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The 2014 Silver Bald Eagle Coin from the Royal Canadian Mint limited to just one million coins and packed with 99.99% silver purity, the 1 oz 2014 silver Bald Eagle bullion coin produced by the Canadian Mint is a firm favourite with collectors and promises to be a lucrative investment. The second of a four-coin set in the exceptional Bird of Prey series, the silver bald eagle boasts an exquisite design and is a valued coin of a highly coveted collection.
The Silver Bald Eagle coin forms part of a special commemorative collector's box set celebrating the world's best airborne predators. Produced by the Royal Canadian Mint – on of the best refinery's in the world – the birds of prey coin series is a highly sought after collection for its beauty, numismatic value and considerable investment. The Royal Mint will issue the birds of prey biannually, two in 2014 and two in 2015. However, they only plan to produce one million coins for each bird, therefore collectors will be prepared to pay a handsome sum to complete the set. The return on investment therefore promises to be excellent value for investors. The stunning coins contain a .9999 per cent pure silver bullion and are manufactured to the highest standards. The Royal Canadian Mint has an excellent global reputation for producing precious metal products to the highest standards and using advanced security techniques are very difficult to counterfeit. Investors in our silver Bald Eagle coins are assured of originality and the promise of considerable profits.
The design of the Bald Eagle coin is a sight to behold. On the observe side you find the predator in action, soaring upwards with its wings spread wide having just plucked a fish from the water. The dynamic image, created by Canadian natural science artist, Emily Damstra, bears the hallmarks of this incredible bird; powerful legs, fierce talons and charismatic wingspan. The feathers are finely engraved to accentuate the ruffle of flight. The bird is accompanied by the country of issue along the top and the initials ED to the right representing the name of the artist. Underneath the Eagle's talons are the numbers .9999 to indicate purity and the along the bottom rim the words: FINE SILVER 1 OZ ARGENT PUR, meaning pure silver in French. As Canada is still part of the British Commonwealth, the reverse side of the coins features the familiar profile of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II together with the year of mintage and the face value of the coin – in this case 5 dollars, although in the current financial climate the coins have a much greater value. The effigy of the Queen was designed by Susanna Blunt and has been used on all circulated bullion coins produced by the Royal Canadian Mint since 2003.
The bird of prey series was first introduced by the Royal Canadian Mint in February 2014 with the issue of the Peregrine Falcon. As part of a bi-annual release, the one ounce bald eagle silver coin was issued in August 2014 and is the second of the four-coin series. Although the bald eagle is synonymous with the United States, the predator is also a prominent species found in the Canada wild and is a fitting inclusion as one of the most formidable birds of prey known to man. Although adult bald eagles do not have any natural predators they were on the endangered species list, but thanks to the incredible work by wildlife associations throughout North America, have made a remarkable recovery. The birds now live safely in protected environments where they have the capacity to thrive. They typically mate for life and have a lifespan of around 30 years. The male eagle builds the nest and invites the female to share the home. They also share the responsibility of raising their young, taking it in turns to incubate the eggs until they are hatched. In any one season a couple will usually rear two or three eaglets who stay in the nest for around five months. Once the fledglings learn how to fly, the parents teach them how to hunt until they are ready to survive on their own and start their own families. As a predator, the bald eagle is formidable. Capable of reaching speeds in excess of 120km an hour, it has the capacity to dive rapidly and gather its prey into its lethal talons at ferocious speeds. Their vision is also six times greater than humans and because of transparent nictitating membranes, they can blink without losing sight of their prey.
The Royal Canadian Mint has a reliable history of producing bullion coins with a high level of security. The world renowned refinery is committed to protecting investors and in 2014 developed more cutting edge techniques that make their coins impossible to counterfeit. CoinInvest GmbH purchase coins directly from RCM.
CoinInvest buy and sell Bald Eagle silver coins for highly competitive rates together with a small premium. To order your one ounce silver coin, add the product to your cart by clicking on the orange strip in the volume pricing table above. Please allow up to 10 working days for delivery as some bank transfers do not reach us for up to 7 days depending on country. If you have any Silver Bald Eagle coins for sale get in touch with a member of our friendly staff who will be happy to prefer a fixed fee offer on your behalf and confirm the same by email.
1 The weight displayed is the fine metal content of the item. It does not reflect the actual weight of the product which may be higher.
* The delivered products may vary slightly from the picture shown.


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Darjeeling is known as the "Champagne of Teas" and this sampling from the Margaret's Hope Estate is a shining example of the complexities of this all too famous tea. Rich black tea flavor and that all famous Darjeeling astringency make this a favorite.
Margaret's Hope is named after the tea gardens daughter who was in love with the plantation but died tragically. The owner dedicated the plantation to his daughters memory. Though the story is sad, the flavor is lively and bright a true testament to Margaret's love of the estate. |This is a 2nd flush tea with mild flowery flavor. A high quality Darjeeling.

