text:
Bronx Brown Accent Chair
Introducing the Bronx Brown Accent Chair, a perfect blend of rustic charm and modern sophistication. The stained wooden frame paired with ribbed brown fabric not only adds visual appeal but also provides a cosy seating experience. Its versatile design complements various decor styles, making it a stylish addition to your living room or study. Available in a two seater or a rocking chair in multiple colours.
Upholstered in high-quality Soft touch Brown PU
Wooden arm rests
Sleek Black frame
Plush Cushions
Perfect blend of comfort and classic design
Shipping Policy
Most deliveries are done with a two-person delivery team & delivered to your room of choice (please see restrictions above). Installation can be arranged in some regions of the UK at an additional charge. Additional delivery charges may apply to the areas of Ireland and Scotland (Highlands etc.)
Deliveries tailored to customer requirements.
UK mainland delivery within 3-15 working days or less, from payment confirmation, unless preordered.
Orders must be completed in full, including mobile phone number, before we can dispatch any item; orders cannot be processed without all information required.
All items are sent via dedicated courier, which is always a signature-required service.
You will be contacted before delivery by our delivery partners so someone can be available to check and accept your item.
Most deliveries are done by a specialist two-person team that will take them to the room of your choice. NB, it is the customer's sole responsibility to ensure they have measured adequately to ensure that goods ordered will be suitable in regard to getting to room of your choice. Failure to do so may incur costs.
All deliveries are self-assembly unless assembly has been arranged. Please check all boxes before signing.
If a failed delivery occurs, the courier company will have to re-warehouse and re-deliver the bed at a later convenient date. This will incur costs of £75 payable by the customer prior to redelivery.
Please note: All deliveries will be booked and confirmed before dispatch.
If you have any specific delivery requirements, please get in touch with us, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs.
Refund Policy
We have a 30-day return / cancellation policy, which means you have 30 days after receiving your item to request a return. Please note there is a 5% admin charge of the order value if cancelled or returned due to change of mind.
To be eligible for a return, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging. You'll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
To start a return, you can contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com Please note that returns will need to be sent to the following address: 5 Brightgate Way, Trafford Park, Manchester, M32 0TB
If your return is accepted, and its due to a change of mind, you will be responsible for return costs and possibly delivery costs. Delivery is usually free on condition goods are kept. If faulty, and needs to be returned we'll send you a return shipping label or organise collection for you. Items sent back to us without first requesting a return will not be accepted.
You can always contact us for any return question at firstname.lastname@example.com
Damages and issues
Please inspect your order upon reception and contact us immediately if the item is defective, damaged or if you receive the wrong item, so that we can evaluate the issue and make it right, in the case of potential transport damage, if not reported asap within 12 hours of delivery, we may not be able to assist with any claims against the carriers.
Exceptions / non-returnable items
Certain types of items cannot be returned, custom products (such as special orders or personalised items), and personal care goods. We also do not accept returns for hazardous materials, flammable liquids, or gases. Please get in touch if you have questions or concerns about your specific item.
Unfortunately, we cannot accept returns on sale items or gift cards.
The fastest way to ensure you get what you want is to return the item you have, (subject to costs) and once the return is accepted, make a separate purchase for the new item.
European Union 14 day cooling off period
Notwithstanding the above, if the merchandise is being shipped into the European Union, you have the right to cancel or return your order within 14 days, for any reason and without a justification. As above, your item must be in the same condition that you received it, unworn or unused, with tags, and in its original packaging and you will be responsible for carriage costs. You'll also need the receipt or proof of purchase.
We will notify you once we've received and inspected your return, and let you know if the refund was approved or not. If approved, you'll be automatically refunded on your original payment method within 10 business days minus any charges, delivery costs and admin fees where applicable. Please remember it can take some time for your bank or credit card company to process and post the refund too.
If more than 15 business days have passed since we've approved your return, please contact us at firstname.lastname@example.com
Add a short description for this section


text:
Japanese EMU (Series 300 Shinkansen) Sound Card
Japanese EMU (Series 300 Shinkansen) Sound Card
There are no reviews yet.
My aim is to stock the full range of KATO Unitrack in N gauge at competitive discounted prices, with friendly efficient service and specialist advice.
All items offered for sale are new and in stock here in the UK (except pre-orders).
Orders placed and paid for before 1.00pm Monday to Friday will often be shipped on the same day.
Unitrack, Unitram and buildings.
Locomotives and Rolling Stock, North American and Japanese outline
"Probably the largest range of Kato Unitrack, Unitram
and buildings available in the UK today"
Train Trax exclusively Kato!
Model Railway Magic Ltd
The Raylor Centre
James St
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Tel: 01904 215416
VAT Regn No. GB 397 2064 71
Company Number: 12703527
(C) Model Railway Magic Ltd 2023

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Whether you're performing some light web browsing or graphically intensive tasks, you'll need a suitable laptop that functions according to your work from home requirements. To help you pick the right laptop, we've compiled a list of features to consider.
- Size – When it comes to your laptop weapon of choice, size matters. Of course, this depends on what you'll be doing with it. If you're a graphic designer, you might want to have a bigger display. However, if your work mostly entails writing, blogging, or doing reports, you probably need a standard-sized (11.6- to 15.6-inch) laptop.
- Screen quality – For work, comfort is the main factor when it comes to screen quality since you'll most probably be in front of your screen hours at a time. Fortunately, most laptops these days have full HD displays. A 1920×1080-pixel resolution (full HD) should be considered if you require plenty of space to line up windows and keep things in view.
- Keyboard quality – The quality and functionality of a keyboard drive productivity. If you need to type long hours and want to avoid finger fatigue, you'll want a keyboard that has a comfortable layout. Make sure the keys have adequate travel on the downstroke and quick responsiveness when you type.
- CPU – By any given standards, Intel Core Processor offers the best performance, especially when it comes to multitasking and multimedia tasks. Core i3-based laptops are generally found in budget systems, while Core i5 makes up the majority of mainstream business computers. If you want top-of-the-line performance, a Core i7 or even Core i9 CPU is ideal for you.
- RAM – More RAM allows for more applications to run simultaneously, and for data to be quickly accessible by the system anytime. Nowadays, 8 GB is recommended for most users. But if you're dealing with many applications and assets at any given time, consider 16 GB and above.
- Storage – We recommend a solid state drive (SSD), as it offers a lot more speed than a hard disk drive when it comes to booting your system and loading programs. It also runs silently and can be installed without adding too much weight and bulk to the laptop.
- Battery life – You might be plugged in the whole day since you're working from home, but in the long run, it's better to factor in the battery life of your laptop. Note that there are many variables that affect battery life such as screen resolution, brightness, number of applications running in the background. Look at the rating of the battery in watt-hours (Wh) or milliampere hours (mAh). The larger these digits are, the longer the battery can last.
Now that you know what to look out for when purchasing your new laptop, here are a couple of recommendations to get you started:
Chromebooks are budget-friendly laptops that guarantee long battery lives and come with fast processors for web browsing and running productivity apps. They're lightweight and compact, which is perfect for those times you need to move around or switch places in your home. In addition, Chromebook laptops usually have quiet and ergonomic keyboards. With its built-in Chrome OS, you can expect a faster and more secure laptop that will keep you working efficiently.
2-in-1 laptops
Lightweight laptops with a tablet touch screen allow for unparalleled flexibility and mobility. Most 2-in-1s also have HD displays backed by high-speed processors and integrated graphics to enhance your video conferencing experience. What's more, they're usually paired with a stylus, making them perfect for note-taking, photo editing, and other creative tasks.
Microsoft Surface laptop
Microsoft Surface laptops are considered top performers in the premium laptop market, as they offer great balance and portability. They handle general computing superbly with no slowdown and noise, even if you're running 10 applications with plenty of tabs in your browser. Other great integrations include an excellent keyboard and trackpad and an ideal screen ratio that's perfect for productivity tasks.
Apple MacBook Pro
MacBook Pro laptops are generally known for their safe and secure operating system, MacOS. They're also popular for their powerful hardware that can run graphically intensive tasks. Plus, they can run other operating systems like Windows, UNIX, and Linux. If you need to do video editing, you can definitely take advantage of Mac-exclusive software like Final Cut Pro.
One of the most remarkable features that Apple MacBook Pro laptops boast of is the switch from the former butterfly-like keyboard to the more traditional scissor mechanism. The new keys offer better travel and they also feel soft and clicky. If you're after a good blend of portability and performance, a MacBook Pro laptop is probably your best bet.
Any laptop is an investment, so you should know what to look for and what to consider. While it's tempting to get all the great features, it's still more important to have a laptop that's reliable and that's best suited for your needs, especially when you can't afford to deal with hardware issues while working from home. Call us today to learn more.


