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I'm sure that you all know by now that Apple has announced their latest addition to their smartphone lineup – the iPhone 5s. As ever with Apple, there has been a lot of hype surrounding this launch, and that has resulted in the fact that some of the sites that have reviewed it haven't really understood what the phone is about, or what it is trying to be. Some put it down for its "bad" specifications. Others fawned over the device just because it was sent down by the Apple gods from above.. Even though I'm pretty late with this review, hopefully I'll be able to give my thoughts on the device, and while doing that tell you what this device is really about. Continue reading →
Author / Neil Thomas
Thoughts on WWDC
This year was very out of the ordinary for Apple, at least in my mind. It started when the page went live on www.apple.com. The image was completely different, it was colourful, vivid. It used a light font. It screamed "this is new". Rampant speculation occurs. Then WWDC rolls around.
I'll start with Mac. Mavericks came out, starting a new line of names because they ran out of cats. In my mind, as I type this on Mavericks B1, this is a very major behind the scenes update, without much of a surface change. The battery life got a major upgrade, which should go hand in hand with some of the stuff that I'll talk about later. iBooks for Mac is also great for a student like me. Maps is kind of unneeded, but also a nice addition.
Then they announced the new Macbook Air. Apple has been very slowly iterating on the leading ultrabook and all around laptop on the planet, and this year is a huge one. Intel's new Haswell processors push the battery life up to a claimed 12 hours, but early testing shows that the battery actually far exceeds that, with The Verge gettings 13.5 hours and PCMag almost hitting 16. This is definitely a nice upgrade, especially when it goes hand in hand with Mavericks. Then they announced the new Mac Pro, which is an amazing feat of engineering even if it does look a bit like a trashcan.
Then, iOS 7. This is what everyone was waiting to see and boy did Apple deliver. In a mere 7 months they completely redesigned the OS from the ground up and threw in a few new features to boot. It is still very unfinished, as you can see from the icons on the homescreen, but it is a huge update that the Apple team working under design guru Jony Ive should be proud of. Let's hope they keep working on it to make it even better. As an Android user it is tempting me to switch, even though it is apparent where some of the new design features came from (Android).
Overall, this was a great WWDC – one I think that Apple, for once, over-delivered on the hype. I'm looking forward to see how all of these products do in the real world, especially iOS 7. Who knows, I might get an iPhone 5S.
LG Nexus 4 review
Like the inevitable tick-tock of a clock, Google, in partnership with LG, released the fourth Nexus phone late last year. On a day inundated with news on Hurricane Sandy, they managed to send the technology community into overdrive and rain on Microsoft's parade by introducing a flagship smartphone for just £239.99 unlocked. Despite the shambolic release that occurred through Google's own Play Store, there is no phone out there that appears to provide this kind of value for money. Google has taken a huge gamble with this device by selling it through its own channels with next to no profit margin, but has it paid off by making the best Android phone out there? Read on to find out.
This phone is beautiful. There are no other words to describe it. It is right up there with the iPhone 5 and One X in terms of hardware design and build quality, which is a massive achievement considering the price point. The unadorned glass façade gently curves down to meet the plastic frame which, when flipped over, reveals a gently shimmering micro-etched glass back. Sure, it was a poor design choice in terms of durability, but it looks great. The front is graced with a small speaker grill and a front facing camera. It also features a hidden notification light centred on the bottom bezel – which is very clear and bright. It's also RGB, meaning it can be programmed to be any colour with apps such as Light Flow. Aside from the volume rocker and power button, the only keys you'll see here are on-screen, keeping with the pattern started by 2011's Galaxy Nexus and continued throughout many other post-Ice Cream Sandwich devices and, while not without their critics, I love them. It's simplicity done extremely well.
The screen is a 4.7" WXGA (1280 x 768) IPS affair, but some of it is taken up by software buttons. The screen is also up there with the best, using the same in-cell technology the iPhone 5 made a big deal about which, seeing as both panels come from LG, makes perfect sense. The colours and vibrancy are great, although still trail behind AMOLED in certain aspects. The Nexus 4 feels solid in the hand, but also feels very slippery due to the glass back and curve, and I therefore highly recommend getting a case for it, no matter how difficult it is to cover up the beautiful exterior. Another slight problem is the chrome band surrounding the front. While it is done very well, it does have the tendency to scratch or dent. The buttons are made of the same material. They have a nice travel, and feel solid, but they are quite slippery – a recurring theme with the hardware on this phone. However, in spite of all of these flaws, this is easily one of the best designed Android phones ever.
Inside, the Nexus 4 sits perched upon the top of 2012's internal hardware. It has a 1.5GHz quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro with an Adreno 320 GPU, coupled with 2GB of RAM giving you a blazing fast phone, although the upcoming flagships like the HTC One and Galaxy S IV should easily eclipse it. Benchmark scores demonstrate this, although these should be taken with a pinch of salt, as our testing shows that the US variant of the Galaxy S III (with dual-core S4 chip) obtains a higher Quadrant score than the quad-core S4 Pro-powered Nexus 4, suggesting that this benchmark has not been properly optimised for Android 4.2 yet.
|LG Nexus 4
|1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 Pro (Quad)
|59.6 fps
|Samsung Galaxy S III (US)
|1.5GHz Snapdragon S4 (Dual)
|48.7 fps
|HTC One X+
|1.7GHz Tegra 3 (Quad)
|57.0 fps
|HTC One X (Intl.)
|1.5GHz Tegra 3 (Quad)
|54.7 fps
|Asus Nexus 7
|1.3GHz Tegra 3 (Quad)
|55.3 fps
This phone is running pure, unadulterated Android and is all the better for it. Untouched by manufactures, this allows the end user to experience and enjoy Android as Google intended, which is of course one of the major selling points of this phone. A positive knock-on effect of this is that it should receive timely updates to Android, currently on version 4.2.2. This is why the Galaxy Nexus remained a great phone throughout it's lifespan – and why the Nexus 4 will be the same. It's a safer choice than a Samsung or HTC phone, which may or may not be updated to the latest version of Android.
Android 4.2 is the best version of Android yet, and it looks great on the hardware of the Nexus 4. I'm not going to do a full review of the software as it's still the Jelly Bean that we know and love from I/O 2012, but I'll go over a few of the new features, such as lock-screen widgets. Combined with the ever-growing number of third party apps that support this functionality, this is amazing. My favourite use case is to see my to do list and edit it all from my lock screen. This is joined by gesture typing (a Swype-esque keyboard), Photo Sphere (StreetView-esque 360 degree panoramas) and Miracast streaming to make the latest point upgrade of the dessert-flavoured OS.
What does this all mean to you? Basically, you get a rock solid, lightning fast version of Android. This is easily on par with the iPhone, if not smoother thanks to Project Butter. It also blends in with all the apps that follow the Holo design guidelines (unlike the One X). I realise I must sound like a fanboy when I say this, but honestly it's true. There are still places where Android lags behind iOS, but those places are few and far between. I'm genuinely excited to see what Android 5.0 will bring.
Camera, Battery and Radios
As many reviews have stated before, and more will state after, the Nexus 4 camera is simply average. Don't get me wrong, it's good, but not amazing. I would put it about on par with the iPhone 4S in terms of picture quality, and slightly worse than that for colour reproduction. Rather than telling you, it's better for me to show you. There is a full gallery of sample shots on the way to be added to this review later.
Again, the same goes for battery life. It is average, and maybe even slightly below. The Nexus 4 lasts about 10 hours on a charge, but with screen on time fluctuating wildly depending on usage and the ROM. My highest is about 4.5 hours and the lowest is about 1.5 hours. Not great, but with a bit of careful usage here and there it will get you through the day. I'll also update this review with screenshots of a few charge cycles. I'm not entirely sure why the battery life is so sub-par considering it is a non-LTE phone with a 2100mAh battery, but I assume that the internals or apps are draining it.
The radios in the Nexus have been very good, definitely better than the One X I reviewed last year. WiFi reception has been pretty good, reaching 3 bars out of 4 in my room. This is pretty good for a smartphone as my room has brick walls, and 3G reception has been pretty good too. One major thing that the phone has been bashed for is the lack of 4G LTE capability, but if you are in the UK then that shouldn't be a problem until much later when 4G is widespread, unless you are an EE customer.
The Nexus 4 is easily the best phone in its price bracket and, in most ways, it is definitely the best phone on the market. However, is it the phone that you should buy? The HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S IV are both lurking just days away, and I say if you are buying a phone to last 3 or 4 years, this probably isn't the phone to buy due to the crack-prone glass back and lack of LTE. If you are buying a phone to last 1 year (or even 2), then this is your phone. The promise of prompt Android updates ably aided by the swift internals will keep you ticking by nicely. Sure, in 2 years it might not be the best-specced phone, but it will remain the yardstick for Android in 2013. Why? Because it's a Nexus, and this is how Android phones should be done.
Amazon Kindle Paperwhite review
With the launch of the original Kindle in 2007, Amazon revolutionised the ebook and print industry. With its e-ink screen and thin construction, it allowed for people to literally fit entire libraries into their pockets. Couple that with Amazon's free worldwide 3G service and its best-in-class content library, and you have a winner. And so it has been – four generations of Kindle have come and gone. All of them have been very successful, and now it is time for the fifth. Since its launch, Amazon have been diversifying it's lineup – with larger, smaller, cheaper and keyboard-equipped variants of the Kindle. This time around, they have done the same. They upgraded the base model with a new black body and higher resolution screen along with a £20 price drop and ushered in the Kindle Paperwhite while expanding on the LCD equipped tablet lineup they began last year with the Kindle Fire. Today, I am going to be reviewing the Kindle Paperwhite – the successor to last year's wildly popular Kindle Touch. Does it live up to the hype? Is the new 'glowing' screen any good? Read on to find out.
There is an old saying – if it ain't broke, don't fix it – and Amazon has certainly abided by this for the fifth generation Kindle lineup, with both the Kindle and the Kindle Paperwhite being almost identical to their predecessors in terms of design. However, both devices have got a new lick of matte black (fingerprint magnetic) paint. However, not everything is the same. The Paperwhite is lighter, thinner and sleeker then the Kindle Touch, while also getting rid of the home button. This is definitely one of the timeless classic designs, much like the original iPhone. These improvements haven't come without a cost though. The new Kindle has done away with the text-to-speech function with the omission of the 3.5mm headphone jack and speakers. There is also less storage – not that it would matter with ebooks being as small as they are.
The Paperwhite's biggest new feature is the inclusion of an integrated light – a functionality that Amazon used to force you to buy a £50 case to obtain. This frontlight makes the screen 'glow', and this is done with LEDs on the edge, which are shone onto an overlay on the screen. This overlay bounces light off the screen, and at you – not causing eye strain like the backlit LCD displays on the majority of tablets.
And now for the question lots of people have been asking – "Does it work well?". Short answer – yes. The screen can be very bright for pitch black situations, or dimmer to supplement natural light around you. There is some minor inconsistencies in light distribution around the edge of the display but nothing major that would impede the readability of the screen. The new Kindle also swaps out the infrared touchscreen of old with a new higher resolution smartphone style capacitive display. It is a lot clearer, less inset and refresh times are miles better. I did notice some very slight burn in, especially after leaving a book on a page for over 5 minutes, but it was nothing to worry about.
Kindle software of old was heavily focused on the reading experience – browsing your library, keeping track of your reading etc. With the new Kindle generation, Amazon have brought in a much more tablet-style operating system. It has front cover previews, suggested items on the home screen and other things too. To be honest, I don't really like the new software as it is a bit more cumbersome to navigate what's important (your books) and it makes certain information a lot smaller, such as how far you are through a book. As it is an e-reader, there isn't too much to talk about, but you are now missing the ability to playback MP3 files as there is no speaker or headphone jack, which is a bit annoying but by no means a dealbreaker.
However, there is one place where Amazon is an undisputed king – it's content library. Pretty much any ebook you can name is on the Kindle Store – almost always at a discounted price compared to the physical copies, and Amazon's usual array of daily deals and fantastic sales (including Yann Martel's Life of Pi for just 20p) help to ensure that, for heavy readers, Kindles are unquestionably cheaper in the long run than paper books. Amazon has also become a publisher, allowing people to publish their books without any fuss straight to Kindle, and they have also restarted the old fashioned trade of releasing chapter a week books, much like Dickens would have done. Amazon's Kindle library is ever growing – and with subscription services like Prime – it is reason enough to buy a Kindle.
Battery Life
The Kindle has had (and still does have) astonishing battery life. This is most likely due to the fact that the e-ink display only uses battery to turn the pages, and also due to the great power management technologies used by Amazon. This year, it has become a whole lot more complicated with the inclusion of the light. Now that has to be powered, there was expected to be a huge hit to the battery life. Not so. According to Amazon's statistics – and roughly corroborated by our own testing – the Kindle Paperwhite will power through 8 weeks of typical reading even with the light on. This figure is with wireless turned off, but it is impressive nonetheless. It really is fantastic to be able to use a device for extended periods of time without having to worry at all about running out of juice.
Amazon has hit the nail on the head with the Kindle Paperwhite. With great hardware, an unmatched bookstore and a great price, the flagship of Amazon's e-ink lineup is both the best e-reader out there and a worthy bearer of the Kindle nomenclature. I would have no trouble at all recommending this to anyone, and it certainly has boosted the amount of time I spend reading.
Nvidia unveils Tegra 4 chip and Project Shield handheld console at CES conference
It's the first day of CES proper today, and the news has started to flood in. Nvidia held an interesting press conference today to announce a few things. There's no doubt that the most anticipated (and most important) announcement of the day was the Tegra 4 – Nvidia's new flagship chip to 'rule them all'. That is until Qualcomm and Samsung show off their work. The new chip packs 72 GPU CUDA cores, and is produced on a 28nm manufacturing process which is a step up from the 40nm of the Tegra 3. This means that even though the chip packs more power, it'll take less of a hit on the battery life. It uses a new quad core, Cortex-A15 based architecture as well. One notable omission is the lack of integrated LTE – while it does ship with an external modem, that both takes a hit on battery life and reduces space inside of the phone. It's interesting to see whether this impacts Tegra 4 adoption, as many phones which used a Tegra processor internationally had to use a Qualcomm processor in the US so as to keep LTE.
The other thing that Nvidia announced was a new handheld gaming system called Project Shield. This came to me as a surprise, but its very very interesting. It features a 5″ 720p display, a Tegra 4 chip and an Xbox-esque controller portion. It is running stock android (i.e good) and has the ability to stream games from your Steam library from your computer to the device, where you can play them. It'll be interesting to see whether this catches on or flops when it becomes available in Q2 2013
Google announces new Nexus lineup: Nexus 4, Nexus 10 and Android 4.2
We weren't expecting any Nexus news today as hurricane Sandy pummels the East Coast, but the Verge has delivered with a full hands on and in depth look at Google's new Nexus lineup – straight from Mountain View. Google has expanded on it's preliminary Nexus 7 with the successor to the Galaxy Nexus (known as the Nexus 4), a new 10″ tablet called the Nexus 10 and all while introducing the next upgrade to their Android OS (4.2). At first glance, these devices seem really great, so let's take a closer look.
Nexus 4
The Nexus 4 is the fourth Nexus phone, the successor to the well-recieved Galaxy Nexus. The Nexus program is Google's initiative to pick what it thinks to be the best Android phone on the market, modify it to their liking and load it up with stock Android goodness. This year they have picked the Optimus G, LG's quad core beast of a phone. They've replaced the plastic for glass, added onscreen buttons, and made it a lot more like the Galaxy Nexus in terms of size and shape. Inside, there is a Quad-core Snapdragon S4 Pro processor, a 2100mAh battery and a 1280×768 IPS LCD display at 320 pixels per inch. Pricing is £239 unlocked at 8GB and £279 at 16GB. As you can tell, these are some great prices!
Nexus 10
The Nexus 10 is a new device for Google. While they have made the Nexus 7, this tablet is set to go face to face with the iPad. It does bring quite a set to the table though, with a 2560 x 1600 True RGB Real Stripe PMS display, Exynos 5 dual processor and 2GB of RAM. The tablet is said to be 'grippy' and has a vaguely curved design and brushed metal back. While the design is not to my liking, I'm sure others will like it. It also includes a huge 9000mAh battery. Pricing is £319 for 16GB and £389 for 32GB.
Android 4.2
Android 4.2 is more of an incremental upgrade, but it still brings some great new features to the table. Here is a quick rundown
Photo Sphere
Allows for panoramas that capture everything around you, not just a strip.
Gesture Typing
This is a new feature in the keyboard which is similar to Swype. It lets you glide your finger from letter to letter to spell out words.
Multiple User
This allows for multiple users to have accounts on a tablet – similar to different User Accounts on Windows
This is basically just hyped up screensavers.
Basically a Google Airplay competitor
Widgets on the lockscreen
What the title says^
HTC Sense 4+ review
This summer I reviewed the HTC One X, a phone that came preloaded with Android 4.0.1 and HTC's comparatively lighter but nevertheless bloated Sense 4 skin. You might recall I went on a bit of a rant about it, with the problem being that it lagged. A new operating system on a top of the line phone should not be stuttering on the homescreen. Now, to coincide with the release of the One X+, HTC has come up with an answer. The new Sense 4+ skin is layered on top of that buttery Android 4.1 goodness, also known as Jelly Bean, but does it fix the inherent problems its predecessor had? Read on to find out.
The Good
HTC really has fixed a lot with the new version of Sense. Most noticeably, the stuttering has been eradicated completely and utterly. I'm not completely sure whether this is down to the new Jelly Bean's Project Butter or simply HTC's optimisations, but it really doesn't matter. Whatever they've done, it makes the phone a joy to use. Expandable notifications have been introduced too, bringing all sorts of new functionality to your pull down shade. The only problem with these is the slightly awkward two finger pinch gesture to open them up – something that is not present in stock Android. The keyboard is really a lot better than it used to be, nixing the pointless arrow keys at the bottom and adding altogether better feedback and responsiveness. My biggest annoyance with the One X has also been fixed – the menu button situation. It used to be that the One X did not have a hardware menu button, with a software version popping on screen as and when it was needed, wasting about a tenth of the screen real estate. With this update, TC has added the option in settings to reassign the multitasking button to menu. Holding down this button with this setting enabled will take you to recent apps, giving back the screen that was taken. Google Now, Android's answer to Siri, has also been added, with a long press of the home button propelling you straight into the new voice search feature. While I don't want to go as far as to compare it with Siri as they both perform different functions, I have to say the retrieval of data is snappier and the voice is not nearly as robotic.
The Bad
There isn't really much that has become worse in Sense 4+. After all, it is an update: something supposed to make something else better, unless you are Apple.
The Ugly
There is a lot in this section, and while there is not as much as there used to be, the list of negative aspects of Sense only reinforce my desire to see stock Android being shipped on more than one phone a year. The first thing is the icons, which remain childish and displeasing to the eye. Compared to the polished look of iOS, Windows Phone and post-ICS stock Android, you realise how far behind such skins remain, and a little customisation with an icon pack goes a long way aesthetically. I still feel that the greens and whites of Sense clash with the deep blues and Tron-like lighting of Holo clash horribly, however certain elements appear pleasant and muted. Another thing that hasn't been fixed is the lockscreen shortcuts, still default to the ones you have placed in your dock.
Overall, I think Sense 4+ is a great upgrade over Sense 4, making Sense a decent skin once again. It makes it smoother, faster, slicker and better looking while also tying in new functionality that you won't necessarily find in a stock Android build. If you are a user of one of HTC's One series phones, I urge you to upgrade to keep your sanity and enjoy the butter.