subset: commoncrawl


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Dynamical Downscaling: Concepts and Practices Workshop Alexandria, 11-14 March 2018
ARCA organized a workshop on "Dynamical Downscaling" in Alexandria during the period 11th – 14th of March 2018 with participation of 17 researchers of different backgrounds who were selected from 133 applicants to participate in the workshop.
The four-day workshop covered the following themes:
- Regional climate modeling
- CORDEX Domain
- Atmosphere-ocean interactions
- ERA-Interim data base
- Validation of Regional climate model
- Result analyses
- Recent and future scenarios
In order to enhance the participants knowledge, they were asked to work in groups and simulate downscaled models on different topics.
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Congrats on choosing New Zealand as your next destination! This country has so much to offer, I am sure you will not run out of things to do!
As you know, New Zealand is made of two big islands that are called very conveniently – the North Island and the South Island.
Here is my suggested 1-week road trip itinerary, that covers most of the highlights and some fun things to do on The North Island in New Zealand.
(Btw, you can see my tips for the South Island here).
North Island in New Zealand 1-week Road Trip
Day 1 – Arrival to Auckland
Being the most populated city in New Zealand, Auckland is a gateway for most travelers. You will most probably land there, too.
The flight will most probably be quite long (unless you live in Australia) and you will surely arrive tired after the flight. That is why I suggest spending a day or even 2 in Auckland, if your time permits.
Use this day for resting, picking up your rental car, stocking up on groceries and maybe seeing a bit of the city.
How to get to Auckland from the airport
If you did not pick up your car at the airport (read all about choosing the right rental company here), there are some public transportation options.
Public transportation:
1) Sky Bus is the budget way to get from Auckland Airport to the city center. It operates 24/7, and it departs every 10-15 mins. The journey takes 45 mins and costs $18 NZD one-way or $32 return.
2) Uber is about $50 NZD (depending on the destination and the traffic)
3) A shuttle bus starts from about ~$35 NZD per person plus $8 for any extra person in the group.
Rented car:
As I mentioned above, you can rent a car right at the airport, it will save you some money on transportation to the city.
Off-site rental companies usually offer a free shuttle bus to their rental office.
I also suggest stopping by an i-Site office in the airport! i-Site is New Zealand's official visitor center and you can find them all over the country, even in very remote locations. There is usually Wi-Fi in the office and a free telephone line you can use to call your rental car company so that they come to pick you up if this is not agreed in advance.
That is what I call a great welcome! Thanks, New Zealand!
Things to do in Auckland
Here are some suggestions for a fast Auckland visit:
- Sky Tower
- Auckland War Memorial Museum
- Auckland Art Gallery
- Auckland Domain
- Cornwall Park
Accommodation in Auckland
Luxury ($180 NZD and up): For a gorgeous luxury stay in Auckland, I suggest you book a room at M Social Auckland. This superb place is situated on the iconic Quay street! A second option would be Cordis, Auckland by Langham Hospitality Group – very close to Auckland's main attractions and with great design choices!
Middle ($61-180 NZD): My middle-priced suggestions are: Parnell one bedroom with ensuite (a great bed and breakfast where you will have your own patio) and Ponsonby Manor Guest House (18-minutes away from the beach and BBQ facilities!)
Budget (up to $61 NZD): For a nice budget stay, I advise you to take a look at Metro Adventurer Backpackers – a cool hostel situated in the heart of Auckland that offers free WiFi, private parking and even storage lockers! Or you can book your room at iholiday because it's only 10-minutes away from the beach and it also offers private parking (perfect for your rented car!)
You can also stay in an airport hotel if you don't feel like discovering the city center. These are the good ones – Naumi Auckland Airport Hotel, which offers a 5-star luxury accommodation with stylish rooms and Holiday Inn Auckland Airport which awaits you with an awesome pool and a beautiful garden.
Make sure you get a good night's sleep because your adventure begins the next day!
Day 2 – Hobbiton and Glowworm Kayaking
Now let's move from Auckland to one of the most popular places in New Zealand – Hobbiton Movie Set!
2.1 Hobbiton Movie Set
DRIVING TIME: Auckland -> Hobbiton – 2 h 20 min
Experience Middle-earth at the Hobbiton Movie Set where you can step into the lush pastures of the Shire.
Hobbiton was definitely one of the highlights of the entire country and there was no doubt for it to be included in my TOP 10 things to visit in New Zealand! The whole place is so serene and idyllic, I simply fell in love with it!
Hobbiton Movie Set is actually part of a family sheep farm. That was the original purpose of the place which Peter Jackson, the movie director found ideal for the Hobbiton part in his Lord of the Rings Trilogy.
The price for the tour is $79 NZD for adults (~$USD 57) for a 2-hour tour. We were not sure whether we should go on the planning stage, but I loved it so much and now I am so happy we decided to go!
NOTE: Keep in mind that the visit is guided and you will not be left alone to wonder around as I expected.
Your guide will take you around the 12-acre set: you will see the Hobbit holes, the Mills, and the world famous Green Dragon Inn! The guide will escort you around the set pointing to famous locations and tell you stories about the hobbit holes and movie production.
At the end of the tour, you will get a complimentary drink at the Dragonn Inn – your choice of beer or cider. Unfortunately, you cannot stay for longer after your tour is finished as your bus will take you back to the cash register (I know, I was also very disappointed).
The tours start every 30 minutes and I have been told that the best time to visit is the earliest morning. Also, if you happen to visit in the off-season (June – September), there will be almost no other tourists there (but keep in mind that the grass is not as green as in the summer).
PRO TIP: If you do not want to be rushed together with a group and take your time for pictures instead, there is an opportunity to take a private tour. You will still be escorted, but you can discover the place at your own pace and take as many pictures as you want! I think that would be my preferred choice if only I would know about it before.
Hobbiton also organizes Evening banquet tours every Wednesday and Sunday, and you can check them out here. That is when you will see the whole village beautifully lit up and you will walk around with your individual hand-held lantern. This tour will be concluded with a dinner.
PRICE: $79 NZD for a tour per person and $750 NZD for an individual tour for up to 4 people. Here are the up-to-date prices.
2.2 Glowworm Kayaking Waimarino
DRIVING TIME: Hobbiton -> Waimarino – 50 min
Just a little more driving and you will find yourself in a tiny place called Waimarino, which is famous for its glowing worms.
Yes, you read it right – there are worms glowing in the dark out there and I recommend you to see them!
The whole experience is absolutely magical – witnessing this natural phenomenon and riding a kayak inside a narrow high-sided canyon will make you feel like a discoverer on a forgotten land!
This is a canyon and not a cave, and you can only see the worms glowing when it's dark, hence you should take notice that this is an evening tour. I took the one organized by Glowworm Kayaking tours, who are pros in this.
I must warn you that at the beginning of the tour I was quite cold (so make sure to take some really warm clothes with you), but then, when we started to move in the kayak it all got much better! The tour guide will provide you overalls – take them, otherwise you might get a bit wet!
PRICE: $130 NZD per person
Accommodation around Waimarino
We drove all the way to Rotorua the same evening after kayaking (1 hour), but I would recommend staying somewhere close to Waimarino for the night and start driving the next morning. Here are my recommendations for hotels around Waimarino area:
Luxury ($180 NZD and up): A great luxury stay will be at 850 Cameron Motel – very clean and beautiful, this accommodation is situated only 4.5 km away from the glow worm kayak tours! My second suggestion is Lavender Lodge. Situated only 5.2 km away from the glow worm tours, this place awaits you with an awesome terrace – perfect for a couple!
Middle ($61-180 NZD): Accommodation at Te Puna Motel and Holiday Park is not far from Waimarino and it offers a swimming pool, a kid's playground and even a BBQ area! Comfort Inn Academy has a swimming pool, hot tub and lots of breakfast options!
Budget (up to $61 NZD): Oh So Central to Tauranga is located only 2.8 km away from the Waimarino Glowworm Kayak tours and it even offers free parking! Another good suggestion is Tauranga Central Backpackers – 6.4 km away from the kayak tours, this budget accommodation has air-conditioned rooms and access to shared kitchen and laundry facilities.
If you wish to stay in Rotorua too (I must warn you, we felt a bit tired driving in the same evening after kayaking), you will find hotels recommendations in Day 3 below.
Day 3 – Rotorua and Tamaki village tour
DRIVING TIME: Waimarino -> Rotorua, 63 km, 1 hour
It is hard to choose, but this would probably be my favorite day on the North Island!
Rotorua is New Zealand's thermal wonderland! You will see bubbling sulfur pools right inside the town, you will be able to do some epic biking trails and many other activities!
This will be a fun day full of great activities, are you ready?
3.1 Ogo zorbing
We will start in the morning and shake ourselves up a little bit.
What do you know about zorbing? It's time to try it by yourself!
Zorbing (Wikipedia) – is an activity of rolling downhill inside an orb, generally made out of transparent plastic.
It can be performed on water (walking-on-water-like) or going downhill on a gentle slope. The second choice is exactly what we will do today.
I chose (Ogo Rotorua) because the owner is the original inventor of zorbing, so they are professionals and you don't have to worry about your safety.
You can choose different rides – you can either race each other (so much fun!), or go together in one ball (for slower rides). We did both and I recommend doing the same!
It was so MUCH more fun than I expected!
NOTE: Do not forget to take your swimming suit and a towel! There will be water inside the ball that will help you slide easily. There are changing cabins there, so no problems about changing.
Take a GoPro with you if you have one (no selfie sticks allowed in order not to hurt yourself), or you can also rent a GoPro from them for an extra charge.
Oh, and there is a Jacuzzi where you can relax afterward (towels provided).
PRICE: It is anywhere between $40 to $70 NZD depending on the track you choose. Check the prices here.
3.2 Relax in the spa
Now, after some crazy stunts, I think you wouldn't mind some relaxation, would you?
I recommend visiting the famous Polynesian spa, which has some naturally acidic waters. This water has healing powers and it is supposed to release you from pain.
Maybe that is why this spa is loved by the local rugby team so much!
We have spent about an hour in the spa. There are more than 10 pools with different temperatures, so you can spend even more time there if you wish.
PRICE: There are different options you can choose from, the simplest one is just $30 NZD (the one I chose too). See all the available options here.
3.3 Walk around the city
There is a charming park right in front of the Spa, make sure to check it out!
If the thermal energy was not enough, you can see the bubbling mud pools right in the city!
Walk around or rent a bike to go around the lake.
3.4 Experience the Maori culture at Tamaki Village Performance
We are almost half way through this post and I still didn't mention anything about Maori people, shame on me!
Maori (Wikipedia again) – indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand. Māori originated with settlers from Eastern Polynesia, who arrived in New Zealand in several waves of canoe voyages somewhere between 1250 and 1300.
Maori are about 15% of the entire population of New Zealand at the moment. They have one of the richest culture and tradition I have ever seen! Maori speak their own language (very similar to Hawaiian) and value their beautiful culture.
This might be your only real encounter with real aboriginal people, this is why I cannot recommend enough visiting the Maori cultural performance. It will help you get to know better the traditions and origins of Maori!
