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By this point you probably know all you ever wanted to know, and more, about Mr. Money Mustache's long-ago path to early retirement. But my story is only one of an infinite number of possibilities, which means it is valuable to look around at how other people are doing it.
Because of that, I've been sharing more reader success stories recently, and I've been particularly excited to share this one for quite a while because it comes from a completely different direction.
I first met Zeona McIntyre just over two years ago, on a warm early summer day in Boulder. Without my knowledge she had created a Facebook group called Boulder Mustachians and already amassed a substantial collection of fun people before I even got word of it. We coordinated to hold a gathering in a beautiful riverside park downtown.
Late that night, after the main party and a smaller afterparty at a pub with a group of diehard survivors, the two of us were walking and talking the two miles across town to get Zeona back to her apartment, and me to the main road so I could bike back to Longmont. And she mentioned something vague and slightly mysterious about how much her life had changed, due to a new rental real estate business. I didn't understand the details in full, but it sounded significant.
Fast forwarding to the almost-present, I encountered Zeona again. This time she was leading a session on real estate investing at the Camp Mustache Florida event in January*. By this point, she had the relaxed demeanor of an old pro. She owned at least four extremely profitable properties, bought at low prices and bringing in high rent due to the magic of AirBnb. She had more income and opportunities than she had time to think about. By my definition, she was already just about to hit semi-retirement at age 29, which means she had done it both younger and faster than I had.
Since Zeona's story combines a bunch of hard work, sound business principles, relatively fearless thinking and involved some techniques that had never even occurred to me before, I thought would we could all get some benefit of having a little conversation with her. So let's see what she has to say:
An Interview With the AirBnb Entrepreneur
MMM: Let's start with a leading question on the basics first: your Mustachianism story. What was your financial and work life before you encountered this blog, what led you to it, and what changes did you make first?
ZM: My mother got me interested in personal finance right around the time I headed to college. I remember being home on school breaks, watching The Suze Orman show with her and renting books like "Rich Dad, Poor Dad", from the library. Although I had already begun to amass significant financial aid debt, I already had the concepts of snowball payments and index fund investing, ingrained in me early on.
Sometime around 2012 after stumbling across your blog a few times, I became convinced and converted to hardcore Mustachianism at the ripe ole' age of 26. I didn't know how I was going to retire by 30, but I held the vision fiercely.
At the time, I was in massage school, working at a dispensary for $12 per hour, with something like 50K+ of student debt left in a Parent Loan. So I started to bike everywhere, trained my friends to cook meals with me instead of going out to eat, started a massage practice in my living room, lived with my mom for a bit, and put every extra cent towards debt paydown.
MMM: At some point you veered off the standard "work hard, save, invest" path and took a bigger jump into hosting a short-term rental as a source of income. Where did you get that idea?
ZM: My best friend from high school was living the high life in New York City with a stressful career and an expensive apartment, then suddenly found himself laid off. At a friend's suggestion, he decided to try renting it out on AirBnb while he went off to travel for a while before starting again. His little vacation turned into a year living in Spain and South Africa and by the end of it, he told me that he made $50,000 off renting his apartment!
I decided I had to try something similar for myself.
MMM: What did your own AirBnB financial stuff look like initially? And from that point, how long did you let it ride and what did it feel like?
First, a disclaimer: I stumbled into Airbnb during the earlier days of the platform and with no knowledge of the rules. These days, things with AirBnb are much more formal. So some of this stuff (renting out rooms from within a rented apartment) is a gray area.
I began my Airbnb journey in August 2012. My mother decided to move back to Hawaii, so I got a two bedroom apartment and a roommate who could help with rent. I furnished it with all the stuff my mom and I had, knowing that I could sublease it for more to a roommate if it was furnished and because I was curious about trying out Airbnb.
My new roomie was only around part-time, which allowed me to test the Airbnb waters a bit while she was living there (I gave her a cut) and then see if I wanted to get another roommate after she left. I never did.
I started by renting my room, renting hers when she was away, and renting both when she moved out. I would stay in whatever room wasn't rented, stay with friends, basically whatever I had to do to make it work. I also did all the cleaning myself.
The rooms rented between $45-90/night each including the cleaning fee, and my portion of rent was only $575 so it covered it rather quickly. At the time, I had begun a massage practice by donation, out of my living room, which covered food/gas/bills and Airbnb covered my rent/utilities.
Luckily, I knew how to live frugally; I'm a bit shocked looking back at how little my earnings were to start and proud that I figured out a way to live job-free. I remember feeling so rich with freedom during that time in my life.
In September, after just a month of sampling AirBnb entrepreneurship, I knew I wanted to expand. So I took on a lease on a second apartment, furnished it in a weekend and I was off to the races. That place was basically training wheels. I made a ton of mistakes and only made a couple hundred a month after expenses. And in December, a neighbor alerted the landlord to what turned out to be a violation of the lease policy, and he asked me to leave.
Although the apartment was relatively painless to dismantle and I got my entire deposit back, I was really shaken up from the experience and thought I might be done with the whole Airbnb experiment. Luckily, my father insisted that I pick myself up and try again, so I did.
My next place was a one bedroom condo that I was renting for $1025/mo, and this experience was much better. I averaged $500-1500/mo. profit from this location, while continuing to rent out rooms in my own home, going to school, doing all the turnover cleans, and doing some massages on the side. Although it sounds busy, it was really fun and flexible. Every day was different, and I only worked a couple of hours a day.
MMM: What was the next step in the expansion? What tricks did you learn and use to make it successful?
ZM: My experiences taught me that there was more profit to be made renting a home as a whole unit, instead of renting single rooms. At the same time, I found myself traveling more often, which forced me to seek out a cleaner that could cover me when I was away.
Looking back, this was a huge and somewhat obvious move towards expansion, and yet it took me awhile to realize. I was very focused on being a "true" mustachian:
I also tested a new vacation rentals software company that responded to guest inquiries/emails/questions if I was out of range for too long. This was the beginning of the automation that presently rules my business, and that same company is the one that I circled back to years later when I pushed to 5+ properties.
Although I mention specific settings that can be used to optimize your Airbnb listing on my blog, I don't know if there are many "tricks" and I want to be clear in saying that I think it is a very accessible profession for anyone who might have an interest in hosting and hospitality. Thinking of it as a hospitality business rather than a turn-key real estate investment was a significant perspective shift I learned along the way. It is important to consider what sort of experience you are creating for the guest and how you can continually work towards improving that.
MMM: Did you notice any significant change in your life, once you realized how different a semi-passive income like property rentals can be, when compared to a purely active income like a massage practice?
ZM: Yes. In the Fall of 2012, just a few months after I started dabbling with Airbnb, my mother was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I was pulled away by my mother's illness and started taking multi-month leaves of absence to support her. Near the end of 2014, I knew I could no longer be away from home so I brought her back to Colorado to live with me. The grief of losing my mother and one of the closest people in my life forced me into a sort of the "early retirement". This is when Airbnb saved me, because the rentals were still working for me when I could not work myself.
MMM: That's a sad story, but I remember feeling the same way when
So anyway, as with any type of success, it takes a certain type of personality and skillset to build a successful business of this type. What general skills, traits, and unusual passions do you think you ended up having, which in retrospect are making this thing succeed.
1. Flexibility, I would say is the number one skill that really made this work. For years, any booking took priority over my plans. If someone was willing to pay for my house, I was out. I would either move over to my other apartment (I lived between two condos for 3+years) or stay with a friend. It sounds easy enough but it was ungrounding and quite exhausting.
2. Organization – Scheduling multiple cleans and juggling bookings from multiple sites, gave me a crash course in building systems. My former weirdo obsession with spreadsheets helped me keep track of all my earnings / expenses.
3. Optimization – I was careful not to waste time, resources, supplies, etc.
4. Negotiation skills – Everything is life is negotiable: rent, airbnb rates, cleaner fees, etc. I did my best to maximize earnings.
5. Communication skills – As a manager I really need to listen and keep a cool head. I am frequently responsible for sorting out the needs of guests, property owners, cleaners, you name it. I lean on the side of over-communicating, as I need to check in with everyone to make sure we are on the same page.
6. Believing / Visualizing – I have a uniquely limitless outlook on life. I like to believe that anything I put my mind to is possible and I feel challenged rather than discouraged when someone tries to doubt me or project their limitations on me.
7. Being a Risk-Taker – For as long as I can remember, I have had a large appetite for risk. The way I see it is that I am really thorough in doing my research and after checking out all the possible outcomes, things that look risky from the outside feel like a safe bet.
MMM: What's the current state of your operation?
ZM: I now own four properties in St. Louis Missouri – single family houses purchased for an average of under $70,000 each. Plus an apartment in Boulder bought long ago for $162,000. On top of this, I manage another 10-20 properties for other property owners for a fee (a practice called co-hosting).
To handle it all, I have hired a team of several people: an assistant, receptionists, management software, cleaning teams, co-hosts working under me, etc. My goal is to take myself completely out of the picture.
After just a year of co-hosting other properties, my business went from $4,000-$6,000/mo. gross, to today, my biggest month to date: a whopping $18,000 (likely $13,000/net). I work about 8-10 hours a week now and I'm excited to ramp down.
Although I have built my business to a place of near automation, I am still called on sometimes and I have a few jobs left to outsource. I am happy to no longer be pulling the 40+ hour work weeks that I did for a few months during the build and I see Early Retirement coaxing me over to her spacious arms again.
MMM: So what's the future? Have you given up other sources of income? Faced an existential dilemma of what to do with your life if there is no point earning additional income?
I find that as the "earning and spending money" side of life becomes solved, it opens up a whole new can of worms. It can be a very joyful way to live, but you have to be careful because it also gives you the option of sitting around doing nothing, which is not joyful at all. Seen any pitfalls?
ZM: The future is getting myself as close to full retirement as feasible, ASAP. I am still the big boss so I expect an occasional problem to come across my desk, and yet, I feel the key to happiness for myself is having the lowest amount of stress and responsibility on my plate as possible.
Last November, I finally gave up my massage practice in totality. It was strangely difficult to do. I was only making a couple hundred dollars a month and yet, it felt like some sort of safety net. Now, I am experiencing that same fear in letting go of taking on new clients myself (I defer them to my team for a smaller percentage) and running this Airbnb business directly. Although I have hit my "enough" number with my investments, transitions can be scary to make.
At the moment, I am looking forward to more space and time with myself. The two years that I spent essentially retired, gave me great practice at keeping myself entertained. I quickly realized that I had to find another way to derive meaning from my life than working or productivity. I was fortunate enough to find that being there for the people in my life gave me that.
I now travel nearly five months out of the year, have a good social circle and a lot of interests to keep me delighted for years to come. And the worst case scenario? I can always create some new business to tinker with down the road.
Looking forward, I see finding a compatible partner and creating a family as my next challenge to embark on, as well as developing creative pursuits. I really love writing. I would like more time to dedicate to my blog and am toying around with the idea of writing a book at my own leisurely pace. I am also quite terrified of public speaking, so the idea of doing a TEDx talk, sounds like a healthy way to confront that.
(note: you can find Zeona's personal/business blog at
MMM: One of the unusual things about you is the number of interesting trips you take. Can you tell us about some of the most interesting ones, and how this plays into the house-sitting and informal sharing economies?
ZM: I just got back from a birthday month away. I dog sat in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands for 2.5 weeks, had a layover in NYC with some friends, sailed for a week in Greece, then caught up with a friend who just moved to Portugal and did a road trip in her Sprinter van from Lisbon to Porto.
I bought the flights with miles, stayed for free everywhere except on the boat, which I got on a half price, last minute tip; all while renting out my homes and car to support my eating out habits.
I guess you could say I am a poster child for the share economy. When I'm out in the world, I rent my car on turo and my homes on airbnb. I travel hack to cover the flights. Promote Airbnb for travel credits. I'm a huge fan of house/pet sitting which still seems to be underground and I use that method to stay in awesome homes for free (and sometimes even get paid) all over the world.
MMM: Thinking about the bigger picture, what is your own definition of a life well lived, and what (if anything) do you think people in your peer group might be overlooking, if they don't happen to encounter the right teachers early in life?
ZM: I'm all about quality of life. I believe a life well lived is one with lots of love and laughter. People to hug, share delicious food with, and have adventures with. I believe creativity is born out of free time, which Americans especially are deficient in. I think it's important to spend a lot of time in nature and with the unique opportunity of discovering yourself. The real work is within. I find that people especially my age, are so distracted with things outside of themselves / needing to prove something.
The biggest set back I see around me is limiting beliefs. I see a lot of people telling themselves old stories that keep them stuck in patterns that aren't serving them. I really enjoy sharing my experiences to show others what is possible. I think the biggest compliment I can ever receive is that I inspired someone, if I've done that for even one person, my job is complete. Nothing I've done in my career is out of reach to the average person, you've just got to believe.
MMM: Thanks for sharing your life with us Zeona!
*Yes, you may be noticing a one-dimensional theme to my social life these days, but hey, it's hard to beat Mustachians if you're looking for interesting people to hang out with.
**For the record, Zeona was actually being totally Mustachian here – hiring employees to expand a profitable business. My policy is that you're not allowed to hire people just to facilitate your own convenience and consumption at home, because you could probably benefit from the extra exercise and learning – along with the extra money.