text:
The evidence is clear. Donald Trump's presidency has eroded America's soft power. Only 30% of people recently polled by Gallup in 134 countries held a favourable view of the United States under Trump's leadership, a drop of almost 20 points since Barack Obama's presidency. The Pew Research Center found that China, with 30% approval ratings, had reached near-parity with the US. And a British index, The Soft Power 30, showed America slipping from first place in 2016 to third place last year.
Trump's defenders reply that soft power does not matter. Trump's budget director, Mick Mulvaney, proclaimed a 'hard power budget' as he slashed funds for the State Department and the US Agency for International Development by 30%. For promoters of 'America First', what the rest of the world thinks ranks second. Are they right?
Soft power rests on attraction rather than coercion or payment. It co-opts people rather than coerces them. At the personal level, wise parents know that their power will be greater and will last longer if they model sound ethical values for their children, rather than relying only on spankings, allowances or taking away the car keys.
Similarly, political leaders have long understood the power that comes from being able to set the agenda and determine the framework of a debate. If I can get you to want to do what I want, then I do not have to force you to do what you do not want. If the US represents values that others want to follow, it can economise on sticks and carrots. Added to hard power, attraction can be a force multiplier.
A country's soft power comes primarily from three sources: its culture (when it is attractive to others), its political values such as democracy and human rights (when it lives up to them), and its policies (when they are seen as legitimate because they are framed with some humility and awareness of others' interests). How a government behaves at home (for example, protecting a free press), in international institutions (consulting others and multilateralism) and in foreign policy (promoting development and human rights) can affect others by the influence of its example. In all of these areas, Trump has reversed attractive American policies.
Fortunately, America is more than either Trump or the government. Unlike hard-power assets (such as armed forces), many soft-power resources are separate from the government and are only partly responsive to its purposes. In a liberal society, government cannot control the culture. Indeed, the absence of official cultural policies can itself be a source of attraction. Hollywood movies like The Post, which showcase independent women and press freedom, can attract others. So, too, can the charitable work of US foundations or the benefits of freedom of inquiry at American universities.
It is true that firms, universities, foundations, churches and other non-governmental groups develop soft power of their own which may reinforce or be at odds with official foreign policy goals. And all of these private sources of soft power are likely to become increasingly important in the global information age. That is all the more reason for governments to make sure that their own actions and policies create and reinforce rather than undercut and squander their soft power.
Domestic or foreign policies that appear hypocritical, arrogant, indifferent to others' views, or based on a narrow conception of national interests can undermine soft power. For example, the steep decline in the attractiveness of the US in opinion polls conducted after the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was a reaction to the Bush administration and its policies, rather than to the US generally.
The Iraq War was not the first government policy that made the US unpopular. In the 1970s, many people around the world objected to the US war in Vietnam, and America's global standing reflected the unpopularity of that policy. When the policy changed and the memories of the war receded, the US recovered much of its lost soft power. Similarly, in the aftermath of the Iraq War, the US managed to recover much of its soft power in most regions of the world (though less so in the Middle East).
Skeptics might still argue that the rise and fall of American soft power does not matter much, because countries cooperate out of self-interest. But this argument misses a crucial point: cooperation is a matter of degree, and the degree is affected by attraction or repulsion. Moreover, the effects of a country's soft power extend to non-state actors—for example, by aiding or impeding recruitment by terrorist organisations. In an information age, success depends not only on whose army wins, but also on whose story wins.
One of the greatest sources of America's soft power is the openness of its democratic processes. Even when mistaken policies reduce its attractiveness, America's ability to criticise and correct its mistakes makes it attractive to others at a deeper level. When protesters overseas were marching against the Vietnam War, they often sang 'We Shall Overcome', the anthem of the US civil rights movement.
America, too, will almost certainly overcome. Given past experience, there is every reason to hope that the US will recover its soft power after Trump.


text:
The mechanism which underlies the susceptibility of liver disease patients to life-threatening infection has been uncovered by Wellcome Trust-funded medical scientists, who have also suggested a possible treatment to reverse immune suppression in these patients.
Liver disease, or cirrhosis, is currently the fifth leading cause of death in the UK. Cirrhosis patients are more than five times more likely to pick up infections in hospital than patients with other chronic conditions, due to reduced immunity which is a well-recognised feature of the disease.
In a study published today in Nature Medicine, researchers at UCL propose that the underlying cause of hyper susceptibility to infection in cirrhosis patients is due to the over production of the lipid hormone prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). This hormone prevents white blood cells from ingesting bacteria and killing them.
In the study, 75 blood samples were taken from patients at hospitals including University College Hospital, Royal Free Hospital, Royal London Hospital, St Mary's Hospital and the Hospital Clinic of Barcelona.
Researchers also found that a decreased concentration globular blood protein albumin, which catalyses the inactivation of PGE2 in liver disease patients was contributing to low immunity.
The authors of the study have therefore suggested that cirrhosis patients should receive albumin infusions to reverse immune suppression in chronic liver disease.
The research was carried out by lead author Professor Derek Gilroy, Wellcome Trust Senior Research Fellow at UCL in collaboration with consultant hepatologist Dr Alistair O'Brien.
Professor Gilory said: "A defective innate immune response was first observed in cirrhosis 30 years ago, and infection is most common cause of death in cirrhosis patients. However, the precise factors that cause reduced immunity have up until now been unknown.
"Our research has uncovered a powerful mechanism for immune suppression in cirrhosis patients and also proposes a relatively simple and safe treatment."
Dr O'Brien added: "We have discovered that the immune system of patients with advanced liver disease can be boosted for at least 24 hours by infusing albumin into a vein which reduces PGE2's effects. This safe process is currently given when patients need extra fluid, for example those with kidney damage.
"We propose that albumin be given daily to improve cirrhosis patients' immune systems and therefore prevent infection. We hope that this will save lives and reduce health-care costs and we intend to investigate this in a large scale clinical trial."
The researchers plan to carry out a clinical trial looking at the ability of albumin to reverse immune suppression in liver cirrhosis starting this summer. The trial is supported by the Wellcome Trust.


text:
One of the many challenges that any contractor will face is how to properly handle and dispose of the waste produced by a construction project. At James G. Grant Company, located in Readville, Massachusetts, we have been helping contractors and companies across the commonwealth with their construction waste disposal since the 1960's.
While most companies devote great care to responsibly handle their construction waste disposal, Southborough, Massachusetts, environmental regulations can impose strict penalties for companies that fail to comply and correctly dispose of their construction waste. We strive to help you escape the common concerns that companies have when the time comes to safely dispose of project waste.
If you need construction waste disposal services, James G. Grant Co. provides:
- Scrap metal disposal and recycling
- Construction waste removal
- Demolition and cleanout
- C&D waste material transfer station services
- A wide range of disposal equipment and trucks
Due to the increasing need to protect our environment through ethical practices, construction waste disposal for Southborough, Massachusetts is becoming a more challenging task for many construction firms. Through our facilities at James G. Grant company, our team of people are trained experts who know the most up-to-date state and federal regulations, saving you the hassle of making sure all expectations are being met.
If you're a contractor searching for ethical and better construction waste disposal for Southborough, Massachusetts, we are able to help you properly dispose of your waste materials, saving you from expending much needed resources like time, energy, and funding.
Some of the cost imposed by Southborough, Massachusetts, construction waste disposal can be offset by recycling much of the waste materials. At our facilities, we're able to recycle almost any scrap metal from a construction or demolition project including steel, iron, brass, copper, aluminum, and alloys. Recycling these materials will provide you with either a cash compensation or a credit that you can apply at the C&D transfer station.
Most of the time, the need for construction waste disposal is created by a demolition project, which is why we serve as the leading demolition contractor for Readville and the Boston area. Our team is able to provide your business with several benefits including:
- Expert demolition project planning and implementation
- Full insurance
- Proper licensing
- Full safety- and regulation-compliant demolition
- Site efficiency and clean-up
If you have been searching for help with your construction waste disposal, please do not hesitate. Contact us today. Our team of experts are excited to address your needs and discuss how we can help you move forward!


text:
It's blog hop time at PTI!! This month's challenge was all about Design Team
Appreciation Day! This was a hard task! I have several people on the design team that I visit their blogs on a regular if not daily basis. So for today's challenge, I chose Michelle Wooderson and her project here.
Now, I did not make bookmarks but I was inspired by this post and made a card with some of my pattern papers from PTI!! I really liked that she chose various patterns and adhered them for her bookmarks!
So, without further delay, here is my card for the blog hop!
It had been awhile since I pulled this paper stack out and had forgotten how pretty they are!
Just several different papers cut into strips and adhered to a Raspberry Fizz base.
The only thing I would change about this card would be the ribbon.......change out the skinny satin for a wide satin but I couldn't find any in my LARGE stash! Go figure! :)
{Just Because}
All supplies PTI unless stated.
Stamps: Damask Designs
Ink: True Black
Paper: True Black, Raspberry Fizz, and Raspberry Fizz Mix
Misc: Paper Posies (Doodlebug Designs), ribbon (HL), scalloped punches (Marvy)


text:
Never Miss A Sale
Get the latest trends, new products, & design ideas you'll love for your home.
"*" indicates required fields
We have taken great care to provide you with information that is accurate and useful. Please notify us if you find an error and we will do our best to correct it. We ask that you contact us directly to confirm information about pricing, color, features, dimensions, availability and lead times.


text:
The woman whose smiling face adorned the HealthCare.gov website in the first days after its launch has stepped forward to tearfully address those who she says cyberbullied her as they took potshots at the Obama administration's troubled online health exchange.
"They have nothing else to do but hide behind the computer. They're cyberbullying," the mystery woman said Wednesday on ABC News'Good Morning America.
Only willing to let ABC refer to her as "Adriana," she said that "I'm here to stand up for myself and to defend myself. ... I didn't design the website. I didn't make it fail."
Adriana said she is from Colombia, is a mother and wife who lives in Maryland and that, ABC writes, "though she is eligible for healthcare through the [Affordable Care Act] ... she hasn't signed up for it, and is neither in favor nor against it." Her husband and 21-month-old son are U.S. citizens, and Adriana said she is applying for citizenship.
Good Morning America writes that:
"The saga of the photo started innocuously enough. Seeking free family photographs, Adriana emailed a contact at the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the agency responsible for the Affordable Care Act's rollout, about having photos of her and her family taken in exchange for allowing the photos to be used to market the new health care law. She was never paid."
But, as the show says, after the website's ill-fated launch, Adriana was "dubbed the 'enigmatic Mona Lisa of health care,' her face was soon mocked, Photoshoped, altered. She became the subject of late-night jokes, partisan hatred and intense speculation."
USA Today wrote in late October that the "smiling brunette prominently featured on the top of Healthcare.gov has become a mysterious celebrity — dubbed 'Obamacare girl' — and is the focus of jokes about the issues with the new health care registration system. ... Her smiling face has been drawn on with a monocle, mustache and top hat, she's been asked out on dates and pitied."
The Onion weighed in with a panicked-looking version of the mystery lady.
Copyright 2020 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


