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I am a new homeowner and know literally almost nothing about home improvement. I would like to learn basic concepts by doing things one at a time...but I can't just jump in and do most things. Are there any good resources (websites/books) that provide project ideas or tutorials that are organized from extremely basic to very advanced? I could use this to start with things extremely basic and learn skills and get ideas as I go.
Welcome! You will certainly find lots of specific questions and answers on this site but not as many general how-tos; it is after-all a Q&A site.
Firstly, you need some tools! There is a great thread on this site about the tools everyone should own, I suggest you give it a read!
The internet is a great resource and you will find answers to almost any problem or project you have. If you are looking for some more general knowledge, I'd recommend taking a look at the books section of your local hardware store. They usually have some good beginner books on plumbing, electrical, painting and other common around-the-house work. This particular book rated well on Amazon in the "how to do everything" category. Certainly high up on the list of common tasks for home owners are basic electrical and plumbing: Changing light fixtures, switches, dimmers, thermostats, unplugging drains and toilets, replacing faucets and/or components. Typically, the easier projects revolve around replacing existing components , whereas more complex projects involve new installs or big modifications.
Also take a look at this sites blog as it has some good walk-throughs.
If I can give you any advice it is that you can do anything you put your mind and hands to - don't be afraid! Read-up and give it a try! But also know when you are in over your head and you should bring in a pro. Stay away from serious electrical work, and never try anything gas-related on your own.
Good luck and have fun!
Pick up a copy of New Complete Do-It-Yourself Manual from Reader Digest.
This is an awesome book, and a great resource when you're just starting out in home repair.
Well, I'm not sure how your inspection report went, but mine was a "great" list of home improvement ideas!
But really, you need to figure out what your house is lacking, make a list, figure out the complexity of each job, then go from there.
Your home will give you ideas on what projects that should be done, because you will see things that need "improving". Start small and work your way up to larger projects.
Some good starter projects:
A small project would be one you could complete in a day or less and should not require any specialized skill set other than following instructions and using some basic tools.
Bigger projects require planning, more resources, a more comprehensive toolset, and will take longer than a day to complete. It also might require professional help (specialized trade) as well and knowledge of building codes.
So plan and choose wisely before tackling any big projects.
Learning to DIY and acquiring new home improvement skills is pretty straightforward if you think about it as a process. There is so much information on youtube, Lowe's website, etc, but you have to know what to do with that information. Here's how I like to think about tackling home improvement projects when I've never done them before:
Learn by doing a project First of all, the best way to learn DIY home improvement skills is by working on a project. It's difficult to learn something as tangible and hands-on as home improvement in the abstract, so learning in a situation where you can apply your new knowledge is helpful.
Learn in multiple ways There are many ways to learn how to do home improvement. You could watch youtube videos or read how-to guides on the internet, you could learn by hands-on trial and practice, or you could learn from a teacher or knowledgeable friend. But honestly, the best way to learn is by doing at least two of these things. Ideally, you'll want to use instruction, whether digital, classroom or in-person instruction in combination with hands-on trial. It is shocking how things that look easy when someone else does them can take practice, but actually applying what you're taught with your own two hands is what solidifies your knowledge.
Approach Learning in stages Learning how to DIY and do home improvement is as much about getting your hands dirty as it is about taking a specific approach. This is how I like to break things down - it makes learning something new feel more manageable and these steps help me gain confidence as I go:
I've never used google helpouts or ehow now, but I know both of those services offer the ability to video chat with home improvement experts. If you don't know someone to ask for help in the event of a setback, turning to one of those services might be a good alternative.
Have Fun and Be Brave! It is really easy to be intimidated by DIY home improvement projects. But gaining experience is the best way to become more confident in your abilities. Be willing to consider doing projects yourself. If you get into the planning phases or deconstruction and realize you want to hire someone to do all or parts of it for you, it's easier than ever to make that happen with tools like Angies List, Thumbtack, Red Beacon and Porch. But you have to at least be willing to consider doing it yourself before hiring someone - definitely don't just assume you can't! You might just surprise yourself.
I would focus on a particular skill or system at a time, plumbing, electrical, painting etc. Once you get bored of one move on to another, but this allows you to feel like you're making progress in a lot of different areas.
For each project, Google away. I've also found it useful to have some books handy for electrical, plumbing, etc.
Follow blogs like www.askthebuilder.com, www.designbidbuild.com, www.thisoldhouse.com, and www.thefamilyhandyman.com
Got friends with DIY aspirations? My friends and I set up a work party rotation. We regularly help out with eachother's DIY projects. Usually at least one person knows something, or can do the research, and we all learn from eachother.
You'll still need the other answers about books, projects, etc. as a starting point, but teaming up really makes the learning take hold faster with less effort.
If you don't have any projects of your own yet, you could just offer your help. You can learn a lot while being someone else's third hand.