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Parent Participation
Development and implementation of a quality program for children is best accomplished with the support and participation of parents. Parental involvement is an integral part of our program. The Center has an "open door" policy, which encourages parents to drop by to observe their child or spend time with them during the day.
Parent/Teacher conferences are held twice a year, at the end of each semester. Impromptu meetings are held anytime there is a need. Daily communication between teachers and parents is strongly encouraged. Workshops and parent meetings are scheduled throughout the year dealing with topics such as curriculum, child development issues, nutrition, difficult behaviors, etc. Ideas for workshops and parent meetings are always welcome.
Parent Code of Responsibility
All parents are expected to act in a courteous manner toward all staff, parents, and children at the Center. Punctuality in dropping off and picking up children is expected. Should a parent feel the need to discipline their child while at the Center, parents are encouraged to follow the Center's discipline policy. Physical discipline will not be tolerated.
Grievance Policy
If at any time a parent has a concern or a problem about the center and they have already spoken with their classroom teacher, they should then use the following chain of command:
- Center Director Jaci Maurer (718-960-8746)
- Executive Director Dawn Barton (718-960-5676)
- Associate Dean of Student Affairs John Holloway (718-960-8242)

subset: commoncrawl


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July 12 meeting - OpenShift
Topic: OpenShift Presenter: Wesley Hearn When: Thursday, July 12, 7pm Where: Red Hat HQ, NCSU Centennial Campus, 1801 Varsity Dr, Raleigh, NC Map: Google Maps Sponsor: BCBSNC 1-800-324-4973
Wesley Hearn will be presenting OpenShift, a cloud computing platform as a service product from Red Hat.
This meeting is sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina, the state's largest health insurance company, providing service to over 3.5 million North Carolinians. BCBSNC will have a representative at the meeting to discuss insurance plans that they offer, specifically for the self-employed.
Synopsis: Wesley Hearn will be going over what Cloud computing is and where OpenShift is inside the Cloud stack. After everyone has a grasp on Cloud computing, he will go over how OpenShift differs from OpenShift Origin. Then it is on to the semi-fun stuff, the different components of OpenShift Origin and how they work together. Once Wesley has gone over all of this, he will show you how to set up and deploy a local install(he will be doing it in KVM) so you can develop and test your application before you push it to OpenShift.
Slides and files Wesley's slides are available here: http://jknife.fedorapeople.org/TriLUG/


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WASHINGTON — Appealing for patience and perseverance from environmental activists, President Barack Obama claimed progress Wednesday in his second-term drive to combat climate change but said more must be done to address a generational problem.
One year after unveiling an aggressive plan, Obama said new emissions limits on power plants, renewable energy projects and new incentives for green technology have cleared the way for further action in the U.S. and abroad, despite steadfast opposition from much of Congress.
"When you take those first steps, even if they're hard, and even if there are politics sometimes, you start building momentum and you start mobilizing larger and larger communities," Obama said. "Every step makes a difference."
The centerpiece of Obama's plan, carbon limits on existing power plants, is on track after the Environmental Protection Agency met its deadline to issue a draft, although the timeline for states to comply has been delayed in some cases. Still, the limits have drawn major opposition from Republicans and some Democrats and will face legal challenges that could threaten their durability.
"The president has no more elections to win, yet he allows the narrow interests of his most extreme political allies to dictate an agenda that puts jobs and opportunity out of reach," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio.
Obama delighted in mocking Republicans in Congress who dispute climate change or refuse to take a position on the grounds that they're lawmakers, not scientists.
"Folks will tell you climate change is a hoax, or a fad, or a plot. It's a liberal plot!" Obama said, standing in front of a giant American flag for a speech that had all the trappings of a campaign rally.
Obama's remarks to the League of Conservation Voters served as a progress report for his climate plan, which the president laid out with much fanfare last June at Georgetown University. Twelve months later, much of the plan is in motion, although the most ambitious steps are still up in the air and will take years to be fully realized.
Change won't be instantaneous, Obama cautioned. "There's no silver bullet."
Indeed, many of the steps he's taking are modest, limited in scope by hostility from both parties to putting a price on carbon pollution, which would require new laws from Congress. Still, Obama said he's seeking to tackle the problem but cutting it up into smaller pieces.
"We're moving, and it's making a difference," he told a supportive crowd at LCV's annual dinner. The environmental group backed Obama early in his 2008 campaign.
The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, a nonpartisan group formerly associated with the Pew Center, said this week that Obama has made at least some progress on most of the 75 goals he laid out last June. Those steps will require follow-through, but if the administration keeps up the pace it achieved in the past year, the U.S. could meet its 17 percent goal, the center said.Obama has started the clock on carbon limits for new power plants, although the low cost of cleaner-burning natural gas means few new coal-fired plants will be built in the U.S. anyway.
Obama's administration has approved 10 new renewable energy projects on public lands, but is less than halfway toward its goal of increasing solar, wind and geothermal output by 8,100 megawatts. The administration has also proposed nine new standards for energy efficiency and finalized eight others, seeking to curb emissions from appliances and other equipment.
Yet on the international front, momentum has been elusive. Ahead of global climate talks next year in Paris, there are fresh signs that countries like Australia are prodding Canada and others to resist global moves to curb carbon. That could dissuade even bigger polluters, like China, from acting.
Heather Zichal, the former White House adviser who spearheaded Obama's plan, said the president is well on its way to carrying out the domestic steps he promised last year.
"The question is, What degree of success will the administration have in bringing other countries to the table?" she said.
JOSH LEDERMAN, Associated Press


