are used on both single and three phase compressors and fans but are split into two main groups: Single unit (standard) run capacitors and dual-run capacitors.
A single unit run capacitor is used to continuously adjust current or phase shift to a motor's windings in an effort to optimise the motor's torque and efficiency performance. All run capacitors are designed for continuous duty, and as a result, have a much lower failure rate than start capacitors. A single unit air conditioner capacitor will have 2 connections and will be dedicated to optimising current on one motor.
Dual run air conditioning capacitors are 2 run capacitors in one case. They have nothing else that makes them electrically special. They generally have connections marked "C" for "common", "H" or "Herm" for "Hermetic Compressor," and "F" for "Fan." They will also have 2 different capacitor ratings for the 2 different parts. You might see 40/5 MFD, meaning that one side is 40 microfarads (measurement of capacitance), and the other side is 5 microfarads. The smaller value will always be connected to the fan. The larger connection will always be connected to the compressor.
The dual run air conditioning capacitor design's only advantage is that it comes in a small package with only 3 connections. There is no other difference. In a pinch and even as a permanent solution, if there is enough space for mounting, using two separate run capacitors in place of your original dual run motor capacitor is an acceptable practice.
As with selecting a starting capacitor, it's simple. Start with the voltage, then capacitance, and finally, check the measurements of the selected capacitor to verify that it will fit within the space available.
Choosing a Replacement Air Conditioner Capacitor
View our AC Capacitor Troubleshooting page for more information on how to troubleshoot your air conditioner capacitor.
Selecting a Replacement Capacitor »
How to Test Capacitor condition »
Air Conditioner Capacitor Selection Help »
AC Capacitor Troubleshooting »


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Welcome to our Curriculum Section.
The 2014 National Curriculum is the basis of everything that we teach and has brought a change to the themes we will be teaching at The Dassett CE Primary School. We have adopted the Learning Challenge Curriculum in History, Geography, Science and RE - this uses a text and questions to promote learning.
Teachers map out the curriculum across the entire academic year, developing medium term plans, linking subjects where possible. Detailed short term plans explain how to achieve key objectives in each subject. The curriculum map for each year group will soon be on the respective class page.
Activities are carefully selected according to the age of the children and the needs of individual children. At the Dassett we endeavour to make learning fun with a huge emphasis on active learning, children doing, making and experimenting. We also have 'Theme' days and weeks in order to enhance the curriculum and make learning as motivating, enjoyable and memorable as possible.
At The Dassett we teach
Please click on any of the links to find out more about our policies and approach to our many subjects and to find out more about some of the many supporting activites, events that we undertake with the children and examples of our course work.


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Adventure Camp is a full and active day. With temperatures in the 90s we enjoyed visiting the well for a nice cold drink.
Eric and Kendal visiting Nesse the (friendly) monster in Wirth Lake.
Working on the basics on Day 1 of roller skiing.
It is incredible to watch how fast these young athletes learn. The first day was pretty ugly and frustrating for most, but by the end of the week the kids were full on skiing. Fun to watch the struggle and triumph. At the end of the week we held a roller ski race and some impressive times were posted. Competition is even more fun when we can compare ourselves to the best athletes in the world contesting in London.
The Concept 2 Ski Erg turned a rainy day into a fun day. Plus it was fun to see how much power your arms can generate, yes they aren't just for balance.
Getting the hang of things and able to ski down the big hill, but taking a quick break before heading back up.


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Have you thought of recycling your MV equipment?
In Europe, it is mandatory to recycle, reclaim or destroy the SF6 gas contained in electrical equipment (regulation (EU) N°517/2014). We aim to give you peace of mind with our end-of-life take-back service by recycling all MV equipment, including SF6 gas.
Discover End-of-life Offer
Compliance with evolving industry standards and legislationSchneider Electric will take full responsibility for the end-of-life processing of obsolete electrical equipment. This service goes beyond regulatory framework and is a win-win solution for all concerned.
Complete retrofitting experience
- Turnkey solution, compliant with current regulations
- Transport documents and SF6 recycling or destruction certificate for traceability
- Offer not limited to Schneider Electric equipment
More sustainable operationsSchneider Electric has a closed cycle process for SF6 gas. It includes manufacturing of MV equipment, its operation, end-of-life take-back and the reuse of SF6 in new products. All of this in accordance with IEC standards.
How Retrofit Services for Electrical Distribution Contribute to the Circular EconomyGovernments require strict adherence to equipment disposal regulations. This paper offers guidance on safe, legal methods for MV and HV equipment disposal and recycling. Download the white paper
White paper
Have you thought of recycling your medium voltage equipment?
Schneider Electric is putting a full high environmental value end-of-life treatment package at your disposal. By thinking of recycling our electrical equipment today, we are working towards leaving a better environment for future generations.
SF6 gas end of life recycling for Medium and High Voltage equipment Discover the White Paper
This paper offers guidance on safe, legal methods for MV and HV equipment disposal and recycling.


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Unless you update your WordPress site multiple times an hour and share it with multiple users, I suggest that you not bother with automated backup tools or plugins.
WordPress is powerfully redundant. Everything you do is written to its database in almost real time. Every few minutes, whether you save or not.
Your hosting company, by the way, runs a backup every night. If not, find another hosting company. If so, they have your database as it existed last night when you went to bed. Not, of course, that you need their backup, because everything you've done up till, say, 12 minutes ago, is already in the database. So unless you go in and wipe things out intentionally, more on that later, you're not going to lose anything.
Direct nuclear strike to the hosting company? Guess what: last night's backups are probably offsite, a thousand miles away.
I'm helping one poor soul right now whose web person configured a backup tool to run 4 times a day.
The hosting company shut the site down recently because it was eating up space (gigabytes and gigabytes for a tiny website) and eating up server resources, running backups all day long.
And now we're cleaning up years' of backups that didn't need to be kept (and, frankly, didn't need to be created.)
The Big Exception
I'm talking here about a WordPress plugin that runs automated backups.
What I'm not talking about is keeping a copy of the most recent version of your theme and any images you use on the site. Your originals.
Those, you should have.
And now, I'll tell you about the one and only time I lost data on a WordPress site, despite managing something like 100 of them over the years.
My Sad Disaster Story
We were converting from a bunch of disparate hosting accounts, one for each client, to a shared hosting situation here at Charlottezweb. One by one we moved the client sites from whichever host machine they'd landed on to our single machine.
A year later, one of the sites was still there on the old hosting. I checked. There was a new version on our new setup. I checked again. Confirmed my confirmation.
And I went to town with the deleting.
WordPress files and folders: deleted. With prejudice.
Database: tables nuked from the command line. There is no coming back from that.
Minutes later the client emailed about their site being down . . .
Yes, that's right: after multiple confirmations I was in the right place doing the right thing, I deleted the only existing copy of the site she'd spent a year modifying and configuring, because she'd never been given access to the new site and was still working on the old.
The client was a friend. The friend hadn't been happy with their work and was considering wiping it out and starting over again. Disaster averted. Though we gave them free hosting for a year, and I groveled until they asked me to stop. I still get a knot in my stomach thinking about it.
Here's my lesson learned: when I'm doing something you don't come back from, I quadruple-check — and then I ask Sue to give it a look anyway.
Here's your lesson to learn: a hundred or more WordPress sites, and the only data loss I ever remember is when I went in with demigod access and used a digital flamethrower on it. So, like, don't do that.
Over to You
Down in the comments, tell me your situation where you really truly absolutely know you just have to have a backup plugin running on WordPress. Or if you're a web developer or server admin and see a hole in my reasoning, I'd love to hear about it.