text:
17th - century
Several known and unknown composers contributed to this orthodox requiem.
Phankhida / Panikhida
Phankhida or Panikhida is the name of an orthodox Russian requiem. This is an in-depth exploration of one of the Old Russian chant styles surveyed on Anatoly Grindenko's first record for Opus 111 (Early Russian Plain Chant, OP 30-79). Until the 18th century, the Russian Orthodox funeral service (panikhida) was sung almost exclusively to monodic chant; this disc presents an indigenous polyphonic setting (in strochny style) from a recently deciphered 17th-century manuscript. Be forewarned: This is strong stuff--Western ideas of consonance and dissonance don't apply here. The three-voice chants often move in parallel seconds; stacked seconds or fourths are standard cadences. (A few simple, appealing chants in the monodic znamenny style are also included.) If you're prepared for this music and approach it with open ears and mind, it's astonishing.
It contains: - The King In Heaven - Trisagion, Our Father - Alleluia - Lord, Have Mercy (Thrice) - The Troparia In Tone 8 - Psalm 119 - Lord, Have Mercy (Thrice) - Psalm 119 - Troparia In Tone 5 - Lord, Have Mercy (Thrice) - Sessional Hym In Tone 5 - The Canon For One Who Is Departed. Ode 1. Heirmos. - Ode 3. Heirmos - Ode 4. Heirmos - Ode 5. Heirmos - Ode 6. Heirmos - Kontakion. Oikos. - Ode 7. Heirmos - Ode 8. Heirmos - Ode 9. Heirmos - Trisagion - The Troparia - Lord, Have Mercy - Memory Eternal - Trisagion. Our Father Stepan Vasilevic Smolensky (1848 - 1909) contributed in ca. 1900 two Litanies to the Panikhida and his pupil Pavel Chesnokov (1877 - 1944) two songs.