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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A tiny all-white Appalachian church in rural Kentucky has voted to ban interracial couples from joining its flock, pitting members against each other in an argument over race.
Members at the Gulnare Free Will Baptist Church voted Sunday on the resolution, which says the church "does not condone interracial marriage."
The church member who crafted the resolution, Melvin Thompson, said he is not racist and called the matter an "internal affair."
"I am not racist. I will tell you that. I am not prejudiced against any race of people, have never in my lifetime spoke evil" about a race, said Thompson, the church's former pastor who stepped down earlier this year. "That's what this is being portrayed as, but it is not."
Church secretary Dean Harville disagrees: He says the resolution came after his daughter visited the church this summer with her boyfriend from Africa.
Stella Harville and Ticha Chikuni -- now her fiance -- visited the church in June and Chikuni sang a song for the congregation. The two had visited the church before.
Dean Harville, the church's secretary, said he was counting the church offering after a service in early August when he was approached by Thompson, who told him Harville's daughter and her boyfriend were no longer allowed to sing at the church.
"If he's not racist, what is this?" Harville said of Thompson.
The vote by members last Sunday was 9-6, Harville said. It was taken after the service, which about 35 to 40 people attended. Harville said many people left or declined to vote.
The resolution says anyone is welcome to attend services, but interracial couples could not become members or be "used in worship services or other church functions."
Stella Harville, a 24-year-old graduate student at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Indiana, called the vote "hurtful."
"I think part of me is still in shock and trying to process what's been going on the past few days," she said. "I really hope they overturn this."
The church's pastor, Stacy Stepp, said Wednesday that he was against the resolution. Stepp said the denomination's regional conference will begin working on resolving the issue this weekend.
The National Association of Free Will Baptists in Antioch, Tenn., has no official position on interracial marriage for its 2,400 churches worldwide, executive secretary Keith Burden said. The denomination believes in the Bible is inerrant and local churches have autonomy over decision-making.
"It's been a non-issue with us," Burden said, adding that many interracial couples attend Free Will Baptist churches. He said the Pike County church acted on its own. Burden said the association can move to strip the local church of its affiliation with the national denomination if it's not resolved.
"Hopefully it is corrected quickly," Burden said.
The church's vote on interracial marriage was first reported this week by East Kentucky Broadcasting, a network of local radio stations in the region.
Stella Harville met Chikuni at Georgetown College, where he is a student advisor. Dean Harville said Chikuni's parents live in southern Africa, and he has not seen them in over a decade.


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DISCOVER POP ROCK BALLADS OF ALL TIME: After supporting Lady Ga Ga, Akon and dropping tracks with lil'Jon, 'Kristen Karma' carries on her global success with her touching and universal piano and pop rock ballad 'Dear John'
Toronto-based artist Kristen Karma has released a music video tribute to her father, "Dear John." The single was released on October 19th 2019, Kristen's birthday and continues to grow globally since it's release.
This song is about wondering if they are watching what we are doing, and are proud of what they see. "— Kristen Karma
"Kristen Karma melts hearts with 'Dear John'…Goosebumps. A Rating!" – Markos Papadatos, Digital Journal
"(Dear John)' takes the standard singer-songwriter elements and elevates them to new heights…visually stunning!" – Joe Smith-Engelhardt, Exclaim.ca
2019 has been a record year for Toronto's Kristen Karma. Her single release "Party Heroes" reached the Top 20 on the iTunes Pop Songs chart, while her follow-up "Try" hit the Top 30 Pop and Top 65 All Genres. The electro-pop singer-songwriter racked up tens of thousands of Spotify streams and Youtube views for both; reaching airplay chart positions on both sides of the Atlantic. One might ask, "How does she top this recent success?"
The answer is "Dear John," an epic music video production directed by Ryan Ellis and featuring one of the song's co-writers, Marian Hanna, with a guest appearance from Mr. ATP. Co-producer (along with Karma) Mark Zubek is also a co-writer on the song.
DISCOVER POP ROCK BALLADS OF ALL TIME: After supporting Lady Ga Ga, Akon and dropping tracks with lil'Jon, 'Kristen Karma' carries on her global success with her touching and universal piano and pop rock ballad 'Dear John' – Discover Pop Rock Dance UK
"I sat down with my good friend and upcoming artist Marian Hanna one day, for a song writing session and decided that, since it was coming up to her brother's 10th anniversary of his passing, and my father's 2 year anniversary, that we should write something together for them," said Karma. "We talked about what sort of a song we wanted to write, and in about 15 minutes, we had a demo written and recorded on my phone. A few days later, we were talking and put it together that her brother's and my father's name were John, and therefore decided to call the new single 'Dear John."
Kristen continues, "This song is about wondering if they are watching what we are doing, and are proud of what they see. We continue to go about our lives everyday, but never know if those who are close to us, that have passed, continue to watch us from above."
Watch the video for "Dear John":
The video has already been honoured as an Official Selection in the Direct Monthly Online Film Festival (DMOFF) and a Semi-finalist in the Visualis Film Festival. The song has won Best International Song in the American Tracks Music Awards.
In 2013, Kristen Karma was selected as one of two performers to play the Lady Gaga Born This Way Ball After-party and open for Tour DJ/Lady Gaga BFF, Lady Starlight in Vancouver. With rave reviews from her performance, Kristen went on to work with lil'Jon on her single "Sirens."
In 2017, Karma opened for Grammy Award Winner Akon in Guelph, Ontario on his Canadian Promo Tour. Hot on the heels of her performance, Kristen was approached and selected to play the Lady Gaga – Joanne World Tour VIP After-party, once again in Vancouver, following Lady Gaga's performance at Rogers Arena.
Karma has a certificate in Audio Engineering from Hot Sole Music, She has studied voice with Judith Rabinovitch, who has worked with the likes of Avril Lavigne and Sarah McLachlan."
Website: www.kristenkarma.com
SoundCloud: https://soundcloud.com/kristenkarma
Twitter: @Kristen_Karma
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1vIkOwDORyuzQ0QDWYObrC


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this client was a referral from a previous client. we worked on both her living room, and adjacent dining room in a single pinterest board + phone consultation. the living room was pretty much a blank slate, but she planned on keeping her dining table, chairs and an existing buffet in the dining room.
she already had some great art in her living room, and a pair or fabulous mid century wood lamps, and after 17 years, she was finally getting ready to say goodbye to her hunter green leather sofa and overstuffed recliner. whoo-hoo!!
after looking at her inspiration pictures, i knew that she was ready for a BIG change!
she totally jumped on board, and always picked the most modern of all the choices i presented to her. LOVE that!
here is the design plan i came up with:
have a space in your home that is still sporting a puffy hunter green leather sofa?
lets chat about that.
email me at firstname.lastname@example.com, and lets make some lovely changes in your home!
(and if that hunter green leather sofa HAS to stay, lets at least figure out a way to make it look....better!)


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Senior Living Jobs That Open the Door to Opportunity
Discover the careers available at Isle at Watercrest Mansfield.
Join an industry - more importantly - a community that isn't simply thriving but is one that empowers you to positively impact the lives of others. At Isle at Watercrest Mansfield, we offer senior living jobs that help you do just that.
Our goal is to lead the industry as the number-one senior living company to work for. What's more, the senior living careers in our smaller, family-owned operation make it possible for promotion and growth to correlate with your dedication and hard work.
It doesn't matter what your background or work history is. It makes no difference whether you have experience as a caregiver or an executive director - or no experience in senior housing at all.
At Isle at Watercrest Mansfield, we recognize that growth and innovation come from those who have servant hearts. If you are passionate and hardworking and want to enjoy your work family while creating a home for our residents, join us in fulfilling our vision.


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Already 40 hotels, including five international chains, are scheduled to open in Laos over the next five years as the country becomes a more popular tourist destination.
Yang Fu Ning, general manager of Don Chan Palace, a luxury hotel in Vientiane, said international brands Ramada, InterContinental, Crown Plaza, Sofitel and Marriott were set to open hotels in the capital by 2019.
Three global brands - Mercure, Ibis and Best Western - have already opened their doors in Vientiane, and one regional brand has entered the World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang to cash in the World Best Tourist Destination status of the country.
Furthermore, 25-30 three- and four-star hotels are set to open in the capital, with some in other tourist cities.
In the first year after receiving World`s Favorite Cultural Destination " we registered 3.7 million arrivals last year, generating income of US$600 million.
The government aims for 3.9 million tourists this year.
The number of arrivals should reach 10 million within five years but we need another success in WORLD BEST TOURIST DESTINATION to consolidate our status.
The number of American and European tourists has significantly increased in recent years.
Currently, seven foreign airlines, including Thai Airways International, AirAsia and Bangkok Airways, and two local carriers are operating in and out Laos. Some of these airlines run charter flights during high season.
Two years ago, the European Council on Tourism and Trade named Laos the "World's Best Tourist Destination for 2013", which put the country on the global tourism map especially for its rich history, culture, traditions and natural beauty.
DOCUMENTARY ABOUT LAOS-WORLD BEST TOURISM DESTINATION FOR 2013-Documentary that received European Academy Award


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Jason Aldean Is 'Happy and Sad' on His Daughter's 16th Birthday
Jason Aldean has had a roller coaster February. Not only did he welcome his third daughter, baby Navy earlier this month, but Feb. 14 is also his oldest daughter, Keeley's 16th birthday.
And he's feeling emotional!
"Today I'm happy and sad all at the same time," Aldean admits in a candid post to Instagram, alongside a series of photos of his daughter throughout the years. "Today Keeley turns 16 and as happy as I am to see her grow up, I still think of her as that little girl dancing around on stage, holding her microphone and pretending like she was the star of the show."
"I am so proud of the person she is turning into and even prouder to be her Daddy. Happy Birthday. I love u so much," he adds. Keeley is from Aldean's first marriage, as is his 11-year-old, Kendyl.
Aldean's winning streak extends past his personal life and into his professional one. Earlier this month, the three-time and reigning ACM Entertainer of the Year released his new single "Rearview Town," a song that serves as the title track on his current album Rearview Town."
"Sometimes you have to let go of the things behind you, that have held you down and look forward," Aldean says in a recent press release about the new single. "That's this song to me and I think a lot of my people have been there in their lives, too."
The album Rearview Town has already spawned his twenty-second career No. 1 hit, "Girl Like You." Other recent chart-toppers include his hits "You Make It Easy" and "Drowns the Whiskey." Aldean will soon kick off his 2019 Ride All Night Tour alongside special guests Kane Brown, Carly Pearce and Dee Jay Silver. The run starts on May 3.
In addition to welcoming a new baby, Aldean and his wife are currently building their dream home. Their son, Memphis, turned a year old in December 2018.
Jason Aldean's Rural Estate Is Amazing!