Tamaki Maori Village is the one I visited and it was great! The whole experience is very interactive – you can participate in all the activities. I could see that the staff really had fun performing for us and this was not just a tourist trap!
Oh, and you will have an amazing buffet with traditional Maori food that will be prepared right in front of you in a traditional way.
PRO TIP: There is a short bus ride from Rotorua to this village. If you can, request your bus driver to be Irikau, he is the best! His jokes and positive attitude actually made half of the experience of the tour, trust me on this one!
PRICE: $130NZD for an adult (dinner included). Check the whole list here.
Accommodation in Rotorua
Luxury ($180 NZD and up): If you would like to feel like a king while in Rotorua, I suggest you book your stay at Prince's Gate Hotel. This incredible place is a 5-star boutique hotel situated right across the street from the Polynesian Spa! Another awesome option is Quest Rotorua Central Apartment Hotel – located only 700 meters from the Polynesian Spa, this place offers laundry facilities and a fully equipped kitchen.
Middle ($61-180 NZD): If you're searching for some really good middle-priced accommodations, then you can take a look at Holiday Inn Rotorua. This place offers free parking (perfect if you will rent a car during your New Zealand stay) and free use of the heated swimming pool and fitness center. Sudima Hotel Lake Rotorua is a 4-star hotel situated very close to the Polynesian spa, it also offers you free parking.
Budget (up to $61 NZD): Two great budget options for Rotorua are: Crash Palace Backpackers (it awaits you with a hot tub, small bar and even some DJ equipment for crazy parties!) and Rotorua Downtown Backpackers (modern hostel in the center of Rotorua).
Day 4 – Lake Taupo and Skydiving Experience
After a good night sleep in Rotorua, we move on to Taupo, a nearby town with many things to do.
Driving time: Rotorua –>Taupo, 80 km, 1 hour
Taupo is famous for having the biggest lake in the country and for being the gateway to Tongariro crossing (more details on the hike in Day 5 below).
We planned on staying for two nights in Taupo because we knew that the weather for Tongariro crossing is highly unpredictable and it might happen that in one of the days the park will be closed due to strong wind. If you are planning on doing the Tongariro hike, I advise staying for 2 nights too.
In fact, not even this precaution helped us – the park was closed on both days while we were in Taupo. The weather did not cooperate and we had to leave without doing the famous hike.
Oh well, I guess this is one more reason to go back!
Here are the recommended things to do in Taupo town:
4.1 Great Lake Taupo
Lake Taupo was formed thousands of years ago by a volcanic eruption. It surfaces an area of over 600 km2 and is by far the largest lake in New Zealand!
Just walk around the area, take a bike or simply have a lunch with a view. All the trails are very well maintained, so you will enjoy it no matter what you choose!
4.2 Skydive Taupo
The parachute jump is not mandatory in this itinerary of course, but let me describe my experience, maybe you will change your mind?
How about testing your limits with an ultimate thrill-seeking activity? Skydiving with Lake Taupo at your feet – there is no better place to do it!
I have already jumped with the parachute many years ago, I even did a Base Flying from a Holiday Inn Hotel in Berlin, but nevertheless, I was sh*t scared when I decided to do the parachute dive in New Zealand!
This is what you can expect from doing a skydive with Skydive Taupo:
A fancy white limo will pick you up in Taupo (it will say Skydive Taupo with big letters on it, so yes, you can totally show off to your neighbors/friends).
Once you get to the aerodrome, the staff will walk you through the safety instructions and you will be given the cover-ups. The staff is super friendly and professional, you do not need to worry about that. For instance, my instructor did more than 6 000 jumps!
There are a couple of options for the tandem flight that you can choose from – 12 000 or 15 000 feet, with video (pics) or without.
When you are ready, a cute little plane will take you up in the air and yes, it will happen – you will jump from the plane (with your instructor, of course)!
I did 12 000 feet and that is a 45-seconds free fall. I was the first one in the plane to jump, I sat right near the door staring at the view like I would in a normal flight, just that now I was about to jump out of it! This was cool and scary at the same time.
After the door opens, you won't even have time to get scared – everything happens so fast! And then, my friends, the fun part begins!
You will reach the speed of 200 km/h in 6 seconds! That is faster than a Lamborghini!
To be honest with you, I absolutely forgot to pose or to wave at the camera (I hope you don't blame me for that), but people do some of the craziest stuff in the air! You can write some words on your hands, make faces, do a dance – that is your flight, you can do whatever you want!
The parachute will open at 5 000 feet and you will probably be able to manage it a bit. My instructor handed me the steers and I could turn left and right, and it was awesome!
My landing was smooth and gentle, I didn't need to do anything, the hard part was done by my instructor, so thanks so much to him for that!
And that is it, my friend, you did it! You just jumped with a parachute in New Zealand!
If you choose to have your jump filmed, you will receive a fully rendered video right after your flight on a USB stick.
NOTE: If you paid for your skydive and the weather is bad, you will be given a full refund, no worries about that!
PRICE: The cheapest jump is $280 NZD, but there are many options and they even run promotions, so check the updated pricing here.
4.3 Other things to do in Taupo
P.S. I am well aware that not everyone will want to do the skydive, so here are a couple of great alternatives of things to do in Taupo:
- Visit Huka Falls
- Go biking around Lake Taupo
- Hike Mount Kauhara
Accommodation in Taupo
Luxury ($180 NZD and up): – Chalet Eiger (see detailed description below). My second luxury recommendation is Acacia Heights Gardens. This high-quality bed and breakfast awaits you with a hot tub, awesome seating area and a great continental breakfast.
Middle ($120-180 NZD): If you're looking for some middle-priced accommodations, you can take a look at The Reef Resort – Heritage Collection. Situated only 9-minutes away from the beach, this resort even has a cool outdoor pool! You can also book your stay at Acacia Lake View Motel – situated only 300 meters away from Taupo center, this accommodation offers free WiFi and flat-screen TVs!
Budget (up to $120 NZD): The Lake Motel is an awesome budget motel because it offers free WiFi and even free bicycle hire! You can also book a room at Pouakani Apartment Taupo, where you will find both apartment and studio style accommodations!
Chalet Eiger
In Taupo I stayed in a charming lodge called Chalet Eiger. It was one of those places that adds up to your impression of the city!
The chalet is located in a secluded place just 8 minutes away by car from Taupo center. It offers a fantastic view over Taupo Lake!
The owners, Peter and Nina, left their corporate jobs in Wellington, sold everything there and moved to Taupo. They now run this 5* boutique hotel and one can see that they really love what they are doing!
The rooms:
The chalet is tiny and intimate, it only has four rooms and each of them is stylish and spacious. Nice music will follow you everywhere in the room and common area (unless you decide to switch it off, of course). Each room is equipped with everything you might need – hairdryer, iron, TV, unlimited Wi-Fi.
Once checked in, you will find a complimentary bottle of New Zealand wine, fruits and a cheese platter waiting for you on the table.
A small life hack if you decide to stay here – I recommend booking a room with Jacuzzi – it has the same price as the other rooms!
There is a nice common room with a fireplace where you can enjoy a glass of wine or simply read a book. Ask the owners about the hidden garden alley for fantastic photo opportunities!
The culinary experience offered by this lodge was one of the highlights of our stay! Nina is a talented cook and she prepares dishes according to the guests' preferences.
Breakfast (included in the price) was so varied and so good! Make sure to get an omelet by Nina for breakfast, this was seriously one of the best omelets I've ever tried! She does not go cheap on ingredients, and all the products used are locally produced.
We also had a dinner with them and it was delicious (and with big portions)!
PRO TIP: Mention "Miss Tourist" to get a FREE 2-course dinner (valued $55 NZD per person) 🙂
NOTE: This boutique hotel only allows adults – the place is small, so the hosts don't want other guests to be bothered by noises.
Day 5 – Taupo, Tongariro Crossing
Driving time: 0 min, stay in Taupo
Walk straight into Mordor!
Today is the Tongariro Crossing day that you can either start from Taupo, or you can move closer to the park and start fresh from there.
As for me, I wanted to go with an organized tour in any way, and it included the transportation from Taupo, so we decided to rest in our lovely mansion for one more day. It is very convenient to use a tour operator in this case, as the trek starts and finishes in different places. The tour will transfer you back to your car/accommodation.
Here is more information on how to organize a one-day trip to Tongariro crossing if you will be a bit more lucky with the weather than me:
5. Tongariro Alpine Crossing
First things first – call the park at 3-4 p.m. the previous day to double check that they are open (the weather can be very unpredictable up there, as I said above). This is their phone number – +64 7 892 3729.
Tongariro crossing is described as one of the most beautiful treks in New Zealand!
The park has various treks for different levels of difficulty and time, the most popular being Tongariro Alpine Crossing. It is 19,4 km long and it usually takes around 7-8 hours to complete. You do not need to be incredibly fit for this, but be prepared for quite a walk!
Start – Mangatepopo car park, Finish – Ketetahi car park (North). The hike usually starts at 8-9 a.m., so you would finish by 5 p.m.
You will walk near active volcanoes, emerald lakes, alpine vegetation, lava flows, volcanic rocks and craters, so expect some stunning views! And yes, you will get to take that going-into-Mordor type of picture!
When you are finished, you will either need a shuttle that will take you back to the starting point, or, if you prefer, a shuttle that will pick you up and drop you off at your accommodation. There are numerous services that do that in Taupo, but make sure to book them in advance. Here and here are good services that I found online and they have good reviews.
PRICE: $30 NZD for a one-way transfer or $40 NZD for a round trip
I recommend staying in the same hotel you chose for Taupo, see recommendations above in Day 4.
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Day 6 – Taupo to Wellington
Driving time: Taupo –> Wellington, 420 km, 5.5 hours
Flying time: Auckland –> Wellington, 1 hour
You have 2 choices here: You can either continue South to Wellington or come back to Auckland and fly to Wellington from there
Which one will you choose?
We decided to fly because in this case we would leave the car in Auckland and not care about the ferry transfer to the South Island. We also didn't have much time to be honest, and flying to Wellington and then from there flying to Christchurch (South Island) was faster (even if that meant a couple of extra hours spent coming back to Auckland).
1) If you decide to go back to Auckland, you already have recommendations on what to do and where to stay above. You could also stop by Coromandel peninsula, but I would recommend doing this only if you have at least 1 extra day. The peninsula is beautiful, but it is also large, so you will need some time to discover it. Here is my post on 15 things to do in Coromandel.
2) If you continue to Wellington, this will be your on-the-road day as it takes almost 6 hours to get from Taupo to Wellington.
Do not worry about seeing the city in this day, just rest after the flight/drive and you will visit Wellington the next day, as you will have 2 nights in the capital.
Accommodation in Wellington
Luxury ($180 NZD and up): Bolton Hotel is a great luxury choice – it's a super elegant 5-star hotel located in the central business district in Wellington. You will find free WiFi and even iPad minis in the rooms. Another high-quality 5-star option is InterContinental Wellington, where I'm sure you will feel like a queen/king. Best of all? It's only 3-minutes away from the beach!