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It's official. We are currently on egg overload. (Remind me about this once the girls start to molt……….)
Right now- today- this minute- I have a solid 8 1/2 dozen eggs in the fridge. And this is after our eggstravaganza yesterday, where we plowed through about 3 dozen eggs. Since most of my regular activities are over with until the fall, this means the folks I usually see (and who want eggs) have diminished in the last week. Boo. I have some going out tomorrow, which will help, but right now, I'm getting creative. 😀
Yesterday, we had a combination of fried and poached eggs for breakfast. But I still
needed wanted to get rid of some more, so I decided I'd try a quiche.
Monday, my oldest daughter went searching online and sent me some links. Can I just say it's amazing what people will put in quiche? 😯 I mean, really? Cheeseburger quiche with ketchup and pickles in it? Yuck!
Nope, not for us! In the end, I made my own recipe. I'm sorry- it doesn't really count in my mind as "quiche" if it only has 3 eggs in it. And while I do have sour cream on hand, I didn't have any cottage cheese. Or colby jack. Or fetta (which reviews said do not put in, because it's gross).
But, I did have mozzarella, cheddar, and green chile. Green chile, as you know, is one of my primary addictions. I ♥ it. I will put green chile in just about anything. (I haven't tried it in pancakes, for example, but it's most excellent on pizza!!)
Here's what I came up with:
20 eggs
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup green chile
1 or 2 cups mozzarella
5 tablespoons butter, melted
Mix all ingredients. Pour into pan. If using a glass pan, you'll want to spray it with cooking oil. Bake at 400 degrees for 45ish minutes until knife inserted into middle comes out clean. Take out of oven and let sit for a few minutes. Cut and top with cheddar or other toppings of your choice. (The cheese gets all melty and gets really gooey and yummy, apparently.)
I think I might have thrown some cheddar in there, too. And I didn't measure the mozzarella or the green chile. I had 1/2 a jelly jar (regular jelly jars are 8oz. 8 oz = 1 cup) and while I have a flaming passion for green chile, most everyone else in the family is not as enamored as I am. Since this was the first time making it, I went light on the green chile. Everyone agreed it could have used more, so I'm definitely going to use a whole cup/jelly jar on round 2.
Next time, I'm going to add some spinach, too. I think this would have also been awesome with bacon, since most everything (except maybe ice cream) is better with bacon. If you eliminate the butter, come back and leave a comment, please, so I'll know what you think.
You could probably use a bigger pan to make it thinner and cut down on your baking time. This size baking dish is the best size for my egg-loaded fridge, so that's why I went for chunky instead of a thinner slice.
You could also add a crust if you wanted to. If you use pre-made crusts, this amount of ingredients would do at least 2 pies, depending on how full you made them. If you make your crust homemade (like we do), you'll get at least one deep dish pie and regular pie out of the deal.
Pardon my slopping baking dish. Next time, I'll try to take a picture after it's on a plate. We were just too hungry to wait this time. 😆
Do you have favorite recipes that call for a lot of eggs? Leave me a comment, and feel free to shoot me a link! 🙂


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Reach out and get into contact with us today!
Have a passion for making a difference? Click on the link to find out more about our volunteer opportunities.
Email us at email@example.com
Want to know more about our organization and what we do? We would be glad to answer any questions that you have.
Email us at email@example.com
Interested and what we do and want to highlight it? Please contact us today so we can share our stories!
Email us at email@example.com
Have questions for our admin team? Want to simply get in touch with our team? Send us a message and we will get back to you as soon as possible.
Email us at email@example.com


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It sounds like an oxymoron to a lot of academics, but there are a lot of non-academic scientists. In fact, since there are far more degrees awarded than jobs available, then the majority of people with advanced science degrees must work outside of academia.
Over at Uncertain Principles, Chad Orzel has launched the Project for Non-Academic Science, where he'll be interviewing people with jobs outside the academic rat-race. The first few posts are up, with more coming over the next few weeks.


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Congratulations to supremely talented Greek fashion designer, Mary Katrantzou, for receiving the Swiss Textiles Award for 2010. Katrantzou wowed spectators with these digitally printed textile creations during London Fashion Week in September. The designer 'recycled' these prints from 70's inspired interiors featured in design and architecture magazines For her S/S 2011 collection Katranzou stated that she wanted to "put the room on the woman, rather than the woman in the room."
Read more on Vogue.com UK / images via Style.com


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Why an employee policy handbook is critical for your small business
Safeguard your business by clearly stating your policies and procedures in an employee handbook.
As a small business owner, you work hard to run your company, but are you doing enough to protect it?
Security breaches, new regulations, and new competitors could be threats from outside the company. While inside the company, your employees can sometimes put the business at risk through what they do or fail to do.
Protect your business from employee mistakes or misfeasances, such as posting inappropriate material on social media or sharing sensitive information about your company or a client, with clearly stated policies in an employee handbook. Employees will know what's expected of them and what they can expect from you, and you can use the handbook as legal protection should an employee later challenge you in court.
Structure your employee handbook
A comprehensive employee handbook is essential because it can not only protect a business owner, but it can help create a more productive workplace by making clear key procedures and policies. These could include:
An employment-at-will doctrine that leaves you and employees free to terminate employment at any time for any reason.1
Social media guidelines that make it clear that discriminatory, harassing, or threatening posts will lead to disciplinary action.
Expectations about attendance, hours, absences, and sick time so that employees know how and when to ask for time off.
Rules on the appropriate use of computers, phones, and other company equipment.
Rules for employee conduct that outline appropriate and inappropriate behavior regarding all business settings.
Employee responsibilities for complying with safety and health rules so that employees know to report accidents or hazards in the workplace.
Prevent IT abuses with a social media policy in your employee handbook
The popularity of social media means more people are sharing nearly every aspect of their daily lives on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and elsewhere — and sometimes taking it too far. Thirty-eight percent of the human resources professionals interviewed in the "2015 National Professionalism Survey Workplace Report," conducted by York College of Pennsylvania's Center for Professional Excellence, said IT abuses had increased over the previous five years.2 Employees might share proprietary information — sometimes inadvertently — or post a photo on Facebook that could impact your company's reputation.
In your employee handbook, guard against such abuses by outlining your approval process for company communications on social media, and clarify what you expect from employees regarding their personal social media use. For instance, are you comfortable with employees "friending" clients? Can they vent about work or talk about upcoming projects? Are they allowed to post pictures while on the job? Make any restrictions very clear in your policy, and ensure that employees are aware of how these impact their daily internet use.
Outline penalties in your employee handbook
The handbook should also include penalties for breaking any of the policies, such as the common three-strike rule:3
- Assuming no laws have been broken, the first step in a conduct violation process is a verbal warning, in which a manager discusses the incident or behavior with the employee and spells out consequences.
- For the second offense, the manager issues a written warning.
- After a third offense, the employee can be terminated.
As a business owner, it is up to you to decide how severe penalties will be for breaking rules. Whatever you decide, put it in writing, and require all new employees to review it and sign an acknowledgment of receipt. However before issuing any employee handbook, be sure to seek the advice of your own legal counsel.
1"The At-Will Presumption and Exceptions To The Rule." National Conference of State Legislatures. http://www.ncsl.org/research/labor-and-employment/at-will-employment-overview.aspx
2"2015 National Professionalism Survey: Workplace Report." Center for Professional Excellence at York College of Pennsylvania. https://www.ycp.edu/media/york-website/student-success/2015-National-Professionalism-Survey---Recent-College-Graduates-Report.pdf
3"Three Strikes, Is The Employee Out?" AllBusiness.com. http://www.allbusiness.com/labor-employment/human-resources-personnel-management/15256328-1.html


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Latest news
New Year, New You
This January, we are launching our New Year, New You campaign to encourage our staff to walk, run or cycle their way through their choice of event to help improve their ward environment, help fund a specialist piece of equipment, or just to make a different to the place where you work.
We are delighted to announce as part of our New Year, New You campaign, we are the lead local charity in the ABP Southampton races this April. This exclusive partnership means that we have a fantastic opportunity to spread awareness of our charity to the whole of Southampton, and to the wider population. It also means that we have access to discount codes for registration fees to help entice people to run for any ward, department or appeal of their choice.
We truly have an event for everyone...!
Full information on each of these events can be found on our website: www.southamptonhospitalcharity.org/events
For our runners:
- 15 April: Brighton marathon
- 22 April: London marathon
- 22 April: ABP Southampton fun run (kids 1 mile race), 10k, half marathon, full marathon
- 21 October: Great South Run
For our cyclists:
- 16-20 May: London to Paris (various dates available)
- 16 September: London to Brighton bike ride
For those wanting to walk the UK:
- 5-6 May: Isle of Wight trek
- 26-27 May: London to Brighton trek
- 30 June-1 July: Cotswold Way trek
- 21-22 July: Jurassic Coast trek
- 11-12 August : Wye Valley trek
- 25-26 August: South Coast trek
- 8-9 September: Thames Path trek
For those wanting an overseas adventure (various 2018-19 dates available):
- 21-30 April: Peru Inca trail trek
- 4-8 July: Icelandic lava trek
- 24 August-2 September: Mount Kilimanjaro trek
- 13-22 September: Great Wall of China trek
- 6-13 October: Grand Canyon trek
- 2-6 November: Sahara Desert trek
Want to do your own thing in 2018...
From a skydive, tough mudder, sponsored shave, or charity ball, the charity team are on hand to help give advice for whatever you want to, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com or on extension 8881.
Full information about all of our events can be found on our website: www.southamptonhospitalcharity.org/events


