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Read Business Organization updates, alerts, news, and legal analysis from leading lawyers and law firms:
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Safeguards against Data Security Breaches (Part One)
Safeguards against Data Security Breaches (Part Two)
Suzanne Folsom on Corporate Compliance Issues -
Suzanne Rich Folsom and Bart M. Schwartz on Corporate Compliance in 2011
On May 3, 2013, the IRS issued final regulations that will require all persons (including trusts and estates) with employer identification numbers ("EIN") to provide updated information to the IRS in a prescribed manner...more
President's fiscal year 2014 budget contains numerous tax provisions - President Barack Obama released his proposed budget for the government's fiscal year 2014 on April 10, 2013, and, not surprisingly, the budget...more
Beginning on December 31, 2013, the qualified intermediary (QI), withholding foreign partnership (WP), and withholding foreign trusts (WT) will be subject to the requirements of a foreign financial institution (FFI). As a...more
The new Internal Revenue Code ("IRC") Section 1411, which imposes a 3.8 percent tax on net investment income ("NII") was passed as part of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 ("ACA") and is effective for tax years beginning on or...more
A bipartisan group of 11 legislators have proposed an overhaul of Maine's tax system, including major changes to the individual and corporate income tax, property tax, sales tax, and estate tax. ...more
International buyers invested $82.5 billion in U.S. residential real estate (4.8% of total U.S. sales) according to the most recent survey conducted by the National Association of Realtors for the 12 month period ending with...more
If a taxpayer owns appreciated property and transferors it to another, and that successor owner sells the property, the gain from the sale is reportable by the successor owner, not the donor. However, if the gift occurs too...more
When private equity or venture capital fund principals and managing partners look to roll out a new fund, in addition to reconciling general fund formation issues, they should consider the personal-planning opportunities...more
One of the most difficult issues facing the owner of any successful business is how the business, or the personal wealth that it represents, can be preserved for the benefit of his or her family after death. While it is...more
To insulate the ultimate individual owners from U.S. estate taxes, nonresident aliens often hold U.S. real property in a U.S. corporation, which corporation is owned by a foreign corporation. The foreign corporation is owned...more
Overview - Part I and Part II have focused on the tax planning possibilities of small business owners and owners of professional corporations utilizing an exemption for collectively bargained plans. This exemption allows...more
Code Section 2519 is a notoriously difficult section to apply. In 2009, I wrote on article on it for Estate Planning, and ever since I've been providing a lot of assistance to others on its operation. So I am always...more
In This Issue: - How to Protect Your Assets as a Business Owner - Separated But Not Divorced: Don't Wait to Update Your Estate Plan - Tales from the Cliff: Estate Planning Policy for 2013 and Beyond -...more
While the new law is projected to raise taxes by about $600 billion in the next 10 years, it offers some comfort for many taxpayers who may have been preparing for the worst ...more
It has long been popular for high net-worth people who are not domiciled in the United Kingdom ("non-doms") to form an offshore company, often in the British Virgin Islands ("BVI"), for the purposes of holding property in the...more
On January 1, 2013, Congress averted the fiscal cliff with the passage of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (Act), which was enacted when President Obama signed the Act on January 2, 2013. The Act provides a welcome...more
Originally published in SRR, on October 1, 2011. Government statistics estimate that approximately every eight seconds another individual born during the baby-boomer generation passes the age of 55 – one step closer to...more
The fiscal cliff has been avoided temporarily as the Congress has passed H.R. 8, the "American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012" (the "Act"). The Senate passed the Act in the early morning hours of January 1, 2013, by a vote of...more
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As you likely have heard, the President signed the American Taxpayer Relief Act (H.R. 8) (the "Act") on January 2, 2013. The Act, popularly known as the "fiscal cliff" legislation, permanently extends the Bush era tax cuts...more
Overview - As we approach the edge of the fiscal cliff over the last two weeks of 2012, some of you may be wondering if there is any last minute tax planning that might be done to avoid sending a large check to Uncle...more
A buy-sell agreement provides for the disposition of each owner's business interest after a "triggering event," such as death, disability, divorce, termination of employment or withdrawal from the business. However, to be...more
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Home > How It Works > FAQ > What does it cost to buy precious metals ...
Frequently Asked Questions |
Your metal purchase is based upon the prevailing goldgram, silver ounce, platinum gram or palladium gram buy rate, which is the metal's current spot price plus a buy fee.
The buy fee for a goldgram purchase ranges from 0.98% to 2.74% above the prevailing spot gold price, depending upon the size of the transaction. The buy fee for a silver purchase ranges from 1.99% to 4.24% above the prevailing spot silver price. For platinum the buy fee ranges from 2.19% to 4.67% and for palladium from 2.63% to 5.52%.
With GoldMoney you avoid costly shipping/handling because you are purchasing metals already stored in a vault. You also avoid the often high mark-up one must pay for bullion coins and small bars to cover their fabrication costs.
Can I buy precious metals immediately after signing up?
You can immediately transfer funds and buy metals if you are resident in any of the ...
What are the cost advantages of GoldMoney?
GoldMoney is the least expensive way to own gold, silver, platinum and palladium in allocated ...
Why should I buy precious metals through GoldMoney instead of buying coins and bars from other dealers?
Storing coins and bars at home may be a way of achieving diversification, but finding safe insured ...
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subset: commoncrawl


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While looking through the SQLite database scheme I found two things which could be removed by my opinion.
First thing is the size value of fields. SQLite totally ignores them. I can understand that it was kept for consistency, but it just makes the scheme bigger for SQLite.
The second thing, which I would need to check again is the INTEGER PRIMARY KEY NOT NULL thing. As far as I'm aware of, if you define an integer primary key, then you don't need to write >NOT NULL< as SQLite will not allow to insert an empty value into it because of the primary key constraint. (Except if you insert a row with NULL as the primary key value it will get the highest available row number + 1.)


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PeopleTiso in the Wolf's LairPublished: June 17, 2013 at 11:57 am
Last time out we began a discussion of a seemingly insignificant event. Near the end of May 1944, Monsignor Jozef Tiso, the wartime leader of Slovakia, paid a visit to Adolf Hitler at the latter's headquarters in East Prussia–the famous …
The Greatest Story Often Told: Rick Atkinson's Guns at Last LightPublished: May 13, 2013 at 1:52 pm
The War in Western Europe, 1944–1945
By Rick Atkinson. 896 pp.
Henry Holt and Co., 2013. $40.
For almost 15 years—three times longer than World War II lasted—Pulitzer winner Rick Atkinson has toiled with …
No RespectPublished: March 21, 2013 at 12:19 pm
Life isn't fair, and neither is history. Indeed, some historical events—no matter how vast or significant—seem destined to be forgotten. And World War II is full of them.
Let's say you are launching a complex amphibious invasion of an enemy-held …
TypoPublished: March 07, 2013 at 11:28 am
I am all thumbs. Put me at a computer keyboard, and I am trouble. I am the lord of the typo. Put my on an iPhone and things get exponentially worse. Put me on an iPhone with that quaint function …
Torpedo JunctionPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:23 pm
In the battle for Guadalcanal, Imperial submarines ruled the sea—until rigid doctrine dragged them down.
Ridgway: Iron Man at the FrontPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Acts of great courage in war aren't limited to the battlefield. One little-known incident during World War II defined Major General Matthew B. Ridgway as a commander of unrivaled courage when he laid his career on the line at a …
Time Travel: Normandy's Contested Landing BeachesPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:21 pm
Shortly after midnight on June 6, 1944, the sky above the Normandy market town of Sainte-Mère-Église quietly grew thick with billowing silk as American paratroopers dropped into the night ahead of the long-expected Allied invasion of Europe; by …
Conversation with Matthew BrzezinskiPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:17 pm
'Writing this book," Matthew Brzezinski declares, "made me grasp the horrors of the situation's choices." The "situation" is the Nazi-ruled Warsaw Ghetto, portrayed with gritty detail in Isaac's Army. From 1940 on, a 24-year-old Zionist youth leader named Isaac …
A Young Pilot's Surprising Political LeaningsPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Branded a left-wing peacenik during his 1972 presidential campaign against incumbent Richard M. Nixon, Senator George S. McGovern lost that race in a landslide, winning only Massa-chusetts and Washington, D.C. A major reason for his defeat was his opposition to …
No RegretsPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Of all the places I've been, the port of Archangel in the north of Russia is the least romantic. The climate is terrible—cold and dank most of the year—and ships lie rusting in the harbor. From the drunks on the …
....the Omaha Beach Landing Had Failed?Published: March 04, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Some Reversals of fortune in World War II would have had huge consequences and yet make for uninteresting counterfactuals. The shifts in outcome are simply too obvious.