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Our blog is full of author, book and product reviews, news and giveaways. We also run book tours. http.beckvalleybooks.blogspot.com
We are a family run business based in Billingham, United Kingdom. Selling thousands of used, rare and out of print books worldwide through our online bookstore www.beckvalleybooks.co.uk
Deborah Brown - Paradise Series latest mystery is here!!
Set against the backdrop of sun-kissed tropical waters, sexy sleuths Maddison and Fab take you on one highly entertaining adventure!
"The author has added unique characters and situations that are descriptive and unforgettable in each one of the books of this series. I have a vision in my mind of how each character looks. Good or bad, they have all found a way into my heart. Needless to say, I could read this series forever." -Julie Geter Baswell
"This is the story of Madison and Fab who once again find them selves in a bit of a pickle. This story will keep you on your toes with lots of mystery and suspense involved. Great story by Deborah Brown and look forward to the next instalment in the "Paradise" series." - Tfaulcbookreviews
"Everything is being blown up in this one--boats--docks--tempers. Fab is up to her usual tricks--well not as much now that the boyfriends are watching them VERY closely and have decided to accompany them to keep them from getting hurt in this wonderful and zany series" - Miki's Hope
Available on....
Amazon Kindle: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07B4ZLDBJ
Paperback: https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998440450
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/blownup-in-paradise-deborah-brown/1128103869
I've come a long way since inheriting my Aunt Elizabeth's Tarpon Cove house and her beach cottages full of quirky residents. I strap a Glock to my thigh as easily as I slip into flip-flops.
Even Fab is going legit… mostly. When she's hired to investigate some high-end boat thefts in Biscayne Bay, I go along to do what I do best. Chat up the help to get the real story.
Neither of us expected the case to explode—literally—and take out one of Miami's richest men. And possibly a mistress, though no one's found her body floating among the bits and pieces.
Somewhere in the Miami upper-crust's phony smiles and even phonier alibis there's someone who wanted to see Marshall Sacks dead. Someone willing to ruin Fab's and my lives to keep their secret. It'll take calling in every favor I'm owed to keep us out of trouble.
Read more on the #book, series and author here...