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You know how the blogs and mags have been raving over the Revlon Colorbust Lip Butters? As usual, they just made their way to The Tropics here in Singapore over the last 2 months or so. Late.
I picked one up at Watson's in a safe shade that I know I'd wear. They retail at S$15.90 (US$12.70) per pop, so do wait for the 15 – 20% off or 3-for-2 sales that come along every other month or so.
It's only US$6.50 – US$7.50 each in the US where it's made 🙂
While I see 20 shades available on the US websites like Ulta and Revlon US, there are only 8 in Singapore.
Those available in Singapore, off the top of my head, are:
- Sugar Plum
- Cherry Tart
- Lollipop
- Strawberry Shortcake
- Macaroon
- Peach Parfait
- Fig Jam
- Brown Sugar
They're housed in cheap, textured plastic cases with a see-through window at the top. Nothing fancy schmancy. The outer casing matches the lip butter shade within.
That's the list of ingredients, in case anyone's interested. According to the Revlon US website, it's supposed to be:
– Hydrating mango, shea and coconut butter formula boosts lip moisture by 156%
– Pampering gel formula provides super charged hydration and glides on lips buttery smooth
– Sheer to medium colour with buttery shine
Contents are worth 0.09 oz, 2.55 g. Pretty standard size if you ask me.
Peach Parfait swatches out to be a lovely sheer peachy-pink shade slightly on the warmer side. It's slightly buildable in intensity as shown above. The top swatch shows just 1 layer, with the bottom very heavily swatched. It's slightly glossy and not sure if you can tell in the photo, but there are very fine shiny mica particles that catch the light and glitter at angles. Nothing too bling but pretty subtle.
While I love the shade on my lips, which gives it a very fresh and pretty healthy, natural flushed look, I hate the formula.
Sorry but I just can't share the love that's going around for the Revlon Lip Butters. It's slightly drying on my lips, as well as being slightly gritty (probably owing to the glitter). Although it's supposed to be fragranced, I can't smell anything, which is good. The texture on my lips feels like a balm and slightly thick, which isn't bad. But I feel it does nothing for me.
If you're looking for more "WOW"formulas that have great moisturising properties, do check out 2 of my favourite Indie companies that do the best lip tints/gloss ever. Epically Epic (just US$3.50 each!) and Ophelia's Apothecary (US$6.75 – US$8.50, pricier, so wait for a sale ;)).
Revlon Lip Butter – I say NAY.
~*Item reviewed was purchased by me*~


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05 Mar Tonight: LIVE world famous H4K draw show!
Posted at 16:08h in Uncategorized 0 Comments
The entries are closed and the numbers are in. We're proud to announce that this year's Heineken will star 432 crews! An amazing feat, thank you all so much. Tonight from 20:30 we will host the internationally acclaimed Heineken draw show, which is expected to be viewed by over 12 concurrent viewers, worldwide. Draw results will be published after the show.
Our data scientist and gong ringer Jisk has done the math and produced the following insightful graphs….


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Barometer Theory
"Theory of the barometer. Fill a glass tube (over thirty inches long and closed at one end) with mercury. The column in the tube will fall until it is only about thirty inches long. The normal pressure of the air on the contents of the bowl balances the weight of the mercury in the tube." -Foster, 1921
barometer theory, experiment, mercury bottle, vacuum barometer
Ellsworth D. Foster ed. The American Educator (vol. 1) (Chicago, IL: Ralph Durham Company, 1921)


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BoxUnion, L.A.'s Newest Boxing Studio, Works Your Body and Mind
Boutique fitness studios are popping up all over the country, priding themselves on individual instruction, unique workouts, and better results. But one new boxing studio in Santa Monica, California, takes an even more holistic approach to health, promising noticeable improvements in not only physical fitness, but also mental clarity and focus.
For two years, friends and fellow fitness fanatics Todd Wadler and Felicia Alexander developed the concept for BoxUnion, which opened in April 2017. Their intention: bring boxing mainstream by creating a mind-body workout that's efficient, effective, and fun. "Boxing has an aggressive and intimidating association," Wadler tells SELF. People also think boxing means dealing with smelly gloves (gross!) and hard bags that hurt to punch (ow!).
To combat those pain points, the founders worked closely with an advisory board of fitness experts—from yoga gurus to strength and conditioning coaches—to create a well-rounded workout that stands out in the oversaturated fitness scene. They were also determined to create an all-inclusive, super accepting environment that shrugs off boxing's gritty connotation, inviting both newbies and more experienced fighters to work out together.
Through its incredibly thoughtful design, both in the studio's aesthetics and the workout itself, BoxUnion is certainly smashing the stereotypes. The staff is friendly, knowledgeable, and welcoming. The gloves are sanitized and fresh smelling. The lobby, with high ceilings, wood accents, and natural light streaming in the windows, makes you feel like you're stepping in for a spa treatment or a Zen yoga session. But what goes on inside the studio's walls is far from tranquil.
One of BoxUnion's goals is to reintroduce an element of mindfulness to the fitness space.
Each 45-minute class is basically "HIIT (high-intensity interval training) on steroids," Wadler explains, calling it "boxing reinvented." Throughout the class, your heart rate will be elevated, lowered, and brought up again, which helps burn calories and improve your aerobic fitness.
Their magic formula? "It's equal parts mind, body, boxing, and music," he says. In other words, you'll get a total-body boxing workout with an emphasis on music-based movement, group camaraderie, and mindfulness. And don't let the intensity scare you off—basically anyone can do it, Wadler says, thanks to the impact-absorbing floor, water-filled bags that are easier on joints than traditional bags, and instructors who offer modifications for any fitness level and ability.
Similar to setting an intention in the beginning of a yoga class, every BoxUnion class opens with a "mindful moment," the brainchild of advisory board member Dave Romanelli, a yoga and mindfulness guru. "It allows you to connect with your breath and prepare yourself for what's ahead," Wadler explains.
Up next is a series of stretches and low-impact cardio to warm you up and loosen your joints. Then, you shadowbox. BoxUnion trainers call out numbers along with the name of each move (i.e. one means jab, two means cross, three means hook, etc.), which helps engage your mind along with your body, Wadler says. Music is integrated throughout the entire workout, so all the sequences are set to fast-paced tunes. For example, you'll be throwing jabs to the rhythm of a song, and when the chorus drops, you'll be instructed to do fast feet.
Next, the gloves go on. You'll continue to box to the beat as you hit the heavy bag at your individual station. "The whole class stays in unison, which gives you a great feeling of community," Wadler says.
After six minutes of core work on the floor and one more minute on the bag, the music slows and the cooldown starts. You'll also revisit the intentions set at the start of the class. So, at the end of just 45 minutes, you'll have completed a total-body workout that checks off strength training, cardio, and your daily dose of mindfulness.
Boxing is a great physical workout, but the mental benefits can be just as powerful when you're truly in the zone.
"To achieve your best workout in a physical sense, your mind really needs to be focused," Wadler says. That's why instructors will stress the connection between your mind, body, and breath during class.
"There's a meditative aspect of what we're doing—from the music to the intention setting," Wadler explains. Plus, boxing itself requires fairly intense concentration and focus to remember the punches and step sequences. That, combined with the number system, enables you to be fully present and think about nothing but the workout at hand, Wadler says. (Unlike when you go for a run and your mind races the entire time, for example.)
Another mental health boost that's unique to this workout: It feels damn good knowing you can protect yourself should the need arise. "Learning how to throw a punch is empowering, and it helps you move more confidently," Wadler says.
And, as plenty of clients can attest, letting out some feels on that boxing bag is undoubtedly therapeutic. "BoxUnion is 45-minute therapy," says client Annemarie O., age 27. "With every punch, I feel a little more of the world is off my shoulders—whether it be a work email, my ex-boyfriend, or the occasional road rage. It's very powerful and almost emotional."
While there aren't any studies that show how boxing specifically reduces stress, exercise—of any kind—releases endorphins and boosts your mood, Mark Aoyagi, Ph.D., director of sport and performance psychology at the University of Denver and a spokesman for the Association for Applied Sport Psychology, tells SELF. Plus, exercising with a group and to the rhythm of the music are proven ways to improve the performance and intensity of your workout, he says.
One caveat: If you are dealing with mental health issues, boxing shouldn't replace actual therapy. "People think that by releasing their anger or aggression onto a leather bag, it'll simply go away and they'll automatically feel better, but that's not true," Aoyagi notes. "You'll get a temporary release of energy and a boost of endorphins, but ideally, you need a more productive way to work through your anger." Taking the time for self-reflection or talking to someone, either a trusted friend or mental health professional, is a better strategy in the long term.
This all-inclusive, holistic approach to boxing seems to be working.
Most clients are first-timers, and many who visit the studio become regulars, Wadler says. They see customers spanning the whole age spectrum, from older adults, to moms, to twentysomething models.
While other boutique fitness studios may offer similar boxing workouts, Wadler is quick to claim they're the only ones doing it exactly like this. "No one else really touts the mindfulness aspect or focusing on moving to the music like we do," he explains.
Wish you could check it out, but don't live in L.A.? They're looking into expanding to another physical location this year, and the founders also want to create a way for people to do BoxUnion workouts in their own home. (In the meantime, you can check out these other great boxing gyms across the country.)
But as their slogan, "Together We Box," suggests, their main priority for now is creating a feel-good fitness community, turning a sport that's typically seen as individual into an empowering, and effective, group-based workout.
You might also like: Victoria's Secret Angel Workout: 4 Boxing Moves For Angels


