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Trading success can often be the result of minimizing your losses and this very point is emphasized when trading a highly leveraged product like Index CFDs. In fact the golden rule of trading success can be found in the old trading maxim: Cut your losses off short and let your profits run and if you are able to follow this formula for success you should be on the right side of the ledger more often than not.
What is an Index CFD?
Index CFDs are highly leveraged CFD products that enable you to gain access to the main indices around the world. You can begin trading the SPI 200 (sometimes referred to as the Aussie 200), FTSE, Nasdaq, S&P 500, Dow Jones and CAC 40 to name a few. You get an amazing amount of leverage as most CFD brokers allow you to trade at 1% margin or 100 times leverage.
The greatest risk to your trading account
Trading Index Contracts for Difference at 100 times leverage or 1% margin allows you to make extremely large gains or losses on your trading account. It is for this very reason that the number 1 risk to you when trading index CFDs is the way you control your leverage. When trading it is important to understand that you control the leverage on your account. This means that with $10,000 cash in your trading account, you can access as little or as much leverage as you desire. In effect this means you control how much risk you take on board by either trading a very low levels of leverage or trading risky at very high levels of leverage. Clearly the smartest option is to keep your leverage very small.
The hidden costs of trading Commission free index CFDs
Incredible amounts of marketing dollars are spent attracting new market participants to trading index CFDs and the main emphasis is on 'commission free trading'. Now whilst they are not lying it is important to read the fine print and get a feel for what the real costs to trading this product are. All CFD brokers charge an overnight financing rate which means for every day you hold the position long, you get charged a certain rate. For index CFDs that rate is normally plus or minus 4% as opposed to plus or minus 3% for share CFDs so bear this in mind when trading the indices.
SEO Tactics to Get Indexed, Get Ranked, and Get Traffic
No one can deny that you need traffic to your website in order to succeed online. The best kind of traffic is free traffic. Where's the best place to get free traffic? Google and other search engines.
How Does Free Search Engine Traffic Work?
The process works in a way that you have experienced many times. You go to Google, enter in a word or phrase you want to research, and click one of the links that shows up. Well, the link you clicked on just sent free traffic to that website owner. What we need to figure out is how to get YOU free traffic.
Most people only click results from the first couple pages. In fact, the first page of results receives almost all the free traffic. Believe it or not, the first 3 results receive over 70% of the traffic.
So to get any significant amount of free traffic from Google, you really need to be on the first page. This means Google needs to "rank" you as a top 10 result. This bring us to…
What Is SEO?
Search Engine Optimization is a measure of how well Google and other search engines think your website matches the search terms people are typing into their search boxes. It's a complex formula that only people working for Google know exactly. There are several factors that we do know.
Getting Indexed
Before your website can begin gaining ranking, you have to alert Google to it's existence. This is known as being "indexed." When your website gets indexed, Google stores information about it in their massive database.
In order to get indexed, Google has to be able to find you. Links from other sites are the easiest way to accomplish this. Google will actually follow the links on sites it already has indexed to find new sites and index them.
Use your Twitter and Facebook updates to get quick indexed links to your site. These sites are indexed multiple times every day so your new link will get indexed very quickly.
Gaining Ranking
After this first hurdle, you need to start gaining ranking. Due to the massive size of the Google database – literally billions of pages – just getting indexed doesn't do much for you.
Here's what's important in ranking:
- Content
- Links
- Activity
Optimized Content
This is the SEO work you do on your page. It's critical that your page content is consistent with the keyword phrases you're targeting. Clearly this article is about search engine optimization. Google knows that not just because the words search engine optimization show up. Another way this is determined is by the other related phrases like traffic generation that are also in the article.
You also need to make sure the title tags, outbound links and the domain itself match the topic of the page. These all play a part in helping Google determine what your website is about.
Your Links
Next, you need to pay attention to the links to and from your site. The links to your site, as well as the sites you link to are important. You want to make sure you have more inbound links than outbound links. And the more inbound links the better.
Article marketing is a super easy way to get a bunch of inbound links. To accomplish this you start by writing an article that targets the keywords you're after. Then you continue to create articles around these and other related keywords for ever increasing back-links. The more quality articles you write, the more links you'll get back.
Make Your Site Active
Lastly, it's seems clear that Google expects important pages to be actively updated. Static pages that just sit may rank at first, but will fall off over time, so you need to update your pages often. RSS feeds are an easy way to keep your content changing.
Another great way to keep your page content fresh is to enable comments on it and allow others to discuss your page topic. This means you need to get real live people to your site, as well. An easy way to do this is from forums.
Set up forum profiles with the ones related to your website and post there often. Put a link to your site in your profile. This gets you inbound links and it will also get real visitors to your site.
It's important that you do everything listed here. But let's face it, writing article after article, creating a bunch of forum profiles, and posting your articles and comments takes a lot of time which means you probably will end up NOT doing it.
Fortunately, you can get rank builder software to do all the grunt work for you. The best thing you can do is to automate this process. Otherwise, you won't do it at all. And if you don't do it, you simply will not ever get free traffic from Google.
How to Delete Index.dat Files – Completely Erase Internet History
For those of you who are concerned about your privacy and don't want any other users who have access to your computer to know what sites you've been visiting online, need to know how to completely erase internet history. You see you do not fully clear your internet browsing history when you clear the private data, cookies, browsing history etc. using your internet browsers lame privacy tools. In order to permanently delete the records of sites you have visited, pictures you have viewed, videos you have downloaded, or even emails you have sent online, you need to know How to delete Index.dat files. These files are hidden system files that keep a record of every single website and action you've performed online and if anyone gains access to them they can see exactly what you've been online. So by now I think you would've realized the importance of clearing index.dat files and since Microsoft doesn't provide any utilities to delete index.dat files.
I'm going to show you how in this article.
Index.dat files are used by Microsoft to record information about internet sites that have been visited and details of cookies being stored on your PC. Whenever you visit a website on the net; the URL address, images viewed, time of visit, and other web page contents are all saved to your hard drive. There is no clear explanation as to why Microsoft needs these files but the primary reason is that the contents can be opened up quicker from your hard drive if you re-visit the same page again. One example of its use is when you type in the first few letters of an address in the URL bar that you've already visited and the full address quickly comes up, now this is great if you can't be bothered re-typing the address but it's a huge invasion of personal privacy if someone else is using your computer.
Anyone with the slightest knowledge of fully searching internet history or has heard about the existence of index.dat files will be able to know exactly what you've been doing online. So if you are worried about your privacy then you must learn how to delete index.dat files immediately, before someone else gets a hold of them.
Now I'm afraid erasing or clearing index.dat files is no easy task and it is virtually impossible to accurately delete all the files using manual deletion methods. The reason being, index.dat files are critical system files and are constantly being used by internet explorer and Windows all the time so you cannot simply drag and drop them in the recycling bin. You may be able to remove them using MS Dos if you are using Windows Me, Windows 98 or Windows 95 and then find and delete all the index.dat files one-one. However This is method is pretty complicated and vulnerable to errors as Windows usually stores more than one copy of index.dat and finding them all when they are located in hidden directories can be difficult. If you are using Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows NT this tactic won't work at all and you will need some help.
Because Microsoft hasn't provided any utilities to easily delete index.dat files and also considering the fact they are near impossible to erase using manual methods, third party software designers have created programs specifically to erase index.dat files. Usually known as index.dat viewers or index.dat erasers, these programs are easily able to locate all index.dat files and quickly remove them, all at the click of a few buttons. Personally I use a program called Privacy Guardian 4.1 to completely clear my internet browsing history; it is able to fully secure my privacy by ensuring all traces of my online Internet and computer activity are permanently erased and unrecoverable.
So if you wondering how to completely erase your internet history then you must know How to delete Index.dat files. They cannot be deleted easily by manual methods and I must recommend you grab a good Index.dat eraser if you wish to delete index.dat files and fully secure your internet privacy. The good news is that most programs offer a free download so you can remove these files today at no cost. I can guarantee you will feel a lot better and be letting out a strong sigh of relief when you know you actually deleted all your internet browsing history permanently.
How Do Equity Indexed Annuities Stack Up?
Sales of equity indexed annuities (EIAs) have grown considerably in recent years. These products are positioned as simple investment vehicles that enable the investor to participate in market gains but offer protection from market losses. In reality, these are complex investments and because salespeople are paid large commissions for promoting these products, it's difficult to get an objective opinion on whether they are right for you.
How Do Equity Indexed Annuities Work?
EIAs produce an investment return that is tied to a market index, most commonly the S&P 500. Each product has a minimum guaranteed return (currently, 1% is common) and a cap rate, which is the highest annual return the investment can generate (currently, 8% is common). Consequently, an EIA with these common parameters would generate the same return as the S&P 500 of that return was between 1% and 8%. If the S&P 500 produced an annual return of less than 1%, the EIA would guarantee 1%. Similarly, if the index produced a return greater than 8%, the annuity would be capped at an 8% return.
Further, EIAs have participation rates that commonly range from 70% to 100%. For instance, if the index increased in value by 10% during the year, an EIA with an 80% participation rate would produce an 8% return (80% of the index's 10% return).Also, it is important to note that minimum guarantees, cap rates, and participation rates can change at the whim of the insurance company.
Other Important Factors
As mentioned previously, salespeople are handsomely compensated for selling EIAs. To protect the insurance firm from paying a large commission to a salesperson only to have the investor sell the annuity, these products have a surrender charge if the investors sells within a certain time frame, which can be as long as 10 years. This surrender penalty can be as much as 10%. Thus, liquidity is severely limited with these investments.
EIAs offer tax-deferral, meaning an investor doesn't pay taxes on investment gains until the annuity is sold. This tax-deferral is similar to the benefit offered by a 401(k) or IRA. However, unlike investments in a 401(k) or IRA, investments in an EIA don't reduce your current income or tax bill when the investment is made. For this reason, many financial planners encourage their clients to maximize contributions to other tax-deferred vehicles before considering an annuity.
It's important to note that most EIAs only count equity index gains from market price changes, and exclude any gains from dividends. Since you're not earning dividends, you won't earn as much as if you invested directly in the market. For example, the S&P 500 earned 15.1% in 2010, but 2.3% of that return came from dividends which would not be included in an EIA.
Lastly, the guaranteed return on an EIA is only as good as the insurance company that gives it. While it is not a common occurrence that a life insurance company is unable to meet its obligations, it happens. Information about the financial strength of insurance companies can be found on the SEC's website.
Investment Return
Suppose a 45 year old with a 40 year investment horizon was looking for an investment that offered impressive returns with relative safety. Would an EIA be a good choice? Let's consider a $10,000 investment in three unique options: an investment in the S&P 500, an investment in a conservative diversified portfolio* consisting of 75% bonds and 25% stocks, and an investment in an equity indexed annuity tied to the S&P 500. For illustration purposes, let's assume the annuity has extremely favorable conditions: a 100% participation rate, a 3% minimum guarantee, and a 10% cap rate. Further, let's give the EIA the benefit of the doubt and assume it includes the portion of the S&P 500's return due to dividends, which few EIAs do. All and all, this annuity is significantly more favorable than any real product you are likely to find. Since the investor intends to live another 40 years, let's look at what would have happened to these three $10,000 investments during the last 40 years, starting in 1970.