Middle ($61-180 NZD): I suggest Novotel Wellington as a great middle-priced option. Plus, it's located only 15-minutes away from Te Papa Museum! If you wish to be closer to the water, I suggest staying at Beachfront Wellington Bed and Breakfast – free Wifi, free breakfast and only 15-minutes away from the city center!
Budget (up to $61 NZD): For a good budget stay, you can book a room at Hotel Waterloo & Backpackers. Situated in the center of Wellington, this place awaits you with a 24-hour guest kitchen, laundry facilities and even game rooms! My second suggestion is Trek Global Backpackers – this cool place awaits you with free unlimited WiFi and even a barbecue area!
Day 7 – Wellington
Driving time: 0 min
Today is a no-driving day, perfect! Enjoy a breakfast/brunch in one of the hipster places and then proceed to see the city.
Wellington is a lively city that has its own vibe (and also tons of good restaurants, cafes and shops).
If you, like us, will be without the car in the city, here are some transportation options:
Uber is quite cheap (about $20 NZD from the airport to the city center). If you are traveling in a group of two or more it actually makes more sense to get an Uber, as the bus ride is $10 NZD each.
City buses are about $5 NZD depending on where you want to go.
Here is what I recommend visiting in Wellington:
7.1 Wellington Te Papa Museum
Te Papa Museum is the champion considering the amount of time spent in a museum – 3,5 hours, wow! No wonder why – it's so awesome and interactive!
People who think museums are boring should go to Te Papa, seriously.
Oh, and the best part? It is free!
Yes, you read that right. One of the best museums in the world is absolutely free of charge to visit. It is especially surprising taking into consideration the level and quality of the exhibitions presented there!
You can also take a guided tour (and I highly recommend it!). In just 1 hour, the tour will lead you through the museum giving you some extremely interesting information about the history of the country, the animals that used to live in New Zealand and that inhabit the country now.
No worries, you will be able to come back to any of the exhibitions and get to know them in detail later! In the end we spent at least 3 hours in the museum, so the statistics were right. 🙂
PRICE: $20 NZD for a guided tour, free to visit without the tour
7.2 Weta Workshop
To put it simply, the Weta Workshop is a place where they produce props, costumes and special effects for movies.
It started many years ago as a hobby by two enthusiasts in a small flat in Wellington, Richard and Tania, and it grew now to be a world-class quality production company for movie artifacts. The Weta workshop is one of the main reasons they call Wellington Wellywood sometimes!
Weta workshop has produced amazing costumes and masks for so many movies, including Lord of the Rings, Narnia, The Hobbit, King Kong, Power Rangers, Mad Max, Spider Man, Avatar and many more!
You can visit the workshop and see the movie characters come alive in the place.
There are numerous tours that you can take there, check them out here. We took the cave workshop tour for $28 NZD. The tour takes 45 minutes, during which you will see crafts being created and your guide will take you behind the scenes of movie production. I had no idea there is so much work that goes behind it!
My guide was so knowledgeable and excited about his job! As we were his last group that day, he spent way more time with us and I absolutely loved it!
NOTE: Keep in mind that you can't take pictures inside the workshop because the props don't belong to the workshop, they legally belong to each particular movie.
Here is an awesome video that describes what you are going to see there perfectly:
Weta Workshop is a nerd fest and it will also be fascinating for anyone interested in movies. This is a must-visit!
How to get there: We paid $5 NZD to get to Weta workshop from the city center.
Price: The cheapest tour is $28 NZD (the one that I took), but there are more options available on the Weta website
That's it, guys! Time flies, but I believe we managed to fit quite a lot into our North Island road trip, didn't we?
Below you will see my recommendations for what else to visit if you have more time and a small paragraph for those thinking to skip the North Island completely (spoiler alert – don't do it!).
Should I skip the North Island?
Some people ask me if they should omit visiting the North Island as they don't have a lot of time to visit New Zealand.
The short answer would be – no, I don't think you should skip it.
I think it is a big mistake to skip it because there are SO many great things to do in the North Island! I found the two islands to be very different in terms of nature, and even population. In my opinion, if I would not visit the North Island, my impression of the country would be incomplete.
Extra recommendations to visit on the North Island
Do you have more time for North Island? Congratulations, there are still some awesome things to do waiting to be discovered!
Here is the list: Coromandel Peninsula, The Bay of Islands, Mount Ruapehu, Mount Taranaki.
With its thermals springs, mountains, waterfalls, valleys and lakes, I am sure you will enjoy the North Island!
They say 1 week is not enough to see everything this beautiful island can offer, but I tried to suggest the highlights and added some extra suggestions in case you have more time to travel in the North Island.
You can copy this itinerary – it was tested by me and all the prices and driving times are included for your convenience.
I also made sure to leave some space for flexibility so that you could adjust the itinerary according to your preferences and dates.
I hope you will enjoy the 7 days full of activities, from geothermal pools and extreme activities to discovering Maori culture and New Zealand's cityscapes!
NEXT: Aaaaand now it is time to proceed to the South Island, 'God's playground' as the locals call it. Here is my 10-days itinerary for that part of the country.
Please be sure to drop a comment below if you liked the post or if you have any additional questions!
- Ultimate South Island Road Trip In New Zealand – A Day-By-Day Itinerary
- A Perfect Road Trip Around New Zealand In 3 Weeks
- 7 Things You Should Know Before Renting A Car In New Zealand
- How To Plan Your Ideal Trip To New Zealand
- New Zealand's Best Hotels – A Plan To Help You Book All Accommodation
Alternatively, you can check all my New Zealand posts here!
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Magazine racks are a pretty common sight at thrift stores, aren't they? I've certainly seen my fair share of them, and have even repurposed them before. So, I really had no intentions of upcycling another magazine rack so soon…but upon spotting this behemoth on a thrifting adventure a few weeks back, well…I simply couldn't say no. With it's tall straight sides and the desperate need for a makeover, it just screamed "kitchen caddy" to me because it was perfect for holding bakeware.
Why, you might ask? Well, it really was the straight up-and-down sides that spoke to me. Most magazine racks are angled out (as if you were looking straight at a boat from the tip of the bow). And sure, you could put cookie sheets and baking pans in those, but they wouldn't be as secure and would need a wider space to live in a kitchen. But not with this monster magazine rack- as tall as he was, he was still relatively narrow and compact.
Transforming him into a compact bakeware storage would be easy, but painting was a must. Whatever he held in his previous life had scarred and gouged him up pretty badly…plus, he was filthy, as if he had lived in a barn or basement for many, many decades. This post contains affiliate links for your crafting convenience.
For painting, I thought about brush painting…but y'all…it's just SO hot out and I simply didn't feel like spending that much time on my back porch, garage, or yard, brush in hand and sweat on face. So, I resorted to spray painting and selected a pale, heathery gray for my magazine rack. I don't paint much gray, and just thought it would give this clunky magazine rack a sleek, modern farmhouse makeover without falling back on white paint.
After I was satisfied with the paint job, I used my favorite flexible sandpaper to distress the edges and corners.
When all was said and done, this is how he looked. So much better, right? He's got a nice modern farmhouse look now, and is primed to become a clean and gorgeous kitchen caddy and bakeware storage.
Of course, I could have stopped at this point- but what's the fun in that? I figured if I took a couple of additional steps, it would make this project just that much better…and the first step was using my drill to attach four small (1½") casters to the underside. The bottom of this particular magazine rack is actually set in/raised so that he sits on the side rails as feet. So, I just had to make sure that my swivel casters were placed far enough in and out to rotate fully without butting up against those side rails.
After the four casters were attached, I drilled in two black robe hooks (one on each side)- you could certainly add more hooks than that, depending on what you plan on hanging. But two were good enough for me.
And that was it! My upcycled magazine rack kitchen caddy and bakeware storage project was done. Doesn't it look SO MUCH BETTER than before? Nice clean modern farmhouse style…from such a clunky piece to sleek storage!
For those of us with smaller or galley-style kitchens, this sucker could really come in handy…especially if you have an empty narrow space that is under-utilized. The casters make it easy to move and it can hold whatever your baking/cooking heart desires. For me, that includes bakeware (sheet pans, muffin tin, etc.), paper/foil/baggies, and the hooks are for oven mitts.
By the way, I treated myself to a brand new pair of oven mitts like you see above and they are AMAZING! Silicon on both sides which makes it super flexible and easy to hold things, even when you have tinier than average hands!
I just LOVE using magazine racks for any variety of storage options, well beyond the glossy pages of your favorite rag. Would this kitchen caddy and bakeware storage version come in handy for you?
And for even more organization project ideas, please check out my full collection of upcycled projects here!
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Ruth Bader Ginsburg 'home and doing well' after hospitalization, Supreme Court says
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg was released from the hospital and is home after having experienced chills and a fever, the Supreme Court announced Sunday.
"She is home and doing well," a court spokeswoman said.
Ginsburg, 86, was initially evaluated at Sibley Memorial Hospital in Washington, D.C., before being transferred to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore Friday night for treatment of any possible infection. The high court said Saturday that Ginsburg's symptoms had abated after receiving IV antibiotics and fluids.
Her health has long been an issue and she is a four-time cancer survivor.
Ginsburg was not on the bench for oral arguments earlier this month due to illness, according to Chief Justice John Roberts.
In August, she announced that she was being treated for pancreatic cancer. At the time, the court's public information officer said, "The tumor was treated definitively and there is no evidence of disease elsewhere in the body."
In 1999, she successfully underwent surgery to treat colon cancer. She was treated for early stages of pancreatic cancer in 2009. In December, Ginsburg underwent surgery to remove two cancerous nodules from her left lung.
Ginsburg, who inspired the meme "Notorious RBG" and was the subject of a documentary and feature film in recent years, missed oral arguments for the first time last term while recovering, but participated in rulings via court transcripts and in writing.
After her last diagnosis, Ginsburg went on an extended multistate speaking tour.
"This latest has been my fourth cancer battle and I found each time that when I'm active, I'm much better than if I'm just lying about and feeling sorry for myself," she said at the Yale Club in New York at an event hosted by Moment Magazine.
"It's a necessity to get up and go, it's stimulating, and somehow, all these appearances that I've had since the end of August, whatever my temporary disability is, it stops and I'm OK for the time of the event," she added.
Ginsburg has been known for reaching across ideological divides to build relationships with her fellow justices. This term, at the end of arguments, Justice Clarence Thomas, one of the court's most conservative justices, extended a hand to Ginsburg, the court's liberal icon, to help her down the steps that lead out of the chamber.