subset: commoncrawl


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Apple Deal Underscores Safe Harbor's Importance in Business Communications
The news that Apple is going to spend nearly $2 billion on new European data centers—and the open secret that it's doing that to assuage Europeans that their data won't leave Europe—recently put Safe Harbor laws for privacy back in the news.
$2 billion! That's Real Money Even for Apple
As Everett Dirksen used to say, a billion here, a billion there, and pretty soon, you're talking real money—even for a company like Apple with a valuation of around $1 trillion.
Apple is willing to pay whatever it needs to pay to reassure the world that their privacy is safe. That's because dealing with privacy and security is such an important part of doing business in 2015.
Secure Data Centers and Compliance
It's also why 8x8 invests so heavily in the privacy and security of its own global cloud communications infrastructure—including our own data centers on six continents—so that businesses that trust 8x8 for their communications can have confidence in 8x8's ability to provide data privacy and security.
8x8 Safe Harbor Listing
8x8's efforts were rewarded recently by the company's recent listing in the US Department of Commerce Safe Harbor Registry as having services that are in compliance with the US-EU/EEA and US-Swiss Safe Harbor Framework that was developed in coordination with the European Commission.
The European Union's Data Privacy protection laws specify that companies operating in the European Union and European Economic Area are not permitted to send personal data to countries outside the member states of the European Economic Area.
Essentially, 8x8's listing means that the company has met the requirements of the framework—something that requires work, attention to detail and solid technology, as well as a lot of documentation.
Developing a Culture of Compliance is Critical
But it also signifies something more: a security-oriented culture of compliance, which is often the hardest security objective to achieve. In addition to Safe Harbor listing, 8x8 can now lay claim to third-party validated HIPAA, FISMA, and PCI compliance, but it has taken years to get to this point. It takes a long time for most companies to reflexively think about security and compliance in everything they do, from engineering to operations to accounting—something that 8x8 achieved many years ago.
That's a big part of the reason that 8x8 is the only major cloud communications company with third-party validated communications and contact-center solutions. It also helps us offer such things as customized Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) to support all of our customers' HIPAA compliance. And for our customers using PCI for business transactions and e-commerce, our contact centers and phone systems can be configured to support secure transactions. We've engineered these capabilities into our solutions, and we've created good processes behind them to back them up.
8x8's Culture of Compliance Helps Business Rest Easy
In the words of Jon Byers, an 8x8 customer and IT specialist at BCFoods, "We can have a global presence with secure and simple communications—all for much cheaper than most other options."
That's the bottom line for many customers: They don't have to worry that their phone systems or contact centers will jeopardize their security, privacy or compliance. And at 8x8, we work hard to keep it that way.