As you would expect, the $10,000 investment in the S&P 500 grew the most over 40 years, to $495,551. However, this investment endured significant volatility, losing as much as -37% in one year. Clearly, this investment is too risky for an investor willing to endure only a small amount of risk. Alternatively, the $10,000 investment in the diversified 75% bond, 25% stock portfolio grew to $433,838 — still an impressive return. However, the largest loss this portfolio suffered in a calendar year was -6% (1974), which might be tolerable to an investor with a low risk tolerance. Finally, while the equity indexed annuity with unrealistically favorable terms never gained less than 3% per year, our $10,000 investment only grew to $195,479. What if we consider an EIA with more realistic terms: 100% participation rate, 1% guarantee, and an 8% cap rate? Our $10,000 investment would have grown to only $103,767. Clearly, when comparing an EIA to investing in a diversified portfolio with a conservative ratio of bonds to stocks, an investor benefited of accepting a small amount of volatility in their portfolio.
ity indexed annuity without full knowledge of the product? Annuities have a "30-day free look" that enables you to surrender the product free of charge within 30 days of signing the contract. If you recently purchased an EIA, speak to a fee-only financial planner immediately to ensure the product was right for you. If you decide the annuity wasn't what you thought, a fee-only financial planner can help you exercise your free look provision and find an alternative investment that is more appropriate.
Indexed Universal Life Insurance For Retirement Income
When designed properly, indexed universal life insurance can be a great savings vehicle for investors who have a good ability to save. Indexed universal life or IUL, is a type of permanent life insurance that allows a policy holders to build a cash value. The cash value can be invested in a fixed account that often has a guaranteed minimum interest rate or the owner can derive their returns based on several different equity indexes.
There are several crediting methods that can be used to generate returns on the cash inside the policy. The most common method I see is an annual point to point calculation based on the return of the S&P 500 with a cap rate that protects your principal and limits your upside. When you pay your annual premium, the insurance company deducts some of the premium for state taxes, cost of insurance, and a sales load. After the fees are taken, most of your money goes to the insurance company's general account and a small portion buys derivatives on whatever index you select.
Let's say that the insurance actuary believes that they can earn 5.27% on their pool of investments. They would invest $95 of your $100 in their general account expecting that it one year, the $95 would grow to $100. This is how they can guaranty your principal. The $5 in my example would buy derivatives that could make up to a certain return or they could expire worthless if the index you chose has a negative year. The costs of the derivatives help determine the cap rate or the maximum that you can make per year. Most companies have a 10-15% cap rate on the S&P 500 index currently. If your insurance policy has a 12% cap rate on the S&P 500 and the index does 30%, you will have 12% credited to your account for the year. If the index does 5%, you will make 5%. If the index loses 20%, your return will be zero for the year. You do not receive the dividends of the indexes you invest in.
Principal Protection
Some people are very critical of the fact that IUL limits their upside. There is no free lunch. In order to protect your principal, you have to give up some of the upside. These critics point out that because of the cap rate, IULs would have earned between 5-8% per year over the last few decades during a time when the S&P 500 has averaged 9-11%.
I agree that it is possible to make better returns IF you are willing to stomach the risks of owning an all stock portfolio and my experience has taught me that very few people are able stay invested when the financial world is in a panic. The latest study from Dalbar was recently released and it shows that the average equity investor has averaged 3.79% over the last 30 years while the S&P 500 has averaged 11.06%. Even worse, the average fixed income investor made .72% per year, which is only 1/10 of the return of the Barclays Aggregate Bond Index.
Because it is so hard to stick with an investment plan that does not appear to be working, I think a percentage of the population would be better off in a product like IUL that limits their gains, but provides principal protection that helps them sleep better at night.
Creditor Protection
Texas law states that the cash value in your life insurance is protected from creditors. This is a very important feature for people in the medical profession and business owners. Money held in your bank account or brokerage account is generally not protected. This may not seem like a benefit to you, but consider the fact that a home owner and tree trimming company were successfully sued for millions of dollars because an oak tree fell on the current Governor of Texas in 1984 rendering him paralyzed. I didn't know I needed to worry about the trees in my yard bankrupting me until I learned this.
Did you know that when you sell your car, you can be held liable for tickets and criminal and civil liability if the new owner doesn't change the title of the vehicle to their name? It is important to go to the tax office with them or submit a vehicle transfer notification to the DMV right away. The more experience I have under my belt, the more I realize how risky life can be.
Tax Benefits
The cash value inside indexed universal life insurance grows tax deferred and if designed properly can be pulled out as tax free loans that don't have to be paid back during the insured's life (the insurance company uses some of the death benefit to pay off the loan). The only return that really matters is what you keep after taxes and after inflation. If you are in the highest Federal income tax bracket of 39.6% you are now subject to an extra 3.8% Medicare surtax on investment interest under the Affordable Care Act. If you make 6% inside your tax deferred IUL policy, that is a 10.6% tax-equivalent yield for the highest tax bracket.
In addition to tax deferral, you can pay zero capital gains tax by borrowing against your cash value. You can borrow to buy your next vehicle, for a real estate down payment, or to fund your child's college. You can choose to pay these loans back or potentially never pay them back. Page 27 of the 1990 GAO Report to the Chairman clearly states "If a policyholder borrows the inside buildup from his or her life insurance policy, the amount borrowed is considered a transfer of capital, not a realization of income, and, therefore, is not subject to taxation. This reasoning is in accord with tax policy on other types of loans, such as consumer loans or home mortgages.
Stocks and safe government bonds often have low to negative correlations. There are very few years where the US stock market and US government bond market both lose at the same time. However; many take comfort knowing that in down stock markets, they can pull money from their insurance policy that has principal protection. This can be a very useful tool when one considers the risk of the sequence of returns when distributing money in retirement. Pulling money from stocks in a year like 2008 can seriously hamper one's ability to maintain their standard of living during the rest of their retirement.
There are also times where the US stock market is a lousy long term investment. The S&P 500 hit 1552 in March of 2000 and was at the exact same level 13 years later because of the tech wreck in 2000-2002 and the Great Recession in 2008-2009. This was an ideal environment for indexed universal life insurance because your principal was protected during the crashes and the crashes made stocks cheap where they had a good chance of going up and hitting the cap rates on the IUL policies. During long term bull markets (like 1982 to 2000) you would expect a capped IUL policy to do worse than the return of the US stock market.
When you withdrawal money from your brokerage account or 401(k) and spend it, the money is no longer invested and working for you. This is not the case with indexed universal life insurance. When you borrow from your policy for retirement income, the insurer is lending you money and using the cash value in your policy as collateral for the loan. This means that you could have a $200,000 loan at 5.5% interest against the cash value in your IUL policy. If over the course of your loan, your policy averages a 6.5% rate of return, you are making a 1% rate of return on all the money you spent to live on.
The chance of being able to make a small spread on what you have borrowed and the downside protection of the product could potentially allow you to withdraw a higher percentage of your cash value per year than you could from volatile investments that don't have principal protection. I ran an IUL illustration on a 37 year old male who had an average return of 6% per year until age 65 and found he could borrow 4.8% of the cash value in the first year of retirement and continue to increase that initial amount by 3% each year until age 100. In simpler terms, the arbitrage and principal protection may allow you to pull $48,000 indexed for inflation from $1 million dollars of cash value in an IUL.
4.8% is a lot higher than most financial planners would be comfortable pulling from a traditional portfolio. One of the most common amounts planners consider safe to pull from your investments is 4%. This has even come to be known as the 4% rule. Retirement Researcher, Wade Pfau, recently estimated that retirees should consider pulling only 2.85% to 3% initially from their investments. That would mean you should only pull $30,000 indexed for inflation from a million dollar portfolio. If Pfau is correct, having a maximum funded IUL for retirement could be a nice addition to your retirement.
Death Benefit
The last benefit of saving into index universal life policies is to remember that you are buying a life insurance policy. If you pay one month or year's premium and die prematurely, your heirs could literally have a 1,000% return on the money you invested. If this unlikely and unfortunate event happens, life insurance is the best thing that you could possibly have invested in. And the best thing about life insurance is it is tax free to your heirs.
I also like how many IUL policies have a free accelerated death benefit rider that allows you to take a portion of your death benefit while you are alive if you are terminally ill. You could use part of your death benefit while you are alive to take your family on one last vacation or to pay for a long term care facility.
The biggest disadvantage to IUL policies is that they usually have 10 to 15 years of surrender charges or fees to get your money out. You need to fully understand the product and be committed to it. The products also front load their costs and most illustrations that I run at 6% don't break even until year 7 to 10. Therefore, it is usually a bad idea to apply for a policy and cancel it early on.
The second disadvantage to IUL is that the cap rates can and will change throughout your ownership of the policy. Many policies only guarantee a minimum cap rate of 3% or 4%. As mentioned previously the cap rate is a function of the cost of buying derivatives. Volatility was very high in 2008 which made derivatives more expensive. I did not see any companies dramatically drop their cap rates at that time and don't see this as a huge risk. If for some reason your IUL dropped cap rates near the minimums, you could change to a different index crediting method or you could invest your cash value into the fixed account for a period of time.
Lastly, life insurance illustrations always show guaranteed values and non-guaranteed values. It is very likely that we continue to operate under the non-guaranteed assumptions, but if Ebola killed massive amounts of people or AIDS became airborne, all insurance companies can raise their charges for insurance and administrative costs after receiving approval from your state. In this rare event, life insurance contracts would be considerably less attractive than policy owners were expecting.
IUL is not right for everyone. If you design a policy that buys the least amount of insurance to get the maximum amount invested, you can add diversification to your portfolio, have tax flexibility in retirement, and make attractive after-tax returns. If you would like to see what it would look like to save into an IUL, please give me a call. We can determine the amount that you want to commit towards saving into a policy and then find the right one for you based on your health history. Because I am independent and not beholden to one company, I can shop all IUL carriers to find the best option that meets your needs.
Solar PV – The Smartest Investment For 2011? And You Get Free Electricity!
A 10% tax free, index linked income for 25 years, guaranteed by the Government that's environmentally friendly and provides free electricity.
When you install a Solar Photovoltaic (PV) system at your property you can now earn around 10% per annum tax free guaranteed by the Government for the next 25 years. Solar PV is the amazing investment and environmentally friendly opportunity that was introduced by the UK Government in April 2010. This is when the 'Feed in Tariff' (FiT) was introduced to increase the rate you get paid for the microgeneration of electricity at your premises.
The FiT is index-linked for the next 25 years making it inflation proof. In the context of the Spending Review in October it is one of the few areas where there is real certainty to invest your money safely and wisely for the future with exceptional, tax free returns.
In setting out to stimulate consumer demand for microgeneration (the production of clean energy on a domestic scale), the Government have set the FiT very high for a limited period. This means that only households and commercial enterprises that complete their installation before March 2012 will qualify for the highest rate tariff.
As soon as you are installed you are locked into the index linked scheme and its benefits for the next 25 years. This includes the annual cash benefits of the FiT, free electricity and knowing that you are reducing your CO2 footprint.
So what are the catches? There aren't any. Your installation needs to be carried out by an MCS qualified installer in order to claim your 10% tax free, indexed linked, 25 year income that's guaranteed by the Government.
The roof needs to be southerly facing and shadow free for most of the day. The panels are mounted onto the roof using a hidden lightweight aluminium framework. The DC electricity produced by the panels during daylight hours is converted to AC by an inverter. This will usually be in the loft space or near your electricity supply.
Finally, a meter measures the amount of electricity that your system generates (in the same way that your current meter measures what you use and are charged for today). A typical installation will involve two installers and a qualified electrician working at your house over a couple of days. It is a straightforward job with most of the work taking place outside.
The highest rate FiT is 41.3p per kWh and applies to systems up to 4kW in size. This is typically four times the price paid for electricity from the grid and is paid regardless of how the electricity is used and even if you don't use any of it.
On top of the FiT, you add the value of electricity that you have saved by using some of what you've generated. Finally there is an income called the Export tariff which is calculated as 50% of the electricity that you generate being fed back into the grid.
