text:
By Jonna Spelbring Priester
General Manager
It's a number Vincent Ingabrand won't forget anytime soon - 165580.
The number is the designation he earned during the first of his stints in the state penitentiary. Ingabrand has been a resident of eight county jails, two penitentiaries and five institutions in nine years.
Just 23 days after leaving the penitentiary in 2006, he found himself back in jail because of a DUI.
But now, Ingabrand is trying to walk the straight and narrow.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Henry County Local, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
|ZIP Code:


text:
Usually when I've been in places that I declare to be "artificial" I am thinking of a Disney theme, or a place like Cabo San Lucas or Cancun - southern California or Florida transported to Mexico - a place which bears little resemblance to what it would be like if it weren't for the tourist dollars it was created to attract. Of course, Las Vegas is the archetype for turning a desert into a sweet water oasis, of sorts.
Dili, the capital of Timor-Leste, is an artificial place, but in a different way. The city (and much of the country) was destroyed after the rampage of pro-Indonesian militias following the 1999 independence referendum. Post-independence civil strife in the middle of the 'naughties didn't help. Today there are only a few remaining scars of that time - a few scorched buildings - and it is a fairly bustling place of a few hundred thousand inhabitants.
What exists today would not exist without the huge influx and efforts of UN peace keeping forces, NGO's and aid agencies of every stripe and nationality. Development is everywhere. There is not a school or public building without a flag or plaque commemorating the foreign entity that paid for it. Some of it was direct aid like the central post office - paid for by South Korea. More recently large commercial investment has appeared. The first shopping mall and cinema (just opened late 2012) was built by Singapore developers.
I'm sure there was a great deal of planning on the part of those responsible for the rebuilding, and I don't suggest that in a country devastated by violence it was not needed, noble, humanitarian, right, and helpful to the people and government of Timor-Leste to have done this. But it is certain that what exists here today would not have sprouted in the same form from local, organic development.
Cultural expression was virtually eliminated during the independence struggle, and is now limited to a few places where traditional woven cloth (tais), baskets and carvings are sold. Notable among them is the Alola Foundation created to raise awareness of sexual violence against women and girls as a result of the militia rampages of 1999 www.alolafoundation.org. A new "Timorese Resistance Archive and Museum" (paid for by Portugal and Macau) relates the long struggle for independence.
The consequences of this development are a little strange, though not immediately apparent in a quick visit. For the most part, tourists are rare, and what exists in Dili exists to support the international workforce. Supply of services is highly skewed toward them and their expense accounts.
When UN workers first arrived, there was no place for them to stay, and they were lodged on ships moored just offshore. Building "tourist infrastructure" is one of the areas where aid was and is applied. And though priced at international rates, it is not of high standard. In the poorest country in one of the poorest regions of the world, my room cost a whopping $850 per month (a slightly larger room with a chair, sofa and table was $400 more). Similar lodging on the Indonesian side of the island costs less than 1/3 of that. The main difference being the lack of a large foreign aid workforce.
The UN left in December of 2012. I wasn't there before they pulled out, so I can't say how different it is today. I don't know if they were humming with business when the UN was in DIli, but all of the beach side tourist restaurants were running at idle during my stat. Granted, February and March are not the peak season, but there were very few customers.
From the viewpoint of someone assigned there, even for just a brief period as I was, it was very nice to find the Chinese-owned grocery store shelves filled with imported goods - mostly from Portugal (great sardines and olives). There was a large selection of imported wines. And I did find Skippy peanut butter, both Smooth and Crunchy.
One of the things I pictured in my mind before arriving here was wonderful grilled seafood. And there was a lot of fresh fish being pulled out of the sea and for sale along the beachfront road. But it was never on ice, often in the sun, and as the day wore on, the smell of spoiling fish filled the air. I never had a really good piece of fish in Dili, and I think most of what I got was a frozen import. You could even get five varieties of imported Portuguese dried bacalau in one of the markets.
For a short jaunt from town on a weekend I could often be found riding my motorbike 10km east along the beach to "the Jesus statue" - a 27m tall copy of the one in Rio – and back. Stopping for lunch in one of the beach bodegas usually meant a pretty long wait if I ordered anything more exotic than nasi goreng (fried rice). The cook didn't keep much food on hand - it would likely go to waste for a lack of customers. She had to send out to buy anything I ordered. The chicken was a good bet to be fresh since it came back from the market still clucking.
About 70% of the population of Timor-Leste lives on less than $2.50 per day. Coincidentally, an ice cream cone at the new mall costs $2.50. The lunch special at The One More Bar is $5.00. Most lunches out cost $8-10, though the $6.50 buffet at the City Cafe was the best deal.
I have no survey data to support this statement, but I think I am safe in saying that 99.5% of the local population cannot participate in this economy. This is a symptom of big money aid. As it tries to address the desperate needs of a community it changes the landscape in unintended ways and leaves out most of those it is intended to help. It papers over things and gives a false sense (not in all ways) that progress has been made when, in fact, most people have been left behind.
It's the Law of Unintended Consequences.
Good time for a Kiva plug (www.kiva.org). The reason I was in Dili was to work with Kiva's micro-finance partner Tuba Rai Metin (tubaraimetin.com) to improve their reach to the people left behind. I suppose my time was well spent since TRM will soon be offering Kiva loans in all 13 national districts (before they were only offered in 2), and their available fundraising limit with Kiva was more than doubled. The next time you make a Kiva loan, be sure to look for borrowers in Timor-Leste.
Splitting my time as a Kiva Fellow between Timor-Leste and west Timor, Indonesia, I had two options for moving to Kupang in the west. Either a horrendous 12 hour bus ride, or a flight to Bali and a flight back to Kupang. A couple of days R&R on Bali sounded like a good plan, so I booked a hotel in Sanur, an area I hadn't stayed in before.
Bali is a different definition of artificial. Perhaps it's just over-developed. I don't know where the development dollars are from, but there were (and are) a lot of them. The whole southern end of the island is one traffic jam in streets full of foreign shops and throngs of paradise seeking vacationers and the people to support this industry. Yucch. The "real" Bali is to be found inland or along the coastline well away from over-developed Denpasar, Kuta, Legian and Sanur. But does "the real" (old) Bali still exist? Doubtful. Maybe just a shadow of it.
Whether or not it is, I don't know, but the development seems more home grown here. Even with all the tourist mod-cons and brand name shops, the building seems more in line with Balinese ideas. Bali was probably a nice hideaway at one time, but it is a perfect example of why you should keep your mouth shut when you find someplace nice.
I was really interested to see what Kupang would be like - only 175 miles (280 km) as the crow flies from Dili. There are no tourist brochures touting it as a destination. I've only been here about ten days, but I can say it is real. There's nothing in Kupang that I can interpret as put on, or existing only to serve a foreign audience. OK, there's Teddy's Bar down on the water, but it ain't much.
Kupang is a noisy, bustling place. It is the business center and capital of Nusa Tenggara Timur - the poorest province in Indonesia. The nicest hotel in town is rather unremarkable and worn. The budget places are a little scary. The only foreign restaurant chain I've found is KFC, and there are far fewer foreigners around, though almost all of those are aid workers. There are many little snack places, and the restaurants are patronized by local people and families - a very rare sight in Dili.
You can get fresh fish in the supermarket, on ice, and you can even get Skippy (smooth only). The very nice Borneo Bakery sells local products, not imitations of perceived foreign tastes. As an added bonus, the mosquitoes seem to be more plump and juicy and crackle more dramatically when hit with my zapper.
Missing from the landscape are the white Toyota Land Cruisers with UN or other logos on the doors and hood, careering around town with little regard for anyone else. A surprising absence in the traffic are taxis. They were everywhere in Dili and always honking to get attention. I've seen just a couple in Kupang, but the population of motorbikes is higher here, and the traffic worse. Taxi's must have sprouted in Dili to serve the needs of the foreigners. The normal city public transport in both places are mini-buses – mikrolets in Dili; bemos in Kupang. (The "bus, coach & minibus" section of my phrase book offers the helpful, "You're on my foot.")
So, as I dig deeper into the place over the next few weeks, I'll monitor how I feel about reality. I'll have the chance to do that while I'm working with Kiva partner Tanaoba Lais Manekat (ytlm.org). My main task will be to perform a "borrower verification" - meeting with 10 current Kiva-TLM borrowers spread from Sabu to Niki-Niki. And I'll be discussing ways TLM can take advantage of Kiva's lender base to improve their reach to the poorest of the poor.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
MS to 'backport' Office 2007 security improvements
Papering over the cracks
Microsoft plans to push security improvements made in Office 2007 down the food chain with the next major update for Office 2003.
Service Pack 3 (SP3) for Office 2003 will "backport" some (but not all) of the security improvements built into Office 2007. "We're trying to take what we learned from building Office 2007 and bring as much as we can to Office 2003," Joshua Edwards, a technical product manager for Office at Microsoft, told News.com. "We're not going to take everything, but we will take as much as we can," he added.
Redmond is yet to say when SP3 for Office 2003 will be available, much less outline what features it will have. But Edwards suggested that hardening applications and file parsers against attacks are among the improvements.
Customised attacks targeting vulnerabilities in Word and PowerPoint are on the rise, according to net security firms such as MessageLabs, so Redmond's work on making these applications less of a soft target for hackers is welcome.
Office 2003 SP2, released in September 2005, also focused on security. Sadly, it didn't do much to stem the usual tide of security bugs.
Office 2007 has proved more robust, resisted a flaw dating from February 2007 that was used to compromise Office 2003 systems, for example. Mind you, Office 2007 has only been around since January so describing it as battle-hardened would be a little premature. ®
Sponsored: Beyond the Data Frontier


text:
Search Tips: Search our Norwood Catalog, then search our Best Buys Catalog and compare your results. Don't forget to check out our SPECIALS for exceptional savings. Enter a product number or a key word to describe the product in the search boxes. Try different synonyms, i.e. 'cup' and 'mug' return different results. Also use singular instead of plural, i.e. 'shirt' not 'shirts'. For the most in savings, start with Norwood & Best Buys. If you can't find what you need then try our Industry Wide Search. (Allow just a moment as the industry-wide searches thousands of web sites.)
Searching for bags
Brown Paper Shopping Bags
as low as 45¢ ea
min qty 500
More info/order: B3901
as low as 44¢ ea
min qty 250
More info/order: 3FSW1211B
White Paper Shopping Bags
as low as 49¢ ea
min qty 500
More info/order: B3911
If you can't find what you are looking for, try our Industry Wide Search
Resource Marketing, Inc. •
61 Covert Place •
Fort Thomas, KY 41075
(Located in Greater Cincinnati)
Please read our Business Practices and Disclosures - ©1996-2018 Resource Marketing, Inc.
Visit BIC Promo Products - MrMagnet.com - hosted by rm1.net