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In this Nissan manual QG18 Engine Repair Failure repair procedures are included, the adjustment, removal and installation, assembly and disassembly of all vehicle components and systems are integrated, as well as; he fault diagnosis of the ECCS System with OBD and OBDII.
All information, illustrations and specifications contained in the Nissan QG18 Engine Repair Manual They are based on the latest information available at the time of publication by the manufacturer.
Recommendations before Repairing Your Car
QG18 engine
Before you start Repairing Your Nissan Car on your own and before downloading your manual, we want to provide you with all this information such as advice, recommendations and suggestions that you should take into account, we know that this manual will serve you and help you repair your vehicle, But it is worth knowing some important points before you start getting your hands on your own car.
The best way to avoid car repair scams is to be prepared. A good starting point is knowing how your vehicle works and knowing how to identify the most common car problems.
It is also important to know how to select a good technician or mechanic. Knowing this type of information about your car can help you avoid technical errors.
Basic Information about Car Repairs
How you should choose a Mechanical workshop
What should you consider when choosing an Automotive repair shop?
- Ask friends, family, and other trusted people for recommendations. To avoid a hasty decision, find a repair shop before the need arises when your car breaks down.
- Find out by phone and compare options to get the most convenient deal, and also compare the policies applicable to the warranty for repairs made to your car.
- If state or local laws have any registration or licensing requirements for repair shops, ask for them and see if they are up to date.
- Make sure the repair shop meets your vehicle warranty requirements.
How to Choose a Good Mechanic
Is there a Mechanic better than another?
Look for workshops that display various certifications – for example, a seal of excellence from Automotive Service Excellence (in English). Certification indicates that some or all repair shop technicians meet basic standards of knowledge and competency in specific technical areas. Make sure certifications are current, but remember that certification alone is no guarantee of honest, well-done work.
Ask if the technician or shop has experience repairing vehicles of the same make or model as your car.
Repair costs for a QG18 Engine
How to Solve the Mystery of How Much to Pay to Repair Your Nissan Car
Before authorizing a repair job, ask the shop how they calculate prices. Some shops charge a flat rate for car repair labor. This published rate is based on an estimate – independent or from the manufacturer – of the time it will take to make repairs. Other shops charge fees based on the actual time it took the technician to make the repair.
If your vehicle needs complicated or expensive repairs or if you have questions about the work you are recommended to do, consider getting a second opinion.
Find out if you will be charged a diagnostic fee if you decide to have the repair work done at another shop. Many repair shops charge a fee for the time it takes to diagnose.
Repair shops that only do diagnostic work and do not sell parts or repairs can give you an objective opinion on the necessary repairs.
If you decide to do the repair work, ask for a written estimate.
What things should a written budget include?
The budget must identify the problem or damage to be repaired, the necessary parts and the expected charge for labor. Ask to be given a signed copy of the budget.
You should also mention that the shop will contact you for your approval before beginning any work that exceeds the specified amount of money or time period.
Know the spare parts to Repair the Nissan QG18 Engine
Nissan parts or spare parts are classified as follows:
- New – Typically, these parts are manufactured according to the original manufacturer's specifications, either by the vehicle manufacturer or by an independent company. The prices and quality of these parts are variable.
- Remanufactured, rebuilt and reconditioned – These terms generally mean the same thing: they are parts that have been refurbished and are in good working order. Many manufacturers offer a warranty that covers replacement parts, but does not cover the cost of labor to install them.
- Used or second hand – These are used parts from other vehicles and have not been altered. In some cases, used or second-hand parts may be the only resource to replace a failed part, but their reliability is rarely guaranteed.
What to do when the car repair is finished?
Ask for a complete repair order that describes the work performed. The order must list all repairs made, the parts installed by the shop, the cost of each part, labor charges and the number of kilometers indicated by the Odometer when you took the vehicle to the shop and when it was completed the repair work. Ask to be shown or given all replaced parts.
Preventive Mileage Maintenance Table for the Nissan QG18 Engine
What are the consequences of not maintaining my car?
There are several parts of your vehicle that are interrelated. Skipping maintenance can lead to problems: specific parts – or an entire system – could fail. Neglecting the simplest maintenance routine, such as changing the oil or checking the coolant, can lead to poor fuel economy, unreliable handling, or costly breakdowns. It may also void your warranty.
What steps should I take to avoid costly repairs?
Follow the maintenance program proposed by the manufacturer according to the use you give your vehicle and detailed in the owner's manual of your car. Some repair shops have their own maintenance schedules that require more service visits than manufacturers recommend. Compare the workshops' maintenance programs with that in your manual. Ask the shop for explanations – and make sure you understand them – to clarify why they recommend doing more services than those recommended by the car manufacturer.
How to protect your investment in your car repair
There are no "standard warranties" for car repairs. Make sure you understand what is covered by your warranty and ask for it to be put in writing.
You should be aware that warranties may be subject to limitations, including factors such as time, mileage, deductibles, dealers authorized to perform work under warranty, or special procedures required to collect refunds.
Auto Service Contracts
Many vehicle dealers and other dealers sell optional contracts – service contracts – operated by vehicle manufacturers or independent companies. Not all service contracts are the same; Prices vary and are usually negotiable. To decide which service contract is best for you or not, consider the following:
- Its cost.
- Repairs covered.
- If the contract coverage overlaps with the coverage offered by another warranty.
- The deductible.
- Where the repairs will be made.
- The procedures required to file a claim, such as prior authorization for specific repairs or compliance with vehicle maintenance schedules.
- If the company pays the repair costs directly to the mechanic shop or if you must pay first and then process a refund.
- The reputation of the company offering the service contract.
How to prevent failures of your QG18 Motor
The more you know about your vehicle the more likely you are to prevent repair problems. You can detect many of the most common problems using your senses: observing the area around your vehicle, listening for strange noises, feeling changes when you drive your vehicle, or even noticing unusual smells.
Diagnose Fault by observing the Car
The appearance of small spots or an occasional fluid drip underneath your vehicle may not mean much. But more widespread liquid or fluid stains deserve attention; Control the composition of the drip immediately.
Read Also:NISSAN Versa 2007 Workshop and Service ManualYou can identify fluids by their color and consistency.
Yellowish-green, light blue, or phosphorescent orange spots indicate a engine overheating or a leak antifreeze liquid produced by a damaged hose, due to the water pump or a leak in the radiator.
A stain of dark brown or black oily fluid means that the engine is leaking oil. The leak may be due to a damaged gasket or sealant.
A red oily stain indicates a transmission fluid leak, of the servo steering or power steering.
A clear puddle of water usually does not indicate a problem. It may be due to normal condensation from your vehicle's air conditioning.
Learn to Find Vehicle Faults by Smell
You can discover some problems with your nose by detecting them by its smell:
- The smell of burnt toast – a mild but pungent odor – usually indicates an electrical short circuit and burned insulating material. For added safety, try not to drive the vehicle until the problem is diagnosed.
- The smell of rotten eggs – a persistent burning sulfur odor – usually indicates a problem in the catalytic converter or transformer or other emissions control devices. Do not delay in making the diagnosis and repair.
- A thick sour smell, usually means burnt oil. Look for signs of oil loss.
- The smell of gasoline After a failed start it may mean that the engine is "choked" with fuel. Wait a few minutes before trying to boot again. If the odor persists, there may be a leak in the fuel system – a potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.
- A smell of burnt resin or an acidic chemical odor may indicate overheating of the brakes or clutch. Control the handbrake. For. Wait for the brakes to cool before repeating sudden braking on mountainous roads. If there is a little smoke coming out of the wheels, it means that the brake is stuck. In this case, the vehicle must be towed for repair.
- A sweet smell indicates a loss of cooling fluid. If the temperature gauge or warning light does not indicate overheating, drive carefully to the nearest gas station checking its temperature gauges. If another metallic smell is added to this smell and you see some smoke or steam under the hood, it means that the engine is overheating. Stop immediately. If you continue driving in these conditions you could severely damage the engine. You would have to haul the vehicle with a tow truck to repair it.
Detect Faults in the Car through sound
Squeaks, squeals, rattles, roars and other types of sounds provide good clues to identifying problems and maintenance needs. These are the most common noises and their meanings.
- Screech – A high-pitched sound or hum, usually related to engine speed, may indicate: Loose or worn steering, ventilation or air conditioning belt.
- Snap - A slight high-pitched noise related to engine or vehicle speed may indicate: Loose wheel cup or rim. Fan blade loose or bent inwards. Starter valve blocked or low oil level in the engine.
- Squeak – A high-pitched, throbbing metallic sound that generally occurs when the vehicle is moving: It may be caused by brake wear indicators alerting you that it is time for maintenance service.
- Roar – A low rhythmic sound may indicate: Defective exhaust pipe, transformer or shock absorber. Wear on the cardan joint or other driveline or steering component.
- Metalic sound - A high-pitched metallic knocking sound related to engine speed: Usually caused by using lower octane gasoline than recommended. Consult your car's manual to find out the correct octane rating. If the problem persists, the engine ignition regulation may be failing.
- Strong hammering – A rhythmic hammering sound may be caused by: Worn crankshaft or shifting tie rod or connecting rod. Loose or detached transmission torque converter.
- Hit off – An occasional knocking or hammering may indicate: Loose shock absorber or other loose suspension component. Loose muffler or exhaust pipe.
Verify Failures When Driving the Vehicle
You may notice some symptoms while driving your car, you may notice an uneven ride, vibration, and poor performance. These symptoms almost always indicate a problem.
Management Problems
- Misaligned front wheels and/or wear of the steering components, for example, the drive gear or wheel or the joint joint can cause steering deviation or difficulty keeping the vehicle in a straight line.
- Deviation – the vehicle's tendency to drift to the right or left – can be caused by something as routine as underinflated wheels or tires or by something as serious as a front axle failure or front misalignment.
Ride and handling Nissan QG18 engine
- Shock absorber wear or other suspension components – or improper tire or tire inflation – can result in poor cornering ability. While there is no set formula for replacing shock absorbers, try this: bounce the vehicle hard up and down on each wheel and then let it bounce on its own. Check how many times the vehicle bounces. If the shock absorbers are worn the vehicle will bounce only once or twice.
- Generally, elastics or springs of a vehicle do not wear out and there is no need to replace them unless one of the angles of the vehicle is lower than the rest. If you overload your vehicle, the suspension can be damaged.
- Correctly balance the wheels or tires. An unbalanced or improperly balanced tire causes vehicle vibration and can prematurely wear steering and suspension components.
Nissan Brakes QG18 Engine
Brake problems have several symptoms. Schedule a diagnosis and repair if:
- When you apply the brake, the vehicle pulls to one side.
- The brake pedal stays stuck to the floor when you maintain pressure on the pedal.
- You hear or feel a rubbing or grinding noise during braking.
- The "brake" indicator light on the instrument panel comes on.
Nissan Engine QG18 Engine
The following symptoms indicate an engine problem. Diagnose your vehicle and schedule the repair,
- Engine starting or ignition problems.
- The "check engine" indicator light on the instrument panel comes on.
- It jams abruptly or turns off.
- Poor or insufficient acceleration.
- Low fuel efficiency.