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In the United States, admission to the bar by a particular court system is needed to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction (e.g. territories under federal control) sets its own rules for bar admission (or privilege to practice law).
In general, a prospective lawyer will need to pass a state-administered bar exam after earning a Juris Doctor degree from a law school approved by the state in which he/she wants to practice. Typically, there is also a character and fitness evaluation, which includes a background check. [Source]
In other words, becoming a licensed attorney is an arduous process. The legal education consists of these stages:
- A Bachelor's degree, often in the Pre-law major
- Law school
- Trial practice
- Legal clinic
- Graduation with a Juris Doctor degree
Then there are the exams:
- The rigorous LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
- The even more daunting Bar Examination. (Two former students of mine, both very bright, each took the bar exam 4 to 6 times before they finally passed.)
Given how arduous it is to acquire a law license, like other professionals (such as physicians), most attorneys renew their license even when they are retired from active legal work. License renewal is easy and simple: you pay a fee and, in some states, take a few units of continuing legal education. Letting your license lapse, however, means that you'd have to re-take the bar exam to get re-admitted.
Lawyers let their license lapse for very compelling reasons, often to avoid or escape censure or outright criminal charges. As an example, Bill Clinton kept active his law license even when he became president. In 2000 the Arkansas Supreme Court's Committee on Professional Conduct called for Clinton's disbarment, saying he lied about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. In January 2001 Clinton reached an agreement under which he was ordered to pay $25,000 in fines to Arkansas state's bar officials and his Arkansas law license was suspended for five years. The agreement came on the condition that Whitewater prosecutors would not pursue federal perjury charges against him. Clinton was suspended by the Supreme Court in October 2001, and, facing disbarment from that court, Clinton resigned from the Supreme Court bar in November.
So it is most curious that Barack and Michelle Obama both gave up their law licenses.
Michelle Obama attended Princeton University, graduating cum laude with a B.A. in Sociology and African-American Studies in 1985. She then attended Harvard Law School and earned a J.D. in 1988 before returning to her hometown Chicago to work at the law firm Sidley Austin where she met and was assigned to mentor a summer associate named Barack. Subsequently, she worked as part of the staff of Chicago mayor Richard M. Daley as his Assistant and as Assistant Commissioner of Planning and Development. In 1996, she became, first, the Associate Dean of Student Services at the University of Chicago; then, Vice President for Community and External Affairs.
The above information on Michelle Obama is from Wikipedia. Conspicuously missing from the Wikipedia entry is the fact that she voluntarily gave up her law license.
The website of the Attorney Registration and Disciplinary Commission of the Supreme Court of Illinois ((https://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=847688734)) says that Michelle Obama was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association on May 12, 1989, but she is no longer authorized to practice law because she voluntarily surrendered ("voluntarily inactive") her license on some unspecified date for unspecified reason(s).
Here's a screen shot of the ARDC page on Michelle Obama:
For his part, Barack Hussein Obama was admitted to the Illinois State Bar Association on December 17, 1991. He too is no longer authorized to practice law because he had "voluntarily retired" on an unspecified date for unspecified reason(s).
Here's a screen shot of the ARDC page (https://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=596550107) on Barack Obama:
According to bloggers Johnny Alamo and James4America, Michelle "voluntarily" gave up her law license in 1993, just five years after she got the license; Barack "voluntarily retired" from law practice in 2007. The left-leaning Snopes.com denies that Michelle had "voluntarily surrendered" her law license, and insists both Michelle and Barack had merely put their law license on "inactive" status. Snopes, however, does not explain what's the difference between Michelle's "voluntarily inactive" and Barack's "voluntarily retired."
Nor does Snopes inform its readers that Michelle Obama was ordered by the court to put her law license on inactive status. An earlier version of the ARDC webpage on her (https://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=847688734) said this about Michelle: "No malpractice report required as attorney is on court ordered inactive status." Here's a screen shot of the web page at the time of Chelsea Shilling's WorldNetDaily article of August 4, 2009:
By the time I accessed the same webpage yesterday, September 15, 2010, the sentence "No malpractice report required as attorney is on court ordered inactive status" had disappeared. A day later, that webpage (https://www.iardc.org/ldetail.asp?id=847688734) is scrubbed of all information on Michelle Obama. See my update, "Illinois Supreme Court Coverup For Obamas."
H/t beloved fellows Joseph Fasciani, May, and Richard!