text:
The earliest example of a true double neck guitar is from the year 1690. A guitar of that era, small by today's standards, was built by luthier Alexandre Voboam of
Harp guitars and other multi-neck instruments were not produced on a large scale until the late 19th Century. These were instruments that allowed an individual player the ability to produce a much broader sound due to the addition of bass strings or sympathetic strings.
The sympathetic strings were not strummed or plucked, but naturally made sound based on the vibrations of the fingered strings. There were few mandolin/guitar combinations produced in this era that allowed the player to change instruments during a song or saved them from having to carry two different instruments. Plus a double neck guitar looks great on stage.
One impetus that may have caused the creation of double neck guitars was the rise of interest in the steel or Hawaiian guitar.
During the late 18th Century, Spanish speaking Mexican cowboys arrived in
Hawaiians took to the instrument andmade the guitar their own by tuning it differently and often to open chords.
As the years progressed, we can turn to the early 20th Century when Hawaiian music became popular inthe United States.
During this fad, guitar companies including Martin built instruments that were meant to be played on a persons lap. Instead of fingering chords and notes these guitars were played by use of a metal bar pressed against the strings. It wasn't too long before the lap steel became electrified.
Since a lap steel player was limited to keys within the open chord which the instrument was tuned, the obvious answer was to add another neck that was tuned to a different chord. By the 1920's and 1930's folks like Alvino Rey were playing multi neck electric steel guitars with popular orchestras. Rey had Gibson Guitars build a double neck steel guitar for him and not long after he was playing three and four necksteel guitars.
During the era of World War II, much of the guitar building business was halted as manufacturers turned their attention and fabrication to building weapons and vehicles for the
By the end of the war, Leo Fender had his own radio and television business in
It was not long before he realized a profit could be made by building amplifiers forthe electric steel guitar players from nearby
Traveling musicians stopped by and provided ideas of their needs. Fender went on to build two and three neck steel guitars, before turning attention to the electric Spanish guitar.
Guitarist Grady Martin asked Bigsby to build him a guitar that also had a mandolin-like neck. What resulted was an instrument which had a guitar neck, with three pickups and a Bigsby vibrato and a smaller neck with six individual strings tuned an octave higher. It wasn't a mandolin, as the strings were individual and not in courses, but itdid give Martin a unique sound.
Apparently Grady Martin's Bigsby Double Neck was not the first that Paul Bigsby built. He built at least six double neck instruments. In those days, production records were at best sketchy.
|$266 K Bigsby
It is worth noting that recently a 1949 Bigsby guitar sold at auction for over a quarter of a million dollars.
One of Bigsby's employee's was Semie Moseley. This is the same Semie
Moseley that went into business in a
Around this same time, the early 1950's, Joe Maphis was a popular Country and Western guitarist and was a regular performer on a television show produced out of
Semie Moseley struck up a friendship with Joe Maphis and his wife Rose. Rose Maphis played rhythm guitar with her husband. Moseley built several beautiful personalized double neck guitars for Maphis. He even took Rose's Martin guitar and customized it with a handmade Mosrite neck and he added a fancy large pickguard to the dreadnoughts body.
The exposure Maphis brought to Mosrite guitars paid off big time. A similar double neck instrument was custom made for pint-sized Larry Collins who was Maphis' protégé and could match Joe note for note. All of the early double neck guitars Semie Moseley made had a guitar neck and an octave guitar neck.
Moseley did create one triple neck guitar in 1954. This instrument included a guitar neck, an octave guitar neck and a mandolin neck.
While on that subject, it is possible that Doc Kauffmann, who was Leo Fender's long time business partner might have built a triple neck guitar under the brand Kremo Kustom. It is known that Kauffmann didbuild some guitars using that brand name.
Another builder was a
But here I am digressing from the topic of double neck guitars.
In the mid 1960's when Semie Moseley's Mosrite Guitar Company was doing a brisk business, the company did offer a production twelve/six string double neck guitar for sale to the public. This guitar featured a twelve string neck on the guitars top and a six string neck underneath. Both sported twin Mosrite single coil pickups with black covers. The twelve string utilized Mosrite's version of tune-o-matic bridge and the strings were anchored onto a chromed bar held into the body by three wood screws.
The six string neck featured Mosrite's classic vibramute vibrato. The necks had micro-dot position markers on the rosewood fretboard. All Mosrites had a zero fret. These guitars were offered in various colors, with the most popular being sunburst.
Joe Hall left Moseley's employment and building guitars under his own brand, that bore Mosrite traits. Hall's most popular model was called the Swept Wing.
I do not know how many double necks he built. This guitar was specially built for Deke Dickerson.
After Moseley and Bigsby's creations, it was not too long before other guitar companies began to eyeball the prospect of making double neck guitars.
One of the first that I came across was Carvin Guitars of California. Lowell C. Kiesel's company first offered double necked electric guitars in their 1959 catalog. Long before the internet this company based their sales on catalogs. They still do. I recall ordering a Carvin catalog around 1963. What I received was a very plain document with black and white pictures of the guitars, guitar kits and amplifiers that Carvin offered.
I also received a typewritten page of price updates. During the early days of Carvin some of the guitars featured necks and bodies made by the Hofner Company of
Their first double neck offering was a guitar and bass. The necks were the same length, so the bass was short scale. The body was made of maple. The guitar had twin single coil pickups that were about the size of P-90's, while the bass had just one pickup.
Their other double neck was a guitar and an eight string mandolin combination that came with a similar set up. These guitars were very plain and had a natural finish. The small bodies on these guitars were unusual
These styles were offered through 1967.
By 1968, the Carvin double neck had more of a guitar shaped body with necks probably imported from Hofner. By 1971, the guitar neck was similar, but the bass neck had a more refined headstock. In 1972, Carvin changed the shape of the twelve/six model.
It was in 1976 that the Carvin double neck guitar had a body that looked more like a small Les Paul. The necks were bound and topped with an ebony fretboard. The large rectangular position markers were made of mother-of-toilet seat. The humbucking pickups came with a chrome cover. The 1978 catalog shows a similar body with open humbucking pickups.
These instruments looked more like the guitars that we now associate with the Carvin Company.
By 1979 the double neck was no longer offered. By 1980, the double neck was back with a new improved shape.
In 1990-91 Carvin offered a twelve/six model. Both had pointy headstocks and tuner on one side. By 199, Carvin discontinued their line of double neck guitars as a standard option.
Jimmy Bryant was a well known guitarist in the 1950's. Much like Maphis, Bryant's style was fast, but more in the jazz and swing realm. Early on Bryant was one of the first Fender endorsers playing a Fender Broadcaster. But he was looking for a new sound and came upon a guitar builder from
They built a Six and Twelve String double neck for Bryant. He used this guitar throughout his career. The Stratosphereguitar was rather unusual looking. It sported the maple twelve string neck on top and the maple six string neck underneath. Oddly, the headstocks for both necks were slotted. The body was offset and small. There were two single coil pickups for each neck. The neck pickups were parallel and the bridge pickups were slightly slanted.
Both necks had steel offset bridges and stop plates to attach the strings. A switch was near the stop plates that allowed the player to switch the necks on or off. There were two sets of controls, volume and tone for each neck as well as selector switches. There is also a slider switch on the lower side of the instrument.
Bryant tuned the six string neck in a normal manner; however, he tuned the twelve string neck to major and minor thirds.
1958 was a risky year for Gibson guitars. This was the year they introduced their 'Future guitars' lineup which included the Flying Vee, the Explorer and the elusive Futurama. But Gibson spotted the double neck trend and jumped into the market with two different double neck guitars.
The Double Twelve was a beautiful instrument. The body on these instruments was different than the SG shape we associate with the EDS-1275. The Double Twelve came with two humbucking pickups per neck.
A switch near the bridge plate provided the option of switching the electronics to either neck. The electronics were two volume and two tone controls and a pickup selector switch that controlled the pickups on either neck. The twelve string neck was on top with the six string neck on the bottom. In my opinion this was possibly the finest looking of all the twelve string double necks. The double cutaway body was thicker than the SG and it was bound in white trim.
The company also offered the Double Mandolin. This later was named the EMS-1275 (Electric Mandolin Spanish). This was similar to the double necks that Moseley and Bigsby had made in that it came with a guitar neck and an octave guitar neck. The guitar neck sported twin humbuckers, while the mandolin neck only had a single humbucker. Once again, the body shape was much different than the SG shape.
The controls for each neck were mounted on the lower bout under each neck. Both featured a single volume and tone control per neck. The switches were mounted near the string stop plate. The one for the guitar side controlled the neck and bridge pickups, while the switch mounted near the octave guitar neck controlled which neck was active. This instruments body was also bound in white trim.
The EDS-1275 was revived in 1974 and offered through 1998. The
|1963 Danelectro
Nate Daniels had been building amps since 1948. His amplifiers were mainly sold through catalog companies such as Sears and Roebuck and Montgomery Wards.
It was not until 1956 that he introduced the Danelectro line of guitars.
Danelectro entered the double neck market with its 1959 advertisement of Stan and Dan; two clean-cut young men of the day both decked out with white shirts, Hagar slacks and DanelectroShorthorn double neck guitars. The top neck was a six string guitar and the bottom neck was a bass guitar.
While the guitar was a normal 24.75" scale with 21 frets, the bass had a short scale of 29.5" with only 15 frets. The Danelectro double neck was also available as a six string guitar and six string baritone guitar.
As usual, both necks had two Dano lipstick pickups.
Danelectro guitars looked cheap, but sounded great and were used on countless recordings.
This is a Gretsch Anniversary double neck. Gretsch currently offers a guitar/baritone guitar doubleneck.
After the British Invasion a flood of Japanese and Korean made guitars arrived in the
This is a 1970 Aria copy of a Gibson double neck.
I have noted that some early Carvin guitars were made of Hofner parts. Note the similarity between this Hofner double neck from the very early 1970's and Carvin's double neck of the same era.
Another German guitar manufacturer named Hoyer built this 1970's model.
Rickenbacker built and offered several models of double neck guitars including a bass/six string using their 4001 template and a twelve/six string using their 360 design.
Often these guitars have two six string necks and are played by using the tapping method.
There were and are a few companies that make acoustic double neck guitars. For years Ovation guitars offered a twelve/six model. This is now made offshore under their Celebrity brand.
|1979 Yairi DY 87
Around 1979 Yairi guitars offered the model DY 87. This was a wonderful guitar. It sounds great and very easy on the fingers.
their Festival Series.
They offer several double neck models which include a six / twelve string guitar, a double neck with two six string necks and fan frets, as well as a six string / 4 string acoustic bass guitar. Blueberry does not sell it's instruments in stores. Business is done only online.
Here is a Martin Double Neck Guitar made by their custom shop.
The clip below will give a better understanding of Jimmy Bryants odd 12 string tuning on his Stratosphere double neck. On the 12 string neck each string has two pitches that mimic the sound of two guitars. A guitarist today could use a harmonizer for the same effect. In 1956 that technology did not exist.


