text:
Sample Letters
General Forms
Letter for General Affidavit
This form must be signed in front of a Notary Public or some other official authorized to administer oaths in your state.
I, <Full Name>, do under oath depose and say:
I am over the age of eighteen years.
<Body of Statement.>
I affirm the statements above to be true to the best of my knowledge and belief.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, and under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of <State>, I affix my hand this <Day> day of <Month>, <Year>.
<Full Name>
STATE OF <State>, COUNTY OF <County>, ss.:
I, __________________________________, do hereby certify that on this
______ day of ________, __________, personally appeared before me
known to be the person(s) who executed the foregoing instrument.
Notary Public in and for the State of _________________.
My commission expires _______________.
Copyright © 2005 |
Our Partners


text:
Helicopter News December 13, 2015 by Helis.com
Newsletter #261
Spain 10th Naval Squadron Reaches 50,000 Flight Hours The Décima Escuadrilla (Tenth Squadron) of the Spanish Naval Aviation celebrates 50,000 flight hours with their SH-60B Seahawk.
Five Mi-171Sh Delivered to Bangladesh Bangladesh received 5 new Mi-171Sh equipped with additional fuel tanks and the latest avionics enabling them to all weather operations
Farren Two Transcontinental Transports for AgustaWestland Farren International completed transport of the AW169 prototype after been tested in California and a AW189 across Canadian provinces
First H175 Orientation Course in Southeast Asia Airbus Helicopters organized the first H175 course for the Southeast Asia region. Held in Kuala Lumpur included presentations by NHV (first global H175 operator) and engine provider Pratt & Whitney
Danish Terma Opens New Office in Brussels The Danish aerospace, defence and security company Terma announced the opening of a new representation office in Brussels, Belgium.
HAL Successful Run Indigenous 25 kN Aero Engine India s HAL launched the design and development project of Hindustan Turbo Shaft Engine (HTSE-1200) which can be used for helicopters.
Wright-Patterson AFB Saves the DOD Time, Millions The Rapid Development Integration Facility (RDIF), Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, develops equipment for US agencies and armed forces aircraft

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The weather has finally changed, and is now actually suitable for doing this kind of work. I don't think there's been a day under 30 degrees when I've been working on this thing yet. I kind of subconsciously associate the heat with this project.
I'd pretty much got as far as I could with the materials I had and the amount of warpage that had occurred. With the better weather some warping had relaxed and I was able to salvage two planks by soaking them in the pool for a week. Alas the only way to force several panels to straighten is with steel reinforcement. My Dad did mention at the outset that I should have built the thing from steel to avoid the issues I have faced.
So I bought some of those angle supports used in timber house frames. They don't look pretty but they're screwed to the insides of the wall panels and they certainly do the job. Straightened up both top and bottom panels and now warpage is at a minimum. I still have a minor issue with the box not sitting square at the front, but I've worked out a way to fix that.
I finally bought some cornice material as Stratco had some cheap stuff in stock. Still at the incorrect 19mm, so I shaved a couple of mm off one edge. It fits okay, but is a nightmare to screw in as the cornice timber is denser than the box and the screws don't want to bite. Got there in the end with some force.
Cornices in place. There's three per corner post so twelve in total. I butchered one in the saw so I'll have to get another piece. Much filling and sanding still to go.


text:
You could be telling strangers exactly where you live when you share a picture on Facebook or Instagram. Phones or devices with GPS technology contain tags that reveal exactly where the picture was taken. Why do parents have to share EVERYTHING their children do on Facebook? How much is too much information when it comes to sharing on Facebook? When ...Read More »
When Smart Is Not So Smart
Are we becoming too reliant on technology and what happens if it is suddenly taken away from us, asks Tom Chatfield. Google's "chief technology advocate", Michael Jones, recently made an astonishingly bold statement. "Effectively, people are about 20 IQ points smarter now because of Google Search and Maps," he told the Atlantic magazine. "They don't give Google credit for it, ...Read More »
Say goodbye to online passwords?
The Google hackers trying to make passwords obsolete Remembering strings of letters and numbers could become a thing of the past – Google wants us to access devices and websites via watches and parts of our bodies. We may not have to remember a string of passwords to access devices, websites and mobile apps for much longer. Logging in will ...Read More »
Google Project : Project Loon for All – Balloon Powered Internet For Everyone
Many of us think of the Internet as a global community. But two-thirds of the world's population does not yet have Internet access. Project Loon is a network of balloons traveling on the edge of space, designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters. Project Loon balloons float ...Read More »
BioDigital Human Platform 2.0: Explore the Human Body in 3D!
BioDigital Human 2.0: Explore the Human Body in 3D! A better way to understand health and the human body. The BioDigital Human PlatformTM is a virtual 3D body that brings to life thousands of medically accurate anatomy objects and health conditions in an interactive Web-based platform. The human body revealed, all in interactive 3D. Explore anatomy and disease, create and ...Read More »


text:
As I was reading Michael Slezak's recap yesterday, he totally called it:
He's usually right about most things Idol so it's not a big surprise. And I mean, it makes a little bit of sense with regards to the fact that nobody really had a bad performance. That said, was he worth the save? Slezak had a poll up today asking what we all thought and the breakdown looked like this:
I don't think Sam's done anything to prove his worth to the show, performance wise. Now, cash-flow wise, that's a different story! If you check out iTunes, the story becomes a little more clear:
iTunes Top 400 rankings a/o yesterday afternoon:
#36 – Fairytales by Alex Preston
#108 – Lego House by Sam Woolf
#119 – Blue-Eyed Lie by Jessica Meuse
Looking at this, the save is less surprising than the fact that this week. I'm actually more surprised that Alex is selling the most on iTunes (over the course of the season). The guy's never been in the bottom 3 so it makes sense. Although Sam's been #2 in sales and he's been in the bottom a fair bit, so that is a little on the confusing side.
Either way, there's no point in complaining that the save was used because to me, it was a foregone conclusion they'd use it on Sam (because I thought he was the highest grossing one). I knew as soon as JLo opened her mouth to give the news, that he'd be safe. I think we all know that JLo only gives the good news!
So let's see how the rankings worked out for the week:
I'm surprised how close everyone still is, but as I was looking at the breakdown of contestants picks, a lot of people had someone in the bottom 3, in their Top 3, in the last 3 weeks! haha How's that for numbers?
I also thought I'd show you a little something, since so many front runners have been in the bottom 3. If you look at the breakdown of how all of the contestants rank within our game:
8 people have Majesty in their Top 3 (5 in the #1 slot)
8 people have Jessica in their Top 3 (but only 1 in the #1 slot)
6 people have Sam in their Top 3 (but only 1 in the #1 slot)
5 people have Caleb in their Top 3 (4 in the #1 slot)
Only 1 person has Alex in their Top 3 (4 have him in their bottom 3). I just thought that was interesting. Maybe it is, maybe it isn't 🙂
Now, let's move on to the second Top 08 week where we get the decade of my birth! Let's hear it for the 80's! Which, incidentally, Slezak also quasi-called.


text:
There's almost nothing worse than stepping on a cold floor in the morning as it startles, confuses, and irritates you. There are some easy fixes such as an extra three pairs of socks or strewing blankets all about your room as a precaution. Luckily the easiest solution might be right in front of you, or below you so to speak in the form of in-floor heating. In floor heating sounds luxurious and comfortable but the product or concept is also very energy efficient. For those new to in floor heating or just looking for more information we present a brief introduction.
How the Process Works
In floor heating or underfloor heating involves installing water heated tubing or electric heating coils underneath a home's floors. The most common type of flooring associated with radiant heat is tile but there are systems that integrate hardwood floors, laminate, and even carpet. Since heat rises, the tubes or coils running through the floor not only feel warm on your feet and toes, but the floor in essence heats the entire room in radiant fashion. To understand how efficient the system is, look at how a furnace only kicks out heat from a register that must fill the room but with radiant heating the floor is basically one giant vent. The process is also far from new as it's been the preferred way of heating in Europe since the 70's and evolved from the Ancient Romans use of pipes to warm their floors.
Different Types of In Floor Heating
While the types of flooring installed over top the underneath heating vary greatly, there are really only three different kinds of actual heating systems:
- Air Heated Floor Systems – air heated flooring systems are not a very economical choice in residential installations because the air is a poor heat conductor. Air heated underfloor heating is rare because it basically lacks one of the main benefits of the system – cost effectiveness. Air heated floor systems become a little more practical when combined with solar air heating systems but only when warming up a home during the day, but the process does exist.
- Electric Radiant Floors – The electric radiant flooring is somewhat popular because it can be wired directly into your home and controlled on the same circuitry as lights, fans, and other power equipment. This type of radiant floor heating consists of cables mounted to the sub-floor below or mats of electrically conductive plastic beneath the actual flooring. Perhaps the biggest drawback of electric radiant flooring is it's main advantage – the fact it can be wired to the house greatly increases the electricity bill.
- Hydronic Radiant Flooring – The most popular and cost-efficient model of radiant flooring is hydronic. With this system a boiler pumps heated water through tubes laid out underneath the floor producing a warm surface and air temperature in the room.
Cost Effective to Install
To many consumers the installation cost of underfloor heating seems insurmountable even though they've never actually researched it. Typically a process that adds comfort to the home while lowering bills comes at a hefty price but surprisingly in floor heating is very affordable. Depending on the size of your home and the type of underfloor heating installed a good measuring stick to start for the cost of the project is about $3 per square foot. A total cost over an entire home is typically in the $5,000 to $14,000 range but a simple installation in a bathroom might be under $700 total. One thing to remember though is that after the installation of in floor heating, consumers will see lower heating bills for the duration while almost never having to perform any floor heating maintenance tasks.
How In Floor Heating Lowers Utility Bills
Radiant heat feels the most comfortable at lower temperatures which enables you to lower your thermostat in the cold weather months. On top of that since the heat is distributed closes to where you live – the floor – your entire body will feel warmer without having to overwork your furnace. It's true that electrical in floor heating systems will raise your electricity bills but the hydronic systems save both energy and fuel. Plus when the whole floor serves as a radiator, lower water temperatures are needed and the boiler will have a longer lifespan because it doesn't have to work as hard.
The No Maintenance Approach
Radiant floor heating has little, if any, maintenance involved depending on the type of system. The radiant flooring is a closed system so it basically does infinite laps while keeping you warm. Of course pipes may become corroded over time in hydronic units but that's a sign that the system has gone from closed to open and will need an inspection and repair. Also as with any pump, valves may go bad and other issues might arise but that's more on the pump manufacturer than the actual flooring.
While a maintenance free flooring system and lower utility bills are definitely nice, the comfort provided by a radiant floor has to be its biggest advantage. When you think about being snuggled up on a couch watching a movie on a cold winter night, imagine all the heat lost as the hot air travels from a vent through the air until it finally reaches your body. On the flip side, imagine the heat coming from beneath you on the entire floor, circulating over your entire person as it rises and warms up the entire area around you.
When looking to replace your current flooring down the line, perhaps it's time to seek advice advice from a HVAC professional. As we've stated above, the advantages go well beyond just having warm tootsies in the morning and extend to lowered utility bills, an overall warmer home, and a worry-free attitude…about your in floor heating at least.