In the case of Operation Overlord, the June 1944 D-Day landings, an Allied …
Review: The Liberator by Alex KershawPublished: March 04, 2013 at 2:08 pm
The Liberator
One World War II Soldier's 500-Day Odyssey from the Beaches of Sicily to the Gates of Dachau
By Alex Kershaw. 448 pp.
Crown, 2012. $28.
War is hell, but Felix Sparks, the central figure in The Liberator…
Thaddeus StevensPublished: February 19, 2013 at 3:31 pm
Meet the real Thaddeus Stevens, the man who inspired Tommy Lee Jones' impassioned performance in Spielberg's Lincoln.
Oh What a Lucky Man, IIIPublished: February 19, 2013 at 12:43 pm
The theme of this column lately has been the way that Americans are keeping alive the memory of World War II. The results are in, and the verdict is "wow!" The recent exhibit at the Museum of Fine Arts of …
Oh What a Lucky Man I AmPublished: January 22, 2013 at 5:07 pm
I've said it many times: I'm a lucky guy. Beautiful wife. Wonderful family. I get to live in Texas. (No offense to the other states. I've lived in a few and they're not bad at all.)
Another way I'm lucky …
Hollywood's War: Beginnings and EndingsPublished: January 02, 2013 at 3:29 pm
I have been writing this column for years, and if your attention hasn't drifted, you probably know that I am not that fond of war movies. I say it every year at this time. Don't like them, don't watch them, …
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Die Hard 2: Die Harder(1990)Bruce Willis returns as the heroic cop who battles not only terrorists, but also an incompetent airport police chief, the hard-headed commander of the Army's anti-terrorist squad and a deadly winter snowstorm. The runways are littered with death and destruction, and McClane is in a race against time. His wife is trapped on one of the planes circling overhead, which is desperately low on fuel. It's all-out war, a heart-stopping, jet-propelled journey filled with excitement and terror. Fasten your seat belts! For more about Die Hard 2: Die Harder and the Die Hard 2: Die Harder Blu-ray release, see the Die Hard 2: Die Harder Blu-ray Review Starring: Bruce Willis, Bonnie Bedelia, William Sadler (I), William Atherton, Franco Nero, Dennis Franz Director: Renny Harlin » See full cast & crew Die Hard 2: Die Harder Blu-ray, Video QualityOriginally released in late 2007 as part of The Die Hard Collection, Die Hard 2 shows its age in both hazy late '80s filmmaking techniques and a 1080p/AVC encode that seems like it's still feeling out the boundaries of its then relatively new high definition format. The film doesn't look bad by any means, but it doesn't exactly provide the 50-foot leap in clarity and color that we've become accustomed to with Blu-ray. While close ups show a fair amount of fine detail� see the texture on McClane's Eddie Bauer-looking sweater�anytime we pull back into longer shots the image takes on a noticeably softer quality. Certain colors appear very strong, like the reds and blues of police sirens, or the pinkish glow inside the air traffic control room, but skin tones occasionally veer towards an overly tanned orange, and other hues seem flat and lifeless. Likewise, contrast seems a bit dull and black levels, while truly deep at times, have a tendency to go opaque and grayish during the darker scenes, effectively crushing shadow detail. On the plus side, I didn't notice any rampant compression artifacts, aside from some brief banding and color blotchiness during a few explosions, and both edge enhancement and noise reduction seem to have been kept to a minimum. Grain is mostly unobtrusive, but look out for the special effects shot, which swarm with huge chunks of it. Die Hard 2: Die Harder Blu-ray, Audio QualityDie Harder arrives on Blu-ray with a DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 surround track that sounds about average for an action film of its 1990 vintage. Meaning, the effects are kind of clunky, stocky, and artificial, directionality lacks subtlety, and the track's mid-range sounds slightly hollow. Real speaker usage is frequent but not entirely convincing. Airport ambience seems canned, movements through the surround channels are heavy handed, and machine gun blasts feel as if they were selected from a sound effects library and simply dropped into the track with little concern for acoustics. When Michael Kamen's score kicks into high gear and the action scenes really ramp up, some of this artificiality is lost in the sheer amount of sound, but it's always there if you listen closely. The track's low-end is adequate, but the two or three massive explosions in the film, which should rattle the picture frames on your walls, seem to lack any real heft or presence. Overall, the sound is suitable but it doesn't really bring anything new to the experience of watching the film�not that that's necessarily a bad thing. Do note that some viewers have reported problems with their players being unable to decode the DTS-HD Master Audio track and forcing the Dolby Digital mix instead. For the record, I had no problems on my PS3 with up-to-date firmware. Die Hard 2: Die Harder: Other Editions
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Die Hard 2: Die Harder Blu-ray, News and Updates• Amazon Gold Box Deal of the Day: Die Hard (Expired) - February 14, 2013 Amazon's Blu-ray Gold Box Deal of the Day affects the Die Hard: 25th Anniversary Collection. Twentieth Century Fox's popular action franchise centers on the increasingly catastrophic adventures of John McClane (Bruce Willis, Looper), a cynical policeman who finds ...
• Amazon Blu-ray Deal of the Week: The Die Hard Collection (Expired) - July 22, 2012 Amazon's Blu-ray Deal of the Week affects The Die Hard Collection. The set bundles together all four films in Twentieth Century Fox's popular action franchise, which centers on the increasingly catastrophic adventures of John McClane (Bruce Willis, Pulp Fiction), ...
• Deal Alert: Die Hard Collection Blu-ray $32.99 - September 5, 2010 Amazon's current Blu-ray Boxed Set of the Week is for The Die Hard Collection (comprised of Die Hard, Die Hard 2: Die Harder, Die Hard with a Vengeance and Live Free or Die Hard) for only $32.99 (59% off MSRP, or just over $8 per movie). The price tracker shows ...
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Welcome to the Energy & Environment (E&E) Exchange, a blog dedicated to science and engineering topics that are (generally) related to energy and the environment. This blog is meant to encourage discussion about the challenges and possibilities surrounding sustainability through science and technology. The blog's owner, David Lates (aka cheme_wordsmithy), is a technical writer and engineering editor at GlobalSpec, the company that powers CR4.
Lighting in a typical household may only account for about 10% of the consumer's energy bill. But even this fraction, along with the cost of bulb replacement, can add up over time. Light emitting diode (LED) technology aims to make improvements to fixture life and lighting efficiency. However, like many "new" technologies nowadays, the initial cost of LED lightbulbs is the biggest obstacle.
Retail prices for LEDs pale in comparison to their incandescent and compact fluorescent competition. You can buy a 60W CFL for $4 and a 60W incandescent for a dollar, but an LED equivalent would cost between $15 and $25. The supposed increased lifespan of LEDs (and the associated "cool" factor that comes with new tech) isn't nearly enough to justify this price gap for most people.
<--(This 8W, 60W equivalent LED lightbulb from TigerDirect costs $24.99. Yikes! Image Credit: TigerDirect.com)
A few months ago I reported on the current state and future prospects of LED technology. Part of this report focused on Soraa, a solid-state-lighting startup company utilizing a new approach to producing LEDs. Their aim is to construct LEDs using gallium-nitride as the substrate, resulting in fewer defects. These bulbs produce 10 times the light of other types of LEDs, ideally allowing for much higher lighting efficiencies (i.e. more light per unit power).
Gallium-nitride is also much more expensive, however. Other companies are vying for more traditional approaches that grow minimal amounts of gallium-nitride on sapphire or silicon based substrates. Most believe that LED manufacturers will continue to look on these designs much more favorably.
Osram Opto Semiconductors, one of the world's largest LED manufacturers, says it has perfected a technique that may reduce production costs. The process optimizes the use of silicon as the substrate on which to grow gallium-nitride. Silicon is currently about a third the cost of sapphire, bolstered by record price drops over the past couple years.