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Click the title of any of the items below to learn more.
Talos has put together a fantastic team of custom hard drives that are sure to make comic and movie fans smile.
Talos invites you to disguise your hard drive with these Apple TV inspired hardware costumes in time for Halloween.
Steve Jobs may not be in attendance, but the gang from the Iconfactory will. Stop by our booth in the ADP and say hello!
Social media blogger and Twitter junkie Wayne Sutton interviews Talos, Corey & Ged about all things Twitterrific.
Halloween creeps back into the Iconfactory with Talos' latest spooky freeware icon collection - Nimble Halloween.
A fantastic team of Apple TV inspired custom hard drives that are sure to make comic and movie fans smile.
Apple TV inspired Halloween drives
Halloween treats from the Iconfactory staff.
Desktop Folders replacement set
The undead are looking rather lively in these Halloween replacement folders for your desktop.
The Iconfactory search engine is a great tool to help you find whatever you are looking for. We have associated keywords with all of the content available on the site. These keywords span icon sets, desktop pictures, iPulse Jackets, software products, support items, design services projects and even news page postings.
In order to make it easy for you to find what you are looking for, we have built some features into our search engine that allow you to customize your search:

subset: commoncrawl


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On the day after Budget 2014, the IEA and the Taxpayers' Alliance co-hosted a post budget briefing with politicians and experts from across the political spectrum: Douglas Carswell MP (Conservative), Jeremy Browne MP (Lib Dem), Lord McFall (Labour), alongside the IEA's Editorial Director Philip Booth and chaired by the TPA Chief Executive Jonathan Isaby. Each gave a broad reaction to the budget, in particular focusing on the key measures announced, including on pensions and saving, personal taxation and the announcements made on energy policy.
Read IEA's Budget Submission here.
Read IEA's publication 'Sharper Axes, Lower Taxes' here.
Watch Paul Johnson on the public finances on ieaTV here.


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I am a student of Saint Petersburg State Polytechnical University, chair of Theoretical Mechanics. While looking into stability of ideal crystal lattices (2D and 3D) by means of molecular dynamics I have encountered a challenging analytical problem. To draw the stability regions I need to find the conditions on coefficients of certain homogeneous polynomials. Thus, three questions have occurred:
1) When is a homogeneous polynomial of the third degree in three variables over R positive on the positive octant?
2) When is a quadratic form in three variables over R positive on the positive octant?
3) When is a homogeneous polynomial of fourth degree in two variables over R positive?
Currently, I managed to write down only sufficient conditions which all actually base on what can be said about a quadratic form on the positive quadrant.
I would be grateful for any ideas on how to solve such problems. I apologize for any mistakes I might have made as far as terms are concerned.


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TOPEKA, Kan. (WIBW)-The Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce held its 32nd Annual Small Business Awards Wednesday afternoon.
Dozens of small business owners gathered at the Washburn University Memorial Union to recognize eachother's work here in town.
The finalists were selected for leaving their mark here in town as well as giving back to the community.
Although each of the four categories had just one winner, all of the small businesses were excited to be recognized and very proud to call Topeka home.
"It's a huge honor and reflects recognition of the entire team and what we do in the community and what we do for our member owners," said Greg Winkler, winner of the Capital City Business of Distinction Award.
Eileen Doran, winner of the Non-Profit Award, was also enthusiastic about her nomination and said, "It is quite an honor that people think what we do is important, so we are very very grateful.
"Locally owned businesses are really the heart and soul of the community and we all are in this together (and) maintain the integrity of the Topeka community," said Minority & Women Business of Distinction winner Diana Swafford.
The eventual winners of the night included:
Education Credit Union as Business of Distinction
Colorworks Paint and Supply for Minority and Women Business
Tarc in the Non-Profit category
Shop Gracie "B" as Emerging Entrepreneur


