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Monday, November 4, 2013
Mike Butler: Rental WoFs, standards, politics
Housing Minister Nick Smith has asked officials to investigate a rental property warrant of fitness scheme, to be trialled on Housing New Zealand properties by early next year. (1) Contractors have already checked state houses looking at the external condition, guttering, roofing, whether doors are securable, whether drains work, and whether there is loose wiring, insulation, or smoke sensors..
The WOF issue was proposed a year ago by the Children's Commissioner as a measure to combat that favourite vote-catcher of tax-and-redistribute politicians -- child poverty. The Manawatu Tenants Protection Association were the first to call for rental property warrants of fitness, and that was around 13 years ago.
Some news reports have jumped the gun by asserting that a warrant of fitness for rental houses is set to be in place this year, but what the Housing Minister said in May was:
1. That the Government would develop a Housing Warrant of Fitness system, with the support of a Rental Housing Standards Forum, and trial it on Housing New Zealand properties this year.
2. That . . . the Housing Warrant of Fitness will firstly apply to the 69,000 Housing New Zealand properties.
3. That it is also intended that the Housing WoF will then be extended to other social housing providers. The WoF may be further extended to other rental property where the Government is providing a housing subsidy." (2)
Smith said implementing a rental property warrant of fitness would be a complex task that would need to build on existing housing standards work such as the Healthy Housing Index, Lifetime Design, HomeStar, Home Energy Rating, and Housing Improvement Regulations.
So what do all these systems of property rating include?
The Healthy Housing Index pilot study report 2007 (3) was based on an assessment of 102 predominantly 1950s state houses in the Lower Hutt area with 259 occupants targeting Maori, Pacific Island, as well as general occupants.
It aimed to create a Healthy Housing Index (HHI), which indicates housing condition related to the health of the occupants. The five components for an index are: (i) structural soundness, (ii) adequate services, (iii) warmth and dryness, (iv) safety, and (v) protection from external and environmental hazards.
The study aimed to rate the house but not the occupants or the way they might live within that house. Most houses in the study were built in the 1950s, 93 percent had ceiling insulation, 88 percent had fixed heaters. Only 8 percent were rented from private landlords.
Over half (54 percent) of the houses had evidence of mould. There was visible mould in 93 percent of houses with Pacific occupants, and 62 percent of those with Maori occupants. Only 21 percent of the houses in the general sample had mould.
The report included the detailed questionnaire used, including age of house, layout, general condition, dampness, ventilation, wiring, mould, kitchen fittings, doors, windows (how many broken), air-tightness, type, condition and location of stove, ergonomics in kitchen, hotwater cylinder and water temperature, bathroom fittings, slippery bath, toilet, condition of stairs and handrail, lighting, laundry, flooring, interior linings, insulation (ceiling, walls, underfloor), exterior doors, heating (fixed or portable), fire safety, smoke alarms, condition of chimneys, security features, exterior wall cladding, roof type and soundness, spouting and downpipes, drains, site drainage, foundations, garage, decking, fencing, gates, outdoor lighting, exposure to wind, outdoor air quality, exposure to noise.
The second source of housing standards referred to was Lifetime Design, a not-for-profit organisation established by CCS Disability Action in 2006. Its five key principles are: Accessibility, adaptability, usability, safety, and lifetime Value. The form includes optimal height and size measurements as construction guidelines. (4)
More standards come from HomeStar, a comprehensive home rating system aimed to create healthier, more comfortable and energy-efficient living spaces. An initiative of the New Zealand building industry, Homestar provides a free online assessment at www.homestar.org.nz.. The assessment covers insulation, heating, water use, waste, ventilation and indoor air quality, among other things, and calculates a value rating, from one to 10 stars. It also provides information on cost-effective upgrades. (5)
Home Energy Rating provides a checklist to use when considering buying or renting accommodation that looks whether the house is positioned for the sun, insulation in ceilings, walls, or underfloor, whether there is a fixed heating system, type of hot water system, and type of lighting. (6)
Another Home Energy Rating checklist looks specifically at insulation in ceiling and under house, whether there are gaps or damage, dampness, hotwater, cylinder wrap, pipe insulation, and shower flow. (7) And the home energy rating checklist provides a step-by-step tool to identify the opportunities for energy savings in different areas of your home. (8)
The Housing Improvement Regulations 1947 that were reprinted this year details minimum standards of fitness for houses. In these regulations, a habitable room is defined as any room which is used or intended to be used, or, in the opinion of the local authority, is capable of being used, as a living room, dining room, sitting room, or bedroom; and includes a kitchen having a floor area of 80 square feet or more, but does not include a room constructed and used as a garage. (9)
In the absence of any detail, since it has yet to be created, no one knows fitness standards that will be required, the cost of an inspection, what is required to pass a WOF, what is required if a WOF is failed, how frequently WOF inspections would be required, and whether it is a mandatory or voluntary scheme.
Any WoF that requires properties to be brought up to the current building code with insulation professionally installed under dwellings and in walls, with double-glazing on windows, it would likely be that it would be more profitable for property owners to redevelop their land with new, own-your-own housing, thus decreasing the supply of rental accommodation.
If a WoF extends to recipients of the accommodation supplement, it would necessarily include all private rentals, since the accommodation supplement was intended to enable beneficiaries to afford to live away from state house ghettoes, and tenants move around frequently. If so, the scheme could make those tenants too costly and landlords would only rent to workers, sending beneficiaries back to the "hood".
There have been frequent allegations that landlords are lining their pockets with the accommodation supplement, despite the fact that the supplement is a fraction of the rent, exists as a top-up, and is paid to the tenant.
A worrying development was when Minister of Social Development Paula Bennet told Q&A while supporting rental WoFs and opposing increases to the accommodation supplement, that "often the effect is it's not going into the individual's pocket or that vulnerable family; it's going into the pockets of the landlord." (10)
Mould has become an issue during the past 10 years and coincides with an influx of migrants from warm countries that lack a winter with temperatures going down to freezing. These migrants tend to keep their dwellings sealed up during the winter to stay warm. Without daily ventilation and without removing the condensation build-up, mould quickly takes over.
One mould issue spotted during the inspections of Housing New Zealand properties is that the installation of extra insulation to meet current standards, mould increased in properties with concrete block firewalls because the warmer interior increased the surface temperature differential on the surface of the concrete thus increasing condensation.
Any WoF inspection that focuses on mould would mean that it would be in the property owner's interest to remove tenants who fail to ventilate before WoF inspections.
One reason for the regular appearance of calls for a rental property warrant of fitness is that politicians think they will win them votes. During this year's local body elections, incumbent Dunedin mayor Dave Cull exploited cold student flats to raise his profile while campaigning for a further term.
He promoted a bill for Parliament that would give the council the power to enforce a warrant of fitness on all rental properties in the city. Green Party housing spokesperson Holly Walker also saw votes in it and gave the idea energetic support. (10)
1. Warrant of fitness programme for rentals, October 18, 2013, Radio NZ, http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/national/225053/warrant-of-fitness-programme-for-rentals
2. Council considers WoF for all rentals, One News, July 19, 2013. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/council-considers-wof-all-rentals-5514731
3. Healthy Housing Index Pilot Study, March 2007. http://www.healthyhousing.org.nz/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Final-report-HHI-pilot1.pdf
4. Lifemark Design Standards assessment form. http://www.lifemark.co.nz/Libraries/Resources_library/Lifemark_Design_Standards.sflb.ashx
5. Homestar, http://www.eeca.govt.nz/news/homestar-goes-live-1-10-star-comprehensive-home-rating-system-kiwi-homes 6. What to look for when renting or buying. http://www.energywise.govt.nz/sites/all/files/buying-or-renting-checklist-may-2010.pdf
7. Checklist. http://www.eeca.govt.nz/sites/all/files/eeca_checklist.pdf
8. Home energy rating checklist. http://www.energywise.govt.nz/how-to-be-energy-efficient/how-energy-efficient-are-you
9. Housing Improvement Regulations 1947, reprint 2013-10-31 http://www.legislation.govt.nz/regulation/public/1947/0200/latest/DLM3505.html
10. Bennett: 'I'm an advocate' for Warrant of Fitness on rental housing, http://nz.news.yahoo.com/a/-/top-stories/19656764/bennett-i-m-an-advocate-for-warrant-of-fitness-on-rental-housing/
11. Council considers WoF for all rentals, One News, July 19, 2013. http://tvnz.co.nz/national-news/council-considers-wof-all-rentals-5514731
1 comment:
I find it disturbing to see... 'There have been frequent allegations that landlords are lining their pockets with the accommodation supplement'. The irony is that many tennants use it to supplement their income stream. Having been around the property management arena for a while it is frustrating and alarming to see tennants front up to WINZ for handouts for bond, advanced rent etc, then upon moving on the bond is re-funded to the tennant. Often the tennant will re-apply to WINZ for the bond and advanced rent for their next rental.
While there are some landlords whom prefer to be slum-lords, generally it is in the best interest of landlords to look after their asset. After all the rent paid is often just enough to cover expenses (mortgage, rental insurance, property taxes, maintenance etc)so the only real gain is when the property is sold. If the house is in a poor state it will sell for a poor value.
Perhaps more effort should be placed on education of tennants, empowering them with a checklist and the knowledge of what to look for and ask for. This demand alone will increase the conditions of alot of rentals, and the checklist would be looked at as 'best practice' by landlords. This would also help to value the rental amount of the property, helping to improve transparency of cost.
The biggest contributor to poor condition housing is simply the housing shortage itself. When demand out-strips supply then tennants are simply left with few options when deciding on a house to rent. Quite simply, once the good ones are gone you take what's left for fear of missing out completely.
What is needed is an encouragement to investing in the property rental market. Increase the supply of houses will lift living conditions purely by the fact that landlords like to attract good tennants. With the restrictions recently placed on home ownership (and by default on housing investment)by the Reserve Bank I fear we are doing the opposite and detering
- November 13, 2013 at 4:20 PM