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Baselworld 2016 is closing in and more watch manufactures begin to unveil their model lines for this year's horology fest. Many Breitling fans wanted the chance to obtain a "Chrono Avenger" and this latest model may well be perceived as the new incarnation of that timepiece, introducing the: "Breitling Avenger Bandit". A watch envisioned to be stronger than ever and endure harsh conditions and demanding missions.
Breitling Avenger Bandit
The 45mm satin-brushed case is made of titanium with a rotating bezel, which is adorned with Arabic numerals and four rider tabs, a classic Breitling adornment which serves to mark time frames. The screw-locked crown has a non-slip grip for secure handling, even while wearing gloves. The caseback has a conversion scale engraving on it for: gallons to liters or pounds to kilos. A useful and aesthetically appealing feature that can assist with on the spot calculations.
As for this gray 'stealth' colored dial, although it seems to keep a low-profile in the midst of its titanium gray surroundings, it's quite memorable. The so-called "titanium gray" really manages to pop and stand out from the circling bezel. It features aviation inspired stencil type Arabic numerals, with a luminescent coating and three sub-dials: a 12 hour counter at the 6 o'clock position; a sub-seconds dial at the 9 o'clock position and a 30 minute counter at the 12 o'clock position. There is also a date aperture in the 3 o'clock position. The Breitling logo is in white near the date aperture and small red accents highlight sections of the sub-dials for an enhanced legibility.
Breitling Avenger Bandit
This "Breitling Avenger Bandit" (Ref#: E1338310/M534/253S/E20DSA.2) is powered by a self-winding in-house chronograph mechanical movement, caliber Breitling 13, with 25 jewels and 28,800 vph. Power reserve on this timepiece can last up to 42 hours. The scratch resistant sapphire crystal is glare-proofed on both sides and keeps the Breitling water-resistant up to 300m (1000 feet). Mounted to this watch is a black anthracite combination textile fiber with rubber military-style strap and a titanium folding clasp.
Video courtesy of: Breitling
Feel Free To Contact Us For Availability at:


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Information on how selenium affects prostate cancer is diametrically opposed. On the one hand, there are hypotheses that a high level of selenium in the body was a factor preventing prostate cancer. Other sources, however, state that selenium supplementation may increase the risk of prostate cancer. What is the truth about selenium? Selenium fights prostate cancer, or rather favors it?
Selenium has strong antioxidant properties. In the form of selenocysteine, selenium is a component of the enzyme that protects against the oxidation of proteins, fats and nucleic acids. The most important function of selenium is to strengthen the immune system. In addition, selenium compounds are involved in the regulation of thyroid function. The best natural source of selenium are cereal products, red meat and seafood.
Large amounts of selenium are accumulated in the male reproductive glands, where the semen is produced.
The optimal level of selenium in the body is difficult to maintain, and both the excess and deficit of this element are harmful. Too low level of selenium was observed in the following diseases: thyroid dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, weakened immune system, depression, renal failure, cancer.
Symptoms of selenium deficiency: chronic fatigue and lack of energy, muscle aches, frequent infections, diseases of the liver and pancreas, infertility in men.
Symptoms of selenium overdose: brittle nails, hair loss, nausea and vomiting, halitosis, excessive sweating, nervous system disorders, irritability, depression.
Before you decide on selenium supplementation, remember that uncontrolled treatment may bring the opposite effect than expected. Selenium may be beneficial only if the appropriate dose is used. Be sure to consult a doctor to avoid poisoning with selenium, which can be very dangerous to health.


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Turn up the action.
Are you passionate about local and global challenges such as immigration, food security, education, homelessness, unemployment, or something else? Maybe you're really passionate, hopeful, or angry about the injustices you see in your local and global community every single day – but you don't know where to start? There are so many reasons why we might get stuck in inaction, but there are so many more reasons why there has never been a better time to take action! One of those reasons is that AMP Global Youth and the British Council USA have teamed up to bring you a collaborative curriculum in social action: Active Citizens in Action!
Active Citizens in Action is a leadership training program in social change-making and community-led development. This program takes local and global change-makers on a learning journey of identity, intercultural dialogue, community-building, systems thinking, and project management. Through a series of fun, engaging, and interactive online workshops, you'll gain the skills, knowledge and tools you need to be a more confident leader and changemaker in your community.
The virtual curriculum is made up of four modules: Identity and Culture; Intercultural Dialogue; Local and Global Communities; and Social Action Planning. These modules serve as the building blocks of social action, project, and/or campaign that participants want to see create change in their local community. Through the Active Citizens program, participants not only receive expert training for the design and delivery of their initiative, but they also receive post-program mentorship and coaching. Delivered in partnership with the British Council, Active Citizens in Action is a nonprofit program that is free of charge for community organizers; student leaders; young and emerging change-makers; untapped, underserved, and seldom heard communities; marginalized and minoritized groups, and anyone else working to improve the lives of others.
Through fast-paced and small-group workshops participants will:
- Gain a better understanding of the concepts of identity, culture and community, as well as the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of themselves and others.
- Learn methods of dialogue as a tool for building empathy, trust and understanding within and across cultures.
- Identify a problem they would like to address and plan a social action project to do so.
- Meet new people, build confidence, develop their CV and make a difference in their community.
The training program will take place virtually using Zoom and Google Drive. Our virtual workshops are completely free of charge and will take place every week, for three hours on Sunday, over the course of 8 weeks.
Dates for Spring 2019:
- 3rd February, 12pm EST
- 10th February, 12pm EST
- 17th February, 12pm EST
- 24th February, 12pm EST
- 3rd March, 12pm EST
- 10th March, 12pm EST
- 17th March, 12pm EST
- 24th March, 12pm EST
Join us for this life-changing experience. Space is very limited. Scroll down to apply! Email us with questions: email@example.com.
For more information, please contact Karen at firstname.lastname@example.com and/or Vanessa at firstname.lastname@example.com
Active Citizens in Action is led by:
Vanessa Faloye | Chief Trainer
Vanessa is a trainer-facilitator, curriculum developer, and project coordinator in social impact education. She works with AMP in designing and delivering the AMP Action Lab, Global Scholar, and AMPlifier virtual trainings for global youth. Her curricula span anti-oppression; systems thinking; and social action as ways to educate and inspire systems-level social change. In her non-existent spare time, she also does motivational speaking and blogging on social innovation. Vanessa has a double honors bachelors degree in International Relations and Spanish and a post-graduate certificate in Social Enterprise and Innovation. She is really passionate about traveling, reading, and speaking Spanish.


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How to sew a slip pocket, perfect for any bag you are making
Personally, I love a slip pocket, they are perfect for any items you wish to find quickly and easily – in my case mobile phone and car keys. Especially if I have a large bag – no routing around in the bottom trying to find the one thing I am looking for!! Learn how easy it is to sew a slip pocket.
Sewing slip pockets is an essential tool in your bag making skills, I never make a bag without at least one!! Check out my other essential skills tutorials for bag making:-
- How to insert a magnetic snap
- How to box corners
- How to put rivets in fabric
- How to make a zipper pocket in a purse lining
- How to make padded and cord bag handles
For regular tutorials join over 3,00 newsletter subscribers for my fortnightly newsletter.
How to sew a Slip Pocket
Measure the size of your ideal pocket then double the length and add seam allowance.
As an example, this finished pocket is 6 by 5 1/2″ so the I double the length and then add 1/2″ seam allowance all around. Therefore the piece of required measures cut out 13″ by 6 1/2″ . This is a good size slip pocket for my mobile phone and car keys.
Fold the fabric in half, right sides together. If your fabric is lightweight you may wish to add iron interfacing before folding.
Sew around two sides at the 5/8″ seam allowance. Trim the corners close to the stitches, being careful not to cut into them. This helps you achieve a neat corner.
Turn the fabric right sides out, ensure the corners are pulled out neatly and look sharp. Fold in the raw edge and press.
Place the pocket, with the folded raw edge facing downwards. I suggest the top of the pocket is 4-5″ down from the top of the lining. This allows room to add a magnetic snapper, recessed zipper or other closure to the bag.
Machine stitch the pocket in place, stitching the two sides and the bottom. I suggest topstitching 1/8 in from the edge and backstitching at the top of each side.
Slip pockets are super easy to make, now you have started you just won't stop!
Check out my reader's favourite bag tutorials (all of which feature slip pockets!):-
Large Tote Bag with Zippered Closure
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We organise your Business Trip
For gallery owners and people of the art scene the travel website artago.net provides an online booking platform for flights, hotels, car rentals as well as a private limousine service in Berlin.
In addition, the Berlin-based team who knows the art industry by heart can be contacted directly regarding further services such as art logistics or travel expense reports.
On artago.net the flight search matches automatically the dates of the international art fairs regarding best-price flight offers from various airlines by price, flight duration, connections and date. Individual flight searches are possible as well as searching and booking of hotels. The innovative search selects from thousands rates suitable airlines, hotels or car rentals.
This saves time finding the best travel services. For gallery owners, this is a comfortable travel organization and reduction of costs through lean travel processes.
For further information please contact us:
Alt-Moabit 90
10559 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0) 30-39 99 50 40
Fax. +49 (0) 30-39 99 50 44
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