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The monthly rent shall be enhanced up to 10% every year
The monthly rent shall be enhanced by 10% every year
Note : used 'up to' instead of 'by' in above sentence.
The monthly rent shall be enhanced up to 10% every year
The monthly rent shall be enhanced by 10% every year
Note : used 'up to' instead of 'by' in above sentence.
closed as off topic by tchrist, cornbread ninja 麵包忍者, Hellion, Kristina Lopez, simchona♦ Mar 8 '13 at 19:05
Questions on English Language & Usage Stack Exchange are expected to relate to English language and usage within the scope defined by the community. Consider editing the question or leaving comments for improvement if you believe the question can be reworded to fit within the scope. Read more about reopening questions here.If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
I agree with Bill Franke. Your use of enhance is not appropriate. You have several options:
I assume you are talking about the lease of a property? If so, the use of shall is preferable to will, as in options C and D.
The first sentence upto 10% says that rent may be enhanced anything between 0% to 10% every year where as the second gives the exactness i.e, the rent will be enhanced by 10% not less nor greater than 10%.
There's a semantic error: the word enhanced is wrong, wrong, wrong.
is good American English (but not the only alternative). The choice between "will" and "shall" may be an American/British English choice.
"Up to 10%" can be replaced with "no more than 10%" or "exactly 10%", depending on which is preferred.
I feel that the best solution for this statement is:
The inclusion of "The" in the beginning gives the sentence an odd tone, though if monthly rent was referred to previously, it may be well-suited.
For a prospective renter, reading "may be increased" implies that there's a chance that rent will not be increased, whereas reading "will be increased" implies that rent will definitely be increased, regardless of the following "up to". This offers a strategic benefit.
And lastly, I feel that "by up to" rather than "up to" flows better. This may be my personal preference.