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We don't need another hero. We don't need to know the way home. All we want is life beyond the (Echo)dome.
Jet lag and Tina Turner had me awake early this morning thinking about resolutions and the year ahead.
2015 is going to be the best year ever for startups and tech in Dublin and we'll finally have the Data and the content to prove it too. Now all we need is to get beyond the Echodome.
And that's where New Year's Resolutions come in: As a member of the Dublin startup community, I want to inspire people who don't know me or Dublin or Ireland to connect with our startups, tell our stories, think of us as leaders and want to come to Dublin and learn from us.
We have many "heros" already in Dublin and 2015 will bring many more. Lets resolve to make them international ones.

subset: commoncrawl


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Caterham and Kovalainen: A final fling?
Heikki Kovalainen has spent the last two years doing his utmost to haul his car into the F1 midfield. As Sam Tremayne found out, if Caterham can't give him the car to do just that this year, it may struggle to retain the highly-rated Finn.
"How good can I be? Well, I feel I am reaching my prime now. I am massively hungry for success and really motivated to test myself against the best guys who are winning at the moment. That's probably the best way of really answering that question…"
Its probably fair to say Heikki Kovalainen hasn't followed the most conventional path since arriving in Formula 1. A runner-up in GP2 in 2005, he became Renault's full-time test driver in 2006 and graduated into a race seat the following season. A year later and he was at McLaren, and 11 races in he was stood on the top step of the Hungaroring podium.
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I Can Fly Tiny Swan Feather in Silver By Chupi At The Voewood
Regular price
This silver feather ring is cast from a real swan feather. Acclaimed Irish jewellery designer Chupi has adored swans ever since she was little, for their beauty and strength. Chupi collected hundreds of feathers from along the banks of the Royal Canal in Ireland before she found the perfect one.
The feather appears delicate and ethereal but is cast from substantial solid sterling, the perfect pairing of form and function.
Individually hand crafted in her studio in Dublin and hallmarked in Ireland's historic Dublin Castle.


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Graduation is over and about half of these students said goodbye to Auburn. The others will graduate at the end of summer semester.
Always love my students and very proud of them. This group was particularly fun and put in a lot of work on these projects. So, give them a look and offer them a job or internship.
OK, I finally got all the screen shots of each site into the slideshow. ;o)


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Avocets from Firth Hide
After sorting through a very full MV finding only a Shoulder Striped Wainscot of any quality, I went straight to the reserve. From Dennis's 3 of the nest boxes were occupied by Common Gull and another by an Oystercatcher. From Firth and Makepiece the 2 Avocets still also a Ringed Plover and 2 Hobby's there. A walk up to Christmas Dell found the usual species but nothing of note.
Oystercatcher taking over a nest box
At the ARC from Hanson 2 more Avocets, a Little Ringed Plover, c50 House Martins, 2 Cuckoo's and 2 more Hobby's. As I walked back to the car park and was admiring some Southern Marsh Orchids, when a Crow alerted me to the presence of a large raptor that I immediately lost sight of as it flew behind Boulderwall Farmhouse, fortunately it reappeared and came straight and low over the car park heading towards the Water Tower and lost to view behind the water works.
As the fog rolled in late morning I spent a couple of hours sky watching from home where I saw 8+ Common Buzzards, squadrons of Hobby's were hawking high over the fields and the usual Marsh Harriers were hunting the ditches.
An early evening visit to the reserve was pleasant but saw little of note.
Honey Buzzard over the ARC car park
Honey Buzzard
Honey Buzzard
Southern Marsh Orchids
Shoulder Striped Wainscot


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Councilman Ricki Y. Barlow will officially reopen Lorenzi Park to the public at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 17, at the park located at West Washington Avenue and Twin Lakes Drive. Councilman Barlow will also hold a back-to-school fair beginning at 8 a.m. at Sammy Davis festival Plaza in the park at 720 Twin Lakes Drive.
Lorenzi Park has been an oasis for Las Vegans dating back to 1926, and now a $30 million renovation has been completed at the 60-acre regional park. New amenities include a new splash pad, children's play areas, picnic and shade structures, as well as a return of the historic twin lakes at the park. Residents are encouraged to share their stories and photos by using the #lorenzipark hashtag on social media sites. Stay tuned to the city's Facebook and Twitter pages for a look back at the park's unique role in Las Vegas history.
"This is truly a magnificent park and I'm so pleased that we could refresh the amenities while ensuring that the history of the park remains intact," Councilman Barlow said. "Lorenzi is one of the city's oldest parks and now it has been restored to the jewel that it once was."
Councilman Barlow will dedicate the renovated park at 11 a.m. with a flag ceremony at the gazebo in the rose garden at the northwest corner of the park. There will also be games, face-painting, music and food vendors at the park until 1 p.m. Those interested in free supplies and backpacks at the back-to-school fair should arrive by 7 a.m. to get a wristband while supplies last. Back to School participants are encouraged to bring a non-perishable food item to donate to a local food pantry. Free immunization shots for children with shot records will be offered from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Sammy Davis Festival Plaza.
The $30 million renovation project divided the park in half over the last several years. The results include new tennis courts, baseball fields and basketball courts as well as a new band shell on an island in the middle of one of the park's twin lakes. The much-loved rose garden and gazebo are still in the park's northwest corner and new historic markers now tell the park's history.
Lorenzi Park was the vision of D.G. Lorenzi, a French immigrant who purchased 80 acres of property about two miles west of the original town site in 1912. The park opened as Lorenzi's Lake Park in 1926 with a pool, dance pavilion, lakes and orchards.
The property sold in 1940 and became Twin Lakes Lodge, a resort getaway with a 48-room hotel. The site is linked to the larger histories of dude ranching and divorce in Nevada. The motel played an important role as divorce seekers obtained their needed residency at the motel. The Las Vegas City Council approved the request to designate Lorenzi Park as an historic district on May 20, 2009.
The renovations to the park were funded through the Bureau of Land Management's Southern Nevada Public Lands Management Act. Richardson Construction was the contractor and the city of Las Vegas is managing the project.


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The Modern Language Association threatens to tackle one of Oz and Ends' favorite topics: how does the picture book form differ from the comics form?
Of course, the MLA is ready to deploy…jargon! Here's the call for papers for a possible panel at the January 2012 MLA meeting in Seattle:
This panel will explore the possible relationships between comics and picture books, two imagetext genres implicated in children's literacy learning which, despite overlapping formally and aesthetically, nonetheless stand apart socially and culturally. The potential application of picture book theory to comics, and, conversely, comics theory to picture books, promises to challenge this apartness—that is, to call into question the generic distinctiveness of the two forms. In that spirit, this panel invites participation from multiple perspectives, including but not limited to genre theory, education, history, formalism, aesthetics, semiotics, and ideological criticism.Yadda yadda, Nodelman, McCloud, usual suspects among critics.
This panel will seek to enliven that dialogue by posing questions such as:Yadda yadda, Spiegelman, Davis, Sendak, Tan, Selznick, usual suspects among practitioners.
- What formal resources and aesthetic strategies do comics and picture books share? Do they tend to deploy those resources and use those strategies differently?
- What similar or different demands do the two genres make of readers?
- How does the typical experience—if indeed we may posit a typical experience—of reading one genre differ from that of reading the other? For instance, how conducive are comics to what Ellen Spitz calls conversational reading, that is, reading shared by adult and child?
- How do both comics and picture books participate in discourses and projects related to literacy learning and cultural literacy? For example, the possible role of comics in reading instruction has garnered much interest in recent studies…—how might this development be regarded culturally and critically? How might comics differ from or resemble picture books in their classroom use?
Prospectuses due 5 March, response by 1 April, allowing chosen panelists to join the MLA by 7 April.
Several factors make this an opportune and even urgent topic for MLA 2012, including the many artists who have worked in both genres; the genres' shared aesthetic and narrative resources, and the relevance of image/text theories to both; the new prominence of comics in both children's book publishing and reading instruction; and the current struggle of the picture book market to respond to social, educational, economic, and technological change.