(A 15-centimeter silicon wafer for gallium-nitride-on-silicon LEDs. Image Credit: Osram)
The trick in the process is overcoming the difficulties of material expansion. Because LEDs are made at high temperatures, the layers of material need to be cooled afterward. During cooling, the two materials expand at different rates, causing the gallium-nitride layer to crack due to tension from the silicon underneath. The cracking results in impurities and defects which render the product inefficient or unusable. The fix involves growing additional thin films of different materials in order to balance out the tension.
Osram's new LEDs are said to produce 127 lumens per watt of power, with a power efficiency of 58 percent. The company hasn't released any estimates on the cost of its new LEDs, but others using this silicon-based approach say price reductions could be 75% or more. One company, Bridgelux, predicts that for 75-watt equivalent LED lightbulbs, the numbers could drop from $40 to under $5.
If the past is any indicator, I am skeptical at best of these grand predictions. But if they do come to pass, I would expect to see a lot more people giving LED lightbulbs a try. Certainly there are other practical difficulties with LED technology, not the least of which is the amount of waste heat generated by these devices. But solutions to these concerns will likely be addressed more fully as these products begin to make their way into the consumer market.
Cheaper LED Lightbulbs Are on the Way - Technology Review
I suspect there won't be any drop in price until governments and power companies stop providing incentive payments for replacement of less efficient lighting...
Aside from some low-wattage outdoor walkway lights that are LEDs, I hadn't tried any household type LED lamps until just this past week. I bought two 40 watt equivalent, 429 lumen light bulbs that use 9 watts (each). So the lamp efficacy is just under 50 lumens per watt. The color temperature is stated as 3000 Kelvin, but I installed one of the LED lamps into a 4-bulb ceiling fan light set and it appears noticeably 'whiter' and brighter than the regular 40 W incandescent lamp (475 lumens) in the same fixture. It also appears whiter than the other lamps in the fixture which are both CFLs. The claimed useable life of this LED bulb is 50,000 hours, 33X the life of the incandescent bulb. The manufacturer is Ecosmart.
I paid $10 each for the two LED light bulbs.
Another thing immediately noticeable about it is that it turns on instantly like the incandescent lamp. The two CFLs start off very dim and take about a minute to reach full brightness.
I should mention that although the LED lamp is brighter and whiter than the other 3 lamps, it is not annoying different. Unless I'm looking directly at the lamp, it's not obvious that it's different.
One other difference is that I don't find myself hating the LED lamp immediately, which was my reaction to the CFLs. I've got CFLs in the master bathroom. They emit a very annoying hum and also take nearly a minute to get to full brightness. At some point I'm going to remove them and put them somewhere else in the house where they won't bother me. Maybe I'll put them in the guest bedroom... heh, heh.
I am having a love-hate-love affair with the LED as a primary lighting source. Not coming from an engineering background, I will not profess; but share practical experience, and read as others help sort out the wildly varying results.
Totally dissatisfied with experiencing a wide domestic application of CFLs, from surprisingly short life, slow warm-up and electronics interference; I was fast to try out L.E.D. for applications beyond where they already had shined. From the first head-band light I bought 6-7 years ago, to a 99 led stick light used to replace a trouble-light; the durability and brightness has been very satisfactory. Elimination of dangerous heat and near elimination of this lighting as an ignition source was a bonus.
So, when replacements for standard lighting got beyond the early models that look like the love-child of a hand grenade and an armadillo; I was eager to see if this was the answer to the millions of mercury lamps already mandated.
The Lamps that have had in-place at LEAST six months, some for 5 years year:
1. Two head IR triggered backyard lights. With this all-in-one fixture, I can see my dog at the far fenceline, something I could not do with 2 60W replacement CFLs in the old fixture. I NEVER expected this much light. It is a weird light, but bright. Even in normal daylight, I can tell when they are on, without looking at the fixture.
2. Replacement PAR lamps in recessed cans. I have these in a laundry area, where color rendering is not critical, just illumination. Instant light... kind of a cross of stark white and grey. horrible color but they do the job.
3. I took the ones out of the two kitchen fixtures... could not deal with the color. I am using up the remaining CFLs there, until I find something suitable
4. Table Lamp replacements 40-60W equ. Two in ceiling fixture with glass diffuser in the room I am posting from now... awful color, but I am getting used to the lesser illumination and heavy shadowing
5. Front Porch canopy light. Same 40W lamp as #4.... EXTREMELY BRIGHT, even highly visible in daylight through the fixture frosted lens..... how could THAT be, when the same lamps in the office seem dimmer and greyer ?
6. Flashlights? ALL my MAGLIGHTS are in a box in basement.... anyone want a deal? Or maybe melt them down for the high grade aluminum. 3 Packs of these flashlights sold everywhere for 5-20 bucks... including name-brand batteries. Batteries retain shelf life, as if they were not in a device ( not much leakage in-circuit compared to in package ) Too bad MagLite ignored the L.E.D. till they were left at the gate. They should have LED the charge.
7. Already have had one LED PAR lamp turn into a disco strobe... the driver must have fried... less than a year old. The LEDs themselves are fine, they just turn on and off real fast by themselves.
8. Box letter sign on business. Letter faces in RED, with LED lighting inside. They appear very dim, until it is FULLY dark outside. Maker of sign may have been stingy with the number of LEDS, or the quality. They would not supply technical info on the build. I am considering loading each letter with a 100 LED X-Mas light string to light that pup up.
IF anyone can point to testing and results, along with the science of how our eyes behave to different lighting, and where the technology is emerging with solutions to perfect the art, please do. I hope to find those answers here.
So that is my experiment-in-progress, and my L.E.D. Love-Hate-Love relationship
Your mentioning of strobe lights made me notice one other thing about the LED bulb in the ceiling lamp. The light emitted is not quite omnidirectional as it is with the incandescent and CFLs. Nearly all of the LED light is emitted sideways and downwards, not upwards toward the fan blades - which means that the stroboscopic effect on the ceiling of the fan blades spinning over the lamps will be reduced by using all LED lamps. That's good because I've never liked that stroboscopic effect.
The fact that the LED light doesn't shine upward like the other lamps is likely the reason why it appears brighter when I look directly at it.
Regarding the supposed life of LED lights, I was involved in testing some lamps for automotive industry.
We started a 1 sec on, 1 sec off cycle 24/7 2 years before the model was launched and 15 years later the devices were still working. (We turned it off when the factory closed.)
In all failures of LED assemblies it was either a process failure (soldering temperatures) or circuit assembly failure (dry joints/resistors/capacitors) or interconnections that was the root cause.
I think the consumers have become suspicious of long life claims because of bad experience with CFL, where type testing does not seem to be supported by experience. I've replaced 5/5 CFL's that burn less than 1 hour per day while standard fluoro and incandescent that were already in place have not yet failed. Discussion with others reveals similar observations.
i think where LED lights need to end up is with a focus on the changes in wiring required.
if the engineering is refined and 24 volt units used instead of 110 / 240 volts AC you can run much smaller cables through the home saving in copper consumption.
less EMF , less heat produced by the ballast / step down transformers and less fire risk.
thats where i see the attraction , not just from the extended life of the LED assembly
If lighting amounts to 10% of the bill, then what is being done about shaving bits off the other 90%? After all, a 10% reduction in the other 90% is worth nine times more than a 10% reduction in the lighting's 10%, isn't it?
Absolutely, lighting is just a small part of the equation. One source gives this breakdown of the average energy bill:
What is being done tech-wise for these other sectors is another branch of discussions. I imagine, though, that a lot of cost-shaving can come just from smarter appliance usage and thermostat control.
Just completed a short course on energy saving. Your phantom loads can be as much as 17%. Depending on the age of the devices. Most home appliances and electronics consume power on standby while not in use.
When I lived in Florida I had a heat recovery unit (like the one linked below) installed when I was having a new heat-pump HVAC system put in my house:
For about 8 months of the year, when I was running A/C, I got 'free' hot water. The unit would take waste heat from the heat pump and send it to the hot water heater. During those months I never ran out of hot water. It can work with a 'standard' A/C also, for places where heat pumps are not recommended.
During the cooler months, it 'stole' some of the heat generated by the heat pump and fed that stolen heat to the water heater. So even then I was getting cheap hot water. On mild days when the HVAC wasn't running, the water heater's internal thermostat kicked in and used regular house 110VAC to heat water.