text:
Pei, I. M.
I. M. Pei: (Ieoh Ming Pei) (pā), 1917–, Chinese-American architect, b. Guangzhou, China. Pei emigrated to the United States in 1935 and studied at the Univ. of Pennsylvania, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard, where he taught from 1945 to 1948. That year he joined Webb and Knapp, Inc.; there he designed such projects as Mile High Center in Denver (1954–59). He established his own firm in 1955. In his works, structure and environment are carefully integrated with precise geometrical design and a superb sense of craft, resulting in crisp, clear, sculptural structures. He is known for his sensuous use of such materials as marble, concrete, and glass and for his soaring interior spaces. Pei's involvement in urban planning includes the Government Center, Boston (1961), and Society Hill, Philadelphia (with Edmund N. Bacon, 1964).
Among his notable later buildings are the John Hancock Tower, Boston (1973); the East Wing of the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (1978); the Jacob Javits Exposition and Convention Center, New York City (1986); the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame, Cleveland (1995); the Miho Museum, Kyoto (1998); a new wing of the German Historical Museum, Berlin (2003); and the Museum of Islamic Art, Doha, Qatar (2008). His master plan for the Louvre's expansion and renovation (1987–89) initially outraged critics, in large part because of the glass pyramid that formed the entrance to the museum's new underground section. The pyramid has since become a Parisian landmark. In 1990, Pei retired from active management of his firm.
See biographical study by C. Wiseman (1990); biography by M. Cannell (1995).


text:
You may download these pages only for the purposes of considering whether to commission your own resource from Julian Jordon Ltd, or to make a purchase from us. You may not reproduce, copy or distribute them for any other purpose whatsoever.
How to order your own version
© Copyright Blooming Media All rights reserved.


text:
Despite new laws, the public still needs to be a little wary
Hands up who knows the difference between a registered financial adviser and an authorised financial adviser? And what on earth is a QFE?
The answers matter. A registered financial adviser is someone who fills in some forms, pays some money and can hang out his or her shingle and start selling insurance, mortgages and other "category 2" financial products. Registering as a financial adviser is as easy as registering a dog or a motor vehicle.
An authorised financial adviser, on the other hand, has to pass exams, follow a code of professional conduct, which can be found at financialadvisercode.govt.nz, and must be transparent in his or her dealings with an investor. Only these advisers should be providing financial plans and giving advice on investments and KiwiSaver.
At best, says Massey University's Dr Claire Matthews, the public may know that "financial advisers" have to meet some rules. "Do they fully understand the difference?" she asks. "Probably not."
This column was going to be a straightforward guide to the people that can give financial "advice" but don't fall under the Financial Advisers Act. More about them later.
Sadly, it turns out that it's not just the ones that got away from regulation that can be a problem. Despite new laws, the public still needs to be a little wary of the words "financial adviser", and not be lulled into a false sense of security.
Registered financial advisers are supposed to put the client's interests first, says Robert Oddy, chairman of Sifa, which represents small independently owned and operated financial planning companies.
Yet one interviewee for this article said: "Ninety per cent of RFAs are just flogging product." That's probably a tad harsh. At the kinder end of the scale, another said 30 per cent, which is still too many, were just interested in the sale, not the client's best interests.
In fairness to the good registered financial advisers, there are some that just do it right, says Russell Hutchinson, director of Chatswood Consulting.
There are others, however, who get nowhere near that standard of advice. What's more, there are still companies out there offering "financial plans" that aren't authorised to do so.
That brings me to the ones that got away. There are lots of consultants/advisers/salespeople/educators out there offering what you and I would call "investment advice" in the sale of their products who don't need to be either registered or authorised financial advisers.
You find them peddling investment property, precious metals, foreign exchange dealing, options and CFD trading platforms.
Yet these services may not be classified as "financial products" under the Financial Advisers Act. In layman's language these are all "investments" that have the power to financially ruin anyone who "invests" in them.
I don't want to single out any of these companies in particular. But looking at the disclosure document on one of their websites this week it was clear that it's buyer beware when it comes to using their service.
The fine print said: "Information we provide is general information only ... Such information is provided merely to assist you in exercising your own judgment when trading with us and we are not responsible for the investment decisions that you make."
There is a fine line in many cases, says Massey's Matthews, between promoting a product and giving advice saying what you should do.
My comment on that is that when there is a fine line, there will always be individuals and organisations that push the boundaries.
Many companies that fall outside the regulations provide education workshops, which are nothing more than sales pitches. Another class of unregulated people giving financial "advice" are seminar presenters, who can often be very persuasive.
Property consultants that sell "real estate investment strategies" don't need to be registered. That is even though they are giving advice of a financial nature, says Jeff Matthews, senior adviser at Spicers Wealth Management.
One of these hard-sell Blue Chip-style property companies cold-called me earlier this month. Another says on its website: "We can show you how to build up a property investment portfolio that will provide a passive return of $150,000-plus each year." But that isn't considered to be investment advice under the Financial Advisers Act.
Some of these companies' "property consultants" are in fact registered financial advisers. But they only give advice about property investment, not shares, or how to build a balanced investment portfolio.
"You're not getting anything approaching 'advice' if you go and see someone who is going to sell you one thing only," warns Hutchinson.
The Financial Markets Authority (FMA), which oversees advisers, does have these property companies in its sights and spelled out on its website recently what they can and can't do if they want to stay within the law. Some of the marketing material I looked at from these companies this week could arguably step over the line.
Real estate agents have the ability to cause huge financial harm and sale and purchase agreements are some of the most "spectacularly dangerous" documents known to man, says Hutchinson. Nonetheless they are not covered by the Financial Advisers Act. The 2-year-old Real Estate Agents Authority is, however, doing a relatively good job of keeping agents in line.
The moral is that even with the extra protection of the Financial Advisers Act and the relatively recent ability to access dispute resolution services, if things go wrong, the public must ask questions. Before committing to using a financial adviser's services, ask for examples of the adviser's previous financial plans. Get independent advice if your registered "financial adviser" is only offering one product, such as property.
Investors should also ask what professional indemnity insurance the adviser holds, says Susan Taylor, of Financial Services Complaints (FSCL), which is an independent complaints service. It's well and good to take an adviser to a dispute resolution service. If, however, he or she has neither money nor insurance, any decision in the client's favour may be worthless.
It's worth noting that some investors will choose to take their advice from what's called QFEs. These are people who work for large banks and other organisations. The organisation is registered as a Qualifying Financial Entity and the individual staff members work under its banner without the need to be registered or authorised.
The disadvantage is that a QFE's staff members might not be as well trained as authorised financial advisers.
Members of the public like the security of thinking that these banks and other large organisations will pay up if something goes awry with advice from their staff members.
One little-known issue for investors is that they may be classed as "wholesale investors" if they own a portfolio worth more than $1 million. That could include the home in a family trust or the sale of a business.
Trevor Salter, general manager of FSCL, says advisers providing services to wholesale clients must be registered on the Financial Service Providers Register (FSPR) but may be exempt from being a member of a dispute resolution scheme such as his.
A "wholesale client" who wants to complain about his or her adviser must use the courts, which can be costly.
FSCL has a number of financial service providers who have joined voluntarily so that they can offer external dispute resolution to their wholesale clients.
To date the three dispute resolution services have had very few complaints. In part that is because thousands of financial advisers quit the industry when the Financial Advisers Act came in.
What's more, the new system isn't well understood by the public, who may not realise that there are independent complaints bodies.
There is a disconnect between how registered financial advisers operate and the expectations placed on them by the law and the FMA's interpretation of that law.
The FMA published its expectations of the care, diligence and skill that registered financial advisers are expected to provide.
As the public becomes more aware of those expectations it will be likely that there will be more complaints laid.
In the meantime the FMA is also doing some work to stop registered financial advisers trying to offer services they're not entitled to.
It recently found examples of registered financial advisers offering "comprehensive personal financial plans" and "full financial health checks" in their marketing material, which is not permitted under the Act.


text:
Hamid Karzai, GCMG (Pashto: حامد کرزی, Ḥāmid Karzay; born 24 December 1957) is the 12th and current President of Afghanistan, taking office on 7 December 2004. He became a dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001. During the December 2001 International Conference on Afghanistan in Germany, Karzai was selected by prominent Afghan political figures to serve a six month term as Chairman of the Interim Administration.
He was then chosen for a two year term as Interim President during the 2002 loya jirga (grand assembly) that was held in Kabul, Afghanistan. After the 2004 presidential election, Karzai was declared winner and became President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. He won a second five-year-term in the 2009 presidential election.
Karzai was born on 24 December 1957 in the village of Karz, located on the edge of Kandahar City in southern Afghanistan. He is an ethnic Pashtun of the Popalzai tribe. His father, Abdul Ahad Karzai, served as the Deputy Speaker of the Parliament during the 1960s. His grandfather, Khair Mohammad Khan, had served in the 1919 Afghanistan's war of independence and as the Deputy Speaker of the Senate. Karzai's family were strong supporters of Zahir Shah, the last king of Afghanistan. His uncle, Habibullah Karzai, served as representative of Afghanistan at the UN and is said to have accompanied King Zahir Shah in the early 1960s to the United States for a special meeting with U.S. President John F. Kennedy.