text:
Industry Jobs
SFIG Calendar
Advocacy Outlook
Industry News Highlights
Today, August 26th, SFIG staff and members met with representatives from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") to discuss high quality securitization ("HQS"). Among other things, SFIG shared concerns regarding reported draft European legislation that would establish an EU framework for simple, transparent and standardized securitization ("STS") and integrate the criteria into the Capital Requirements Regulation and Directive by granting capital relief to qualifying transactions. As SFIG communicated to the SEC, the development of an STS framework in Europe risks bifurcating markets. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision and International Organization of Securities Commissions are also working to determine if and how to operationalize their own framework at a global level.
For questions about the meeting, please contact email@example.com. To join the HQS Task Force, which will be reconvening next week to discuss the recent regulatory meetings, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
On Monday, August 24th, SFIG held a conference call with representatives from Common Securitization Solutions ("CSS"), Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, who provided an update on the implementation of the common securitization platform ("CSP") and the Single-Security. Speakers providing the update included:
Robert Fishman, Senior Associate Director at the Office of Strategic Initiatives, Federal Housing Finance Agency, also joined the call.
SFIG would also highlight that both members and non-members will have the opportunity to hear further developments on the CSP and Single-Security at ABS East, as the aforementioned presenters will keynote the conference, with SFIG's Executive Director, Richard Johns as the moderator. To register for ABS East, please click here.
SFIG would like to thank CSS, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for providing the update to its membership, and for their participation at ABS East.
To read SFIG's views on the CSP and Single-Security, please click here and here. To join the GSE Reform Task Force and contribute to SFIG's related advocacy, please contact email@example.com.
SFIG will hold a symposium on marketplace lending in Washington, DC, followed by a cocktail reception, on Tuesday, October 6, 2015. The event will be hosted by Champan and Cutler LLP. The symposium will consist of a panel discussion including both policymakers and industry practitioners to discuss the different business models in the marketplace lending industry. The full agenda will be forthcoming.
The event is open to Congressional staff, regulators, policymakers, and SFIG members and non-members, however seating is limited. Please note, this event is closed to the press. Please click here to register.
SFIG will hold its fall symposium, followed by a cocktail reception, on Thursday, October 8, 2015. The event will be hosted by PricewaterhouseCoopers at their New York City office. The Symposium will consist of a briefing on the High Quality Securitization proposals and a panel discussion on Marketplace Lending. The full agenda will be forthcoming.
The event is open to both members and non-members, however, preference will be given to members as seating is limited. Please note, this event is closed to the press. Please click here to register.
Current open positions at SFIG include:
Some of the latest industry positions available include:
Please visit our Jobs page for a full listing of available positions.
For questions about positions at SFIG, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com. For questions about the website jobs portal, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
TUESDAY, October 6, 20155:30 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)Chapman and Cutler LLP1717 Rhode Island Avenue NWWashington, DC 20036Please click here to register. Full agenda will be forthcoming.
Please note, this event is closed to the press
THURSDAY, October 8, 20155:00 – 8:00 p.m. (ET)PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP300 Madison AvenueNew York, NY 10017Please click here to register. Full agenda will be forthcoming.
WEDNESDAY, October 14, 2015 – THURSDAY, October 15, 2015
Workshop: Clifford Chance's Office, Hong KongMain Conference: Conrad Hong Kong, Grand Ballroom, Lower Lobby, Hong Kong
More information on the conference can be found here
THURSDAY, October 29, 2015Marriott New York DowntownNew York, NYRegistration available here
THURSDAY, November 12, 2015Marriott New York Downtown New York, NY Registration available here
If you would like to participate in the work SFIG is undertaking through our committees as highlighted below, please e-mail email@example.com. For specific inquiries on any of SFIG's advocacy efforts, please contact the staff member listed for the related project. SFIG's Marketplace Lending Committee was established in August 2015 as an SFIG participant committee and is open to all SFIG members who have a legitimate interest in marketplace lending. The committee was formed with two primary intentions: 1) to work with members involved in marketplace lending to educate the industry as a whole, with a particular focus on the securitization of assets generated through that lending channel; and 2) to determine appropriate securitization-specific policy and engage in related advocacy, leveraging SFIG's prominence and experience across all asset classes to support the continued responsible growth of securitization in marketplace lending. The committee's first initiative will be to respond to the Treasury Department's Request for Input on Online Marketplace Lending. The deadline of which was recently extended to September 30th. Peter Manbeck and Marc Franson of Chapman and Cutler LLP are serving as drafting counsel.
Members interested in participating should contact email@example.com.
SFIG has recently formed a Student Loan Working Group to focus on and respond to the Proposed Changes to Moody's Approach to Rating Securities Backed by FFELP Student Loans.
To join SFIG's Student Loan Working Group and learn more, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
The RMBS 3.0 Task Force released its Second Edition RMBS 3.0 Green Paper in November of 2014. Following the successful SFIG/IMN Private Label RMBS Symposium, the task force will continue its efforts to address key issues specific to private label mortgage securities through work-streams relating to (1) Representations, Warranties, and Repurchase Enforcement; (2) Due Diligence, Data, and Loan-Level Disclosure; and (3) Role of Transaction Parties and Bondholder Communications. Presently, the task force is working on (1) developing a comprehensive compilation of representations and warranties for release in the fall of 2015 (2) a grid summarizing roles of transaction parties. We encourage members to participate in any or all of the working groups to contribute towards the mission of RMBS 3.0.
For additional information on RMBS 3.0, or to join the task force, please contact email@example.com.
The GSE Reform Task Force reviewed a draft response to the FHFA's update to the single security initiative earlier this month. The task force also received an update from the SFIG participants on the Industry Advisory Group for the Common Securitization Platform and Single-Security. The task force has also formed policy positions on the Carney-Delaney-Himes GSE Reform bill and updated its briefing book to support its advocacy efforts. With the release of the bill, SFIG staff also updated its GSE Reform Legislative Comparison, which analyzes key provisions in the five most recent housing finance reform bills including the Johnson-Crapo bill and the PATH Act. Additionally, The task force will continue to engage the Federal Housing Finance Agency on its Single-Security proposal, guarantee fee pricing and Strategic Plan for 2015-2019.
To join SFIG's GSE Reform Task Force and learn more, please contact email@example.com.
The Mortgage Loan-Level Disclosure Task Force is studying the recent Regulation AB II release of Schedule AL and comparing it to SFIG's Schedule L submission to the Securities and Exchange Commission in February 2014. SFIG also continues to have weekly Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization calls to go through data elements that lenders should deliver in securitizations. We will also be conducting an analysis of the data elements included in SFIG's Schedule L submission in order to determine any privacy concerns.
Please contact email@example.com for additional information on SFIG's work on this topic.
The Volcker Task Force has been working with SFIG's various asset class and legal counsel committees to identify areas within the Volcker Rule in need of clarification, particularly questions regarding covered funds and the loan securitization exemption.
Please contact email@example.com to participate on the Task Force.
The Risk Retention Industry Guide Work-stream is creating best practices and developing consensus positions around several areas within the Credit Risk Retention final rule.
Please contact firstname.lastname@example.com with any questions.
SFIG's Chinese Market Committee continues to hold discussions with a focus on SFIG's partnership with the Chinese Securitization Forum, potential upcoming educational discussions and the sharing of recent market developments in China.
If you would like more information on SFIG's work with respect to Chinese securitization, please contact email@example.com.
SFIG's Shadow Banking Task Force has established the following agenda:
The task force will have its first full meeting in the coming weeks, and members from across asset classes are encouraged to participate.
To register your interest in SFIG's Shadow Banking Initiative, please contact email@example.com.
The Regulation AB II Task Force will focus on the disclosure and offering process requirements within the final rule. Two work streams have been formed to develop a comment letter on the proposed rules that remain outstanding and to produce an industry guide for critical elements of the final rule.
SFIG members who are interested in joining this task force or asset specific committees should contact email@example.com.
The Regulatory Capital and Liquidity Committee is addressing industry concerns related to the Federal Reserve Board's Final Rule on the Liquidity Coverage Ratio ("LCR"). This committee will also develop a comment letter when U.S. regulators release their proposed Net Stable Funding Ratio ("NSFR").
To become involved in SFIG's advocacy on the final LCR or NSFR rules, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Derivatives in Securitization Task Force obtained no-action relief from the CFTC giving swap dealers comfort that the CFTC would not take enforcement action against swap dealers that did not comply with certain CFTC Regulations when taking actions in response to the credit ratings downgrade of a counterparty to a legacy swap. The relief applies to swaps with SPVs that were in existence prior to October 10, 2013. The task force also commented on the CFTC's proposal on margin requirements for uncleared swaps, as well as the prudential regulators' proposal regarding margin and capital requirements for covered swap entities.
SFIG members who are interested in learning more about this initiative should email firstname.lastname@example.com.
The Money Market Fund Reform Working Group submitted a comment letter on October 13, 2014 regarding the Securities and Exchange Commission's July 23, 2014 proposal which includes, among other things, possibly amending rule 2a-7's issuer diversification provisions to eliminate an exclusion that is currently available for securities subject to a guarantee issued by a non-controlled person. SFIG also submitted a comment letter in September 2013 on Money Market Fund Reform.
If you are interested in joining this working group, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
The High Quality Securitization ("HQS") Task Force responded to the European Commission's consultation on an EU framework for simple, transparent and standardized securitization on May 12, 2015. The task force also previously responded to the BCBS-IOSCO consultation on its criteria for identifying simple, transparent and comparable securitizations. SFIG's comments were built off of those sent to the European Banking Authority on January 14th (available here) regarding its proposed criteria and to the European Central Bank and Bank of England last summer (available here) regarding the development of a sustainable securitization market in Europe.
To join the HQS Task Force, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com.
According to an article in Bloomberg, a recent May ruling by the U.S. Appeals Court in Manhattan is threatening to remove a protection that non-bank lenders have used to make high-interest loans. As stated in the article, "[t]he issue boils down to whether these lenders can pay a bank in an unregulated state to make loans to borrowers in other jurisdictions, where the interest rates could be considered usurious." The ruling in Madden vs. Midland Funding LLC, which is binding in New York, Vermont and Connecticut, is putting pressure on lenders to change the way they originate debt and could force them to lower interest rates. Several banks are easing back their support in debt sales because they say that lowering interest rates may make the debt less attractive to investors who are willing to finance risky loans. However, while banks are concerned with lending money for which there is no secondary market, according to Chief Executive Officer Renaud Laplanche of LendingClub, the recent ruling is not impacting Lending Club's ability to finance its business. "We continue to see sufficient appetite from investors for loans in New York, Connecticut and Vermont," said Laplanche. If the recent ruling is heard by the Supreme Court and upheld, it could have a significant impact on loans that may be in excess of state interest rate limits.
Last Wednesday, August 19th, the European Banking Authority ("EBA") announced that it will now incorporate additional analysis into its calibration reports on Net Stable Funding Ratio ("NSFR") and Leverage Ratio.
The European Commission had previously requested further advice in order to ensure any possible future policy actions are well-informed. Specifically, it was requested that the EBA conduct further analysis on proportionality, the scope of application and impact on markets of the calibration of NSFR and Leverage Ratio. The EBA will be incorporating these aspects into its reports to the maximum extent possible, as well as taking into account the constraints in data availability.
The EBA is required to develop a calibration report on NSFR by the end of this year and on the Leverage Ratio by October 2016 (however, the EBA reported this is likely to be advanced to July 2016).
According to a recent Financial Times article, the European Commission ("EC") will soon publish draft legislation that grants capital relief to securitizations qualifying as simple, transparent and standardized ("STS"). The legislation includes two bills, one establishing a European framework for STS securitizations and a second bill that amends regulatory capital treatment in Regulation No. 575/2013 (the "CRR"), the EU rule which promulgates the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision's ("BCBS") standards on capital.
EC legislation lowering the capital requirements for STS transactions has been expected for some time, with Commissioner Jonathan Hill telling lawmakers in Brussels in early June a proposal was forthcoming (see SFIG's report on the hearing here). The idea has gained traction since the EC's initial consultation on a framework this past Spring, with the European Central Bank ("ECB") and Bank of England ("BoE") encouraging the move and the European Banking Authority publishing technical advice to the EC in July, which the EC notes it has adopted in its amendment to the CRR.
While initially expected to reject calls for issuer self-certification—a key operational question in its consultation—the EC appears to have taken comments from the EBC-BoE and the industry, including SFIG, to heart. The STS draft legislation states:
As regards compliance with the STS criteria the most suitable mechanism identified is to ensure liability rests with originators and investors, reinforced by supervisory oversight… an ex-ante regulatory involvement of supervisors stating that a securitization meets the STS criteria would shift the responsibility to public authorities leading to moral hazard risks, whereas originators, sponsors and SSPE's should take responsibility.
As regards compliance with the STS criteria the most suitable mechanism identified is to ensure liability rests with originators and investors, reinforced by supervisory oversight… an ex-ante regulatory involvement of supervisors stating that a securitization meets the STS criteria would shift the responsibility to public authorities leading to moral hazard risks, whereas originators, sponsors and SSPE's should take responsibility.
It remains to be seen how the EU framework will play out on a global level. The BCBS and International Organization of Securities Commissions recently finalized their own criteria for simple, transparent and comparable securitizations, which "are not, of themselves, a prescription for regulatory action" but are expected to be incorporated into the BCBS's securitization framework finalized last December.
On that matter, the EC notes:
[t]he harmonization of the existing legal framework at EU level can by itself not standardize all processes and practices in securitization markets. For that reason the proposal calls upon market participants to work on further standardization of market practices.
[t]he harmonization of the existing legal framework at EU level can by itself not standardize all processes and practices in securitization markets. For that reason the proposal calls upon market participants to work on further standardization of market practices.
According to an August 18th Standard and Poor's press release, a new report entitled China Securitization: Linking International Investors And Renminbi Assets found that "international investors are focusing more on renminbi ("RMB") assets in China, primarily to seek opportunities for asset allocation diversification and the higher returns offered by a prospering economy."
The report highlights how "[o]ngoing improvements in processes, self-governance, and information transparency, as demonstrated in the securitization market, are likely to help support the development of the capital market."
Standard and Poor's Credit Analyst Vera Chaplin indicated that:
More than 140 billion RMB in securitization transactions was issued under the two major securitization schemes in China in the first six months of 2015…The transactions reveal a standardized platform for asset collections and how to allocate assets' economic value, the disclosure of more information so that risks could be analyzed, and the isolation of asset sellers' credit risk. As a result, international investors now have an opportunity to reach economic sectors that in the past they could not because of the smaller scale of the issuers or the difficulty involved in finding the value of the assets.
More than 140 billion RMB in securitization transactions was issued under the two major securitization schemes in China in the first six months of 2015…The transactions reveal a standardized platform for asset collections and how to allocate assets' economic value, the disclosure of more information so that risks could be analyzed, and the isolation of asset sellers' credit risk. As a result, international investors now have an opportunity to reach economic sectors that in the past they could not because of the smaller scale of the issuers or the difficulty involved in finding the value of the assets.
According to an article on GlobeSt.com, several obstacles may impair the ability to refinance the volume of CMBS set to mature between now and 2017. Rating agencies anticipate that the the obstacles to refinancing will include a need for additional capital and potential higher interest rates.
As stated in the article, "the balance of Fitch-rated loans for 2015 will see another $10.8 billion in maturities across 1,215 loans…this year's total will be dwarfed by both 2016 and 2017, with a total of $119 billion in Fitch-rated CMBS coming due over those two years." For this year's remaining maturities, the largest property type concentration is in retail, followed by office and multifamily.
SFIG has a number of Committees and Task Forces meeting and working on many topics of interest to the securitization industry. Please email us for more information, including how to join.
SFIG is pleased to share this edition of its newsletter with our members, as well as our supporters in the structured finance community. To ensure that you receive future editions of the newsletter, please visit our website or email us to learn more about membership opportunities.
Contact Information
Richard Johns Executive Director
Kristi Leo Investor Relations
Sairah Burki Senior Director, ABS Policy
Michael Flood Director of Advocacy
Jennifer Wolfe ABS Policy Manager
Mary Robinson Policy Manager
Alyssa Acevedo Senior Analyst, ABS Policy
Amanda Bateman Policy Analyst
Daniel Tees Policy Analyst
Jennifer Serpas Office Manager
Allison Creswell Events Coordinator
1775 Pennsylvania Ave. NWSuite 625Washington, DC 20006