text:
Mirae Caritatis - Pope Leo XIII - The Papal Library
Mirae Caritatis Encyclical of Pope Leo XIII promulgated on the Holy Eucharist May 28, 1902 To our Venerable Brethren, the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, and other Local Ordinaries, having Peace and Communion with the Holy See. Venerable Brethren, Health and Apostolic Benediction. 1. To examine into the nature and to promote the effects of those manifestations of His wondrous love which, like rays of light, stream forth from Jesus Christ-this, as befits our sacred office, has ever been, and this, with His help, to the last breath of our life will ever be our earnest aim and endeavor. For, whereas our lot has been cast in an age that is bitterly hostile to justice and truth, we have not failed, as you have been reminded by the Apostolic letter which we recently addressed to you, to do what in us lay, by our instructions and admonitions, and by such practical measures as seemed best suited for their purpose, to dissipate the contagion of error in its many shapes, and to strengthen the sinews of the Christian life. Among these efforts of ours there are two in particular, of recent memory, closely related to each other, from the recollection whereof we gather some fruit of comfort, the more seasonable by reason of the many causes of sorrow that weigh us down. One of these is the occasion on which we directed, as a thing most desirable, that the entire human race should be consecrated by a special act to the Sacred Heart of Christ our Redeemer; the other that on which we so urgently exhorted all those who bear the name Christian to cling loyally to Him Who, by divine ordinance, is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, not for individuals alone but for every rightly constituted society. And now that same apostolic charity, ever watchful over the vicissitudes of the Church, moves and in a manner compels us to add one thing more, in order to fill up the measure of what we have already conceived and carried out. This is, to commend to all Christians, more earnestly than heretofore, the all Holy Eucharist, forasmuch as it is a divine gift proceeding from the very Heart of the Redeemer, Who with desire desireth this singular mode of union with men, a gift most admirably adapted to be the means whereby the salutary fruits of His redemption may be distributed. Indeed we have not failed in the past, more than once, to use our authority and to exercise our zeal in this behalf. It gives us much pleasure to recall to mind that we have officially approved, and enriched with canonical privileges, not a few institutions and confraternities having for their object the perpetual adoration of the Sacred Host; that we have encouraged the holding of Eucharistic Congresses, the results of which have been as profitable as the attendance at them has been numerous and distinguished; that we have designated as the heavenly patron of these and similar undertakings St. Paschal Baylon, whose devotion to the mystery of the Eucharist was so extraordinary. 2. Accordingly, Venerable Brethren, it has seemed good to us to address you on certain points connected with this same mystery, for the defense and honor of which the solicitude of the Church has been so constantly engaged, for which Martyrs have given their lives, which has afforded to men of the highest genius a theme to be illustrated by their learning, their eloquence, their skill in all the arts; and this we will do in order to render more clearly evident and more widely known those special characteristics by virtue of which it is so singularly adapted to the needs of these our times. It was towards the close of His mortal life that Christ our Lord left this memorial of His measureless love for men, this powerful means of support for the life of the world (St. John vi., 52). And precisely for this reason, we, being so soon to depart from this life, can wish for nothing better than that it may be granted to us to stir up and foster in the hearts of all men the dispositions of mindful gratitude and due devotion towards this wondrous Sacrament, wherein most especially lie, as we hold, the hope and the efficient cause of salvation and of that peace which all men so anxiously seek. 3. Some there are, no doubt, who will express their surprise that for the manifold troubles and grievous afflictions by which our age is harassed we should have determined to seek for remedies and redress in this quarter rather than elsewhere, and in some, perchance, our words will excite a certain peevish disgust. But this is only the natural result of pride; for when this vice has taken possession of the heart, it is inevitable that Christian faith, which demands a most willing docility, should languish, and that a murky darkness in regard of divine truths should close in upon the mind; so that in the case of many these words should be made good: Whatever things they know not, they blaspheme (St. Jude, 10). We, however, so far from being hereby turned aside from the design which we have taken in hand, are on the contrary determined all the more zealously and diligently to hold up the light for the guidance of the well disposed, and, with the help of the united prayers of the faithful, earnestly to implore forgiveness for those who speak evil of holy things. 4. To know with an entire faith what is the excellence of the Most Holy Eucharist is in truth to know what that work is which, in the might of His mercy, God, made man, carried out on behalf of the human race. For as a right faith teaches us to acknowledge and to worship Christ as the sovereign cause of our salvation, since He by His wisdom, His laws, His ordinances, His example, and by the shedding of His blood, made all things new; so the same faith likewise teaches us to acknowledge Him and to worship Him as really present in the Eucharist, as verily abiding through all time in the midst of men, in order that as their Master, their Good Shepherd, their most acceptable Advocate with the Father, He may impart to them of His own inexhaustible abundance the benefits of that redemption which He has accomplished. Now if any one will seriously consider the benefits which flow from the Eucharist he will understand that conspicuous and chief among them all is that in which the rest, without exception, are included; in a word it is for men the source of life, of that life which best deserves the name. The bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world (St. John vi., 52). In more than one way, as we have elsewhere declared, is Christ the life. He Himself declared that the reason of His advent among men was this, that He might bring them the assured fullness of a more than merely human life. I am come that they may have life, and may have it more abundantly (St. John x., 10). Everyone is aware that no sooner had the goodness and kindness of God our Savior appeared (Tit. iii., 4), than there at once burst forth a certain creative force which issued in a new order of things and pulsed through all the veins of society, civil and domestic. Hence arose new relations between man and man; new rights and new duties, public and private; henceforth a new direction was given to government, to education, to the arts; and most important of all, man's thoughts and energies were turned towards religious truth and the pursuit of holiness. Thus was life communicated to man, a life truly heavenly and divine. And thus we are to account for those expressions which so often occur in Holy Writ, the tree of life, the word of life, the book of life, the crown of life, and particularly the bread of life. 5. But now, since this life of which we are speaking bears a definite resemblance to the natural life of man, as the one draws its nourishment and strength from food, so also the other must have its own food whereby it may be sustained and augmented. And here it will be opportune to recall to mind on what occasion and in what manner Christ moved and prepared the hearts of men for the worthy and due reception of the living bread which He was about to give them. No sooner had the rumor spread of the miracle which He had wrought on the shores of the lake of Tiberias, when with the multiplied loaves He fed the multitude, than many forthwith flocked to Him in the hope that they, too, perchance, might be the recipients of like favor. And, just as He had taken occasion from the water which she had drawn from the well to stir up in the Samaritan woman a thirst for that water which springeth up unto life everlasting (St. John iv., 14), so now Jesus availed Himself of this opportunity to excite in the minds of the multitude a keen hunger for the bread which endureth unto life everlasting (St. John vi., 27). Or, as He was careful to explain to them, was the bread which He promised the same as that heavenly manna which had been given to their fathers during their wanderings in the desert, or again the same as that which, to their amazement, they had recently received from Him; but He was Himself that bread: I, said He, am the bread of life (St. John vi., 48). And He urges this still further upon them all both by invitation and by precept: if any man shall eat of this bread, he shall live for ever; and the bread which I will give is my flesh, for the life of the world (St. John vi., 52). And in these other words He brings home to them the gravity of the precept: Amen, Amen, I say to you, unless you shall eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you shall not have life in you (St. John vi., 54). Away then with the widespread but most mischievous error of those who give it as their opinion that the reception of the Eucharist is in a manner reserved for those narrow-minded persons (as they are deemed) who rid themselves of the cares of the world in order to find rest in some kind of professedly religious life. For this gift, than which nothing can be more excellent or more conducive to salvation, is offered to all those, whatever their office or dignity may be, who wish-as every one ought to wish-to foster in themselves that life of divine grace whose goal is the attainment of the life of blessedness with God. 6. Indeed it is greatly to be desired that those men would rightly esteem and would make due provision for life everlasting, whose industry or talents or rank have put it in their power to shape the course of human events. But alas! we see with sorrow that such men too often proudly flatter themselves that they have conferred upon this world as it were a fresh lease of life and prosperity, inasmuch as by their own energetic action they are urging it on to the race for wealth, to a struggle for the possession of commodities which minister to the love of comfort and display. And yet, whithersoever we turn, we see that human society, if it be estranged from God, instead of enjoying that peace in its possessions for which it had sought, is shaken and tossed like one who is in the agony and heat of fever; for while it anxiously strives for prosperity, and trusts to it alone, it is pursuing an object that ever escapes it, clinging to one that ever eludes the grasp. For as men and states alike necessarily have their being from God, so they can do nothing good except in God through Jesus Christ, through whom every best and choicest gift has ever proceeded and proceeds. But the source and chief of all these gifts is the venerable Eucharist, which not only nourishes and sustains that life the desire whereof demands our most strenuous efforts, but also enhances beyond measure that dignity of man of which in these days we hear so much. For what can be more honorable or a more worthy object of desire than to be made, as far as possible, sharers and partakers in the divine nature? Now this is precisely what Christ does for us in the Eucharist, wherein, after having raised man by the operation of His grace to a supernatural state, he yet more closely associates and unites him with Himself. For there is this difference between the food of the body and that of the soul, that whereas the former is changed into our substance, the latter changes us into its own; so that St. Augustine makes Christ Himself say: You shall not change Me into yourself as you do the food of your body, but you shall be changed into Me (confessions 1. vii., c. x.). 7. Moreover, in this most admirable Sacrament, which is the chief means whereby men are engrafted on the divine nature, men also find the most efficacious help towards progress in every kind of virtue. And first of all in faith. In all ages faith has been attacked; for although it elevates the human mind by bestowing on it the knowledge of the highest truths, yet because, while it makes known the existence of divine mysteries, it yet leaves in obscurity the mode of their being, it is therefore thought to degrade the intellect. But whereas in past times particular articles of faith have been made by turns the object of attack; the seat of war has since been enlarged and extended, until it has come to this, that men deny altogether that there is anything above and beyond nature. Now nothing can be better adapted to promote a renewal of the strength and fervor of faith in the human mind than the mystery of the Eucharist, the mystery of faith, as it has been most appropriately called. For in this one mystery the entire supernatural order, with all its wealth and variety of wonders, is in a manner summed up and contained: He hath made a remembrance of His wonderful works, a merciful and gracious Lord; He hath given food to them that fear Him (Psalm cx, 4-5). For whereas God has subordinated the whole supernatural order to the Incarnation of His Word, in virtue whereof salvation has been restored to the human race, according to those words of the Apostle; He hath purposed...to re-establish all things in Christ, that are in heaven and on earth, in Him (Eph. i., 9-10), the Eucharist, according to the testimony of the holy Fathers, should be regarded as in a manner a continuation and extension of the Incarnation. For in and by it the substance of the incarnate Word is united with individual men, and the supreme Sacrifice offered on Calvary is in a wondrous manner renewed, as was signified beforehand by Malachy in the words: In every place there is sacrifice, and there is offered to My name a pure oblation (Mal. i., 11). And this miracle, itself the very greatest of its kind, is accompanied by innumerable other miracles; for here all the laws of nature are suspended; the whole substance of the bread and wine are changed into the Body and the Blood; the species of bread and wine are sustained by the divine power without the support of any underlying substance; the Body of Christ is present in many places at the same time, that is to say, wherever the Sacrament is consecrated. And in order that human reason may the more willingly pay its homage to this great mystery, there have not been wanting, as an aid to faith, certain prodigies wrought in His honor, both in ancient times and in our own, of which in more than one place there exist public and notable records and memorials. It is plain that by this Sacrament faith is fed, in it the mind finds its nourishment, the objections of rationalists are brought to naught, and abundant light is thrown on the supernatural order. 8. But that decay of faith in divine things of which we have spoken is the effect not only of pride, but also of moral corruption. For if it is true that a strict morality improves the quickness of man's intellectual powers, and if on the other hand, as the maxims of pagan philosophy and the admonitions of divine wisdom combine to teach us, the keenness of the mind is blunted by bodily pleasures, how much more, in the region of revealed truths, do these same pleasures obscure the light of faith, or even, by the just judgment of God, entirely extinguish it. For these pleasures at the present day an insatiable appetite rages, infecting all classes as with an infectious disease, even from tender years. Yet even for so terrible an evil there is a remedy close at hand in the divine Eucharist. For in the first place it puts a check on lust by increasing charity, according to the words of St. Augustine, who says, speaking of charity, As it grows, lust diminishes; when it reaches perfection, lust is no more (De diversis quaestionibus, Ixxxiii., q. 36). Moreover the most chaste flesh of Jesus keeps down the rebellion of our flesh, as St. Cyril of Alexandria taught, For Christ abiding in us lulls to sleep the law of the flesh which rages in our members (Lib. iv., c. ii., in Joan., vi., 57). Then too the special and most pleasant fruit of the Eucharist is that which is signified in the words of the prophet: What is the good thing of Him, that is, of Christ, and what is His beautiful thing, but the corn of the elect and the wine that engendereth virgins (Zach. ix., 17), producing, in other words, that flower and fruitage of a strong and constant purpose of virginity which, even in an age enervated by luxury, is daily multiplied and spread abroad in the Catholic Church, with those advantages to religion and to human society, wherever it is found, which are plain to see. 9. To this it must be added that by this same Sacrament our hope of everlasting blessedness, based on our trust in the divine assistance, is wonderfully strengthened. For the edge of that longing for happiness which is so deeply rooted in the hearts of all men from their birth is whetted even more and more by the experience of the deceitfulness of earthly goods, by the unjust violence of wicked men, and by all those other afflictions to which mind and body are subject. Now the venerable Sacrament of the Eucharist is both the source and the pledge of blessedness and of glory, and this, not for the soul alone, but for the body also. For it enriches the soul with an abundance of heavenly blessings, and fills it with a sweet joy which far surpasses man's hope and expectations; it sustains him in adversity, strengthens him in the spiritual combat, preserves him for life everlasting, and as a special provision for the journey accompanies him thither. And in the frail and perishable body that divine Host, which is the immortal Body of Christ, implants a principle of resurrection, a seed of immortality, which one day must germinate. That to this source man's soul and body will be indebted for both these boons has been the constant teaching of the Church, which has dutifully reaffirmed the affirmation of Christ: He that eateth my flesh and drinketh my blood hath everlasting life; and I will raise him up at the last day (St. John vi., 55). 10. In connection with this matter it is of importance to consider that in the Eucharist, seeing that it was instituted by Christ as a perpetual memorial of His Passion (Opusc. Ivii. Offic. de festo Corporis Christi), is proclaimed to the Christian the necessity of a salutary self-chastisement. For Jesus said to those first priests of His: Do this in memory of Me (Luke xxii, 18); that is to say, do this for the commemoration of My pains, My sorrows, My grievous afflictions, My death upon the Cross. Wherefore this Sacrament is at the same time a Sacrifice, seasonable throughout the entire period of our penance; and it is likewise a standing exhortation to all manner of toil, and a solemn and severe rebuke to those carnal pleasures which some are not ashamed so highly to praise and extol: As often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink this chalice, ye shall announce the death of the Lord, until He come (1 Cor. xi., 26). 11. Furthermore, if anyone will diligently examine into the causes of the evils of our day, he will find that they arise from this, that as charity towards God has grown cold, the mutual charity of men among themselves has likewise cooled. Men have forgotten that they are children of God and brethren in Jesus Christ; they care for nothing except their own individual interests; the interests and the rights of others they not only make light of, but often attack and invade. Hence frequent disturbances and strifes between class and class: arrogance, oppression, fraud on the part of the more powerful: misery, envy, and turbulence among the poor. These are evils for which it is in vain to seek a remedy in legislation, in threats of penalties to be incurred, or in any other device of merely human prudence. Our chief care and endeavor ought to be, according to the admonitions which we have more than once given at considerable length, to secure the union of classes in a mutual interchange of dutiful services, a union which, having its origin in God, shall issue in deeds that reflect the true spirit of Jesus Christ and a genuine charity. This charity Christ brought into the world, with it He would have all hearts on fire. For it alone is capable of affording to soul and body alike, even in this life, a foretaste of blessedness; since it restrains man's inordinate self-love, and puts a check on avarice, which is the root of all evil (1 Tim. vi., 10). And whereas it is right to uphold all the claims of justice as between the various classes of society, nevertheless it is only with the efficacious aid of charity, which tempers justice, that the equality which St. Paul commended (2 Cor. viii., 14), and which is so salutary for human society, can be established and maintained. This then is what Christ intended when he instituted this Venerable Sacrament, namely, by awakening charity towards God to promote mutual charity among men. For the latter, as is plain, is by its very nature rooted in the former, and springs from it by a kind of spontaneous growth. Nor is it possible that there should be any lack of charity among men, or rather it must needs be enkindled and flourish, if men would but ponder well the charity which Christ has shown in this Sacrament. For in it He has not only given a splendid manifestation of His power and wisdom, but has in a manner poured out the riches of His divine love towards men (Conc. Trid., Sess. XIII., De Euch. c. ii.). Having before our eyes this noble example set us by Christ, Who bestows on us all that He has assuredly we ought to love and help one another to the utmost, being daily more closely united by the strong bond of brotherhood. Add to this that the outward and visible elements of this Sacrament supply a singularly appropriate stimulus to union. On this topic St. Cyprian writes: In a word the Lord's sacrifice symbolizes the oneness of heart, guaranteed by a persevering and inviolable charity, which should prevail among Christians. For when our Lord calls His Body bread, a substance which is kneaded together out of many grains, He indicates that we His people, whom He sustains, are bound together in close union; and when He speaks of His Blood as wine, in which the juice pressed from many clusters of grapes is mingled in one fluid, He likewise indicates that we His flock are by the commingling of a multitude of persons made one (Ep. 96 ad Magnum n. 5 (al.6)). In like manner the angelic Doctor, adopting the sentiments of St. Augustine (Tract. xxxvi., in Joan nn. 13, 17), writes: Our Lord has bequeathed to us His Body and Blood under the form of substances in which a multitude of things have been reduced to unity, for one of them, namely bread, consisting as it does of many grains is yet one, and the other, that is to say wine, has its unity of being from the confluent juice of many grapes; and therefore St. Augustine elsewhere says: 'O Sacrament of mercy, O sign of unity, O bond of charity!' (Summ. Theol. P. III., q. Ixxix., a. 1. . All of which is confirmed by the declaration of the Council of Trent that Christ left the Eucharist in His Church as a symbol of that unity and charity whereby He would have all Christians mutually joined and united. . . a symbol of that one body of which He is Himself the head, and to which He would have us, as members attached by the closest bonds of faith, hope, and charity (Conc. Trid., Sess. XIII., De Euchar., c. ii.). The same idea had been expressed by St. Paul when he wrote: For we, being many, are one bread, one body, all we who partake of the one bread (I Cor. x., 17). Very beautiful and joyful too is the spectacle of Christian brotherhood and social equality which is afforded when men of all conditions, gentle and simple, rich and poor, learned and unlearned, gather round the holy altar, all sharing alike in this heavenly banquet. And if in the records of the Church it is deservedly reckoned to the special credit of its first ages that the multitude of the believers had but one heart and one soul (Acts iv., 32), there can be no shadow of doubt that this immense blessing was due to their frequent meetings at the Divine table; for we find it recorded of them: They were persevering in the doctrine of the Apostles and in the communion of the breaking of bread (Acts ii., 42). 12. Besides all this, the grace of mutual charity among the living, which derives from the Sacrament of the Eucharist so great an increase of strength, is further extended by virtue of the Sacrifice to all those who are numbered in the Communion of Saints. For the Communion of Saints, as everyone knows, is nothing but the mutual communication of help, expiation, prayers, blessings, among all the faithful, who, whether they have already attained to the heavenly country, or are detained in the purgatorial fire, or are yet exiles here on earth, all enjoy the common franchise of that city whereof Christ is the head, and the constitution is charity. For faith teaches us, that although the venerable Sacrifice may be lawfully offered to God alone, yet it may be celebrated in honor of the saints reigning in heaven with God Who has crowned them, in order that we may gain for ourselves their patronage. And it may also be offered-in accordance with an apostolic tradition-for the purpose of expiating the sins of those of the brethren who, having died in the Lord, have not yet fully paid the penalty of their transgressions. 13. That genuine charity, therefore, which knows how to do and to suffer all things for the salvation and the benefit of all, leaps forth with all the heat and energy of a flame from that most holy Eucharist in which Christ Himself is present and lives, in which He indulges to the utmost His love towards us, and under the impulse of that divine love ceaselessly renews His Sacrifice. And thus it is not difficult to see whence the arduous labors of apostolic men, and whence those innumerable designs of every kind for the welfare of the human race which have been set on foot among Catholics, derive their origin, their strength, their permanence, their success. 14. These few words on a subject so vast will, we doubt not, prove most helpful to the Christian flock, if you in your zeal, Venerable Brethren, will cause them to be expounded and enforced as time and occasion may serve. But indeed a Sacrament so great and so rich in all manner of blessings can never be extolled as it deserves by human eloquence, nor adequately venerated by the worship of man. This Sacrament, whether as the theme of devout meditation, or as the object of public adoration, or best of all as a food to be received in the utmost purity of conscience, is to be regarded as the center towards which the spiritual life of a Christian in all its ambit gravitates; for all other forms of devotion, whatsoever they may be, lead up to it, and in it find their point of rest. In this mystery more than in any other that gracious invitation and still more gracious promise of Christ is realized and finds its daily fulfillment: Come to me all ye that labor and are heavily burdened, and I will refresh you (St. Matt. xi., 28). 15. In a word this Sacrament is, as it were, the very soul of the Church; and to it the grace of the priesthood is ordered and directed in all its fullness and in each of its successive grades. From the same source the Church draws and has all her strength, all her glory, her every supernatural endowment and adornment, every good thing that is here; wherefore she makes it the chiefest of all her cares to prepare the hearts of the faithful for an intimate union with Christ through the Sacrament of His Body and Blood, and to draw them thereto. And to this end she strives to promote the veneration of the august mystery by surrounding it with holy ceremonies. To this ceaseless and ever watchful care of the Church or Mother, our attention is drawn by that exhortation which was uttered by the holy Council of Trent, and which is so much to the purpose that for the benefit of the Christian people we here reproduce it in its entirety. The Holy Synod admonishes, exhorts, asks and implores by the tender mercy of our God, that all and each of those who bear the name of Christian should at last unite and find peace in this sign of unity, in this bond of charity, in this symbol of concord; and that, mindful of the great majesty and singular love of Jesus Christ our Lord, Who gave His precious life as the price of our salvation, and His flesh for our food, they should believe and revere these sacred mysteries of His Body and Blood with such constancy of unwavering faith, with such interior devotion and worshipful piety, that they may be in condition to receive frequently that super substantial bread, and that it may be to them the life of their souls and keep their mind in soundness of faith; so that strengthened with its strength they may be enabled after the journey of this sorrowful pilgrimage to reach the heavenly country, there to see and feed upon that bread of angels which here they eat under the sacramental veils (Conc. Trid., Sess. XXII., c.vi). 16. History bears witness that the virtues of the Christian life have flourished best wherever and whenever the frequent reception of the Eucharist has most prevailed. And on the other hand it is no less certain that in days when men have ceased to care for this heavenly bread, and have lost their appetite for it, the practice of Christian religion has gradually lost its force and vigor. And indeed it was a needful measure of precaution against a complete falling away that Innocent III., in the Council of the Lateran, most strictly enjoined that no Christian should abstain from receiving the communion of the Lord's Body at least in the solemn paschal season. But it is clear that this precept was imposed with regret, and only as a last resource; for it has always been the desire of the Church that at every Mass some of the faithful should be present and should communicate. The holy Synod would wish that in every celebration of the Mass some of the faithful should take part, not only by devoutly assisting thereat, but also by the sacramental reception of the Eucharist, in order that they might more abundantly partake of the fruits of this holy Sacrifice (conc. Trid., Sess. XIII. de Euchar.