Overall my electricity bill went way down and I think the unit saved enough money over 2 or 3 years to pay for itself.
I don't know why these systems aren't promoted more, at least for use in Florida, especially since it sends the heat where it is useful (for heating water) rather than just dumping it directly into the environment and adding to the 'heat island' around the cities.
Interesting, though not economic at these latitudes.
Coupling the usually-unused water immersion heater element to solar or wind generation is an attractive proposition here - provided the generating equipment can be impedance-matched to the 18Ω element, of course.
Telegrams to Del on this one, please.
I saw that...
I have bought 12 LED bulbs on sale for $5 over the last couple years, I will use them in a house that is "off the grid".
I really don't see how lower manufacturing cost will result in lower consumer cost now. In the land of the free, you will buy whatever light bulb you're told to buy, regardless of cost!


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Holiday bashThe Farmington Place home of Chris Rothschild and Andrew Cutini is always decorated to the rafters for Christmas and this year was especially beautiful as more than 100 friends filled the home for an annual holiday bash. Cutini, an interior designer, transformed the home into a winter paradise. Enjoying the party were Stephanie Morris (front, from left), Chris Rothschild, Susan Gerling and Tammy Kleeman holding little Michaela; Brian Koressel (back, from left), Andrew Cutini, Doros Hadjisavva and Ellada Hadjisavva.
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Harold Meyerson is the editor-at-large at The American Prospect and a columnist for The Washington Post.
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California ventured onto unknown terrain last week, holding its first primary election with districts carved by a non-partisan commission, and under a new law that stipulates the top two finishers in the primary, regardless of party, are the candidates who advance to the November run-off.
While hardly surprising to anyone who read the polls, yesterday's victory by Republican Governor Scott Walker was a body blow to Wisconsin unions and to American workers. Within Wisconsin, Walker's victory ensures that his law repealing collective-bargaining rights for public employees will stay on the books, and if Republicans maintain their hold on the state senate—four of their senators faced recall elections, and as I write this at least three have survived—they will, at least in theory, be able to go forward on other parts of their Social Darwinist agenda. Whether they will—and whether they opt to go after private-sector unions, too, with right-to-work legislation—remains unclear. Such a move on Walker's part, coming on the heels of the most divisive 18 months in the state's history, would only escalate what is already a political civil war. Even Walker may think it the better part of valor to pass on that for now.
It's not in Wisconsin, where the recall of Governor Scott Walker can have only two possible outcomes. It's in California, where Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein—long the most popular pol in the state—is facing a large field of non-entities as she campaigns for re-election, and where the challenger who may well emerge from the pack to take her on is California's leading birther: Republican dentist Orly Taitz.
Twenty-three candidates are vying to take on Feinstein in November, and not one is remotely serious, even if we define seriousness down to having the capacity to raise just a million dollars in America's most costly state, and to being known as at least a modestly reputable person to 10 percent of the electorate.
We don't know the outcome of Tuesday's gubernatorial election in Wisconsin, of course, but we do know this: Even if labor somehow manages to oust Republican Governor Scott Walker, the result will be nothing like the resounding repudiation that Ohio voters delivered last year in repealing that state's anti-collective bargaining law pushed by an equally controversial GOP governor, John Kasich.


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Career Exploration Program is a cooperative venture between TRA and the Brockton Public Schools Department that provides a comprehensive youth training program for students between the ages of 14 and 19 who attend the Goddard School. The program is designed to help students improve their ability to access the workplace with the ultimate goal of securing part time employment while they are in school. Students receive intake, vocational interest/aptitude assessment, individualized goal setting, orientation, counseling/case management services, life/health/economic literacy skills training, job readiness training, internships, job development/placement, and job support/follow-up services. Additionally, students have the option of participating in Customer Service and Computer Basics Training as well as a summer component.
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May 4, 2012Partisan Politics Wrecking American EnergyShea Laverty, OilPrice.com | ||||||
AP Photo Partisan politics rule the day in America. As much as anyone can try to deny that, the rhetoric coming from either side of the aisle tells a very different story. In one corner, the ever-emboldening Left, who after several years. . . TAGGED: U.S. energy policy, Politics, election 2012, OilPrice.com RECOMMENDED ARTICLES


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"There is a great little independent adventure shop, with branches in Crickhowell and Brecon, called Crickhowell Adventure Gear. Perfect for stocking up on local maps, waterproofs and Kendall mint cake!"
"Gateway Cycles in Abergavenny have a great range of serious mountain bikes, they also do bike repairs should you have a breakdown on your hols."
"The River Wye has several canoe centres along it, hire a canoe for anything from an hour to a day, with some offering overnight camping options too."
The Great Outdoors
Learn Something New
Kates Country School is a great way to learn about farming and the ways of the country, from Wildlife Identification Skills, to Sheep Shearing and Cider Making, there is something for everyone!
In the Saddle
Mountain Biking in the Brecon Beacons : this site has heaps of inspiration on where to cycle in the Breocn Beacons, perfect for planning a route.
A few great local cycle routes We haven't tried these ones ourselves yet, so let us know how you get on!
Bikes & Hikes have depots in Brecon town centre, the Canal Basin and Talybont, perfect for quick bike hire as well as guided mountain biking. They also do servicing and repairs as well as sell maps and kit. 01874 610071 bikesandhikes.co.uk
There are lots of incredible trails throughout the Brecon Beacons to explore. Drover Holidays in Hay on Wye will deliver bikes throughout the Sugar & Loaf Brecon Beacons collection www.droverholidays.co.uk or call 01497 821134.
Wonderful Welsh Walks
Sugar Loaf Mountain. First by car, take the A40 from Crickhowell to Abergavenny, turn left at the sign for the Sugar Loaf vineyards, go past the vineyard and up the very steep hill to the car park at the end of the road (Mynydd Llanwenarth). Then on foot: follow the track up the hill, it is not too steep apart from very near the top. You will be rewarded by 360 degree views of the Black Mountains, the Usk Valley and Herefordshire.
The Blorenge - This is a great quick winter walk or an evening stroll rewarded with panoramic views of Abergavenny and the Black Mountains. From the A465 south of Abergavenny, take the road signed to Llanfoist, turn onto the B4246, after 4 miles take the minor road to car park opposite wireless mast. From the car park follow the path until the trig point, continue on north easterly for half a mile until scarp edge, follow path to the right for three quarters of a mile until it hits a minor track then follow back up to car.
The Three Peaks: Please use a map if you do this walk as hill mist can descend very quickly. Start in Crickhowell, up Table Mountain, descend to the Grwyne Fechan via the Beacons Way, across the valley, up Crug Mawr and then down into Grywne Fawr. Accend Sugar Loaf via Fforest then back down into Llangenny and back down into Crickhowell for a well earned hot chocolate!
Guided Mountain Running: We highly recommend it, if you love the idea of being out in the hills and want some reassurance regarding the routes and terrain then this is for you.
A Spot of Pony Trekking
ABERGAVENNY: Triley Fields Equestrian is 3 miles from Abergavenny on A465 towards Hereford www.trifec.com
A Pony Club accredited centre, there are courses every school holiday for children to learn one end of a pony from the other, as well as lessons for beginners through to experienced riders.
LLANTHONY VALLEY: Great for a day or half day pony trek in the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons National Park.
HAY ON WYE/BRECON : Tregoyd Riding Centre is a great spot to Pony Trek from if you're staying at one of our Hay on Wye cottages, or near Brecon. www.tregoydriding.co.uk


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Learn how to create slideshows, photo books and calendars, collages, and more with the tools in Photoshop Elements 11.
Look over Tim Grey's shoulder as he works on one of his favorite images and gain insight into why he does what he does.
A step-by-step look at the creation of a treasured image.
Create and publish a complete portfolio website with Adobe Muse—without writing any code.
Takes you step by step through the process of creating the fanciful image of an old Soviet helicopter being used as a harvester.
Shows how to develop an interactive photo gallery for a web site using HTML, CSS, and jQuery.
Walks you through the creation of a spectacular composite scene.
Explore advanced photomontage techniques.
Walks you through the creation of a dreamlike composite scene.
Use Photoshop to create a striking scene: a sun-soaked morning, a ready-laid table, and a swarm of scary insects
Photoshop artist Uli Staiger takes you step by step through the process of creating a fantasy montage where the majestic airship is the true lord of the air.