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See article here
The Wild Geese® Irish Honey Liqueur, 70 cl
THE WILD GEESE IRISH HONEY LIQUEUR is a blend of our smooth premium Irish Whiskey and a 100% pure natural honey from the green fields of Tipperary and Kilkenny. Lifted aromas of honey and spice expertly integrated to give a multi layered complex palate and a long lasting finish. Sublime on it's own over ice or as a chilled shot, it also makes an excellent ingredient to a long or short drink mixer.
THE WILD GEESE IRISH HONEY LIQUEUR is the first and only super premium honey liqueur produced in Ireland, offering an alternative for traditional whiskey drinkers, and a mild introduction to the spirit for new consumers.
The ingredients are specially selected to complement the taste of the multi award winning THE WILD GEESE IRISH WHISKEY.
Price: €20.00


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HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
When I try to install my HP Officejet Pro 6970 on a Windows (7-64), I get the following message:
Call to DriverPackageInstall returned error 1627 for the 'c: \ Program Files \ HP \ HP Officejet Pro 6970 \ DriverStore \ Yeti \ hpygid20.inf' package.
What could be happening here? Can anybody help me?
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
Hi @JaugSendim
Welcome to the HP Support Community.
Try these steps -
Step 1 HP Print and Scan Doctor -
Click on this link to download and run HP Print and Scan Doctor.
Step 2 Re-install the printer drivers -
1 In the search box, type and open "Uninstall a Program".
2 Look for HP Printer software.
3 Right-click to uninstall.
4 In the search box, type and open "Devices and printers".
5 In the Devices and Printers, look for your HP printer. If you see it listed right-click on it and choose "Delete" or "Remove Device".
6 Open the run command with the "Windows key + R" key combo.
7 Type printui.exe /s and click Ok. (Note: there is a space in between "printui.exe" and "/s").
8 Click on the "Drivers" tab.
9 Look for HP Printer driver. If you see it Click on it and click "Remove" at the bottom.
10 Select Ok.
11 Select Apply and Ok on the Print Server Properties windows.
12 Close Devices and Printers Once the software and drivers are removed.
13 Restart the computer.
14 Download and install the software and drivers from here.
15 Click on the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions.
Hope this helps! Keep me posted.
Please click "Accept as Solution" if you feel my post solved your issue, it will help others find the solution.
Click the "Kudos, Thumbs Up" on the bottom right to say "Thanks" for helping!
Have a great day!
I am an HP Employee
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
Hi Asmita,
I had already done these procedures several times. But, I think the problem is in Windows 7-64, because I was able to install on two other computers that I have at home (Mac and Win 10). The driver provided by HP for this printer has some incompatibility with Windows 7-64. That's the truth.
Thank you for your attempt to help me, but, I continue with the problem.
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
Hi @JaugSendim
Please try adding built-in driver - HP Printers - Installing and Using the Windows Built-in Print Driver
Let me know.
I am an HP Employee
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
Hi Asmita,
I had tried this installer program but it didn't work. Interestingly, the printer appears in the list of devices, but not as a printer. It appears only as a device. When I install the drivers in Win 7, the installation fails and the message "Call to DriverPackageInstall returned error for the package 1627 for the package 'C: \ Program Files \ HP \ HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 \ DriverStore \ Yeti \ hpygid20.inf'.
My computer recognizes that there is a device there. But, Win 7 does not let the drivers be installed, I don't know why.
I did an interesting experiment: I rebooted the computer through the pen drive using Linux Ubuntu, without installation in the machine. This recognized the printer and printed a page normally. This makes me understand that the problem may be in version of Windows 7 64 that is installed on the machine.
I already tried all the procedures indicated in the HP support pages and all the tips that you gave me but nothing worked. I think there is some incompatibility between the version of my Windows 7 64 and the HP OfficeJet Pro 6970 printer driver installers. Actually, I didn't activate the automatic updates from Microsoft because, although I have the Windows 7 Professional operating system installed, registered and activated by Microsoft for many years, I don't trust Microsoft. They make a lot of mistakes that debilitate the performance of my computer. I work with audio recording and video editing and I can not put in risk the 4 terabytes of information I have on this machine. So I don't trust in Microsoft. I hope you undestand my situation.
I thank you immensely of all attempts to help me. But, the fight against Microsoft's OS issues continues!
Let's keep trying? Or do we give up?
Best regards my friend!
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
I'd suggest you Contact HP in your region so that they can take a remote access to help you resolve this issue.
Have a great day!
I am an HP Employee
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
I don't think so because it seems the problem is not on HP but on Microsoft OS.
Thank you, anyway!
HP Offcejet Pro 6970 can't be installed on Win 7 64.
Thank you for replying, @JaugSendim,
As you have already tried uninstalling the printer from the root level and then reinstalling the full feature software which did not help in resolving the issue.
Moreover you have also tried to install the printer using Windows built in drivers and unfortunately this has not helped.
In this scenario, as you suggested it could be an issue with the Operating system.
I would personally suggest you uninstall the printer drivers and then create a new user account.
Select the Windows Start menu button.
Select Control Panel.
Select User Accounts.
Select Manage another account.
Select Create a new account.
In the New Account Name text box, type a name for the new account.
I recommend that you create a Administrator user account
Once done, restart the computer and then login to the new user account.
After you have logged in to the new user account, please go ahead and reinstall the printer drivers and check if that works.
Let me know the outcome!
Thank you 🙂
I am an HP Employee


