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Endowment funds
Endowment Funds
What is it?
Gifts to an endowment fund are NEVER spent.
The assets of endowment funds are invested and managed professionally.
A portion of the earnings from an endowment fund are used for grant making.
The Life Choices Medical Clinic Endowment Fund is one of 200 endowments of the Community Foundation.
What are the advantages?
Endowment funds are permanent, regardless of the economic climate.
Your gift is an investment that will grow and benefit the community in perpetuity.
Donations to an endowment fund at the Community Foundation are tax deductible.
What can be given?
You can give now with cash, stocks, real estate, retirement plan assets, etc.
Name the Community Foundation as beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
A bequest by will is a very popular form of giving.
A charitable lead trust helps build a charitable fund during the trust's term.
Life Choices Medical Clinic Endowment Fund
(Formerly, Central Michigan Pregnancy Services/H.O.P.E Medical Endowment Fund)
As young people navigate the sexual minefields of the 21st century, it is important that they are equipped and empowered to make choices that will have a positive impact upon their lives and the lives of generations to follow. We believe that young people armed with truth and knowledge will develop the skills and discipline to avoid sexual pressure. These same abilities will also equip them to effectively avoid alcohol, drugs, and delinquency and become contributing members of society and healthy adults.
After much prayer we have established a permanently endowed fund through the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation, named Life Choices Medical Clinic Endowment Fund with a goal of raising $1,000,000. Not only will this fund be permanent, it will ensure that the culture and values of Life Choices Medical Clinic can be passed on through generations and that we will remain here, sharing truth in God's love to those we serve.
The name of this endowment, Central Michigan Pregnancy Services/H.O.P.E Medical Endowment Fund, has been changed to Life Choices Medical Clinic Endowment Fund to reflect the new name of our organization. All donations previously given to the H.O.P.E. Medical Fund are being held within the current Life Choices Medical Clinic Fund.
By supporting the Life Choices Medical Clinic Endowment Fund, established in 2014, not only will you support the current programs, but you will also make possible the addition of free Sexually Transmitted Disease testing and treatment. Life Choices Medical Clinic provides professional and caring medical services by trained, licensed, and highly qualified staff under the direction of medical directors, Michelle Monticello M.D. and Constanza Fox M.D.
We encourage you to consult your own professional financial advisor/lawyer if you should need instruction about this way of giving. We are blessed to have an attorney who is willing to provide his services pro bono if you should desire to contact him. James C. Higgs, Attorney; Attorney from Stein & Higgs, PLLC (989) 772-4894. You may also contact Amanda Schafer from the Mt. Pleasant Area Community Foundation at (989) 773-7332.
We are excited to share that we have already received pledges and money from friends of Life Choices of upwards of $250,000. Our entire staff and the Executive Board of Directors believe strongly in the endowment and they have also given their support to the Life Choices Medical Clinic Endowment Fund.
For more giving information please call the office at (989) 773-6008. Thank you for your continued support.
Life Choices Parenting Programs Fund
(Formerly, Central Michigan Earn While You Learn Fund)
Since its inception in 2001, our parenting programs have served thousands of families in need of parenting lessons and baby supplies. In 2006, Naomi and Jim Stark established the Central Michigan Pregnancy Services - Earn While You Learn Fund. Our program is designed to equip parents to handle the struggles that often come with parenting. Parents have an opportunity to attend one-on-one or group lessons and earn credits in the form of Baby Bucks, all while learning valuable parenting lessons. They may then use their Baby Bucks to purchase baby and toddler items, diapers, and other essential items in our Joyful Beginnings Baby Boutique.
The absence of positive parenting has a direct impact upon our entire community and our young families we serve are at great risk for added pregnancies, delinquency, depression and suicide. Many of the families we serve are young, pregnant and/or with small children who have never experienced what good or even adequate parenting is like. Our goal is to educate the young parents who find support through our programs, and break the cycle of neglect, abuse, or future unwanted pregnancies. In 2015 our parenting programs served almost 100 families using over 200 different lessons. Life Choices of Central Michigan Parenting Programs accepts referrals from local physicians, county health departments, churches, court systems, and through individual recommendations. Our hope for this endowment is that it will grow to one day financially maintain our valuable parenting programs. By being fully funded, more time could be spent in serving the families who come to us for help and less time raising the resources that enable us to serve those who need our assistance.


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Beautiful Wall Tile Ideas for Small Bathrooms
Wall tile ideas for small bathrooms – For the walls we are presenting you some amazing ideas tiles in a light color or accents and bright reflections but this is not all. If the target is too classic for you in images ideas really tiles in several vibrant colors that give a very cheerful bathroom to combine. The wall paper is evolving lately because its structure is getting closer to other building materials.
Today you have and paper moisture resistant wall and thus a choice very suitable to be placed in special environments such as kitchen and bathroom. Other ideas to find the wall tile ideas for small bathroom are shelves that can put on the wall next to the sink so you'll have more room to put your stuff, decorative elements and accessories to create a unique atmosphere.
12 Picture Gallery: Beautiful Wall Tile Ideas for Small Bathrooms
A shelf a painting hanging on the wall or candlelight in moments of relaxation table is the little details that show you to turn your wall tile ideas for small bathroom into a modern and special place. A large mirror over the sink has a double function is useful during morning makeup, help make spaces seem larger. It is also a beautiful decorative element materials come in countless shapes colors and designs.
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This post topic: Wall Tile

subset: commoncrawl


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The eco-conscious Hactl
As one of Hong Kong's largest independent cargo handler, Hong Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited (Hactl) is working on a new strategy that is a part of their long-running "Green Terminal" environmental programme. Where the latest phase is set in place, they held an an event entitled "Don't Wait Act Now" that included a show of upcycled fashion modelled by Hactl staff.
August 7, 2018
By PLA Editorial
One of Hactl's key aims is to eradicate single-use plastics from its facility, so contributing to a reduction in plastics entering the world's oceans.
Hactl has been running its "Green Terminal" programme of measures to reduce its environmental impact for many years. The company has won a number of prestigious local and international awards for its achievements to date, which include reusing or recycling 97% of paper, 95% of plastics waste and 68% of wood.
Says Hactl's Senior Manager – Quality Assurance, Benny Siu, who has spearheaded Green Terminal since its inception: "'Don't Wait Act Now' is the latest and arguably most important phase of Green Terminal, in which we seek to change the habits of our own staff, and our tenants and terminal users.
"With this event and our recent actions, we are asking people to think about their personal impact on the environment, and to make small changes that can make a big difference. We hope that good eco habits nurtured in the workplace will travel home with our staff and be shared with families and friends.
"Hactl is a conscientious and eco-minded member of Hong Kong's business community, committed to protecting not just our wonderful city, but our wider, living planet. The message of 'Don't Wait Act Now' is clear: we can all make a difference, and reduce our impact on a fragile planet."


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Looking for another sign that the housing market is bouncing back? In addition to continued low interest rates, bidding wars, and increased building starts, you can now add low down payments to the list of good omens.
Since 2007, amassing the down payment has presented the biggest obstacle to purchasing real estate, especially for first-time buyers and those in lower income brackets. However, homebuyers with little money for a down payment are now finding more home loans available for a low down payment– or even no down payment.
Consider the following:
- Piggyback loans are reappearing. (In a piggyback loan, one lender loans 80 percent, while a second lender loans enough to equal 20 percent of the purchase price when combined with the buyer's down payment, thus allowing the purchaser to avoid paying private mortgage insurance).
- Mortgage lenders are starting to ease mortgage restrictions. This time around, though, lenders are much more discerning about who gets to put 10% down. To qualify, your monthly housing, car, student loan, and credit card debt can't be higher than 45% of your monthly income. And you must have a credit score above 700.
- Options for borrowers have increased:
- If you're a veteran, you can get a mortgage with no down payment. Additionally, mortgages backed by the Federal Housing Administration allow you to purchase a home with as little as 3.5 percent down. Banks also offer various programs for those with less The Department of Agriculture's Rural Development mortgage guarantee program is so popular that it has been known to run out of money before the end of the fiscal year.
- Navy Federal Credit Union offers 100 percent financing to qualified members for buying primary homes. Credit union eligibility is restricted to members of the military, some civilian employees of the military and U.S. Department of Defense, and family members.
- The Department of Agriculture's Rural Development mortgage guarantee program is so popular that it has been known to run out of money before the end of the fiscal year. Offering 100% financing, it is designed to assist rural homebuyers with limited or moderate incomes.
- About 15 percent of all purchasers get FHA-insured loans, up from 3 percent during the housing boom. The FHA gained market share after many other low-down-payment options evaporated in the housing bust.
Information courtesy of Chicago Realtor Karen Breen Elia.
Karen Breen Elia & Louis M. Elia, REALTORS®, are brokers for homes, condos, and multi-unit properties on Chicago's North Side.
ChicagoCityHomes, RE/MAX Exclusive Properties
2951 North Lincoln Avenue
Chicago IL 60657
Toll Free: (866) 404-3585 Fax: (773) 938-1467 Send An Email
We know Chicago Real Estate! Call us today!
Tags: chicago realtor, getting mortgage, home buying tips, karen breen elia, mortgae help, small down payment


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It's the last Saturday of the month, which means it's Give a Sh*t Book Club time! This month's pick is The House of Broken Angels by Luis Alberto Urrea, which the publisher describes as the definitive Mexican-American immigrant story.
I have to admit, this one took me a while to get into. The de La Cruz family is big, so there are lots of characters to keep track of through multiple generations. On top of that, the storyline shifts from past to present, to further in the past, and back again. I was working so hard to keep track of who everyone was, I didn't have much headspace left for what Urrea was doing on a deeper level.
Something happened though in the last third of the book that brought it all together for me. Big Angel and Little Angel had those conversations lying in bed together, maybe being as honest as they'd ever been with each other. It was painful, it was awkward, but their honesty really got me in the feels. Even as I could see how sad Big Angel's situation was, I thought how sweet and good it was for him to have a chance to say the things he needed to say to the people who mattered most to him. It made me think about what constitutes a "good" death. I think Big Angel had as good a death as anyone could hope for.
Another aspect that resonated for me was Big Angel's reflection on things he had done in the past that he regretted or felt guilty about. It seems like a given, even a cliché maybe, to say that no one lives a perfect life, but if we're lucky enough to live as long as Big Angel, we're going to do things that hurt others, things that haunt us, things we would take back if we could. I really admired Big Angel's efforts to face those things squarely and own them, and then to try to atone for them. The line when he says, "I am so dirty"—who hasn't felt that way? That feeling that if people really knew you, they wouldn't love you anymore? Big Angel's struggle with those feelings made me want to give him and his whole family a big hug.
I read another book by Urrea, Into the Beautiful North, a while back, so I knew to expect dashes of his signature humor, and I was not disappointed in that regard. The scene at the border with the parrot in the cleavage! Perhaps not what we've come to expect from a story about crossing the border, but damn, that's comedy gold. I also loved the scene when Big Angel faced down the gangbanger and set him away with his tail between his legs. Another situation that could have been scary and dangerous ends up defused by humor.
I'm glad I stuck with this one because by the end I realized I'd gotten a lot out of it. Hope you liked it too! Comments are open below. Can't wait to hear what you thought of The House of Broken Angels!