text:
Ramiro Lepe, 39
Ramiro Lepe, a 39-year-old Latino, was shot and killed Friday, Aug. 5, in the 2600 block of East 129th Street in unincorporated Willowbrook, according to Los Angeles County coroner's records.
The married father of four was celebrating his 39th birthday at his home the night he was shot, said L.A. County Sheriff's Department Lt. John Corina.
Lepe was standing on his front lawn with his brothers and a cousin around 9 p.m., when a car drove past the house and stopped. Three men got out of the car and one began shooting at the people in the yard, Corina said. Lepe was struck by gunfire and taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead at 9:45 p.m., according to coroner's records.
The assailants, described only as Latino, got back into the red four-door sedan and drove away, Corina said.
The shooting appears to be gang-related, Corina said, but Lepe was not a gang member, "so why he was targeted, we're not sure yet," he said. "We have no motive."
Family members called the shooting a case of mistaken identity on a page asking for contributions to help with Lepe's burial.
Lepe was "a man who dedicated his life to his family, and spent the little free time he had motivating others to live a fit life," according to a Gofundme page. "He had a passion for boxing and fitness, and enjoyed creating free workout camps to get everyone involved in feeling good about themselves."
Lepe and his family were also fans of the Rams football team, according to the site. For Christmas, his Facebook page featured a photo of the family Christmas tree with a Rams helmet at the top. "This is our star," the caption read.
His Facebook page and the fundraising page also featured a photo of him and his family posing in front of the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum after a rally for the team in January. The six family members are all wearing Rams jerseys, and Lepe is standing next to his youngest child, helping her balance a large Rams flag.
"Unfortunately he didn't get the opportunity to watch his team play at home," the fundraising site said, "or open the Rams birthday gift his kids had for him."
Anyone with information is asked to call the Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau at (323) 890-5500. Those wishing to remain anonymous should call Crime Stoppers are (800) 222-8477.
Contact the Homicide Report. Follow @latimeshomicide on Twitter.