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I am not sure where I first came across the idea of value added, but it is a concept I have known about for a while. I have never though about using it in the terms of stock images though.
What this means is you take a basic product, do something to it… create value… and then sell that product for a higher value.
One of the advantages of the Symbiostock network is my chance to really look at other artists images and get an insight into what sells. As an example of value added stock images Ron's http://semmickphoto.com/image-type/face-flags/ is a series of a couple of images with flags of different countries laid on top. Great work.
Another example is Steve Heap's Surf board images http://www.backyardstockphotos.com/?s=surfboard&post_type=image where the images are compositions.
Though these are not "photographs" they are well exicuted stock images.
Now I have to think how I can add value to my images…..


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The federal government is planning a major revision of the Racial Discrimination Act, removing the provisions that make it an offence to "offend, insult and humiliate", while introducing an offence of "vilification" on the grounds of race, and widening the exemptions for public debate.
The draft amendments immediately gave rise to a fierce debate. The shadow attorney general, Mark Dreyfus, said they were liable "to give a green light to some forms of racism". The amendments will be open for public comment for a month.
The prime minister, Tony Abbott, told parliament the government deplored racism. "We want to maintain the red light for bigotry but remove the amber light for free speech," Abbott said. "All of us deplore racism. We deplore bigotry. We want all of us to be our best selves."
The proposals have the support of the conservative commentator, Andrew Bolt, who said he was "relatively pleased" about the changes. The Institute of Public Affairs (IPA), a rightwing thinktank, also supports the proposed amendments.
Releasing the draft, the attorney general, George Brandis, said section 18C of the act had the effect of stifling public discussion and had resulted in censorship, as had been shown in the Bolt case.
"Those three words – offend, insult, humiliate – describe what has sometimes been called hurt feelings," Brandis said. "It is not, in the government's view, the role of the state to ban conduct merely because it might hurt the feelings of others. Our democracy should be robust enough for that."
Brandis is seeking to keep the existing provision that makes it an offence to intimidate, but to narrow the definition to "intimidate means to cause fear of physical harm".
"To intimidate a person is to cause them to be fearful," Brandis said. "That is an entirely different state of mind. People are right to go about their daily lives free of fear, including fear borne of intimidation because of their race, or colour, or national or ethnic origin."
The changes repeal 18B, C, D and E. They significantly widen the exemptions under 18D, removing the provisions that require public debate to be done "reasonably" and in "good faith".
Brandis said the overall changes would strengthen the act by including vilification as an offence. "One of the misconceptions in this debate is that the Racial Discrimination Act prohibits racial vilification. It does not," Brandis said.
"The term [vilification] is not used in the act; 18C does not cover incitement to racial hatred, which is the most commonly-accepted meaning of the term 'racial vilification'."
Dreyfus said the amendments reflected the results of the attorney general's views that "people have the right to be bigots".
"The changes reflect a significant watering down of the act that has served Australians well," he said.
Dreyfus said that by narrowing the definition of vilification in 18C and broadening the exemptions in 18D, the government risked allowing the kind of speech such as Holocaust denial, which was the basis of cases such as Jones v Toben.
Liberal backbencher Ken Wyatt, who has previously sounded a warning in the Coalition party room about amendments to the Racial Discrimination Act, said he hoped the changes would encourage people to give the government feedback on the matter.
"It doesn't pass all hurdles. It provides the opportunity for me to explore the changes, along with others," Wyatt said.
Bolt said he was "relatively pleased" by the proposed changes. "I am against racism and I am against limitations to free speech, so you have to say I am relatively pleased," he said.
A director of the IPA, Simon Breheny, said that while he would have preferred a full repeal of section 18C, the government's proposal went 95% of the way.
Colin Rubenstein, executive director of the Australia/Israel and Jewish Affairs Council, said Brandis had gone too far and and failed to adequately safeguard important rights and values.
"To pass the amendments as they stand would risk emboldening racists, threatening the quality of life of ethnic minorities in Australia and seriously straining the fabric of our social cohesion and harmony," Rubenstein said.
An early analysis of the RDA changes by Daniel Meyerowitz-Katz of the AIJAC took issue with the limited definitions of "vilify" and "intimidation".
The council was also concerned about subsection three of the proposal which seeks to codify a "community standards" test for any cases, that specifically refers to "the standards of an ordinary reasonable member of the Australian community" as opposed to "the standards of any particular group within the Australian community".
"This suggests that there is a class of 'ordinary' Australians who are not members of 'any particular group' and, by implication, that members of particular groups might not be 'ordinary' Australians," Katz said.
He also raised concerns about the proposal to replace 18D which exempts any communication "in the course of participating in the public discussion of any political, social, cultural, religious, artistic, academic, or scientific matter".
"Unlike 18D or defamation defences such as 'fair comment', the proposed provision does not require any degree of factual accuracy or reasonableness in order for an act to be exempt.
"Consequently, any communication at all which purports to be a part of a public discussion on essentially any issue would be exempt. In virtually all previous decisions under 18C, the respondent could have claimed to have been engaging in public discussion on one of the included categories."