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We are excited to be recording an entire new album of compositions specially written for Axiom Brass. The Album will include compositions by Augusta Read Thomas, David Faleris, Matthew Ulery, Liduino Pitombeira, and Ben Hjertmann.
Back to All Events
Earlier Event: February 21Internation Music Foundation Presents Axiom Brass "Let's Make Music"
Later Event: March 11Fermilab Presentes Axiom Brass and Kyle Kremer "Limitless"


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HR Consultant at Avathara
Views:1594 Applications:150 Rec. Actions:Recruiter Actions:128
iOS Developer - JSON/XML (3-10 yrs)
Description :
- Design and build advanced app features for the iOS platform
- Independently craft project solutions by applying solid Object-Oriented-Design principles
- Continuously discover, evaluate, and implement new technologies to maximize development efficiency
- Integrate and consume web services (JSON, XML, etc.)
- You use core animation to create engaging motion effects and intuitive interfaces.
- Integrating with our backend services to make sure we are delivering a great mobile user experience that is super-fast for end users.
- Working on bug fixing and improving application performance.
- End-to-end product modules/features from requirement to going live.
- Design and review code, troubleshoot and act as a consultant to team members on technical matters.
- Gather requirements by interacting directly with the end users. You build and advocate delightful user experiences on iOS.
- Research on open source framework/technologies required for developing the feature/application.
- Continuously discover, evaluate, and implement new technologies to maximize development efficiency.
- Unit-test code for robustness, including edge cases, usability, and general reliability.


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|Passion Fruit
| Passion, Passion Cute
|Dane Boedigheimer
| Justine Ezarik
|Mandy (sister)
|Orange, Pear, Bananas (from The Exploding Orange), Turnip, Kiwi (from The Exploding Orange) (possibly), Midget Apple, Marshmallow, Grandpa Lemon
|Jigsaw, Orange (Equals AO), YouTube, Grapefruit (one sided), Grapefruit's Sister, Grapefruit's Second Cousin, Grapefruit's Grandpa, Fred Figglehorn, Avocado Pit (first sight), Frankenfruit, Halloweenie, Liam the Leprechaun
|First Appearance:
|Passion of the Fruit
Passion Fruit is a main character in the Annoying Orange series. As a female anthropomorphic passionfruit, she was originally the tritagonist, but later she was overshadowed by breakout characters Midget Apple and Marshmallow, and therefore became the fifth position character. Passion is currently the only female main protagonist in the series due to a lack of female characters.
Major appearancesEdit
Passion of the FruitEditPassion was taken out of a bag by Dane Boedigheimer. Orange starts complimenting her on her beauty, and starts to have a crush on Passion. Grapefruit, who didn't like Orange, tried to stop the romance, but failed as he was knifed.
Grapefruit's RevengeEdit
Passion returned in her second appearance in Grapefruit's Revenge and her main role was to cease the fight of words between Orange and Grapefruit's Sister.
Passion Fruit is cheerful, calm, and pacific, with the actions somewhat of a teenage girl mixed in. Orange has a crush on her, though recently, Orange just considers Passion as one of his friends (this is probably just to hide his true feelings for her). She can get furious sometimes when Orange talks about people in an offensive way, like when she discovered that he called Onion's mother a "funyun with a bunion". Passion is very intelligent and is often shown resolving abysmal situations quickly.
- Main article: Orange
Orange is Passion's best friend and love interest. They first met in Passion of the Fruit. Although being good friends, Passion can get angry at Orange for having an annoying attitude toward others. In Food Court; Passion greatly helped out Orange by avoiding of getting witnessed and solved the problem.
In the TV series, Passion Fruit is shown to have a crush on Orange, as opposed to the other way around, but Orange is not aware.
- Main article: Pear
Passion and Pear are good friends. Her sister, Mandy, is Pear's crush but implied love has not been seen. However, it may be seen in a future episode.
- Main article: Mandy
Mandy is Passion Fruit's sister. They are twins, and are told apart by Mandy's bow. In Passion's Facebook and Twitter accounts, she stated that she will never be taking Mandy to another party ever again, meaning that the sisters don't get along very well, or she was embarrassed about Orange's misconception when he saw Pear and Mandy kiss.
- Main article: Marshmallow
Marshmallow and Passion are probably good friends. In Wishful Thinking, Passion screamed when Marshmallow was dropped in hot cocoa. She probably acts as if she was a mother/older sister to Marshmallow.
Midget AppleEdit
- Main article: Midget Apple
Midget Apple and Passion are probably good friends. In Wishful Thinking, however, in the world without Orange, they don't seem to get along well as boyfriend and girlfriend.
- Main article: Grapefruit
Passion was friends with Grapefruit previously, but doesn't seem to like him anymore because of his several arguments he had with Orange. Grapefruit has feelings for her.
Grandpa LemonEdit
- Main article: Grandpa Lemon
Passion is good friends with Grandpa Lemon, as seen in Wishful Thinking.
Liam the LeprechaunEdit
- Main article: Liam the Leprechaun
Leprechaun and Passion do not seem to get along well, as seen in many episodes, such as Food Court. They met in the Liam the Leprechaun's spin off series.
- She is the first character to not have been played by Dane Boedigheimer in the Annoying Orange series.
- She is the third longest surviving character in the series, with Orange and Pear first.
- She is the first female character to appear in the Annoying Orange series.
- She is showed able to walk in the web series and the TV show.
- Passion Fruit is on Facebook and Twitter.
- On that note, Passion Fruit stated on Facebook that she will never bring Mandy to a party again meaning Mandy will probably not be in another episode again.
- She is the only main character to not appear in a Wazzup episode.
- She has knowledge about law, as seen in Annoying Orange: Food Court episode when she defended Orange in court.
- She made an appearance in the game Kitchen Carnage, even though she did not appear in the advertisement of the same name.
- She is a black belt (Annoying Orange vs Angry Birds)
- "Hey! Watch the merchandise, buddy."
- "No, I'm just a passion fruit."
- "Yeah, I like your peel. Dimples are totally adorable!"
- "Grapefruit? Wow, I can't believe you made it!"
- "Shut up! What is wrong with you? Seriously, you think I care about flexing? And what are you talking about squats? You don't even have legs!"
- "Oh, my god!"
- "This kitchen is awful! How did you stand it?"
- "We have a goat?"
- "What was that, Pear?"
- "Just tell me."
- "We should be getting used to that sort of thing by now."
- "Liam, what do you want now?"
- "Your Honor, given your, uh, history with my client, I move for an immediate mistrial."
- "You really said that?"
- "Your Honor, the defense would like to call one last witness."
- "The defense wishes to call" (half pause in effect) "The Annoying Orange."
- "Mr. Orange, do you think you're annoying?"
- "What about Mr. Pickle?"
- "What about the judge, what do you think about the leprechaun?"
- "You see, the orange is annoying, but that's only because he can't help himself. You can't make that crime. That's like arresting Mr. Pickle because he smells like vinegar."
- "Or locking Liam away because he dresses like a dork."
- "Oh, it was nothing."
- "Hi, Orange."
- "I'm not deaf, you know!"
- "Seriously?"
- "Hey, I'm trying to sleep over here!"
- "That's for making fun of my costume."
- "Oops."


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Green Care Medical
Green Care Medical is a multidisciplinary team specializing in the use of cannabis derivatives for the management of chronic diseases, applying state of the art information for symptom relief and pain management. We offer a complete review of patient needs by our team of Medical Doctors and Doctors of Pharmacy to achieve the best results.
About Us
Dr. Steven Salman, Medical Director, has been a practicing trauma surgeon and trauma intensivist for over 20 years, and has unprecedented experience treating patients with traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and complex pain syndromes. He has integral faculty involvement in resident and fellow education at hospitals where he is on staff, and sits on a number of philanthropic and outreach boards, including Cease Fire, where he coordinates hospital intervention throughout the Chicagoland area.
Dr. George Gavrilos, Chief Pharmacy Officer, is a practicing cardiac critical care pharmacist, specializing in mechanical circulatory support. He is adjunct faculty at schools of pharmacy in Illinois, Missouri, and Iowa, and currently serves as Director of Post-Graduate Year 1 Residency Training at the hospital where he is on staff. His particular cannabis-related research interests include the pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic properties of cannabis and enzymatic drug-drug interactions.
First-Time Patients
The initial appointment is $150. The certification appointment is $150. Any follow-up appointments would be $50 .
The recertification appointment is $150.
Currently Green Care Medical does not accept insurance.
We are by appointment only.
Veterans have a compassionate discount of $100 on the intial visit. So, the initial appointment is $100 and the certification appointment is $100.