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The Rudolf Steiner Archive & e.Lib is an internet site
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Top 10 Super Companies
The Importance of Dividends
Core Holdings
My Updated List of Top 10 Super Companies
I often get asked if investing exclusively in dividend-paying companies will bring the best results. There is no simple answer, but history shows that dividend income is an important part of your total return when investing in common stocks. Increasing stock prices help build your wealth and beat inflation, but dividends provide a steady return on your investment through thick and thin.
I also receive questions from investors asking me to compile a list of stocks to begin building their initial portfolios. Whether you are a new investor or an experienced pro, or whether you are young or old, I usually advise that you include some ultra-conservative dividend-paying stocks in your portfolio. I call them core holdings. Owning these conservative stocks will not only allow you to sleep at night, but will also provide you with modest appreciation and dividend income for many years into the future.
Dividend-paying stocks offer two ways to make money: The price of your stock can appreciate and the dividend can provide income. Invest in companies with histories of well-founded growth that will continue during the next several years and even decades. A company's history of steady sales and earnings growth will usually lead to relatively steady appreciation and frequent dividend increases.
Dividends are the regular cash payments that a company sends to you or to your brokerage account. You can, however, instruct the company or your broker to reinvest your dividends into additional shares or fractional shares. Reinvesting your dividends makes sense, because the effects of compounding your dividends will make your investment grow even faster.
Many investors focus exclusively on speculative gains (appreciation), going so far as ignoring dividend payments when checking stock market results over long periods of time. You might be pleasantly surprised, though, if you include your dividends in your total return calculations, you will see that your returns are better than you thought. You will also find that dividend-paying stocks tend to decline noticeably less in market declines like we've been experiencing, than stocks paying no dividends.
Dividends are the payments of a company's hard-earned profits. A company's ability to continually pay dividends provides concrete evidence that the company is performing well. And accounting malfeasance is harder, or impossible, if a large transfer of cash is going to shareholders on a regular basis. I don't recommend that you buy companies paying really low dividends; I only recommend companies paying dividends yielding more than 1% per annum (calculated by dividing the annual dividend by the current stock price).
There is another consideration when you're evaluating dividends and yields: dividend payout. The dividend payout is the ratio of dividends per share compared to earnings per share (DPS divided by EPS). The payout ratio indicates if earnings can support the dividend. A growth company that pays a small dividend will tend to have a lower dividend payout ratio than a well-established "blue chip" company that has a higher dividend payout.
As a general rule of thumb, most successful dividend investors avoid companies with a dividend payout ratio above 50% or 60%. Anything above that mark means the company may not be investing enough capital back into the organization. Even if a company's growth has slowed, it's still critical that it reinvest a portion of its earnings back into the organization.
My top 10 "super" companies listed below offer dividends averaging 2.5%, which exceed the current 10-year U.S. Treasury bond rate of 2.0%. In addition to generous dividend payments, investors can expect steady long-term earnings and dividend growth of more than 10% per year. All of the companies maintain strong balance sheets with low debt and lots of cash. Annual dividend increases are common for all of the companies and have averaged 16% annual increases during the past five years.
The average dividend payout ratio for our 10 companies is 31%, which is well below our 50% to 60% limit. And best of all, investors have neglected high-quality companies during the past several years so that now these companies sell at very reasonable prices.
In my opinion, the following companies should be included in your portfolio:
Abbott Laboratories (ABT) produces a wide range of drugs, diagnostic products, medical testing products, test analysis and nutritional products. Sales and earnings growth have been aided by expanding international sales and by recent acquisitions. Sales, earnings and dividends increased 8% to 10% during the past 10 years. We believe future growth will be the same or slightly better based on rising international sales, growing sales to the aging U.S. population and new acquisitions. ABT shares are undervalued at 11.6 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since 1926 and currently provide a yield of 3.8%.
The debate in Washington on what to do with the healthcare plan has placed a cloud over drug makers, which has no end in sight. Drug stocks, in general, have lagged the stock market, but lately investors are beginning to notice their low P/Es, high yields and steady earnings growth. Leading drug stocks, such as Abbott, should move substantially higher during the next 12 months.
Caterpillar (CAT) is the world's largest manufacturer of earth-moving equipment. The company's machines are used in mining, logging and farming, and in the construction, petroleum and transportation industries. Financial results for the second quarter were muted by parts shortages stemming from the disaster in Japan. However, during the remainder of 2011 and well beyond, demand for Caterpillar equipment will be especially strong as a result of the need to replace aging construction equipment.
Demand for additional equipment to rebuild extensive areas of the U.S. affected by recent tornadoes, floods and hurricanes will also increase. In addition, highways, bridges, etc. in the U.S. and other developed countries are in dire need of refurbishing and improvement. Finally, the rapid development of infrastructure in emerging countries such as Brazil, China and India provides a bright outlook for Caterpillar for an extended period of time. CAT shares are undervalued at 13.7 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since way back in 1914 and currently provide a yield of 2.2%.
Chevron (CVX) is the third largest global integrated oil company and has interests in exploration, production, refining, marketing and petrochemicals. The company has grown rapidly during the past decade after mergers with Texaco, Unocal and other companies. Chevron's recent acquisition of Atlas Energy will provide the company with an industry-leading position in the lucrative Marcellus Shale natural gas area of Pennsylvania.
Chevron's development of a huge find in the Gulf of Mexico could add production growth of 1% during the next four years and 4% growth during the following four years. Additional finds off the coasts of China, Liberia, Turkey and Australia will also add significant revenues and earnings in future years.
Revenues increased 19% and EPS soared 69% during the past 12 months, boosted by increased oil and natural gas production and higher oil prices. We expect sales and earnings growth of 10% or higher during the next several years, depending on oil prices and production in the Gulf of Mexico. CVX is undervalued at 8.5 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since 1912 and currently provide a yield of 3.2%.
Walt Disney (DIS) is one of the world's most-recognizable names. The leading entertainment company operates a multitude of giant theme parks and resorts around the world as well as a cruise line, television networks, and movie studios. Disney recently opened a new resort in Hawaii and is building a new resort in Shanghai, China. Expansion is also in the works at its ESPN network, Disney World in Orlando and Disneyland in California.
Disney's well-diversified holdings in the U.S. and overseas helped the company avoid a significant downturn during the recent recession. During the past 12 months, sales increased 5% and EPS rose 15%. We expect Disney to pick up the pace and produce sales and earnings increases of 9% and 23% respectively during the next 12 months. Expansion and recent rate hikes at the company's parks and resorts will spur EPS growth. DIS shares are a bargain at 13.5 times current EPS. Larger box office sales and price increases could cause our estimates to be conservative. Dividends have been paid since 1957 and currently provide a yield of 1.2%.
International Business Machines (IBM) is the world's largest information technology company. IBM is taking advantage of increasing demand for software services from overseas corporations, which make up 65% of total sales. Revenues, earnings, and dividends increased 5%, 10% and 15% respectively during the past 10 years.
IBM's revenue from cloud computing will likely double in 2011 and increase substantially again in 2012. Revenues from Brazil, Russia India, and China will likely increase 25% or more this year, as well. IBM's total sales, EPS and dividends will rise by 10% to 12% or more during the next five years. The company is well-positioned to take advantage of the current hardware and software cyclical upswing. IBM shares are reasonably priced at 13.8 times forward EPS. Dividends have been paid since 1916 and currently provide a yield of 1.8%.
Microsoft (MSFT) is the leading maker of software, primarily because of its dominance in desktop computer operating systems and office productivity products. The company's Windows operating systems run more than 90% of all personal computers throughout the world. MSFT's server software products are used in 70% of all computer server systems.
Microsoft has two relatively new product lines: cloud computing and video games. Cloud computing, which provides computing and storage on the Internet, is gaining in popularity, and the company has become one of the leaders. Video games have become big business, and Microsoft has become a leader with its Xbox video game system and accessories. The company recently introduced Kinect to compete with the popular Wii and Playstation Move games. Kinect is based on a webcam for the Xbox console and enables users to control and interact with the Xbox 360 without the need to touch a game controller. The player uses gestures and spoken commands to control a variety of games.
The software giant continues to spend heavily on research and development to maintain its front-running positions in the technology sector. Sales increased 12% and EPS soared 28% during the last 12 months–quite remarkable for a company with $70 billion in annual sales. Analysts are forecasting a sales gain of 12% for the next 12-month period and an increase of 10% for earnings per share. But not us. We believe Microsoft will produce substantially better earnings growth during the next 12 months which will drive its stock price considerably higher. MSFT shares are clearly undervalued at 9.9 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since 2003 and now provide a yield of 2.5%.
PepsiCo (PEP) is a global leader in the soft drink and snack food industries. The company is expanding in international markets and focusing on health and wellness beverages and foods. Annual revenues, earnings and dividends increased 8%, 11% and 13% respectively during the past 10 years. We expect Pepsi to increase sales, earnings and dividends 10% or more during the next five years. New products and further expansion into emerging markets will spur future business. PepsiCo's purchase of Wimm-Bill-Dann, a leading Russian dairy company, will diversify its product portfolio and extend its global reach. The stock is reasonably priced at 15.7 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since 1952 and currently provide an attractive yield of 3.3%.
TJX Companies (TJX) is the largest U.S. retailer of discount apparel and home fashion goods with 2,700 stores in the U.S., Canada, Germany, Ireland and the United Kingdom. The company's main chains are T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Winners and HomeGoods.
Management is taking advantage of the slow economic environment by offering low prices and good-quality merchandise to attract new customers and retain existing customers. We expect TJX to retain its new-found customers and expand its store base aggressively during the next couple of years. Sales and earnings have increased impressively at a 13% rate during the past 10 years while dividends have been raised 22% per year.
Sales and EPS will likely increase by 7% and 19% respectively during the next 12 months and continue strong thereafter as new stores generate more sales and become more profitable. TJX shares are undervalued at 15.6 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since 1980 and currently provide a yield of 1.5%.
Walgreen (WAG), a leading drug store retailer, is adding worksite and homecare services to its pharmacy business. The company has also become more active in acquiring small competitors. New management is renovating existing stores and cutting operating costs.
The company is once again delivering solid financial results after weak sales and earnings during the recent recession. Now same-store sales are up, and Walgreen is gaining market share. Walgreen is an excellent company to hold for long-term investment, because the company has produced very steady sales, earnings and dividend growth for the last several decades. The future for the drug store industry looks bright with the burgeoning population of baby boomers needing more and more drugs, medicines, etc.
Sales, earnings and dividends increased 13% to 14% per year during the past 10 years. We foresee similar growth during the next five years. New acquisitions and the expected rapid growth of the drug store industry will spark strong results. WAG shares are reasonably priced at 14.3 times current 12-month earnings per share. Dividends have been paid since 1933 and currently provide a yield of 2.6%.
Wal-Mart Stores (WMT) is the world's largest retailer with 9,000 stores, two million employees, and $430 billion total sales. The company's stores offer low retail prices and one-stop shopping with groceries now accounting for 51% of sales. Sales and earnings increased 12% while dividends were generously increased 18% per year during the past 10 years.
Wal-Mart is focusing on expanding in China, where the company's square footage has risen 33% per year since 2007. Wal-Mart currently has 350 stores in China with plans to expand to 2,000 or more stores in the future. Management has set out a plan to re-focus on everyday low prices and compete head-on with dollar stores; offer a larger assortment of goods; remodel the layouts of stores; and improve Internet buying for customers. The moves should attract new customers and former customers looking for bargains.
Wal-Mart is opening 300 smaller Wal-Mart Markets and Wal-Mart Express stores. The move will enable the company to expand into new rural and urban areas. We expect sales and earnings to increase 10% per year and dividends to advance 12% per year during the next five years. WMT shares are undervalued at 12.1 times current EPS. Dividends have been paid since 1973 and currently provide a yield of 2.8%.
I will continue to follow these top 10 "super" companies, and other blue-chip, high-quality companies in my Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Letter. My next issue, coming soon, will focus on undervalued Canadian stocks. I hope you won't miss it!
J. Royden Ward
Editor of Cabot Benjamin Graham Value Letter
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Lost Keys and PrayerOctober 15 2015
One of Haiti's chief government officials had arrived at our Radio 4VEH studio to record a public interest program. Seated at the microphone, he suddenly realized he had left his notebook in the car. Worse yet, he had locked his keys inside, which was the reason for the frustration we were seeing through the studio window.
We had just finished staff devotions, led by Gaudin Charles on Luke 18:8, "When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth?" Immediately, several of our fellows gathered around the car and tried every imaginable suggestion for retrieving the keys - but nothing worked! The crowd was multiplying because Haitians are inquisitive, and they wanted to see what was happening
Louisa Destine, our prayer warrior and woman of faith, began walking toward the reception room with her thoughts ablaze, "Why don't we put our faith to work? God can do a miracle, if we obey Him."
By this time, the irritated official was pounding on the car door and window. All at once, he stopped and blurted out, "On the radio you preach about faith in God and that he will answer your prayers. Why aren't you praying now?"
Goaded by this challenge, Louisa quickly teamed with coworkers in intercession. "God, you heard this man. We know you answer prayer. Glorify yourself; don't let us be ashamed. Make a way ... make a way, Jesus, make a way ..." she pleaded.
At that time, a young mother, Madame Manno, drove in to pick up her children at Cowman School. Louisa felt she should run over to that car as though Jesus was saying "There are the keys!"
"Madame Manno, give me your keys, Jesus said these are the keys to open this man's car!" Louisa shouted. The young mother laughed, "You can try, but they won't work in another car!"
With confidence, Louisa took the keys and ran over to the official. "We just asked God to make a way to open your car door. Use these keys. In Jesus' name, use these keys!"
The look on his face revealed his thoughts, "Are you going to make a fool of me?" Others of us stood with pounding hearts! Louisa said, "Put the key in the door, in Jesus name, put the key in the door!"
There was silence, then reluctantly the government official thrust the key in the lock … turned it … and click. The door opened!
Over the shouting of the shocked bystanders, the unmistakable voice of Louisa was heard. "Blessed be the Lord, Blessed be the name of the Lord. Benit soit l'Eternel."
Dumbfounded, the official added his proclamation, "Your God is alive, your God is alive, I, too, believe, I, too, believe!"
Recording the program was forgotten as the official got into his car and drove away. But, he, along with those who saw it, will never forget that prayer was the key, and faith unlocked the door that day!
By Valeene Hayes, Longtime OMS Missionary