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|Back to Back Issues Page
The Wild Story of Wild Shimpaku
January 13, 2017
Thank You for Subscribing
If someone sent you this issue of Bonsai Banter, it's a monthly newsletter. If you like what you see, please sign up!
Subscription Form in Right Column of Home Page
If you wish to remove your name, please see the link at the bottom of this page.
Shimpaku Juniper CollectingAs a bonsai teacher, I often introduced the subject by telling the perhaps mythical story of how the art began.
"The cities became crowded and people wanted to be more in touch with nature. They went to the mountains to find special plants, potted them up and grew them in their gardens."
I must admit, I never had a picture in my mind like the one shown here. (Taken before World War II) This was some serious collecting!
Morten Albek is a Belgian bonsai artist with an interesting blog. When I saw the headline: 'The Story of the Shimpaku Juniper,' I was anxious to read it.
"The best earner during the Taisho period (1912~) and the earlier years of the Showa period (1926~) was Kumeji Ito, a native of Kotaki who assisted the Suzuki brothers in earlier times and was a gifted climber. Kumeji would often go down cliff walls that had no foothold.
"He collected specimens by crushing rocks with a chisel and a hammer, then digging out a tiny amount of the roots, and cutting out the thick roots with a saw."
If you are as fascinated as I was, read the entire story, with many more amazing photos.
'The Story of the Shimpaku Juniper'
The Frozen Bonsai Garden
Bonsai Trees - US National ArboretumIn his blog, Brit Tony Tickle (his tree shown here) wrote:
"Don't be afraid to leave out your bonsai out in the garden during cold snaps, it is important to let your trees have a dormant period in winter.
If the pots are shallow then you need to be more vigilant.
The outside temperature in my garden hardly ever drops below -5ºc and my trees benefit from this cold period."
If you're not sure, contact a bonsai grower where you live!
Two for the Price of One
In Hoe Chuahn's blog on Chinese elm from air layer he shows how an imported "mallsai" Chinese elm became two bonsai, by air layering. The top is shown here. Elms are excellent subjects for air layering.
Another success with a different species is shown in a complete "how-to" section on the Tropical mimosa bonsai page.
More ResolutionsYes, the New Year has already started, and last month I suggested a few resolutions. However, some of us still haven't begun our resolutions. Others have already lapsed!
I'm cheating a bit here, but ... since I totally agree with them, I'm repeating these resolutions posted by David and Linda VanBuskirk of D & L Nursery in Central Florida.
"I will: remove wire BEFORE the tree grows into it, fertilize my bonsai on time, repot all the bonsai that need it, trim on time,
Critically look at my bonsai and restyle those that need it.
Remove bonsai from my collection that I do not like and cannot see a way to restyle into something I do like! And then, perhaps my favorite: "I will not grow more bonsai than I can properly care for."
You will definitely want to visit D&L when you have the opportunity.
Site Advertisers Update
Bonsai Jack is a new advertiser and has an unique list of products ... a great selection of soil components, as well as premixed bonsai soil.
One of his most interesting products is his BonsaiChip.
"This technology will not track your tree. It provides a means of identification ..." read more on the site.
Jack also has a Photo Contest.
(Open only to residents of the USA and Puerto Rico.)
Visit and tell Jack, BonsaiMary sent you!
Zach from Bonsai South
is a long time advertiser and recently sent out a request for places to dig!
"I'm still looking for a place or places to dig Cedar Elms.
So if you own or have access to property in Texas or North Louisiana where there are cedar elm saplings (1" to 3" trunk size,) I'd love to hear from you.
I would be interested in trading access for one-on-one workshops, a $250 value,
or field lessons on how to select and collect trees for bonsai."
If you live in the Texas, N. Louisiana area, it sounds like a great opportunity to me!
Chuck is another long term advertiser and continues to create some of the most beautiful handmade bonsai pots ever!
It's a new year, don't you deserve that special pot you've been thinking about?
Slow Time of YearWhile sitting and relaxing by the fire, why not read a few of the over 20 articles on the
BonsaiMary Gets MailCristy R. - New York, NY wrote
"I just got a small juniper bonsai tree for Xmas, I have been trying to find out how much water to give it when it starts to look dry. It has been a dream to have one since I was a little girl and would appreciate your help so I can take good care of it. Thank you hope to hear from you soon."
Cristy's email was one of several with concerns about their new bonsai. I gave encouragement to each one and guided them to the best BonsaiMary page I thought would help!
You are welcome to contact me with your bonsai questions. If I don't have the answer, I will do my best to head you in the right direction!
All the very best for a Happy New Year to you, your bonsai and your loved ones!
Mary Miller
|Back to Back Issues Page


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Artifact Details
TitleSlide rule case
Catalog Number102731386
TypePhysical object
Dateca. 1961
ManufacturerScientific Instruments Co.
Place ManufacturedJapna
Dimensionsoverall: 1/4 in x 6 1/2 in x 1 3/4 in
DescriptionThe record contains a slide rule case with "SIC" embossed on the front.
CategoryMiscellaneous/carrying case
CreditGift of Mike Konshak
Lot NumberX3741.2007
Related Records
|Slide rule