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2018 Exmark BRS270CKC36000
Call for Price
Stock Image
In Stock
A-1 Outdoor Power, Inc.
The ideal tool for winter, spring, summer and/or fall.
Whether it's cleaning up grass clippings, removing snow or anything in between, Exmark's® walk-behind rotary broom is one well-sorted machine. The patented power steering system makes it extremely easy to maneuver. The 36-inch-wide brush (25-inch outer diameter) is specifically designed to minimize surface impact—perfect for snow and ice removal customers who want sidewalks and driveways cleared down to the surface without damage. And simple adjusters let you easily set precise broom heights. But perhaps best of all, it's an Exmark. So you know it's built to last … Season after season.
- Patented Power Steering: Turn on a dime. Wheels can be disengaged independently or simultaneously with trigger controls making turning, reversing and steering easy.
- Simple Height Adjust: The broom height can be fine-tuned in 1/8-inch increments by simply moving two pins. This makes leveling basically foolproof, and allows for precise surface engagement.
- User-Friendly Controls: Independent control levers engage the broom and drive systems separately. So you only sweep what needs sweeping. Adjust the broom angle 20° in either direction with a simple thumb latch.
- Designed for Durability: The commercial-grade Kohler Command™ pro engine adjusts for multi-season use simply by rotating the air intake. Six forward positions and two in reverse can efficiently handle any job.
- Broom Angle: 40° total, 20° left and 20° right
- Width / Cutting Deck: 36"
- Broom Diameter: 25"
- Broom Speed: 200 RPM
- Broom Drive: Direct
- Starter: recoil start
- Tires: 15 x 5.00-6 X-Trac
Power Components
- Engine Brand: Kohler
- Engine Model: CH270
- Transmission: Friction Disc
- Steering: Power steering with clutch left and right hand
- Fuel Capacity: 4.3 quarts (4.0L)
- Model Description: Rotary Broom S-Series 7HP* Koh CH270 36" Walk-behind
- Curb Weight: 323 lbs (146.5 kg)
- Overall Height: 41.5 in. (105.4 cm)
- Overall Length: 73 in. (185.4 cm)
- Overall Width: 45.6 in. (118.1 cm)
NOTES:*The gross horsepower of these gasoline engines was laboratory rated at 3600 rpm by the engine manufacturer in accordance with SAE J1940 or SAE J2723. As configured to meet safety, emission and operating requirements, the actual engine horsepower on these mowers may be significantly lower. **The gross horsepower of the 3TNV80FT was laboratory rated at 2600 rpm; the 3TNV88C was laboratory rated at 3000 rpm by the engine manufacturer in accordance with SAE J1995. As configured to meet safety, emission and operating requirements, the actual engine horsepower on these mowers may be significantly lower.
- Fuel Capacity
- 4.3 qt. (4.0 L)
- Weight
- 323 lb. (146.5 kg)


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One of the most frequent questions I get asked, mostly from new or younger freelancers, is "what should I charge for my services?" And when you're just starting out trying to find the right price for you can be tough - you don't want to charge too much and price yourself out of the industry or land a project you can't handle, and you don't want to charge too little and price others out of the industry or land projects that aren't worth your time. So you have to come up with a number that works for you - but for most freelance video producers or freelance professionals of any kind, figuring this out can feel daunting. However, even though this seems like a really complex part of running your own business, it's actually dependent on a lot of really simple things.
But I guess first we should define the cost of doing business, or CODB. At the most basic level, this is literally just the cost it takes to run your business while making a profit. If I can't make a profit producing videos for clients, then I can't afford to provide those services. It's really that simple.
When I first started out doing freelance work I didn't know what to charge for my services, so I asked some other people in my industry what I should charge, and I heard things like $1,000 per finished minute of video, $150 per hour for everything, and so on. And this worried me - I mean the money sounded great, but for one I didn't have the experience, equipment, the knowledge, or the relationships that some of these seasoned men and women did, so charging what they did seemed like it would only get me into trouble - my fear was that I would actually land a $5,000 project and then not be able to deliver, ruin my reputation, and have to go work in a cave or a FootLocker somewhere. So I came up with some arbitrary amounts that I thought my services were worth - and more importantly, would sound affordable to a client - amounts like $100, $250, and $500 per project. In a way I had just come up with my own CODB.
But I realized pretty quickly that I was charging too little for what I was offering - in order to make enough money for my business to stay open, let alone pay for my personal bills, I'd have to work well over 100 hours a week. And I should throw in that you won't get paid for every hour you work when you start a business, a lot of hours are spent on non-billable things like networking, sending invoices, continuing education, and so on - these are all part of running a business. And it was at this moment I knew I needed something to help me come up with a better amount to charge for the services I was offering. I needed something that I could plug information into, regardless of where I lived, or my gear, or my experience - I could plug this information in and get a better, more accurate number, for my CODB.
So, like the good former mathlete I am, I created a spreadsheet and started keeping track of every penny that I needed to run my business - things like how much I spent on cameras over X amount of time, how much my yearly health insurance premiums were, what I spent on office supplies, and how many hours I worked. At this point things really started to take shape, and I was able to see what I NEEDED to charge just to run my business - not make a profit, but just keep my business open.
Then I added another line item to my CODB spreadsheet, and it was income - basically what I needed to make to pay my other personal bills, like student loans, mortgage, buying fancy dog food for my picky dog and so on. And my rates skyrocketed - instead of charging $100 or $250 or even $500 per project, it looked like I needed to charge several times that amount. And seeing this number initially freaked me out, but I had to remind myself that this is the amount my services were worth - this was my CODB, and this is what I needed to charge to run my business.
And by now you're probably wondering why you've read halfway through a blog post about calculating your CODB without actually reading about how to do it - so how exactly do you calculate your CODB?
Here's a link to the spreadsheet I created to determine mine - this is available for you to use to calculate your CODB - I'd recommend you make a copy or download it. This spreadsheet has some numbers already filled in so you can see how it works and what the cost breakdown is, but here's a little walkthrough to help get you started....
The left column has info on what the item or service is, some with additional details, and then the yearly total is where you enter in your numbers. After that the sheet breaks down the costs by month, and then by day (and the numbers - 200, 150, 100, and 50 are how many days in a year you'll work). Having owned my business for awhile now, I can tell you that you likely will not have 2000 billable hours a year like a typical full-time employee, in all likelihood you'll have 16-24 billable hours a week, and the rest will be filled with non-billable things like invoicing clients, networking, continuing education, etc. - which are all part of running your business. If you're just starting out, and this is a side hustle, or you're just a total slacker wiseass you'll probably use one of the further right columns, because you're probably only going to work 50 or 100 full days a year. But as you work more, get more clients, and your business grows, these numbers will change as well and you might need to use one of the further left columns. If you know you want to work like 150 days every year just delete the other columns and don't worry about them.
So taking a look at the numbers.... If you know you'll spend $3,000 every three years on a new camera, then you'll want to have $1,000 every year saved up for that purchase. When you enter that in you'll get a little over $83 a month that you need to earn. Break that down further and if you work 200 days a year, or 1600 hours, you'll need to bring in $5 on each day you work to pay for that. Doesn't seem so bad, right? 200 days of work right off the bat is a lot, and I am betting a lot of you, if not all, will fall into the middle two categories. So you'll likely need to earn, and save, between $6 and $10 a day for a camera in this scenario. Again you'll want to save a copy for yourself, and then go through and enter in what you need. In some these categories you might have $0 - I don't have an office since I work from home, so that, in my CODB sheet, is at $0 - your costs will change as you gain experience, get better equipment, and start doing bigger and better projects.
Remember, one of the biggest costs of doing business is being able to make a profit - if you don't make any money doing this you won't be able to offer clients your services. To account for this just adjust your salary accordingly. All of this is editable and you can adjust, add, or get rid of anything that make sense for YOUR business. At the bottom you'll see what you need to make, per DAY and per HOUR, to run your business. I included these options because there are scenarios in which you want to give out hourly rates, and scenarios in which you'll want to give out day rates. The numbers at the bottom will give you both of these so you can use whichever one you'd like.
So hopefully after reading this you've got an idea and some tools to help calculate your CODB. When I was starting out there were so many unknowns but I want to help inspire and educate anyone who has an interest in this stuff, and to pass along what I've learned and what I'm still learning. So if you have any questions about calculating your CODB or want to know more about freelancing or filmmaking please let us know!
For more content like this, and things like gear reviews, tips, tricks, tutorials, fun behind-the-scenes posts, and cute dog pics, then sign up for our newsletter, subscribe to Droi Media on YouTube, like us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter and Instagram!