text:
Communities in South Okanagan, the Island and even Northern B.C. are among some of the places Alberta Premier Rachel Notley claims she's received letters from in support of her government's decision to ban B.C. wine.
In a series of Tweets Wednesday afternoon, a day after Notley announced the boycott of B.C. wine, she took to Twitter to release portions of emails she claims came from residents who live in wine regions in B.C. and throughout the province from Vancouver to as far north as Fort St. John.
From the Inbox: "Premier Notley THANK YOU for standing up for National Interest. THANK YOU for pushing Federal Gov. to move our valued commodity, Alberta Oil. Your commitment, energy & dedication is admired. Keep up your excellent work," – Sylvia, Penticton BC #bcpoli #abpoli
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) February 7, 2018
The "From the Inbox" Tweets were all short and positive of the Alberta government's move to retaliate against B.C. after Premier John Horgan announced last week he was considering banning increased shipments of diluted bitumen off the West Coast.
RELATED: Proposed pipeline regulations shouldn't start a 'trade war:' B.C. premier
The Tweets only include first names and the community Notley claims they came from.
From the Inbox: "I'm from BC & from the wine region in BC. While your actions will impact many small business operations in our region, I applaud your actions. We support you in trying to bring the BC government to their senses," – Roger, Keremeos BC #abpoli #bcpoli
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) February 7, 2018
Some Tweets like Sylvia's from Penticton thank the Alberta Premier for standing up for the national interest while others like the one from Rainer in Comox apologized for Horgan's NDP government, and others focused on national pride like Ray's from Langley who says he's for "a strong Canada."
From the Inbox: "I do not agree with the BC Government's proposal to restrict shipments from Alberta... I'm all for good quality enviro regulations but world class regulations are already in place and besides I'm for a strong Canada," – Ray, Langley BC #bcpoli #abpoli
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) February 7, 2018
From the Inbox: "As a resident of British Columbia, I would like to apologize for the behavior of our government. I - as well as many others here - are on your side," – Rainer, Comox BC #abpoli #bcpoli #ableg
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) February 7, 2018
Prior to Notley's letter Tweetfest, Boundary-Similkameen MLA Linda Larson, who represents several wine regions in the South Okanagan and Similkameen, fired out a Tweet of her own.
This entire situation is absurd and could of been avoided if NDP leaders acted like adults. Suggest sitting down over a glass of #BCwine from #Oliver #Osoyoos #Similkameen to get it sorted. Let's do away with bullying and silly boycotts. #bcpoli https://t.co/Yke0DC8Kca
— Linda Larson (@LindaLarsonBC) February 7, 2018
The Alberta ban on B.C. wine came after the NDP government's decision to halt progress on the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion.
Notley is not only calling for a boycott but is putting an immediate halt to the import of B.C. wine to Alberta through the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Control Board.
In a press conference Wednesday B.C. Premier John Horgan said he will not retaliate against Alberta's ban, and added his government would not back down from its fight to nix the $7.4-billion pipeline project.
In 2017, that amounted to roughly 17.2 million bottles or over 1.4 million cases. That's about $70 million paid to BC wineries. Today's action will also include the AGLC stepping up enforcement on direct to consumer sales.
— Rachel Notley (@RachelNotley) February 6, 2018
RELATED: John Horgan won't retaliate in pipeline feud with Alberta


text:
If your income and savings are making homebuying a challenge, consider these options.
1. Investigate local, state, and national downpayment assistance programs. These
programs give loans or grants to cover all or part of your required downpayment.
National programs include the Nehemiah program
(http://www.getdownpayment.com) and the American Dream Downpayment Fund
from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (http://www.hud.gov).
2. Get the seller to provide financing. In some cases, sellers may be willing to finance
all or part of the purchase price of the home and let you repay them gradually, just as
you do a mortgage.
3. Consider a shared-appreciation, or shared equity, arrangement. Under this
arrangement, your family, friends, or even a third-party may buy a portion of the
home and thus share in any appreciation when the home is sold. The owner/occupant
usually pays the mortgage, property taxes, and all maintenance costs, but all
investors' names are usually on the mortgage. There are companies that can help you
find such an investor if your family can't participate.
4. Get help from your family. Perhaps a family member will loan you money for the
downpayment and/or act as a cosigner for the mortgage. Lenders often like to have a
cosigner if you have little credit history.
5. Lease with the option to buy. Renting the home for a year or more will give you the
chance to save more toward your downpayment. And in many cases, owners will
apply some of the rental amount toward the purchase price. You usually have to pay a
small, nonrefundable option fee to the owner.
6. See if you can qualify for a short-term second mortgage to give you the money to
make a higher downpayment. This may be possible if you have a good income and
little other debt.