Learn Photoshop techniques in the process of creating a fairy-tale scene.
"I just bought a Nikon D5100, and am clueless about how it works. But your video has been a godsend to me. I can pause it, take notes, then return to the teaching. I guess there is hope for me to finally understand." —Noreen F.
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"Rise of the Tiger Nation" Web Link
Posted by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2012 at 8:58 pm
My question is, why don't more Asians become US citizens, or have dual citizenship?
Why aren't Asian college grads given H1B visas with their diplomas, rather than taking what they learned here and going back home? The Chinese government , in particular, often steals money from entrepreneurs in China, and closes down their businesses ( or so we have been told by businessmen who work in both countries).
We have Asian neighbors who have no intention of having US or dual citizenship, even though their children were born here. The one family says they want to keep their options open, but you have that with dual citizenship.
Also, why do Asian Immigrants feel that it is bad to let their children play with American children? Don't they do that in school, anyway? It just alienates them more, racially.
I am hoping that an Asian immigrant can give some answers. This country takes all comers, but they should give back, too, and historically, other immigrants have.
Posted by resident, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2012 at 10:02 pm
I agree that the US Government needs to make it easier for hard working residents to become citizens. Some of my neighbors have been living right here in Palo Alto for 20 years and still do not qualify for permanent residency, let alone citizenship. The process is very convoluted, very time consuming (years and years), and very expensive (lawyer dollars). If the government could streamline this process (for all immigrants, not just Asians), then we would have a much larger pool of highly educated, hard working, local entrepreneurs to create jobs right here instead of offshore like the big corporations are doing. And yes, my Asian immigrant neighbors do socialize with their neighbors.
I know that Obama keeps talking about a path to citizenship for immigrants. Why was that not covered in the presidential debates?
Posted by Ducatigirl, a resident of the Old Palo Alto neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2012 at 10:17 pm
It seems Obama only intended this for illegal Mexican immigrants.
However, I have friends from Belgium, Germany, Sweden, and the Netherlands who were able to become citizens in a relatively short time, three years in fact. Why would it be easier for them?
There was a time, such as when my father and his parents came to America, when "preferred immigrants" had priority in citizenship.
However, Europeans have to literally win a lottery to come here--an emigration lobby.
Apparently, Asian immigrants have no such thing.
Posted by resident, a resident of the Midtown neighborhood, on Oct 27, 2012 at 10:40 pm
US immigration law makes it relatively easy for Western Europeans to become US citizens. US law is much different for immigrants from Latin America or Asia. This is partially due to the economies and politics of these countries. Partly due to the ethnic demographics of those countries.
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Simply put, the U.S. Department of Education uses your FAFSA to calculate the amount your family is expected to contribute to your college expenses. This calculation is known as your Expected Family Contribution (EFC). Most colleges, including Cedarville University, use the EFC as the basis for awarding need-based financial aid.
After a student has been accepted for admission, the financial aid office uses Cedarville's "cost of attendance" and the EFC to determine if a student is eligible for both need-based and merit-based aid, or just merit-based aid.
Student 1 is eligible for need-based aid because there is remaining financial need after subtracting the EFC from the cost of attendance. This student can receive need-based and merit-based financial aid, as well as student loans.
Student 2 is not eligible for need-based aid because there is no remaining financial need. However, this student can receive merit-based financial aid and student loans.
Provide complete and accurate information when you submit your FAFSA. Errors or incomplete information will delay your award notification or, in some cases, cause you to lose an award.
Most federal and state aid is awarded on the basis of "demonstrated financial need" as defined by the federal government and is generally based on the student's calculated EFC.
The student's initial FAFSA should be submitted online by February 20 to meet the Cedarville packaging priority date of March 1. For best results, you should complete and return your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1.


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(LOS ANGELES, CA) -- With roles in the years most celebrated adult films and a smattering of mainstream projects, vivacious vixen Misty Stone is at the top of her game. Best Actress Misty Stone, Hustler's Untrue Hollywood Stories: Oprah, Hustler Video Best Boy/Girl Sex Scene Taxi Driver: A XXX Parody, Pleasure Dynasty/Exile; Misty Stone & Bill Bailey "Im so proud to even be nominated alongside so many talented performers. I always try to give my best no matter what the project, so its great to be recognized" said Stone. She can also be seen in some of the years bestsellers, including "A Touch of Seduction" and "Peepshow" for Wicked Pictures, "The Honeymoaners: A XXX Parody" for Dream Zone Entertainment, and "Seduction" for Elegant Angel. Stone, who has been the lead or costar in many of the industrys top parodies and features, also has had a leading role in many soft-core movie and cable productions. Stone has recently shot another project titled "The Jump Off" for the popular "Zanes Sex Chronicles" series for Cinemax. She was also the costar in Cinemaxs "Co Ed Confidential" Season Four playing the delectable dancer Dawn. Dubbed the "Halle Berry of Porn," Stones acting abilities combined with her sheer sexual dynamism have contributed greatly to the success of studio features and parodies from the industrys top directors this past year, including Hustlers "This Aint Avatar XXX," "Hustlers Untrue Hollywood Story: Oprah," Wicked Pictures "Speed," "Black Lesbian Romance" for West Coast Productions, and New Sensations "The Flintstones: A XXX Parody." Besides being a talented actress and sexy performer, Stone has also proven herself a savvy businesswoman and sports her own line of Fleshlights, with not one but three molds and is the only performer to have an exclusive color flesh: mocha. Misty Stone has broken down casting barriers and enamored herself to fans and critics across the globe in recent years. Stone will be the red carpet host at the upcoming L.a. Direct/AEBN Holiday Party, on Saturday night, December 17 in Hollywood. They will also be celebrating Priya Rai's birthday that night as well. Stones official website is: www.mistystone.info Fans and friends can also follow her on Twitter @mistystonexxx Misty Stone is represented by LA Direct Models About Misty Stone Originally from Inglewood, this petite ebony dynamo spent half her life in Nebraska, where introduced to the industry at the age of 19 and soon relocated to sunny California to pursue her adult career. She soon appeared in her first feature "Afrocentric," and has been working steadily ever since. Along with several commercials for Playboy TV, she has appeared in over 70 titles, including Penthouse's "Booty Call," "Lesbian Halfway House" for Sweetheart Video, "Violation of Flower Tucci" for Jm Productions and the bestselling "Legends & Starlets" for Sweetheart Video, Acid Rain's "White Washed," and the Hustler parodies; "Not the Crosbys XXX and not the Cosbys 2 XXX" and "Not Saved by the Bell XXX", and XPlay and Adam & Eves award winning hit "Flight Attendants/not Airplane XXX". Misty Stone is the winner of the 2010 Urban X Award for "Porn Star of the Year."
Tiffany Tyler Dance Tour
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XCritic Gives Rotten Stars
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Daddy's Girls Gone Crazy
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Rita Ora has a toilet phobia.
The singer is scared that something is lurking at the bottom of the bowl and petrifies herself by thinking about what could jump out. The 21-year-old combats her fear by putting on the bathroom light on so she can see that nothing is lying in wait for her in the pan.
"I always feel that when I go to the toilet that something's going to come out of the bottom," Rita told British newspaper The Sun.
"I have this thing where I think this tunnel must start from somewhere and sometimes I think, 'What if something comes out of the toilet?'
"That's been one of my fears. I always make sure I put the light on when I go."
The star explained a previous mishap has also contributed to her fear. The R.I.P. songstress once attempted to use the bathroom in the dark to impress an ex-boyfriend. Rather than have the desired effect, Rita ended up causing an almighty crash.
"One time I tried to use the bathroom in the dark and I missed the toilet and I fell on the floor. I was going out with someone at the time and I was trying to be all smooth and cool and didn't want them to hear me going to the toilet," Rita explained.
"So I walked in and couldn't find the switch, so I went to the toilet and I fell on the floor. He woke up and he said, 'What happened?' and all you could just hear is a crash. I said, 'Nothing!'"
© Cover Media


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As in all of Austria, post-office or railway (Bundesbahn) buses go virtually everywhere, but you'll have to allow plenty of time and coordinate schedules carefully so as not to get stranded in some remote location.