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Chinese Zodiac Stepping Stone mold
Chinese Zodiac Stepping Stone mold
from 27.50
Measures 16" x 2" thick.
Asian styled Stone great for garden decor has all of the Chinese animals on it written with a decorative center and boarder and so easy to make it look just like this one, only two colors were used. A black base color, then just dry brush some red on and that is it.
This is a very easy mold to use and should you need help I am always
happy to help you can email me or call.
Printed instructions are included if you need them.
You will use this mold to make the item shown.
Select Thickness:
Add To Cart


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Featured Artist: Jonpaul Smith
I am pleased to introduce you to Jonpaul Smith, a professional artist and printmaker from Ohio that I had the pleasure of interviewing this month. He resides in Cincinnati where he creates unique relief prints using found objects. Below, you can read his full interview. You can also see hit portfolio and blog on his website, jonpaulcsmith.com
How would you describe your artwork and approach?
Through the use of traditional and alternative method printmaking with the combination of other mixed media and found paper I try to explore open-narrative, visual experiences. I do not want my work to make definite statements; instead it should highlight these juxtapositions of surface and broken imagery to allow the viewer to create their own visual narrative experience within my work. My most recent work involves the use of found and discarded paper from our consumer based culture. I consider this process one of gathering information while exploring the idea of the fine art print.
So, what is your preferred medium and subject matter?
I work primarily with Relief Printmaking. I also integrate found objects and document them through my printmaking process.
Love the use of found objects! Your Piece, 'Gun Sale'...What's the story behind that one?
The method predominately used during the creation of this print was relief printmaking. I began with an unassembled children's wooden model of an assault rifle. I then took these unassembled wooden model pieces and attached them to mat board in the pattern of what you see as the final print.
The assembly of the pieces is symmetrical in nature forcing me to cut additional wooden pieces to mimic those that came with the original gun model kit. Once assembly was complete, the wood block was inked and printed in the traditional relief method.
I assembled this woodblock with a Rorschach test in mind. The idea of what you see in the print is tied into your subconscious wants and needs. Inside this print are the hidden parts of a gun, and to some, just a pattern-based abstract print.
Amazing. How did you get started with Printmaking?
I completed my first intaglio in a high school art class. Yet my first real engagement came in college where I began working with large, detail orientated wood and linoleum cuts.
What is the thing that you love most about Printmaking?
It is difficult to single out one aspect of printmaking over others but I would believe it to be the ability to create the multiple. I have used printmaking not only as a medium to create finished prints but as a tool to create installations and large print based woven work.
What is the thing that you struggle with most in your Printmaking?
Staying in love with my print after the carving. Occasionally I find myself so engaged in the process of carving the block itself that by the time I have finished my interest in the edition process is lacking.
I have always struggled with the inclusion of color within my work. I have a tendency to be drawn to an aesthetic of bold, graphic black and white prints. Also like many, trying to push my own visual dialog. It is difficult to step out of the comfort zone we sometimes create within our practice.
Is printmaking/art what you do full-time? If so, how did you start out? At what point did you realize this was something that could sustain you, and what was that like?
Printmaking/art is what I do full time. There is a peppering of adjunct teaching here and there along with working in different school districts leading art workshops/classes.
In regards to sustaining myself, I feel it more in an emotional level than a financial one. For me, not being an active artist in my daily life would not allow me to emotionally sustain myself. I am not sure if I ever worried about it sustaining me in a financial standpoint. I have always put my full effort into my art and believed that the results would work out.
This acceptance of myself only came through the loving emotional support of my wife. The best I can describe the feeling of that moment would be a sense of tentative freedom.
So how can people find you online?
My Instagram is @jonpaulsmithart
My website is www.jonpaulcsmith.com
You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jonpaulsmithartist
Wrapping Up:
Thank you SO MUCH to Jonpaul for taking the time to interview with us! I think he has a great perspective on use of multiple media in printmaking!
Thanks to our readers as well, who have read this far! Please leave a comment with your thoughts and get a discussion going! This is a wonderful opportunity to bring some minds together!
If you're interested in being a featured artist, contact me at firstname.lastname@example.com
I plan to feature a new artist every month through an interview process similar to this.


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2014 National Company Awards
The grandeur of Plaisterers' Hall in the City of London played host to the Considerate Constructors Scheme's 2014 National Company Awards.
More than 300 guests saw over 80 awards being presented to those registered companies who have demonstrated the highest levels of consideration.
The awards were presented by special guest John Maddock, Chairman of the National Federation of Builders.
This year, the Scheme presented a total of 85 awards including 37 Bronze, 27 Silver and 16 Gold. From the Gold Award winners, a shortlist was produced of the very highest performers and 2 companies received the top accolade of Most Considerate Company while 3 other companies that were considered for this award were presented with the title of Most Considerate Company Runner-up.
The 2014 National Company Award winners
For the first time in the Scheme's history, the prestigious title of Most Considerate Company was shared between two companies – leading commercial refurbishment and re-fitting company Elev8 Interiors Ltd and local authority housing maintenance contractor Kier Sheffield. The Scheme's awards panel could find no way of separating these two winners who have equally demonstrated the utmost consideration in the work they undertake. Both companies have demonstrated exceptional commitment to the community, their workforce and the environment throughout every project and have set the standard that all others will be measured against.
Kier Services – Sheffield with John Maddock and Elev8 Interiors Ltd
Elev8 were praised for their inclusive staff culture, open door policy, community support and commitment to continual improvement. Kier Sheffield were congratulated for their exceptional commitment to site appearance, environmental standards, health and safety training and workforce development.
The most recent site report for Elev8 Interiors quoted that "there is a very impressive level of commitment to the Scheme which is commendable" and "the best practice advocated by the Scheme is being conducted to the highest standard and there remains ongoing, genuine and positive commitment".
Joe O'Neill, Director of Elev8 Interiors Ltd, and his team of ten from the company were surprised and thrilled to scoop the ultimate prize saying:
We were absolutely delighted to win a Gold Award and our table were happily celebrating the gold when there was a twist in the awards presentation. The Elev8 Interiors name was called out as a winner of the Most Considerate Company 2014 title and we were truly shocked. The massive round of applause we received from the other award winners was amazing and something we will never forget. The awards are very special and it took quite a few hours for the achievement of Most Considerate Company to sink in. After the awards we visited our projects to congratulate all our workers who, without their massive input in maintaining the Scheme's Code of Considerate Practice, have made this possible.
Elev8 Interiors Ltd
Kier's most recent site report states "an excellent performance with the continued implementation of new procedures and ideas…" and particularly praised "the opening up of 'The Link' community hub and charity shops around various parts of Sheffield is an innovative move forward to improve even further community relations with local residents".
Scott Murray, Head of Services at Kier Sheffield, was also delighted saying:
"We are thrilled to have won not only a Gold Award, but to also be recognised as the most considerate contractor in the UK – it's a fantastic achievement and one that we are all extremely proud of achieving. This shows real recognition of the hard work that has been put in by the team in Sheffield to raise the standards of the repairs service for Sheffield City Council over the last few years."
Kier Services – Sheffield
Award winners were selected from the top performing 20 per cent of registered companies monitored by the Scheme from the 1st August 2013 to 31st July 2014.
Edward Hardy, the Scheme's Chief Executive, said:
I'd like to congratulate all our National Company Award winners. They've all demonstrated an extremely high level of commitment to considerate construction which we're delighted to recognise and celebrate.
Elev8 Interiors and Kier Sheffield are worthy winners who have consistently demonstrated extraordinary commitment to the Scheme's Code of Considerate Practice. They are a fantastic example to the industry and deserve this highest award. Well done to all the staff at Elev8 and Kier Sheffield.
2014 National Company Awards
The Scheme has published a special edition awards brochure which lists all of the 2014 National Company Award winners.
Please click here to view and download a copy of this brochure.
Alternatively, to request a hard copy please call the Scheme on 0800 783 1423 or email firstname.lastname@example.com
Copies of this brochure will be posted to all 2014 National Company Award winners.
To view the full list of awards winners, including previous years, click here
If you would like to register your company with the Scheme, click here


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We are psyched to welcome back NINA STOREY, a KBCO Studio C CD - Local's Edition alumnus, to the Sounds of Simon stage for what is sure to be another unforgettable evening. On her latest album, Think Twice, NINA STOREY doesn't hold anything back. The soulful and sexy Los Angeles-via-Colorado chanteuse delivers honest and hypnotic songs steeped in classic soul-pop. Elegantly stripped, Nina is as powerful as she is provocative.
Produced by Chris Seefried (Counting Crows, Fitz and the Tantrums, Jay Nash, Haley Reinhart), the record has, in Storey's own words, "the sensibility of an old-school soul record from the likes of Eartha Kitt, Diana Ross and the Ronettes with a modern, Bruno Mars pop edge."
Nina has performed alongside the likes of Keb'Mo', Etta James, Sara Bareilles, Ani DiFranco, Sarah McLachlan, The Rescues, Shawn Colvin, DeVotchKa, and many more. She has also been featured on CNN Showbiz Today, MTV Online and Rolling Stone.com. She's had numerous film and television placements including The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy and Stay Cool on the big screen, and Days of Our Lives, So You Think You Can Dance, Girlfriends, Ford Fiesta, Hyundai and many more on the small screen. As People Magazine said, "with a voice like hers, pyrotechnics are redundant."
Doors at 700pm, Music at 800pm
$20 Suggested Donation, Adults Only
Please bring an appetizer, dessert, beer, or wine to share
RSVP to firstname.lastname@example.com or online by clicking HERE to reserve your spot(s).


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MarineParents.com Volunteers
It's 2017 National Volunteer Week! This organization could not exist if it were not for the contributions of hundreds of volunteers around the United States. Our volunteers contribute endless hours answering emails, moderating the social media groups, researching information, and supporting the parents, spouses, family, and friends of our United States Marines. The dedication to the Marine Corps from each of these individuals benefits thousands of families around the world. Between all volunteers, there were 42,876.75 volunteer hours recorded last year. That averages out to 824.55 hours per week, which totals out to 21 full time employees. That is truly inspiring!
Click here to meet our volunteers.
Tell Our Volunteers Thank You
As National Volunteer Week comes to an end, we encourage you, if you haven't done so already, to write a thank you note to our volunteers. Whether it's one volunteer in particular that touched your life, or if you'd like to address all of our volunteers as a whole, please make a comment on this post on our MarineParents Facebook page to express your gratitude.
Apply to be a MarineParents Volunteer
Would you like to become a volunteer for MarineParents.com? The organization is growing daily, and our need for additional volunteers is growing as well. Volunteering at Marine Parents is a rewarding experience and opens many doors to new friendships and levels of support, and provides you an opportunity to lend support to other Marine Corps families.
Click here to view open positions and apply.


text: Error code 1603 has come twice. what is the next step. Once on initial download and then after full version download. My processor is not list on the intel website as the porblem. I have a PC intel I5 4690k @3.50 ghz with 8 GB ram and 3 gig main drive and 256 meg ram drive with the OS on it. The trend micro is the latest download


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GetYourGuide United States
5.00 average rating based on 1,416 reviews
- eKomiSep 14, 2019I was very happy with the 2 tours I booked through the website, no hassle at all and both tours were of a very high standard and I would highly recommend them and your website to friends. That was the first time I used the site and I will be using it again going forward. Read more


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The Secret Servant
Hardcover, 385 pages, Penguin Group USA, List Price: $25.95 |purchase
Buy Featured Book
Your purchase helps support NPR programming. How?
Book Summary
In the aftermath of an Amsterdam-based terrorism analyst's murder by a Muslim immigrant, Gabriel Allon investigates clues pertaining to the victim, in a case with ties to a secret terrorist organization and the abduction of an ambassador's daughter.