text:
I am very much made up of contradictory elements. On the one hand I fail to cross the finishing line when I am almost there. On the other hand I get a bit obsessed so when I have something in my head I have to get on with it.
At least the advantage of the latter is I get things done.
Hence the making of cushion number 2 in double quick time.
Thank you for all your comments and ideas for this second cushion.
I decided to go for using a piece of the first fabric but incorporating the grey too.
I'm really pleased with how this second one has turned out and how they look together. In fact I'm liking them so much that I think I'm going to have to do the same combination in our bedroom.
Or is that overkill?
I just can't bear to have this gorgeous fabric in the place in the house that I pass fleetingly without stopping to admire and appreciate.
I suppose I could always take my coffee break in one of the seats...


text:
Muirhevnamor FC Backpack
This product is currently sold out.
Carry your Muirhevnamor FC gear in style with this comfortable, roomy backpack. Made from hard wearing polyester, this bag has two outer zip pockets, an inside zipped pocket plus a zipped laptop compartment for storing all your essentials. Padded shoulder straps provide comfort whatever your day involves.
- Laptop compartment with back padding and zipper opening.
- TPE coated base for durability.
- Front and side zip pockets.
- Mesh side pocket.
- Smartphone padded pocket.
- Adjustable shoulder straps.
- Top carry handle.
- Embroidered club crest


text:
Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo reveal the top travel trends this Easter (cloned)
As Easter approaches and Brits are looking to make the most of the bank-holiday weekend, Expedia Group brands Expedia®, Hotels.com® and Vrbo® took a deep dive into the travel habits of Brits and pulled together the top travel trends. The data shows that travellers are looking to escape on a short-haul European city break, to surround themselves with culture without stepping foot outside of their hotel, and that Scotland is a trending domestic destination for Brits.
Short-haul savers
With only four days to play with, Easter is a great time to hop on a European short-haul flight. Based on the average ticket prices for the Easter weekend, Expedia has found that Brits could save up to £175 by flying short-haul to Milan instead of staying in the UK and flying domestically into London. Likewise, those looking for a weekend of romance can fly to Paris for an average of £200 less than an internal flight to Manchester. The Expedia app's Price Tracking feature takes the guesswork out of when to book by notifying travellers when flight prices change, helping them save on future travel.
The Top 10 short-haul destinations that are on Brits' list for the long weekend
- Paris
- Amsterdam
- Rome
- Barcelona
- Milan
- Dublin
- Venice
- Madrid
- Brussels
- Lisbon
Culture sleepers
This Easter, Brits are expected to turn into 'Culture Vultures' more than ever before and are seeking out hotels steeped in culture. Hotels.com has found that year-on-year, there has been an 80% increase in positive hotel reviews mentioning hotel art, museums and even live music. For example, the 21C Museum Hotel Collection, which allows guests to sleep in a contemporary art gallery, saw a 140% spike in searches since 2019 on Hotels.com, highlighting the desire for hotels that are cultural hubs themselves.
Below is a list of hotels that offer the perfect cultural somewhere for the Easter break:
- Perfect museum hotel: 21c Museum Hotel, Chicago – this hotel collection features museums with curated art for guests to admire. Located in Chicago, the hotel houses 100 multimedia artworks by 60 different artists from across the globe. Rooms from £257
- Perfect for art lovers: Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, Rome – this hotel is bursting with culture. It's home to one of the greatest private art collections in the world, with pieces from the 16th century all the way through to contemporary works. Rooms from £308
- Perfect for rooftop DJ sets:Majestic Hotel and Spa, Barcelona – 'La Dolce Vitae' is the stunning terrace located above the hotel. During the summer months, travellers can enjoy views across all of Barcelona while listening to DJ sunset sessions, featuring a host of international DJs. Rooms from £254
- Perfect for jazz and show tunes:The Pierre, A Taj Hotel, New York – if it's a slice of Broadway you are looking for, look no further. The Pierre has every type of live sound, from musical covers to jazz to concerts and holiday events. Rooms from £603
- Perfect for an exhibition: The Exhibitionist Hotel, London – this hotel is quite literally brimming with art. From the hallways to the bedrooms to the lobby, everywhere you turn, there is an exhibition to peruse. Rooms from £178
Surprising Scotland
Vrbo data shows that Scotland is the trending domestic destination among UK travellers for a trip with friends and family this Easter holiday. Compared to all other UK destinations, Scotland has seen the highest increase in interest in the last year (65%)
Easily accessible by plane, rail and car, and famous for its unspoilt natural landscape, Scotland is also perfect for a stay to bring people together. While tourist hotspots such as Edinburgh and the Highlands continue to be top of the list, other underrated destinations are popular for Easter, too, like Fife, Moray, and Argyll and Bute
The top Scottish regions for an Easter escape for UK travellers
- Highlands
- Argyll and Bute
- Fife
- Edinburgh
- Perth and Kinross
- Aberdeenshire
- Stirling
- Moray
Ariane Gorin, a spokesperson for Expedia Brands said: "Our data shows that Easter remains a popular time for travellers to get away for a break with friends or family. Expedia has found that short-haul city breaks are a top choice for those seeking a change of scenery for a long weekend, whilst Hotels.com data shows that there's appetite to experience art, music and history in unique hotels. Vrbo highlights that UK travellers seeking the comfort of holiday homes are keen to visit Scotland, with the majority of Scottish destinations being lovely hidden gems that offer an easy escape for a four-day holiday. Download the Expedia, Hotels.com and Vrbo apps and get ready to travel this Easter."


text:
Please enter the email address associated with your User account. Your username will be emailed to the email address on file.
In order to provide you with the best online experience this website uses cookies. Delete cookies
By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more


text:
The parametrisation of science
The first step in systemic implementation of scientific achievements to the socioeconomic environment is the parameterisation of scientific achievements. The parametrisation carried out by Index Copernicus aims to describe the achievements in a unified and comprehensible form with the use of specific metadata structure. Parametrised (described) scientific achievements can be assessed then (assessment involving the translation of the description of the given scientific achievement to point values in accordance with the adapted convention). The scientific databases of Index Copernicus include and parametrise data related to scientific journals, research units as well as the scientists and their achievements. The IT systems used to evaluate science support processing of specific metadata on "evaluation events" – unitary activities characteristic for the science as the segment of the economy. In parametrisation we use the most promising achievements of bibliometrics or - more widely - scientometrics.
➤ Periodic Evaluation of Researchers


text:
At a major crime scene such as a murder, detectives record measurements from every conceivable angle so they can attempt to explain scientifically how the crime unfolded.
But when it's time to present their findings to a jury, they often have to verbally explain what actually happened, aided only by two-dimensional photographs, which often do not cut it with juries that demand more visual presentations.
Some call it the "CSI effect," referring to the popular TV shows, but even animations won't always do the trick.
The problem, Berks County Detective Albert Schade III explained Wednesday, is that police and prosecutors have neither the time nor expertise nor financial resources in most cases to undertake expensive computer modeling.
Schade, a former Reading police officer and evidence technician who works in the forensic service unit of the district attorney's office, claims to have found a solution to this problem.
He discovered that he can use a computer program that can be downloaded for free online to create a detailed 3-D model of a crime scene from the measurements and drawings evidence technicians obtain from an actual scene. Then, with some modifications to gaming software, he can virtually take the viewer into the scene using a computer mouse.
This interactive, 3-D modeling is superior to regular animation, which, like a movie, doesn't give prosecutors the opportunity to change angles, zoom in, or do a flyover, for example.
"If I want to walk a jury through a crime scene I really can't do it with animation because they're all looking through one camera angle," Schade said. "Having an interactive way to walk through things and talk to people while doing it is very helpful."
Schade spent about two years working on his program for 3-D interactive modeling, which he demonstrated Wednesday to local media and the county commissioners at the county agricultural center in Bern Township, where the forensic unit is housed.
He collaborated with two other authors, Elissa St. Clair of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, and Andy Maloney of FORident Software, on an article "An Introduction to Building 3D Crime Scene Models Using SketchUp," that was published Nov. 20 in the Journal of the Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction.
The purpose of the article was to introduce a relatively easy-to-use tool for modeling so investigators can create their own models without using expensive outside firms with no connection to the original crime scene.
The 3-D crime scene reconstruction tool already has been used to reconstruct two pending homicide cases and two resolved cases, which resulted in guilty pleas, said District Attorney John T. Adams.
It also may be used in fatal crash reconstructions in the future, he said.
Sgt. Robert F. Johnson, who heads the forensic services unit, said he knows of no other law enforcement agency in the state that has the in-house capability to create interactive 3-D crime scene reconstruction like his unit now does.
The 37 law enforcement agencies in Berks that are served by the forensic unit have entered a new world in crime-solving because of this harnessing of available technologies, Johnson said.
Thirty years ago, Johnson said, it was enough to present fact-based testimony to juries. Today, with the public seeing crimes solved with high-tech visual tools in fictional television shows, juries may feel something is missing if they're not presented with visual graphics, he said.
Copyright 2012 - Reading Eagle, Pa.
McClatchy-Tribune News Service