- Excessive oil consumption (more than a quart of oil between changes).
- The engine continues to run after removing the ignition key.
QG18 Engine Transmission
If your car's transmission malfunctions, it may be due to a defective component or simply a disconnected hose or a clogged filter. Make sure the technician checks the simplest things first; Transmission repairs are generally expensive. Some of the most common symptoms of transmission problems are:
- Abrupt or hard shifting between gear changes or speeds.
- Delay or lack of response when changing from "neutral" to "drive" or "reverse".
- Failure to shift during normal acceleration.
- Acceleration in fao. The engine revs but the vehicle does not respond.
How to fix Nissan Motor QG18 problems
When your car has a problem it doesn't always mean that you will have to do a big repair. Let's look at some of the most common causes of problems and techniques to help you and your mechanic detect and repair them:
- Alternator – If the alternator wires are loose or detached, it may appear that your car's alternator is faulty. Before replacing the alternator the technician should check for loose connections and perform a test.
- Drums - If the battery terminals or posts are corroded or loose, it may appear that your car battery is dead or damaged. Before replacing the battery, the technician should clean the terminals and perform a functional test.
- Start - What appears to be a faulty starter or ignition may actually be due to a dead or improperly connected battery. Before repairing the starter, ask the mechanic to check all connections and test the battery.
- Silencer – A loud roaring noise under your vehicle indicates that a new muffler or exhaust pipe needs to be installed.
- Tuning – Chances are good old "tune up" isn't relevant to your vehicle. Most modern vehicles have few parts that need replacing, except for belts, spark plugs, hoses and filters. To do this, follow the recommendations detailed in your car's manual.
General Content of the Manual for Nissan Motor QG18
If this Nissan QG18 Engine Repair Manual differs from the specifications of your car, Check if on our website www.manualesdetodo.net We have more versions.
General Engine Repair QG18 Engine
When an engine begins to have problems in its operation, it indicates that it needs repair, it must be disassembled, measurements taken, rectify and replace worn parts, put everything back in its place and adjust it to values that completely match the manufacturer's data.
You will find all this information and specifications within this Nissan manual QG18 Engine Repair with detailed images and diagrams that guide you in how to make changes and place the spare parts or pieces correctly.
Replacement or Change of QG18 Engine Brakes
How quickly your vehicle brakes is more important than how fast it accelerates. Despite warning signs (such as lights indicating brake fluid levels in the dual master cylinder), brakes of a car They can fail unexpectedly.
Within this Repair Manual for the Nissan QG18 Engine you will know the correct and appropriate way to carry out the changing pads or brakes as well as the verification of the brake fluid level and everything you need to know for its repair, maintenance or service.
Replacement or Change of QG18 Engine Shock Absorbers
It is important change the shock absorbers old to maintain the stability of the car at high speed ensuring comfortable and safe driving.
shock absorbers They basically absorb shocks and have been a basic part of automobile manufacturing since the 50s.
They wear out with use, sometimes they break if the road is uneven, producing a sound when you move the steering wheel.
Buy the base shock mount It is the fastest way to change them yourself.
Download the Nissan manual QG18 Engine Repair to learn how you have to make this change recommended by the manufacturer.
Read Also:NISSAN Versa 2014 2015 Workshop Manual Download Free PDF
Change Band, Belt or Timing Chain QG18 Engine
Generally the problems with the Band Timing belt or chain They arise without giving any signal. There is no sound that gives you a signal.
If the engine stopped with a loud sound and the car doesn't start It's the timing belt.
Engine timing belt It must be positioned exactly or the valves and pistons may collide.
If it is broken, then make sure the valves have not been damaged before you start replacing it.
With this Nissan QG18 Engine Repair Manual you will know Put the timing belt or belt on time.
Electrical System and Fuse Change QG18 Engine
A fuse is designed to protect the most important parts of a electric system from overheating and related damage.
When an electrical current surge occurs, the wire inside the fuse burns and cuts the connection with the circuit.
A fuse serves to protect your car or any home electrical system, but inconvenient in the short term.
Obviously in this Manual for Nissan QG18 engine you will know the electrical diagrams and fuse box of your car.
Index of the Nissan QG18 Engine Workshop Manual
If you use spare parts, spare parts, auto parts or spare parts for cars that are not specifically recommended by the manufacturer, you should know that neither your safety nor that of the vehicle will be compromised.
For your safety and for the proper operation of the vehicle, you must read this entire Nissan manual QG18 Engine Repair.
It is especially important to fully understand the PRECAUTIONS before starting any repair work.
It is essential to perform the service correctly for both the safety of the technician and the proper functioning of the vehicle.
The service methods in this car workshop manual They are described in such a way that the service can be performed safely and accurately.
And if you have the car parts catalogs You will be able to see the diagrams and placement schemes of spare parts and accessories.
As you well know, the ideal complement and no less important is to have the car owner's manuals that include first-hand information to know all the characteristics of your car.
The content of the manuals may vary according to the vehicle make and model, the content specifications are described from the information provided on their cover. the screenshots shown in this page They are only illustrative and refer to the type of vehicle and its model. Nissan Corporation
We hope that with this information and with the help of the manual that you downloaded you will be able to give yourself an idea of how to repair or fix the fault that your car presents.
We remind you that you can Download Free Car Manuals of all brands
INSTRUCTIONS TO DOWNLOAD AND INSTALL THE QG18 Engine MANUAL
- Download the RAR file
- Unzip with the password: www.manualesdetodo.net or MDTNET-AUTOMX
You will have access to all the information on the QG18 Engine, including diagrams, schematics and well-defined images to consult all topics, as well as step by step to repair any fault. All information is original developed by the car manufacturer.
FREE DOWNLOAD QG18 Engine Manual
Download Nissan QG18 Engine Workshop Manual
All Nissan Manuals
It is important that you know that on our website you can also download more Nissan car workshop manuals that will help you solve any failure, also remember that you also have the possibility of downloading more Owner's manuals for Nissan cars and if that were not enough until the parts catalogs for Nissan cars.
En ManualsOfEverything we have all available car owner's manuals from other brands that include first-hand information to know all the characteristics of your car.
Read Also:NISSAN Titan 2014 2015 Workshop Manual Download Free PDFYou can also download all car workshop manuals so you can solve any fault that your car presents.
And finally we inform you that you can also download the car parts catalogs of all brands in them you will be able to see the diagrams and schemes of how to disassemble the entire car as well as the correct placement of spare parts and accessories.
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The cusp in the dark matter distribution required to explain the recently found excess in the gamma-ray spectrum at energies of 130 GeV in terms of the dark matter annihilations cannot survive the tidal forces if it is offset by 1.5° from the Galactic center as suggested by observations.From Dmitry Gorbunov, Peter Tinjakov, "On the offset of a DM Cusp and the interpretation of the 130 GeV line as a DM signal" via Tommasso Dorigo's blog.
One of the strongest bits of experimental data favoring WIMP (weakly interacting massive particle) dark matter with particle masses at the electroweak scale is the Fermi line, i.e. 130 GeV photon signals detected by the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope that have no understood astronomical process as its source.
These signals have been hypothesized by theorists to be evidence of the annihilation of matter and antimatter dark matter particles of about 130 GeV mass with each other. But, even if these signals are evidence of such annihilations, they can only be the dark matter that everyone is looking for as the biggest gap in fundamental physics today if the signals come mostly from the right direction. The latest study indicates that they do not. Thus, the Fermi line grows an ever lengthening list of possible direct detections of dark matter or dark matter annihilation signals that have been ruled out as true dark matter signals.
The Fermi line could still be real; it just can't be dark matter
The study still doesn't tell us if the Fermi line is "real" or just some sort of statistical or systematic error in the observations. So far, no plausible explanation that could explain the Fermi line as an experimental error has been identified.
But, for example, suppose there was a supersymmetric particle with that mass or a second kind of Higgs boson of slightly different mass than the one already discovered, that was highly unstable. If this particle existed, its annihilation could produce this signal in some unknown process, such as some kind of high energy interactions near the Milky Way's central black hole's event horizon, even though such an unstable particle can't be an important source of the phenomena attributed to dark matter.
A true SUSY optimist could see both the Fermi line and the ASM-02 positron excess as signatures of SUSY particle annihilations. But, even for a SUSY optimist, the likelihood that a canonical sparticle or SUSY Higgs boson can provide a dark matter candidate that fits the experimental evidence is rapidly waning.
The best hope in a SUSY theory for a dark matter candidate is now the same as it is in minimal Standard Model extensions - some sort of sterile (i.e. right handed) neutrino with a mass on the other of 2 keV (i.e. warm dark matter). These models are highly constrained and it hasn't been fully established that they can really reproduce all observed dark matter phenomena. But, these particles are the only game in town using the dark matter particle paradigm that hasn't been pretty definitively ruled out by observational evidence to date.
Independent lines of experimental evidence disfavor WIMP dark matter
This isn't too surprising.
Multiple lines of evidence disfavor weakly interacting dark matter particles with masses of 10 GeV or so or more. For example, heavy WIMPs are disfavored by (1) the small scale structure of the universe (i.e. the fact that there aren't enough dwarf satellite galaxies), (2) the exclusion ranges in multiple direct dark matter detection experiments at cross-sections of interactions many orders of magnitude weaker than those of neutrinos, (3) the "cuspy halo" problem (that heavy wimp dark matter doesn't naturally distribute itself in the shapes necessary to match observed galactic rotation curves), and (4) the non-detection of particles in the appropriate mass ranges at particle accelerators like the LHC.
A determination that the directional source of the Fermi line gamma-rays is inconsistent with dark matter just adds one more independent line of experimental data to the others.
While the refutation of the ASM-02 positron excess as a possible dark matter annihilation signal at 300 GeV or more isn't yet complete, the astronomy data problems with cold dark matter apply to particles this heavy with especially great force, and there is other circumstantial evidence (such as the fact that other things we would expect to discovery at the same time as the annihilation of a dark matter particle that heavy) have not been seen. Cosmic rays from quasars continue to be a more plausible source for this signal.
A personal conjecture
For what it is worth, my own intuition, informed by studies that disfavor dark matter models with more than one kind of dark matter particle in any significant frequency, is that a warm dark matter sterile neutrino, if there is one, is not a right handed neutrino in the usual sense, but is instead a singlet particle that is taxonomically part of the gravity sector in a gravi-weak unification theory or some other particle outside the domain of the three Standard Model forces and their interactions, rather than a missing piece within the SU(3)*SU(2)*U(1) group structure of the Standard Model that has almost nothing to do with any Standard Model particle other than the Higgs boson (which might interact with dark matter since it seems to couple to mass).
Also, while warm dark matter is the best prospect in the dark matter paradigm, I believe that it is still hasty to rule out theories outside that paradigm. The best runner up would be some sort of gravity modification, possibly rooted in quantum gravity effects or limitations on the wavelengths of gravity waves as a result of the finite size of the universe. Another would be that the phenomena attributed to dark matter actually consist, at least in part, of multiple kinds of "dim matter" phenomena consisting of ordinary matter, quite possibly maintained in some sort of dynamic equilibrium by ill understood astronomy processes, particularly in galactic clusters and/or galaxy formation, about which we have the least solid understanding.