text:
Okay, Okay, I'll partially play by the rules set forth and plug a few nice FREEware utilities that others may find handy.
1. Privazer
2. Anvir Task Manager
3. Pazera Audio Converter
4. Ace Video Converter, and
5. Free Commander XE (But make sure you download the 'Beta' version that truly is far removed from a 'beta' as it can get and works flawless even in Win8Pro).
If you don't like any of these FREEware worthy of posting here, I promise to give you your money back >> if you ask!
Afterall, "Friends ONLY recommend Friends FREEware... else; they are japing you!
The Software Hall of Fame!
Started by FuzzButt , Jun 05 2003 04:28 PM
179 replies to this topic
Posted 02 September 2013 - 04:46 PM
Posted 03 September 2013 - 12:30 PM
sir, there is a dog in your space suit and he's using your radio!
Posted 10 May 2014 - 11:44 AM
I would have to add Firefox Australis
Australis ruins Firefox! Australis should be Abandoned!
Posted 10 May 2014 - 03:01 PM
Temmu, on 03 September 2013 - 12:30 PM, said:
At least it is not rap and just 'space' music!
sir, there is a dog in your space suit and he's using your radio!
Anyways, just to continue keeping this thread alive, I would have to recommend "FreeFileSyncy" utility that I have been using for quite some time (and even across my LAN).
Description >> FreeFileSync is a folder comparison and synchronization tool providing highly optimized performance and usability without a needlessly complex user interface.
Afterall, friends only recommend friends FREEware.
Posted 10 May 2014 - 04:17 PM
Hi RandomBox!
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users


text:
Enthusiasm key in Ohio ground game
NILES, Ohio — Jim Roan walked through a slice of suburban Niles, on the northeastern edge of Ohio, a clipboard with bar codes in hand, leaves crunching under his feet. Halloween decorations adorned almost every lawn on every small, two-story house set back from the street.
The 76-year-old retiree was a Hillary Clinton supporter in 2008, but volunteered for Barack Obama when he became the nominee. He's been doing the same for the Democratic president's campaign since March, door-knocking and phone-banking throughout Ohio, repeating shifts from the late morning until the evening, when it's too dark to see outside.
Story Continued Below
( PHOTOS: Final countdown to Election Day)
Can the Democrat put his finger on the difference in energy in 2012?
"It's hard to quantify, but there is significantly less enthusiasm," said Roan. "I think there's sort of grim determination on the part of some people, more than enthusiasm. … And it shows up in our volunteers. … We don't have the number of young people volunteering like we did last time."
( PHOTOS: 10 great quotes about voting)
Roan's words may represent Romney's best hope of capturing Ohio. Mitt Romney's campaign is banking on a certain excitement — ephemeral, and harder to quantify by data — for a victory here, in a state that both sides believe is within the close, but which most public polls show Obama narrowly winning. Officials with the Romney campaign favorably compare their numbers of voter contacts to John McCain's in the state in 2008, and believe their targeting models are effective.
McCain's organization was infamously weak in Ohio, especially compared to the last Republican presidential candidate to win Ohio, George W. Bush. His 2004 Ohio victory came after a narrow win in 2000, which prompted a metrics-driven, county-by-county approach by then-Republican National Committee chairman Ken Mehlman, for whom some of Romney's top aides worked.
( Also on POLITICO: Obama's demographic gamble)
The Obama campaign's 2008 strategy exhibited a similar obsessiveness about field organizing and voter targeting.
"We really do espouse an 88-county strategy," said Obama Ohio director Aaron Pickrell, who worked on Ted Strickland's 2010 gubernatorial race, and said the neighborhood team leaders who oversee the canvassers play a big role.
"We're working to replicate the same operation we did in 2008 here — only it's bigger and stronger and more seasoned. We don't have offices just to show they serve as hubs," he added, suggesting the quality of their contacts is deeper and more sophisticated.
"… Our whole point of doing it is not to set up call centers where people can churn through their auto dialer. … We want to make sure we're breaking through the clutter. The great thing is our neighborhood team leaders have so much ownership of the campaign. You just get shocked by the investment these neighborhood team leaders have."
( Also on POLITICO: Obama, Romney in final push to peel off votes.)
POLITICO joined volunteers for both the Romney and Obama turnout operations recently in Ohio, which has become ground zero for the presidential race to 270 electoral votes. It has tended historically to go for Republicans, although in 2008, it was part of the Obama map. Obama is performing better in the state among white voters than he is in some other battlegrounds, which experts on both sides attribute to the auto bailout and the Democrats' attacks on Romney's business record.
The Obama campaign boasts a larger machine — with 137 field offices in the state compared with 40 for Romney — but lacks the same gusto as 2008, while the Romney campaign is smaller and less vast, but luring voters who they believe are clearly more energized, if not for the Republican, than against the president.


text:
Grinnell College Mail Services meets the needs of our students, faculty, and staff by providing the College community with collection and distribution of mail and related packages and correspondences throughout Grinnell and the world, and doing so in a timely, accurate, safe, and cost-effective manner while adhering to all postal regulations.
- Individual and booklet stamps for purchase
- Fedex mailing supplies - a drop box is located in the lobby of the mailroom (Fedex drivers check the drop box at 3 p.m. Mon-Fri, with exceptions on holidays).
- Collection and distribution of student and department mail and parcels and delivery of internal campus mail
- Recycling bins for various materials and packaging
- Campus publications and program brochures, including the Scarlet & Black - available in the lobby on a first-come basis
- Outgoing and incoming FAX service - FAX number: 1-641-269-3406. Please specify recipient's name in BOLD on front page. Out-going transmission (9 a.m.-4 p.m., Mon-Fri) fee: $1.00 for first page; 25 cents for each additional page
- Notary by appointment


text:
Roadside America
The team at RoadsideAmerica.com has spent decades exploring the weird wonders of America's highways. The Roadside America app puts their expertise at your fingertips to help you on your own unforgettable adventures. Fun reports, maps and photos guide you to the less traveled places just waiting off the next exit. App purchase includes your choice of 1 permanent U.S./Canada region (of 7 total regions).* Optional in-app purchases with a Roadside America account unlock more or all regions ("All Access"). - The Today Show: "Road Trip Must Haves" - Travel + Leisure: "Great Road-Trip App" - Real Simple: Recommended Road Trip "Escape App" - Conde Nast Traveler: "Best Travel Apps for Kids" - NY Times: "For a more lighthearted road trip, with more quirky sights highlighted, check out Roadside America…" ____________________________ DISCOVER UNUSUAL AND FUNNY PLACES ALONG THE HIGHWAY - World's largest and smallest sights - Strange museums, graves, statues, Muffler Men - Bizarre architecture, obscure history - Route 66 sights, tourist traps, odd theme parks - Mystery spots, gravity hills, caves, unnatural wonders ____________________________ SEE WHAT'S UP THE ROAD - Check map or list for what oddities are nearby, or drop a pin ahead. - Search by attraction name, address, or browse by city. - Explore 70+ themes: Atomic, Music, Celebrities, Tech, Zombie Army, more! ____________________________ PLAN A TRIP -- OR JUST LAUGH - Read amusing field reports by our travel gurus, the authors of Roadside America. - View photos, maps and directions, addresses, hours. Call attractions. - Find out about exclusive "research" attraction targets we think have potential! - Filter Editors' Ratings to focus on the must-sees in your vicinity. ____________________________ USE ROAD TRIP TOOLS - Send an attraction location to Maps or other popular routing apps - Export/Import your Saves and Been Theres to a 2nd device - Submit Tips on oddball and unique discoveries to our editors for possible inclusion. ____________________________ FAQ AND CONTACT INFO For region activation issues, please contact us in the app: More, Feedback or via the website https://www.roadsideamerica.com/mobile/ ____________________________ * REGIONS: HOW TO COMPLETE YOUR IN-APP PURCHASE(S) When first launching app, select your one permanent region (see included states, below). Then, you can make optional in-app purchases to permanently unlock more regions, or All Access unlocks all remaining regions. Sign up for a Roadside America user account for region purchases and device access restores. - NORTHEAST: Delaware, DC, Connecticut, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia - SOUTHEAST: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee - MIDWEST: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Wisconsin - SOUTHWEST: Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah - NORTHWEST: Idaho, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming - CALIFORNIA: California, Alaska, Hawaii - CANADA: Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Northwest Territories, Nova Scotia, Ontario, PEI, Québec, Saskatchewan, YukonRead more +
Helps you:
Perfect for:
What you should know about Roadside America app
The essential road trip app"
Must-have travel companion"
Mt Favorite Travel Guide"
Awesome for family fun"
A sense of humor helps tremendously in appreciating this app"
And great tech support"
Keep in mind
Nothing here… Users found nothing but good things to say about this app!
Author's description
Discover more like Roadside America
- Similar apps
- Road trip
- Finding new places
Roadtrippers - Trip PlannerFree
iExit Interstate Exit GuideFree
Dog Park Finder PlusFree
TV Food Maps - Restaurants on TV, Road Trip Planner, Diners, Drive-Ins & Dives, Man vs. Food & MoreFree
Camp & RV - Tents to RV Parks$9.99
CityMaps2Go Pro Offline Maps$9.99
- finding hotels
- finding food
- finding restaurants
- finding things
- make reservations
- finding places to eat


text:
Come along on a portrait session and see how the ColorChecker Passport helps ensure that the color is captured quickly and correctly every time and gives you a great basis for easy color editing. Watch the live shoot unfold both indoors and on the rooftop as our photographer creates many beautiful images using the Passport. He'll show you how to overcome the challenges of changing light sources and matching color to different camera models or brands.
Watch and learn how the X-Rite ColorChecker Passport helps you ensure accurate color from capture to edit. With one exposure during the shoot, and a few seconds after the session – you can create custom corrections for any camera and any light source – making consistency simple.
There are two videos available, Lightroom and Photoshop workflows. This video demonstrates the process in Adobe Lightroom. If you use Photoshop, click here to watch this video .
Download sample images as demonstrated in video to use in Lightroom.
Download Free ColorChecker Passport Software (requires above sample images or ColorChecker Classic card)
This presentation is for Adobe Lightroom users.
Interested in learning more about ColorChecker Passport?
Visit Product PageView Archived Webinars
We use cookies to make sure you get the best experience on our website. To learn more about our cookies policy, please read our Privacy Statement. By continuing to browse our site, you accept our use of cookies and Terms of Use.