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This guide is to assist families with developing a strategy for achieving their dream home and is taken from years of experience working with families building homes in Ocean Ridge Plantation®.
For many families, building a custom home is the culmination of years of hard work and the fulfillment of life long dreams. From site selection, to working with a home designer, building a custom home is most exciting and fulfilling experience that many families will encounter with home ownership.
Contents Outline
Homesite Choice & Considerations
- Homesite Cost
- Size of Home and Homesite
- Exposure
- Traffic
- Proximity to Amenities
Gather Information
- Scrapbook
- Existing Designs
- Wish List
- Designer Versus Architect
- Builder-Designer
- Design Consultation
- Homesite Evaluation
- Contracting and Fees
- Conceptional Design
- Design Revision
- Building Costs
- Evaluating Builders
- Building Agreement
- Review Plans
- Submit Plans
- Begin Construction
- Construction Milestones
- Closing
A Brief Note About Building a Custom Home
Be prepared for problems. Building a home is a complex job and invariably problems arise, most are minor, however anticipate expect small setbacks. When deciding on a builder you must feel comfortable that the firm you have chosen is capable to overcoming difficulties, anticipating problems, and provide you the appropriate level of communications so that you understand the issue. The top custom home builders in Ocean Ridge Plantation® are successful because they are excellent communicators and have the experience to identify problems before they occur.
Gathering Information
Like most families beginning the process of building a custom home, they have a whirl wind of ideas going through your mind of what would make the perfect home. Your important task is to organize those thoughts and write them down so that you can convey those needs and desires to your designer. Here are some helpful tips for organizing your information gathering efforts:
One technique that has proven very helpful is to begin a scrape book. Each time you come across a news articles, magazine articles or web sites which demonstrate desirable features, put them into a scrapbook. Designers can take the scrap book and generate a precipitate of those ideas into a design that encompasses all your wishes.
Existing Designs
Another method is to simply find a design that you liked, perhaps in a model home that you visited or from on-line resources. From this the designer can evaluate how they can adjust this to exploit the features of the homesite and the architectural requirements of the review committee. While the final product may be different, it will help get the designer moving in the right direction.
Wish List
Spend some time and write down all you wishes and desires for you new home. This wish list can be as specific as you like, ranging from number of baths to brand of appliances. This list will be very helpful for the designer and is a great reference point that your builder can use to generate a building quote.
Designer Versus Architect
Once you have selected a homesite it is time to have a home designed. There are many area home designers and architects that can provide you with home plans, however it is important to note that those designers and architects experienced with designing homes in Ocean Ridge Plantation® may be a better choice.
Ocean Ridge Plantation® maintains the highest design standards in the county and those designers and architects not familiar with the standards may find that there is a relatively steep learning curb to understand the requirements of the architectural review committee. This learning period may result in repeated submissions to the review committee, resulting in wasted time and money. There is a fee each time plans are submitted to the committee and these can become significant after several submissions.
What is the difference between a home designer and an architect?
Architects are licensed by the State to practice architecture. Although some specialize in designing custom residences, many architects in North Carolina specialize in larger projects including multi-residential and commercial buildings.
Designers are not licensed by the state, but are limited by law in North Carolina to designing single-family residential buildings; multifamily residential buildings, agricultural buildings; and in some cases, non-structural tenant improvements and facade renovations to commercial buildings.
Overall both are qualified to design your home, however a home designer will have the home plan sent to another company to have the engineering work performed and certified.
Some builders provide a comprehensive design and building services. Often, using a designer-builder will save you money for plans and allows for better cost control because as the home is being designed the designer-builder understands the cost implications associated with different home features. Also, with a designer-builder there is less chance for miscommunication with the designer and builder because they are under one roof.
The benefit of using a just a designer is that once you have a plan you are satisfied with, they can send it out to area builders of your choosing and you can scrutinize multiple offers. Typically, a designer-builder that designs your home wants to do the build and won't design the home if they aren't building the home.
Ultimately, your decision will boil down to who you feel most comfortable with regards to experience, reputation, and ability to execute your wishes.
Homesite Evaluation
Once you have selected a designer or designer-builder, they will visit the homesite and evaluate the property from all aspects to ensure that during the design process they are exploiting the nature features of the property. This is often done during the initial meetings with the designer, as well as with the builder. Many times the designer likes to visit the property in order to understand the canvas that they are working with, including elevations, exposure, tree coverage, location, and views.
Contracting and Fees
It is at this point that a designer will ask for you to sign a service contract. Fees vary greatly from one company to the next, but you can expect $3,000 to $17,000 for completed and engineered drawings. The lower price reflects changes to an existing plan, while the high price reflects plans created by a board certified architect. Beginning from a blank piece of paper to a completed design by a home designer you can anticipate plans beginning at $10,000, depending on the size and sophistication of the home.
The builder-designers will ask you to commit to a building contract at this point. Depending on the organization, home design fee billed up front and maybe credited toward the cost of the home at closing. In essence you receive you plans for free. If the home design fees is to credited at closing, this should be discussed prior to signing the building contract and provided in writing.
Conceptual Design
The conceptual design is provided
after you have expressed your needs and desires to the designer and allows them to assemble their notes and conversation into a cohesive design. After completed, they will provide this design to you as a starting point.
Design Revision
After you have communicated changes with the designer the designer will develop another design based on your feedback. Assuming that the designer has hit the mark with you feedback, you are ready to choose a builder for your new home.
Building Costs
Current building costs in Ocean Ridge Plantation® Plantation range from $140 to $200 per heated square foot. Please note that I have indicated the cost per heated square foot. The reason is it is customary in Brunswick County to quote prices based on the heated or living space because they typically include the unheated areas such as porches and garage.
The size of the home and what goes inside will determine greatly influence the cost per heated square foot. The size of the home will affect the cost per square foot, through economies of scale and the inherit requirements of most homes. Most families will require a kitchen and bathrooms in their home, which are the most expensive rooms in a home. Therefore, if you build a 2,000 square foot home, you will need a kitchen and bathroom and the rest of the house are bedrooms, a living room, dinning area, etc. The percentage of the home occupied by more expensive rooms is greater than the less expensive rooms, resulting in a higher per square foot cost. A 4,000 square foot home will have more rooms, but not necessarily more kitchens and bathrooms, resulting in a lower per square foot cost.
As a general rule, you can expect to pay $165 per heated square foot for a well appointed home with many of the finishes that most families desire, such as granite counters, hardwood floors, crown molding, brick or hardy board exterior. Generally this price per square foot is turn key, but you should discuss any hidden fees with the builder, such as landscaping, excavation, building permits, driveways and association fees.
Evaluation Builders
As a rule of thumb, families should interview three builders.
There are four principal criteria when evaluating builders, including experience building custom homes, licensing, financial stability and previous customer references. The Ocean Ridge Plantation® architectural review committee assists families with ensuring that they will have a positive experience with the building process. The committee reviews and evaluates builders once plans are submitted. The review committee evaluates and requires:
- Unlimited North Carolina General Contractor License
- Experience Building Custom Homes
- Financial Stability
- Positive References from Previous Customers
Building costs vary from one builder to the next and it is important that when you are receiving quotes that you compare apples to apples. Unanticipated costs may arise from builders that charge separate fees for site preparation, sewer tap fees and other ancillary fees associated with building a home. While some include all fees related to the build, other may do not.
Other concerns are the products that are being used to build the home. A good example, which can save a homeowner money, is the use of particle board over plywood. This guide wasn't written to debate the merits of one product over another, but the point is know which products the builder will be using to effectively evaluate their offer.
Building Agreement
The building agreement will vary from one builder to the next and most often performance clauses are commonplace, ensuring that the work is done to the specifications and satisfaction to the client. Read through the building agreement thoroughly and it is advisable to have an experienced real estate attorney review the builder's contract.
If financing the work through a bank, the bank will set benchmarks for work to be completed and provide money to the builder over several benchmarks. Often, a bank representative will visit the job site and evaluate the work that has been accomplished before the provide money at each step of the building process. The number of payments will vary from one bank to the next, but all maintain a site inspection policy to protect the bank and owner's investment.
Review Plans
Prior to beginning construction, the builder will meet with or have a conference call the owner prior to beginning construction and filing for a building permit. If you have any questions about the builder or plans, now would be the time to address and concerns. Keep in mind that once the building process begins changes to the plan will incur costs, typically called "change orders". Change orders can add up and significantly influence the final cost.
Submit Plans to Architectural Review Committee
At last, things are under way. The builder will submit your plans to the Ocean Ridge Plantation® architectural review committee. Upon receipt of the plans, along with the design review fee, you can expect to receive a response in 30 days, however reviews times may vary by neighborhood.
At this point you will be required to have a site survey done, if the builder hasn't already initiated one. The site survey will indicate and tag trees to be removed and detail the home building envelope. The review committee will visit the site to ensure that the home doesn't not violate architectural standards with regards to setbacks and unnecessary tree removal.
After the plans have been reviewed by the committee they will contact the owner and the builder by mail detailing and changes they require for approval.
Once the changes have been made and new plans developed, the builder will resubmit the plans to the review board for approval. This process may repeat if the plans do not correctly reflect the changes requested by the board. As stated earlier, this is where using an experienced builder and designer is crucial. Each submission to the committee requires a design review fee, which can add up if resubmitting multiple times.
Begin Construction
You plans are approved by the review committee and you are ready to begin your home. The builder will obtain a building permit from the local county government and contact an excavation company to prepare the property.
Construction Milestones
During the building process, whether using bank financing of simply or bank drafts to the builder, there are stages of construction review that vary whether being inspected by the bank, by the builder, our local government inspector.
In addition to structural milestones, the owners will need to make selection of appliances, paint colors, hardware, cabinets, etc. These selection can take place at anytime prior to their implementation and often can be accomplished in a few short visits, or in some cases not at all.
The weather has cooperated, the sub-contractors efficient, and the builders predictions on target, now you are ready to take possession of your new home.
Prior to the closing the builder will obtain a Certificate of Occupancy, which requires the county building inspector to review the work and ensure that everything is appropriate to the North Carolina building guides lines.
Upon receipt of the Certificate of Occupancy, the builder will contact you to schedule a walk through of the home with the owner. It is here that you can thoroughly inspect the work of the builder, ensuring that it is to you satisfaction.
As you walk through the your new home you may observe issues, small or large, which you will want to note. The problems that you see make up what is commonly called the "punch list" and the depending on the scope of the issues you may wish to postpone closing until they are resolved.
Often these are small inconveniences, which the builder can address after the closing, but depending on your situation you may request that the repairs made in advance of closing.
It is common for quality builders to return to a home up to 2 years after closing to address issues that developed over the course of the years typically caused by natural settling of the structure. The builder is not required to do these repairs, but considering many of their clients are
developed from word of mouth advertising, many go above and beyond in the name of customer service. In most cases the builder will provide a 1 year warranty on their workmanship. You may also desire a home warranty through a 3rd party, but this is often purchased for older homes.
I hope these few words were of helpful or at least comforting. Please don't hesitate to call us if you have further questions or if we may be of assist with your present and future real estate needs.