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MAYBELLINE Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Treatment Concealer, Neutralizer
Say goodbye to dark circles with Maybelline New York's Instant Age Rewind Dark Circles Treatment Concealer! The full coverage under-eye concealer instantly erases dark circles and fine lines to visibly diminish puffiness. The formula is infused with goji berry and Haloxyl, an effective blood circulation booster, to create a radiant refreshed looking eye area. The color corrector features a micro-corrector applicator for an easy application. Available in 12 skintone shades developed for light to dark.


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1. Sommermüd (Jakob Haringer) >>> text | sources
2. Tot (Jakob Haringer) >>> text | sources
3. Mädchenlied (Jakob Haringer) >>> text | sources
DURATION: ca. 6 Min.
VERSIONS: Fassung für Kammerorchester (René Leibowitz, 1949)
Hal Leonard (USA, Canada, Mexico)
The work's late opus number leads to the assumption that the Three Lieder Op. 48 are among Schönberg's late pieces composed in America; but in fact he set the three poems by Jakob Haringer during his late Berlin period, in January and February 1933, in the strict twelve-tone mode of the Variations for Orchestra Op. 31. Due to the political events of that year and Schönberg's flight to America via Paris, the Lieder were forgotten until Bomart Music Publications issued them in 1948.


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1. How long is the order processing time?
We will process your order within 48 hours of receiving your order. If there are special circumstances, we will notify you by email.
2. Do you ship internationally?
Sorry, for the time being, we only deliver to the United States, and we will consider opening delivery to other countries in the future, so stay tuned.
3. How long will it take to receive my order?
Depending on your destination, orders are usually processed within 5 business days from the date we receive your payment. The delivery time is generally 5-8 days, and the delivery time may vary depending on the region.
Please note that due to the epidemic, customs clearance procedures, weather, region, traffic or any other unpredictable circumstances, there may be delays in delivery. If there are special circumstances, you will be notified by email.
4. Do I need to sign my order?
Yes, please help us sign for the package. Before signing for the package, make sure that the package is in good condition and then sign for it. If you sign for it, the default product is no problem. If you are away, our team will try to contact you to reschedule the delivery.
5. Unsuccessful delivery
Please note that the DHL team will only hold undelivered packages for 7 days.
After 7 days, the DHL team may send the undelivered package back to us.
Orders will be processed as returned items. In this case, a 20% handling fee and shipping will be deducted from your refund.
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How do I import an individual site archive?
A site archive may be imported via the Site Archive tool in the Administration Workspace, or into an existing site via Worksite Setup.
Importing an archive via Site Archive.
Select the Site Archive tool from the Tool Menu in the Administration Workspace.
Enter the import information and Import.
- Enter the top level directory name for the archive directory on the server. This should be the siteid-archive.
- Enter the site id for the destination site where the archive content will be copied. If the destination site id does not exist, a new site with the specified id will be created.
- Click Import.
Importing an archive via Worksite Setup
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Kekkapää stables
The wooden stable is located in a countryside venue in the valued landscape of Northern Espoo. In addition to the stable space, the steep gabled roof also covers a free-range area, an equipment and supply space, and a manure storage area. The aim was to keep functions close to each other and ensure ease of use. All wood used in the building is unimpregnated conifer.
The building site is located in the valued landscape in rural Northern Espoo. Horse management is a significant part of the area's agriculture. The area has many small stables and well-connected riding trails in the countryside. Horse keeping, for its part, allows for preservation of the fields' current use for cultivation and grazing. Wood is a natural building material for the area.
The aim was to locate the building nesteled in a picturesquea great landscape; its long edge follows the direction of the forest slope and brings the building's gable into the woods. In additional to landscape benefits, this created wind shelters in outdoor spaces to protect against the prevailing southwestern winds. Massing is based on the steep, acentric gabled roof, under which all central functions are located.
The functional planning of the building paid special attention to the ease of everyday activities and durability of building parts. In horse keeping everyday chores are repetitive; smooth organisation for feeding, cleaning and horse care is central. The free range area and stable are linked directly to the horses' forest pasture, care locations are multifunctional and close by, the manure storage area opens out directly from the stalls and the free-range area, and the riding arena and connections to riding trails are located in the courtyard. The aim was to avoid unnecessary steps.
All horizontal structures and cladding were built with conifer. Sturdy floor planks were directly attached to a laminated timber floor structure. This achieved a simple structure, gave the room height, and provided natural stratification of warmth. The wooden- lattice structure ceiling is insulated with cellulose wool and ventilated from the gable. Sturdy tongue-and-groove spruce boards were used for the facade and interior cladding. Stalls and the free-range area that are exposed to direct wear from use by horses are primarily steel or concrete.
Unimpregnated wood was also used liberally in interior cladding because of the wood's hygroscopic characteristics. The management of fluctuations in humidity and ensuring functional ventilation in the stable area are important to the horses' well-being. Ventilation is primarily pressure force ventilation, with an option to increase efficiency using mechanical venting. Heat generated from horses is used in the stable spaces to supplement heating generated by hot air pumps, which are also used to decrease humidity as necessary.
Project in brief
Kekkapää stables
- Location | Espoo
- Purpose | Horse stable
- Constructor/Client | Private
- Floor area | 60 m2
- Volume | 350 m3
- Architectural Design | Architects POOK
- Structural design | ET Suunnittelu Oy
- LVIA-suunnittelu | Hevacplan Oy
- Electrical design | JT-Sähkötekniikka Oy
- Photographs | Kuvio Oy
- Text | Pentti Raiski