text:
Walmart, Amex Roll Out New Prepaid Card
(NEW YORK) -- Walmart and American Express announced Monday morning that they would make available a refillable prepaid card for consumers tired of banking fees.
The company said the card is an "alternative to debit and checking accounts" and will be available next week online or in more than 4,000 Walmart stores. There is no fee to set up the card online at Bluebird.com but there is a $5 fee for an account set up kit at Walmart stores with any amount between $1 and $500 for immediate use.
Gerri Detweiler, credit card expert from Credit.com, said the card combines the appeal of the American Express brand, "which is generally seen as an upscale card," and the wide distribution available through Walmart.
"Prepaid cards have been trying to establish themselves as a smart alternative to increasingly expensive bank accounts and this program may help them do that," Detweiler said.
Banks' overdraft fee revenue increased 2.1 percent to $31.5 billion in the last fiscal year, according to financial data firm Moebs Services. The median overdraft fee rose to $29 from $28 the prior year.
Bluebird does not require a credit check but only adults 18 and older can sign up for a card.
There are no monthly or annual fees. There is, however, a $2 fee for a deposit from a debit card. Users can also access money through 22,000 MoneyPass ATMs across the country for free; otherwise, there is a $2 fee for using other network ATMs; third-party network fees may apply.
Detweiler said the fees on this card are "very low," which will be appealing for those tired of bank overdraft fees, online shopping or someone who wants to better manage their budget.
It is likely Walmart and American Express would make revenue from swipe fees if a consumer uses the card at a retailer, she said.
The card's benefits include fraud protection in case it is lost or stolen in which case the card can be replaced at no charge.
Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio


text:
Would love to share with you a story I've written... actually a saga called We of the Valkyrie written from my perspective, set in the far north: http://www.valkyriepanthers.com/valkyrie-stories.html
What makes a sim successful is community and social interaction. But a good back story for your group and place is a strong addition. I kept a journal over the eight and a half years the Valkyrie has existed, along with some of my roleplay episodes, but decided they wouldn't be of much interest to anyone. Much of it was scattered, tossed away to the winds. During the summer, I held three Valkyrie campfire meetings where I told the story of the Valkyrie from my point of view as if I lived it. I'm no writer. But I created a northern saga and shared three parts of it making frantic notes the night before each meeting cobbling the chronicles together. I told the story on the fly, yet in a way I felt like I was channeling something special and lived it. And that really is the spirit of sincere roleplay and telling a good story. I avoided using Gor as the backdrop because the Gor we play in, as written by John Norman, is protected by copyrights. So while the setting is in ancient Scandinavia, it's easy to apply the early Viking era Norway back over to Torvaldsland and northern culture (the GE version at least). And Valkyrie Forest becomes a reverse region of the Northern Forest. The telling of the story and background can be interchanged between earth and gor without stepping on John Norman's toes.
I've copied and pasted the description of the story and the individual chapter links below as it appears on the Valkyrie website. Part 2 – Black Sun, the volva traveling with us shares a neat trick with me to scare off foes, a magical way to darken the sun. I don't realize at the time, but she knew an eclipse was coming over the Norselands. Ironically, as I post this today (8-21-17), an eclipse is about to travel across our world. Awesome timing!
So here's the rest of it copied from our website:
We of the Valkyrie: http://www.valkyriepanthers.com/valkyrie-stories.html
We of the Valkyrie is a saga about the origins of the Valkyrie presented here in three parts. There are more than three parts to the story of the Valkyrie, but the first three make for a complete story. They were shared by Dagny Chalice (alternately known as Danika, Valkyrie Chieftess) at three Valkyrie campfire meetings held over the summer of 2017. Click on the links below to read Part 1, Childhood's End; Part 2, Black Sun; and Part 3, Prophecy.
We of the Valkyrie
By Dagny Chalice (aka Danika, Valkyrie Chieftess)
Copyright Danika Meyers
Part 1, Childhood's End
In the wake of shifting cold winds, innocence is soon to be lost in the idylic northern village of Selasund. Childhood's End finds shifting alliances and betrayal. Blood will be spilled on ice. Lives will be forever changed. Presented at the Valkyrie campfire meeting on 6-11-17, here now is the Part 1 installment:
We pay no mind to the fleet of longships entering the mouth of the bay, meandering round past the snow-clad fjords rising out of the mists. The sun hangs low like a flickering old lantern behind their square sails. Up high on Ari, the craggy hill overlooking our village of Selasund, my much older brother, Elof, and I laugh wildly as we run, slip-siding over patches of snow and ice, stooping to retrieve our missing arrows. He has been setting up wooden targets all afternoon teaching me how to aim a bow and I am sure half of them were missed by me.
Continue reading Part 1 here >>> http://www.valkyriepanthers.com/we-of-the-valkyrie-part1.html
* * *
Part 2, Black Sun
Previously in We of the Valkyrie, a storm is brewing close to the shores of the original village the Valkyrie came from, along with the sudden and tragic death of Dagny's older brother at the hands of the Wends led by Kruto, the Terrible. He is a man of giant stature bringing destruction in his wake. Dagny is captured. Her captor defects and takes her home with him where she will meet Mist. She returns with Dagny to her village and a confrontation erupts between the earl and his men and Mist, Reginleif, and Dagny. They were very close to being attacked and killed in the longhall. Presented at the Valkyrie campfire meeting on 6-25-17, here now is the Part 2 installment:
With the chatter in the longhall now eerily grown quiet, I hear the "ssh" sounds of swords being drawn from the leather scabbards of Hakon and his men as they move toward me from the opposite side of the longhall. Mist and Reginleif close ranks with me, our backs to the wall. Some of the other shieldmaidens rise from the long tables, moving quickly to join our side, pivoting to face the men approaching from across the room. Herja on one end, Skuld on the other, Kara, and then our village healer, Eir.
Seven of us standing side to side with feet shoulder width apart, we nervously draw our swords, the light from the lanterns dripping amber off steel edges, each of us placing our leading foot slightly forward, square on to their approach and ready to fight. Except Eir who holds up a small dagger and shrugs to us. At least she has weapon. With our backs to the wall, and the broad door far to the right, there is not time enough to escape.
Continue reading Part 2 here >>> http://www.valkyriepanthers.com/we-of-the-valkyrie-part2.html
* * *
Part 3, Prophecy
Previously in We of the Valkyrie, there is division in the village of Selasund and fears of revolt as the Earl and Dagny confront each other and villagers take sides. But an attack by a great sailing force from the Wends brings much bloodshed and destruction to the village. Dagny attempts to escape a larger attacking wave along with her shieldmaidens and some villagers. The volva traveling with them predicted sky wolves and a black sun, a trick that saves them. But now sailing northward, they come under another attack from the dark shoreline. Presented at the Valkyrie campfire meeting on 7-9-17, here now is the Part 3 installment:
Storm clouds have been quickly gathering directly ahead of us since the attack of the fire arrows began. The northern lights and field of stars rising from the sea I had watched with such longing moments ago are now smeared and hidden from view. The winds pick up, the waves becoming rougher. In almost no time, our longships are rocking wildly, bows heaving high up on peaked wave crests and slamming down hard as we plow northward into the turbulent sea. With the last of the Torva women safely aboard our longship, we watch the stern of their vessel tip vertically above the choppy waves, then dip, vanishing into the dark churning waters.
Continue reading Part 3 here >>> http://www.valkyriepanthers.com/we-of-the-valkyrie-part3.html


text:
VANCOUVER - Milos Raonic defeated Andreas Seppi 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5 on Sunday to give Canada an insurmountable 3-1 lead over Italy in their Davis Cup quarterfinal on Sunday.
The Canadians advanced to a September semifinal against Serbia, which defeated the United States on Sunday.
Canada has never been in the world group semifinals since the current Davis Cup format began in 1981. Canada did reach a semifinal in 1913, losing to the U.S.
Canada took a 2-1 lead when Daniel Nestor and Vasek Pospisil teamed up for a five-set decision over Fabio Fognini and Daniele Braccaili on Saturday.
It was Raonic's second win of the weekend, having opened the series with a singles victory over Fognini.


text:
Messaging Service Snapchat Spurned $3 Billion Facebook Bid
Startup Is Being Wooed by Investors Including China's Tencent
In a sign of the fervor once again rising around Internet startups, the 23-year-old CEO of a two-year-old company with no revenue has rejected a $3 billion buyout offer.
Snapchat Inc. co-founder Evan Spiegel in recent weeks spurned an all-cash offer from Facebook Inc. for close to $3 billion, according to people briefed on the matter. The offer, and rebuff, came as Snapchat is being wooed by other investors and potential acquirers. Chinese Internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd. had offered to lead an investment that would value...


text:
U.S. Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission
EEOC Says Lead Dentist Subjected Employees to Unwanted Sexual Conduct And Vulgar Comments about Female Patients
DALLAS – The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) announced today that it has filed a discrimination lawsuit against Smile Brands of Texas. L.P., formerly known as Bright Now! Dental Association, L.P., doing business as Monarch Dental Associates, L.P. which operates a practice in Burleson, Texas, alleging that two female employees there were subjected to a sexually hostile work environment by the lead dentist.
In its lawsuit, the EEOC charges that lead dentist David Mikitka began subjecting dental hygienist Deanna Chaney and dental assistant Jan Pawelek to unwanted sexual conduct shortly after they started working in Monarch Dental's Burleson office. The EEOC says that Mikitka's harassment of Pawelek included unwanted sexual comments to her, touching her in a sexual manner, and making sexual comments about female patients in her presence. According to the EEOC, Pawelek repeatedly told the dentist to stop his unwanted sexual behavior but he ignored her multiple requests. The EEOC further contends that Pawelek complained to management about the harassment, but that Monarch Dental failed to conduct a proper investigation and to administer appropriate discipline.
The EEOC also alleges that Mikitka subjected Chaney to unwelcome sexual conduct, including telling sexual stories, directing unwanted sexual comments to her, touching her in a sexual manner, attempting to kiss her, and making sexual comments about female patients. According to the EEOC, Chaney also complained to management about the behavior, but no appropriate action was taken to ensure that the harassment ended. To date, Mikitka still works as the lead dentist there.
The suit, Civil Action No. 3:10-cv-01903-K, filed in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, Dallas Division, seeks compensatory and punitive damages as well as injunctive relief. The EEOC filed suit after investigating the case and attempting to reach a voluntary settlement out of court.
"A medical or dental office is a place where both employees and patients should feel safe from sexually-charged comments or assessments," said Regional Attorney Robert Canino of the EEOC's Dallas District Office. "Even where patients may not personally observe the improprieties, female employees such as medical or dental assistants may be adversely affected by the atmosphere of disrespect that can permeate their workplace."
EEOC Senior Trial Attorney Devika Seth added, "It is disturbing that an educated professional would use his authority to subject women to such sexually offensive behavior. We file this lawsuit with the expectation that the justice system will hold Monarch accountable for the sexually hostile work environment that it refused to correct."
The EEOC enforces federal laws prohibiting employment discrimination. Further information about the EEOC is available on the agency's web site at www.eeoc.gov.