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CONTACTS:Mary Ellen KeatingSenior Vice PresidentCorporate CommunicationsBarnes & Noble, Inc.(212) firstname.lastname@example.com
Alan McNamaraSenior Manager, Corporate CommunicationsBarnes & Noble, Inc.(212) firstname.lastname@example.com
New York, NY – May 20, 2015 – Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS), the nation's largest retail bookseller and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products, today announced its June 2015 lineup of free Storytime events for children and families, all designed to celebrate the joy of reading. At each event, the stories may be read on the Samsung Galaxy Tab® 4 NOOK®, a full-featured Android tablet that combines Samsung's leading technology and NOOK's extraordinary content and reading experience. During all Barnes & Noble Storytime readings and activities, parents and guardians are encouraged to take pictures and post to their personal social media sites using the hashtag #BNStorytime.
The month kicks off with the Oh, the Places You'll Go! Storytime on Saturday, June 6, at 11 a.m. at Barnes & Noble stores nationwide. Available exclusively at Barnes & Noble, this special Keepsake Edition of Dr. Seuss's wonderfully wise graduation speech is perfect for graduates of all ages. The Barnes & Noble exclusive edition includes eight extra pages designed to be personalized with photographs, signatures, advice from teachers, friends and family, plus notes about dreams for the future. The inside back cover also has a sturdy pocket for storing mementos. Whether personalized by the gift giver or by the recipient, it is sure to become a treasured volume—a place where happy memories are captured and inspiration can always be found. Activities and free bookmarks (available to the first 50 participants) will round out the fun.
Touch the Brightest Star Storytime – On Saturday, June 13, at 11 a.m., Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will feature Barnes & Noble's Picture Book of the Month selection, the company's choice of the most engaging and entertaining stories. In this new story with lush, beautiful watercolors and cut-paper collage, Christie Matheson reveals the magic of the nighttime sky, using the same kinds of toddler-perfect interactive elements as her acclaimed Tap the Magic Tree. Drawing, word searches and a cut-out activity are part of the Storytime fun.
Fans of the book can meet author Christie Matheson for a special Storytime and book signing at the Barnes & Noble store located at 313 Corte Madera Town Center in Corte Madera, CA, on Saturday, June 13, at 11 a.m. For more information, please contact Laurel Kidd, Community Business Development Manager, at (415) 927-9023.
How to Surprise a Dad and How to Babysit a Grandpa Storytime– On Saturday, June 20, at 11 a.m., in celebration of Father's Day, Barnes & Noble stores nationwide will host a special Storytime featuring two terrific stories by Jean Reagan. In How to Babysit a Grandpa, a Barnes & Noble and New York Times bestselling picture book, the narrator gives important tips for "babysitting" a grandpa, including what to eat for a snack, what to do on a walk and how to play with a grandpa.
How to Surprise a Dad is full of tips on how to become a super dad-surpriser, including tips for things you can make, do or find—just for dad.
Granddads, dads and their children will also participate in a variety of fun activities to celebrate the special day.
Jean Reagan, author of How to Babysit a Grandpa and How to Surprise a Dad, will appear for a Storytime and book signing at the Barnes & Noble in Albuquerque, NM, on Friday, June 19, at 7 p.m. The store is located at 6600 Menaul Boulevard NE. Please contact Community Business Development Manager Sandra Williams at (505) 883-8236 for details.
Orion and the Dark Storytime– On Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m., all Barnes & Noble stores will host a special Storytime with Orion and the Dark, Emma Yarlett's picture book story about an unexpected friendship that helps one little boy overcome his fear of the dark. Orion is scared of a lot of things, but most of all he's scared of the dark. So one night the Dark decides to take Orion on an adventure. Emma Yarlett's incredible artwork with die-cut pages brings the Dark to life. Exciting word searches, drawing, coloring and writing exercises are part of the enjoyment.
Additionally, throughout the month of June and while supplies last, customers can purchase Peanut Butter & Cupcake at the special price of only $7.99 (regularly priced $17.99) with the purchase of any children's book. Terry Border's tale asks, "What's a little piece of bread to do when he's feeling lonely?" Find a friend, of course! This special offer ends July 20.
Barnes & Noble Storytimes are free and open to the public. All events are subject to change. Customers should visit the Barnes & Noble Store Locator (www.bn.com/storelocator) for more information about events at their local store.
Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS) is a Fortune 500 company and the leading retailer of content, digital media and educational products. The Company operates 649 Barnes & Noble bookstores in 50 states, and one of the Web's largest e-commerce sites, BN.com (www.bn.com). Its NOOK digital business offers award-winning NOOK® products and an expansive collection of digital reading and entertainment content through the NOOK Store® (www.nook.com), while Barnes & Noble College Booksellers, LLC operates 717 bookstores serving over five million students and faculty members at colleges and universities across the United States.
General information on Barnes & Noble, Inc. can be obtained by visiting the Company's corporate website: www.barnesandnobleinc.com.
Barnes & Noble®, Barnes & Noble Booksellers® and Barnes & Noble.com® are trademarks of Barnes & Noble, Inc. or its affiliates.
For more information on Barnes & Noble, follow us on https://twitter.com/BNBuzz, http://instagram.com/barnesandnoble and http://thebarnesandnoble.tumblr.com, and like us on https://www.facebook.com/barnesandnoble.


text: This guitar led sing-along class consists of music and activities that keep everybody moving. Have fun playing instruments, jumping to the rhythms and learning some musical games. This class gets the kids dancing and helps them burn off some energy for nap time.• Have fun playing instruments and learning musical activities and games.• Learn to enjoy playing with other toddlers! 3/13/2020 UPDATE: The current session of Music with Ms. Jean will be postponed starting Monday 3/16/2020. Classes are predicted to start back up again on April 8th, April 15 and April 22. The Spring Session that was scheduled to start 4/8/2020 will be cancelled.


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When John and I were on the last leg of our Blount Small Ship cruise it included a visit to Hyde Park and West Point. The scenery along the Hudson River was beautiful as we passed by several lighthouses, under some bridges, and by some stunning countryside. It is easy to see why President Franklin Roosevelt said, "All that is within me cries out to go back to my home on the Hudson River." Even though Roosevelt's home where he was born, lived and was buried is referred to as Hyde Park his home is more correctly called the Springwood estate which is located in Hyde Park. It is now a National Historic Site. I can see why he would love it because he probably arrived via the long, tree-lined drive that leads to the house but; alas, visitors do not. The house is lovely but not the palatial mansion one might expect. The tour includes the room where Roosevelt was born and his boyhood bedroom.
A lot of history took place in the house but I like all the stories that don't make it into the history books. In 1939 the Roosevelts hosted King George VI and, his wife, Queen Elizabeth. The visit is sometimes referred to as the Hot Dog Summit. The Royal guests were served hot dogs for the first time. The Queen asked how she was supposed to eat them and disregarding the advice used a knife and fork to cut them up but the King enjoyed them the American way.
The tour gives insights to life at Springwood. One stop on the tour is the Snuggery, a room used by Roosevelt's mother, from which she conducted the business of running the household. Over the years the house was enlarged and modernized and the number of servants increased. There has long been a controversy about just how domineering and controlling she was.
Another stop was at the West Point US Military Academy. I was impressed to see the Academy from the water. It really looks like a fortress. Given the security at West Point I was surprised that the Blount ship could dock there. The tour bus picked us up at the dock and we were told to bring our passports but no one checked them. The military academy can only be visited on a tour. There are remnants of the chain that was strung across the Hudson River during the Revolutionary War; actually there were two, to prevent British naval vessels from sailing up river. The Parade Ground is where George Washington drilled and organized the Continental Army and where cadets still drill and parade. It is also where Dwight D. Eisenhower had to walk off his demerits. Some cadets graduated without any but Eisenhower has the distinction of being one of the people to have accumulated the most. Today the Academy accepts females and blacks. It wasn't always the case. Recently John and I watched, "Assault on West Point: The Court-Marshall of Johnson Whittaker," about one of the first blacks accepted to the Point. It is not a pretty story.
Traveling the Hudson River itself would have been worth the cruise. As we neared New York City we passed the Palisades, steep rock cliffs on the New Jersey side of the river. The captain's narration along the way was excellent as were our views of the city and the Statue of Liberty.
About the Authors:
Sandra and John Scott see the world as a wonderful playground. Since the 1980s they have traveled the world sharing their experiences through the print media (and now online) and travel presentations. They enjoy all forms of travel from bouncing over the Santa Fe Trail in a covered wagon to sailing on the Mekong River. They have marveled at the wonders of nature while walking the trails in the Amazon and snorkeling in Palau's Jellyfish Lake. They are equally impressed with what man has created at Machu Picchu, Angkor Wat and Stonehenge. They have slept just about everything from native huts to luxury cruise ship to five-star hotels. One important aspect of their travels is connecting with the people and learning about their lifestyle and history. To that end they find taking cooking lessons, visiting school, and participating in local cultural activities a great way to feel like one of the locals. Pack your bags and follow Sandra and John Scott as they travel the world.
View itineraries that explore the Hudson River:
Great American Waterways
The Saguenay
Islands, Castles & Canals
Locks, Legends & Canals
*If you are not in the United States or Canada, please see our brochure online.


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The Gauntlet Podcast
This is our community podcast. We discuss the games we have been playing, as well as tips for getting the most out of your time at the table. Our focus is independent tabletop roleplaying games, story games, and the OSR.
+1 Forward
+1 Forward is a show about games using the Apocalypse Engine. We cover these games in play, and talk about the many flavors of games Powered by the Apocalypse.
The Farrier's Bellows
The Farrier's Bellows is a discussion podcast about story games and independent tabletop roleplaying games. Each episode, Diana & Zack examine a new game. They review the game, discuss a topic inspired by the game, and suggest inspirational media.
Trophy Podcast
An actual play podcast of the game Trophy by Jesse Ross. The purpose of this actual play is to show how Trophy is played, demonstrate the kinds of stories you can tell with the game, and, of course, to entertain you.
Pocket-Sized Play
Pocket-Sized Play is an actual play podcast. The recordings are taken directly from the games we run on Gauntlet Hangouts and edited down into short episodes of roughly 30 minutes each. The purpose of Pocket-Sized Play is to not only entertain but to demonstrate good gameplay techniques at the table.