text:
Numbers from the federal government today provide more detail about the extent of the nation's opioid crisis and who's affected. The report from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality looks at how many people have been hospitalized for problems related to opioids. It shows a dramatic increase between 2005 and 2014. The rate of inpatient stays increased 64 percent during that time. The rate of emergency room visits increased 99 percent.
Someone who sees the real-life side of these numbers is Traci Green. She is deputy director of the Injury Prevention Center at Boston Medical Center. Welcome to the program.
TRACI GREEN: It's great to be here.
CORNISH: Help us understand. We have the data, but what does this mean on a day-to-day basis for a place like Boston Medical Center?
GREEN: Boston Medical Center is really lucky. They were early to see that our opioid crisis was something that they had the special capacity to address by creating an opioid urgent care center. This setting in a judgment-free environment allows people to - with addiction to get the kind of services and care either after an overdose, after an inpatient stay for a health condition and for people in the community to come and walk in family members and friends of people maybe accompanying people who are looking for treatment. But in - this is an unusual setting.
CORNISH: So as you said, this is atypical. When we look at this data that shows us what's going on across the country, what do you think this means when they're talking about, like, inpatient and emergency room visits being up by these numbers?
GREEN: There is a typical sense of treat and street in the emergency department setting and that an overdose is one such event. People tend to be treated in the - by the ambulance or the first responder staff, transferred for a check-in and an observation for an hour or two before. But then people leave very quickly or are moved out to - after stabilization. So they don't tend to stay very much for an overdose. This is a missed opportunity to do something different.
CORNISH: Now, I understand that you and your team have worked on public health messaging telling people to call for help if an overdose happens, giving out education about naloxone, which can reverse most opioid overdoses. Are people hearing it? I mean is there some silver lining to be seen in these hospital visits?
GREEN: There very much is. I think we have - in Massachusetts in particular, the rates have been high, but the help seeking's also been high. So the more that we can do to connect people to prevention, the more likely we are to start to bring some of those numbers down and to standardize the care of overdose and opioid use disorder in the country.
CORNISH: These numbers that we've been talking about showing this increase in hospitalizations for opioids are from 2005 to 2014, so that's even before the election, before politicians were really talking about it nationally. What's your biggest worry now about this epidemic?
GREEN: That it's gotten much, much worse, that these numbers will only have increased, and instead of a handful of states, we will see many more having been affected by enormous increases - all the more reason to be starting to talk further with one another and share best practices and innovations to start to provide more treatment and more naloxone and more innovations in the emergency departments in the hospitals' settings.
CORNISH: I'm surprised that isn't happening already, right? I mean I just feel like this is a part of a national conversation. I mean what are some of the obstacles, do you think, to getting out ahead of this?
GREEN: Stigma is a big one (laughter) - are not well-equipped to address addiction. Just as we've seen for - in the primary care setting that we haven't been well-equipped to deal with pain and addiction, those same challenges are really manifest in the emergency department and the hospital. And we see them.
CORNISH: Meaning doctors don't know what to say or how to identify a problem or admit that they're part of it.
GREEN: All of the above. We also don't tend to have addiction specialties represented in our emergency departments and our hospitals across the country. As a specialty service, this isn't critical, but it should be more of a standard in the current crisis. Every hospital and every emergency department should have the capacity to provide at least basic, minimal screening referral, consistent treatment and lifesaving naloxone in events post-overdose. And we don't currently have this in place.
CORNISH: Traci Green is deputy director of the Injury Prevention Center at Boston Medical Center. Thank you for speaking with us.
GREEN: You're very welcome. Transcript provided by NPR, Copyright NPR.


text:
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) _ Attorney General Mark Herring is telling Virginia colleges that they can grant in-state tuition to thousands of students who were previously considered ineligible because of their immigration status. The policy change, announced Tuesday at Northern Virginia Community College, is a change from the Democrat's Republican predecessors. In the past, the attorney general's office had advised that students who entered the country illegally were barred from receiving in-state tuition, even if they were children when they immigrated. Herring says students can qualify for the reduced tuition under a special immigration status created by the Obama administration for certain young people brought to the country as children.
Click here to read the full Attorney General's news release.


text:
Ain't Nobody Got Time for That: 5 Tips for Working Efficiently
No one ever got anywhere by doing the bare minimum. Your growth depends on you getting as much done in as little time as possible. The five tips below will help you accomplish as much as possible each and every workday. By achieving more and procrastinating less, you'll decrease your stress levels and become a more productive person overall!
Prepare in advance.
At the end of each workday, figure out what you need to get done the next day. Most people are more productive and better able to focus in the morning. Having everything laid out so you can get started right away the next morning ensures that you take advantage of your most productive hours. Go through all your tasks to figure out what you need to get started. If there are questions that need answering before you can begin, you can send emails and get answers now so you're not playing the waiting game come tomorrow.
Prioritize and plan.
Decide what tasks are most important and what tasks can wait until tomorrow. You should dedicate no more than three most important tasks to each day. If you fill your plate on Monday with all your tasks for the entire week, you'll likely hop from project to project without actually completing a single one.
Schedule tasks and set reminders.
Managing your time effectively is a critical part of being productive. We're all human and it's our nature from time to time to let important tasks slip our minds. What sets productive people apart from the rest of humanity is that they know their downfalls and prepare ahead of time. If you continuously find yourself remembering that you forgot to follow up with a client or reply to an important message at the very last minute, it's time to rely on something other than your mind to remind you. You can use sticky notes, daily planners, Excel to-do lists or even utilize a CRM or project management software to keep track of your daily responsibilities. Whatever works best for you, you owe it to yourself to schedule your tasks and set timely reminders, that way you can stay in the loop at all times and minimize as much stress as possible.
Focus on one thing at a time.
One of the biggest barriers to completing a big project is constant interruption. Receiving an email or instant message every five minutes is disruptive enough as it is, but we're often urged to acknowledge these menial tasks, therefore abandoning the project we were trying so hard to focus on. It's tempting to quickly review an edit to a project or respond to an email because those are easy tasks and we feel like we're finally accomplishing something – a feeling absent from the big project we've been working on all afternoon. Try disconnecting for an hour or two. Unless an email is urgent, it can wait until your project is done. By getting the most pressing and important tasks done first, you will be able to be more productive while keeping your stress levels down. The sense of satisfaction for completing a large task is much greater than it is for a small task and it will set the tone for the rest of your day.
Take a break.
We all get stumped from time to time. If you've been focusing for hours on a project and you're drawing a blank, it's probably time to walk away. Not permanently, of course. Taking a break isn't the same as giving up, in fact, it makes you more productive and creative. So, when you're back in front of your computer, you'll be drawing great ideas instead of blanks.
Remember, no one's perfect and we all have moments where we feel like we're not doing our best. But if you practice these five tips, your work will be more efficient and productive.


text:
Do you have someone in your life who is expecting? This gift card says "It's a girl" with a cute little panda queen, and is a perfect gift for a baby shower. Mix and match any 10 money cards for $29.99!
Money cards are a fun and unique way to give cash gifts! Each money card kit includes the card (approximately 4.25" x 5.5"), a clear plastic money tube with adhesive to hold your rolled up cash gift, and a gift bag. You can even add die-cut stickers or sticker mini-sheets into the included gift bag! Please note that our full-sized sticker sheets don't fit in the included gift bags, but they still make great additions to your gift.
The cash/money shown in the images is not included. This product may contain small parts not intended for very young children.
@featherstonemotifs, EVERY DAY IS A STICKER DAY!™


text:
I load the front page of my blog nearly every day. I just can't seem to create a post that has enough value that it's worth posting at all. However, now I will.
That aside, I have been looking at CloudFlare, and I've implemented it in some areas. WordPress is locked to a domain, so this blog isn't behind CloudFlare. Most sections of theoks.net can be viewed behind CloudFlare by replacing theoks.net with theoks.tk.
What CloudFlare does for you is that it caches static resources like CSS, Javascript, and images, closer to you, resulting in faster load of images and styles. Especially on the image board, and the zoomable Minecraft map render this can be advantageous.
I have also added Google's +1 button to post pages, as well as the home page, and moved the Tweet button with it to below the post content.
In related news I got into Google+, which is pretty exciting. You may ask me for an invite, but I cannot guarantee that you will be allowed to join.