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Harley Quinn's Greatest Moments from "Batman: The Animated Series"
TV, Comic Books
Showing results 156-205 of 365
Superior Spider-Man #4
In "Superior Spider-Man" #4, Dan Slott and Giuseppe Camuncoli nudge Doc Ock towards more moral crossroads, as the Superior Spider-Man faces threats to his ego and the unceremonious arrival of other big-time villains into his town.
|February 25th, 2013
Indestructible Hulk #4
Mark Waid and Leinil Yu pit the Hulk against Attuma in "Indestructible Hulk" #4 -- but series still doesn't feel like it clicks.
|February 21st, 2013
Powers: Bureau #1
Deena Pilgrim and Christian Walker are back and they've been promoted to Federal Agents in Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming's relaunched "Powers" series -- "Powers: Bureau" #1.
|February 14th, 2013
Scarlet #6
In "Scarlet" #6 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev, Scarlet begins her violent revolution, starting with Portland.
|February 11th, 2013
Superior Spider-Man #3
"Superior Spider-Man" #3 by Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman pits the Superior Spider-Man against a classic Spidey foe with a shocking outcome.
|February 11th, 2013
Hawkeye #7
"Hawkeye" #7 by Matt Fraction is a slice-of-life story in which the two Hawkeyes face a natural disaster from separate locations. Guest artists Steve Lieber and Jesse Hamm handle Clint Barton and Kate Bishop's stories, respectively.
|February 4th, 2013
Superior Spider-Man #2
"Superior Spider-Man" #2 continues the ruse of Doctor Octopus in Peter Parker's body thanks to the imagination and talents of Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman.
|January 31st, 2013
Uncanny Avengers #3
"Uncanny Avengers" #3 from Rick Remender and John Cassaday is a fight comic with a lot of text. The Red Skull takes aim at the team to bend them to his will.
|January 24th, 2013
Indestructible Hulk #3
"Indestructible Hulk" #3 from Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu lets Hulk take on the Quintronic Man and adds a few flourishes to the world of the book.
|January 18th, 2013
Superior Spider-Man #1
"Superior Spider-Man" #1 from Dan Slott and Ryan Stegman is a perfect jumping on point for anyone looking for a little arachnid action in a completely new, and yet still insanely fun, way.
|January 8th, 2013
Amazing Spider-Man #700
As 2012 comes to a close, "Amazing Spider-Man" #700 by Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos delivers a praiseworthy ending to one of Marvel's most long-running series.
|December 27th, 2012
America's Got Powers #4
Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch return with "America's Got Powers" #4, but a long delay appears to have hurt its momentum.
|December 24th, 2012
Supreme #67
Erik Larsen's wrapping up his short-lived "Supreme" run with a fight between Mean Supreme and Omni-Man from "Invincible," even as the other Supremes try to find a way to get their powers back.
|December 21st, 2012
Hawkeye #6
Matt Fraction and David Aja timely and seasonal "Hawkeye" #6 is a delicious treat, just like the previous five issues, but with a little holiday sparkle.
|December 21st, 2012
Indestructible Hulk #2
Iron Man drops by for a guest spot in Mark Waid's "Indestructible Hulk" #2 and Leinil Francis Yu provides the visuals for the reunion.
|December 20th, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #699.1
Morbius takes center stage as he breaks out of the Raft in this issue from Joe Keatinge (with an assist from Dan Slott) and artist Valentine De Landro
|December 13th, 2012
Hawkeye #5
Matt Fraction and Javier Pulido deliver the thrill-tinged finale of "The Tape" in "Hawkeye" #5. Can one of Marvel's best titles make it five fantastic issues in a row?
|December 10th, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #699
Dan Slott and Humberto Ramos ramp up the tension as Peter Parker searches for a way to escape Dr. Octopus' dying body in "Amazing Spider-Man" #699.
|December 6th, 2012
Astonishing X-Men Annual #1
|November 29th, 2012
Uncanny Avengers #2
"Uncanny Avengers" #2 feels slow paced by Rick Remender and John Cassaday as the Red Skull's plan begins to reveal itself, but there are some inventive bits here and there that shine.
|November 27th, 2012
Wolverine and the X-Men #21
After the events of "Avengers Vs. X-Men," it seems only fitting that Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw would take the mutants to the circus in "Wolverine & the X-Men" #21.
|November 26th, 2012
Hawkeye #4
"Hawkeye" #4 from Matt Fraction and Javier Pulido is an old school Bond-style tale in Madripoor with neat twists and just the right amount of Madame Masque.
|November 23rd, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #698
Dan Slott and Richard Elson present "Amazing Spider-Man" #698 with a game-changing reveal as the series rockets towards its inevitable conclusion.
|November 21st, 2012
Indestructible Hulk #1
Mark Waid and Leinil Francis Yu's "Indestructible Hulk" #1 begins new era for Bruce Banner as he becomes more accepting of his big green "disease."
|November 20th, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #697