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Jose Mourinho last night goaded Arsène Wenger with a barb about their respective Champions League records. While preparing to face his former club Porto in tonight's Champions League second-round tie, the Chelsea manager was invited to evaluate how he might be judged if he fails to win the competition this season. His response was to underline that his curriculum vitae, its principal accomplishment achieved with tonight's hosts in 2004 while he was their manager, already surpasses that of many of his rivals at the top European clubs.
"I have no idea how I will be judged," the Portuguese manager said, noting that before that particular question he had been enjoying a "calm and easy" press conference. "It is a difficult question because I don't know how to answer it. If you judge me, you have to judge every Champions League manager who has not won it because I have won it once.
"Many managers in the world have not done it. You have a big example not far down the road [from Chelsea]. Arsène Wenger is a big manager in the world of football but he never did it. When I did it once I could thank God for that because I had that privilege. Three years ago nobody believed in February that Porto could be champions and Porto were champions."
Arsenal, who play Chelsea in the Carling Cup final on Sunday, were last year's runners-up in the Champions League and Wenger has failed in three European finals as a manager, also losing the 2000 Uefa Cup final on penalties to Galatasaray with Arsenal and the 1992 Cup Winners' Cup final while at Monaco.
But though Mourinho's comments might be true it is the fact that he and Wenger appear to have renewed hostilities after almost a year of relative calm in their relationship that is most intriguing. The Arsenal manager pointed on Monday to what he considers to be the injustice of the financial situation at Stamford Bridge that permits them to absorb £80m losses.
That might be interpreted as a bald attempt to increase the psychological pressure on his Chelsea counterpart, but Mourinho fought back. "I have pressure, imagine other managers in the world," he said. "I have ambition and ambition is important; feeling you can do it is important and having the desire, to want to win it is important.
"I feel no pressure at all. I felt more at Porto but I have already won the Champions League once. I feel very proud and I have nothing to prove. We want to win and will try to win, but I feel no pressure at all."
That sentiment was endorsed by one of his most trusted players last night. The holding midfielder Claude Makelele, who turned 34 on Sunday, insists that Mourinho is adept at shielding his players from unsettling influences, something that the France international believes will provide a platform to win two trophies this season. "We know that Jose had big pressure from the club but he was tremendous because he didn't show anything to us," said Makelele. "He was always the same. He took the pressure only on himself because he didn't want the players to be disturbed by the situation. Now I am confident that everything is fine. I hope to win the Champions League and the Premiership; six points is nothing at this stage of the season."
Mourinho knows that the obituaries are already being written about his Chelsea career following his dispute with the club's owner Roman Abramovich. Clearly the news has reached the confines of the Estadio do Dragao, where Lucho Gonzalez highlighted Mourinho's predicament.
"Mourinho is in a life-and-death situation if he loses another Champions League," said the Porto and Argentina midfielder. "So we know they will come with all their power and motivation, but Porto are playing samba football and we are having a great run. We have to win. As I see it, it is a match that will prove decisive for many people; it could decide the future of all involved."


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Highly effective and straightforward to install, these copper fittings are a versatile connector, used in a range of plumbing applications and are suitable for use in both hot and cold water systems. This particular connector is a 3/8*1/4" reducer fitting. Constructed from copper, it is strong, durable and highly resilient. This purchase features a total quantity of 50 pieces.
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|6g (per pc)
|Deelat Industrial
|180 Day
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Crime does not pay, or so they say. While some mobsters may have gotten away with it, most still are arrested, brought to trial, imprisoned or killed. But certainly, they got to enjoy the fruits of their labor before they were brought to justice.
Here is a list of the top 10 richest mobsters in the world in terms of actual amount earned during their lifetimes.
10 Frank Lucas - $52 million
Frank Lucas saw the potential of the heroin business when he got back from Vietnam. Using his contacts there, he managed to ship in loads of heroin from Southeast Asia regularly. He was already starting to earn some money, but he realized he could bring home more if only he could bypass the Sicilian Mafia that controlled the trade in Harlem at that time. Employing only trusted members of his family while keeping a low profile, he eventually took control of the entire heroin business in New York and New Jersey. During the peak days of his business, he was selling as much as a million dollars worth of heroin per day.
9 Al Capone - $100 million
His name is synonymous to the gangster life of the 1920s and 1930s. It was the height of the Great Depression and Prohibition was in full effect. Of course, that meant a lot of money and potential earnings for those who did not necessarily follow the law. Al Capone controlled all the illegal alcohol in the city of Chicago, as well as its prostitution dens and gambling rackets. High government officials and civil servants were under his payroll, including police officers, judges and City Hall. He was not able to buy off the Internal Revenue Service, however. The government agency got him for tax evasion and he spent the next 11 years in prison.
8 Joseph Kennedy - $300 million
One would probably never imagine that the closest equivalent to a royal family in America be considered a mobster. Indeed, Joseph Kennedy did not start out that way. He was already in the lucrative alcohol business earning legal money when the Great Depression set in. Along with it came Prohibition and suddenly, his liquor business was in danger of closing down. Kennedy then reportedly contacted underworld elements in New York and Chicago and became a bootlegger. After Prohibition ended, Kennedy continued to earn tons of legitimate money from the business. His ties paid off years later as the Mafia reportedly had a hand in Kennedy's win in Chicago that helped him seal the close presidential election of 1960.
7 Griselda Blanco - $500 million
Griselda Blanco is known as The Black Widow. No, not the same Black Widow that was portrayed by Scarlett Johansson in "The Avenger." A more apt description should be Cocaine Queen of Miami. Blanco was a drug lord who got her supply from the Medellin cartel of Columbia. She was known to have no qualms using violence and intimidation to get what she wanted. During her peak, she was earning around $80 million each month. She got arrested and spent 10 years in prison before she was sent back to her native country.
6 Meyer Lansky - $600 million
Meyer Lansky was a member of the Jewish mob but who had a strong influence with the Italian Mafia. He was known as the "Mob's Accountant" and was pivotal in the development of the National Crime Syndicate along with Charles Luciano, also known as Lucky Luciano. Lansky helped establish a gambling empire from New York and Miami to Iowa and Las Vegas. He also helped establish the mob's gambling operations in Cuba during the 1950s.
5 Anthony Salerno - $1 billion
Just when African Americans and Latin mobsters were starting to dominate the streets of New York, specifically Harlem, in the 1960s, Anthony Salerno re-established the Italian mob's foothold in the area. Also known as Fat Tony, Salerno earned millions of dollars running a numbers ring and drug racket in the neighborhood. By the mid 80s, he was already the front man of the Genovese crime family. He was considered the top gangster in the country and had the money and influence to back it up. In 1988 however, the screws started turning and Salerno was convicted of racketeering and sent to prison for 70 years.
4 Carlos Lehder - $2.7 billion
Carlos Lehder helped establish the Medellin drug cartel. He had met George Jung in prison and the two collaborated to import and distribute cocaine to the United States. The business was so lucrative that it made Lehder a billionaire more than twice over. He was even able to purchase his own private island in the Bahamas. He also earned enough money to offer the Columbian government a complete payment of the national debt. Lehder was sent back to the US and was sentenced to life.
3 Joaquin Guzman Loera - $5 billion
Joaquin Guzman Loera is also known as El Chapo. He heads the Sinaloa cartel that smuggles in cocaine from Columbia to the United States through Mexico. He was actually already captured in 1993 in Guatemala and extradited to Mexico where he was sent to prison. Eight years later, he escaped in an elaborate plan that cost him $2.5 million. He has since avoided the long arms of the law. The United States consider El Chapo as the most powerful drug trafficker in the world today.
2 Pablo Escobar - $25 billion
Pablo Escobar was one of the most infamous drug lords in the world. He was the man behind the Medellin cartel of Columbia. He was responsible for billions of dollars of cocaine distributed in the US. He bribed public officials and killed those who rejected his bribe offers. After he escaped from prison in 1993, Columbian forces finally killed him during the manhunt operation.
1 Amado Carrillo Fuentes - $25 billion
Amado Fuentes was the "Lord of the Skies" after he bought 22 private jets to bring in cocaine from Columbia to Mexico for smuggling north of the border. He headed the powerful Juarez cartel in Mexico. In 1997, he underwent plastic surgery to help alter his appearance to avoid law enforcers. He died during the operation.