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Courses & Syllabi
EDUC 820. Causal Inference in Education Research
Credits: 3
This course explores the use of experiments and quasi-experiments in education research. We will examine papers that use advanced research methods such as instrumental variables, regression discontinuity, propensity score matching, natural experiments, differences-in-differences, and randomized trials. Students will produce a substantial, original piece of research. The class is intended for PhD students early in their dissertation phase, as well as for advanced master's students who plan to work with empirical research in a professional setting.
|Fall 2011
|Susan Dynarski
|EDUC 820. Causal Inference in Education Research
This listing of courses and materials may not be complete. Please send any questions about offerings to the Office of Student Affairs (firstname.lastname@example.com)


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Sunday, April 4, 2010
Air Pollution Alerts - April 4th, 2010
News & Information; Every Sunday
(Last on March 28, 2010)
Sydney Morning Herald, April 3rd, 2010
Pollution index reveals the hidden costs of electricity.
News Times, April 2nd, 2010
A long haul for cleaner air.
Reuters, April 1st, 2010
U.S., Canada crack down on vehicle emissions.
NPR, April 1st, 2010
White House Issues New Gas Mileage Standards.
MSNBC, April 1st, 2010
Megacity breathes easier after smog crackdown.
Guardian, April 1st, 2010
South Africa is becoming a high-carbon zone to attract foreign investment.
DNA India, April 1st, 2010
Euro-IV fuel at Mumbai petrol pumps from today.
Durango Telegraph, April 1st, 2010
Asian pollution finds its way into the local airshed.
Washington Post, April 1st, 2010
Mexico City drastically reduced air pollutants since 1990s.
Science Direct, March, 2010
Co-benefit analysis of an air quality management plan and greenhouse gas reduction strategies in the Seoul metropolitan area.
Marie Claire, March 31st, 2010
Air pollution may shorten lives by up to nine years.
Teatre Naturale, March 31st, 2010
Unique and innovative solution to air pollution.
IPS, March 31st, 2010
CHILE: Quake a Chance for Sustainable Rebuilding.
Science Daily, March 31st, 2010
Improving Fuel Economy of Tractor-Trailers, Buses, Work Trucks.
Guardian, March 31st, 2010
China spends big to counter severe weather caused by climate change.
NY Times, March 31st, 2010
Can Humans Manage the Atmosphere?
NY Times, March 31st, 2010
A Call for Hong Kong to Clean the Air.
The Himalayan News, March 31st, 2010
Pay thru nose for new car; duty up.
Truth Out, March 30th, 2010
Why Current Air Pollution Controls Won't Avert Climate Catastrophe.
The News, March 30th, 2010
Karachi City needs at least 10,000 buses.
UNECE, March 30th, 2010
UNECE Approves Air Quality Monitoring Guidelines.
Science Daily, March 29th, 2010
Weathercasters Take on Role of Science Educators; Feel Some Uncertainty on Issue of Climate Change.
The Citizen, March 28th, 2010
We'll introduce fuel-saving stoves in local market.
Business Mirror, March 28th, 2010
Harvesting clean air for public health and the environment in Philippines.
Jakarta Globe, March 28th, 2010
Clearer Steps Needed to Clean Up Jakarta's Skies.
Telegraph, March 28th, 2010
Air pollution deaths rise, but little is done to clean up.
World Watch Institute, Match 27th, 2010
More Accurate Emissions Data Needed Worldwide.
TIME, March 27th, 2010
Meat-Eating Vs. Driving: Another Climate Change Error?
New York Times, March 26th, 2010
Emission-Cutting Plans Approved for U.S., Canadian Coasts.
Beijing Today, March 23rd, 2010
Hong Kong Air Quality 'Severe'.
NY Times, March 23rd, 2010
US E.P.A. to Seek More Data on Emissions.
Alter Net, March 23rd, 2010
Coal-Fired Plants Drink 1.5 Trillion Gallons of Water and We Drink the Dirty Backwash.
The Independent, March 21st, 2010
Britain. A breath of foul air.
Indian Express, March 7th, 2010
New air quality monitoring system by September.
China.Org, March 1st, 2010
Beijing's air quality fails to meet standard due to holiday fireworks.
Posted by Sarath Guttikunda at 4:58 PM
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HD Nitro Seal
HD Nitro Seal
from 275.00
HD Nitro seal will make your car look even newer than when you purchased it. The Interior on your vehicle will receive our full interior, carpets shampooed and designed. Your Exterior will receive a 100% hand wash, alcohol wipe down then our revolutionary two part paint protection sealant lasting up to 12 months


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T plucks the best shoes right off the runway.
That Miuccia Prada applied taillights resembling those of a classic Cadillac Coupe de Ville to the backs of her heels is a dead giveaway — the designer was thinking about the American 1950s. Here, because it was impossible to pick just one, are four of the collection's most inspired, flame-flying rides.


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The Day I Accomplished One of My Dreams/
Book Signing Recap
I remember in 7th grade reading class, my teacher asked us to write a list of our life goals. My list included things such as, travel the world, buy a house, have a career and to live comfortably, and write a self-help book. My teacher asked, "What do you mean 'self-help book?!'" And I told her, "I want to write a book to help people have more peace."
Well it happened I wrote my first two books and had my signing June 11, 2016. The Rhymes and Hues of Ebony – A Poetic Coloring Book for the Inspiration and Self-Reflection of the African American Woman and Color Me to Discovery - A Combined Coloring Book and Journal for the Self-Reflection and Inspiration of Women. The book signing went great! We had plenty of food and games and I was overwhelmed with joy. It was the largest turn out of all of my events. It was such a blessing.
However, the day after the book signing I became overwhelmed not with success but with apprehension – How was I going to continue to sell and market my books?! My mind started racing 100 miles per minute. I could barely breath. Although, I have received complements about the event and the books, I was consumed by the possibility of failure. So I started to scramble and brainstorm all the ways I could promote and market my book.
"You got to crawl before you walk."
Then this small voice in my head said "E.B. you got to crawl before you walk. Take one step at a time and enjoy each moment." So I ignored it because I had an urgency to do something. I did not want to lose momentum. A few days later the voice came again "What happened the last time you rushed something?! Remember you got to crawl before you walk." So I paused and thought instead of getting as much done as possible, let me get each step done as effectively and efficiently as possible. In fact, despite the fact my book did not hit the New York Times' Best Sellers List, my book release was a major accomplishment. It was something have I dreamed of since I was in the 7th grade.
While I am not trying to brag, my book signing, made me realize how extraordinary blessed I am to have a God that encourages and inspires me. A God that allows me to pick myself back up after defeat. A God that gives me people who took time from their jobs, children, and families to celebrate with me. Life is one of those things that does not happen overnight or in a flash, but instead happens one moment, one second at a time. More importantly, success does not come to you like a speeding bullet, but through thoughtful small mundane steps, that are appreciated. You start any goal, any milestone, with inspiration, and you continue with actions, but you finish with appreciation.
"Success is not an opportunity to worry. It is an opportunity to express gratitude and rejoice that you are on to another chapter of your life. "
Each and every one of us has dreamed. Regardless of when or how you accomplish your dreams, you should still celebrate yourself, each and every time. Do not get caught up on comparing your accomplishments to others, but embrace your journey. Success is not an opportunity to worry. It is an opportunity to express gratitude and rejoice that you are on to another chapter of your life. So no matter how small or large you think your moments of success are, you should celebrate, because success does not happen all at once but one step at a time.
I am hoping that this post helps people take a little time to humbly celebrate their successes. Not to be apprehensive about all the "what ifs" in life, but to embrace their hard work and journey. It is only through gratitude that you can truly experience and flourish in life.
The Rhymes and Hues of Ebony and Color Me to Discovery is now available on Amazon. I hope that these books inspire you as much as they have inspired me.
Photos from the Celebration
All photos belong to Cupid's Planner and should not be reused.
You May Also Like:


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Midtown: Community
Club Notes, April 14
CEO to address N. Raleigh Lions
Dennis Edwards, CEO of the Raleigh Convention and Visitors Bureau, will address the North Raleigh Lions Club during an open dinner meeting at 6 p.m. Monday, April 15, at the Bayleaf Community Center, 11617 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. To register, contact Maggie Crisafi at 919-803-6222 or email@example.com.
Raleigh Christian Women's Connection
The Raleigh Christian Women's Connection meet from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. The cost is $16 and free nursery is available. Reservations are required. To register, call 919-337-8003 or email firstname.lastname@example.com.
Author to address Gardeners of Wake
Pam Beck, author of "Best Garden Plants for North Carolina," will speak at a meeting of the Gardeners of Wake County at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, at the N.C. State Faculty Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. For more information, visit www.gardenersofwakecounty.org.
Senior Democrats meeting
John Maron, director of Investors Education Program, Securities Division, Department of State, will address the Wake County Senior Democrats on Wednesday, April 17, at Crabtree Marriott Hotel, 4500 Marriott Drive, Raleigh. A Dutch lunch will begin at 11 a.m. and the program will follow. For more information, call 919-510-7915.
Justice to address Republican women
N.C. Supreme Court Justice Mark Martin will address the Wake County Republican Women's Club on Thursday, April 18, at the N.C. State University Club, 4200 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. A social begins at 11:30 a.m., and the lunch program begins at 11:45 a.m. Lunch is $19 at the door or online at www.wakerepublicanwomen.org. Reservations are due by Monday, April 15, by emailing firstname.lastname@example.com.
AARP program on legislative issues
Helen Savage will discuss legislative issues important to seniors during a meeting of the AARP Raleigh-Wake County Chapter 3689 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at Abbotswood at Stonehenge, 7900 Creedmoor Road, Raleigh. The event is free; lunch can be purchased for $7. For more information, call 919-435-0861.
Substitute Teachers Association
The Substitute Teachers Association of Wake County will meet at 5 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at Cameron Village Regional Library, 1930 Clark Ave., Raleigh. For more information, email email@example.com.
Triangle Women of Distinction awards
Soroptimist International of Raleigh will hold its annual Distinction Awards from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at North Hills Club, 4824 Yadkin Drive, Raleigh. Mary Cantando, founder of The Woman's Advantage, will deliver a keynote presentation on this year's theme of Ordinary Women, Extraordinary Action. The event will also feature a reception and silent auction.
Five area women will be honored with Distinction Awards. The Violet Richardson Award will be given to Ashley Hayes, founder of Shepherd Youth Ranch, and Kristin Chung, for her work with Wags 4 Tags. The Women's Opportunity Award will be presented to Patricia Drum. The $2,000 grant will help her pursue her dream of becoming a pastry chef through The Chef's Academy. Tanisha Dildy and Sherry Wiggins will also receive a $500 award.
For more information, visit www.soroptimistraleigh.org or call 919-386-9910.
Keith Sutton to address League of Women Voters
Keith Sutton, chairman of the Wake County school board, will speak during a brown bag lunch of the League of Women Voters of Wake County at noon Friday, April 26, at Finlator Hall in Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, 1801 Hillsborough St., Raleigh. He will discuss the "Challenging Issues Facing Wake County Public Schools." For more information, call 919-783-5995 or visit www.lwvwake.org.
Dress for Success at Soroptimist
Pat Nathan, founder of Dress for Success, will address the Soroptimist International of Raleigh at 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, May 14, at Hudson Memorial Church, 4921 Six Forks Road, Raleigh. Operations manager Katie Lowek and several other Dress for Success employees will also speak. For more information, contact contactus@soroptimistraleigh.
Grief support group
Grief support group meetings will be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. each Tuesday in classroom 1008 at the Wakefield High School Ninth Grade Center, 931 Durham Road, Wake Forest. Participants will be guided through a series of discussions as well as explore tools to assist them through the grieving process. For more information, email Ami Miano or Meghan Petrie at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Ian Davidson, the chair of the Commons Scottish affairs select committee, said it will conduct an inquiry into the tax avoidance schemes and grants used by the 432 landlords who owns half Scotland's land.
The Labour MP said they will also examine extending community right to buy and whether tenant farmers should be given an absolute right to purchase their land even where this is opposed by the owner.
Another aspect being examined by the committee will be the introduction of a land value tax, which would see the owners of the largest estates pay tens of thousands of pounds more to the public purse.
The inquiry was announced after Mr Davidson commissioned a report from land reform campaigners, which accuses some of the largest estates of using wide-scale tax avoidance schemes while claiming public subsidies for forestry and farming.
It follows the setting up of a land reform inquiry at Holyrood that will also examine absolute right to buy for tenant farmers.
But landowners protested they had done nothing wrong and the report was written by land reform activists as a "tactical ploy" to achieve their aims.
Mr Davidson, the MP for Glasgow South West, said he hoped his committee's investigation would place pressure on the UK Government to act on tax avoidance and its Scottish peers on diversifying land ownership.
"We are optimistic that the Government, who are pressing hard to take action on tax dodging on a national and international level, will listen to what we have to say about tax avoidance by the greediest benefit claimants in the country," he said.
"If the Treasury is losing money from tax avoidance and tax reduction schemes from landowners that is an injustice for every taxpayer in the UK."
He has asked the Prime Minister to cooperate with the committee to establish "who owns and controls the great landed estates in Scotland."
The report, which was spearheaded by land reform campaigners James Hunter and Andy Wightman, said the real identity of some landowners is hidden in companies, foundations and offshore tax havens.
It examined the tax affairs of the Duke of Buccleuch, stating that Buccleuch Estates is in fact a parent company for a string of other firms across the world, the shareholders of which are a "mystery".
The inheritance and capital gains reliefs and allowances used by wealthy landowners are listed, prompting the authors to ask why these are available when they receive millions of pounds in subsidies for agriculture, forestry and wind farms.
Attacking the "extraordinarily concentrated" nature of land ownership in Scotland, it said the committee should examine the introduction of a tax based on land value to raise revenue for cheap housing.
It also urged the committee to examine the law of succession to prevent successive generations of landowning families automatically inheriting the same estates.
But John Glen, chief executive of Buccleuch Estates, said: "There is no secrecy or mystery about the company structures. It is owned 100 per cent by the Buccleuch family.
"The interests of the family are held in standard trusts and company arrangements. Buccleuch companies and family members pay taxes where they fall due. Buccleuch Estates Ltd is not structured to avoid tax."
Scottish Land and Estates, which represents landowners, said a Westminster investigation was "pointless" when MSPs were already examining land reform and the vast majority of its members do a "first-class job" supporting their communities.
Luke Borwick, the organisation's chairman, said: "The individuals submitting this report have been well known land reform activists for many years and are using this approach as another tactical ploy."


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It only happens once every two years!
Even Greater Things, Northwest Christian Conference
Friday, July 11-Sunday, July 13
Once every two years our brothers and sisters from 14 churches around the Northwest U.S. and Western Canada come together for a life-changing time of fellowship, family and faith building. This year also happens to coincide with the 25th anniversary of the Seattle Church of Christ. Please make plans to join us at the foot of the Space Needle in the inspiring Seattle Center's state of the art facility.
To register now CLICK HERE.
Click for pdf of NW Christian Conference Detailed Schedule
FRI, July 11
4:00-7:30PM Registration in Fisher Pavilion.
Kickoff by Rob Skinner, "See Our Great God" (Kids Kingdom through 4th Grade Available)
SAT, July 12
All Women's Rally, "Greater Personal Growth," with Lynne Green and Pam Skinner
Urban Pro (Single Men) & Campus Men's Class, "Greater Deeds," with Alex Whitaker and Darin Ford
All Men's Rally, "Greater Personal Growth," with Scott Green
Urban Pro (Single Women) & Campus Women's Class, "Greater Deeds," with Danielle Whitaker and AT Ford
Lunch Break and Teen Hang Out
Ministry & Missions track of classes, Family track of classes, Campus track of classes, Table Talk focused discussions
Primetime (Singles 35 yrs +) Fellowship at McCaw Hall's Norcliffe Room, for more information email Charlie Calandra at email@example.com or call him at (404) 512-6444.)
Family Fellowship with Music By SLAM for parents and kids at our Queen Anne Church Building (2555 8th Ave. West)
Urban Pro (Singles) & Campus Beach Party at Alki Bath House (2701 Alki Ave SW).
Click for pdf of NW Christian Conference Detailed Schedule
SUN, July 13
Worship Service all together, 25th Anniversary of Seattle Church of Christ, NW Teen Camp Sendoff (Kids Kingdom through 4th Grade Available)
To register now CLICK HERE.
There are numerous local accommodation options and many are within walking distance of the Seattle Center or near the downtown monorail that connects you easily with the Seattle Center. Below are three hotels at which we have negotiated discounted rates, mention the NW Christian Conference when making reservations. We strongly recommend that you do your own research and determine where would be best for you.
The Inn at Queen Anne, Call reservations at 206-282-7357
Mediterranean Inn, Queen Anne, Call reservations at 206-428-4700
Hampton Inn & Suites, Call reservations at 206-282-7700
If you are unable to afford hotel accommodations and would like to explore the possibility of staying with a host family please contact Shawn Calvo at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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There were 92 vineyards in the Netherlands at the end of 2017, the national statistics office CBS revealed on Wednesday.
The numbers hardly fluctuate. There were only 88 vineyards in the country in 2016 while in 2013 there were as many as 97, the CBS said.
The average vineyard measured 1.7 hectares in 2017, up from 1.2 hectares in 2003. The largest vineyards, at 3.1 hectares, are in Zeeland province but Gelderland, Limburg and Noord-Brabant are the main producers of Dutch wine.
Operating a vineyard is expensive and entails a lot of hard work, said Dik Beker chairman of the Dutch wine producers association VNWP. 'Wine comes to market only four years after the grapevines are planted,' he told public broadcaster NOS.
Dutch vineyards produce 1.2 million bottles of wine each year and this year's harvest is set to produce a good wine, thanks to the warm and dry summer. The weather between now and the end of October is a determining factor, Beker said. 'Sunny with cool nights are ideal,' he said.
Feature: Get to grapes with Dutch wine
DutchNews.nl has been free for 12 years, but now we are asking our readers to help. Your donation will enable us to keep providing you with fair and accurate news and features about all things Dutch.
Donate via Ideal, credit card or Paypal.