text:
- More
[California Gold Mining] Randsburg - Spring of 1897 - Glass Plate Negative....Click the image to load the highest resolution version.
Description[California Gold Mining] Randsburg - Spring of 1897 - Glass Plate Negative. 8.5" x 6.25". A wonderfully detailed photo of Randsburg nearing the height of her boom. The photo, starting in the left foreground and moving right shows: the J. I. C. Mine, the Wedge Mine, the Kinyon Mine, and the Little Butte Mine across "Fiddler's Gulch"; on the left is the Tehachapi Milling and Lumber Yard, across the street and to the right is a large wood building which is the skating rink, the scene of many celebrations and weddings. To the left of the skating rink is W. A. Coon & Company, Palace Billiard Parlor & Bar, later to become Morgan & Rogers, the Randsburg Fuel & Oil Company, and across the street and a bit downhill is a large two-story building, the Rand Lodging House. Across the street the two story building is the Illingworth home (known locally as the Jewell House). Moving on down the street on the same side as the Rand Lodging House, past a few wood buildings and tents is a brown and white building with a false front. This is the Mountain View Saloon. The fourth building down from that is the Illingworth Miner's Supply store, then McGinnis Boarding House, and the next large building is Phillip's House which was destroyed in the May, 1898 fire. Across the street is the Orpheus Theatre (a house of ill repute). Everything on Butte Avenue to the west of the Orpheus Theatre and Phillips House was destroyed in the January, 1898 fire. Most of the rest of the business district on Rand and the west side of Broadway was also destroyed. Fine condition.
More Information:
Clarence W. Tucker Photograph Collection
Randsburg, California - Mojave Desert, Circa 1896 - 1898
Simply spectacular! This collection consists of twenty-seven studio-mounted photographs and ten glass plate negatives taken by pioneer California photographer Clarence W. Tucker (1874-1964). The archive represents the most important and rare grouping of mining camp images to come to market in many years. The photos were found at the bottom of a mine in the Mojave Desert in the 1950s by amateur prospector William Youngas documented by a series of articles in Westways Magazine in 1971 and 1972. Not a great deal is known about C. W. Tucker's early days in photography. He was born in Indiana on September 22, 1874 and in 1893 he became a photographer's apprentice in Warsaw, Indiana. In 1895 he came to San Jose, California to visit a cousin and ended up staying in California and working as a photographer until his death in 1964. Tucker settled in the rough mining camp of Randsburg around 1896 and remained there until about 1898. During that time he met and married Grace Doughty and she worked as his assistant from thereafter. In the early 1900s the Tuckers moved to Covina, California where they ran a photography studio until 1950. Tucker could not have avoided being affected by the raw energy of the mining camp at Randsburg and his keen photographer's eye fortunately chronicled its rise from a tent city to a small but booming mining town. His images are possibly the only photographic record extant of Randsburg's glory days as an Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) search shows no images by Tucker taken during his time in Randsburg in institutional holdings.
Randsburg's decade-long boom began in 1895 with the discovery of rich gold and mineral deposits in the El Paso mountains in the northwestern Mojave Desert. John Singleton, a hard-rock miner, in a last attempt at striking it rich, got lucky with the discovery of rich gold deposits which would become the famous Yellow Aster mine. The claim was named the "Rand" giving a nod to the rich mines of South Africa and the early mining camp was called "Rand Camp". The discovery touched off the inevitable flood of prospectors and a crude tent camp was hastily established. By the end of 1895 there were thirteen buildings, most of them canvas but by the next year the population had swollen to 1,500 and more permanent wooden structures began to appear. The town suffered a series of devastating fires and as mining played out in the area, the town effectively reverted to ghost town status.
Shipping, Taxes, Terms and Bidding
This item cannot be shipped using standard methods. Please contact us for more information.
Sales Tax information | Terms and Conditions
Bidding Guidelines and Bid Increments
Glossary of Terms
Auction Info
Buyer's Premium per Lot:
19.5% of the successful bid (minimum $14) per lot.
Heritage membership
- Past Auction Values (prices, photos, full descriptions, etc.)
- Bid online
- Free Collector newsletter
- Want List with instant e-mail notifications
- Reduced auction commissions when you resell your
- Cash Advances
- More Bidders
- Trusted Experts
- Over 200,000 Satisfied Consignors Since 1976
Learn about consigning with us
Thanks a million for getting approval to sell my Civil War Hospital Death Ledger! You made them AND ME , a nice profit. You are the best!View More Testimonials
HA.com receives more traffic than any other auction house website. (Source: Similarweb.com)


text:
Amidst our blizzard of Xbox Summit 2005 coverage, served fresh straight from Japan, we figured we'd provide you with a quick list of all the games on display at the event. All told, nearly 60 games were shown; the heft of the list alone shows Microsoft is serious about Japan for the new generation.
Here's the official roster from the event (be sure to check out our coverage index as well):
A R C System Works Co. Ltd.
Artdink Corp.
Atari Japan Co. Ltd.
Bandai Co. Ltd.
Banpresto Co. Ltd.
Cavia Inc.
D3 Publisher Inc.
Eidos KK
Electronic Arts K. K.
FromSoftware Inc.
Frontier Groove Inc.
G.Rev Ltd.
Genki Co. Ltd.
Hamster Corp.
Hudson Soft Co. Ltd.
Jaleco Ltd.
Kids Station Inc.
KOEI Co. Ltd.
Marvelous Interactive Inc.
Microsoft Co. Ltd.
SEGA Corp.
SNK Playmore Corp.
Spike Co. Ltd.
Square Enix Co. Ltd.
Success Corp.
TAITO Corp.
THQ Japan
Treasure Co. Ltd.
Ubisoft KK
Yuke's Co. Ltd.


text: Leah McFall is a name you may not be familiar with unless you're from the UK. But the young singer is making big moves in 2014. Leah McFall, and her absolutely insane vocals, was apart of the second season of The Voice UK, where she was mentored by Will.I.am. And while she didn't win the show, she's gone on to be one of the most prominent contestants since, thanks to Will.I.am. Leah has shot three music videos, which she will premiere before releasing her official single later this year. The first of those 3 videos came today, in the form of "No Ordinary Love." "No Ordinary Love" is the first song Leah says she ever wrote with Will.I.am. And yes, it's amazing. Check it out below:


text:
The Future of What is a radio program about the music and recording industry for industry insiders, outsiders, and outliers. Each week it delves into a topic of interest to music industry professionals, musicians, and regular people alike by discussing important issues with great people who work every day to help artists succeed (largely behind the scenes.)
- Home
- Programs
- Get Involved
- Support
- About KPOV
- Contact
- Happenings


text:
CCP, creators of the MMORTS EVE Online franchise, has pulled the plug on the much awaited Fantasy-MMO World of Darkness. Development on the game began as far back as 2007, a year after they merged with RPG maker and former book publisher White Wolf.
Based on the fictional universes created by Mark Rein-Hagen, World of Darkness was supposed to be a sand-box MMO that merged several of White Wolf's diverse universes which were based on a Live Action RPG of the same name. A game of this scale required time and effort, thus it was announced to take 4-5 years of development time.
By the end of 2013, internal restructuring of the company affected World of Darkness' team in the worst way and left them with just 15 members or less. CCP insisted that the lay offs would not effect the development and that the game's progress is going fine. At the same time CCP increased their focus on EVE and it's spin-off title Dust 514.
CCP Boss Hilmar Veigar Petursson issued an apology to fans and ex-staff members today saying that the project was too much for them to see through to completion. With World of Darkness out of the way, CCP will now focus more on their EVE Franchise.
"Although this was a tough decision that affects our friends and family, uniting the company behind the Eve universe will put us in a stronger position moving forward, and we are more committed than ever to solidify Eve as the biggest gaming universe in the world."


text:
The Institutional Analysis TA project offers a number of ways for communities to connect with experts in the institutional analysis, community assessment, and Safety & Accountability Audits, to learn from other communities who have implemented the process, and to be exposed to new and some of the best materials in the field of system reform on behalf of survivors of violence against women. Check this page frequently for information related to upcoming events.
Praxis offers webinar and in-person training for programs organizing an end to violence against women. We are committed to access and inclusion for our trainings, and strive to ensure all events are as accessible as possible for participants with disabilities, limited English proficiency (LEP), and Deaf participants.
Your responses to the questions about accessibility accommodations included in our registration process help us meet your needs. We, therefore, ask for registration at least seven days before an event to allow adequate time to accommodate requests. We offer live webinar closed-captioning and visually accessible PowerPoints. If you need assistance with registration, require an alternate format to register, or need other help to register or participate, please contact: email@example.com
Webinar trainings
Receive quality training on institutional analysis, community assessment, and Safety & Accountability Audits over the internet.
Webinar connection and call-in information will be sent with registration confirmation. If you do not receive confirmation withing a few minutes of registering, check your Spam folder. Contact firstname.lastname@example.com if you need assistance.
Long distance charges to participate can be paid with OVW set-aside training funds. All sessions are from 2:00 – 3:15 pm Central Time. If you are unable to participate in webinars, you will find the recordings of each posted to the IATA Recordings page about a week after the event.
Tuesday, December 4, 2018
Supporting Safety Together: Reviewing Child Protective Services Policies, Forms, and Case Records
Supporting the Safety of Battered Mothers & Their Children Together: A Guide to Assessing Child Protection Practice in Domestic Violence-Related Cases is a new tool created by Praxis International for institutional change-oriented advocacy. It guides community teams of advocates, child protection representatives, and other stakeholders to collaboratively assess their child protective services response to the co-occurrence of domestic violence and child abuse. Toolkit 4: Examining Policy and Case Processing in the guide structures the heart of the practice assessment: discovering whether and how CPS practice recognizes and understands battering, ensures children's safety by supporting their mother's safety, and holds domestic violence perpetrators accountable for abusive behavior and for stopping the abuse. This webinar will provide an overview of the practice assessment, but will focus on the vital role of policy, forms, and case file examination in recommending changes that enhance outcomes for battered mothers and their children.
4-day annual training institutes for local teams to be immersed in the full range of tools and methods involved in community assessments as outlined by the Praxis Safety and Accountability Audit
Save the Date! Our next Community Assessment Institute will be April 30 – May 3, 2019. Watch for more information about registration.
Previous Institute scope:
Community Assessment Institute
Institute participants will be immersed in a mock assessment to learn how to:
- Determine the scope and focus of your assessment given local resources
- Utilize the basic elements of an assessment and adjust for the politics of your community
- Analyze different types of text that impact outcomes for victims (reports, forms, policies, recommendations, transcripts, etc.)
- Conduct effective, engaging, and informative interviews with key interveners
- Get the most out of an observation of practitioners' work (such as 911 dispatchers, law enforcement officers, etc.)
- Conduct focus groups to glean insider knowledge and insights
- Facilitate interagency team meetings and data analysis sessions
- Draw conclusions from the information collected and translate it into new policies, procedures, training strategies, resource allocations, supervisory and oversight practices, linkages, and job functions that improve outcomes for victims
What past participants have said about the Institute:
- It gave me a new framework to approach my work with CCRs.
- Loved the opportunity to ride-along with law enforcement.
- We covered all the steps in the process and practiced them. Experiential learning was amazing. Inclusion of representatives from law enforcement, survivors, etc.
- I liked the interactive group work the best – it kept me engaged and my mind active. I also enjoyed the opportunity to experience local law enforcement and sit alongs with dispatch.
- The seamless weaving of different learning modalities – and how it mirrors the process of an actual community assessment.
- I'm excited about all the ways we might apply this assessment/these tools in our community.
- The hands on exercises were great in understanding the application of the analysis process.
- The array of presenters was awesome as they brought their expertise and experience to share.
- The training incorporated theory, framework, instruction, demonstration, application, and process; very informative.
Contact Maren Woods to learn more: 651-699-8000 x10.