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Front wall of right side of heart from wax anatomical figure
- maker:
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Front wall of right side of heart from wax anatomical figure of reclining woman, Florence, Italy, 1771-1800.
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- Object Number:
- A627043 Pt1
- credit:
- Monot
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ALBANY – Hillary Clinton cruised to a win Tuesday in New York, easily capturing the 29 electoral votes in the heavily Democratic state she calls home.
Clinton, who served eight years as New York's junior senator, appeared headed to a wide victory over Republican Donald Trump in the Empire State, home to the both major-party presidential candidates for the first time since 1944.
The Associated Press declared Clinton the New York winner just after polls closed at 9 p.m., with various swing states that will decide the election still too close to call.
The vote Tuesday was the latest in a series of big victories for the former first lady and secretary of state in New York, where she won Senate elections in 2000 and 2006 before winning the state's Democratic presidential primary vote in 2008 and earlier this year.
Trump had repeatedly pledged to remain competitive in his home state, which hadn't backed a Republican candidate for president since Ronald Reagan's nationwide landslide in 1984.
But the Trump campaign ultimately opted for a more-traditional strategy, focusing the candidate's time and resources on battleground states like North Carolina and Florida as public-opinion polls showed him trailing heavily in New York.
Like Trump, Clinton spent much of the presidential campaign swing states, hoping to pick up key electoral votes that could help tip the election.
On Election Day, both candidates stayed right at home.
Clinton and Trump spent the day in New York, casting their ballots before heading to midtown Manhattan for separate parties where awaited the nationwide results.
At her polling place in Chappaqua, Westchester County, Clinton said casting a ballot for herself is a "most humbling feeling."
"I'll do the very best I can if I'm fortunate enough to win today," Clinton said.
It was the first time New York was home to the Democratic and Republican presidential candidates since Franklin D. Roosevelt defeated then-Gov. Thomas Dewey to win a fourth term.
Public-opinion polls and party enrollment data didn't leave much suspense in the candidates' home state, which has more than twice as many Democrats as Republicans.
A Siena College poll Sunday found Clinton, a Democrat, with a 51-34 percent lead over her Republican foe Trump in New York, fueled largely by heavy support in deep blue New York City.
Her New York lead, however, was down from 24 percentage points in October, according to Siena.
Clinton cast her ballot Tuesday morning. Before that, she was greeted by hundreds of supporters around 3:30 a.m. at the Westchester County Airport, where she arrived after a late-night rally in North Carolina.
Trump voted at a public school in midtown Manhattan, accompanied by his wife, Melania.
In April, Clinton and Trump cruised to wins in New York's primaries.
Trump won 60 percent of the GOP vote, easily defeating Texas Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich en route to winning 89 of the state's 95 Republican delegates.
Clinton received 58 percent of the Democratic vote, collecting 139 New York delegates to Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders' 108.
In mid-April, Trump said he had a "really good chance" to win New York.
"I think I'll win New York," Trump said then in an interview with the USA Today Network's Albany Bureau. "I think I'll win Michigan. I think we'll win states that Republicans don't even go to in the general election."