If any of this sounds complicated, it really isn't; once your installation is completed, the Solar PV system is connected seamlessly to your present electricity supply and your new meter is ready to calculate how much electricity you have generated and what your annual revenue is.
And there are a range of investment options depending on what return you are looking for. From wholly owned systems through shared ownership and even free systems, where you rent your roof for free electricity, the options are many and varied.
Glycemic Index Vegetables
Vegetables are known for their ability to maintain good health. Low glycemic index vegetables are rich in vitamins and minerals. It is recommended that you eat least 2 -3 servings of low glycemic vegetables per day. Vegetables should be eaten in moderate amount.
Low glycemic index vegetables can cause a moderate rise, in sugar levels, the blood system. There are two main types of vegetables, including low and high GI vegetables. High glycemic index vegetables can increase the glucose level in the blood beyond the optimal level. Vegetables with high index scores include legumes, and starchy vegetables. Examples of starchy vegetables include potatoes, yams and etc. When you know the index rating of each vegetable, you will be able to control the sugar level in the blood efficiently. In addition, your body will be resistant against diabetes, cancer and heart disease. Eating lots of vegetables will enable you to maintain a healthy weight.
Low glycemic index vegetables are also rich in fiber. Fiber is a type of carbohydrate. However, the stomach cannot digest fiber and because the stomach cannot digest fiber, it cannot increase the glucose level in the blood system. After you eat a food, the stomach will break down the carbohydrate into glucose. Glucose can increase the level of insulin in the body. Insulin can increase the energy of the body and makes you active. After you have used up the energy, the excess insulin will be stored in other organs such as muscles and the liver. When there are no more places to store the glucose in the organs, the body will then store the excess glucose as fat in other parts of the body.
By eating vegetables, you can maintain an optimal weight because they have a low amount of carbohydrate. It is important to have low glycemic meals every day. A single low GI meal cannot lower the glucose level in the body efficiently. Eating vegetables can burn off the excess fat in your body. Vegetables can eliminate the high lipoprotein cholesterol in the blood, again helping you to have a healthy body.
If you want to find out the exact glycemic value of each vegetable, you must reference the GI food chart. You can find free information on low glycemic index vegetables on the internet. Many websites offer index rankings for different ranges of vegetables. Some websites provide more comprehensive GI information than others – look around. Therefore, you should visit a variety of websites so that you can compile the most comprehensive vegetable GI list.
Free Business to Business Directories
Ok so I have written about some of the best B2B directories, they all offer services at a price but can provide great results for your company. I have detailed probably what I would consider to be the 'big' 4. There are many more available but weather they are worth looking at is a decision I will leave for you. However not all directories make you pay for your advert, there are a few out there that offer their services for free. One thing you have to remember is that these directories simply can not provide the same coverage as the paid for ones, but considering they are free they do work fairly well. Also remember when advertising you are not limited to one place, spread your advert out across different directories to receive more coverage.
Free Index
This is one of the most popular free directories, not as large as the paid for directories but still boasting around 20,000 companies and 1.2 million visitors a month Free Index works well considering it is free. Their service is free of charge and they promise not to send to any spam. It takes about 2 minutes to set up a free small advert and is a good start to getting your name out there.
Expert Focus
This is another free directory that specializes in the advertising of manufacturers, so if it is a manufacturer you are looking for and want to put a small advert somewhere Expert Focus is worth checking out.
Free Solar Panel Schemes Explained
You may have seen recent announcements in the press regarding 'solar panel giveaways' from new companies offering to install photovoltaic panels on your home completely for free. Solar PV panels are known to be extremely expensive, so how on earth could a company offer them for free, and why would they do it?
The answer is relatively straightforward, the companies involved stand to make a considerable amount of money from the scheme. The key behind it is that installing photovoltaic panels under the feed-in tariff is a very good investment. Installing them on your home is especially good because the feed-in tariff pays the most money for small PV installations. Anyone deciding on where to invest their money should definitely look at getting a solar installation, it's a tax-free, index linked investment that can be a great help to families and the environment.
Unsurprisingly for the UK economy however, where a good investment is to be found it doesn't take long for the investment banks to come lurking. All of the free solar schemes offered are actually based on investment funds set-up by a well known UK investment bank. The fund is created to pay for solar installations on suitable UK homes, and then all the revenues from the solar panels go directly back to the bank. Some electricity savings are passed to the resident, but the big majority of returns go straight to the bank.
The second critical ingredient to this arrangement is the network of installers to design and install the installations. In the UK there are not a huge number of these installer networks. Behind each of these solar panel schemes is a different network such as the Mark Group and Eaga, firms which have over a thousand installers. They grew by doing boiler replacements and installation fitting for utilities such as British Gas. This arrangement means company who actually sells you the system is in fact a middle man between you, the bank and installer. There isn't necessarily anything wrong with this, but its important to understand what is going on.
The other way of looking at it is that the investment banks are providing a service. Not everyone is in the position to invest 10k in a solar PV system and the 'free solar' schemes allow a wider range of people to experience solar energy and benefit from it. The arrangement means that the feed-in tariff payments go to the investment bank, but the savings in electricity bills at least are retained by the resident.
Overall these financing schemes will help to quickly grow the industry in the UK, but beware of how they work and know that you would make a lot more money if you self-financed. In Germany and other more mature solar energy markets, what you find is that 'solar loans' are widely available. This is the cheapest way of financing a solar installation. You just get a loan for however much you need in order to buy your system and pay it off with the feed-in tariff revenue. It means you still get to own the system and receive at least a portion of the feed-in tariff.
So if you would like solar panels but can't afford to invest 10k over 25 years then getting some sort of financing is a good idea. It might just be worth waiting for better financial products rather than lining the pockets of investment bankers however.
How To Make A Family Tree For Free In The US
I have to admit it, I don't have much money. I have plenty of enthusiasm when it comes to making a family tree, but I'm not a millionaire. I make a salary, but there isn't much left after rent and food. So, when I first started making my family tree, I was determined to make it without spending anything. In actuality, I wound up spending a lot more than nothing. In my eyes, it was more like a fortune, but to be honest, I think it was worth it. What I've learned about my family is priceless and the adventure isn't over yet. It makes it possible for me to go to my job and not complain (much); because I have something else in my life. I have spent protracted periods of time talking to various people, and I know how to make a family tree with zero cost, but and this is where the big but comes in, it depends on where you are starting from. I was starting from ground-zero, so I had to spend something to find out stuff.
If you live in the United States, you will discover that it is not that easy to finish a family tree without spending something. One of the biggest reasons it is harder to accomplish is that United States records are done at the local level which means that the county is in charge and at times it even goes down to the parish level. Secondarily, there is no central repository; therefore, no central records that you can check details unless you are willing to part with some of your hard earned money. You probably can't afford to go to every location to physically check the records so you will have to rely on the local records office to provide you with copies. Copies cost money, and you're off and running up the family tree bill.
With that said, when researching your family tree, you need to prioritize. You know it's going to cost you something, but realize that the largest expenditure generally comes from purchasing certificates related to your family. Record holders and government agencies can charge anywhere from $15 to $30 per certificate depending on type and location of purchase. Pricing is taken care of at the state and county level so it is varied and subject to change at any time.
Generally, marriage, birth and death certificates in the United States were available from the late 19th century onwards, so you are going to have to do some heavy duty research to find documents farther back. In addition it was only at this point was there any requirement imposed to store records and prior to that it was catch-as-catch can. Many folks just didn't see the need to let anybody know about births, deaths and marriages in their family, preferring if they recorded it at all, to put it in the family Bible rather than some official agency.
Privacy laws also play a part when you are trying to get copies of various documents unless you can prove that you are related to the person you are trying to track. Many times you will need to prove your link to the person in question, so before you get started you will want to talk to relatives about what you are attempting. They might have documents you can copy, reducing both costs and bureaucratic red tape.
One of the best record sources in the United States is the census and if your family is of a certain religion, the church. The census is pretty comprehensive and is chocked full of useful information. The church also tends to keep very detailed records of full families if you attend the same church for years.
Let's face it. Nothing in life is free, and tracing your family roots is no exception. I will tell you there is actually quite a bit of information out there if you are willing to look, and there are many possible resolutions to the issues you might face when doing family tree research in the U.S. There are many sources of free info, but you will have to spend more time gathering the information. Sometimes, paying for a bit of documentation will make your life much easier.
One place that has a wealth of knowledge is The Church of the Latter Day Saints (LDS) – They house an extensive set of records relating to most countries, and more specifically to the United States that they have gathered from various churches and parishes. Much of this material is available for free at familysearch.org. They have birth, marriage and death records as well copies of the censuses for FREE! The amount of information outweighs the few drawbacks which are that things haven't been fully transcribed yet. but as a good place to start, LDS is wonderful.
Cindy's List – cyndislist.com/ – A huge resource of information, broken down by state and counties, with literally thousands of links. The only issue with this site is that it can be somewhat difficult to navigate. You can spend hours trying to find anything!!! However, if you don't have gobs of money to spend, you will need to give up your time in research and sometimes frustration.
Please do a search for these in google:
Rootsweb – World Connect Project – Put in your ancestors name and hit the search button, and it will check millions of existing records and return the results.
HeritageQuest Online – Usually this site is only available via subscription, but your local library may have access for free. It includes census bureau results as well as vital statistics.
Interment.net – Free Cemetery Records Online – Over two million records are stored here taken from literally thousands of cemeteries around the world.
US Genweb – The original and largest storehouse for United States genealogy.
Ancestry.com – This website offers a free 14-day trial of their service.
USGenWeb Archives – Search engine that will go through every United States record without visiting each state's website. Very timesaving, this is a very well-hidden service that is, as a result, under used by most people
US Social Security Death Index – Easy to use database has 64 million records of deaths that occurred after 1962. Searches return birth date, death date, residence and inheritor.
Ellis Island Records – Nearly half of all American immigrants arrived through Ellis Island, New York. There's is easy access to ships' passenger manifest records from 1892-1924. Original manifests and photos available.
Illinois State Archives – Free databases available from the Illinois State Archives, includes marriage records.
Castle Garden Online – Search by name and time period for immigrants who landed at Castle Garden between 1830 and 1890.
Geneanet – This 85 million name database is culled from free websites worldwide.
Michigan Genealogical Death Indexing System – 170,000+ Michigan death records are available from 1867 to 1897. It's a free index.
Kentucky Vital Records – The Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics in conjunction with the University of Kentucky have transcribed three million state vital records for Kentucky.
Utah Census Search is a free search tool for the Utah Federal census – 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880.
GenCircles – Global Tree is a well-liked web location for searching and submitting family trees using GEDCOM files. Over 32 million surnames can be searched with cross matching to other trees possible.
Obituary Central – If you need death records for the United States or Canada, then the search tools at OC will make it a breeze.
Pennsylvania Digital Archives – The Pennsylvania Archives Records Information Access System houses over 600,000 digitized records.
Maryland State Archives – Free Genealogy Indexes – Maryland State Archives site has lots of great info on it.
Oregon Historical Records Index: This is a free index of surnames compiled from a first-rate list of documents held by the Oregon State Archives.
There are also loads of forums geared towards assisting in your search to find your ancestors such as Discover like minded folks who are willing to aid you in your search with tips, techniques and advise.