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Cheating Tom 4 – Hair Stylist Wannabe v1.0.14 (Mod Apk) Tom, a Genius School graduate, is looking for his dream job. What'll it be? Astronaut? Firefighter? Pilot? Guess again… he's decided to become a superstar hairdresser! Only problem is, his bosses don't let him touch actual hair… unless it's on the floor. Poor Tom is only allowed to stick to menial tasks like scrubbing floors and answering phones. Play this mischievous hairdressing game to help Tom cut his way from "barberchop" around the corner to world-class designer hair salons… all while avoiding his bosses' watchful eye.
Cheating Tom graduated Genius School. Now he's got to enter the real world and get a job. So his days of sneaking around are probably over, right? WRONG. As they say, "once a cheater, always a cheater." Play this game to help Tom become an amazing hairstylist without getting caught by his annoying bosses who are determined to keep him sweeping the floors day after day.
> Help Tom sneak his way from hair salon to hair salon!
> Hurry up and get playing! You've got 25 different hairstyles to master as you play this crazy game!
> Make sure he cuts and styles customers' hair as quickly as possible before his boss notices.
> Tons of challenging levels & supercool game play modes for ultra sneakiness.
> Score power-ups and collect coins to become sneakier than ever.
> WARNING: You may encounter some extremely peculiar customers…!
> Chop-chop! Cut that hair as fast as you can, and make sure the customers are satisfied, OR ELSE!
> Choose your game avatar – Tom or Taffy – and get cutting!
> Dress Tom and Taffy up in crazy costumes.
Crazy Labs is a casual games brand, under which TabTale develops and publishes fun and addictive games. Crazy Labs partners with independent development studios across the globe to create engaging mobile content for audiences of all ages.
Like us: https://www.facebook.com/crazylabsgames
Watch us: http://www.youtube.com/Tabtale
Visit us: http://tabtale.com/
Follow us:@CrazyLabsGames
Let us know what you think! Questions? Suggestions? Technical Support? Contact us 24/7 at firstname.lastname@example.com
The app is free to play but certain in-game items may require payment. The app includes:
– advertising for TabTale and some third parties that redirect users to our sites, apps or third-party sites
– social networks links to connect with others while playing
– the option to accept push notifications to inform of exciting news (e.g. updates)
– an age-gate to prevent access to some features to protect children (e.g. restrict behavioral advertising or information sharing).
Privacy is important to us. The app may enable data collection for legal purposes (e.g. respond to support queries; enable, analyze and improve the app's features and services; personalize content including targeted advertising). For more information refer to our Privacy Policy: http://tabtale.com/privacy-policy/. Note that referred third parties are subject to their own policies. Use of the app is subject to our Terms of Use: http://tabtale.com/terms-of-use/.
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Kids can enjoy a special holiday treat with the new children's afternoon tea at the Pump Room Restaurant.
Round off your break in Bath by combining your visit to the Roman Baths with taking afternoon tea in the famous ornate Georgian Pump Room restaurant. For mum and dad it's just the place to sample local delicacies or indulge in a full champagne afternoon tea.
Kids can get in on the action now too with their very own children's afternoon tea, including a selection of sandwiches, a scone and homemade biscuit as well as a tiny bucket and spade of ice-cream – delicious! The tea is served daily during school holidays on its very own cake stand for some vintage glamour.
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KTM 390 Duke joins its 125 and 200 siblings..
Made in India.. for the world
Just before the curtains go up on the 2012 Milan Motorcycle show (also known as EICMA), images and details of the next big iteration of the India developed/India made KTM Duke series has been made public. The 390 Duke is here..!!
Identical Twins-Triplets (?): In terms of styling the 390 Duke is not too different from the 200/125 Duke. Only the color scheme on the 390 gets a different treatment along with the trellis frame getting dipped in orange. By the way the 125/200 and 390 Duke gets ABS for 2013 (in Europe).
Pocket Rocket: But the biggest news here is the new 373.2 cc, single cylinder, liquid cooled engine which belts out 44 Ps of power and 35 Nm of Torque. Coupled with a ultra light weight 139 Kgs (dry weight) along with the trademark KTM genes should make the 390 Duke the scariest motorcycle to have ever manufactured in India.
Made in India, for the world (and India): The best piece of news about the 390 Duke is that like the 125/200 Duke, even this Duke has been developed in India by Bajaj Auto R&D and will be manufactured in India by Bajaj Auto.
Developing and manufacturing in India means huge costs savings for KTM. But the best part of it is that Indians get these orange machines at price which bikers outside India can't even imagine in their wildest dreams..!!
Pricing & Launch date in India: Not yet announced.. but expect a price that will make bikers not residing in India get a deeper shade of Green.
KTM 390 Duke: Specifications
Engine type: 4-stroke single cylinder liquid-cooled 4-valve DOHC
Engine capacity: 373.2cc
Bore x Stroke: 89mm x 60mm
Compression ratio: 12.5 : 1
Horsepower: 44PS at 9,500rpm
Torque: 35Nm at 7,250rpm
Starter: Electric
Wheelbase: 1,367mm
Ground clearance: 170mm
Seat height: 800mm
Weight: 139kg
Tank capacity: 11 Liter
Brakes (Front): 300mm disc
Brakes (Rear): 230mm disc
Tyres (Front): 110/70 - ZR 17 M/C
Tyres (Rear): 150/60 - ZR 17 M/C
Related Posts
- Ride Review: KTM 200 Duke [Feb 2012]
This is to remind that the Views or Opinions in the blog are entirely mine unless explicitly stated. The Views and Opinions published in this blog should in no way be related to any other person or organization associated -- directly or indirectly -- with me.


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Affordable Movers Comparative Charts
When you are looking for affordable movers, you may want to focus on much more than the final moving price. Choosing the wrong mover may cost you more then you could ever imagine and you may be surprised at how much the penalties lack when it comes to a shady moving company.
One thing that you should be aware of is that with some of the cheaper moving companies they may have a very high turnover when it comes to employees. You should remember that these employees are the one that will be moving your most precious possessions. You may want to inquire about how long employees have been with a moving company and this can help you make a decision.
Get Up To 7 FREE Relocation Quotes From Our Pre-Qualified List Of Licensed And Affordable Movers. Compare Services, Save Up To 35%, And Be Worry-Free.
Affordable Movers Saving Tips:
You need to remember that some of the best affordable moving companies will have the longest employed personnel and this may not always be the cheapest, but you will have a great move that will not compromise your furniture and other items.
You may also want to ask an affordable moving company if they perform a background check on their employees. This is a very important issue and the movers may be exposed to a multitude of items that are expensive. If you find that a moving company does not perform background checks on all employees, this can be a great sign for you to find another company to work with.
Background checks on employees of a moving service company can keep your family and the items you are moving safe. It can be a sickening feeling to find out that someone that has been in your home has a criminal background and this is something that is easy to prevent ahead of time.
You may think that you have found an affordable moving company, but the moving estimate you get in the beginning and what you are expected to pay after the move is complete may be two different things altogether. You should make sure that the relocation price you are quoted is within a good range of what the final price should be. You may want to give a little bit of leeway, but it should not be a completely number in the end.
There are affordable movers out there that also have a great reputation. You should not base your final decision on price solely and there are many other factors that should be taken into consideration in order for you to make a decision that will make your move a smooth transition for your entire family.
Summary: It is possible to find affordable movers and you do not have to settle for a less than stellar company. Asking the right questions is the best way to prevent becoming a victim and there are many questions that may be specific to your move that you will want to find out before you sign up with any company for your move.
Get Up To 7 FREE Relocation Quotes From Our Pre-Qualified List Of Licensed And Affordable Movers. Compare Services, Save Up To 35%, And Be Worry-Free.
Other Affordable Movers Articles Of Interest:
- How to Find Affordable Movers for Your Budget | Oh My Apartment
Professional movers can be pricey, but there are affordable movers out there for your budget. The key is knowing where to find them.
Publish Date: 07/27/2010 14:45
- What Are Some Affordable Movers?
When was the last time you had to move? Can you remember the various hours you spent packing and loading and then unpacking again? What about finding the boxes you need? And what if your move was out of the town or cross county? …
Publish Date: 08/22/2010 14:10
- Get More Than You Pay For With Affordable Movers
If providing a personal check, the affordable movers have to wait until it clears. This protects the integrity of their company. It also ensures that they will not work, until any and all funds have been cleared. …
Publish Date: 08/20/2010 10:54
Affordable Movers Related Video:
Iowa Based Moving Company For A Very Affordable Price.
www.hemmenmovingservice.com Are you looking for a reputable & affordable moving company? We are Hemmen Moving Service & we have been moving furniture, pianos & cars for 19 years. 515-460-8234
Affordable Movers Related Tweet:
By _JasonSilva_ at 09/11/2010 11:25
Filed under: Moving Tips And Help


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The Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce 2017 Annual Meeting: "Your Governor, Your Business, Your Economic Future".
Lindel James, Chair of the CVCofC and Bill Moore, President of the CVCofC, made opening remarks. The business meeting recognized retiring directors and nomination and election of new officers and directors.
Keynote address by Phil Scott, Governor of Vermont.
Panel discussion participants included:
- Jamie Stewart, Executive Director of the Central Vermont Economic Development Corporation
- Bonnie Waninger, Executive Director of the Central Vermont Regional Planning Commission
- Bill Moore, President of the Central Vermont Chamber of Commerce
Meeting held at the Capitol Plaza in Montpelier, VT on Jan. 18, 2017.
View at: https://vimeopro.com/vtvt/vip/video/200298682