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Friday, 30 May 2008
Yes yes dubsteppers!
I'm please to finally announce that 2nd Drop 004 is finally in the shops. After a rather tumultuous time the double sider is here!
And has received support and props from Skream, Plastician, N-Type, MAH, Rob Da Bank and many, many others.
A. Twisted - Contact
AA. Sully Shanks - Give Me Up
Available at Chemical Records
and soon to be in Juno, Boomkat et al.
News flash!!!
Next release 2nd Drop 005
We are proud to present Transition dubplate master, LD.
A. LD – Green Ranger
AA. Sully – Give Me Up (LD Remix)
Release date 04/08/08
Emerging from the sound proofed walls of Dubstep's legendary mastering institution, Transition Studios, LD is a man who has heard every new plate created by the scene's top players, by cutting dubplates for the likes of Mala (DMZ), Skream, Benga, Distance and N-Type. For a producer at the epicentre of sound, you wouldn't be surprised to hear his productions influenced by these prodigious talents. But no, LD is quickly carving out his own unique sound.
After his debut release on Ringo Records with Clockwatching and Swing Dat Skirt, LD aka Leon Day pushes his distinctive sound still further with an original and remix production. Green Ranger eschews the half step template in favour of a more polyrhythmic structure, whilst keeping his foot firmly down on the pulsing and probing effects.
On the flip, LD tackles Sully's ravetastic Give Me Up (2nd Drop 004), transforming this nostalgic slice of euphoric dubstep into a deadly piece of future soca dub. Riffling soca percussion would feel more at home behind a precession float at Notting Hill Carnival, if it wasn't for the addictive descending bassline motif, which shakes every soundsystem in the country to the ground.
www.SubFM.com - Bi-weekly Monday's 6-8pm UK Time
Posted by Markle at 11:31 2 comments: Links to this post
Thursday, 22 May 2008
Yo! Bum Rush The Show!!!
Posted by Markle at 22:30 No comments: Links to this post
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
Diesel U Music Radio
I was kindly invited to do a 2hr radio show on Diesel U Music Radio, which is broadcasting for a month only throughout May 2008.
You can check the daily schedules here and check out the fantastic range of DJ's and bands who are presenting shows here.
Mine was broadcast last week and i forgot to blog about it. Silly me :-{
An update will be forthcoming!
Posted by Markle at 22:36 No comments: Links to this post
Friday, 16 May 2008
Steppas' Delight!!!!
After making her name as a journalist at Jockey Slut and The Face, and being a four times judge on the Mercury Music Prize, Emma Warren now writes for Observer Music Monthly and can be found regularly with her head in a bassbin at DMZ and FWD. I managed to catch up with her (and break my AIM interview cherry) over instant messenger and have a quick chat about her new dubstep compilation Steppas' Delight out on Soul Jazz Records.
What was the initial inspiration behind the Steppas' Delight compilation?
Just loving dubstep. That came first. Then after a while I really wanted to start doing something. I really felt that I shouldn't dive in and pretend to know everything.... like I might have done as a journalist, and probably have done in the past as a journalist. I wanted to live it properly. And then do something.
The initial idea though was to do a compilation around cutting houses, but that ended up seeming a bit niche. So I talked to Soul Jazz about trying to put together a snapshot of dubstep, something that rounded up the different styles and sounds and gave the listener and idea of where it had come from and where it was going.
And I think you've succeeded. Steppas' isn't a nostalgic or stale release, which is so easy to do in a underground music that moves as fast as dubstep. The comp has a lovely balance of classic, contemporary and fresh.
Well that was the hard thing! Because I took the idea to them in May 2007 and they OKed it after a few attempts at the tracklisting. So a lot of the stuff on it was more futuristic at the time than it is now! Steppas has been a slippery thing to put together. The 'past' thing was tricky too because of the timing... a lot of the things which look like classics now were really new when they first went on the tracklisting, and there is a temptation is to keep updating it... but you can't.
There were definitely things I missed though, or couldn't fit on for one reason or another. I would have loved to have got Distance on but it never seemed to find a place where the tracks fitted right - and who knows, I might not have got it anyway. The same goes for Caspa. And at the risk of talking too much, I definitely don't claim this as definitive. There's way more music around, and way more music I don't even know about. This is just my personal snapshot based on the music I've loved and the mad, brilliant, energetic time I've had over the last couple of years.
I think it's an important release, as it is the first holistic comp to come out, which is totally inclusive. Not from one stable or another etc. Which has kind of been the norm for comps so far.
That's interesting, because all those compilations are brilliant. Martin Clark's Roots Of Dubstep and all the Dubstep AllStars comps are genius. They serve the heads brilliantly because they showcase a DJs style and loads of new music. I suppose the idea of Steppas' was to provide an easier 'in' for people who weren't in that deep - and the chance to get some classics like Hardfood for those who know.
The first draft of the comp was only a single CD. How did getting an extra CD help with expanding your vision?
Broadening it out to a double CD meant that I could really try to tell the story properly. I could give more space to the big tunes that had shaped the scene and get more future-facing stuff, and seek out a few exclusives too. It has to be said that a dubstep compilation without any Digital Mystikz isn't a full dubstep compilation, but they have a special kind of militancy which I totally respect. But there is a Loefah mix. :-}
Also, props where due - it was Soul Jazz who suggested taking it over two CDs. It's definitely made a massive difference, because with only one CD I don't think I would have been able to do the music justice. I hope the end result is a good 'walk-through' of the music. I went on Ross Allen's show the other night and he was joking that it had a feminine touch..... not sure what that means but I'm aware of being pretty thorough about trying to show music from all sides, without getting into the politics, and trying to make the whole thing a coherent listen for people who don't necessarily know that much about the music. Yes, it was a lot of work!
Can I also mention a mistake I made? Gatekeeper's MC Grilza is on the compilation with their track Shade Darker. And he's wrongly credited as Grizla. He is GRILZA... pronounced Grill – Zah… my bad.
The sleeves-notes are quite extensive and offer a fantastic snapshot into the world of dubstep. They were all part off the plan to demystify or open up the music and players within it, right?
I suppose I wanted to share some of my enthusiasm for the scene. People have misconceptions about the music - that's it's all bass-heavy mentalist noise - and they have pre-conceptions about the scene too. I wanted to share my insights into it, that basically it's peopled by some of the most talented, interesting, funny and colourful people I've ever met. I'm talking about the producers and the people who are into it. Plus I wanted to get some brilliant photography in so it was good to get Georgina Cook involved.
And moving onto the Steppas' Delight launch party tomorrow night. Are you looking forward to it?
Yes because loads of my favourite artists are playing, but I'm a bit nervous... I was really nervous about what people would think about the compilation. I've got such a lot of love n respect for all the people that make the music and run the events and didn't want to jump in and get it wrong (tho I did with Grilza... aiii!). Kris and Nicole from Soul Jazz have done a great job of sorting the line-up out... it's going to be good. It's been a long journey, Steppas, and I've learned a lot.
Steppas Delight is out now on Soul Jazz Records.
Complete with extensive sleeve-notes, interviews and exclusive photographs the album comes as deluxe-double CD pack with booklet and two heavyweight double-vinyl LP editions.
Kode9 - 9 Samurai
Benga - Evolution
Search & Destroy - Candy Floss (Loefah Remix)
Plastician Feat. Skepta - Intensive Snare
Uncle Sam - Round The World Girls (Tes La Rok Mix)
The Bug Feat. Warrior Queen - Poison Dart
Goth Trad – Genisis
Seventeen Evergreen - Ensonique (Bi-Polar man Mix)
TRG - Broken Heart
Quest – Hardfood
Silkie - Dam 4
Geiom Feat. Marita - Reminissin
Shonx - Canton
Gatekeeper Feat. Grizzla - Shade Darker
Martyn - Broken
Shackleton - Blood On My Hands
Posted by Markle at 15:05 3 comments: Links to this post
Thursday, 15 May 2008
Mrk1 sent me a rather good promo mix he did. Check the link below!!!!
MRK1 + JSD (Virus Syndicate)
1. Skream - Filth Master
2. Chase and Status - Bits 320
3. Freq Nasty - Iraq
4. Skream - unknown
5. Jakes - Freak out special
6. MRK1 - Pornstar
7. Chimpo - Lock off VIP
8. MRK1 - Infected
9. MRK1 - Deathstar
10. MRK1 - Electronik
11. Skream - Calous
12. Benga - 26 Bass Refix
13. Chimpo - Badman no friend fish
14. Biome - unknown
15. Skream - Simple City
16. MRK1 - Counteraction
17. Benga - Night Special
18. Chimpo - Smokin Camal
19. Chimpo - Informer
20. Chimpo - Lickle Stereo
21. Chase and Status - Badout Riddim
22. MRK1 - Borderline Vocal
23. Rusco - Period
24. Virus Syndicate - Love the music (instrumental)
25. Sugh Knight - ?
Posted by Markle at 22:41 No comments: Links to this post
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Pic: Derek Djons
2562 Is My Number
When Toots and The Maytals sung about the number 54-46 on their 1960s hit '54-46 That's My Number', it was an all too common tale of oppression and police brutality in Jamaica. Fast-forward to 2008, The Hague, Holland, and Dave Huisman aka 2562 is a man very much carving out his own image of identity and freedom through his music. As his barcode-esque nom de plume, 2562, (pronounced twenty-five sixty-two) 28-year-old Huisman crafts swirling, crackling tech-infused dubstep, and his forthcoming debut album for the Tectonic imprint, Aerial, is a pregnant, swollen beast full of electronic warmth, filtered and phased pads and plenty of textured attention to detail. Indeed with Aerial, Huisman has succeeded in pushing dubstep right to the margins, working in the grey, cracked areas between techno, broken beats and hip hop.
Whilst his previous production incarnations as the broken beat inspired Dogdaze and more techno focused A Made Up Sound have clearly honed his skills, it has been Huisman's two 12" releases on Pinch's Tectonic label which has garnered support across the musical map. The likes of Kode 9, Pole, T++, Laurent Garnier, Akufen and Gilles Peterson are known to rotate 2562 beats and his long player can only help launch this burgeoning talent onto higher planes. ATM caught up with the Dutch fusionist to talk influences, 80s R&B and making the album.
What is the story behind your name 2562? Is it your postcode or a lucky number?
"Yes, it's my zipcode in The Hague."
What was your relationship with music like when you were growing up? Who were your major influences?
"I've been into dance music for as long as I can remember, I can't explain why. My friends or family weren't, it's always been my own fixation really. As a kid I used to check out the club charts, listen to house and techno and hear local underground radio from a nearby
town on the weekends. Later came buying records in Amsterdam, reading music magazines, discovering jungle and other kinds of music. It never stopped; I'm always on the hunt for new sounds. My musical influences are too many to mention. I let myself be influenced
by anything I hear; even crap can have its one interesting moment or a sound I can sample. I'd say Detroit techno, Basic Channel and '98-'02 broken beat are the main inspirations though."
How did you start making music? When were the seeds sown?
"I had been thinking of making music for years, but I used to be put off by the thought of learning how to use gear and software. I'm a bit left-handed technically; I didn't even own a PC until I was well into my twenties. Then I forced myself onto a MIDI-course, basically forgot everything I learned there, bought a computer and an analogue synth and taught myself to produce music. That was five years ago."
When 'Channel Two' and 'Kameleon' came out on Tectonic there was massive interest and almost frenzied consumption of the tracks. Your richly textured records stood out from the dubstep pack and even made a sizeable impact on the techno world. What was the inspiration behind these twelves?
"I usually get my inspiration from other music. No doubt from life itself as well, but that happens on a less conscious level. Late 2005, I was really excited when I discovered tracks such as '28grams' or 'Mood Dub' because they represented a whole new kind of music to me. I hesitated for a while before getting involved with this 'dubstep' thing 'cos I didn't want to jump someone else's train, but I figured if I bring my own musical background and preferences into play, I would come up with different music anyway.
"That's what I usually do; absorb and process elements from all kinds of music I love and fuse them into something I feel comfortable calling my own. 'Channel Two' has some broken beat elements to it. 'Circulate' started life as a techno track which I stripped and
reworked. And 'Kameleon' was supposed to be a beatless piece, until I started playing with a few bongo hits and got carried away."
And how did it end up in Pinch's hands and on the Tectonic label?
"I sent him a couple of tracks late 2006; 'Channel Two' was his fav off the first CD and we took it from there. He's been the best support I could have, I'm very happy with being on the label as it avoids tried and tested formulas. It's not about shifting units, every release is
How did the idea for an album come about?
"Pinch asked if I'd be interested in doing an album early on, but there was no pressure as his and Cyrus's albums were still to come. I just kept making tracks without consciously working on an album until after last summer. From then on I started compiling and writing music that I felt was still needed in order to make it work as an album. Obviously an album should be something you can listen to from start to finish, not just any collection of good tracks. I wanted it to be rhythmically varied and have a good flow with ups and downs, tied together by a certain sound as the common factor. You can expect it to drop late spring as a 2x LP/CD, preceded by a 12" with two exclusive tracks. I'm really looking forward to the release."
Is the extended canvas of the long player giving you a chance to expand your sound and play with fresh ideas?
"Not necessarily, although there are a few tracks I wouldn't have made if it wasn't for the album. But I tried to come with a new idea with every track, otherwise I'd lose the fun. For the same reason I don't often work with the same sounds twice. It's time consuming because I'm sampling and tweaking my ass off, but I find it much more rewarding in the end."
Did you have a local broken beats/ techno scene?
"I haven't been part of a scene really, but I went out to various techno, D&B and broken beat nights in Rotterdam over the years. Also in Amsterdam the crew around Rush Hour Records puts on really good events in Paradiso with quality house and techno, broken beat, hip hop, funk, disco and what not all mixed up."
What is your secret musical love, which you never tell anyone because you are a little bit embarrassed of it?
"80s R&B"
When you say you like 80s R&B - are you talking about Bobby Brown and Cameo or more boogie style tunes ala Leroy Burgess?
"I actually had in mind classics such as (SOS Band) 'Just Be Good To Me' and 'Saturday Love', but indeed Leroy Burgess productions such as 'Weekend' is a good example as well. Although the latter is not really a guilty pleasure, just good music."
You have a rich palette of sounds within your production, so what other artists are you feeling at the moment?
"Shed, Quantec, Convextion, Andy Stott and Flying Lotus to name just a few contemporary favourites. Within dubstep I really dig the work of guys like Martyn, Kode9, Burial, Peverelist, Pinch, Mala, Headhunter and Untold among others."
'Aerial' is out on Tectonic in June '08. For more info check: www.myspace.com/2562dub
This interview is also published in ATM Magazine and on www.3barfire.com
Posted by Markle at 13:40 No comments: Links to this post
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The Hartford Fire Insurance Company is getting prepared to launch a $100m catastrophe bond through its Foundation SPV based in the Cayman Islands. Foundation Re III Ltd. is currently being marketed at a preliminary amount of $100m as a transaction designed to provide the Hartford with reinsurance on a per-occurrence basis over a four year period against certain U.S. hurricanes.
This would be the Hartford's third Foundation transaction. The previous two were both around the $250m mark so there is a good chance that this one could upsize before completion. Proceeds from the sale of the notes will be invested in government funds such as treasury bills which are U.S. domiciled and have a high rating. The trigger for the transaction is a state-weighted PCS index-based industry loss trigger.
This deal is expected to close by the end of January. Standard & Poor's have given the single tranche of notes a preliminary rating of 'BB+'.
Further details on the transaction structure are available in the Artemis Cat Bond Deal Directory.