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Welcome to Vermont IV Therapy Directory! Each local Vermont IV Therapy Clinic featured on our directory provides Intravenous Nutrient Therapy (IV Therapy) in the State of Vermont including: Burlington, South Burlington, Colchester, Rutland, Essex Junction, Bennington, Barre and many more.
Whether you're struggling with a chronic illness or need health and immunity boosts, IV Therapy can help! Vermont IV Therapy Doctors and Vermont IV Nutrient Therapy Clinics offer the very best in IV Vitamin Therapy, High-dose Vitamin C IV Drip, Myers Cocktail, Vitamin Injections, Vitamin Boosters, traditional IV Therapy, and many more options.
Vermont IV Nutrient Therapy Specialists use a variety of vitamins and minerals in every IV drip including: Vitamin A, Vitamin B Complex, Vitamin C, Glutathione, Magnesium, Calcium, Alpha Lipoic Acid, Amino Acids, Electrolytes, Arginine, and Zinc. Each IV Therapy Program is customized and designed specifically for you and your wellness needs!
Each type of IV Drip provides different benefits so talk to several Vermont IV Therapy Experts to find the Intravenous Nutrient Therapy Program that is right for you and your health goals!
Vermont IV Therapy Practitioners listed on our Vermont IV Therapy Directory offer various IV Drips and pricing options, so be sure to call each IV Infusion Therapy Clinic in Vermont to find which provider is right for you.