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Finder is committed to editorial independence. While we receive compensation when you click links to partners, they do not influence our opinions or reviews. Learn how we make money.
Compare long-term balance transfer credit cards
How much interest can you save with a long-term balance transfer credit card?
Last updated:
Balance transfer credit cards can help you consolidate your debt into one manageable monthly payment. Some credit cards offer promotional periods with low, or no, APR from 12 to 18 or more months. With a longer interest-free period, you can repay your debt without the burden of high interest rates.
To find the best long-term balance transfer card, weigh the amount of debt you have to transfer and how much time you need to pay it off.
Our pick for a balance transfer intro of 21 months
Citi Simplicity® CardRead more
Compare long-term balance transfer credit cards
What is a long-term balance transfer?
A long-term balance transfer credit card can offer relief if you're paying off multiple cards with high APRs. Essentially you're using a new credit card to pay off one or more other cards, but with better terms.
By consolidating your debt and eliminating APRs for 12, 15, 18 or 21 months, you can adjust your finances, make smaller payments and know that the entire payment is being applied to your principal — not fees.
Balance transfer cards let you transfer existing debt up to a set limit, but most charge a transfer fee — usually a percentage of the transfer amount. Compare your savings with the low APR against the fees to make sure its worth it.
What is considered a long-term offer?
Depending on your debt, the difference between a 6-month and 21-month balance transfer card could mean hundreds of dollars in savings. More time could mean lower monthly payments without paying extra interest. Though, once the introductory period is up, you'll start paying interest again.
A long intro period is anywhere from 12 to 21 months. In international countries such as Australia, you might find a 24 or even the very rare 30-month offer, but you would be hard-pressed to find that in the US.
How much am I allowed to transfer?
The total amount you can transfer is usually a percentage of your credit limit. While some may let you transfer up to 100% of your credit limit, others may only allow you to transfer 95% or even 80%. Many cards depend on your credit score and financial situation to determine how much you can transfer.
If you're carrying a large debt, consider whether you can transfer the entire amount before applying for the card.
Mistakes to avoid with long-term balance transfers
To make the most of the long-term balance transfer offer, you should avoid the following mistakes:
Only meeting your minimum repayments.
Only paying the minimum monthly payment is unlikely to cover your entire debt by the end of the promotional period. If you can afford to put more than the minimum towards your debt, you'll clear your debt faster.
It could take you more than four years to pay off $5,000 worth of debt with a low $100 monthly payment. If you can afford to pay $200 each month, you can have it paid off in two years — the length of some balance transfer cards.
Making purchases on your new credit card.
Using your balance transfer card for purchases isn't recommended, as it only adds to your debt. Your repayments will automatically go to the purchases that are accruing the highest interest, so you'll be losing valuable low or interest-free time.
Bottom line
When it comes to balance transfer credit cards, a strong rate makes a big difference. Finding a card you can qualify for, with a long intro period can save you hundreds of dollars.
Be sure to work out your finances so you can have the balance paid by the end of the low intro period. Once it's over, you'll pay a high revert rate on the balance. Before choosing a balance transfer card, compare your options and find the best fit for your finances.
Frequently asked questions
Read more on this topic
Can I pay off my auto loan with a credit card? You might be able to save with a balance transfer — but only if you pay it off before the 0% intro period ends.
Is a balance transfer worth it? Save money on interest payments with a balance transfer.
Combine credit cards with a balance transfer Consolidate your credit card debts under one account and save with a 0% balance transfer credit card.
24 month 0% intro APR balance transfer credit cards Pay off your debt interest-free with a long 0% intro APR on these balance transfer credit cards.
PenFed balance transfer credit cards A few cards offer excellent rewards and potentially low ongoing APRs.
TD Bank balance transfer credit cards Consider TD Bank if you want a balance transfer credit card with potentially solid rewards.
Bank of America balance transfer credit cards Many of the bank's balance transfer cards offer rewards.
Capital One balance transfer credit cards Consider these cards if you want strong rewards and time to make an interest-free balance transfer.
Discover balance transfer credit cards Get zero interest on balance transfers for 14 months.
USAA balance transfer credit cards Make a quick electronic balance transfer with a potentially low ongoing APR with USAA.
Ask an Expert


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Alternative titles for this post: "Ch-ch-ch-changes" or "Deep breaths…or possibly hyperventilating"
In a few weeks I will be saying goodbye to the District of Columbia (and Maryland and Virginia) to move back home to Brooklyn, NY! I grew up in Brooklyn, so I'm thrilled to be going back. I will, of course, miss my yoga students and all the wonderful friends and family that I've met here over the last 6+ years.
So what does this mean for Supportive Yoga? I'm so glad you asked. One of the most amazing things about this move is that I am going to be able to concentrate on yoga full time. That means starting in April 2014 I will be teaching more studio classes and accepting more private clients. If you are in the area, I'd love to connect with you, so I'd like to extend my New York City area Supportive Yoga readers a special offer!
For the months of April and May, 2014, private or semi-private lessons with me with be only $50/hour. That's my "friends and family" rate and more than 30% off my usual base rate. That rate will be good for any private yoga lessons you buy and schedule within those months! I like to think of this as a "getting to know you" sale. Send me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com and we can get started!
Private lessons are offered a time and place convenient to you: your home, place of business, apartment gym etc. You will get individualized attention, custom sequences tailored to your needs and body and an opportunity to play around with poses that you might not encounter or be comfortable trying in a group class. If you are recovering from an injury or dealing with any challenge that is keeping you from going to a group class, a private lesson is definitely the way to go! If you are interested, please send me an email at firstname.lastname@example.com. Private yoga lessons make a great gift too!
If you are in the DC area (or anywhere else in the world for that matter) and sad that you missed me, don't worry! Did you know that I offer Skype consultations and yoga sessions? We'll do an initial consultation to chat about what your needs are and what you are working on and then I'll create a custom sequence and class for you which we can go through together! Then you can either continue to practice with me over skype at set times – just like a private yoga session – or you can work on your own and we can rendez-vous again when you are ready to move on or have questions!
The initial consultation and first skype lesson is $45 and subsequent sessions are $30.
To purchase an initial skype consultation and session for $45 you can click here:
I'm hoping that I will be able to create more content for the site – some of what I've already been doing i.e. more asana posts, yoga hacks and musings and I'd like to work on new collaborations, e-courses and practice videos. Really, it seems the possibilities are endless.
I will keep you posted on my group class schedule on the Yoga with Annie! page as things develop. If you are in the New York City area and have a studio you love please let me know!
I'll be doing a post soon sharing my favorite teachers and places to practice yoga in the DC area and I hope you will check them out if you are ever in the area. DC is where I started teaching yoga classes and I will always be so grateful to the studio owners and students who gave me a chance to share my experience and love for this practice!


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Salted Caramel Protein Crisps
$ 1.50
$ 1.70
Salted Caramel Protein Crisps
Why wouldn't you? Have you read these ingredients!
Nothing better than a sweet and salty delight, guilt free.
INGREDIENTS: Milk Protein, Seasoning (Cane Sugar, Brown Sugar, Natural Flavors, Sea Salt), Sunflower Oil.
Contains: Milk. Manufactured on equipment that processes soy, wheat (gluten), egg, peanuts and tree nuts.


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These beautifully presented black tie shortbread cookies are hand cut in Victoria BC. Shortbread is a traditional cookie that is enjoyed anytime of year. These gift bags are the perfect gift for party hosts, end of year teacher gifts and are a great addition to your cookie trays and desserts at home.
The gift box contains 3 sleeves of our famous melt in your mouth traditional Scottish shortbread. These gifts boxes contain 400 g of pure deliciousness which is almost twice the weight of most boxes on the market.