text:
That's why we designed this intensive, on-site HubSpot training to get you back on track and make your team masters of HubSpot. Schedule a time to talk to learn more about what we can do for you.
As a HubSpot Certified Trainer at IMPACT, Carina is able to tap into her two passions simultaneously -- her mastery of the HubSpot platform and helping people solve problems. Before joining the IMPACT education team, Carina spent two years maximizing HubSpot to empower dozens of her clients overcome their biggest marketing challenges.
Today, she uses that deep experience to build out trainings and workshops to help more clients get to where they need to go. Her day-to-day varies from one-on-one coaching and consulting, to experimentation and delivering workshops. When not geeking out on all things HubSpot, you can find her being a #powderhound on the mountain or killing it in a disc golf tournament.
Mutual Securities Credit Union (MSCU) were ready to up their marketing game. So, they scrapped their out-of-date website and built a brand new one on the HubSpot framework. Still, they had a problem. Even though their team was tech-savvy and HubSpot is user-friendly, they knew they would need a partner to help them master HubSpot's marketing tools, and to learn what strategies and best practices would get them the results they were looking for.
Then, MSCU called IMPACT.
We're happy you found the training valuable!
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The FBI Buildings team knew first-hand how instrumental HubSpot could be to their success. They had been using it for some time, with good results, and had developed a solid foundation of knowledge. With aggressive goals, however, they knew they needed more. They weren't getting the most they could out of HubSpot, and -- in their words -- they needed a little "HubSpot therapy."
That's when FBI Buildings reached out to IMPACT.
Cory Venable, FBI Buildings
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text:
We all love being pampered. As kids we had our parents grooming with the cutest hairstyle and latest fashion dresses. As we grew up took charge of it- from the latest trend in hair colour to the highest in heels, from putting a fifth stud to getting tailor made outfits in tune with the latest trend, we have tried it all. As the responsibility meter increases, the pampering and care we give to ourselves goes off in reverse gear. Most women keep their grooming needs aside when they jump into the mommyhood wagon.
Women's day was around and we had our heads up at work to plan a celebration for this occasion. The day dreamer that I am, my mind had already drifted from those discussions and was in its own world. I realised that the best celebration for me on women's day or any day ( I strongly believe each day is mine… Lol) is a little time that is all mine. I guess it is the same with all of us. Little time to love and pamper us, we deserve it at least once in a while. Actually spending a little time for oneself will help de-stress and we can get back to our routine with much more enthusiasm and confidence.


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Yesterday by The Beatles - Interactive Piano Tutorial
The Beatles / Help! /
Let's get some classics going. Yesterday by Beatles should be one of the first songs to add into the pianist repertoire. While challenging to play by ear, we made it easy for you to learn a chords progression and a harmony. Follow our tutorial exactly! Chord progression and a harmony are one of the things that make you sound as a professional. Connect your keyboard and you will find it easier and more entertaining than piano sheet! It is completely interactive too - make it slower or faster, set loops and more!
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The good thing about a crowded home will be always to simplify your home construction procedure. Buying a packed home is just a little like buying some thing using "Assembly Required" stamped boldly in the carton.
You've probably bought a bike or any toy at which that is demanded. Can you build yourself or did you really cover some one to get it? Whether you are an accomplished doityourselfer or perhaps a natural-born administrator, then the labour required to create a crowded house caked that puny bicycle project by, state, ten million times!
There is nothing wrong or confusing concerning the definition of. A packed home is really a true home (perhaps not fabricated or portable) which concerns a construction site demanding meeting.
It can pass by a number of different titles too. Some times it's Named a Kit Home. Ninety eight per cent of their moment, they get real, site-built/stick-built domiciles. That is compared to manufactured (mobile) homes which can be wheeled in and place in place.
Log cedar and homes homes may also be packed domiciles ordinarily. It needs to be said that it can be more challenging to receive financing to make a log home. This changes by lender and location however, you could come across a higher downpayment requirement.
The substances which can be a part of those homes vary somewhat. Frequently you may negotiate using the furnishing company regarding what items you need to exclude or include in addition to request up grades. That really is exactly what you can expect to be contained in most instances (log houses Might be an exception to this principle):
All of the framing and timber for your house
All windows and windows, moldings, and completing trimming
Siding and roofing stuff
Kitchen cabinets, bath vanities, and Countertops
Often baths, sinks, bathrooms and Associated fittings
What Exactly Is Generally NOT Included in Packaged Homes
The base for the residence isn't comprised. The gutters is not either. If you don't hanging out your dry wall (an extremely arduous job), your sub contractors will offer the substances together with their bidding at work. The same is true for the electricians and technicians. That is why these things usually are excluded by the package.
You will find more exceptions. The majority of the things listed here are some things you'd wish to go shopping to produce your private selections. All these are the Things Which Make a House yours:
As they are eligible as actual, stick-built or site-built domiciles, anybody who wishes to create a true home can go this path. The normal buyer is somebody who wishes to function as their very own builder and also streamline the whole procedure. People with a General Contractor to build to them, would frequently not be counseled to go into the crowded dwelling path.
If you should be a strong do it yourselfer and also "assembly required" will not cause you to sneeze, have a fantastic look at them. But consistently seek the advice and support of a great home construction trainer. Happy researching!
Source :