subset: commoncrawl


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Virtual office services in California encompass a variety of on demand administrative, communication, and business development services that are designed to help you run and grow your business.
Virtual office services bring big-business infrastructure to all businesses, regardless of size. With on-demand office services you don't have to worry about hiring additional employees, because we make utilizing their expertise easy and straightforward.
The on-boarding process is easy, too. We get to know you, your business, and your clients so that you receive top-notch assistance that makes your life easier, not harder. That's because we see ourselves as an indispensable extension of your team, whenever you need us.
Simply put, Intelligent Office's virtual office services and solutions are an indispensable resource for the modern business owner.


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Just a day after Washington became the latest state to allow gay couples to marry, the U.S. Supreme Court will take a serious look at same-sex marriage for the first time ever. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to take its first serious look at the issue of gay marriage, granting review of California's ban on same-sex marriage and of a federal law that defines marriage as only the legal union of a man and a woman.
At the very least, the court will look at this question: When states choose to permit the marriages of same-sex couples, can the federal government refuse to recognize their validity? But by also taking up the California case, the court could get to the more fundamental question of whether the states must permit marriages by gay people in the first place.
The California case involves a challenge to Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment approved by 52 percent of voters in 2008. It banned same-sex marriages in the state and went into effect after 18,000 couples were legally married earlier that year.
A federal judge declared the ban unconstitutional, and a federal appeals court upheld that ruling, though on narrower grounds that apply only to California. Now that the Supreme Court is wading into the battle, the justices could decide the more basic issue of whether any state can ban same-sex marriage under the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection of the law. Or they could limit their ruling to apply only to the ban in California.
Recommended: O'Malley touts same-sex marriage - with signing photo and 'contribute' button
Nine states and the District of Columbia have moved to permit same-sex marriage or soon will — Connecticut, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Washington.
Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images file
Same-sex marriage proponent Kat McGuckin of Oaklyn, New Jersey, holds a gay marriage pride flag while standing in front of the Supreme Court Nov. 30, 2012 in Washington, DC.
The Supreme Court also agreed Friday to hear a challenge to the federal Defense of Marriage Act, known as DOMA, passed by overwhelming margins in both houses of Congress in 1996 and signed by President Clinton. A provision of the law specifies that, for federal purposes, "the word 'marriage' means only a legal union between one man and one woman as husband and wife."
Congress acted out of concern that a 1993 state court decision in Hawaii, which held that the state could not deny marriage licenses to same sex couples, might force other states to recognize gay marriage. As it turned out, Hawaii did not adopt same-sex marriage.
Because of DOMA, gay couples who wed in the nine states where same-sex marriage is permitted are considered legally married only under state law. The federal government is barred from recognizing their marriages. As a result, they are denied over 1,000 federal benefits that are available to traditional couples.
After first supporting DOMA in court, the Obama administration concluded last year that it violated the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection under the law.
"We cannot defend the federal government poking its nose into what states are doing and putting the thumb on the scale against same-sex couples," President Obama said in explaining the change.
Recommended: In lame duck session, positioning begins for immigration debate in 2013
Gay married couples in five states filed lawsuits challenging DOMA as an unconstitutional denial of their right to equal protection. After the Obama Justice Department declined to defend the law, House Republicans stepped in to carry on the legal fight.
NBC's Pete Williams reports on the Supreme Court's decision to take up two cases dealing with DOMA and California's Prop 8.
Defenders of DOMA argue that the law helps preserve traditional marriage.
"Unions of two men or two women are not the same thing as a marriage between a man and a woman. And only marriage between a man and a woman can connect children to their mother and father and their parents to the children," says Brian Brown of the National Organization for Marriage.
A Supreme Court decision striking down the Defense of Marriage Act would not, by itself, require states to allow same-sex marriages. But the federal government would be required to recognize those marriages in the states where they are legal.
The cases will be argued before the justices in March, with a decision expected by late June.


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Item: em11
Description: Cond.
A+, Original Lithograph,
issued by L'Estampe
Issue Number 3, July 1897.
Printed by F. Champenois, Paris.
Blindstamp lower right in margin.
Signed in the stone lower right.
Presented in 16 x 20 in. acid free, archival museum mat,
with framing labels. Ready to frame. Shipped boxed flat.
Certificate of Authenticity.
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of Sale


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Undaunted (TCG)(Redirected from Reviving Legends (TCG))
HS — Undaunted (Japanese: よみがえる伝説 Reviving Legends) is the name given to the third main expansion of cards from the English HeartGold & SoulSilver Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. The Japanese release is the second of the LEGEND era.
The greatest Trainers are those who are fearless in the face of battle. And that's you! In the Pokémon TCG: HS—Undaunted expansion, you'll discover battle-ready Pokémon just waiting to be summoned by the fearless Trainer in you! The powerful Rayquaza and Deoxys become a Pokémon LEGEND to be reckoned with...six Pokémon—from Raichu to Umbreon to Slowking—join the ranks of Pokémon Prime...and Stadium cards like the Ruins of Alph and Trainer cards like Legend Box change every player's strategy. Are you ready to be Undaunted?
Undaunted is the third expansion of cards in the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series of the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It features Darkness and Metal-type Pokémon and was released in English on August 18, 2010. The Japanese equivalent release, Reviving Legends, was released earlier in the year, on February 11, 2010, and is the second LEGEND Era expansion. Released the same day in Japan were the Tyranitar and Steelix Constructed Standard Decks. The expansion and two decks together introduce Darkness and Metal Pokémon to the Japanese LEGEND Era, in addition to featuring the Legendary beasts as brand new, dual-type Pokémon LEGEND cards. All releases continue featuring artwork from around the Johto region, and release the first Stadium cards of the HeartGold & SoulSilver Series and LEGEND Era.
The English release of this expansion is primarily made up of most of the Reviving Legends expansion and the Japanese Tyranitar and Steelix Constructed Standard Decks, as well as the four remaining cards from the Battle Starter Decks and the Leafeon vs Metagross Expert Deck, and six L-P Promotional cards. Due to the Japanese set's Pokémon LEGEND being released one English expansion earlier in Unleashed, Undaunted pulls Kyogre & Groudon LEGEND and Rayquaza & Deoxys LEGEND forward from the next Japanese expansion, Clash at the Summit. Thus, these four LEGEND pieces were released in English only one month after their Japanese release.
Reviving Legends contains 4 Pokémon Prime cards—Kingdra, Lanturn, Tyranitar, and Steelix—all of which were not released in Undaunted and were released one set earlier in Unleashed instead, alongside the six Reviving Legends LEGEND pieces (Entei & Raikou LEGEND, Suicune & Entei LEGEND, and Raikou & Suicune LEGEND). The English release, instead, takes the two Pokémon Prime from the Tyranitar and Steelix Constructed Standard Decks, and four Promotional Pokémon Prime to release the standard amount of six Pokémon Prime per release. These Pokémon are Espeon, Houndoom, Raichu, Scizor, Slowking, Umbreon.
Undaunted also features the Eevee evolutionary family. Espeon and Umbreon are the spotlighted Pokémon for this expansion's two Theme Decks: Daybreak and Nightfall. Both of these two Eeveelutions also appear as Pokémon Prime, and were the Pokémon featured on this expansion's Prerelease sleeves. However, Glaceon does not receive a card, due to the Leafeon and one of the Eevee originated from the Leafeon vs Metagross Expert Deck. The other five evolutions originated from the Reviving Legends expansion, which did not feature Leafeon or Glaceon, due to the fact that they cannot be obtained in Pokémon HeartGold and SoulSilver without trading them from Pokémon Diamond and Pearl or Pokémon Platinum. Thus, all Eeveelutions but Glaceon were in the English release.
The Prerelease promo for this set is Leafeon. Officially, the English release of the set contains 90 cards. Between alternate Holofoils, promotional stamps, Reverse Holofoils, and Secret cards, the set contains 183 cards. A list of the non standard cards can be seen below.
Set lists
In other languages
|This article is part of Project TCG, a Bulbapedia project that aims to report on every aspect of the Pokémon Trading Card Game.
| Pokémon Trading Card Game expansions and releases
Bold indicates a main expansion. Italics indicate a special set. Releases that are entirely composed of prints from other releases are small.


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MONTREAL – Rory MacDonald (13-1 MMA, 4-1 UFC) again made it clear that he has no intention of vying for the welterweight title as long as his teammate Georges St-Pierre is champ.
But he has a keen interest in the man St-Pierre is scheduled to fight tonight – interim champ Carlos Condit, who beat him in his second UFC fight.
"I'm fighting B.J. Penn, and I plan on beating him," MacDonald said Friday. "We'll see how the fight with Georges and Carlos goes. Either way, I plan on hopefully getting my rematch with Carlos in 2013."
St-Pierre and Condit headline UFC 154, which takes place tonight at Montreal's Bell Centre.
MacDonald and Condit first squared off at UFC 115 in Vancouver, not far from MacDonald's adopted hometown of Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.
MacDonald said the energy of the almost-hometown crowd "shocked" him into fighting with too much emotion, and by the third round, he was running on fumes. That's when Condit turned up the pace and won a TKO with just seven seconds remaining in the fight.
It was the hardest fight to date for MacDonald, who admitted Condit "beat the s— out of me."
Condit then won bouts against Dan Hardy, Dong Hyun Kim and Nick Diaz to secure the interim title and a shot at St-Pierre, who's the most notable member of the Tristar Gym in Montreal where he and MacDonald train.
MacDonald said he'd be open to coaching "The Ultimate Fighter" opposite Condit. For now, though, his attention is on his fight with Penn, which takes place Dec. 8 at UFC on FOX 5 in Seattle and serves as the event's co-main draw.
For more on UFC on FOX 5, stay tuned to the UFC Rumors section of the site.