text:
A little jaunt earlier to check out Hawksmoor Seven Dials' Christmas Burger saw a momentous occasion and newsworthy joining of forces...
Not only was it @scouserachel's maiden Blonde-ing to yours truly, but I was also privileged enough to witness her own judgment day. The annual Christmas sarnie summation took this Blonde viral pre-George Michael fame, and this was surely to be the pinnacle of the genre. Sorry Pret, but there is actual GRAVY here.
Coming in at £15 including more carbs than are ever wise before an afternoon's work, the Christmas burger also hosts a little jug of gravy for dipping both the duck fat tatties and the multitudinous ingredients falling from the burger.
It's on trend in terms of buttermilk fried blah blah, but doing so to turkey is an even smarter upgauge of a more boring bird. There is Tamworth sausage which is a 'quietly deluxe' McDonalds breakfast sausage patty. These guys are just so clever. There is a huge rasher of bacon. Sprout tops provide the greenery. Cranberry ketchup the lube. Oh, and masses of cheese – all piled into a perfect brioche bun.
I've not much else to say except run and get one while you can… meanwhile I'm halfway to horizontal at my desk. I really should be dozing on the couch swearing at Eastenders instead, my Christmas dining having peaked today. Hawksmoor, as ever, just get it right.


text:
with rocket and shaved Gran Moravia cheese (v)
We use cookies to understand and improve your experience, including personalising content, adverts and social media features. Click for our [Cookie Policy], {Privacy policy} or how to [manage your settings]. By continuing to use our site, we will assume you are happy to allow the use of cookies.
You appear to have disabled cookies. By doing so, this site may not function as we use cookies as part of many features on it. You can learn more about how to change your settings here, where you'll also find our cookie policy.
Whether you're in the mood for a catch up with friends, a candlelit meal for two or a family treat, our à la carte menu features a superb selection of dishes that have been prepared to the highest standard by our experienced and incredibly talented chefs. With a delicious array of starters, sharers, pizzas, steaks, salads, and mains, prepared by our expert chefs, we're confident that when you dine at The Old Bulls Head, you'll be impressed.
A La Carte Menu
with rocket and shaved Gran Moravia cheese (v)
with olive oil & balsamic vinegar, Nocellara olives and English salted butter (v)
Southern fried buttermilk chicken with katsu sauce, lamb koftas, crispy sweet chilli pork cheek, spiralised carrot salad and garlic flatbread
topped with roasted seeds, with rustic toast and a spiced fruit & sloe gin chutney (v)
Roasted lentil falafels, beetroot houmous with omega seed sprinkle, miso sesame aubergine, Lebanese-style dip, spiralised carrot salad, coconut tzatziki and flatbread (ve)
Ask for today's specials, price of the day
in panko breadcrumbs with a spiced fruit & sloe gin chutney (v)
topped with Devon crab crème fraîche, served with ciabatta
Crispy mushrooms with a soy, lime & ginger dip (v)
in a garlic butter, served with rustic bread
with ciabatta and English salted butter (v)
with aioli
on sweet chilli beetroot, with diced pear, an orange & honey dressing and a rice paper cracker (v)
with plum tomato, roasted red pepper, cucumber & mint salad and coconut tzatziki
with a spiced fruit & sloe gin chutney, served with rustic toast
served with aubergine, roasted sweet peppers, potato dauphinoise and red wine jus
on ribbons of courgette marinated in lemon, with asparagus, baby potatoes, tenderstem broccoli and a vermouth velouté
with lemon & garlic confit, aioli and your choice of wholefood salad or fries with jus
with twice-cooked chunky chips, minted pea purée and tartare sauce
with roasted sweet peppers, oyster mushrooms and a slow-roasted tomato dressing (ve)
with plum tomato, roasted red pepper, cucumber & mint salad, coconut tzatziki and lavash bread
with white wine, tomatoes, garlic & chilli
topped with ham hock crumb, served with mashed potato and green vegetables
with asparagus, pea & truffle oil velouté topped with crispy seaweed. Served with your choice of salad or fries
stuffed with 'nduja sausage, with sweet potato fries, apple salad and lemon aioli
with potato dauphinoise, crispy prosciutto, green vegetables and jus
Experience our new steak collection, featuring three premium cuts, expertly aged for superb tenderness and flavour.
Served with twice-cooked chunky chips, roasted mushroom, confit tomato and parsley butter.
Juicy in texture and bursting with flavour, recommended medium
Firm in texture and rich in flavour, recommended medium
Lean, tender and delicate in flavour, recommended rare
All our burgers are served in a sesame seeded bun, with a gherkin on the side.
Prime beef burger with crispy bacon, lashings of cheese, beef dripping sauce and fries
with smoked Irish cheddar, crispy onions, burger sauce, sweet potato fries and aioli
with smoked Irish cheddar, lettuce, tomato, burger sauce and fries
served with coconut tzatziki, slow-roasted tomato sauce and lettuce (ve) Served with your choice of a house salad (ve) or fries (v)
All our pizzas are hand-stretched. If you prefer a lighter pizza, we can replace the centre with a baby kale & tomato salad.
Chorizo, pepperoni, bacon, pork & fennel sausage, mozzarella, jalapeños and red chilli
Whipped goats' curd, caramelised red onion chutney, and mozzarella with rocket (v)
Chicken, portobello mushrooms and mozzarella, on a BBQ tomato base
with black rice, quinoa, avocado, broccoli, spinach and seeds, with a pineapple, lemongrass & ginger dressing (ve)
with baby kale, spinach and tenderstem broccoli with a cider & honey mustard dressing
with cucumber, tomato, red onion, spring onions, coriander, red chilli, and a soy, lime & ginger dressing
filled with sticky toffee pudding and peanut butter cream. Served with Bourbon vanilla ice cream & hot salted caramel sauce (v)
A classic Italian 'Pick me up'. A light sponge soaked in coffee liqueur, with mascarpone cream & cocoa (v)
with a forest fruit compote and whipped cream (v)
with Bourbon vanilla ice cream (v)
served with home-baked sultana & oatmeal biscuits (v)
Choose three scoops from Bourbon vanilla, pecan praline, double chocolate or strawberry (v)
Crisp crushed pink meringue and strawberries bound in whipped cream
topped with a demerara sugar crumb served with custard (v) or with a soya vanilla custard (ve)
with Bourbon vanilla ice cream (v)
on a biscuit base, served with crushed mango and fresh strawberries (ve)
Chocolate brownie, baked vanilla cheesecake, strawberry Eton mess, Bourbon vanilla ice cream cookie sandwich
Shepherds Purse Yorkshire Blue, Lubborn Somerset Camembert, Belton Farm Red Leicester and Isle of Man vintage cheddar with a selection of Fudge's nut & mixed seed biscuits, grapes, celery and chutney (v)
Choose from Belgian chocolate brownie, baked vanilla cheesecake or apple & rhubarb crumble (v)


text:
Telepresence…It Isn't Just for the Boardroom
The number of innovative ways video can be used these days is astounding. I advocated in my last post the benefits telepresence can deliver for remote workers, but it is extends much further— it is transforming how we communicate, collaborate, educate, provide healthcare, service customers, and more! The days of low resolution video conferencing or video only in the executive boardroom are long gone.
A recent CIO slideshow did a great job at highlighting the innovative use cases for video conferencing and telepresence – all the way from 3D holograms to Cisco's own Jabber. The technologies CIO references show the vast ways these solutions are transforming the way we work, communicate, and collaborate.
As part of a team with members across the country, I rely on telepresence to connect and strengthen relationships with my individual team members. When traveling, I also use Cisco Jabber Video for TelePresence to stay in touch with my husband and dog Henry who use Cisco TelePresence technology from my home office (don't believe me, check out the photo below).
As video becomes more pervasive we can expect to see more innovative uses– not only to improve business processes but to generate new revenue streams, host events, build relationships and improve customer service.
For example, we recently hosted a series of wine tasting events to show our customers the many possibilities of telepresence. We connected renowned wine expert Michael Green from a remote location to customers in Reston, Virginia, New York and San Jose, California. During these events, Michael took participants on a "tasting journey" from Spain to Sonoma where they could ask questions and learn some new tips and tricks for wine tasting.
This event is further proof that a virtual in-person experience with telepresence can broaden the possibilities of remote events. Even though Michael was not physically present customer s were engaged and experienced Michael's robust personality and passion for wine.
Beyond our recent wine tasting experience, we are already seeing telepresence entering into the battlefield and into healthcare.
Collaboration and telepresence technologies are bringing a smarter, more connected future for us all. Are you ready to help make it happen?
In an effort to keep conversations fresh, Cisco Blogs closes comments after 60 days. Please visit the Cisco Blogs hub page for the latest content.