The war between two Hobgoblins reaches its explosive conclusion in "Amazing Spider-Man" #697 by Dan Slott, Christos Gage and Giuseppe Camuncoli, with Peter Parker and Max Modell caught in the middle.
|November 19th, 2012
Wolverine and the X-Men #19
With the crossover finally over, Jason Aaron and Nick Bradshaw continue the path of strong stories in "Wolverine & the X-Men" with a search for a new teacher, plus the fates of Broo and the new Hellfire Club.
|October 30th, 2012
Incredible Hulk #15
Jason Aaron and Jefte Palo take the fight to Doctor Doom in "Incredible Hulk" #15 as Aaron's year of offbeat Hulk stories concludes in the third and final part of "Hulk United."
|October 25th, 2012
Invincible Iron Man #527
Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca deliver "Invincible Iron Man" #527 as the final issue of the series, but not before changing the flight pattern of the Armored Avenger.
|October 24th, 2012
Hawkeye #3
Matt Fraction and David Aja continue to show the world what superhero comics can and should be with "Hawkeye" #3.
|October 18th, 2012
Uncanny Avengers #1
"Uncanny Avengers" #1 by Rick Remender and John Cassaday presents an impressive first installment about the newest team of Avengers to form following "Avengers Vs. X-Men."
|October 10th, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #695
Steve McNiven's gorgeous "Amazing Spider-Man" #695 cover shows us all of the players in this issue and indicates that the Kingpin just might be the source of Spider-Man's greatest headache ever.
|October 5th, 2012
Avengers Vs. X-Men #12
Jason Aaron and Andy Kubert bring "Avengers Vs. X-Men" home with this final issue of Marvel's big showdown summer event.
|October 3rd, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #694
"Amazing Spider-Man" #694 is supposed to be the end of the Alpha storyline, but is it the end of the road for Alpha?
|September 27th, 2012
Wolverine & the X-Men #16
Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo bring an odd tale about (and from the perspective of) Kade Kilgore, King of the Hellfire Club, and in one way or another, a future player in the lives of the X-Men.
|September 14th, 2012
Avengers Vs. X-Men #11
Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel wind down "Avengers vs. X-Men" with a character death that readers have predicted for months, and a closing moment that is also a wee bit predictable and overdue.
|September 12th, 2012
Hawkeye #2
"Hawkeye" #2 is a stellar example of comic storytelling and collaboration that shows another case file from Clint Barton's off-duty hours.
|September 7th, 2012
America's Got Powers #3
The third issue of "America's Got Powers" by Jonathan Ross and Bryan Hitch bring to light the dark secrets of those behind the games.
|August 26th, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #692
What do you get a superhero for his fiftieth birthday? How about a $5.99 oversized comic book like "Amazing Spider-Man" #692?
|August 23rd, 2012
Amazing Spider-Man #691
With half of the Horizon Labs staff transformed by the Lizard, Spider-Man is working against time and nature in "Amazing Spider-Man" #691.
|August 20th, 2012
Avengers Vs. X-Men #10
With Namor, Colossus, and Magik out of the picture, the Phoenix Force rests solely with Emma and Scott just as Hope's promise begins to show in "Avengers Vs. X-Men" #10.
|August 20th, 2012
Hulk: Season One
Fred Van Lente and Tom Fowler's retelling of the Hulk's earliest adventures is -- if you'll excuse the pun -- nothing short of incredible.
|August 20th, 2012
Supreme #66
Erik Larsen's run on "Supreme" continues with what feels like two very different books deliberately grafted together; one about the Liefeld-created Supreme, the other about the Moore-revamped Supreme -- but one half is better than the other
|August 15th, 2012
Incredible Hulk #12
Wolverine and the Thing make a guest appearance in "Incredible Hulk" #12 by Jason Aaron and Carlos Pacheco -- who better to deal with a threat from the Jade Giant?
|August 13th, 2012
Avengers Vs. X-Men #9
In "Avengers Vs. X-Men" #9, Spider-Man and a contingent of Avengers face the X-Men and teach the Phoenix Four a lesson or two about power and responsibility.
|August 1st, 2012
Hawkeye #1
Matt Fraction and David Aja team up for a home run of a first issue, something completely beautiful and nearly unique in superhero comics, with "Hawkeye" #1
|July 31st, 2012
Wolverine & the X-Men #14
"Wolverine & the X-Men" #14 lets Jason Aaron and Jorge Molina show us a side-story of "Avengers vs. X-Men" as Colossus and Shadowcat go on a date -- and unsurprisingly, disaster ensues.
|July 26th, 2012
Avengers Vs. X-Men #8
"Avengers Vs. X-Men" #8 features Namor going all Phoenix-powered Imperius Rex all over Wakanda, pitting the Avengers against just one of the Phoenix Five with near disastrous results.
|July 19th, 2012
Wolverine & the X-Men #13
Gladiator thinks he can take on the Phoenix Five in "Wolverine & the X-Men" #13. He's not exactly right.
|July 16th, 2012
Avengers Vs. X-Men #7
There's enough to entertain, but "Avengers vs. X-Men" #7 is a reminder that this event doesn't need 12 issues.
|July 5th, 2012
Hit-Girl #1
"Hit-Girl" #1 goes back in time as Dave and Mindy regroup following the events of the first "Kick-Ass" series.
|July 2nd, 2012