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We are grateful for the support of our loyal customers who continue to spread the word about us. At Beau-coup our goal is to offer an unmatched selection of unique party favors and gifts while providing a pleasant shopping experience through outstanding customer service. If we can help make event planning a little less stressful, we've done our jobs. Please read what some of our customers are saying about us!
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CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Rickie Fowler is finally a winner on the PGA Tour.
Fowler, a Murrieta Valley High graduate who was billed as one of the rising American stars, delivered a clutch shot on the 18th hole in a playoff for a 4-foot birdie to beat U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and D.A. Points on Sunday in the Wells Fargo Championship.
The 23-year-old Fowler won in his 67th PGA Tour start as a pro. He already has become one of the most popular players, especially with the kids. Dressed in his Sunday orange, he closed with a 3-under 69 and got into a playoff when Points made his first bogey of the final round on the last hole.
The only other win as a pro for Fowler was last year in South Korea, when he beat McIlroy.


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In-Q-Tel, the CIA's venture fund company, has made its second investment in cloud computing in as many months, having recently entered into an agreement with Huddle to develop a secure version of its content collaboration platform for U.S. intelligence agencies, Information Week reports.
Last month, In-Q-Tel signed an agreement with Adaptive Computing to develop a cloud operating system. The agency company is also working with cloud storage specialist Cleversafe.
Huddle, which promotes itself as an alternative to Microsoft's SharePoint collaboration technology, is developing a version of its cloud-based platform that complies with the Federal Information Security Management Act. The Homeland Security Department and the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency are preparing to implement the technology, according to the tech publication.
Huddle's software enables file sharing and project collaboration. It also supports access from a variety of mobile devices and provides administrative controls such as version control and auditing. The platform is used by government agencies in Belgium, Italy, Spain, Greenland, Finland and the United Kingdom.
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Making interlocking structures with 3D printing, which could eventually have the smoothness of textiles, was the brain child from Jiri Evenhuis, at FOC 2000. Making simple flat pieces was technically relative easy already back then. However, automating bullet proof software for applying these structures on any double curved surfaces and then being able to also 3D print them, is a bit of a different story. Here are some development pictures of functional coding for complex surfaces.
Development partners in this project are:
 Within and London College of Fashion.
Image courtesy Within


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By Harlan Ullman
Language is a quite remarkable reflection of society and its attitudes. After the Vietnam War and a succession of operational and procurement failures, "the Pentagon" became a term of derision and a public symbol of incompetence. Today, the opposite is true. The Pentagon is seen as representing the most highly regarded sector of American society—the military— though perhaps the perception has swung too far in that direction in lavishing praise especially when the Department must contend with huge and painful budget cuts likely to damage its image.
"Gay" is no longer an adjective. In earlier generations, a "gay, old time" was part of the popular lexicon, meaning happy or fun. The "gay" '90's of more than a century ago certainly would not qualify for the "gay" 90's of today. It is unclear why or how this change transpired. Yet, it is reflective of the changing attitudes towards sexuality in America.
But more diabolical is the effect of negative political ads on the public and its lexicon. Negative advertising is about turning an opponent's strengths into political weaknesses and disadvantages. During the Vietnam War, the U. S. Navy operated "Swift" boats in and around the rivers and coasts. In the many dangerous interiors of South Vietnam, heroism and courage were rules and not exceptions. And for those of us who served in these fifty foot aluminum hulled boats, being a "Swiftie" was a term of pride and honorable service.
In 2004, Senator John Kerry's run for the presidency was blackened by a vile series of false attack ads impugning his courage and integrity. Despite non-combat service in the Air National Guard, George W. Bush and his team successfully attacked what should have been one of Kerry's strengths—his war record and multiple Purple Hearts for combat wounds. This obscenity was called "Swift-boating."
In 1960, even the hint of Swift-boating was off limits. Senator John Kennedy campaigned in part on his heroic skippering PT-109 during World War II even though his boat was cut in half by a Japanese destroyer in the middle of night—either an accident or commentary on the vigilance of his crew. Four years later, Lyndon Johnson ran touting his Silver Star, the nation's third highest award for valor in combat. Everyone in town knew that the citation grossly exaggerated the facts. Yet, neither Richard Nixon, himself a Navy veteran of the war or Barry Goldwater, a retired Air Force brigadier general in the reserve would have thought of attacking Kennedy or Johnson on those grounds even if there were truth and merit.
The name Wall Street has fallen casualty and become toxic due both to spectacular failure and political opportunism. For decades and despite the Great Depression, Wall Street was once a term of awe, the engine for powering much of America's businesses and more often than not with admiration. Many of the nation's best and brightest flocked to Wall Street and the banking sector. They still might flock. But, at a cost and amidst public opprobrium.
Today, scandals over once highly respected institutions beginning with the Enron mess in 2000 and the financial crisis of 2008 with the fall of the great house of Lehman, Bear-Sterns and many others, the name Wall Street has become an epithet, amplified by charges and public perceptions of the excesses of greed and illegality as well as precipitating a near economic collapse.
Wall Street, of course, is front and center in the presidential campaign manifested in Bain Capital, the successful private equity fund that made Mitt Romney a very wealthy man. Bain was about earning money for its investors and itself. Romney claimed that Bain created jobs and based on that experience he was fitter to be president than Barrack Obama.
The Obama team fell on Bain and has tried to turn Romney's success into electoral weakness. That this is politics is fair game. But the debate will likely distort the role of private equity and turn that phrase into another symbol of corruption and greed.
Last, Facebook is an interesting case. That it could turn a perfectly good noun, friend, into a verb, to friend, is modestly amusing. What is less humorous is if Facebook's badly botched IPO and the $100 billion valuation turn out to be precursors of a bubble that bursts. Will this cause a change in our vocabulary of "friending" just as Watergate will never be known as an apartment and hotel complex in Washington, D.C.?
Changes in the meaning of names are neither good nor bad. But one observation is clear. The more politics turns an opponent's strengths into weaknesses, this creeping contagion will infect broader chunks of society. If what's in a word is shorthand for where our society is headed, America is on a troubling course. One hopes Messer Obama and Romney are listening.
Harlan Ullman is Chairman of the Killowen Group that advises leaders of government and business; Senior Advisor at Washington DC's Atlantic Council.


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"It's a curiosity and often quite a show; Many here consider standing back; From the Melter, the Melter, Yellow, warming swelter; Melter, swelter in our town."
– "Melter Swelter" from Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever
Here comes the sun … or rather a yellow creature from the sun named Gustafer. I always welcome sunshine in any form. The new CD/DVD combo we recently received called Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever brings plenty of musical sunshine into our home with sunny songs that bring smiles to my children's faces (and mine, too).
Who is Gustafer Yellowgold? Apparently he arrived from the sun via a Sunpod, and landed in the state of Minnesota. He enjoys living in the cooler environment and making new, interesting earth friends like Forrest Applecrumbie, a Pterodactyl. He also loves eating pinecones and playing with his pets: an eel named Slim and a dragon named Asparagus.
Musician/illustrator Morgan Taylor created Gustafer and tells his story through animated illustrations that accompany highly imaginative, original songs. Gustafer has been around since 2005, and I've been scratching my non-cone shaped head trying to figure out why I hadn't heard of Taylor's series until now! Mellow Fever is the third set of musical stories in the award winning children's music series, the first two releases titled Wide Wild World and Have You Never Been Yellow?
Warning – Highly Addictive Music loved by both kids and parents! The mellow tunes of Gustafer Yellowgold's Mellow Fever mesmerize both my preschooler and my one-year-old. The DVD is a fun, animated picture book put to music where Gustafer Yellowgold's escapades take center stage. The lyrics appear near the bottom of the pictures read like text in a book. We love the CD as well, as ours gets plenty of air time in the car.
I'd have to say our very favorite song hands-down is the swingy "Melter Swelter." Snow doesn't last long around Gustafer; he melts it right up. Making snow angels and snowmen doesn't exactly go so well. But, he uses his ability in generous ways, like helping free a turtle from the ice. In "Butter Pond Lake" Gustafer shares his memories of days on the sun, wading in a lake full of butter surrounded by darkening bugs. My daughter sings a beautiful rendition of the groovy "Getting in a Treetop" complete with her own made-up tree blowing arm movements. "Quite Easily Lost" featuring Sisson the blue worm and "Panther Stamp Pants" round out our favorites.
I'll admit Gustafer is rather unusual, but he is also quite heartwarming and also very amusing. If you take the time to watch and listen to the songs, you'll discover that Morgan Taylor is a creative genius delivering messages in a Dr. Seussian sort of way. The music itself reminds me of the catchy, singable oldies (think Beatles) combined with soft rock, music that I listened to as a child while riding in the car with my parents. Morgan cites the bands Bread and America as influences; add WILCO to the list as well.
After visiting the Gustafer Yellowgold upcoming shows, I happily learned that a performance will be coming to our area in May. Yay! Our family definitely plans to see this live.
Related links/activities/printables:
Downloadable coloring pages and paper puzzles
Win a copy! Gustafer Yellowgold has kindly offered to giveaway one Mellow Fever DVD/CD to a Brimful Curiosities reader.
To enter, browse the Gustafer Yellowgold website and leave a comment telling me which song is your favorite.
• For contact purposes, if you are a non-blogger or your email is not accessible in your blog profile, please leave a valid email address within the comment section.Three ways to gain extra entries (Maximum total entries is 4):
• Contest is open to US only
• Contest ends on Monday, April 27th, 2009 at 11:59 PM CST.
• Winner will be chosen at random
1st extra entry: Follow Me! or subscribe by email or RSS reader
2nd extra entry: Blog about this contest then post your link in the comment section.
3rd extra entry: Follow me on twitter (iambrimful) and tweet about the contest.