text:
We're sorry, but online registration is not available for this activity. Please contact the park during regular business hours for registration information.
2400 E. 105th St.Chicago, IL, US 60617
Description: This is a fun and safe after school activity for grammar school age children, providing them with a variety of activities including sports, dance, arts and crafts, homework time, music and more.
Michael P. Kelly, General Superintendent & CEO
541 N. Fairbanks Ct.
Chicago, IL 60611, USA
Tel. (312) 742.7529 | TTY: (312) 747.2001


text:
Allow yourself to imagine the lifestyle you've always wanted, in the home you deserve!
This truly impressive home has enough space to accommodate the most vibrant family lifestyle.
Built for entertaining, the Somerset features four living zones, including an open-plan kitchen with family and dining areas, a covered patio and a huge games room with built-in bar.
The spacious master bedroom has its own private retreat, and there is an ensuited guest room for visiting relatives.
The designated kids' zone comes complete with activity room, study nook and a central main bathroom, while a private office and media room.
Inquire now
View Brochure
Standard Features
Additional Features
Looking for more information? Please follow the prompts below and we'll get in touch as soon as possible.
The information you have shared will only be used by G.J.Gardner in accordance with our terms & conditions
View details about our program
Receive the latest news
By clicking Submit, you agree to receive information, promotions and offers from G.J. Gardner Homes.
The information you have shared will only be used by G.J. Gardner Homes in accordance with our
privacy policy


text:
Two life-threatening conditions. One remarkable wish.
Read more
Read clinical updates and the latest insights from Boston Children's specialists.
MyPatients is a tool for referring providers that gives you access to information about your patient's care.
Learn more
Dana-Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center
Go to all centers & services »
Talk to your healthcare provider about getting your child immunized today.
If this is a medical emergency, please dial 9-1-1. This form should not be used in an emergency. This form is being transmitted via a secure connection.
Contact the International Center
For 150 years, families have come from around the corner and across the world, looking to Boston Children's for answers. This is the place where the most difficult challenges are faced head on, where the impossible becomes possible, and where families in search of answers find them.
300 Longwood Avenue,
Boston, MA 02115
© 2005-2019 All Rights Reserved


text:
Hold On to Your Hats, Sports Fans...
Wreckporter Barry B. gives us the skinny:
They said, "The Chicago C? No problem."
Let's hope that Justina felt the same way about her University of Michigan cake, which was supposed to look like this:
Karen M.'s son asked for the Alabama "A" on his birthday cake. To help the bakery out, his aunt brought in a photocopy of his Alabama hat to use as a reference.
(Can you sense where this is going? If not, then you really haven't been reading this blog long enough. Heh.)
Here's the cake:
Thank goodness they didn't bring the actual hat in; that icing would take forever to clean off.


text:
Nut Container
This page collects opinions about the NUT container format.
Comparison with Ogg
Monty writes: "NUT is very similar to Ogg (at least when compared to the other contemporary systems). It draws the abstraction lines in different places but has roughly the same functionality and hits the same practical limitations when considered in a system more complex than a desktop video player.
"Nor can we take lightly the prospect of abandoning a hundred million installed copies of Ogg (including those in hardware) for no distinct practical benefit."


text:
ASA Annual National Conference
Event Information
12 Oct 2010 (All day) - 17 Oct 2010 (All day)
- Melbourne
- Australia, Victoria
Other Information
- Cost: To be advised
- firstname.lastname@example.com
- 03 9823 8157
- Website
Future Proof: Resilient Archives 2020 and beyond.
The conference will showcase how resilient archives and archivists can be when grappling with ever increasing quantities and variant forms of records, questions surrounding professional principles, practical methodologies, and the provision of access to archival collections continue to engage our attention.
The conference will examine generational change in archives and the wider social context and consider how the archives profession might respond to challenges and opportunities on offer. It will explore how archivists and archives services can achieve sufficient flexibility and resilience to thrive in the future, and examine implications of changes to traditional understandings of what an archive is and does. Measuring the worth of archives and their contribution to social capital will also be a major theme.
The conference will interest everyone involved in the collection and management of archives; in public and private organisations; and the wider community who benefit from the archives kept and maintained.
Please note the dates of the conference and keep an eye out for future updates on the website. I look forward to seeing you in Melbourne in October 2010.
Early Bird Registration for the ASA National Conference 2010 will open soon. All registrations will be on-line on the ASA website. Stay tuned for information on accommodation packages.
- Login to post comments


text:
Dumplings, Buddha's Delight and almond cookies ideal for Chinese New Year
Diana Kuan's new book, "The Chinese Takeout Cookbook," is full of recipes for those classic Chinese foods that people love to order in restaurants or take home.
Here are three recipes from the book that can be eaten any time but are also suitable for serving at Chinese New Year.
A perpetual favourite for snacks or meals, dumplings are fun to make at home and easily adaptable to suit your cravings.
A favourite combination for the filling is pork and mushrooms, with the richness of the pork complementing the earthiness of the mushrooms. But feel free to vary the ingredients. Pork and cabbage is a Beijing classic, while lamb with leeks is popular in western China. If you love seafood, try shrimp and crab. For vegetarians, spinach with mushrooms and scallions makes an incredibly tasty combination.
As for dipping sauces, you can use soy sauce or sriracha sauce alone or make a soy and vinegar dipping sauce.
Any dumplings you don't cook right away can be frozen for a quick meal or snack later on. They can also be pan-fried or boiled straight out of the freezer; just add 1 minute to the boiling time or steaming part of the pan-frying.
1 pkg dumpling wrappers (about 50)
Peanut or vegetable oil, for pan-frying (about 15 ml/1 tbsp per dozen)
8 dried shiitake mushrooms
500 g (1 lb) ground pork
2 scallions, finely chopped
15 ml (1 tbsp) soy sauce
15 ml (1 tbsp) Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
15 ml (1 tbsp) sesame oil
1 ml (1/4 tsp) salt
0.5 ml (1/8 tsp) freshly ground black pepper
Filling: Soak shiitake mushrooms in warm water for 15 to 20 minutes. Drain and squeeze out excess water. Discard stems and finely chop mushroom caps.
In a large bowl, mix together mushrooms, pork, scallions, soy sauce, rice wine, sesame oil, salt and pepper. Set aside.
Keep wrappers covered with a slightly damp towel until ready to use to prevent them from drying out. Fill a ramekin or small bowl with water and have it next to you; this will be for sealing the dumplings.
Take a wrapper and place a heaping 5 ml (1 tsp) of filling in the middle. Be careful not to put in too much or it will leak out during folding process.
Dip your finger in the water and moisten wrapper edges all around. Take the dumpling in your hand and fold the wrapper in half without sealing it. With your right thumb and index finger, make a pleat in the centre of the top layer of the wrapper, leaving the bottom layer unpleated.
Make 2 more identical pleats in the same direction, until you end up with 3 pleats on the right side. With your left thumb and index finger, make 2 more pleats on the left side. Press all the pleats to seal. The finished wrapped dumpling should resemble a crescent.
Lay finished dumpling on a plate. Keep dumplings covered with a slightly damp towel while you repeat the process with the remaining ingredients.
For pan-frying, make sure to use a large flat-bottomed skillet or a wok with a wide flat surface area and have a lid ready. Heat skillet over medium-high heat until a bead of water sizzles and evaporates on contact. Add 15 ml (1 tbsp) of the peanut oil and swirl to coat the bottom.
Working in batches, line dumplings in pan, smooth side down. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes or until the smooth side starts to brown. Reduce heat to medium. Carefully add about 125 ml (1/2 cup) water to the pan, and immediately cover with a lid to contain the spitting oil. Let dumplings steam for 4 to 5 minutes or until all or most of the water has evaporated. Remove lid and loosen dumplings with a spatula. They should be golden brown on the bottom. Turn off the heat.
If you are doing repeated batches, wash and dry pan or wipe it out so that there is no residual water when you pan-fry your next batch. Repeat pan-frying process with remaining dumplings, adding more oil as necessary, or freeze some for a rainy day.
(Alternatively, if you would rather boil your dumplings, just cook them in a pot of boiling water for 4 to 5 minutes.)
Serve hot with soy sauce, chili sauce, or Soy and Vinegar Dipping Sauce (recipe follows).
Makes about 50 dumplings, serves 8 to 10 as an appetizer
45 ml (3 tbsp) soy sauce
30 ml (2 tbsp) Chinese black vinegar
5 ml (1 tsp) sesame oil or chili oil
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, black vinegar and sesame oil.
Transfer sauce to small sauce dishes and serve. It's best to use immediately as the sauce loses its potency if refrigerated.
Buddha's Delight is traditionally served on the first day of Chinese New Year, a practice stemming from an old Buddhist custom of spiritual cleansing. In fact, the recipe's Cantonese name is simply jai, meaning "vegetarian food."
Some ingredients, such as lily buds and bean thread noodles, may require a special trip to a Chinese market. If you are unable to find lily buds, Kuan says they can be omitted.
8 dried shiitake mushrooms
8 dried lily buds
50 ml (1/4 cup) bamboo shoots (fresh or canned)
125 ml (1/2 cup) snow peas
50 ml (1/4 cup) canned water chestnuts
125 g (4 oz) bean thread noodles
250 g (1/2 lb) extra-firm tofu
15 ml (1 tbsp) peanut or vegetable oil
7 ml (1 1/2 tsp) minced fresh ginger
250 ml (1 cup) shredded napa cabbage
500 ml (2 cups) vegetable broth
45 ml (3 tbsp) soy sauce
22 ml (1 1/2 tbsp) hoisin sauce
15 ml (1 tbsp) sesame oil
15 ml (1 tbsp) light brown sugar
In a bowl of warm water, soak shiitake mushrooms and lily buds for 15 to 20 minutes. Squeeze out excess water. Discard stems from mushrooms and thinly slice mushroom caps. (For extra mushroom flavour, reserve soaking liquid and add it to the dish.) Slice rough black ends off lily buds and discard; cut lily buds in half and pull apart the strands.
Rinse bamboo shoots and slice thinly. Trim and discard hard ends from snow peas and cut snow peas lengthwise. Drain and finely chop water chestnuts.
In a large bowl, soak bean thread noodles in enough warm water to cover for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, shake off excess water and set aside.
Drain and rinse tofu, then pat dry with paper towels. Slice into 2.5-cm (1-inch) cubes.
Sauce: In a small bowl, stir together vegetable broth, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil and brown sugar. Set aside.
Heat a wok, Dutch oven or deep 36-cm (14-inch) skillet over medium heat until a bead of water sizzles and evaporates on contact.
Add peanut oil and swirl to coat bottom. Add ginger and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add mushrooms, lily buds, bamboo shoots, snow peas, water chestnuts, cabbage and tofu. Add sauce and mushroom soaking liquid (if using) and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer, cover and cook for 3 to 4 minutes.
Remove lid, add drained bean thread noodles, cover wok again and simmer for about another 5 minutes or until noodles are cooked. (Don't worry if the dish looks a little soupy; the noodles will absorb remaining broth.)
Ladle everything into a deep serving dish and serve hot.
Makes 4 servings as part of a multicourse meal.
Almond cookies have a nutty fragrance and lightly sweet crunch. This recipe is an easy way to whip up dozens of these cookie classics.
625 ml (2 1/2 cups) all-purpose flour
250 ml (1 cup) sugar
2 ml (1/2 tsp) baking soda
2 ml (1/2 tsp) salt
250 g (1/2 lb or 2 sticks) unsalted butter, cut into pieces and softened
2 large eggs, beaten
10 ml (2 tsp) almond extract
40 whole almonds
1 large egg, beaten, for glaze
Heat oven to 160 C (325 F).
In a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat in softened butter a few pieces at a time at low speed, until texture resembles that of cornmeal. Beat in eggs and almond extract until a smooth dough is formed.
Roll dough between your palms into 3-cm (1 1/4-inch) balls and place them 5 cm (2 inches) apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Using the palm of your hand, gently flatten each ball and place an almond in the middle of each. Brush the top of each cookie with egg glaze.
Bake for 18 to 20 minutes or until cookies are golden on top, rotating the top and bottom baking sheets halfway through.
Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool for at least 5 minutes before serving. The cookies will keep for up to 3 to 4 days in an airtight container.
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.
Source: "The Chinese Takeout Cookbook: Quick and Easy Dishes to Prepare at Home" by Diana Kuan (Ballantine Books, 2012).