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Don't Jeopardize your Patent by Sharing Too Much2/21/18 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
I was asked the following question recently: I have a great new idea. I would like to gauge interest by publicly describing what my new product does. I am concerned, of course, that this may be a problem patent-wise. Does it matter if my disclosure does not tell how my… Read more
Amazon Patents Work-Monitoring Wristband2/7/18 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
Last week, Amazon announced that the United States Patent and Trademark Office granted it two patents for a wristband that can monitor its warehouse employees. They filed these patents in 2016, and they were granted on January 30, 2018. How Does It Work This system includes ultrasonic devices placed around… Read more
Never Saw THAT Coming (Back to the Future Edition)1/17/18 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
Inventors, please take note. When you hire a consultant to build a prototype or otherwise help you get your product to market, make sure that your contract specifies who owns any intellectual property that might arise during the consultancy. If you don't, you may end up sharing patent ownership with… Read more
Beware of Trademark Scams12/13/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
With increasing frequency, scam artists are targeting trademark registrants with suspicious-looking "snail mail" asking the registrant to send "renewal fees" to avoid abandonment of their trademark registration. These notices look at least somewhat legitimate because they purport to be from official-looking entities and usually contain accurate trademark information. Scammers can… Read more
Can You vs Should You Get a Patent12/6/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
We were shocked last month when we read Forbes' Stop Taking Business Advice From Your Patent Attorney where the author wrote that his patent lawyer claimed that his idea would generate substantial income, so much that he "would never be able to count" it all. We're lawyers, not psychics. It… Read more
Patenting Artificial Intelligence11/22/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
Under today's patent law, could Star Trek's Dr. Soong receive a patent on Data's positronic brain? Dr. Frankenstein, a patent on his method of making a monster? Dr. Alfred Lanning (of Isaac Asimov's I, Robot) on his child-like robot Sonny? Companies Seek Broad Patent Protection for AI Artificial intelligence (AI)… Read more
Does Your Patent Need a CIP?11/15/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
When it comes to your patent application, you may have seen the terms "CIP," "Continuation," and "Divisional," but what do they mean? How are they relevant to the patent process? Let's review these terms and when you should consider employing one of these options. Continuation A "continuation" is a non-provisional… Read more
Finding a Patent Attorney's Past Work11/8/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
Applying for a patent is an investment – in yourself, your business, and your invention. Which patent attorney you work with is critical. For the amount of time and money that goes into a patent application, you want to hire a patent with knowledge and skills that correspond to your… Read more
Eyes Up! The Heavenly Palace is Falling!10/25/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
The Chinese government recently announced that its first space station, Tiangong-1 (天宫一号 "Heavenly Palace 1"), is on a decaying orbit and unresponsive to remote command. Last manned in June 2013, the space station is on a course to reenter the Earth's atmosphere sometime next year (the U.N. estimates no later… Read more
The Road to Patent Registration – Part II10/18/17 | by Venjuris | SHARE:
The road to patent registration can be long and confusing – especially for a first-time inventor. In Part I, we reviewed the first five steps: Step 1: What type of intellectual property provides the best protection for your situation? Step 2: Do you even need a patent? Step 3: Is… Read more


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Beans closed lock limit up and corn was not far behind at 23.25 cents up which completely erased Friday's losses. The attitude at the close tonight was Project (A) would be higher but I would not be surprised to see a higher open and a lower close due to overbought status.
So what's the game plan? As I've been saying for weeks my expectation has been to be a buyer in August. I would have preferred a much more sideways trading band to develop a base but we have to accept what the market gives us. As I sit here in the middle of the Corn Belt, we have been blessed with very good growing conditions. I, however, have to suggest we have missed the last few rains and the corn and bean crop has gone from about as good as it get's to looking just average. All the wet spots are starting to show and some of the corn is even giving up. This all suggests to me the corn yield is not going to meet USDA's expectation. The issue is how much decline will we see? Unfortunately, a lot of these questions will not be answered until the combines are in the field and the bin door shuts.
My game plan now is for feed buyers to get inventory locked up in the cash if at all possible. If you are reowning previously sold inventory, I like buying nearby in the money calls more than futures. If you want a more long-term attitude, I'm focused on buying December 2009 corn on any 5 to 15 cent correction. If you are using futures, I would seriously look at selling some sort of deep out of money call to give yourself some downside price protection. A close in December 2009 below $5.90 would force me to rethink my long position.
As for beans it's all about the yield. As I've reminded all my Farm Journal clients, a loss of less than ½ bu. takes us below 100 million bushel. A loss of 1½ bu. (which more than likely would be greater with any type of frost in the northern Corn Belt will bring carry dangerous close to zero. How high do you have to take bean prices to ration usage? At this time it's not $12.89 beans!
My suggestion continues to be long November beans between $12.20 and $12 but don't allow it to move below $11.70. If you can't handle the stress of futures, I like buying serial in the money calls. If cash flow is tight, focus on trying to buy at least $1.50 to $2 upside vertical call strategy in the January contract. Bottom line: It's all up to Mother Nature right now which means major price swings. This implies you should not overtrade your account and be very careful about how much risk your assuming in the position.
Finally, wheat saw a very exciting day to the upside. I would suggest it's being dragged up by the corn and beans. My bias continues to be the higher we go this fall, the more acres will be planted due to lower input cost. I would suggest you not allow July 2009 wheat to trade below $9.05 before having a floor in place. With all the market volatility, I have to say this year would be an excellent year to be a buyer of puts and roll up rather than sell futures or cash and handle the cash flow of margins or loss of upside potential.
If you need any help with any of these suggestions give us a call at 1-800-832-1488. If you want to go over details or would like to read more daily recommendations regarding reownership or marketing strategies, email me at [email protected] or [email protected].
The recommendations and opinions contained herein are based upon information from sources believed to be reliable. However, that information may be incomplete and unverified. There are numerous factors that can affect the markets, which cannot be fully accounted for in the preparation of these recommendations. Those following these recommendations do so at their own risk. The firm and/or customers of the firm may take a position that may not be consistent with the recommendations herein. Any recommendation does not constitute an offer to buy or sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any commodity interest. Commodity trading involves risks, and you should fully understand those risks before trading.


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MUMBAI (Reuters) - England had India on the ropes in the fourth test after picking up four quick wickets in the afternoon session on Saturday but let the hosts off the hook by failing to take opportunities.
India, who lead the five-match series 2-0, were tottering at 307 for six, still 93 behind England's total of 400 and facing the prospect of conceding a first-innings lead on a turning Wankhede Stadium pitch on which they have to bat last.
But India captain Virat Kohli guided his team to 451 for seven at the close for a lead of 51, riding on a 57-run stand with Ravindra Jadeja for the seventh wicket and an unbroken 87 with Jayant Yadav.
England had their chances to break both partnerships. Leg-spinner Adil Rashid failed to hold on to a return catch from Kohli, then on 68, while Joe Root dropped Yadav on eight off James Anderson.
"After that middle session in the way that we got ourselves into a pretty good position, it was quite frustrating that we couldn't take the wickets at the back end there," Root told reporters.
"It just proves that when you create those half-chances you got to make sure you take them."
Kohli remained unbeaten on 147 and the importance of Rashid's spill was clear.
"That was a very difficult catch," Root said. "When it's coming at you at that pace, you are following through and it's on you before you know it."
The England vice-captain, who took two wickets with his part-time off-spin, tried to remain upbeat.
"Most important thing is that we look forward, look to tomorrow and we take those three early wickets when we get those opportunities," Root said.
"When it comes to batting we will look to put pressure back on them and be positive just like we were in the first innings. If we can do that and do that well then we have got a really good game on our hands."
Root was effusive in his praise for Kohli and said the batsman, who completed 1,000 test runs in 2016 during his innings.
"He is obviously very driven and he's very ambitious, you can see that in the way he approaches the game," Root said.
"Very emotional and he wears his heart on his sleeve.
"I wouldn't say intimidating or anything like that but it's quite good to play against guys that express how they feel and try and make you feel uncomfortable."
Editing by Ed Osmond


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FAR: Lone Sails | Parkitect | A Planet of Mine (Indie Game Riot – Ep. 151)
This episode of The Indie Game Riot Podcast we talk about:
– Apple rejects Steam Link app (0:15:26)
– Total Biscuit passes away (0:20:27)
– Agony devs forced to censor game (0:25:34)
– FAR: Lone Sails (0:32:26)
– Parkitect (0:42:02)
– A Planet of Mine (0:53:59)
Thanks so much for watching! Your support for us as well as the indie games we spotlight are hugely appreciated. Please take the time to hit "LIKE", SUBSCRIBE and SHARE the video to help the show grow and to help us bring more attention to these great indie games and developers! Don't be afraid to subscribe to the hosts' channels too. ;)
Are you an indie game developer, video game musician, or anything else having to do with indie games? Contact us using the links below and we may feature you on the show!
You can keep up to date and join in on the discussion by finding us at these links:
Website: http://www.indiegameriot.com
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Subscribe: http://bit.ly/JaShinYaSub
Twitter: https://twitter.com/IGRPodcast
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IGRPodcast
Steam: http://steamcommunity.com/groups/IndieGameRiot
Discord: https://discord.gg/33Urd9F
LISTEN LIVE! Wednesdays at 9:30pm EST (unless otherwise noted)
Find us on iTunes: http://bit.ly/IGRiTunes
Find us on Stitcher: http://bit.ly/IGRStitcher
Strap on your Riot Gear!
Like what we do? Support IGR on Patreon!
Check out Eric's website!
Gameplay footage credited to:
Interview – N/A
Starting The Riot – http://bit.ly/2LoteVA
Peep Show – http://bit.ly/2LXOgeO
Free Fun/Going Mobile – http://bit.ly/2kPEfUC
Check out these links to everything featured in the show!
– Apple rejects steam app: http://bit.ly/2LmAe5e
– Total Biscuit: https://ind.pn/2kN9Tlq
– Agony censorship: http://bit.ly/2sEKQ7G
– FAR: Lone Sails: http://bit.ly/2swIXL7
– Parkitect: http://bit.ly/2HiYmDi
– A Planet of Mine: http://bit.ly/2sJN4D0