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CLICK HERE to save $$$ when you buy the bundle!
Winter Magic by Digital Scrapbook Ingredients is perfect for documenting all your sparkling and magical winter memories!
This pack contains: 9 journal cards (including 3 6x4 inch cards and 6 3x4 inch cards) in individual .png files as well as 8.5x11 inch printable PDF files.


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Bill would make layoffs easier, cap compensation
Reuters — A draft bill to loosen rigid French labour law that has infuriated trade unions and left-wing lawmakers will be open to parliamentary amendment but will go ahead, Socialist Prime Minister Manuel Valls said on Tuesday.
The bill published last week would make layoffs easier, cap compensation for economic redundancies and allow company-level negotiations on reducing overtime pay.
"I'll go through with it to the end," Valls said on RTL radio in response to a business owner, who said he would immediately hire 47 additional staff for his tourism company if he was sure the law would enter into force, supporting Valls' contention that companies will recruit more staff if they can make layoffs more easily.
Valls cited "flexicurity" employment policies in Denmark and Sweden, and German labour reforms as examples of how the planned measures could help bring down France's stubborn 10.6 per cent unemployment rate.
Trade unions ranging from the hardline CGT to the moderate CFDT, which has supported other economic reforms, have denounced the draft and were to meet later on Tuesday to consider a joint protest action possibly including strikes.
Senior cabinet ministers have also voiced concern at aspects of the bill, which challenges French leftist taboos.
Valls declined repeatedly to say whether he would ram the bill through parliament by turning it into a confidence vote, as the government did with an economic reform bill opposed by some leftists last year.
"First of all I want to convince the French people and a majority of lawmakers, first and foremost lawmakers on the left, to adopt this law," he said. "I want to convince our fellow citizens that it's possible to overcome blockages, that we have to reform this country."
Amendments were possible before the cabinet adopts the bill on March 9 and when it goes to parliamentary debate on April 4, he said.
Among the most heavily criticized aspects are measures that would allow companies to make layoffs if a division or a subsidiary suffered a fall in orders or turnover, regardless of the economic health of the overall corporation, and caps on the amount of compensation that labour courts could award.
President Francois Hollande, on a visit to French Polynesia on Monday, indicated to reporters that he was not in favor of using the constitutional device of a confidence vote to cut off parliamentary debate and force the bill through.
Valls rejected suggestions that the bill was electoral suicide for the left ahead of a presidential election next year, saying it did not remove any workers' rights while giving employers greater flexibility.
European Economics Commissioner Pierre Moscovici, a former Socialist finance minister, voiced guarded support for the bill on France-Info radio, saying France badly needed labour reform but the question was how to get the balance between flexibility and job security right.


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tubes clamped since 2003. 4 days late?
March 19th, 2012
I've had my tubes clamped since 2003. My periods are normally regular however I'm 4 days late with no signs of it coming... any suggestions on what's going on?
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Dr. Mitaly Pathak Agarwal
replied March 20th, 2012
Pregnancy Answer A32968
Welcome to ehealthforum and thanks for writing
The first possibility of missed periods after tubes being tied is pregnancy and that definitely needs to be ruled out as woman have reported conception even after tubes being tied.
Some other causes can be increased stress,thyroid hormone abnormalities,ectopic pregnancy,polyps,endometritis etc.Get a Blood hcg test done to rule out pregnancy.
It would be best to undergo a USG scan to rule out the cause.
Kindly visit a Gynaecologist for evaluation and diagnosis.
Take care!
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Python can be an extremely powerful tool for reading and writing csv files. Here I'll demonstrate an example of each using the csv DictWriter function.
Sample File: (test.csv)
From here, I will import the csv file into a dictionary array using the csv DictReader function in the python console.
import csv test_file = 'test.csv' csv_file = csv.DictReader(open(test_file, 'rb'), delimiter=',', quotechar='"')
You can now parse through the data as a normal array.
for line in csv_file: print line['age'] 24 26 33 21
Writing an array to a csv file with DictWriter
Here is an example of using DictWriter to write a csv file. The main difference is that the fieldnames have to be entered as a separate array. The fieldnames have to match all of the keys in the dictionary array but can be ordered differently.
test_array = [] test_array.append({'fruit': 'apple', 'quantity': 5, 'color': 'red'}); test_array.append({'fruit': 'pear', 'quantity': 8, 'color': 'green'}); test_array.append({'fruit': 'banana', 'quantity': 3, 'color': 'yellow'}); test_array.append({'fruit': 'orange', 'quantity': 11, 'color': 'orange'}); fieldnames = ['fruit', 'quantity', 'color'] test_file = open('test2.csv','wb') csvwriter = csv.DictWriter(test_file, delimiter=',', fieldnames=fieldnames) csvwriter.writerow(dict((fn,fn) for fn in fieldnames)) for row in test_array: csvwriter.writerow(row) test_file.close()
The writeheader() function was added to DictWriter in 2.7 and gives a cleaner way to write the first row of the csv file. You could replace line 9 with it, but I would advise against it to maintain backward compatibility.
Results of test2.csv after using the csv DictWriter:


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Welcome to Kate Leith Garden Design
A garden built on sound design principles has a harmonious and timeless quality which, allied with carefully considered planting, improves with maturity and adds value to your home. A well designed garden makes your home more versatile and fun to live in and brings you immense pleasure every day of the year, being functional as well as beautiful.
Whether you wish to enjoy your garden from inside the house, appreciating its clear structure and attractive, low maintenance planting, or to spend as much time as possible out there gardening or entertaining, a professional design will make this possible.