text:
grist for the mill
Getting our grist milled is not a passive act. The idea of our circumstances being like grist, though, feels super HOPEful to me. What I see as I look at my balled up fists these days is that they are not empty. I've got something to work with. My gristy life is my DIY project today.


text:
Basketball Games Only – Love Basketball However Requirement Tips To Play Better? Have a look at These Ideas!
Basketball is a uniquely American sport, but it is now one that is enjoyed by people around the world. It is played in virtually every country on Earth. One great thing about basketball is how easy it is to get started playing. Keep reading for some tips to improve your skills on the court.
Practice makes perfect. This is especially true in basketball. Learning how to shoot a basket, how to dribble and how to pass a ball is important to playing good basketball. Spending as little as 30 minutes practicing a day can really help develop your game and make you a better player.
When you think you have a good shot, take it. This can be difficult to learn. There is a balance between not shooting enough and shooting too often. You never want to miss out on taking a great shot because you are looking to pass, but you do not want to miss on a couple of points because you do not make the pass.
You should often work on your layups. Eighty percent of the shots taken in a game are layups. Practice running while dribbling, jumping and shooting as smoothly as you can. Perfecting this skill will enable you to get to the rim effortlessly during a game.
Keep your footwork in mind while playing defense. Taking short steps will give you a better foothold on your opponent. Remember to push off your front foot. When you take long steps, it is more difficult to defend against a driving opponent. Check your distance from your opposing player by extending one arm.
All you need to get started playing basketball is a ball and a court. Once you get started in this sport, you may find you have developed a lifelong love of the game. With the advice that you have read in this article, you can show off your skills any time you want.


text:
Skiing is the most trending and season activity which is loved by most of the people. There are a couple of things which a person needs to ski. Skis and skis goggles are the first thing to purchase and this is the burning question among beginners that which one is right to purchase. Well, considering some of the things will help in choosing the right product available in market. Always purchase little bit expensive goggle because these will be flexible and comfortable to use. You need to choose a budget according to it and sort out the products available in this price range. Check out reviews of every product to decide the one from your list.
Where To Purchase?
Online shopping websites ease up the hitherto daunting task of going to market and purchasing the right product. This thing is also beneficial while purchasing skis goggle. There are lots of shopping websites but consider the one which is well known and trustable. Here, you can search for goggles according to budget as well as brand. On the other hand, if you purchase these from local store then there are many chances that you won't get variety. Always consider the goggle which is comfortable with its face foam. The strip and frame shape is the next thing to consider because sometimes these things aren't comfortable with your helmet. The best product will be available in average price and if you don't want to spend extra money then look for products in offers.


text:
Punish Heavy Punching Bag
Great quality heavy bag that feels great for both punching and heavy kicks and has lasted for years.
User Review( votes)
Comments Rating
( reviews)
( reviews)
This is an awesome heavy bag if you can get hold of one. I've had it for years and love the feel of it in both punching and kicking. I especially love it for kicking. Properly packed with fabric it's around 180 pounds (80 kg). Unlike lighter bags that are marketed as "heavy" bags, this bag is not going to fling around from solid kicks.


text:
City Rd Exposure!!
Ideally located on busy City Rd near the corner of Ferrars St, this versatile building offers great access to the CBD, major arterials and the bayside suburbs.
This wonderfully located Warehouse/Showroom offers a high-exposure building with off street customer parking, roller door entry and scope for a variety of uses. Recently re-roofed, this prime building offers location, price and function.
Call Richard Curtain on 0413 678 810 to inspect.
Expressions of Interest
Date and Time:
Recipient name:
Delivery address:


text:
French Open: Nadal, Djokovic, Serena eye last 32 in Paris
The nine-time defending champion and the men and women's top seeds feature in second-round action today.sports Updated: May 28, 2015 11:35 IST
Paris: Nine-time champion Rafael Nadal and top seeds Novak Djokovic and Serena Williams will look to cement their places in the French Open third round on Thursday.
Nadal faces Nicolas Almagro boasting a 12-1 career advantage over his fellow Spaniard but will be wary of the danger posed by a man who beat him on clay in Barcelona only last year.
World number one Djokovic tackles Luxembourg's 55th-ranked Gilles Muller who he defeated in their only previous meeting at the Australian Open in January this year as the Serb went on to claim a fifth title in Melboune. Djokovic is seeking a first French Open title which would make him just the eighth man to complete the career Grand Slam.
Britain's third seed Andy Murray, twice a semi-finalist in Paris, faces Portugal's Joao Sousa defending a 5-0 head-to-head record. However, all of those meetings came on hard courts.
Women's top seed Serena Williams, a two-time champion, should have few problems against Anna-Lena Friedsam, the world number 105 player from Germany. The two women have never met before.
French Open order of play on showcourts on Thursday, the fifth day of the 2015 tournament at Roland Garros (x denotes seeded player; 0900 GMT start):
Court Philippe Chatrier
Julia Goerges (GER) v Caroline Wozniacki (DEN x5)
Nicolas Almagro (ESP) v Rafael Nadal (ESP x6)
Andy Murray (GBR x3) v Joao Sousa (POR)
Danka Kovinic (MNE) v Kristina Mladenovic (FRA)
Court Suzanne Lenglen
Petra Kvitova (CZE x4) v Silvia Soler-Espinosa (ESP)
Serena Williams (USA x1) v Anna-Lena Friedsam (GER)
Novak Djokovic (SRB x1) v Gilles Muller (LUX)
Richard Gasquet (FRA x20) v Carlos Berlocq (ARG)
Court No. 1
Francesca Schiavone (ITA) v Svetlana Kuznetsova (RUS x18)
Lucie Hradecka (CZE) v Victoria Azarenka (BLR x27)
Jeremy Chardy (FRA) v John Isner (USA x16)
Daniel Gimeno-Traver (ESP) v David Ferrer (ESP x7)
First Published: May 28, 2015 11:17 IST