The main rail line south from Vienna parallels Route 83, entering Carinthia north of Friesach and continuing on to Klagenfurt and Villach. From Salzburg, a line runs south, tunneling under the Tauern mountains and then tracing the Möll and Drau river valleys to Villach.
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Im not really sure what I am supposed to do here.
Thing is, I see headings such as: "The Cafe", or something like that, but people are talking about things that are....not related to the thread title.
Please help me out. If someone can provide a list of what each thread is for, I would love that.
Anyway, I normally stay on animation forums, cause I am 13. Hence, this: http://i1237.photobucket.com/albums/ff4 ... oHappy.gif
It's MINE! ololo
But hey.
By the way, the [/img] button does not work.
P.S. I was too lazy to go back and really look at the title of the threads.
P.S.S. Please don't get mad at me for this.
P.S.S. If you want, email me at email@example.com


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TOL Our Town
- A tumblr site dedicated to the people and places that make up Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Everybody Reading Sherman Alexie
Over the past few months people around Multnomah County have been reading the work of Sherman Alexie. Now, as the Everybody Reads program concludes, we bring you our conversation with the author from last fall.
He spoke with us, and our audience at Literary Arts, about his young adult novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian as well as Blasphemy, the newly published collection of his short stories.
Alexie talked about his own Native American identity and how he often confounds other people's expectations. He also said the ideal reader for his young adult book is a "poor, brown male" because,
It means they have a chance. It means my book gave them a sliver of light in their lives. Because books are going to save you. If you're a poor kid in this country, the only thing that's going to save you is books. That's your only chance. And to have a kid fall in love with books because of mine? That's incredible.
Have you read any of Sherman Alexie's work (during Everybody Reads, or just on your own)? What drew you to him? What were your favorite moments?
Tagged as: author · literary arts · sherman alexie
Photo credit: Allison Frost/OPB


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LCO calls on schools to teach realities of violence against women
Written by Heather Gardiner Posted Date: November 05, 2012Patricia Hughes, executive director of the Law Commission of Ontario, is currently conducting a tour of all Ontario law schools where she will speak about these new modules. |
"A lawyer needs to know how to interact with someone who has experienced violence because it can have devastating effects on that individual," says Patricia Hughes, executive director of the Law Commission of Ontario.
That is why the LCO is encouraging law schools to teach students about violence against women.
In a recent report, the LCO introduced five modules that provide a framework on incorporating education on violence against women into the curriculum:
1. an introduction to violence against women
2. setting a foundational context
3. family law and violence against women
4. criminal law and violence against women
5. ethics, professionalism, and practice considerations
Currently, law students gain a limited understanding of these issues in their mandatory criminal law class, but the LCO wants to see that expanded to family law courses, ethics and professionalism courses, and possibly clinical education.
"The goal is that every law student who graduates has had some exposure to these issues," says Hughes.
Lawyers need to know how to recognize the signs of violence and be able to respond, she adds.
Shelley Quinn, chairwoman of the Ontario Bar Association's Feminist Legal Analysis section, says the statistics on violence against women are staggering.
According to Statistics Canada information from 2010, 70 per cent of family violence victims are female and women are victims of spousal homicide at a rate that is three times higher than men.
Given the documented evidence of violence against women in Canadian society, there is significant value in the LCO's modules, argues Quinn.
"If we could prevent even one woman from dying at the hands of her male partner, it's really worthwhile," she says.
Quinn says it's important for lawyers to know how to handle these issues when they arise in a case.
"You're going to see people trained about domestic violence at shelters, social service agencies, and doctors' offices — why not lawyers?" she says. "If we're serious about family violence we need to educate all front-line workers, and lawyers are just part of that."
Nicholas Bala, a family law professor at Queen's University, has done extensive research on family violence. He was also a member of the LCO report's advisory group.
"The issues related to family violence, domestic violence, abuse against women, abuse against children, and elder abuse I think are very important and should be part of a law school curriculum," he says.
Bala recognizes that law schools already provide some exposure to these issues through their criminal law and family law courses, but "we could do a better job," he says.
However, it's a tricky balance for law schools, he says, because there is significant pressure on them to educate students on all social issues.
"This can and should be incorporated into a law school curriculum in a number of different places, but it's only one of many, many issues that law schools are being asked to address, and there are realistic limits to what we can do, particularly with present resources," says Bala.
The report also suggests incorporating education on violence against women in a clinical setting.
The University of Windsor Faculty of Law recently decided to no longer represent men or women accused of domestic violence through its Community Legal Aid program.
The decision came after a controversial memo from dean Camille Cameron which stated, "there will be no further intakes of domestic violence or peace bond cases unless the alleged offender is a woman."
Bala acknowledges that legal clinics need to set priorities due to a lack of resources, but "I don't think they should be doing it on a gender-based basis," he says.
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RE: Law Commission calls on schools to instruct students on realities of violence against women —
2012-11-06 23:16
The proposed course sounds more like indoctrination in a gender biased view of domestic violence issues rather than anything based on fact or statistics respecting the perpetrators, causes, and victims of domestic violence. Another example of an attempt to institutionaliz e systemic bias against men in the justice system by presenting one-sided and inaccurate information and analysis.


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There are several factors which can corrupt the CR2 file but now there is no need to worry about it because CR2 recovery become very simple with CR2 recovery software. This software is completely safe and comes with several advance features which makes your recovery process much easier. |
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Cr2 recovery(Windows & MAC) 2.0
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Platforms: | Homepage: http://www.cr2recovery.net | ||
Type: Shareware | Releases: Jul 18, 2010 | ||||
Cost: $29.95US | Developer: Cr2 recovery | ||||
CR2 recovery software recover deleted, formatted, corrupted or lost CR2 files from the storage media. This software not only recover deleted files but by using it you can also recover corrupted CR2 files. Its supports recovery of CR2 file from any of the storage media like CD, DVD, USB disk, hard drive and so on. It can also read memory card even when it is giving any error messages. This software is very simple and easy to operate. |
file size: 3k | Keywords: Deleted Cr2 recovery, deleted file recovery |
Contenta CR2 Converter 4.5
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Type: Shareware | Releases: Jun 17, 2009 | ||||
Cost: $20.00US | Developer: Jansoft | ||||
Simple and powerful tool to convert your CR2s.Optimized for multi-core processors. Speed up your conversions by using 100% of your CPU.Get one year of update protection and technical support with the purchase of a license. |
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Jpeg Recovery(Windows & MAC) 2.0
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Platforms: | Homepage: http://www.jpegrecovery.biz | ||
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With PPC Pro you can easily convert Wave files into MP3 files. PPC Pro has a very configurable and attractive WinZip style interface with Windows XP looking buttons. You can drag and drop Wave files, then convert them with the same structure of album catalog, eliminate corrupted files and see converted MP3 files in a result list. After that you can even save the list of converted files into an XML or HTML file. |
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Spool Pilot for Mac 1.00
4/5 (1 votes)
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Cost: $44.95US | Developer: Two Pilots | ||||
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MacImage Resizer 1.0.1
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Long gone are the days of clunky, standalone, research tools. Having created over 15 best selling software applications for the internet marketing community, I like to think that I know what I'm talking about when it comes to creating tools that will save you time, and make you and your business a heck of a lot more money from the internet. After 8 months, and over $127,000 in development costs, we've created a new keyword research tool. |
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What could be more relaxing than to book a short break in the English countryside? You will find each of our traditional inns and hotels have their own special charm and delightful surroundings - historic buildings, cosy bedrooms, oak beamed bars and restaurants, freshly cooked food, fine wines and real cask ales. They are conveniently located for visiting many attractions and places of interest -just right for a break away.
You have over 50 characterful inns and hotels to choose from - over 23 counties, in small towns or villages. Old coaching inns, elegant country houses, timbered buildings and attractive town houses and, with the emphasis on relaxation, you will always find a warm and friendly welcome and above all, excellent value for money! To book your hotel just give us a call on 0845 60 86 040 or book on line.
If you enjoy walking in our beautiful countryside and taking in the fresh air, then you must visit the sleepy villages of the Cotswolds, the Old Manse, Bourton on the Water or the Rising Sun, Cheltenham are both ideal. History lovers must not miss a visit to Woburn House (Bell Hotel, Woburn) or Portsmouth Marine Heritage Centre (Red Lion Fareham). For those of you who love a spot of shopping then take a trip to Milton Keynes (Cock Hotel, Stony Stratford) or the Castle and Ball, Marlborough (Swindon Outlet Centre). But if you prefer just lazing around, sitting on the beach and enjoying some sunshine, then a stay at the St Leonards, Bournemouth is the perfect choice for the South Coast.