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Cane Corso Dogs
Italian Import Wows American Families
With its large, athletic build and massive head, the Cane Corso is an impressive looking dog that may conjure up fear in those who have never met the Italian breed.
Alas, while the Cane Corso was originally bred to be a guard dog, the breed today is well known as a lovable family companion. In fact, due to its increasing popularity, the American Kennel Club recently welcomed the breed to join its registry.
The Cane Corso, whose name, translated from the Latin word "cohors," means "guardian" or "protector," is an ancestor of the ancient Greek Molossus dog, who is also the ancestor of the mastiff breed.
While some historians believe that the Molussus was bred to fight men, tigers and lions among other wild beasts in battle, there are others who contend the breed was a hunting companion and was used to herd sheep.
The Molossus eventually migrated to Italy, where it became a valued family companion and livestock guardian. The Italians also gave the Molossus a new name: Cane Corso (Kah-neh-Kor-soh). The breed flourished particularly in Southern Italy, until it became nearly extinct in the early 1970s when the country's agricultural structure changed and the dog became less in demand.
However, dog enthusiasts took it upon themselves to carefully and selectively breed the Cane Corso back to life — and popularity. In the late-80s, the dog was introduced to Americans and quickly became a constant companion to many nationwide.
Cane Corsos enjoy being part of family activities and various forms of exercise, including swimming and playing fetch.
Due in part to their long line of breeding, the Cane Corso responds well to training. Instinctively a guard dog, the Cane Corso tends to loyally attach itself to its family, particularly children.
Cane Corsos enjoy being part of family activities and various forms of exercise, including swimming and playing fetch. Not typically an overly energetic dog, the Cane Corso is generally quiet unless alerting to a suspicious noise. This dog breed is known to get along with other dogs; however, it is recommended that you accompany your Cane Corso to socialization and obedience classes at a young age to curb any potential aggression.
Since the Cane Corso is classified as a working dog, yours would benefit highly from daily exercise, even if limited to walks through the neighborhood.
Cane Corsos are also vocal: they are known to snort, grunt, and snore loudly. Those born with heavy jowls will also slobber.
Considered to have the same ancestor as the mastiff, the Cane Corso favors a similar build, although theirs is a more muscular and athletically defined. Unlike the mastiff, the Cane Corso is agile on its feet, able to move quickly and possesses an impressive amount of endurance.
The average Cane Corso may weigh between 88 and 110 pounds, with the females weighing in the lower range.
The Cane Corso's head is one of its primary and most notable features — standard protocol says that the dog's muzzle should be as wide as it is long, and while some breeders choose to crop them, the dog's ears naturally drop forward. The Cane Corso also is born with a tail, but breeders tend to crop that as well.
The dog breed has two standard colors: black and fawn. Variations of these colors are documented, most notably the brindle: mainly black and blue.
Cane Corsos can suffer from a variety of health conditions. While these may be common medical conditions, your Cane Corso will not necessarily develop them.
- Hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joints that causes arthritis. The conditions is especially crippling in large breeds of dogs.
- Stomach bloat or torsion (also known as gastric dilatation and volvulus or GDV) is very serious and often deadly condition where the stomach becomes painfully distended, either due to food, water or gas. The distended stomach then has a tendency to rotate twisting off its own blood supply and the only exit routes for the gas inside.
- Demodectic mange, also called Demodex, is caused by a mite (Demodex canis) that is a normal resident of the skin. It is transmitted from the mother to puppies during suckling. Genetic factors and immunologic response play a role in the development of the disease. The disease is treatable and not considered contagious.
- Cherry eye is when the gland of the dog's third eyelid slips out of place. Unlike people, dogs have a 'third eyelid' that contains a tear gland and is located in the corner of each eye. Under normal circumstances, this gland is not visible and aids in the production of tears. When the gland of the third eyelid prolapses or comes out of its normal position, it swells creating the condition known as cherry eye.
- Entropion, inward curling of the lower eyelid or ectropion, rolling out of the eyelid, is fairly common in the breed. The condition should be corrected surgically to prevent damage to the cornea of the eye.


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Source: https://honeybeesuite.com/save-laying-worker-colony/
This is not a post on how to save a laying-worker colony. I have beat the subject to death in prior posts, and the comments always devolve into arguments on the best way to tame those drone-laying demons. Each beekeeper's personal technique is the right way and you're ignorant if you don't believe it. While […] Read more
The post Why save a laying-worker colony? appeared first on Honey Bee Suite.
To stay up to date with the latest in the apiculture industry to may check out our apiculture latest news. On the other hand if you're starting beekeeping and desire to start professional apiculture today download a copy of our beekeeping for beginners ebook.
Beekeeping can be a full time profession or an easy hobby. Nevertheless, more often than not, what began as a hobby would turn into a profession. But you cannot simply decide and tell yourself you will begin to do beekeeping. You need to have sufficient knowledge and understanding on the area that you're going to enter, before beginning on any avocation or profession. Then it's about time to indulge yourself in your line of interest if you really have been putting off your interest in beekeeping for quite a long time. Bee farming may not seem difficult; learning the fundamental beekeeping lessons can allow you to get off to a good beginning.
What does a beekeeper need to understand?
You should have interest that is total on beekeeping to begin at the right foot. You need to spend time taking care of your colonies of bees. You should also have agreed to share your home space. There are potential risks in beekeeping that can hurt you but your family as well. Your focus is not only to build an income by selling honey; a good beekeeper should have fire and a keen interest in rearing bees.
An apiarist should know the right place for the beehives. The place must have sufficient sources of nectar for the bees to get. If you decide to set your beehives at your backyard, you need certainly to make sure beekeeping is allowed in your town. There are several places limited to beekeeping; you need to get permission relating to this.
Beekeepers must know whether beekeeping supplies are offered in the region where the beehives are situated. You may never understand when you need to visit an area beekeeping shop; it's best that a nearby beekeeping store is accessible.
Equipment and protective tools are also important for beekeepers to understand. Understand the appropriate suit to select to keep you from any possible risk in beekeeping.
In case you are incapable to harvest honey from your bees all the beekeeping efforts would be ineffective. The methods should be known by a beekeeper in collecting the honey from the comb; beeswax is also part of the returns in beekeeping.


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The gunman shot dead by police as he left the scene of a bank robbery with a hostage was identified Monday as 43-year-old Carlos Rudolfo Espinoza Arcia, of Hyattsville.
Espinoza Arcia took a female bank employee hostage during the robbery Friday morning and used her as a shield when he exited the bank, police said. After a dye pack exploded, he stepped in some snow and ice, allowing the hostage to get away.
Espinoza Arcia chased her with his gun drawn, and three Takoma Park officers and three Prince George's County officers opened fire, killing him.
One officer was grazed by a ricocheting bullet and the hostage's arm was scraped. Both were treated at area hospitals and released. A bank customer who was pistol-whipped when he tried to stop Espinoza Arcia remained hospitalized Sunday.
Takoma Park police officers were the first to respond to the bank robbery. Through a window in the bank, Sgt. Tyrone Collington observed the robbery suspect carrying a pistol and taking a hostage. Takoma Park Police Chief Ronald Ricucci said that the sergeant requested a SWAT team for help, but the team did not arrive before the shooting started.
Two sources helped police identify the suspect Sunday. A coworker called Takoma Park police to report Espinoza Arcia had missed two days of work, and a landlord called in a missing person report to Prince George's County police because Espinoza Arcia hadn't been seen in two days. The name was the same name police had been trying to confirm.
Investigators went to Espinoza Arcia's residence and found a gun, sponges, copper wire and aluminum foil. Police said that during the bank robbery, the gunman claimed to have two bombs, which turned out to be kitchen sponges and copper wire wrapped in aluminum foil.


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Happiness! Love! Adventure! Join Hunter on his nonstop adventure in Hawaii! Whether its throwing a magical underwater festival or sailing off on a pirates quest- you will surely have fun and spread ALOHA! Oh, and dont forget to spot the lucky gecko! For every book/ebook sold through FastPencil MarketPlace- Author/Illustrator Michelle Keely will donate $1 out of her personal profit to the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association.
Aloha Nui Loa, Michelle
©2013-2015 | DMCA | Contact us


text: Artifact Details Title Button Catalog Number 102642315 Type Physical object Date 1989 Manufacturer Apple Computer, Inc. Dimensions 1/4 x 3 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. Description "FREMONT MANUFACTURING AUGUST 11, 1989 OAKWOOD LAKE DAY AT THE SLIDES!" is printed around a drawing of kids rafting on the front of the button. Category Ephemera: badge / button Credit Gift of CHM AppleLore Lot Number X2870.2005


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Big Broadway Birthday for Kids
Posted by Dani Gurrie in Articles on Tue, Apr 17, 2012
If your kid is a "Broadway Baby" and loves to sing and dance, this Broadway Birthday Party idea is possibly the perfect one for him or her. It is very easy to plan and just needs a few things for you to be able to put on a perfect themed party for them.
1. A karaoke machine or internet connected computer
2. Tissue paper and large pipe cleaners
3. A few fun prizes
So if you have those things you are on your way to a perfect broadway birthday party. Here is how you can do it.
Creating bouquets of fake flowers for the kids.
One thing you think about when a show opens or a star finished a performance is a bouquet of flowers. By simply taking the tissue paper and wrapping the top of a pipe cleaner around the center of about 3 to 5 pieces, you can fold it up and get it to hold so that you now have large flowers on a pipe cleaner stem that you can wrap in an extra piece of tissue paper for a bouquet. These bouquets can be used to award performances, saved as a take home gift or even just for fun.
Singing and Performing Karaoke
One thing you think of with Broadway Musicals are people singing showtunes . Even if you don't have a karaoke machine, you can still have a showtunes sing off if you have an internet connected computer. Just log onto YouTube.com and search for your favorite showtune and add the word karaoke to it. You can find virtually any karaoke version of a song on YouTube and if you can hook the computer up to your TV, you get huge words and possibly better sound. If you're computer speakers aren't loud, you can always go and buy loud ones at an electronics store or some convenience stores for under $40.
Play Writing and Acting
Broadway isn't just about fun costumes and singing. The characters have to be able to act as well. One fun thing you can do is put 5 or 10 themes for a play and give the kids about an hour to create a script, write down queue cards so they can remember it and let them perform for each other. Then when they are done, they can award the winning team with their bouquets of flowers.
Prizes for the Contests
Prizes are important, especially when you are dealing with broadway divas. Some inexpensive broadway themed prizes could be kids bath robes because a diva needs to relax before she goes on stage, a single or bouquet of real flowers, tiaras, fake costume jewelry, a boa, chocolates or even something like a photo session for head shots. You can usually find specials online for these.
About the Author:
Adam has been blogging and helping give people advice on parties, weddings, finding broadway tickets as well as numerous other topics since 2006.
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Related topics: birthday party ideas, broadway birthday party
About Dani Gurrie
Dani Gurrie is the founder of Tots2Tweens, a wife to Ashley and mom to Cooper and Brodie. She spends most of her days trying to find the ultimate kids-related thing that mom's will love...just to share it with her world.
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