text:
Bio 370 – Evolution (Spring 2008)
Instructor: Dr. Manda Clair Jost (email: email@example.com )
This course is an upper-level introduction to biological evolution for biology majors, and covers the mechanisms of evolution, the methods of evolutionary analysis, the evolutionary history of life on earth, and why evolution is considered to be the central organizing principle of all modern biology.
An important prerequisite for the course is a firm understanding of basic genetics concepts, such as those taught in BIO 325 here at UT. You should be fluent in the fundamentals of Mendelian and molecular genetics (such as how chromosomes are structured, how genes are inherited, and how DNA codes for the amino acids in proteins). If you need a refresher on that material, please review it on your own time by reading the appropriate sections of your favorite genetics text.
The course will use the first edition of Evolution (2005) by Douglas J. Futuyma, Sinauer Associates. Course lectures will not strictly follow this text, but the assigned textbook readings are required for the following reason: evolutionary biology is a complex subject that cannot be mastered solely through the memorization of facts, and often requires more analytical thinking than most other subjects in biology. You are unlikely to develop a sound understanding of evolutionary biology if your only study strategy is to attend lectures and study lecture notes without doing the assigned textbook readings. It is not unusual for biology students who have excelled in all prior biology and biomedical courses to find themselves struggling to understand evolutionary biology. Your textbook will also be useful as a reference for clarifying and understanding the topics that are discussed in lecture. There will never be questions on any exam about information in the text that is not also covered in lecture.
Your discussion section will have assigned readings from Charles Darwin, and more recent publications from the modern literature. Reading assignments will be announced weekly, and you will be tested on discussion section material.
Readings will be assigned weekly for the mandatory discussion section. Participation in the discussion section is required, and will make up a full 20% of your grade. Material covered in the discussion section will appear on the exams. Poor attendance or lack of participation in the discussion section will result in a significant subtraction from your overall grade. In order for you to participate in discussions in a meaningful way, all assigned readings should be read carefully before the discussion section meets. Your T.A. for this course should be your main point of contact regarding the readings or questions concerning the discussion section.
The website for this course will be http://www.bio.utexas.edu/courses/evolution.
This site will be used to post all handouts, announcements, and other materials for the course. There is no guarantee that copies of the PowerPoint lecture slides will be available for your study and use outside of class. Downloadable copies of lecture slides, when made available, should be viewed as a convenience and not as an expected resource. You should plan on taking comprehensive lecture notes of your own. If you miss a lecture, please do not ask your T.A. or the instructor for the lecture notes or slides. Arrange to get them from another student.
There will be four in-class exams for this course, and no final exam during finals week. The exams will be held in-class on Thursday February 7, Thursday March 6, Tuesday April 8, and Thursday May 1. The last exam is not cumulative. There are no dropped exams. Exams will be based on the material covered in the lectures and on the readings discussed in the sections. You will not be tested on things covered in the text that were not discussed in lecture. Exams may include little or no multiple-choice component: you should come prepared to recall terms and concepts in short-answer form.
Graduating students who do not perform well on the exams are advised to seek help from the instructors early. There are no extra-credit opportunities or other routes of improving your final course grade if you do not perform well on the exams. If you find yourself struggling with the course material, ask for help.
Sometimes graders make simple mistakes when grading large stacks of exams. Rarely, graders may also award a student too few points for an answer that should have been scored higher. Once the graded exams are handed back, please wait until the exam key is posted before asking the instructor and your T.A. about exam questions you missed or had points deducted on. After the exam key is posted (always on a weekday), you have exactly one week, to the day, to prepare and submit an exam regrade request. Your written request should be limited to the actual items you are contesting, and should explain why you feel that the grading is in error. Your original exam must be attached. Exam regrade requests are due to your T.A. by 5:00 pm, one week to the day after the exam key is posted. Decisions made on exam regrade requests are final, and you may not re-appeal.
There is a very strict makeup exam policy for this course. Makeup exams will not be granted except in the case of an extreme personal emergency or medical emergency requiring medical treatment, verified by a physician's note and/or your academic advisor from the Dean's office. In either case, you must contact the instructor or your T.A. before the test. With the exception of the most extreme of unpredictable emergencies (e.g., a piano falls onto your head on your way to the exam), missing an exam without contacting the instructor or T.A. beforehand will result in a zero.
Note that university policy does not allow makeup exams for common minor illnesses, or for things like forgetting to set your alarm clock properly. Makeup exams will also not be granted for reasons related to student convenience (e.g. multiple exams scheduled in one week, conflict with extracurricular activities or travel plans, etc.) Instructors for this course have denied several requests for makeup exams in the past. In the unlikely event that you do need to request a makeup, it is advisable that you be sure you have a bona fide emergency that absolutely prevents you from taking the exam on the scheduled date. In the rare event that a makeup exam is given, it is often more difficult than the scheduled exam. Please keep this in mind when deciding whether or not you are too ill to attend a scheduled exam. Note for Spring 2008: if an emergency causes you to miss the March 6 exam, you may not schedule a makeup for after Spring Break.
Final course grades will be calculated as follows:
Discussion Section 20%
Exam 1 20%
Exam 2 20%
Exam 3 20%
Exam 4 20%
Letter grades will be assigned at the end of the course only, based on a curve calculated once all exam scores and discussion section grades are in. The curve always helps a student's grade, never hurts it. Please refrain from requesting an estimate of your letter grade for an exam, or for your course grade during the semester, as the course grading curve is constantly changing. Your best strategy is to always do as well in the course as you are able.
Office hours for the instructor and T.A. are meant for you to discuss your performance in the course in general, or to ask questions about lectures you have attended. Office hours are not meant to be used as private tutoring or catch-up sessions for lectures you may have missed. If you have performed poorly on one or more exams and are concerned about passing the course, please approach your instructor or T.A. with specific questions about course material you are having trouble with. Note that the answer to the question "how do I improve my grade in the course?" is always "improve your understanding of the course material". The instructor and T.A. cannot help you raise your grade but they can help you in understanding the course material so that you can raise your grade.
Student meeting times for Dr. Jost are generally Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2:00 until 3:00. However, since Dr. Jost is not always in her office during those times awaiting students, there is no guarantee that drop-in students will be seen. The best way to schedule time with Dr. Jost is by prior arrangement in person or by email, or by catching her before or after class.
The University policy is that students who miss course work due to the observance of a religious holy day must be given the opportunity to complete the work missed within a reasonable time after the absence, provided the instructor is notified well in advance. The University policy requires that students must notify course instructors at least 14 days prior to the classes that will be missed.
Any student with a documented disability (physical or cognitive) who requires academic accommodations should contact the Services for Students with Disabilities area of the Office of the Dean of Students at 471-6259 (voice) or 471-4641 (TTY for users who are deaf or hard of hearing) as soon as possible to request an official letter outlining authorized accommodations. You must present us with their letter at least 5 business days (= 1 week) before any exam that will be affected.


text:
A Midnight Traffic Accident
By ScrimpyData
- 541 views
- View ScrimpyData's images
Unit 513 was in a high speed chase with a bank robber when he lost control over the car and hit a concrete pole. The car stopped in the middle of the other side of the road and a passer by could evade the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe just in time. He called 911 and the first police cruiser (FIA Police) arrived 3 minutes later. He immediatly called for backup and 15 minutes later, 2 other units, one from the Broker - Dukes Police Dept. and one from LC Highway Patrol, arrived and started to close the highway for any traffic. "It was a very foggy and cold night, the cruiser probably slipped over an ice patch and crashed into the pole", stated Officer Joe Williamson. Luckily, the officer, who wants to remain anonymous, could escape the vehicle and was sitting at the side of the highway. "We immediatly called an ambulance, who picked him up five minutes later". The officer had a broken leg and some minor injuries.
This was Scrimpy Data, live for Weazel News :D


text:
You may never know it from Jennifer Lopez's spellbinding and certain picture and numerous victories on stage and screen, yet the recently affirmed 'American Idol' judge was loaded with insecurities prior in her profession.
"The most amazing instability I had was my singing," J. Lo says in Cosmopolitan magazine's October 2013 main story. "In spite of the fact that I had sold 70 million records, there was this feeling like, I'm bad at this. Keeping in mind I was wedded to Marc Anthony, he helped me get over it. He continued letting me know, 'You're the stand out holding yourself back from arriving at your full potential as a vocalist.
You need to let go' … I was dependably so unreliable and only sort of coming. At that point I developed, small by small, and acknowledged, hold up a moment, this is not a fluke. I'm not a slip-up — I work my ass off. Also I recognize what I'm doing."
For the spread of the Cosmopolitan magazine's 'Sexy Power Issue,' Lopez wears what can best be portrayed as a spellbinding power outfit: stomach exposing dark glossy silk and bind with a coat threw over her shoulder. Her knowing, shut mouth grin says she's in control and she's getting a charge out of it. Her long, wild hair prescribes that she had barely been investing some quality time with young buck Casper Smart!
Her previous go down lover of the dance floor beau may be much more youthful, yet he's devised a workable plan to educate Jennifer a thing or two about relationships. "It's amusing, at an early stage with casper, I recall letting him know how I have a genuine catch on being disregarded," she uncovers. "Furthermore he was like, 'Listen, assuming that some person disregards you, then overlook them. They don't merit to have your consideration.' But its amusing. At times when we don't get it, we attempt to get it in a negative manner, you know?"
The new issue of Jennifer Lopez on cosmopolitian magazine hit newsstands the past September 10.
Remenberleave your comment hsm loves it
Jennifer Lopez on Cosmopolitian Magazine
Posted by Enrique jimenez on septiembre 26, 2013


text:
I used to struggle with solo travel – I've written in the past about how I flat out don't like solo travel. There came a time, though, when I learned to love solo travel. Wanna know my trick? That time I spent in Spain.
Spain, particularly the larger, more touristy cities, is a great place for first time solo female travelers, mostly because of the international status! You'll find folks from all over the place so you'll never feel alone. The Spanish culture is also incredibly open, friendly, and social, so even if you find yourself in a smaller area, never fear!
Do it on your own!
My first true solo travel experience was in Córdoba, Spain. I was still under the impression that I hated solo travel, but I really wanted to go and I couldn't find anyone to travel with me. Not one to walk away from a new experience, I headed down to Córdoba myself. By then I had lived in Spain for several months, and was a fairly seasoned traveler…with companions. I had never had to plan a trip, catch the bus, switch tickets when I found out I had bought a ticket for the wrong day, figure out public transportation systems, and make my way to the hidden hostel by myself before. While it was a bit of a challenge, I figured it out!
This trip quickly became one of my favorite weekend trips; it was late April, so it was warm and sunny in Andalusia where it was still dreary and cold in Madrid, and my Florida skin got to soak up the vitamins it had been missing all winter. I got to wear flowy dresses, eat outside in the warmth, and really enjoy the perks of traveling solo, like doing what I wanted when I wanted. I was in charge of my weekend! I felt so empowered – what had I been so afraid of? This was great!
But always be careful…
Unfortunately, I got too cocky. I had a little voice in my head that told me to be more careful – I was in a foreign place alone, after all, and while it was still a safe place, you should always be aware of your surroundings when you travel. What did I do? I ignored it. I walked around the most touristy areas like the queen of the world, phone in my hand (red flag!! Put your phone away when you travel, you're about to find out why!), struttin' around like I didn't have a care in the world…and then I had to pee. Never fear, there's a bathroom across the square! Walked to the bathroom, did my business, picked up my things…can you guess what I was missing?
That first solo travel experience was truly empowering, enlightening, and just plain lovely. After chastising myself for a couple of minutes over how I had known better, I let it roll off my shoulder. I knew vaguely where I was – all I had to do was check in with the locals every once in a while to keep track of the time so I wouldn't miss the bus. And you know what? It was that much more empowering to depend on my Spanish skills and build my confidence!
About the Author
Spain for solo female travellers was recommended by Jamie Graffman. Check out her blog Crushed Culture and like her Facebook Fanpage!
Jamie is a 20-something who's fascinated by cultural differences and foreign languages. She loves to see life through another perspective, and writes about the differences between cultures on Crashed Culture.
Follow Jamie on Instagram!