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What is a mortgage?
What is a mortgage?
The accepted definition of a mortgage is a loan taken out in order to purchase a property. We think of most mortgages as loans to buy our homes but in fact many mortgages are commercial mortgages used to buy business premises, or investment mortgages used to buy property to be rented or leased out.
In the UK the provision and sale of mortgages is regulated for the residential mortgage market (buying homes), but not for the commercial or investment market (commercial loans and buy to let).
In actual fact the 'mortgage' is not the loan at all, the term 'mortgage' relates to the legal charge which is placed on the property to enable it to act as security for the loan. Without the 'mortgage' element the loan would be what is known as an 'unsecured loan', meaning there is no property associated with the loan acting as security.
A mortgage can be placed on a property as a first charge, second charge, or even third charge. These terms relate to order in which the various Lenders have call on the proceeds of any future sale of the property. If your property is sold the Lender holding the first mortgage charge will have first call on the funds, followed by the Lender with the second charge, and so on – any remaining cash is returned to you.
Therefore, as well as a market for the promotion and sale of first charge mortgages, there is also a market for second charge mortgages which are called 'secured loans'. These are loans taken out by the property owner in addition to the main mortgage (first charge) to raise further cash and are secured on the property behind the main mortgage as a 'second charge'.
Mortgage is a term in Legal French meaning 'death contract' – this means that contract ends when the obligation is fulfilled, or the property is retaken by repossession.
'Death contract' sounds like a serious term and so it should. A mortgage is not an arrangement to be taken lightly, particularly when you are using the mortgage to buy your main home. Failure to repay the mortgage within the terms of the contract may result in repossession and the loss of your home.
Why do we need mortgages?
Most of us need mortgages due to the high cost of property in the modern world. With average earnings not far above £30,000 and the average price of a terraced house in the UK £189,000, a quick calculation can establish how long it would take to save the full funds to purchase a property without a mortgage.
We therefore have a system that is set up give us what we need, a mortgage to buy now when we need the property, and the mechanism to repay as we are living in the property by paying back both the capital and the interest on the mortgage.
Typically, in the UK, mortgages are taken out over 25 years, but this is no hard and fast rule, it is just the way that the mortgage market has evolved over time. The longer your mortgage term the more mortgage interest you will pay overall when buying your property – therefore it makes sense to take the shortest mortgage term affordable.
In many other countries in the world mortgage terms are limited to ten years which gives most householders a chance to own their property outright at a reasonable age. Without the mortgage as a means of financing a property purchase, there would be far fewer of us owning our own homes or business premises.
In recent years, as property prices have increased, it has become common place for the householder to focus on the increasing value of their home rather than reducing their mortgage. As a result, more and more mortgage holders are refinancing to 'take equity' from their property to support their lifestyle.
As the mortgage market has shrunk and higher deposits are demanded we are also seeing parents and grandparents raising new mortgages against property they already own outright in order to provide mortgage deposit funds for their children or grandchildren.
How can I get a mortgage?
Your ability to get a mortgage is based on a number of factors. The primary ones are:
Security is dealt with by carrying out a valuation or survey on the intended purchase property. This is usually paid for by the mortgage borrower and the intention is to establish in simple terms if the Lender is likely to quickly and easily get their money back on a forced sale should they need to repossess. Therefore the higher the deposit, the lower the loan to value ratio on the mortgage and the less concerned the Lender will be with the total property value.
On the lower loan to value mortgages the Lender will be concerned with the condition of the property and will want to ensure that the property is in a good state to sell if it becomes necessary.
Status is an element of the Lenders criteria on which focus was lost during the early years of the 21st century. Lenders were relying on the increasing value of the properties to cover their position on their mortgage book and this led to the rise of the self-certified mortgage. In a self-certified mortgage arrangement the status of the applicant was either checked only to a modest level, or not checked at all.
Since 2010 the self-certified mortgage is no longer available in the market and all applicants will undergo a status check. For the employed applicant this means being asked to provide wages slips and P60's (and sometimes an employer's reference). For the self-employed applicant this means providing an accountants reference, full accounts, or, as is increasing the case, SA302 self-assessment tax returns.
Serviceability is about your intention to pay if you are in a position to do so. To establish this when considering a mortgage, the mortgage lender will look at your financial history using your credit file and your bank statements.
Bank statements show your income and outgoings, they identify for the bank if there are any unusual or excessive payments or expenditure.
If you have an overdraft the mortgage lender will be looking at how that overdraft is managed and if the agreed overdraft limit is ever exceeded. Items such as regular monthly payments over £200, or single transactions over £500, may lead the lender to ask further questions for clarification.
The other big factor in the serviceability consideration is the availability of the credit report or credit file.
All UK adults have a credit report available on file through one of the major providers such as Expirian, Equifax or Call Credit. These credit files are a combination of information from all the Banks, Mortgage Lenders, Loan Providers and Credit Companies in the UK.
Every time you apply for, or take credit, it can be noted on your credit file. Every time you make a payment it will be noted on your credit file. Every time you fail to make a payment it is also noted on your credit file. Your credit file will include details or mortgages, loans, overdrafts, credit cards, HP, and mobile phone accounts.
The availability of the credit file has made the credit search a main stay of the UK mortgage application process. It can be completed and scored automatically, inexpensively and simply, in seconds.
What is the risk of a mortgage?
When you take a mortgage to buy your property you may move in and the place feels like home straight away. In fact the decision on whether the property continues to be your home can be taken out of your hands by your lender at any time if full payments are not made under the terms of the mortgage contract.
Rising interest rates
If the interest rate payable on your mortgage rises you may find it difficult to continue to make full and regular payment. Therefore if your budget is tight you should consider a fixed rate mortgage to protection yourself against interest rate rises. Payments on a fixed rate mortgage are guaranteed to stay the same for an agreed period of time.
Lower or lost income
If you lose your job, or are sick or injured and unable to work, you may find it difficult to maintain your mortgage payments from savings for an extended period. Fortunately there are a number insurance options that can reduce or eliminate this risk.
If you die, your mortgage debt does not die with you and this can be a major problem for your family as they may lose their home Fortunately, the simple addition of life insurance to your planning arrangements can protect your family against your death.
What is the benefit of a mortgage?
A mortgage is the most cost effective way to buy a property in a managed and carefully budgeted way whilst benefiting from being able to live in the property.
If the value of the property increases, that increase in value becomes your asset and the mortgagor does not benefit from it. If the property is your primary private residence there is no capital gains tax to pay on any increase in the value of your property (under current tax legislation).
What type of mortgage is available to me?
Mortgages come in all forms to suit a wide range of circumstances.
The first question is what kind of property do you intend to purchase with your mortgage?
If you intend to live in the property you will need a residential mortgage, if you are letting out the property you will need a buy to let mortgage. A commercial property such as a business premises will need a commercial mortgage.
Residential mortgages come in two main forms, repayment mortgages, and interest only mortgages. With a repayment mortgage arrangement you service the interest on the loan each month as well as repaying a little of the capital.
With an interest only mortgage you are only servicing the interest through your monthly payment and will then have to repay the capital element in full at the end of the mortgage term.
If buying a property as your home a repayment mortgage is the recommended option in most cases.
Once you have decided on repayment or interest only mortgage, you need to consider the product type. There are two major types of mortgage product, the fixed rate mortgage, where the interest rate is fixed for a period of time, and the tracker or variable rate mortgage, where the interest rate on your loan can vary.
Your own personal circumstances will dictate which lenders will be prepared to offer you mortgage lending and therefore which products are available.
How do I get started with my mortgage application?
To arrange a mortgage you need to apply to a mortgage lender.
Applications can be made direct to some lenders but more commonly a mortgage broker is consulted. A mortgage broker will know which lenders are suitable for your own circumstances and will you save wasted time and frustration.
An independent mortgage broker will have access to the whole of the mortgage market and will recommended the most suitable mortgage product for you before handling the full application process on your behalf.
Before you make a start with your mortgage application make sure that you can prove your income, are confident it will continue, finally be sure you are ready for the long term commitment of a mortgage.
If there is anything in your circumstances that you feel may cause a problem with your mortgage application, for issues on your credit record, make sure you inform your mortgage broker at outset so that they are best placed to assist you.