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Fifi Abdou
Does Fifi Abdu needs to be introduced? The queen of oriental dance is admired by millions in the East and the West. She became an icon of raqs sharki. Equally detested by millions who find her behaving provocative and vulgar. Her name was mentioned in as much scandals as she was billed in her movies, cassettes and videos. Egyptian belly dancer Fifi Abdo is a businesswoman. With a good running business...
Fifi started her life working as a dancer. Moving her way up doing weddings. A few years later on she turns to cinema and theater plays. She's a great admirer of the legendary belly dancer Tahiya Carioca and wants even to produce a movie on the live of Taheya.
Besides that her controversial shows in five star venues made her famous but it wasn't it just the spirit of the time she reacted to? Entertainers in the west used controversies to raise attention and commotion and it worked, it also worked in the east. Fifi Abdou spends as much time in the courtroom as in the ballroom. As a result Fifi Abdou never leaves without her bodyguards to protect her against the excesses of admirers or opponents. Despite the fact that Egyptian Television Network banned the screening of all dramas starring Fifi Abdo like the drama "Ta'r Al Hubb" and "El Siti Aseelah", her popularity remains unaffected.
All this doesn't mean she's not a big dance star. Even in her latest productions she still finds the inspiration to add something extra to her dance performance like her famous "Shisha" dance, a dance with a water pipe.
Fifi Abdu is an excellent dancer, even on stiletto heels, no doubt about that. But she and her management (she had no less than 6 managers) know exactly how to play the media. It's all part of the game after all. She not even thinking on leaving the scene. The long way from "bint al balad" to "queen of the oriental dance" wasn't always smooth. Some of her productions didn't exactly turn out box-office hits. And she's not getting any younger too, despite the face lifts. However, Fifi never lost her glamour and when she's on the scene, she looks forever young...


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Welcome back loyal and new followers! ... READ MORE »
How To Avoid Sanding Before Painting Cabinets
This worked great. My cabinets are grease free and bone dry! Ready to paint! Happy Wednesday! ... READ MORE »
Giani Painted Granite Counters: Final Steps and Outcome
First off, I am so excited and kind of proud of myself because I fixed one of my virus infected laptops all by myself! So now I am typing this on my newly fixed computer. Yay! The reason I share this is because in a way it relates to my philosophy on design. Which is, if someone else can do it why not me?? I was a little nervous to say the least to try and un-infect my computer which had one of the nastiest viruses you can get: a keylogging ... READ MORE »
Painted Granite Video Tutorial: Part 1
Here is the first of several videos I made during my countertop makeover. Here is what my counters looked like before: A kind of bluish gray and white formica... not the ugliest formica I've ever had in a house I've owned... where was this product when I had mauve counters? Yes. Pink counters. Bleh! =P You'll notice I have a black porcelain sink that stands out like a sore thumb. So I started out by taping off my counters.... Now I ... READ MORE »
Guess Who Got Granite for Christmas?!
Guess who got granite counters for Christmas? Someone else! ;) Not me. But I did get the look for less... $80!! Giani Painted Granite counterops. That's right... I painted my counters. You may think that's just plain crazy, but I just think they're crazy awesome! Here's what I really think about my new counter tops! I will be adding more photos and tutorials in the coming days... so be sure to check it out. One other note I don't ... READ MORE »
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Terms and Conditions
Booking Terms
These Booking Terms apply to the business named above (under the 'Booking with' section of the Booking Confirmation and the 'Provider Information' in the confirmation email) our officers, employees and agents ('We'/'Us'/'Our') and the person or legal entity making the Booking or to whom We supply services in respect of the Booking ('You/Your'). These Booking Terms are governed by English law and apply to all Bookings except where We agree in writing other terms. By making a Booking You are deemed to accept these Booking Terms.
Bookings are made and a contract between You and Us comes into effect when We accept a reservation from You. We will accept a reservation when We have confirmed Your reservation and received full payment of the total price quoted from You or in the event that we require a non-refundable deposit, when we have received full payment of the total value of the non-refundable deposit. Where a non-refundable deposit is paid, the balance will be paid by You to Us on either check-in or check-out
You must be able to enter into a legally binding contract and be over 18yrs to make a Booking.
Bookings must be paid for using an acceptable and valid credit or debit card.
When a Booking is confirmed, a reservation number is given. This number must be retained for access to the Booking details if cancellation or amendment is necessary.
All published rates include VAT where applicable (and local taxes) at the current rate.
Rates are per room per night. If You have selected supplements they will be added to the total price of the Booking. Rates do not include other costs you may choose to incur during Your stay (unless otherwise stated).
Rates quoted are correct only for the specific number of guests, nights and dates shown. Should You change the number of guests, dates or room nights, then the rates are subject to change.
In the rare case that due to unforeseen circumstances we cannot deliver Your requested accommodation, You will be offered alternate accommodation.
Arrival and departure
Check-in times are specified on your booking confirmation. Check-in times outside of those specified must be confirmed with Us prior to arrival. The Check-out time is also specified on your booking confirmation.
If You have paid a Booking Deposit (always equivalent to the cost of one night's accommodation or service) or the full amount of Your Booking:
If You cancel Your Booking within 48 hours of the scheduled check-in time on the date of arrival as printed on your booking confirmation a charge equivalent to the cost of one night's accommodation (or service) will be levied.
If You need to cancel Your Booking more than 48 hours before the scheduled check-in time a full-refund will be given unless otherwise stated.


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"Self-harm, hostility, violence, mania, aggression, homicidal thinking, suicidal thinking, and suicide completion are not side-effects of antidepressants, they are effects of antidepressants.
The above are not quaint sides to be served alongside your main meal."
~ Bob Fiddaman, Author, Blogger, Researcher
"Self-harm, hostility, violence, mania, aggression, homicidal thinking, suicidal thinking, and suicide completion are not side-effects of antidepressants, they are effects of antidepressants. The above are not quaint sides to be served alongside your main meal."
~ Bob Fiddaman, Author, Blogger, Researcher
Citizens Commission on Human Rights Award Recipient (Twice)
Humanist, humorist
Friday, February 05, 2016
Birth Defect Ethics, Are They as Simple as Black & White?
Quite often questions come to me, usually at night whilst in bed alone, save for the background music of Hans Zimmer that helps me drift off to sleep.
One such question, invoked another, they both kept me awake for most of the night as I mulled over possible answers, the most obvious answer, of course, would be jail time.
Here's what I was mulling over.
A husband and wife have a disagreement over treatment. Mrs Smith has recently been told that she is pregnant, she has also been diagnosed with depression and has been told by her physician that if left untreated it could harm her fetus. Mrs Smith believes the risk of taking antidepressants during pregnancy is too high, she has read stories that they can cause birth defects.
Her husband, Mr Smith, does not believe the risks are that high, he's read many published papers from academics that suggest antidepressant treatment will save the baby from becoming distressed inside the womb and depressed when born.
So, here's the dilemma. It's his child just as much as it is his wife's. They are at loggerheads over the decision to medicate - does the expectant mother have the final say?
This isn't the question that kept me awake.
Mr Smith, decides to treat his wife with antidepressants (without her knowledge... ergo, without her consent)
Every day he crushes two antidepressants into her dinner - he does so because he wants to protect his child from being distressed in the womb or being born depressed. Hey, he's read the literature and believes it to be true.
24 weeks later
Sadly, Mr and Mrs Smith are informed that the fetus has developed defects. Mrs Smith's OBGYN has informed them both that the fetus has developed a number of birth defects, namely; cardiac defects (heart), pulmonary defects (lung), neural-tube defects (brain and spinal cord). Chances of survival, at birth, he informs them, are very slim.
Mrs Smith, along with her husband, decide to abort the fetus, it's a heart-wrenching decision.
Shorty after the termination of his wife's pregnancy, Mr Smith comes clean and tells his wife that he had secretly been administering antidepressants into her food and now believes that the medication may have contributed to the birth defects in their child.
So, here's the two questions...
1. What legal action, if any, could Mrs Smith take against her husband?
2. What defence, if any, could Mr Smith use in a court of Law?
Be interesting to hear/read your comments on this one either via the comments section (below) or via my Twitter account (here) or Facebook Blog account (here)
Bob Fiddaman.
Prozac: Uncharted Down Syndrome Territory
Labels: antidepressants, Birth defects
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