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Simple 5-Balloon Bouquet
This bouquet includes three 16" printed latex balloons, one Qualatex "bubble" balloon and one giant mylar. Easily swap colors and styles for any of these! Starting at around $30.
Mickey Balloon Bouquet with Trim
This bouquet includes three 16" latex balloons, two double-stuffed Qualatex "bubbles" and decorative trim extras. These bubbles are extra-special as they are a recreation of the iconic Mickey balloons found at the Disney parks. Starting at around $35.
5-Balloon Bouquet with Bubbles
This Valentine's Day bouquet includes two 16" latex, two Qualatex "bubbles" stuffed with 16" latex inside and one jumbo mylar. Swap out colors and prints easily to customize your Valentine's Day bouquet. Starting at around $35.
5-Balloon Bouquet with Bubbles
This fun bouquet includes two Qualatex "bubbles" with 16" latex inside, two diamond-shaped 18" mylar balloons and one jumbo mylar on top. Mix and match colors and styles to customize! Starting at around $35.
24" Qualatex Deco Bubble
This stretchy plastic balloon lasts longer than normal latex balloons, can protect a latex balloon stuffed inside it and looks great even after being in the sun!
24" Elegant Butterflies Qualatex Bubble
16" Orbz Balloon
This fun balloon is made of a stretchy foil, is perfectly round when inflated and will look great even in the sun. Many colors available.
16" Cubez Balloon
Ever seen a square balloon before? They exist and I can get them for you! These fun, cube-shaped balloons come in many colors and designs.
Large Luxury Bouquet
This seven-balloon bouquet features "bubble" balloons stuffed with mini balloons as well as large 16" latex balloons with mini balloon decorative trim. Priced around $50.
Bubbles and Orbz
These bouquets include "bubble" balloons stuffed with large and mini latex balloons with decorative ribbon trim as well as our stretchy foil "Orbz" (sphere-shaped) balloons. This style bubble balloon and Orbz balloons priced at $10.50/each.
Construction Trucks
We have construction truck latex balloons (mixers, dump trucks, and diggers) in orange, light blue and yellow as well as large loader foil balloons.
Queen City Balloon Bar is a luxury balloon decor and delivery service in Sioux Falls, SD serving up big and unique balloons.
Our mission: To Glorify God and reflect His creativity through providing creative and beautiful modern balloon decorations and gifts.
Send us an email with your contact information and request and we will get back to you within one business day.
Email or Call
+1 (605) 368 1618


text: Leo TechnoSoft's SaaS based LMS is a software application that caters to various business challenges of an organizations Learning and Training division. Leo TechnoSoft's SaaS based LMS comes in handy when training needs to be delivered yesterday, as it enhances the management and delivery of self-paced elearning programs. It allows for rapid deployment of information to a small or large group of individuals in a very efficient manner. These groups could consist of employees, contractors, vendors, customers or other specially defined groups of users. This web based SaaS learning management system assists you in achieving your business objectives by reaching out to large audiences in geographically distributed organizations.


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Pig & Hen
Tiny Ted in Sky Blue/Black/Sand | Black
$ 89.00
or 4 interest-free payments of $ 22.25
learn more
This guys moniker is misleading: Tiny Ted is quite possibly the tallest person you will ever meet in your life. Tired of his previous nickname – Tall Ted – he asked for something just as catchy but slightly more original. This one sounded just right to him.
- Color: Sky Blue / Black / Sand band
- Stainless steel black shackle
- Twice wrap around
- Waterproof
- Ships with a wooden box
- Handmade in Amsterdam
- Band: 6mm wide
How to select the right size: Use a tape measure to check your wrist size and then refer to the sizing below.
- 6.3″: Small (S)
- 6.7″: Small/Medium (SM)
- 7.1″: Medium (M)
- 7.5″: Medium/Large (ML)


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Assistant Professor
BS Information and Computational Science Nanjing University 2007
PhD Mathematics University of California, Irvine 2012
My research is in mathematical biology. My work is to understand how animals shape themselves. From ants to elephants, animals come in all shapes and size, and it is interesting and important to know how growth and forces are patterned and how they interplay in forming these shapes. To answer these questions, I develop mathematical and computational models of growth and explore how to infer the forces at play in living tissue based on imaging data. At WPI, I like to integrate my research interest and experience with the teaching practice.
Research Interests
Research Interests:
Modeling tumor growth and morphogenesis, stress inference schemes in living tissues


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Cookies on the Merrithew™ website
Merrithew has updated its cookie policy. We and third-parties use cookies on this site to improve your experience, personalize content, optimize your shopping experience and to show you relevant advertising. By continuing to use this site you give consent for all cookies to be stored locally on your computer or device. To learn more about cookies and how to manage them visit our cookie policy.
Find an Instructor Trainer
The Master Instructor Trainer has reached the highest level of Merrithew™ educators. With a minimum of seven years of teaching experience in the industry, this individual has established himself/herself as an expert in the field of mind-body fitness. The Master IT possesses the unique skills to inspire through leadership the Merrithew Community of Excellence philosophy and bring this ability to the courses and workshops that are taught anywhere in the world. All Master ITs are integral in the creation and development of new programs for Merrithew, and continue to learn and grow within the industry.
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels, ISP; CORE™; ZEN•GA®; Total Barre®; Merrithew™ Fascial Movement; Halo® Training
Additional credentials and designations
BFA / B.Ed. Dance, BSc Kinesiology, Yamuna Body Rolling, Franklin Method
Kim has built an impressive reputation as an expert and leader in the health and wellness industry. She is a Merrithew™ Master Instructor Trainer and an integral member of the Programming/Education team, representing STOTT PILATES®, ZEN•GA®, CORE™, Halo® Training and Total Barre® programming. Kim is the proud owner of one of the first STOTT PILATES Licensed Training Centers in Canada.
She presents on behalf of Merrithew throughout North America and internationally at conferences and trade events, and is featured in several new Merrithew DVD releases. Kim studied at York University where she received her B.F.A. in Dance/B.Ed. and completed her B.Sc. Kinesiology at Dalhousie University. She is also a Yamuna Body Rolling Certified Instructor Trainer, and Certified Franklin Method Instructor.
See where I teach
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels, ISP; Total Barre™; Halo® Training; ZEN●GA™ Mat; and Merrithew™ Fascial Movement
Additional credentials and designations
BFA, NSCA CSCS, Pink Ribbon certified instructor
Laureen is an integral member of a dynamic team responsible for the global development and implementation of training and certification programs. Her spirited approach to teaching has made Laureen a vibrant international presenter, trainer and examiner. An NSCA certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist and a Pink Ribbon certified instructor, she began teaching Pilates in 1995, and is now a Merrithew™ Master Instructor Trainer specializing in STOTT PILATES®, ZEN•GA®, Total Barre®, Halo® Training and Merrithew Fascial Movement. Laureen is a featured performer and associate producer of many Merrithew DVDs, the associate editor of numerous teaching manuals and author of articles in several industry publications.
Prior to joining Merrithew, Laureen worked for Tennis Canada where she was responsible for Canadian and international public relations in the capacity of media relations and communications, player relations and event organization. Laureen studied Dance and Physical Education at York University in Toronto where she graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels, ISP, Rehab; Halo® Training; Merrithew™ Fascial Movement
Additional credentials and designations
Melanie graduated with a degree in Physiotherapy from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and is a Merrithew™ Master Instructor Trainer for the STOTT PILATES® Rehab Program. Specializing in orthopedics and manual therapy, she spent the next 10 years working as a physiotherapist at a private practice. In 1999, she became an IT teaching the full repertoire for STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair& Barrels, as well as Injuries & Special Populations. Melanie is one of few instructors in the United States instructing the STOTT PILATES® Rehabilitation Series. Utilizing Pilates for the prevention and rehabilitation of injuries, brings her the most joy in her career.
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork &Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels, ISP, Rehab; ZEN•GA®; CORE™; Total Barre®; Merrithew™ Fascial Movement; Halo® Training
Moira Merrithew, together with President and CEO of Merrithew™, Lindsay G. Merrithew, has spent over two decades promoting the benefits of responsible exercise through their branded programming. Together with her team, they ensure all programming is aligned with current scientific and biomechanical research. In addition to overseeing the Education Department, Moira is a content creator and featured performer in the extensive DVD series. A published author and media personality, she presents at numerous fitness industry events all over the globe. After an accomplished career as principal dancer with the City Ballet of Toronto and the Atlantic Ballet Company, Moira Merrithew went on to retrain and certify as a Pilates instructor under the tutelage of Romana Kryzanowska at the original studio founded by the late Joseph H. Pilates.
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair & Barrels, ISP, Total Barre®, ZEN•GA®; Merrithew™ Fascial Movement; Halo® Training
Additional credentials and designations
ACE Certified, Programming Director Board Member for IDEA Health & Fitness, TRX Senior Master Instructor
Merrithew™ Master Instructor Trainer PJ O'Clair has been a leader and consultant in the fitness industry for more than 25 years. A valuable member of the programming team, PJ specializes in STOTT PILATES®, Total Barre®, Halo® Training, Merrithew Fascial Movement and ZEN•GA®.She is the owner, president and educational director of New England-based Northeast Pilates, a Merrithew Licensed Training Center. She is a featured performer and instructor in numerous fitness videos including over 30 titles with Merrithew. PJ won the prestigious IDEA Program Director of the Year Award in 2008 and was a finalist in 2007. She is a sought-after speaker and consultant at fitness conferences and spas worldwide and has written numerous articles for industry publications. No matter where she goes, PJ takes her trademark enthusiasm, and dynamic personality with her.
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels, ISP
Additional credentials and designations
Stefania joined Merrithew™ in 1998, and has played an integral role in developing Merrithew education, providing strategic direction for both the Education Programming department and Corporate Training Center as well as the Merrithew flagship studio in Toronto.
Stefania and her team identify, develop and execute strategies that have sustained an innovative leadership and mentoring program for Merrithew Instructor Trainers, Certified Instructors and students that has grown tenfold to include tens of thousands worldwide. Stefania oversees the ongoing evolution and global implementation of Certification and Qualification programs, as well as the expansion of the Continuing Education Program and developing and maintaining relationships with third party accreditation bodies for Merrithew branded fitness programs.
As a Merrithew Master Instructor Trainer, Stefania is recognized throughout the industry as an exceptional leader, educator, consultant and contributor. She has presented on behalf of Merrithew at fitness facilities, industry trade events and Merrithew Mindful Movement Symposia in 14 countries on five continents worldwide.
IT qualifications
STOTT PILATES® Matwork & Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, & Barrels, ISP, Rehab; Halo® Training
Additional credentials and designations
BOccThy, MSc(PT)
Wayne Seeto is a Merrithew™ Master Instructor Trainer and an integral member of the internal programming, education and presenting team specializing in STOTT PILATES® Rehab. Wayne has been based at the Merrithew Corporate Training Center in Toronto for 10 years and is a recognized leader in his field. This high-energy Australian native received his Bachelor of Occupational Therapy from the University of Queensland, Australia and his Masters of Science (Physiotherapy) at McMaster University, Canada. Wayne has presented on behalf of Merrithew throughout North America and Europe at symposia, and industry trade events, and is featured in several Merrithew DVD titles.