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Fujifilm Corporation has announced the launch of the latest development in its highly successful series of Uvistar super-wide format printers. Named the 'Uvistar Pro8', this latest platform is particularly suited to producing super-wide format print for both display POP and outdoor advertising markets on flexible and rigid media, and can be seen in action on Fujifilm's stand in Hall 8b.
One of the major advancements of the Uvistar Pro8 platform is the inclusion of a complete set of light colours within the ink set which increase print quality without compromising on print speed. Together with its unique Parallel Drop Size (PDS) technology, this allows the Uvistar Pro8 to produce high definition Display POP graphics at speeds in excess of 300m2/hour.
Other improvements to the design include an auto media handling system for rigid media; a fully automated backlit printing option; the ability to switch between 4 and 8 colour printing modes, and an intuitive new operator interface.
The existing Uvistar is ideal for outdoor applications where the vibrancy of the inks and the versatility of the associated materials, including polyethylene, work extremely well together. The new Uvistar Pro8 has been developed in combination with Fujifilm's brand new Uvijet QN inks, to meet the growing demands of indoor applications, where viewing distances tend to be closer and rigid materials are more commonly used.
"We are delighted to be able to introduce the Uvistar Pro8 at drupa," comments Tudor Morgan, group marketing manager, wide format at Fujifilm. "Since launching the Uvistar, it has been incredibly successful in a short space of time. Now we want to broaden the reach of the machine to indoor as well as outdoor applications. The Uvistar Pro8 certainly does this."
The new platform will be commercially available from August 2012.