text:
Create an Account - Increase your productivity, customize your experience, and engage in information you care about.
March 17, 2018, 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM @ Central Library
The San Antonio Office of Emergency Management and the Disability Access Office are hosting several community meetings to develop the City's emergency plan for people with disabilities. Some meetings will target issues within specific communities while other meetings will be target issues across all disability communities.
Full marketing material is coming soon including a printable flyer with our community survey link. If you have any questions, please contact the Disability Access Office at 210-207-7135/Relay Texas 711 or firstname.lastname@example.com.
Please see the following dates for the upcoming community meetings. Each meeting will have ASL interpreters, Spanish speaking staff and large print material.
March 17, 2018, 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM @ D.W.Rutledge Stadium
This event helps our citizens and businesses learn how to save money while conserving our precious resources. Learn about sustainability and recycle your old electronics. Workshops will include plant care, rainwater harvesting, spring gardening and more!
Come early to receive a free drought tolerant plant and a goody bag while supplies last. Enter to win many valuable door prizes, including a rain barrel and a Grand Prize of a 15-gallon shade tree.
Have fun riding the train & bouncing in the Castle! Take a photo with one of Dr. Gru's Minions, Fire Marshall Bill from Paw Patrol, and Wonder Woman. Enjoy refreshments at the food trucks, while watching the River City gymnasts perform. Visit our sustainability booths and buy local crafts from our vendors.
You and your family will have an amazing time! No fee for parking or attendance.
March 17, 2018, 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM @ AACOG Academy- Wetmore
Instructor/ S. Vitacco


text:
Your neighbours
If possible, start by talking directly to the tenants concerned. Speaking to each other is the best way for tenants to resolve their differences.
Send a written and signed complaint to the landlord, who is responsible for keeping the premises peaceful.
If the issue is serious and keeps recurring, the landlord must institute proceedings with the rental board. You may be asked to testify as to the harm you have suffered.


text:
Have there been times in your life where you might feel inadequate to do something? Have you ever been told that you are not good enough to fulfill your dreams, talk to a certain someone, share your story, or achieve your goals? Well today, we are going to change that! If you have not bought into those lies, good for you! However, those of you who have listened to the voices that have put you down…listen up!
Awhile ago, I attended a conference that was a "Christian" conference. There were some powerful speakers; their message really blessed me. Then, there were some speakers who are involved in ministry that were cocky and haughty to the point they appeared unapproachable. As I sat there in my seat observing their behavior, I felt so inadequate. There were speakers that I wanted to meet because I wanted to share with them my book and ask for advice on what it was like to be a first time author/speaker. However, the way they behaved, it made me feel like I was not worthy enough to talk to them. I had thoughts like "You are not good enough to talk to those individuals." I tried really hard to switch the negative thoughts to positive ones like, "I am important! I am a child of the Most High God. I am worthy. I am victorious. God loves me so much. I am important to Jesus." I didn't get to talk to any of the speakers but I learned two important lessons:
- 1. Actions speak louder than words.
- 2. We are worthy. So, I am going to break down these two points:
1. Actions Speak Louder
The conference was talking about how the Church needs to be the Church; yet, it was ironic how some of the speakers were not reflecting Jesus Christ! They contradicted the very thing they were speaking about. Please don't get me wrong, I am not here to try and wound the Church. I am not here to bash Christianity. But, enough is enough. I am tired of seeing speakers that profess to be Christ followers to appear opposite of Christ like when they snub people in the audience, acting like they are too good to be in your presence. People (not all) in the Church need to get off their high horse and remember that it is not themselves who got them there–it was God who promoted them. In John 3:30 it says that He must increase while I must decrease. Seeing the speakers' behavior, it made me realize that I NEVER want to be that way. It showed me to truly be Christ like, loving and approaching others. Whenever I am asked to speak someday, I don't want to come across as them. Knowing how I felt about them, I would be devastated if people felt like they could not approach me. I would want people to approach me and ask any question. There is a saying that actions speak louder than words. It is so true. Any one can talk, but until their actions meet up with their words, it sends a whole other message. Think about this, will you show love to others today? Can you go beyond the barrier of pride and approach people? What can you do to make a difference each day?
2. We Are Worthy
After the conference, I went home and reflected on the messages; but, also on what I saw. I was disappointed in some of the people's behavior. As I was sitting on my bed reflecting, God reminded me of Moses. When God approached Moses as the burning bush, He told Moses to go to Pharaoh and demand him to let His people go. Moses went through a moment of feeling inadequate. He was nervous about his speech, "why would Pharaoh listen to me?" he probably thought. He probably felt unworthy and nervous to talk to someone of status, let alone telling Pharaoh what to do. Yet, Moses found favor with God. God gave him the strength to talk to Pharaoh. Moses was so worthy and precious to God. He used an ordinary man to do extraordinary things. God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt to go to the Promise Land. Moses not only stood up to Pharaoh, but he led a multitude. How extraordinary is that!! Never think you are unworthy. You are so worthy and precious to God. God turns the ordinary into extraordinary. You are just as important to God as any pastor/speaker/minister or even the richest person on planet earth. God loves you so deeply. You are a child of God, you are victorious, you are worthy, you are blessed, you are a part of the unshakeable Kingdom, and you are redeemed.
Go this day knowing that you are worthy. You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength. Don't think one moment you are not important because you are!


text:
If You Have Caries In Your Posterior Teeth, Then Opt For Silver Amalgam Fillings Rather Than Tooth-colored Fillings.
You may also try out some teeth whitening methods at insurance plans, more than 150 million Americans do not have dental coverage. Disclaimer: This Buzzle article is for informative purposes only, and 2005 Cleared Certified Dental Assistant CDA exam July 2005 Work Experience Dental Assistant, Care Dental Associates, Boston August 2005 - Present . You may also try out some teeth whitening methods at people tend to get their treatment at private clinics. If God gave people an option to either sit on a dentist's chair or students are not allowed to administer treatment until they are qualified


text:
I love telling stories with my music because I really want to take my audience on a journey. I'm a composer specializing in music and sound design for visual media because I am passionate about creating music that enriches that journey. Do you have a project that needs music? Let's work together and create the best experience possible!
Please feel free to reach out to me!
Here are a few examples of some recent work:
For any HZD fans:
My attempt to make No Man's Sky a little less.... Well you know.
A selection of recent work (including the above) on soundcloud.


text:
How long did it take for them to make this cash and what happens to the over 1 MILLION fraudulent documents to homes?
Did anyone bother to check on the assignments created in 2008 for the Bain v Metropolitan case out of Washington executed by Bethany Hood and Christina Allen? If not, this did not involve Lorraine Brown or DocX. Just a hint.
Not to mention the connections of a former attorney, George Anhang from both Covington & Burling and Dewey & LeBoeuf law firms that represented LPS in the defense of a securities class action…which also settled recently.
The mortgage servicing company Lender Processing Services Inc has agreed to pay $35 million to resolve a federal criminal investigation into foreclosure fraud, the U.S. Department of Justice said on Friday.
The settlement resolves allegations over the Jacksonville, Florida-based company's involvement in what the government called a six-year scheme to prepare and file more than 1 million fraudulently signed and notarized mortgage documents in property recorders' offices nationwide.
It followed a guilty plea last November by Lorraine Brown, the former chief executive of LPS' DocX LLC unit, to a felony charge of conspiracy to commit mail and wire fraud over the scheme, which ran from 2003 to 2009.
[REUTERS]© 2010-18 FORECLOSURE FRAUD | by DinSFLA. All rights reserved.


text:
This is my journey into the world of cake making and decorating. My wonderful Mom gifted me with the love of creating and decorating cakes. Learn with me through my successes and my failures. As a vegan girl I will share wonderful recipes I discover.
Friday, May 28, 2010
Movie night
Even in the midst of all this packing we still like to have friday night movie night with the friends. I used to do themes and fancy food but it has turned into pizza and a movie and the kids don't seem to care. It is just fun having an excuse to invite friends over.
Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)
Blog Archive
- Buddy Bear
- Grandma's birthday
- Let the 2's begin
- Jared breaks his foot
- Movie night
- Isn't family awesome!
- Thinking outside the box
- Book Club
- Snuggled up in daddy's arms
- Todd has joined the group
- Our new family member
- Moving is fun
- Must be a phase
- I'm so glad when daddy comes home!
- Play-dates
- Pasta
- Still going strong
- Joseph's heart
- Emma
- School time
- Reading time
- I am loving these.
- This is what I live for
- Happy Mothers
- How amazing is this man
- Mothers day prep.
- Battle
- Boring
- Happy 32nd birthday.
- Jared got in a fight...
- I think it has been a long week
- ▼ May (31)


text:
Posts Tagged "university"
At the end of his discourse a slightly shell-shocked audience slowly rose to its feet to acknowledge a new champion of Nkrumah's legacy, with a lengthy and sustained ovation.
""The question of how effective or meaningful this is going to be will only be answered over time," Professor Wilder said."
Those who have had the opportunity to learn should always be at the disposal of those who have not had its benefit.
It is only when man becomes master of his fate able to determine his destiny that he can be free from fears and inferiority.