If you would like to find out more about our properties, or to Book an inn, please call one of our booking team on 0845 60 86 040 from 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 10am - 8pm Saturday to Sunday.


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It's about growing our understanding and experience of Time to move toward a world that's more meaningful, equitable, and sustainable. The Legacy Project has developed LegacyCubed as a life tool and catalyst for social change. It's legacy to the power of three… Your Life in the context of the People and World around you. Your Generation, Three Generations Before you, and Three Generations After you for a seven-generation perspective. Bringing together Past, Present, and Future or, in other words, Memories, Opportunities, and Dreams. For Young, Old, and Everyone in between. Exploring Connection and Meaning across Time. Using three banner programs, reflecting the three levels at which you develop your legacy through your lifetime: LifeDreams to develop personal potential and create your life; Across Generations to connect with others, particularly between generations; and Our World to help each of us work to change the world to address issues like building stronger communities and caring for the environment. So, the Legacy Project empowers all ages to Create, Connect, Change. For a world that's more Meaningful, Equitable, and Sustainable. As the stylized letter "g" in the Legacy Project's logo suggests, blaze your Path, stay Rooted, never stop asking Questions. Expand your ability to Believe and Do and Think. Grow Information into Knowledge and ultimately into Wisdom. Make the most of what you're Given, what you Bring into Being, and what you Give Back – for Yourself, Others, and the World.
That's legacy to the power of three. The Legacy Project is a big-picture learning project using LegacyCubed to empower all ages. Find out more about Our Story.
© Susan V. Bosak, www.legacyproject.org


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Trip Ideas
Explore Further
- Beijing's Best Sights
- Beijing's Best Restaurants
- Beijing's Best Nightlife
- Beijing's Best Arts and Leisure
- Beijing's Best Shops
- Beijing's Best Hotels
- Best of the Great Wall
- Shanghai's Best Sights
- Shanghai's Best Restaurants
- Shanghai's Best Nightlife
- Shanghai's Best Arts and Leisure
- Shanghai's Best Shops
- Shanghai's Best Hotels
- Shanghai's Best Excursions
Along with Hangzhou, Suzhou is the most famous day-trip destination outside of Shanghai. Lying only half an hour by train out of downtown Shanghai, it's easy to visit in a day. If you want to stay the night there are plenty of excellent hotels and guesthouses.
Suzhou's most famous area is the old quarter that covers Pingjiang, Canglang, and Jinchang districts. The modern city has little to differentiate it from any second-tier Chinese metropolis apart from the Suzhou Industrial Park area and Ligongdi, districts on the shore of Jinji Lake that feature Western restaurants and bars.
Located in Jiangsu Province, Suzhou rose to prosperity thanks to its location on the Grand Canal. There was settlement there 2,000 years ago and the first records date back to the Shang Dynasty (1600-1046 B.C.), making it one of the oldest inhabited areas in the lower Yangtze Delta.
In 514 B.C., King Helu of the Wu State made the city its capital. It received its modern name in A.D. 589 during the Sui Dynasty. Thanks to the silk industry that flourished during the Song era (A.D. 960-1279), Suzhou's wealth and position increased; it was home to many important scholars, writers, artists, and ministers. The city's many beautiful gardens bear witness to its standing.
Pan Gate
Pan Gate (Pan Men, Dongda St., daily 7:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m., ¥25 for Pan Gate scenic area, free for children under 1.2 meters tall, ¥6 to climb Ruiguang Pagoda) dates back 2,500 years to the Wu Kingdom of the Warring States era (770-476 B.C.). It is both a land gate and a water gate and is five meters (16.4 ft.) high at its tallest point, where it is topped with a double-eaved gatehouse. It was built as the only entry into the city as part of a protective wall built in 514 B.C. A visit to the Pan Gate scenic area gets you entry to a garden where you can feed koi carp, take a boat ride, cross a footbridge, and visit the ancient Ruiguang Pagoda (for an additional fee) that dates from 247 B.C.
Humble Administrator's Garden
The Humble Administrator's Garden (178 Dongbei St., 152/6751-0286, daily 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m., ¥70 Mar. 1-May 31, Sept. 1-Nov. 3, ¥50 June 1-Aug. 31, Dec. 1-Apr. 30) is Suzhou's largest and is widely believed to be the most beautiful in China. It takes its name from the retired imperial governor. It was originally the garden of a Tang dynasty scholar, but was turned over to the Dahong Temple in the Yuan era. In 1513 it was acquired by a former governor who transformed it into a beautiful landscaped garden with the help of an artist friend. Willing to pass the twilight of his life enjoying simple pleasures instead of the privileges of imperial life, he is the "humble administrator" of the garden's name. The landscaping work was completed in 1526, forming one of the loveliest Ming-era gardens in the country. It covers 52,000 square meters (560,000 sq. ft.) and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The garden is split into three main areas, the central of which is mainly water. Around it are pavilions, lotus ponds, rock formations, hills, and the Hall of Distant Fragrance with its long windows.
Tiger Hill
Tiger Hill (8 Mennei St., Huqiu Hill, 512/6723-2305, daily 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m., ¥60 Apr. 1-Oct. 30, ¥40 Oct. 31-Apr. 15) is named for the mystical white tiger who is said to have sat upon the grave of King Helu of Wu when he died in 496 B.C. It also contains the stone that Helu used to test his swords, complete with a worn groove, and a pool that apparently contains the bodies of the 1,000 men who built his tomb. Less sinister but no less interesting is the Wanjing Villa that contains a bonsai nursery and a leaning pagoda. Yunyan Temple's octagonal pagoda is the oldest in Suzhou and leans several degrees to the northwest. Tiger Hill was also the site where ancient tea expert Lu Yu penned his "Classic of Tea"—the first published book about the art of the brew. The water in the area is particularly good for making tea, according to his treatise.
Master of the Nets Garden
Suzhou's smallest garden, Master of the Nets (Daichengqiao Rd., 11 Kuojiatouxiang, 512/6529-3190, daily 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., ¥30 Apr. 16-Oct. 30, ¥20 Oct. 31-Apr. 15, evenings ¥80), measures just 5,400 square meters (58,100 sq. ft.), but appears much larger thanks to clever landscaping techniques. It originally belonged to a minister of the Song Dynasty, who commissioned it in 1140. He longed to turn his back on his ministerial duties and lead the life of a simple fisherman, hence the garden's name. It passed through several hands until 1785 when it was acquired by a Qing-era government official who added much to its design. As with most traditional gardens, it is divided into three sections. The main area contains a large pond with walkways and a pavilion. The small inner garden has been replicated at the Pompidou Centre in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City.
Lion Grove Garden
Attractive Lion Grove Garden (23 Yuanlin Rd., 512/6727-8316, daily 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m., ¥30 Mar. 1-May 31, Sept. 1-Nov. 3, ¥20 June 1-Aug. 31, Dec. 1-Apr. 30) started life as part of a Buddhist temple in 1342. A monk named Tianru ordered his disciples to landscape it in memory of his master, Zhongfeng. After Tianru himself died, the disciples disbanded and the garden fell to ruins. It was bought by a relative of the contemporary architect I. M. Pei who handed it over to the state in 1950 and it has been restored to its former beauty. Twisting paths meander between gnarled rock formations taken from Lake Tai; rockeries are reflected in tranquil pools. Lion Grove Garden was particularly popular with the Qing emperor Qianlong and is one of Suzhou's finest.
The Grand Canal
Suzhou owes its prosperity to the Grand Canal (Shuishang Tourist Wharf, Xinshiqiaotu, boat rides daily 9 a.m.-8:30 p.m., ¥35), which starts in Beijing and terminates in nearby Hangzhou. The longest canal in the world was completed during the Sui Dynasty (581-618 B.C.) and stretches for 1,776 kilometers (1,103 mi). The canal was actually begun close to Suzhou, when King Fuchai of Wu decreed that a trade route be created when he conquered the Qi State. As it passes through Suzhou, the Grand Canal is called Jiangnan. Riding a boat along its length is a good way to see Suzhou; boats leave every half hour from the Shuishang Tourist Wharf.