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Over the past couple of years, there has been a great shift towards businesses adopting digital technologies. Gartner refers to this as The Digital Industrial Economy – this means every budget is becoming an IT budget; every company is becoming a technology company; and every business is trying to become a digital leader. However, whilst this digital industrial revolution is taking place across many industries, the industry that is being impacted the most – and thus seeing the greatest transformation – is the Financial Services (FS) sector. The driver behind this change has been the new and sophisticated ways that FS organisations are approaching how they use data to improve their services by diversifying their offerings.
With organisations facing an ever-growing burden in maintaining compliance with increasingly complex regulation regimes from the Financial Conduct Authority, FS organisations cannot risk their data getting lost or be at risk of a cyber attack. The FS industry is the most frequent target for cybercrime, facing 300 per cent more cyber attacks than any other sector and regulators have noted that these attacks on banks are an emerging threat that could pose a significant risk to the sector. Here in the UK, Natwest was the latest victim of one of these attacks, which resulted in users not being able to log in to their online banking services on pay day. If crucial financial data is hacked, hundreds of millions of pounds could be lost from managing damage, through to issuing compensation or to managing the longer-term impact on brand reputation.
With these risks in mind, EMC, VCE and VMware recently undertook research investigating the motivations and rationale behind different Line of Businesses (LOBs) within FS organisations procuring public cloud services. The study revealed that a surprising 92% of LOBs in these companies use some form of public cloud. The reasons behind this significant uptake of public cloud ranged from affordability (41% cited it was a cheaper solution), to ease of use (34%) and wanting to meet client needs (30%).
Public cloud services are helping organisations to streamline administrative management, visualise information and analyse trends. As a result of their intuitive design, widespread availability and low cost barriers, many employees already know how to both use these types of tools and are at ease deployingthem if required. This is not only helping to empower workers, but also accelerate the pace of digital innovation across different departments.
However, this informal approach to public cloud poses several risks from a security and data management perspective. What many businesses don't realise is that data is not always secure in the public cloud as it is hosted in third party data centres where the cloud provider is only a tenant, amongst many others.. But what is most worrying is that despite the FS sector being one of the most highly regulated industries, the research revealed that employees are sidestepping the IT department and deploying public cloud services without consulting them. In fact, nearly half of those surveyed (44%) admit to bypassing the IT department when purchasing cloud services.
By avoiding checking these purchases with the IT department, these unauthorised decisions are potentially putting their organisations at risk. The threats associated with cyber attacks, and unauthorised access to data, could result in huge financial penalties and very damaging subsequent business and financial losses. Furthermore, by hindering the use of public cloud, organisations could slow the pace of digital innovation and prevent the business from working as efficiently as possible. So this poses the question: what should IT departments do to ensure their employees – and organisations as a whole – benefit from the efficiency and scalability of the public cloud, without putting sensitive data at risk?
The solution is a hybrid cloud approach. Hybrid cloud environments provide the flexibility, affordability, agility and scale of the public cloud, without compromising safety and compliance regulations. This not only ensures that business-critical applications remain in-house, it also allows for rapid provision of the infrastructure from either public or private clouds to cope with new projects and setting up virtual servers to handle a new application. In addition, it can be scaled back just as easily when no longer needed, providing additional flexibility to organisations when taking workloads back out of the public cloud.
Using a single, common platform, a hybrid model allows organisations to extend their existing data centre to the public cloud while leveraging the tools, existing security policies and processes that they already use on-premise. With an enterprise hybrid cloud strategy in place, LOBs can gain immediate and easy to access to secure resources.
As employees look to deploy cloud services that circumnavigate the IT department, IT organisations need to have a strategy that gives easier access to cloud services in a controlled, compliant manner. Businesses need to embrace a hybrid cloud strategy that can provide portability of workloads in a flexible and agile fashion. If organisations can embrace the public cloud with confidence, knowing their data is secure, they can then re-focus their efforts on thriving in the fast-paced era of digital innovation.


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"Has the United States become a police state?"
That's the stark question I was asked at the beginning of a recent radio interview.
Framing the current political climate in these terms is quite blunt, and can be jarring to some people because it automatically conjures images of, for example, Nazi Germany. That's clearly different than what is occurring right now in the United States. So  how do we conceptualize the current state of government repression, and how do we put it in a historical context?
Is this a police state? If not, what is it?
The image that most people hold of a "police state" is a representation of extreme power dynamics, and repressive tactics to maintain them, at specific points of history. The current political climate in the United States is unique in many ways, and distinct from those eras. However, it shares core attributes that we generally associate with a "police state":
1. Raids, harassment, and intimidation of dissidents by police
When FBI and Joint Terrorism Task Force agents raided multiple activist homes in the Northwest recently, they were in search of "anti-government or anarchist literature.â€
2. Militarization of domestic law enforcement
As Arthur Rizer wrote for The Atlantic:
In an effort to remedy their relative inadequacy in dealing with terrorism on U.S. soil, police forces throughout the country have purchased military equipment, adopted military training, and sought to inculcate a "soldier's mentality" among their ranks.
3. Disproportionate prison sentences for political activists
The reason Marie Mason, who destroyed property, received a prison sentence twice as long as racists, who harmed human beings, is because of her politics.
Likewise Tim DeChristopher was sentenced to two years in prison for non-violent disrupting an illegal oil and gas lease auction because he cost corporations thousands of dollars.
4. Creation of new laws for people because of their political beliefs
The Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act was created solely to prosecute activists who threaten the "loss of profits" for corporations.
And now 10 states have considered "Ag Gag" bills that go so far as to criminalize non-violent undercover investigations. The new bills have passed in two states, Utah and Iowa.
5. Creation of special prison units
In addition to Guantanamo Bay, which Obama has refused to close, there are now two experimental prison units on U.S. soil for "domestic terrorists." These Communications Management Units are for political prisoners that the U.S. Bureau of Prisons describes as having "inspirational significance."
6. Pervasive use of surveillance
Spy drones are being used by domestic law enforcement for surveillance, artificial intelligence, and monitoring social movements (here's a great overview from Salon).
Recently, Tampa police wanted to use them against RNC protesters.
This is in addition to widespread surveillance measures such as TrapWire.
7. Criminalization of ideology
In my opinion this is the hallmark of any police state: the targets of the state have little to do with criminal activity, and everything to do with their perceived subversive ideology.
For example, consider these FBI "domestic terrorism†training documents which say that anarchists are "criminals seeking an ideology to justify their activities."
There is no "tipping point"
A final, more nebulous characteristic of a police state is the extent to which all of the tactics above take place. It's a question of degree and intensity, and some would argue that, even though these tactics are occurring with increasing frequency, they are not at the level that would merit this kind of "police state" language. I think that's completely reasonable.
But no matter how you feel about the characterization of what is occurring right now, the most important point is this:Â if we're not a police state already, we are marching closer and closer every day.
In the following interview, I try to dispel some of the myths about police states and how they are created, including the flawed idea of a "tipping point" leading up to extreme states of repression.
Listen to the full interview here (starting at 55:43) or download it from iTunes (it's the 8/23/12 show)


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A defining characteristic of cloud computing is elasticity – the ability to rapidly provision and release resources so users pay only for the resources they need for the task at hand. Such just-in-time provisioning can lead to significant savings for customers when their workloads are intermittent and heavily spiked. In the modern enterprise, there are few workloads that have as desperate a need for such elastic capabilities as data warehousing. Most traditional enterprise Data Warehouse (DW) systems are built on-premises with very expensive hardware and software, and have very low utilization except during peak periods of data loading, transformation, and report generation.
With the general availability of the Azure SQL Data Warehouse we are delivering the true promise of cloud elasticity to data warehousing. It is a fully managed, petabyte-scale Data Warehouse service that you can provision in minutes with just a few clicks in the Azure Portal. Our architecture separates compute and storage so that you can independently scale them and use just the right amount of each at any given time. A unique pause feature allows you to suspend or resume compute in seconds, while your data remains intact in Azure storage. And SQL Data Warehouse offers an availability SLA of 99.9% – the only public cloud data warehouse service that offers an availability SLA to customers.
To help users get started with Azure SQL Data Warehouse we have been working with Redgate, a long-time partner that delivers SQL Server tools. Redgate's Data Platform Studio (DPS) provides a simple and reliable way to migrate on-premises SQL Server databases to Azure SQL Data Warehouse. DPS automates the data upload and applies the most appropriate compatibility fixes and optimizations. It reduces the timeframe for a first data migration from days to hours, giving companies an easy way to explore the potential of the SQL Data Warehouse.
The development of Data Platform Studio is a result of Redgate's own experience of migrating an on-premises database to SQL Data Warehouse. As David Bick, Product Portfolio Lead at Redgate, explains, "We like to think of ourselves as experts in the SQL Server space, but even we hit a few roadblocks on the way. Data Platform Studio removes those blocks because it's engineered to make smart decisions and automate the migration process. It encapsulates everything we encountered on our own journey, and includes a lot of subsequent learning from Microsoft."
By making migrations fast and easy, Data Platform Studio allows users to quickly experience how Azure SQL Data Warehouse scales storage and compute and to evaluate how it can meet their needs. Data Platform Studio is free to use for one-off migrations, and can be tried at www.dataplatformstudio.com.
What is Azure SQL Data Warehouse?