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- 23 Oct
New Asset Based Lending Funding Company
One of the most important features of the business finance search service that we offer is that we are continually adding new funding companies to our panel of funding partners. There are almost 100 different invoice finance companies operating in the UK at present.
We do this to make sure that we can provide not only the cheapest invoice finance prices, but also the most flexible funding options and the full range of different products and services that customers may need.
Asset Based Lending ABL
We have had a number of recent meetings with new and existing funding partners, updating our database of the products and risk appetites and the pricing approach of each. We had a recent meeting with another invoice finance company that is part of a larger group. They are also able to offer an asset based lending (ABL) approach to clients.
Taking an ABL approach means that in addition to finance against the receivables of a company, this funder is able to take into account other assets within the business. This could include property, stock and work in progress or plant and equipment. This means that a more generous funding percentage can be achieved where flexibility is required in the pre-payment against sales invoices. By using this type of approach, a high prepayment percentage, such as 100% against the receivables may be possible for a period of time. This could be particularly useful if, for instance, you were seeking to raise finance for an acquisition of another business.
It also creates a level of further flexibility should a client's debtor book be the constraining issue, when trying to raise funding for a company. A more liberal view of the debt about maybe possible where there are other assets that can be taken into the funding formula.
Whilst taking an ABL approach is not unique, it can be helpful in some circumstances and there are a number of providers on our panel that are able to offer this type of approach to business funding.
Related articles
- 16 Mar
Funding Growth By Acquistion
We have just helped an existing client complete his second company acquisition within his sector, aided by using a factoring facility.This time he was able to purchase a company twice the size of his previous acquisition, resulting in a dramatic increase in the volume of turnover that his group will achieve over the course of the next year.Call Sean on 03330 113622 to discuss your funding...
- 20 Jan
Acquisitions FundInvoice Are Supporting
At present, we are working on 3 potential acquisitions that require some form of invoice funding, and at are various stages of the business purchase process. Acquiring a company can be a great way of growing your business income and profitability.The three cases FundInvoice are currently working on are as follows:These situations are against a backdrop where the number of UK acquisitions appears...
- 26 Nov
Interested In Selling Your Groundworks Or Landscaping Business?
We have connections to a variety of business advisers and we recently received a note from one of them that are seeking acquisitions on behalf of one of their clients. Are you aware of any businesses that are, of might be for sale?They are looking for businesses within the groundworks and landscaping sectors, ideally located in the South East or within a 70 mile radius of London.Potential...
- 20 Aug
Testimonial Following Acqusition Funding.
Acquisition finance can be difficult to raise, this is a recent example of an acquisition that we were able to assist. We introduced them to an invoice finance company that were able to provide capital to assist with a business that they were acquiring.This is the great testimonial that we received from our client, the businessman that acquired the company.He rated our service 5 stars out of 5,...
- 03 Dec
UK Ombudsman Proposals For Banking And Finance Complaints
UK Finance, the trade association for the UK banking and finance industry, which was formed on the 1st of July 2017, has announced proposals to increase SMEs access to independent ombudsman services.Any SMEs with invoice finance related complaints should see our advice regarding invoice finance complaints.SMEs could soon have banking and finance disputes resolved, and dealt with, via a binding...
- 29 Nov
DIY Debt Collection - How To Collect An Unpaid Debt
We are sometimes asked for help collecting overdue debts. If there are numerous debts or if they are substantial enough there are providers that will handle the case for you, however when the debt is smaller, maybe just a few thousand pounds, although important to you, you may also find that it is often not large enough to warrant getting professional debt collectors, or perhaps even solicitors...
- 28 Nov
Help Funding Christmas Cash Flow Problems
Hard to believe its only November and we are already planning for Christmas, however there are good reasons to plan ahead at this time of year. The cash flow of your business can be particularly affected by the seasonal effects of Christmas.For example, staff expect to receive their monthly wages early, before the Xmas break - and in some cases there will also be Christmas bonuses due to be paid....
- 24 Oct
Car Repair Invoice Discounting For All Sizes
We have had a lot of success helping finance car crash repairers. We have assisted the full range of sizes from small companies to multi-million pound turnover companies. There are no minimum turnover restrictions on these types of facilities so even the smallest businesses can use this type of invoice discounting without the need to worry about minimum fees, or reaching minimum levels of...
- 22 Oct
Recruitment Outsourcing Without Issues
I posted the other day about the issues that can be associated with some of the recruitment outsourcing companies who also provide funding. Interestingly, we have just had a conversation with a new outsourcing invoice finance company that are able to provide the full range of services from funding, to payroll management to accounting services.Being able to access this kind of package of services...
- 19 Oct
Recruitment Acquisition Finance
We are looking at a prospect that is seeking recruitment acquisition finance for a business that they are seeking to purchase. I highlight this as a reminder of how invoice finance can be used to fund company acquisitions.In this case it is a recruitment sector company, however the same approach can be applied to any sector.There are two possible ways in which you can structure this type of...


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About IncubateIND Fellowship
INCIND Technology Fellowship is a unique and exclusive program for the coders, hackers, designers and innovators of tomorrow. As part of this fellowship, you will get an opportunity to develop your skills through working with senior technology leaders and industry experts.
Over the years, a lot of talented students seeking opportunities to sharpen their skills have joined IncubateIND to get to work with industry leaders and to understand the complexities of the tech world. This Fellowship will make students work with technology leaders, and it aims to improve the chances of a few selected students to get hired by their dream organizations in the future.


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At the US prison at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, military guards called their sleep-disruption efforts for detainees the "frequent-flier program." This involved constant cell changes meant to disrupt prisoners' rest and lower their resistance to interrogations.
Detainees routinely are blasted with loud music at many US holding sites. Songs used include the one in Meow Mix cat-food commercials and "Let the Bodies Hit the Floor" by the heavy-metal band Drowning Pool.
US interrogators have also threatened to send detainees to countries thought to use torture. One Guantánamo prisoner was taken on a long boat ride meant to trick him into believing he'd been handed over to another government.
As these details attest, the world of US interrogations of terrorism suspects comes to vivid life in a newly released Justice Department audit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's role in the effort.
The conclusion of this report by the inspector general is that in general, FBI agents refused to participate when US military or intelligence interrogators used harsh and potentially illegal methods on their prisoners. FBI officials in Washington clashed with the Pentagon and the Central Intelligence Agency over how to handle two top Al Qaeda operatives in US hands.
In making this point, IG officials combine excerpts from past investigations with their own interviews of FBI agents in the field to create a document that is one of the best official summaries to date of how the interrogation system has worked on a day-to-day basis.
For example, about half of the FBI agents who have served at the Guantánamo Bay base reported to the IG that they had witnessed interrogation techniques they considered to be rough or aggressive.
"The most frequently reported techniques included sleep deprivation or disruption, prolonged shackling, stress positions, isolation, and the use of bright lights and loud music," says the Justice Department audit.
In addition, the report reveals that the United States allowed Chinese officials to interrogate Chinese Uighur inmates at Guantánamo. Uighurs are an ethnic minority in China who are primarily Muslim.
As one FBI agent recounts, "one Uighur detainee, Bahtiyar Mahnut ... claimed that the night before his interrogation by Chinese officials he was awakened at 15-minute intervals the entire night and into the next day. Mahnut also claimed that he was exposed to low room temperatures for long periods of time and was deprived of at least one meal."
Critics say that the FBI only belatedly began reporting on the interrogation problems its agents saw. Critics also say that it took the revelation of the abuses at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq to push the agency and the US government in general to investigate abuses.
In explaining the difference between themselves and military interrogators, FBI agents note that they have been trained to go after different things. The FBI wants a long-term relationship with informers. The military needs battlefield intelligence to save lives – and they need it fast.
Still, the IG report concludes that the basic breakdown was this: FBI agents in the field wanted to establish a rapport with detainees. The military and intelligence agencies wanted to break them.
This came to a head as early as 2002, in the initial treatment of Abu Zubaydah, who was captured in a shootout in Pakistan and is thought to be the highest-ranking member of Al Qaeda in US custody.
Initially, the FBI and CIA planned a joint effort to obtain intelligence from Mr. Zubaydah, notes the report. The FBI selected for the job Agents Gibson and Thomas (both are pseudonyms), who speak Arabic, are skilled interviewers, and were familiar with the Zubaydah investigation.
Agent Gibson told investigators that he and his partner initially took charge of the effort because CIA interrogators were not at the scene when they arrived. "Gibson said he used relationship-building techniques with Zubaydah and succeeded in getting Zubaydah to admit his identity," says the Justice Department audit.
When Zubaydah's medical condition became grave, Gibson accompanied him to the hospital and assisted in giving him care. In the hospital, Zubaydah identified a photo of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad as "Muktar," the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.
A few days later, CIA personnel assumed control of the interviews. They said Zubaydah was only providing "throw-away information" and said they needed to diminish his capacity to resist.
The paragraph describing what the CIA did is blacked out in the publicly released version of the IG report. But Agent Thomas objected to the treatment, saying it was "borderline torture."
This clash led to an internal FBI decision that its agents would not participate in such sessions. Among other things, FBI officials felt that the methods were not effective – and that eventually they would have to answer to Congress and the public for their actions.