It's possible to travel all the way from Suzhou to Hangzhou on the Grand Canal overnight. A cruiser leaves the wharf at 306 Renmin Road at 5:30 p.m. and arrives at Wulinmen dock in Hangzhou at 6:30 a.m. the next morning. The return boat leaves Hangzhou at 5:30 p.m. and gets to Suzhou at 7 a.m. the following day. Twin or quad berths cost ¥78-208 depending on the type of boat.
Deyuelou (8, 18 & 22 Ligongdi, Suzhou Industrial Park, 512/6265-6999, daily 11 a.m.-2 p.m., 5-9 p.m.) has two locations, but it's the newer branch on Ligongdi that's worth a visit to try some Suzhou specialties. The Deyuelou name dates back 400 years to the reign of the Ming emperor Jiajing and it's something of a byword for great local food. Like the Shanghainese cuisine it inspired, Suzhou food is sweet and light. Thanks to the proliferation of lakes and rivers in Jiangsu province, freshwater fish looms large on menus, often cooked with a sweet marinade. Deyuelou offers regional favorites like steamed mandarin fish and sliced ham with honey. The decor is simple but plush, with calligraphy on the walls. The staff speaks limited English, but there's an English menu.
Firmly at the center of the expatriate scene, Blue Marlin (168 Xinghai St., Suzhou Industrial Park, 512/6288-9676, www.bluemarlin.cn, daily 10 a.m.-2 a.m.) provides a change of scenery from Suzhou's ancient sights. The Suzhou Industrial Park has a very different atmosphere from downtown, with wide causeways and views out over Jingji Lake and the technology district nearby. With a 10-year pedigree, Blue Marlin is something of a Suzhou institution among the city's foreign contingent. With a bar serving Erdinger, Tiger, San Miguel, and Carlsberg on draft, and a restaurant offering Asian and Western meals, it's a self-styled "home away from home." A daily half-price happy hour runs 4-7 p.m. to attract the post-work crowd; food is served until 10 p.m.
Campy Dain Ti Hill (A12, Phase 2, Ligongdi, Suzhou Industrial Park, 512/6299-8980, daily 11 a.m.-10 p.m.) is something of an enigma thanks to its interesting mix of classic and modern decor. There's plenty of subtle neon, including some elaborate contemporary chandeliers, and the food is a fusion of Japanese, Taiwanese, and Southeast Asian. The dish that almost everyone orders is the potato and pumpkin salad, though the sizzling beef is a good bet, too. The menu has some unusual items like a prawn and vegetable wrap that arrives upright in several segments. There's a non-smoking section as well as areas of low, romantic seating. Dain Ti Hill is easy to spot from the outside thanks to its glowing neon front.
Part of the thriving Ligongdi nightlife scene on Jinji Lake, Garbo's (A16, Ligongdi, 512/6295-3698, daily noon-late) is managed by a Swedish man named Lars. The atmosphere is relaxed. Garbo's serves up pub food like sausages and mash and Swedish meatballs to patrons sipping Stella, Krombacher, and Boddingtons beer on tap. There's also bottled beer and cocktails on the menu. The daily 3-9 p.m. happy hour sees 30 percent off drink prices, making a ¥35 pint even more reasonable. There's nothing fancy or sophisticated about Garbo's, but it's a decent, honest bar with a laidback vibe. Framed photos on the walls and wooden furniture keep things homey.
There are two similarly named pubs on this stretch of Shiquan Street—the Pub Bar (463 Shiquan St.) and Jane's Pub Bar (621 Shiquan Street, 133/3800-0976, daily 4 p.m.-2 a.m.). The former was one of Suzhou's first Western bars and is quieter and more laidback. The latter is bigger and more sport-focused, with big screens showing matches. Happy hour runs daily 3-8 p.m. with draft beer for ¥20 and Tsingtao for ¥10. There's an upbeat vibe and live music Monday-Saturday. If you find it too rowdy, head down the road to the Pub Bar, which is usually quieter. Either venue is a good place to start a night exploring Shiquan Street's bar scene.
A member of Hostelling International, the Mingtown Suzhou Hostel (28 Pingjiang Rd., 512/6581-6869, ¥50-160) is located in the old part of the city near the Grand Canal. It's about a 10-minute walk from the main gardens and has a friendly atmosphere that has endeared it to legions of backpackers and tourists. By way of facilities, there's the Riverside bar and restaurant, Internet, a reading room, and a travel center, along with a laundry and bikes for rent. The common spaces and rooms are decorated simply with traditional touches; there's a comfortable, well-worn feeling about the place. Rooms and dorms are clean and well kept. Choose a six-bed mixed dorm or a single private room.
The beautiful 4-star Garden View (66 Luoguaqiao, Lindun Rd., 400/810-6868, ¥400-1,600) on the canals of the old quarter has 188 guest rooms ranging from standard to deluxe. If you're looking for a traditional atmosphere, this is the place for you. Its white walls, gray tiled roofs, and red lanterns are evocative of old China, while the services are definitely modern. Breakfast is included in the room rate and there are both Chinese and Western restaurants on-site. Choose from a reasonably priced single room, a superior room, or a suite.
The Sofitel Suzhou (818 East Hanjing Rd., 512/6801-9888, www.sofitel.com/suzhou, ¥700) is the only 5-star hotel in downtown Suzhou and is located next to the buzzing Guanquan shopping area. The Sofitel name tends to speak for itself and this branch is no exception. With the canal flowing in front and a sweeping staircase in the lobby, the Sofitel is one of the most opulent hotels in Suzhou. However, it is low-rise and subtle enough not to be an eyesore, with nods to traditional architecture in its peaked roofs. Inside are 314 guest rooms, 10 meeting rooms, a health club, and a swimming pool. If you're looking for a night of luxury away from Shanghai, this is a good choice.
Getting to Suzhou
By Train: The train from Shanghai to Suzhou is fast and efficient. Since many people commute between the cities, there are multiple trains leaving every hour from Shanghai Railway Station starting at 5:45 a.m. Buy your ticket from the hall at the station or from one of the booths around town. Your hotel or hostel will almost certainly be able to help you book a ticket. The journey takes around half an hour and costs about ¥40 each way.
By Bus: Buses run from the stop at 210 Hengfeng Road (21/5663-0230) in Shanghai. The first bus leaves at 7:20 a.m., with departures roughly every half hour until 6:30 p.m. A one-way ticket is ¥25-29; returns can only be bought in Suzhou. If you book by telephone, a ¥2 charge is added. For an extra ¥12, your ticket can be delivered to your address in Shanghai. Coming back the other way, buses leave Suzhou Bus Station (29 Xihui Rd., 512/753-6566) every half hour 7 a.m.-6:30 p.m. They cost the same as tickets for the outward journey.
© Susie Gordon from Moon Beijing & Shanghai, 2nd Edition
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Moon Travel Guides make independent travel and outdoor exploration fun and accessible. With expert and adventurous travel writers delivering a mix of honest insight, first-rate strategic travel advice, insider travel tips and an essential dose of humor, Moon Travel Guides ensure that travelers have an uncommon and entirely satisfying experience. Each travel book is filled with unique trip ideas, easy-to-use maps, and detailed information on sights, restaurants, and accommodations. Moon Travel Guides not only point you in the right direction, they inspire new ideas and adventure. Whether you are seeking a relaxing beach trip to Hawaii, or an adventure travel trip to the rainforests of Costa Rica, Moon guidebooks—and Moon.com—are with you every step of the way. Founded in 1973, the Moon Travel Guides series includes Moon Handbooks, Moon Outdoors, Moon Metro, Moon Living Abroad and Moon Spotlight travel books. Moon is based in Berkeley, California and is a proud member of the Perseus Books Group.


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Summoner Wars Demo In Des Moines, Iowa!!
Been curious about Summoner Wars but never played it? Well here is your chance! Come to Jay's CD and Hobby on Feb 13th to check out this great game. I'll have it all set up and ready to play...just bring yourself and a few friends!
Jay's CD and Hobby
3315 SE 14th St
Des Moines, IA 50320
(Between Aaron's and Goodwill)
(515) 287-4578
April 16th
6:30pm to 8:30pm
Questions: Post on this thread, PM me, or call 515-559-4538.