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Our designer engagement ring collections include classic styles with halos, sparkling solitaires, and 3-stone rings, as well as unique engagement rings in NYC made with natural diamonds. We also offer an extensive collection of heirloom-cut diamond rings in vintage-inspired settings. Designer collections include Single Stone, Danhov, Beverley K, Polly Wales, and more. Visit our expert diamond jewelers in New York City today or browse our online collection.
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Porsche Boxster GTS (2014) road test review
Porsche's brilliant Boxster GTS is the new convertible sports car king
Sean Carson | October 2014
With the current third generation Boxster, Porsche has refined the roofless sports car recipe to Michelin star standards. A sonorous flat-six engine mated to a wickedly mechanical and precise manual gearbox (or super-swift PDK auto) combine with a chassis that gives you plenty of feeling and lots of adjustability.
It's not all pseudo motorsport pretensions though – the Boxster is a surreptitiously usable car for one or two people on a day-to-day basis. The front and back boots are big enough to accommodate shopping or sufficient luggage for a weekend away.
And now, for Boxster fans who want even more performance but in an equally usable car there's this: the Porsche Boxster GTS.
It's not an RS or even an R version – think of it more like a Boxster "Plus", with all the best features of the standard Boxster S model tuned and tweaked that little bit further to deliver open air driving delights.
What's the Porsche Boxster GTS like to drive?
The Boxster S' 3.4-litre engine has been massaged, with Porsche extracting another 15hp taking the total to 330. Torque is also up by 7lb ft to 273, which together means the 0-62mph time is slashed by a third of a second to 5.0 seconds – 4.7 if you opt for the paddleshift PDK transmission.
It'll zing all the way to 174mph, but the numbers are not necessarily what the Boxster GTS does best. This car is about extracting the performance, and the powertrain works perfectly with the chassis. It's revvy and feels free. It's not the most torquey unit, despite that small increase, which means you'll need to explore all of the throttle's travel and most of the rev range to sample the scintillating motor's maximum performance.
It's worth the effort, as the noise alone will contort your face through glee, as the exhaust note morphs from a big, bassy blare to a howl at the top end. The manual gearbox is accurate and rewarding, the dual-clutch PDK smooth and rapid on the way up and down the ratios.
You can also leave it in automatic for ease of use around town or on the motorway. Thankfully, the engine is not too noisy for top gear cruising, and with the sports exhaust (including a quiet mode) you can calm things down when you want to relax.
Prod the button that controls the Porsche Active Suspension Management adjustable dampers and you can adjust the chassis on the fly for more comfort or more control. In the softest mode the Boxster still feels sporty and taut, but there's plenty of compliance for rippled Tarmac. Despite riding on big 20-inch alloys, the wheels never thump or slam over big bumps.
On the circuit, select the firmest of the GTS' settings and the car takes on a new attitude. It feels racier and that bit more aggressive. Tightening up the control of the Boxster's masses makes the steering feel sharper and more accurate. Direction changes are completed with less body roll and a harder-edged approach. However, it's still not as sharp dynamically as its fixed-roof Cayman cousin.
We wouldn't expect it to be, given the big void above your head, and the way the Boxster GTS grips and copes with the forces at work is impressive. Besides, the noise of the piercing flat-six rasping in your ears with the roof down is enough to forgive any (very) small chassis shortcomings.
We'll stop short of saying this is a Jekyll and Hyde car (no car ever is, really), but the way the Boxster GTS can adapt to different surroundings is an extremely impressive and welcome trait.
What's the Porsche Boxster GTS like inside?
That talent runs deep inside the cabin, too. It's comfortable and features all the usual Porsche appointments you'd expect if you were dropping over 50 grand on a two-seater sports car.
The seats are fantastic – comfortable on a long run, low and cossetting to make you feel like you're in something special, and grip you when you're pushing the pace and asking the tyres to do the same thing.
Refinement is good, with the right noises percolating through to the cabin. There's not much wind noise at speed thanks to clever insulation in the hood, which can be raised or lowered electrically in 9.0 seconds at up to 30mph, It allows for quick operation to catch those fleeting moments of British sunshine, or when you want to enjoy the rasp of that exhaust to its full effect.
For your £52,879 you get Porsche's Sports Chrono pack with dynamic engine mounts and Porsche Active Suspension Management, as mentioned. Those 20-inch alloys come fitted as standard, too, as does a sports exhaust and electric half-leather, half-Alcantara sports seats (full leather is a no cost option).
And here comes the Boxster GTS' very minor catch: the options are quite expensive, and you'll probably want to select a few of them. If you want even more agility, Porsche Torque Vectoring costs £890, the PDK 'box £2,351. Carbon-ceramic brakes are a £4,977 option and very good, too.
Inside, sat nav is £2,141, Bluetooth £446. If you want the carbonfibre or aluminium trim packages, that'll be £1,008 and £477 respectively. The GTS is fairly equipped as standard, but if you don't keep a watchful eye on those check boxes, you may get a shock when you see the final total after you've had your way with the options.
That said, if you added the extra equipment here onto a standard Boxster S you'd have nullified the price difference – and that's without taking into account the GTS' performance gains.
MR verdict: Porsche Boxster GTS
Is the Boxster GTS the finest convertible sports car on the market today? All things considered, we think so.
The regular Boxster S laid a strong claim to that title too, but with a touch more performance from this GTS variant and not much in the way of an economy penalty – not to mention the extra options and retaining that open-air experience – this is the new convertible king.
Rivals: Porsche Boxster GTS
- Audi TTS Roadster
- BMW Z4 35iS
- Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG
Audi's new TTS Roadster offers similarly sharp styling and roofless appeal, but going on sale in mid-November, it'll have to be exceedingly good to match the Boxster GTS' balance and purity. It's the only 'new-school' rival here – both the BMW Z4 35iS and Mercedes-Benz SLK55 AMG with their folding hard tops are showing their age dynamically next to the Boxster range and this most lithe GTS variant. We like you can get the BMW with a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and that 421hp 5.5-litre V8 in the Merc is still a monster…
Specification: Porsche Boxster GTS
Engine: 3.4-litre flat-six
Gearbox: six-speed manual or seven-speed PDK
Price from: £52,879
Power: 330hp
Torque: 273lb ft
0-62mph: 5.0 seconds (4.7 with PDK and Sport Plus)
Top speed: 174mph
MPG: 31.4 combined (34.4 PDK)
CO2: 211g/km (190 PDK)


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- Page 1 Lexmark X6575 Wireless All-in-One Review
- Page 2 Lexmark X6575 Wireless All-in-One Review
- Page 3 Feature Table Review
- Page 4 Print Speeds & Running Costs Review
Key Specifications
- Review Price: £105.90
There is something of a problem with reviewing Lexmark inkjet all-in-one printers, as they have very similar print mechanisms, cases and feature sets. The X6575 looks similar to the (article:Lexmark-X9575 X9575) and very similar to the (article:Lexmark-X5470-All-in-One X5470) and the X5495 and all are intended for SOHO use as printers, scanners and copiers. In this case, there's fax functionality built in, too.
Its white, grey and silver livery gives the X6575 a clean, modern look and the Auto Document Feeder (ADF) is nearly horizontal, fitting in with the sleek lines of the rest the machine. Lift the lid of the Contact Image Sensor (CIS) flatbed scanner and it rises up, so you can scan pages from a book. However, this also means when you lower the lid on a single sheet of paper, it doesn't fold down cleanly.
The control panel is well laid out, like most Lexmark panels, and includes a 2-line by 16-character LCD with a decent backlight and a 'this-train-will-call-at' way of scrolling messages across the screen, so they can be more than 16 character's long. There are mode buttons down the left-hand side, including one to quickly select duplex print, and buttons to start colour and black copies at the right-hand side. In between these and the display is a number pad for dialling fax numbers.
Paper feeds conventionally from a near vertical, 100-sheet tray at the rear to a pull-out, horizontal tray at the front. To the right of the output tray are two memory card slots, which take nearly all current types, and a PictBridge socket. At the back is a USB connection, but also a short aerial, so you can connect a printer up wirelessly, through a WiFi link.
Hinge the whole scanner section up and you have access to the twin print cartridge carriers. The printer uses a single black cartridge and second tri-colour one, though the black can be replaced by a photo cartridge, if you want to print in six colours. The two cartridges slip into place with very little effort, though the tapes used to protect their heads in storage leave a surfeit of adhesive on the cartridges, which needs cleaning off before use.
The standard suite of Lexmark software is included, with ABBYY FineReader 6 Sprint OCR integrated well into Lexmark's own Productivity Suite. There's a facility to produce PDF files directly from scans and the bundled software also includes the Lexmark toolbar, which makes it easy to print Web pages without losing content down the right-hand side of the page.
Unlike other sites, we thoroughly test every product we review. We use industry standard tests in order to compare features properly. We'll always tell you what we find. We never, ever accept money to review a product. Tell us what you think - send your emails to the Editor.