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Washington DC's Premier String Quartet for Fine Events
Sage String Quartet- a classical music ensemble based in Washington, DC- creates extraordinary music for discriminating private and corporate clients. Under the direction of violinist/violist Kyung LeBlanc, Sage has become a celebrated and sought-after musical ensemble. Sage provides highly customized musical event entertainment and reflects the personality and essence of each client, whether it's for a once- in- a- lifetime wedding, annual celebrations, or private house concerts.
Listen and Watch over 80 Sound and Video clips
Kyung LeBlanc
Kyung LeBlanc is a native of Korea. She maintains an active career as a chamber and orchestra musician in Washington, DC area. As an orchestra musician, she plays with Wolf Trap Opera Orchestra and with Washington National Opera Orchestra as a guest musician. Her freelance work has included performances with Gloria Gaynor, Il Divo, Diana Krall, Smokey Robinson, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, The Irish Tenors, Johnny Mathis, Anne Murray, Josh Groban, among others. She has played as solo violin/viola in numerous musicals including Mean Girls, Motown, Pippin, The Book of Mormon, If/Then, Les Miserables, The King and I, Fiddler On the Roof. Ms.LeBlanc received a Bachelor of Music degree at the University of Michigan and pursued further studies at Aspen Music Festival and School and at the Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music.
"I can't speak highly enough of their performance!"− Tim
"My experience with Sage String Quartet was nothing short of outstanding."− Beth
"beyond satisfied"− Daniela
"The musicians were punctual, dressed perfectly, and played flawlessly."− Sarah
"wonderful to work with"− Lindsay
"they looked and sounded absolutely first-class"− Jessica
"My favorite vendor to work with"− Day
Regino MadridViolin
Regino is an active soloist, concertmaster, and chamber musician throughout the Washington DC area — Regino is currently the Assistant Concertmaster of "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra and regularly plays at the White House. He also currently serves as the concertmaster of the McLean Orchestra, and he occasionally plays as concertmaster for the Chesapeake Orchestra at St. Mary's River Concert Series and the Alexandria Symphony. Regino received his Bachelor of Music degree in violin performance from the Cleveland Institute of Music and regularly plays with the National Symphony Orchestra, the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra, and the Smithsonian Chamber Orchestra. He has also participated in numerous music festivals such as Santa Barbara's Music Academy of the West, Holland Music Sessions, Musicorda, Idyllwilde (CA), and "Soundfest" (Cape Cod) with the Colorado Quartet.
Hrant ParsamianCello
Hrant Parsamian is a prize winner in international competitions including the Houston Symphony Ima Hogg Competition, the Montgomery Symphony Fellowship, the Olga Koussevitzky Competition, and the HAMS Cello Competition in Chicago, Illinois. He has appeared as soloist with Houston Symphony under Maestro Hans Graf and Maestro Carlos Prieto, performing the Haydn D Major Cello concerto, Haydn C Major with Symphony in C and Virtuosi de Gravata in Brasil and Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations with the Lyric Theater in Hoboken, New Jersey. Born in Bulgaria, Hrant Parsamian started the cello under the guidance of his mother. His first recital was at the age of six. Two years later he gave his debut as a soloist performing J.C. Bach's Cello Concerto. In Bulgaria he also studied with international performer and educator Univ.-Prof. Anatoly Krastev. Hrant Parsamian holds bachelor degree from The Univeritaet fuer Music und Darstellende Kunst in Wien, where he studied with Univ.-Prof. Angelika May and chamber music with Univ.-Prof. Johannes Meissl . Hrant received full scholartships at The Juilliard School (Bachelor of Music), and Yale School of Music (Masters of Music) where he was under the tutelage of renowned cellist Aldo Parisot and the Tokyo String Quartet. In 2010 Hrant Parsamian won a position with the United States Army Band where he co-found the Cello Workshop and performed as soloist on numerous occasion.
Armine GrahamViolin
a native of Armenia, Armine is a prize winner of the Izabel Violin, Tuesday Musical, and the Maia Chamber Music competitions. Having recently earned Doctor of Musical Arts in Violin from the Catholic University of America, she holds a master's degree from the University of Iowa, and bachelor's from Komitas State Conservatory in Yerevan. Throughout her career, Armine has worked with world renowned artists such as Gidon Kremer, Christoph Eschenbach, Nigel Kennedy, and Kurt Masur. Her solo and chamber performances have brought her around the world including Spain, France, Germany, the Czech Republic, Russia, and Canada. She has participated in Castleton Festival, Das Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival, and Kent/Blossom Music Festival where she received the Josef Gingold Award for her distinguished performance in chamber music. Armine plays with the National Symphony Orchestra as a guest musician and is a member of the National Philharmonic.
Carrie Bean StuteCello
Cellist Carrie's musical endeavors cover the span of solo, chamber, and orchestral playing. She is a newest member of The President's Own, Marine Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, Carrie has performed as soloist with the Florida Orchestra and the Apollo's Fire Baroque Orchestra of Cleveland. She appeared at the Norfolk and Sarasota chamber music festivals, and performs throughout New York City in such notable venues as Carnegie's Zankel Hall, the 92nd St. Y, and Le Poisson Rouge. Carrie was a fellow at the New World Symphony from 2009-11, and was recipient of orchestral fellowships at the Tanglewood Music Center and the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme in Aldeburgh, England. She recently joined the string faculty at the Capitol Hill Arts Workshop and serves as a faculty member with the DC Youth Orchestra Program. She has also taught at Queens College and the Harlem Opus 118 School in New York, and for the National Youth Orchestra of Honduras as a part of an arts teaching initiative sponsored by the U.S. Embassy. Carrie holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and Indiana University, and is currently pursuing doctoral studies through a fellowship at the City University of New York's Graduate Center. Her primary teachers include Steven Doane and Janos Starker.
Nancy JinViolin
A native of Fairfax, VA, Violinist Nancy has a busy musical career as an orchestral player, chamber musician and teacher in the Metropolitan DC area. Ms. Jin currently performs with the Fairfax and Alexandria Symphonies, Virginia Chamber Orchestra, Amadeus Orchestra, National Philharmonic, and frequently performs at the Kennedy Center. She was formally a member of the Hartford Symphony Orchestra (CT) and has also played with the National Symphony Orchestra and Richmond Symphony. As a soloist, Nancy performed The Four Seasons by Vivaldi with the Winchester Orchestra. Nancy is a founding member of Virginia Virtuosi and also a member of the Sage String Quartet. As a dedicated pedagogue, Ms. Jin is a certified Suzuki teacher and teaches a thriving studio of violin students in Ashburn, VA. Nancy holds degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music and Yale University School of Music. She has spent her summers at Chautauqua Music Festival, ENCORE School for Strings, Kent/Blossom Music Festival, National Repertory Orchestra, National Orchestral Institute and Spoleto Music Festival in South Carolina. Her teachers have included Vernon Summers, Linda Cerone, Syoko Aki as well as members of the Tokyo String Quartet and Miami String Quartet.
Audrey WrightViolin
a native of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Audrey picked up her first violin at the age of three and a half. She has traveled across the globe performing in an array of solo, chamber music, and orchestral settings. Prior to joining Excelsa Quartet in 2014, Audrey spent the 2013-14 season as a Violin Fellow at the New World Symphony (NWS) led by Michael Tilson Thomas. Audrey has performed with the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and Discovery Ensemble in Boston, MA, as guest artist of Borromeo String Quartet and the Boston Trio, and collaborated with pianist Christopher O'Riley on the national radio program From the Top. Recent summer festival appearances include the Verbier Festival, Kneisel Hall School of Music, and the McGill International String Quartet Academy. Audrey is currently earning a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Maryland in College Park, MD, studying with David Salness. She completed her undergraduate studies with Lucy Chapman at the New England Conservatory, earning the prestigious NEC Chadwick Medal in 2011, and received a Master of Music from NEC in 2013. During her time there, she discovered a love of painting in watercolor which has spurred a determination to combine her love of music with her other interests in visual art, dance, and the culinary arts. Audrey plays on a violin bow made in 2000 by Paul Siefried generously on loan from The Maestro Foundation.
Maggie HummelCello
a native of South Pasadena, CA, recently made her debut with the Crown City Chamber Orchestra of Los Angeles, playing Haydn Cello Concerto. Maggie began her cello studies at the age of seven with Nancy Yamagata at The Colburn School. She earned Bachelor of Arts from Northwestern University, where she served as the principal cellist of the Northwestern University Chamber Orchestra. Upon graduation, Maggie played with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, performing under such conductors as Bernard Haitink, Esa Pekka Salonen, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya. She was a member of "Musicorp," the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's music education and advocacy program. Maggie holds Master of Music from the Peabody Conservatory, where she studied under the tutelage of Alan Stepansky. Currently Maggie plays with the National Symphony Orchestra and maintains a large private teaching studio.
Beth DunkelViola
earned her Bachelor and Master's Degrees in Performance from The Juilliard School where she studied with and served as teaching assistant to Heidi Castleman and Misha Amory. She is currently one of the principal violists of the Army Band, "Pershing's Own" Orchestra where she also performs stroll music, chamber music and is a founding member of the Contemporary Ensemble. She has been featured soloist with the Army Orchestra as well as with the Northwestern Symphony Orchestra and the Lyric Theater Orchestra in New Jersey. Beth regularly plays with the National Symphony Orchestra, The Washington Opera Orchestra and the Eclipse Chamber Orchestra.
Matthew MaffettViolin/Viola
holds degrees from Bowling Green State University (OH), the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and the Colburn School in Los Angeles, CA. A native of Indianapolis, IN, Matthew recently joined the United States Air Force String Orchestra as a section violist. As a student, he was a prize winner in a number of reputable competitions including the CVS Solo Viola Competition, Michael Ben and Illene Kamisarow Young Artist Competition, BGSU and IU Concerto Competitions, Colorado College Summer Concerto Competition, and in the spring of 2010 was a chosen competitor in the Lionel Tertis International Viola Competition on the Isle of Man, UK, which have led to subsequent solo appearances with the Colorado College Festival Orchestra, IU Chamber Orchestra, Il Camerata di Vocci, and the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. Also an avid chamber musician, he has appeared at the Norfolk (Yale), Manchester, Bern Konservatorium festivals as well as being a founding member of the Heiffler Piano Quartet and Syrinx Trio. Matthew's principal teachers include Csaba Erdelyi, Atar Arad, Mimi Zweig, and Paul Coletti.
Sarah HartViola
a native of St. Louis, Missouri, Sarah has been a violist with "The President's Own" U.S. Marine Chamber Orchestra since January 2009. She has performed at the White House, at the Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra, in Japan with the Pacific Music Festival, and in Europe with the Orchestra Giovanile Italiana. Sarah received her Master of Music degree in Viola from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Musical Arts degree at the University of Maryland in College Park with Dan Foster, Principal Violist of the National Symphony Orchestra.
Sean NeidlingerCello
a native of Alexandria, Virginia, Sean maintains an active career as a recitalist, chamber musician, and teacher. After receiving a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music under the tutelage of Richard Aaron, he then pursued further studies at New England Conservatory, where he studied with Paul Katz and performed as the cellist of the Honors String Trio. Sean has received top prizes at several orchestra concerto competitions, including Fairfax, Arlington, and Alexandria, and has performed repeatedly as a soloist with the Washington Metropolitan Philharmonic and the Friday Morning Music Club orchestras. He has performed as a chamber musician and recitalist throughout the United States and Europe, and has participated in festivals including the Soesterberg International and Taos Music Festivals. Sean performs frequently in the Washington, DC area, where he has been featured as a soloist and chamber musician at the Korean, German, French, and Austrian embassies, and the Kennedy Center Millenium Stage and Terrace Theatre. He maintains a large teaching studio, and his students have routinely been selected as members and principals for area orchestras, including district and county orchestras and the American Youth Philharmonic.
Saskia FlorenceViolin
a native of New York, Saskia began her violin studies at the age of four. Saskia received her Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from the University of Michigan where she studied with Stephen Shipps and her Masters of Music from Carnegie Mellon University under the tutelage of Cyrus Forough. She has participated in festivals such as the National Repertory Orchestra, L'Academie Internationale de Musique de Montpelier, Chautauqua School of Music amongst others. She currently maintains an active performance life as well as holding a position at the Library of Congress in the U.S. Copyright Office. Saskia plays with the Alexandria and Fairfax Symphonies, Concert Artists of Baltimore, Washington Concert Opera and others in the metro DC area. In her spare time, she is an avid runner and horseback rider.
Luke WedgeViolin
a native of Kansas, Luke is an active chamber musician and frequently requested concertmaster in the Washington, DC area. He is a founding member of the West Garden Trio, the resident piano trio at the National Gallery of Art. He was a participant in the prestigious Julliard Quartet seminar, and has given master classes at the Eastern Music Festival and Gettysburg College. An experienced orchestral musician, he has performed with the National Symphony, Ravinia Festival Orchestra, and the Chicago Philharmic Orchestra, among many others, and has shared the stage with such greats as Ray Charles, Jay-Z, Josh Groban, Mary J. Blige, and the Judds. Since 2003, he has been a member of the United States Air Force Strings, and has given performances at the White House, Vice President's Residence, State Department, the Grand Ole Opry, and has been featured on several nationally televised programs and various recordings. Luke began violin studies at age five, and holds degrees from the University of Kansas and Northwestern University.
Tiffany RichardsonViola
Tiffany made her solo debut in St. Petersburg, Russia, at age seventeen. She has performed with the St. Louis Symphony, Richmond Symphony, Harrisburg Symphony, Wolf Trap Opera, National Philharmonic Orchestra and the Washington National Opera. Tiffany has attended prestigious festivals in Aspen and Breckenridge, Colorado, IMS Prussia Cove in the UK, and Festival Mozaic in San Luis Obispo, California. Deeply committed to promoting arts-integrated education, she was selected to participate in the 2013 Arts and Passion Driven Learning Institute at Harvard University, and is violist in the King String Quartet, a National Symphony Orchestra In-School Ensemble. Motivated to share music throughout her community, Tiffany is a co-founder of Sound Impact, and coordinator of the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation Arts Initiative. A pupil of Daniel Foster, Michael Tree, Carol Rodland and Ralph Fielding, she holds degrees from University of Maryland and the New England Conservatory of Music.


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Mitsubishi will enter the wild tube-frame, carbon-body AWD electric racecar you see here at this Year's Pikes Peak hillclimb. One electric motor drives the front wheels and two power the rear for a total output of 320 HP.
Other details remain scarce aside from Mitsubishi's insistence that this one-off, custom framed, custom bodied race car remains close to the production i-MiEv jellbean. The Evolution is fitted with a massive 35 kWh battery pack.
"Developed for the Pikes Peak event, the i-MiEV Evolution basically uses the same motor, drive battery and other major components as the production i-MiEV," states the company.
The production i-MiEv is powered by a single 66 HP electric motor driving the rear wheels and uses a 16 kWh battery. Mitsubishi actually plans to race one of those too.


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Edit: Unfortunately, the images originally included in this post are gone, because of hosting problems in late 2009. My apologies.
I remembered about an hour ago that I used to show an album or two from Jamendo every Thursday. I still get fresh music off Jamendo all the time, so I'm not sure how I fell out of the habit of reviewing it once a week.
Here's an attempt to bring the tradition back to life. And just so you don't call this a weak effort, here's a triple shot of some great, great jazz — more than six hours worth.
Be warned, this is powerful stuff — sometimes daring and experimental, but always melodic and expressive. If you like your jazz clean and neat around the edges, this might not be what you're looking for. This doesn't fall easily into one bracket or another, and some of the longer sessions move between styles, sometimes without warning. Add to that, the albums were recorded live, so there is some variation in sound levels and background noise.
But it's marvelous stuff if you like more "classic" jazz styles, or if you want your jazz without any refinements. No loops, no synthesizers, no beat machines — live jazz in a pure and unadulterated, undistilled form. This is the kind of jazz your high school music teacher really wanted you to like, before you went off in pursuit of big-hair pop music. 😉
Give it a listen; I'm confident you'll enjoy it. It's a big download — well over 600Mb total in ogg format, so if you're not on broadband … find somewhere you can use it. It's worth the time invested.