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Aussie Dollar ChartThose that view the message of the market on daily basis are likely confused by trading noise. While trading noise contributes to the long-term trends, it does not define them. Human behavior tries to explain trading noise as a meaningful trend. This confuses the majority which, in turn, contributes to their role as bagholders of trend transitions. The Aussie's overall…
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The Isle of Wight College is a General Further Education College with a broad curriculum that reflects the needs of the Island community. Mission and Objectives: Putting students first Raising community aspirations Working for employers Provision: The College offers training opportunities across a broad curriculum, including: Vocational courses Apprenticeships Traineeships Employer Training and services Higher education Excellent education, welfare and support for international students School Links courses
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Assistant accountant (level 3)
69% achievement rate (out of 20 apprentices)
58% national achievement rate
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ISLE OF WIGHT COLLEGE's training options
Head office 197.2 miles away
Medina Way, Newport, PO30 5TA
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The Isle Of Wight College, Medina Way, Newport, Isle Of Wight, PO30 5TA
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ISLE OF WIGHT COLLEGE is 1 of 183 training providers for Assistant accountant (level 3) at the apprenticeship location.


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All that we see or seem
Is but a dream within a dream.
(E.A. Poe)
∼ Inferior Mirages ∼
Very hot air close to the ground, colder air above. Light rays refracted from distant objects get deviated by the column of scorching air moving upwards. Here is the classical mirage of Sahara Bedouins, fresh oasis among the dunes and water poodles where there is nothing but dusty desert.
A mirage which is bound to also haunt another kind of nomad, the soul who cannot help but travel because he's a victim of the highway blues, and he knows all too well that the tarmac road might look wet under the torrid sun.
The more we get close to it, the more the illusion vanishes. We hurry towards the much coveted water to find it was mere deceit; and all our hurrying did was worsen our thirst. "If a mirage were water, why is water not seen by those nearby? – Nāgārjuna asked – The way this world is seen as real by those afar is not so seen by those nearby for whom it is signless like a mirage". Maybe we too will be soon close enough to the truth to realize it is an illusion.
∼ Superior Mirages∼
The ocean liner, in the dark night brightened only by the stars, eased out majestically on the water. Aboard, feasting passengers: on the horizon, a strange mist. Reginald Lee was on watch:
A clear, starry night overhead, but at the time of the accident there was a haze right ahead, […] in fact it was extending more or less round the horizon. There was no moon.
A dark mist, a vague tremor just above the horizon, but too far away to seem like a menacing sign. Then, from the nothingness of that fog, without warning, like a giant bursting on the scene from a funeral curtain, came the huge milky silhouette.
It was a dark mass that came through that haze and there was no white appearing until it was just close alongside the ship.
It looks like it might have gone that way: the Titanic probably sank due to a mirage. The mountain of ice remained hidden until the very last moment inside the sidereal light, which had been bended by the cold of the sea.
Ironically, this was the same kind of mirage which gave another ship, albeit fantastic, an eternal and persistant place in sailors' fantasies. The immortal Flying Dutchman, floating over the ocean waves, perhaps owes his legend to the illusion called "superior mirage". Superior, because its phantasmagoria appears above the horizon, and sometimes ships sailing beyond the Earth's curve, which we shouldn't be able to see, look like they are suspended in mid air.
Like mountaineers, who fear and respect the mountain, the people of the sea knew a secret which escaped the mainland inhabitants. They were aware of the insidious nature of water, they knew all about whirlpools always ready to gape unexpectedly, about the visions, the magical fires up on the mast, the terrible twin monsters waiting for ships to pass in the narrow strip between Sicily and Calabria.
∼ Fata Morgana ∼
It is right on the Straits of Messina that the Castle in the Sky is sometimes spotted, home to the Enchantress, cruel sister of Arthur son of Pendragon. The witch's magical arts make the winged castle visible both from the coast of the island and from the opposite shore. Many believed they could conquer its trembling stronghold, and drowned.
Thus Morgan le Fay, "Fata Morgana", gave her name to the rarest among superior mirages, capable of blending together three or more layers of inverted and distorted objects, in a constantly changing visual blur. The ultimate mirage, where nothing is what it seems; impossible apparitions of distant gloomy towers, enchanted cities, ghost forests. The horizon is not a promise anymore, but a mocking imposture.
∼ The Mirage of Everything ∼
Once upon a time, I, Chuang Chou, dreamt I was a butterfly, fluttering hither and thither, to all intents and purposes a butterfly. I was conscious only of my happiness as a butterfly, unaware that I was Chou. Soon I awaked, and there I was, veritably myself again. Now I do not know whether I was then a man dreaming I was a butterfly, or whether I am now a butterfly, dreaming I am a man.
What Zhuangzi is not considering is the possibility that both him and the butterfly might be a dream: someone else's dream.
Quantum physicists, who are the modern poets, mystics, artists, suggest ours could potentially be a holographic cosmos. According to some scientists, the whole universe might be a simulacrum, a sophisticated simulation (atoms-pixels), us being the characters who little by little are realizing they're part of a game. Galileo's method is now teaming up with the opium eaters' lucid hallucinations, and math itself seems to tell us that "life is but a dream".
Among the supporters of the hypothesis of the universe being an elaborate fiction inside an alien algorythm, there is a controversial, visionary innovator who is trying to keep us safe from the dangers of strong AI. His inconceivable plan: to fuse our cerebral cortexes with the Net, forever freeing us from the language virus and, in time, reprogramming our already obsolete bodies from the inside. Mutate or die!
And this mutation is going to happen, rest assured, not in two hundred years, but in the next ten or fifteen.
Today we take a look around, and all we see is mirage.
For thousands of years philosophers have been discussing the Great Dream, but never before the veil of Maya has been so thin, so close to be torn at any moment.
What does it mean for us to accept the possible unreality of everything? Does it entail an absolute relativism, does it mean that killing is nothing serious after all, that nothing has value? Weren't Hassan-i Sabbāh's last words "nothing is true, everything is permitted"?
[Old Uncle Bill smiles slyly from his parallel universe, surrounded by seductive centipede-boys.]
Are we instead to understand mirage as a liberation? Because death will finally turn out to be that "passage" every enlightened guru told us about, and this is not the true world? But does a true world really exist? Or is it just another mirage within a mirage?
Zhuangzi, the butterfly man, again:
All the while, the stupid believe they are awake, busily and brightly assuming they understand things, calling this man ruler, that one herdsman — how dense! Confucius and you are both dreaming! It is a dream even for me to say that you are dreaming.
(Thanks, Bruno!)


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This month marks the end of the federal extended unemployment insurance benefits program for 35 states with the nation's highest jobless rates. More than half a million long-term jobless workers have lost their unemployment lifeline.
Chad Stone of the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP) says:
As we've explained previously, EB [extended benefits] will no longer be available in any state, not because most states' economies have improved to anywhere near pre-recession conditions, but because they have not significantly deteriorated in the past three years.
The end of the program that provided up to 20 additional weeks of jobless benefits—in addition to the states' usual 26 weeks—and the additional weeks available under the federal Emergency Unemployment Compensation (EUC), was part of legislation passed in February to keep the EUC alive through 2012.
That bill reduced the number of weeks of available to jobless workers and also changed the formulas that would trigger extra federal jobless benefits, in effect, cutting benefits even further by setting higher thresholds for unemployment pain. Click here for a closer look from the National Employment Law Project (NELP).
The cuts, a recent report in USA Today notes:
are nudging some Americans into poverty, straining social services just as states and localities face their own budget woes and further crimping weak economic growth as those who lose benefits spend less.
The average unemployed American has been out of work 40 weeks, according to the Labor Department, and there are still about three jobless people for every job opening.
If Congress doesn't act when it returns after August recess, the situation for long-term jobless workers will grow even more dire because the entire federal EUC expires at the end of the year, leaving workers only state benefits upon which to rely.
Legislation to keep the EUC operating is expected. But with the Republican lawmakers' track record of blocking, filibustering and other delaying tactics in previous attempts to extend the federal unemployment insurance benefits, the outlook is uncertain.
NELP's George Wentworth told USA Today:
There's going to be lots of people without any income still unable to find a job. You're going to see these people not be able to feed their families and not able to pay their mortgages. It will have a devastating impact on a lot of local economies.
This blog originally appeared in AFL-CIO on August 7, 2012. Reprinted with permission.
About the author: Mike Hall is a former West Virginia newspaper reporter, staff writer for the United Mine Workers Journal and managing editor of the Seafarers Log. He came to the AFL-CIO in 1989 and has written for several federation publications, focusing on legislation and politics, especially grassroots mobilization and workplace safety.