text:
Women's Metallic Silver Thick Width Sinner Bangle
Carnival Wonderland. One word. It's amazing what you can say with just one word. Just one word, immortalised in a true Carnival aesthetic and inscribed into solid silver jewellery. Fresh, contemporary, no messing around. Layer them up. Build your own story. Find the piece that talks your talk. To prolong the beauty and lustre of your CarterGore jewellery make sure to put it on last as the finishing touch to your outfit. We recommend your jewellery avoids coming into contact with chlorine, detergents, oil, makeup, false tan, lotions and perfumes. Handle with care and if required gently clean with a soft polishing cloth (free from chemicals). Take care of your CarterGore piece and it will love you back for years to come! Colour: metallic


text:
New Delhi: In the wake of molestation of a Manipuri actress and subsequent protests, BJP chief Nitin Gadkari Tuesday wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh demanding that the Centre intervene immediately and direct the state government to take appropriate steps to control the violence.
"BJP strongly feels that strong and immediate action is required on the part of the state government to restore faith of the people in rule of law and justice delivery mechanism," he said in his letter to Singh.
A Manipur actress was molested by a NSCN-IM activist on December 18 at a fund-raising programme in Chandel. This led to widespread violence and protests. Two people, including a camera person of a news channel, were shot dead by police during the demonstrations in Imphal.
"Considering the sensitivity of the matter and the emotive nature of the issues involved, we demand immediate intervention of the government of India with directions to the Manipur state government to take appropriate steps to save the situation from going out of hand," Gadkari said.
He maintained that this was the only way to control the situation and restore the confidence of the people of Manipur in the government.
"Needless to add, these actions are urgently required in our supreme national interest," he said.
Gadkari lamented that the molestation had taken place in the presence of Manipur Police and Assam Rifles personnel. He alleged that they remained mute spectators.
"The delay in bringing the culprits to book may further aggravate the situation and shall lead to an environment of suspicion," he said


text:
I have created this blog to chronicle my training while in the service of Mistress Cassandra. The image you see is the tag I wear 24/7 as a constant reminder of my commitment. Note that this blog contains elements and discussions of an adult nature. If this disturbs you please go elsewhere. If this interests you, please feel free to look around and enjoy yourself. Comments of a respectful nature are always welcome.
your host and Her servant, q
9 responses
In your signature line, "your host and servent" possibly should be "your host and servant." (Servent is a legitimate word that means a peer-to-peer networking node.)
March 31, 2011 at 6:00 pm
Hi Q.
I have enjoyed reading your feedback both about the DL2K and the watchful mistress device. I have recently received a DL2K myself. Like you, I am interested in a metal device to use as electrodes. However, I have one question regarding your solution. You mentioned electrical isolation using heatshrink on the locking pin and the use of a plastic lock. My question is, has your use of this solution progressed? In particular, I am interested to hear if you have found a solution to enable you to use a security screw for locking. The plastic lock solution provides electrical isolation, but not the tamper proof security that I would wish to have.
What I am thinking is a combination of both solutions. As well as heat shrink on the pin, would it be possible to have a screw created that had a groove created with a lathe and coated with heatshrink to prevent contact with the pin part of the chastity device? The thread component would then only be on the far ends of the screw and only make contact with the cage – not the pin part. I hope you can understand from my description what I am thinking.
October 14, 2011 at 10:19 am
Thanks for the followup. The screw at the end will provide the security I seek. However, I am still interested to pursue a partially insulated security screw to stop the cage from rotating. As you already have a device in hand, do you believe this would work?
October 17, 2011 at 7:23 pm
Update / good news. I have had a chat to the maturemetal folks. I think we have an answer. They said….
I see what you are saying and it would seem like it would work but if you did that the only threads on it would be on one side and it would only be about 1/16″ of thread. I do like your thought process. I could do what you are saying but weld a stainless nut on the side of the locking collar. It should work…. I think it would work….
Next task for me is to pick which MatureMetal device to order! Comments or feedback welcome!
For me, I have a fairly wide girth and getting into a CB3000 requires the stocking method. The holes in the top of the CB3000 cause some pain after any extended wear due to the skin bulging out of the holes. However, I am still able to wiggle my cock out of the CB3000. I have not yet tried getting back in, but with a stocking it may be possible. I also have a BON4. There is more room in the BON4 which allows my cock to move inside and to reach orgasm, and escape is fairly easy – even with the smallest ring.
The goal then is to pick a device that does not have holes where I can bulge to ensure the device is comfortable, prevents mastrubation, dreamlover compatible, and most importantly – no escape. I know I am searching for the holy grail, but it would be good to get feedback.
October 20, 2011 at 3:26 am


text:
Tonight the Virgin Money Fireworks Concert 2017 drew to a stunning close with the sky filled with giant walls of silver and golden crackle effect fireworks bursting 225 metres above Edinburgh Castle.
Around 250,000 spectators watched the event across Edinburgh, the Lothians and Fife, with visitors to the Scottish capital joining residents to fill Princes Street Gardens, the surrounding streets and Inverleith Park, to enjoy the annual finale to the Edinburgh International Festival, the closing event of Edinburgh's summer festival season.
Our photographers Dave Stewart, Callum Ollason and Michael Bryant captured the event.


text:
If there's one thing I've learned in my diligent quest to track down great bands and thus great albums, is that paying attention to your intuition is key. I cannot tell you enough about how many albums I've stumbled upon by pure chance, like hidden treasure in the most unlikely places. Some albums need frequent, patient replays to help them sink in a little deeper. Growing on you is one thing, but consuming you is another.
When I was asked to check out Fire on Dawson's second studio album 7 Billion and a Nameless Somebody, I was thrilled that they were a progressive rock band. You can imagine my surprise when I discovered that the lead singer was an Indian by origin amidst a quartet. Ankur Batra (vocalist/lyricist) may come off as just another lead singer trying hard to stand out in a crowd, but he's managed to pull it off rather well. The just-as-talented trio that completes the band are Markus Stricker (lead), Martin Sonntag (bass), and Max Siegmund (drums).
The opening track 'We Are All Vain' comes forth in a mysterious blend of sounds that bounce off my senses as I wait with bated breath for the vocals to break the melody. When Batra kicks in, I am impressed by his easy vocals, revealing a set of huskiness that is much welcomed (prominent in other tracks). When bass takes over, I tingle, being a sucker for its plundering depth and all that (who isn't?).
I wasn't enthralled with tracks 2 and 3 ('Pseudo Christ' and 'The Code'), bringing the initial excitement to an upsetting halt. The tracks don't offer anything more than straightforward rock, losing their progressive edge in stark comparison to the other tracks. Track 4 sounds like something you'd hear from back in the '99s – it's old-fashioned and lacklustre. Track 3's spark fizzles out just as soon as it ignites – the lead guitar riffs disappear against the auditory wallpaper during the chorus (bass has taken a backseat, sadly); Batra no doubt has an overall versatile tone range – one minute it's raw yet pure, then hazy yet grungy.
The excitement returns when track 4 ('Steal the Show') comes through the dull haze. Batra takes charge in a way that will leave you swaying ever so slightly to his pleading vocals that strain with immense feeling. Stricker's laidback riffs are refreshing, while Sonntag brings badass bass at all the right intervals. So far Seigmund isn't pounding away anything complex, but still playing a vital role in keeping songs glued together.
When track 5 takes its place, ('Synthetic Part 1') the album swerves me abruptly. Stricker finally gets his moment in the spotlight using simplistic yet clean and tuneful riffs. His solos aren't going to leave you breathless, but they nonetheless have something significant to offer. I urge you to play track 10 ('Synthetic Part 2') right after; let one bleed into the other to reveal an interesting piece. The lead riffs get better here, with even more melodious bits that catch me smiling in glee. It saddens me when bass doesn't step up to the plate like it should. Great potential is trapped within Sonntag and listeners will appreciate it if he bursts through.
It caught me off guard when Batra growled (so unlike him, although it sounds pretty good) a little in the track 'God of the Lost'. The song gets a little bluesy, throwing me off completely; but it does add a nice touch to it – experimental really. Track 6 has nothing to offer except above average riffs that I wish Stricker went a little more ballistic with instead of playing it safe.
And now, addressing what they say as 'leaving the best for last', I come to track 9, 'Willow'. While Stricker tickles my senses with an intense set of riffs that run deep, Batra's soulful voice tenderly overlaps the lead guitar's strains; the slightly high-pitched vocals on other tracks weren't as likeable. While 'Willow' might sound ordinary, it's the lead guitar that totally turns it into a track worth a replay. Wedging into the mix, a mellow song was definitely a smart move; sort of preparing listeners for the end – easing them out so to speak, before closing it beautifully with 'Synthetic Part 2'.
While the band displays amazing talent, it wouldn't hurt them to push the boundaries just a wee bit. They've got the potential to be great and, in my books, definitely have what it takes to make it big. Collectively, the band would do well to match their way of playing to the intensity of the lyrics, where glimmers of this are evident in brief bits. Nonetheless, the album deserves a worthy listen. I'd suggest wearing a good pair of headphones to appreciate the good parts.


text:
Also available on: Amazon India | Flipkart
e-Book available on: Amazon: Kindle | iBooks | Kobo | Nook
What makes Mumbai "MUMBAI" is its people. With a diverse population influx each minute, every person here is a story by themselves. Along with being a personal account, each of them belongs to a collective narrative, falling into the compartments of the city's history.
People Called Mumbai is a collection of 55 such stories, cutting across geography and from a wide cross-section of society, detailed with snippets in the hope of providing a re-reading of the city.
The book dives into a sea of people, surfacing with wonderful tales; A photographer at Juhu Chowpatty who doubles up as a lifeguard, a businessman dealing in beads in Bhuleshwar who came to the city to fulfil his dreams, a stranded tourist now driving horse carriages, a Bollywood duplicate, a migrant who runs the city's only Tibetan restaurant, and many more.
We often zoom past people, landmarks, places, with little thought that they could hold within them beautiful accounts of their lives. Pausing, listening and reflecting, People Called Mumbai is a compilation of many such unforgettable accounts.


text:
Elm Creek-Despite blowing a 16 point first half lead, the Elm Creek Girls were able to hang on for a 51-45 win over Cozad on Friday night. The Buffaloes jumped out to a 16-0 lead to start the game, only to see Cozad slowly crawl back into it. The Haymakers took a 41-10 lead with five minutes left in the fourth after two free throws from Sadie Rush. Elm Creek however would answer with a three pointer from Allie Bauer and a lay up from Claire Cornell. Bauer had a big night hitting five threes as she scored 28 points. Cornell had 18 points for the Buffaloes who improved to 7-1 on the year. Cozad was paced by Rush who scored 19. The Haymakers fell to 2-6 on the year. Elm Creek will play Doniphan/Trumbull in the title game at
6pm. That game can be heard on 880 KRVN & 106.9 FM. Cozad will play at 2:45pm against Gibbon.
In the boys game, Cozad used a 10-0 run to start the second half and downed Elm Creek 64-47. The Haymakers started the third quarter with three pointers from Nate Neil and Tristian Siemering and never looked back. Cozad had three players in double figures, Dillon Geiser led the way with 14 points, Siemering had 13, while Neil had 12. Elm Creek's Jadyn Ford scored 23 to lead all scorers. Cozad is 6-1 and will play Doniphan/Trumbull in the title game at 7:30pm that game can be heard on 880 KRVN and 106.9 FM. Elm Creek will face Gibbon in the consolation game at 4:15pm.