text: How To Make an Inverter 12v to 220v? Unknown 07:16 videos Comment EEW - Electrical Engineering World is the worldwide community with members engaged in the electrical power industry. Mission: ENERGY & POWER FOR ALL :Category Videos :Video's Title ?How To Make an Inverter 12v to 220v Click here to watch this video Email ThisBlogThis!Share to TwitterShare to Facebook Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterPlus on Google+


text:
ABBYY FineReader Pro for Mac Update includes supported compatibility with Mac OS 10.13 High Sierra:
- Download the update file: (ABBYY_FineReader_Pro_ESD.dmg).
- When the .dmg file has finished downloading, a Finder window opens.
- If it doesn't open, go to the Finder, open the Download folder and click the ABBYY_FineReader_Pro_ESD.dmg file.
- In the Finder window, drag the FineReader logo on to the Applications folder.


text:
The 125cc sportsbike class is where riding careers begin. For the vast majority of new riders, these machines are the first step on a path that could lead anywhere, right to the top. For this reason 125ccsportsbikes have a huge responsibility. They must be just as rewarding to ride as bigger Supersports machines, particularly where engine power is less important, such as in town and on very twisty roads. They must be easy to ride too, patiently nurturing new riders and building their confidence on two wheels. If a 125cc sportsbike can put its rider at ease with the fundamentals of control then it has done its job.
Of course the perfect 125cc sportsbike is also huge fun to ride. Such machines are motorcycling's first chance to capture a rider's imagination; its opportunity to show just how exhilarating and rewarding riding can be, not to mention how much more practical it is as a means of travelling today's congested urban roads. This can only be achieved by offering a machine that's designed from the ground up as a sportsbike - delivering the crisp responses and thrilling performance young riders demand.
Reliability and low maintenance are all-important. Any rider's first bike is likely to be called upon to perform a huge range of tasks, from weekend leisure riding to weekday commuting. Absolute reliability must be a given, while low running costs and hassle-free ownership are also critical. Ideally, it should also offer a comfortable pillion seat, allowing a young rider to share the fun with friends.
Since its introduction in 2004 the CBR125R has represented the ideal first sportsbike. Compact, lightweight and blessed with the refinement, ease of use and welcoming handling that have become synonymous with the CBR family, it has become a popular machine with young riders the world over. But the time has come for a more sophisticated 125cc sportsbike, a 125 with the quality feel associated with bigger machines.
Inspired by 2013 and 2014 MotoGP champion Marc Marquez the 2015 Honda CBR125R will be available with special Repsol #93 replica paint scheme.
Supersport bikes are the ultimate road motorcycles - high performance machines boasting the very latest in chassis and engine development. To ride they are exhilarating in the extreme, offering a thrill no other type of bike can match. The CBR125R has been designed to offer similar riding dynamics, giving young riders the opportunity to develop sports riding skills from the very earliest days of their careers.
Outstanding manoeuvrability
The CBR name is synonymous with superb handling at any speed, and the new CBR125R is no exception. Despite its slightly larger overall dimensions, this machine remains extraordinarily easy to handle, immediately giving new riders the confidence they need. Key to the CBR's manoeuvrability is its riding position, which is designed around the low 795mm seat. The location of the handlebars and footpegs has been designed for improved control while maintaining outstanding rider comfort. Together with the contoured fuel tank, the result is an unmistakably sporty but easygoing riding position. The rider's weight is distributed evenly, creating a posture that isn't tiring to maintain and that doesn't in any way restrict movement.
Superb chassis balance
The CBR125R boasts a competitively low kerb weight of just 137kg. This mass is distributed perfectly between the front and rear wheels in a 48:52 weight distribution, while the compact single-cylinder engine helps keep the centre of gravity low. The result is a machine that feels instantly manageable, regardless of a rider's height or stature, so the rider feels completely in control.
Full fairing cowl
The CBR125R's dramatic new full fairing is more than a mere styling exercise. By providing protection from windblast, the fairing makes the rider more comfortable, particularly over long-distance journeys that can punish riders of Naked machines. The fairing also features a powerful one-piece headlight and bright taillight for superb visibility at night.
New digital instruments
Digital instrumentation is now commonplace on large-capacity machines. The result is a thoroughly modern rider's eye-view, with speed, engine revs and engine temperature all visible at a glance. The display also includes a six-segment fuel gauge, a clock and an odometer/trip meter.
Passenger comfort
Grab handles on either side of the rear seat provide the sense of security so crucial to passenger comfort, leaving rider and pillion free to enjoy the ride.
As you'd expect of a machine with aspirations well beyond its modest engine size, the CBR125R has a full fairing cowl. The single headlight design sets the tone for the rest of the fairing, being both original in shape and suggestive of much more expensive motorcycles. From there the fairing quickly tapers rearward to a slim and sporty tail unit.
Since the compact new exhaust system finishes ahead of the rear axle, the back of the machine appears to float above the purposefully wide new rear tyre, creating a dynamic forward-biased silhouette.
Colouring concept
The CBR125R model uses a powerful single-cylinder liquid-cooled engine. The single-cylinder configuration boasts many advantages over a twin-cylinder engine of the same capacity, most noticeably lighter weight, smaller dimensions, improved fuel economy and mechanical simplicity.
Responsive single-cylinder configuration
Developing a peak power figure of 9.8kW at 10,000rpm and a peak torque figure of 10.4Nm at just 8000rpm, the CBR125R has the performance to make every ride a joy, whether it's commuting to work or college or riding open roads for the sheer thrill of it.
Honda's advanced PGM-FI system is key to the CBR125R's clean-revving and manageable performance. The system's Electronic Control Unit works with the electronic ignition to provide exactly the right fuel/air mix to the cylinder for any given combination of throttle position and engine revs. The result is a smooth power curve delivered with the accuracy and predictability needed to breed rider confidence. New FI settings also make the engine more fuel efficient.
Slick six-speed transmission
The CBR125R uses a mechanically actuated clutch for fine control and a light feel at the clutch lever. The transmission's six ratios complement the engine's flexible power delivery perfectly, giving the CBR125R the performance young riders demand.
Easy to live with
Few engines in motorcycling are more rugged or affordable to run than the CBR125R's liquid-cooled single. The electric start means the machine is ready to go at the push of a button, while its outstanding efficiency means superb fuel economy, delivering an impressive range from the slim and compact 13-litre fuel tank. Because the fuel tank can be smaller for a given range, in turn this helps create a lighter and more compact motorcycle.
Lightweight frame
The CBR125R uses a lightweight pentagonal-section steel twin-spar frame. The design is a proven one, linking the critical areas of the headstock and the swingarm pivot point using a straight and unbroken spar on both sides of the engine. The design delivers the rigidity required of a sportsbike frame while also being light and compact.
Sporty, user-friendly geometry
The chassis feel of the CBR125R treads a line between the swift responses required of a Supersports machine and the reassuring predictability that develops rider confidence. The wheelbase is one of the shortest in its class at just 1310mm, ensuring the CBR125R flicks through bends with a fluidity and grace none of its rivals can match. However a trail figure of 90mm means this thrilling agility never threatens to cause instability. In short the CBR125R is ready for anything, from super-smooth open roads to the traffic-packed and bumpy challenge of the city.
A refined suspension package
Control and a superb ride feel are guaranteed by the CBR125R's premium suspension components. The front wheel is controlled by a 31mm hydraulic telescopic fork, while the rear tubular steel swingarm mounts to a Monoshock for sporty control and exceptional comfort. While in its element on the kind of smooth and twisting roads Supersports machines of all sizes revel in, the CBR125R also has the chassis sophistication to remain stable and comfortable on the roughest back roads.
Big-bike wheels, tyres and brakes
The CBR125R uses tyres and wheels of a size more commonly associated with the 250cc class. The lightweight new 100/80-17 front and 130/70-17 rear cast wheels use a striking five-spoke design and bring both stability and increased grip. They also underline the CBR125R's full-sized credentials - this is a serious motorcycle. They are slowed by equally impressive braking systems, with powerful disc brakes front and rear. The front brake uses a 276mm disc gripped by a twin-piston caliper, while at the rear a 220mm disc and single-piston caliper offer the accuracy and feel that make low-speed manoeuvres easy.
Engine Type
Liquid-cooled 4-stroke 2-valve SOHC single
Displacement Cc
Bore X Stroke
58 ´ 47.2mm
Compression Ratio
11 : 1
Max Power Output
9.8kW @ 10,000rpm
Max Torque
10.4Nm @ 8000rpm
Tyre Size Front
Tyre Size Rear
Brakes Front
276 x 4mm dual hydraulic disc with dual-piston caliper and sintered metal pads
Brakes Rear
220 x 4mm hydraulic disc with single-piston caliper and sintered metal pads
1946mm x 704mm x 1089mm
Seat Height
Ground Clearance
Kerb Weight