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Raising Children Free of Prejudice
4 of 9
Parenting in White Families
White parents face some different issues in raising their children to be free of prejudice. The realization that their race protects them from directly experiencing most kinds of prejudice will call for some different responses. But one basic approach is the same: remembering that all children learn their attitudes from the adults around them. And so for white parents, taking a careful look at their own feelings about other ethnic and racial groups is a most important first step in helping their children to grow up without prejudice.
A second crucial step is understanding that our children learn most from their day-to-day experience. We must not, of course, speak or act in prejudicial ways. But that's not enough by itself. Children can absorb prejudices from the world around them, or simply grow up without knowing anything about other racial groups. White parents must actively work to help their children develop healthy racial attitudes.
More on: Diversity Awareness


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Despite modest numbers, Doty makes Huskies better
By Roger Cleaveland Republican-American
Not a subscriber? You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition. CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
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Intestinal gas is always present throughout the length of the digestive tract, from the stomach to the rectum. We notice intestinal gas only if it is excessive or causing pain.
Excess intestinal gas in the stomach or upper intestine may result in excess burping or belching. Excess intestinal gas in your lower intestine may result in increased gas being passed from your anus (flatulence). Excess gas from either location can cause cramping or pain, often without an obvious pattern.
Most people burp occasionally and people pass gas rectally several times a day as a normal part of daily activities and food breakdown. Sometimes, excessive intestinal gas can indicate a digestive disorder.
By itself, intestinal gas is rarely a sign or symptom of a serious condition. It can cause discomfort and embarrassment, but it's usually just a sign of a normally functioning digestive system. If you're bothered by intestinal gas, try changing your diet.
However, see your doctor if your gas is persistent or severe, or if it's associated with vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, unintentional weight loss, blood in the stool or heartburn.
Original article: http://www.mayoclinic.org/symptoms/intestinal-gas/basics/when-to-see-doctor/sym-20050922
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Mayo Clinic is a not-for-profit organization and proceeds from Web advertising help support our mission. Mayo Clinic does not endorse any of the third party products and services advertised.
A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "Mayo," "Mayo Clinic," "MayoClinic.org," "Mayo Clinic Healthy Living," and the triple-shield Mayo Clinic logo are trademarks of Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.


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If there is an error when sending the mail,
use your back button on yout web browser and correct the error.
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A Brief Comment (150 char max / 25 word max)
Fraud? No, spider delays Mass. town's vote count
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Tuesday, October 15, 2013 -
12:00pm to 1:00pm
The Bryan Library will be offering presentations on the new Affordable Care Act free to the public on October 14th and October 15th. A special representative from the AARP will be speaking on the basics of the new ACA program and answering any questions you might have on the subject. The presentations will be located in the West Annex building of the library. For more information please contact Kylee Matthews at 419-636-6734 ext. 274.
Events & Programs--Locations:


text:
Tax Aide
AARP Tax-Aide is a program of the AARP Foundation in conjunction with the IRS and is offered free of charge on a walk-in basis. The program's mission is to provide high-quality, free income tax assistance and tax form preparation to low- and moderate-income taxpayers, with special attention to those age 60 and older. Free filing is performed electronically.
When you come for tax assistance be sure to bring:
- Picture ID
- Social security cards for all persons on the tax return
- Tax information like W-2s, 1099s, 1098s, etc.
- Bank account numbers for direct deposit
- A copy of last year's tax return, if available
Appointments for both library sites may be scheduled by calling 757-259-4072 during site hours.
Federal tax forms will be available at both library locations. You can also download all tax forms from the IRS website at www.irs.gov.
State tax forms are NOT available at the libraries but can be obtained at the local Commissioner of Revenue offices and online from the Virginia Dept. of Taxation website, www.tax.virginia.gov.
Contact the Adult Services Desk at 259-4050 for more information. Additional tax information can be found here.


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Lumbar Laminectomy (cont.)
When to Seek Medical Care
Medically Reviewed by a Doctor on 3/20/2015
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Descriptions of treatment for low back pain (LBP) date to Hippocrates (460-370 BCE), who reported joint manipulation and use of traction.


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Tips for How Writers Can Benefit from Enterprise Social Networks
Gavin Austin
Many companies are transitioning from email to social networks, such as Chatter or Yammer. Why is this transition taking place and how can technical writers benefit from this shift in corporate collaboration? Learn tips and best practices to help you, or your documentation team, excel in the new world of enterprise social networks.
In 2010, salesforce.com created the Chatter social network, and our documentation and user assistance team learned how to use it to work more effectively within our department and across the organization. From our experience, you'll learn:
- Problems we faced when switching to an enterprise social network
- Implementation solutions
- Best practices
- Benefits
If you're trying to implement or work in an enterprise social network, this webinar will provide you with tips to help you work better.