text:
We're pleased to announce the first stable release of PyPy3. PyPy3
targets Python 3 (3.2.5) compatibility.
We would like to thank all of the people who donated to the py3k proposal
for supporting the work that went into this.
You can download the PyPy3 2.3.1 release here:
- The first stable release of PyPy3: support for Python 3!
- The stdlib has been updated to Python 3.2.5
- Additional support for the u'unicode' syntax (PEP 414) from Python 3.3
- Updates from the default branch, such as incremental GC and various JIT
improvements - Resolved some notable JIT performance regressions from PyPy2:
- Re-enabled the previously disabled collection (list/dict/set) strategies
- Resolved performance of iteration over range objects
- Resolved handling of Python 3's exception __context__ unnecessarily forcing
frame object overhead
What is PyPy?
PyPy is a very compliant Python interpreter, almost a drop-in replacement for
CPython 2.7.6 or 3.2.5. It's fast due to its integrated tracing JIT compiler.
This release supports x86 machines running Linux 32/64, Mac OS X 64, Windows,
and OpenBSD,
as well as newer ARM hardware (ARMv6 or ARMv7, with VFPv3) running Linux.
While we support 32 bit python on Windows, work on the native Windows 64
bit python is still stalling, we would welcome a volunteer
to handle that.
How to use PyPy?
We suggest using PyPy from a virtualenv. Once you have a virtualenv
installed, you can follow instructions from pypy documentation on how
to proceed. This document also covers other installation schemes.
the PyPy team


text:
The GT is by no means a Shelby GT 350 R, not even close. Besides the over $350,000 jump in price and the additional 100 or more horsepower. The new GT is even more track-focused then the previous ones. And the mid-engine layout, combined with the GT's carbon-fiber construction it much more than a muscle car and more of a Super car.
Even though Ford has not decided on a specific horse power, the new GT with 3.5-liter twin-turbo V6 will produce more than 600 horsepower. Standing up well to the Corvette Z 06 and its' 650 horses. Now Ford says it is working on the power-to-weight ratios to be the best of any production car. Even if they can't hit the ratio of the Koenigsegg One with its 2.2 lbs / hp and make it to the range of the McLauren P1 with its 3.5 lbs / hp. Even with its aerodynamics the approx. 3500-lb Corvette Z06 may be a little overweight to held ground with the new GT.
Priced like a Lamborghini Aventador
Knowing it's expected price range points to the real competition of the new 2017 GT. Granted the Lamborghini Aventador is packing 691 horse power, but outweighing the Corvette Z06 in curb weight by another 500 pounds, it may have a hard time keeping up with the new GT on the track. When you consider the Aventador holds twice the cylinders as the GT's twin-turbo V6, and the fact that the Aventador is a naturally aspirated V12 all wheel drive, you can expect it to be faster off the line.
It will be interesting to see how the GT compares to the McLaren 657LT the car that feels like a competition vehicle. Weighing in at less than 3000 lbs, the 657 is pretty light, but the GT will probably weigh less. The Mc Laren 675LT is also a limited-production car, with only 500 units slated to built and cost about $50,000 less than the Lamborghini.
Then there is the Ferrari F12tdf with a price point just under $500,000 with a substantial increase in power. Touting a 6.3-liter V12 with 770 horsepower hitting 0 to 60 in under 3 seconds. The Ferrari will be a head over the GT by more than 100 horsepower, but the based on Fords claims the GT should be much more light weight.
With Ford skipping a hybrid-electric system, it will be something to pit the new and severely less expensive Acura NSX with its hybrid tech and all-wheel drive against the new GT and its focus on light weight. With the NSX and its 573 horsepower will it be enough to hold its own against the GT? Time will tell.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9450246


text:
Credit CARD Act Turns 5, A Big Success Story
The Credit CARD Act of 2009, has its 5th birthday today on May 22. It is a government success story that cleaned up a Wild West credit card marketplace by eliminating unfair tricks and traps without destroying the market. Let's celebrate by extending it to other card markets--debit and prepaid cards.
The Credit CARD Act of 2009, which had its 5th birthday on May 22, is a government success story that cleaned up a Wild West credit card marketplace by eliminating unfair tricks and traps without destroying the market. Despite "sky is falling" claims of impending doom from industry apologists at the time, the credit card industry is still strong and consumers can choose from a variety of cards.
Let's celebrate by taking similar steps to fix the problems in the growing prepaid and debit card markets. In particular, we need to rein in unfair overdraft fees.
First, let's take a look at the credit card market before the CARD Act passed.
For over ten years, with lax regulators ignoring them, card issuers ratcheted down the thumbscrews on consumers.
- First, they increased late fee penalties on late-pay consumers.
- Then, they said a late-fee of up to $35 wasn't good enough, so a late payment also resulted in a "penalty interest rate" as high as 36%, or nearly 3 times a typical credit card rate. These penalty APRs were imposed retroactively on existing balances.
- Then, they tricked more consumers into paying late by changing due dates randomly, shortening the period between when a bill was mailed and when it was due, and even making bills due on a Sunday (and imposing penalties if it arrived on Monday). They charged late fees and imposed penalty interest rates on bills as little as one hour late.
- This wasn't enough. Issuers next saw an opportunity to increase penalty fees and interest from consumers who'd always paid on time. They invented the practice of "universal default," allowing them to impose penalties on always on-time customers who'd had their credit score decline for any reason.
- But the card issuers weren't done. Finally, they used their contractual provision stating "We can change the rules at any time, for any reason, including no reason" to raise everyone else's rates.
This last tightening of the screw even got the attention of Congress. It was enough of an outrage, especially since it occurred in the runup to the 2008 Wall Street-induced economic collapse, to override the longstanding love affair between Congress and the credit card companies. The CARD Act, championed by Rep. Carolyn Maloney (NY), passed overwhelmingly.
- The CARD Act made it harder to impose egregious penalty interest rates. It banned tricks designed to make you pay late and, most importantly, prohibited imposition of retroactive interest rate hikes on existing balances until a consumer was 60 days late.
- It provided protections for young consumers and students, including an "ability to pay" provision and restrictions on on-campus "free pizza if you sign-up" marketing. It also required establishment of a public database of lucrative campus credit card contracts. A recent CFPB report highlights the benefits of this last provision.
In October, I testified at a Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) field hearing on the CARD Act in Chicago. By all accounts, it's been a very successful law.
CFPB Director Cordray's remarks that day highlighted the act's successes.
- The CFPB found that in 2012 consumers saved $4 billion in unfair late and over-the-limit fees. A separate academic study estimates that fee savings annually have totaled $12.6 billion.
- The size of the typical late fee declined by $6.
- Late fees, over-the-limit fees, and other penalty fees have declined as a percentage of outstanding balance
- Cordray: "Consumers have responded positively to these market-wide changes. When JD Power released its 2013 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction Study, it showed credit card satisfaction at an all-time high since the study was first conducted."
- Cordray: "The CFPB found that annual fees and interest rates increased since 2008, which indicates a shift from hidden back-end pricing toward more transparent front-end pricing that consumers can understand and evaluate more easily."
Our next step is to extend the benefits of the CARD Act to two less-regulated but growing card markets, debit cards and prepaid cards. In particular, if you aren't careful, your debit card (which is associated with your bank account) can put you at risk of high overdraft fees. Further, people who use prepaid cards often do so because they either don't qualify for a bank account or want a safe harbor from high bank account fees, particularly overdraft fees.
While the regulators have imposed some limits on overdraft policies associated with debit cards – in particular a requirement that you must opt-in to allow overdrafts at retail, such as in a coffee shop, otherwise your card will simply be declined. Who wants to pay $39 for a latte anyway ($4 for the latte plus $35 for the overdraft fee)? But the opt-in rules don't apply to overdrafts caused by checks, exacerbating the common policy of re-ordering checks and debits from highest to lowest, making it more likely that more items will bounce.
Nor do the overdraft rules apply to prepaid cards. The prepaid card market is growing rapidly, but there are no federal laws or regulations to protect consumers from hidden fees, expensive credit features, and other hazards. Moreover, there are no federal rules requiring prepaid card disclosures. U.S. PIRG Education Fund research has documented the problems college students, including those who receive student loan refunds on cards, face from unfair campus debit card practices.
On the fifth anniversary of a government law that worked to protect some cardholders, let's take the next step to protect other card users.
Ed Mierzwinski
Senior Director, Federal Consumer Program, PIRG
Ed oversees U.S. PIRG's federal consumer program, helping to lead national efforts to improve consumer credit reporting laws, identity theft protections, product safety regulations and more. Ed is co-founder and continuing leader of the coalition, Americans For Financial Reform, which fought for the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010, including as its centerpiece the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. He was awarded the Consumer Federation of America's Esther Peterson Consumer Service Award in 2006, Privacy International's Brandeis Award in 2003, and numerous annual "Top Lobbyist" awards from The Hill and other outlets. Ed lives in Virginia, and on weekends he enjoys biking with friends on the many local bicycle trails.


text:
Breastfeeding: Exercise and Weight Loss
Keep the following in mind as you start an exercise program or try to lose weight while you are breastfeeding.
Being active helps promote weight loss, improves your energy level, and can help you relieve stress. Follow these tips when you start an exercise program while you are breastfeeding:
- Start out slowly. Walking, swimming, and cycling are all good low-impact ways to begin an exercise program. Gradually build up your time and intensity.
- Wear a supportive bra. Not all sports bras offer enough support, so try on a bra before you buy it.
- Eat more calories when you are more active.
- Drink plenty of water before, during, and after you exercise.
- To ease breast discomfort, breastfeed or pump right before you exercise.
Weight loss
You may gradually lose weight without trying while breastfeeding. The rate and ease of weight loss varies widely. You may lose about 1 lb (0.5 kg) to 2 lb (0.9 kg) a week. Some women find that it takes up to a year to lose the weight they gained during pregnancy.
If you wish to lose weight while breastfeeding, both diet and physical activity have a role. Physical activity or exercise is the safest way to lose weight during this time. Moderate calorie restriction (eating less) may be safe for some overweight women, but breastfeeding women should generally eat more calories. Extreme weight-loss diets should be avoided while breastfeeding. For more information, see the topic Nutrition While Breastfeeding.
Talk to a nutritional counselor, registered dietitian, or your doctor about a safe and healthy diet.
Related Information
Current as of: October 10, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:
Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine
Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine
Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine
Kirtly Jones MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology
- Top of the page
Next Section:
Related Information
Previous Section:
Overview- Top of the page
Next Section:
Previous Section:
Related Information- Top of the page
Current as of: October 10, 2022
Author: Healthwise Staff
Medical Review:Sarah Marshall MD - Family Medicine & Kathleen Romito MD - Family Medicine & Adam Husney MD - Family Medicine & Kirtly Jones MD - Obstetrics and Gynecology


text:
To redirect the standard output from a command use the > (greater than) symbol followed by the name of the output file. If the file that you redirect standard output to does not already exist it will be created. For example:
grep Smith /etc/passwd > popular
This redirects the standard output from the grep command so that it goes to the file popular. This file will contain all occurrences of the string Smith that were found in the /etc/passwd file.