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Crieftan wrote:Ledaig does not seem to have many fans. Not sure what their stategy is.
I don't altogether agree with supermarket deals. Whilst it is always good to get high quality produce such as Ardbeg at such a riculous price, in the ling term, what does this do for the humble distiller. Will the supermakets squeeze them until they start to cut costs until they close or are swallowed up by multinationals?
What profit is poured back into the distillery?
Supermarkets are good at cashing in on popular trends and bleeding producers dry.
With the current increasing popularity of whisky, let's hope they don't do to whisky as they do to milk, veg, chickens, etc
Aidan wrote:
Chieftan, I can sell you Ardbeg at hugely inflated prices. Then everyone's happy .
ikendal wrote:now I feel guilty.
Frodo wrote:Gordo wrote:Balvenie 10 yo Founders Reserve...33.00cdn(approx)
Macallan 15 yo Fine Oak...53.00 cdn (approx)
Yikes!!! . When do I move to Alberta!!!
Lawrence wrote:Yes, Alberta is the land of great prices, I've bought at the Real Canadian Liquor Store and found Springbank 10 for $50 when in BC it was selling for $100.
I've also found Laphroaig 10 for $32 and Aberlour 10 for $28 versus $55 and $45 in BC.
$28 for an Aberlour 10, that's the same price as a decent bottle of wine.


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I am working with ArcToolBox's tools and their python supports. I found there is some restriction on file size of shape files/feature classes etc. It makes me interested to know about is there any restriction with file size on these tools/python methods also? As an example, suppose I am using "Con" method of "Spatial Analyst Tools". Does this method has any size restriction? I read "tool help" document. But I found nothing about file size here.
This help topic discusses some of the raster format limitations for Spatial Analyst: Data formats supported by Spatial Analyst
While it is focused mainly on vector overlay operations, this blog post has many suggestions, including improvements made at 10.1 and 10.1 SP1. In particular, if you are working with very large datasets, then using 64-bit geoprocessing at 10.1 SP1 is recommended. Also notable is ESRI's stance (see comments section) on not providing specific numbers regarding internal limitations as there are (allegedly) far too many variables involved.
Beyond that, there is very little that you as a developer can do to ensure that your customers will not have problems processing very large datasets, just as they would without using your custom tool, especially if, as you say, you have to support ANY dataset in ANY format. All bets are off.


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Issue Date:
October, 2010
The November issue of Health Care News warns of an Obama administration crackdown on health insurers. In a letter to Karen Ignagni, president of America's Health Insurance Plans, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius warned there would be "zero tolerance" for "misinformation and unjustified rate increases."
Also in this issue:
- Sens. John Barrasso (R-WY) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), the two physicians currently serving in the U.S. Senate, have released a blistering study of President Barack Obama's health care law, revealing disconcerting data on the effects the law will have on the cost of health insurance and health care services.
- Higher costs under new regulations are putting further pressure on recession-battered state budgets.
- Several states need to reconsider their obsolete certificate of need laws, which inhibit building of new hospitals.
- New questions emerge as agency takes heat for Avandia approval.
- Missouri voters showed their displeasure at the ballot box by voting 79-21 against Obama's individual insurance mandate.
- Under Obamacare, IRS enforcement mechanisms will be applied to health care decisions at the individual and employer level.
- The raw milk movement has run afoul of government regulators, resulting in crackdowns in several states.
Newspaper Articles in this Issue
No matching newspaper articles


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Imagine strolling along a wide boulevard. Spectacular buildings in a variety of architectural styles surround you. You come to a plaza, complete with ornate benches and a gorgeous fountain with an elaborate statue. Where are you? A historical European city? No – this is Kansas City, Missouri!
Kansas City is home to fountains of over 200 varieties, having the second-largest collection of fountains in the world just behind Rome. This is the "Heart of America," and you just might lose yours to this gem on the prairie!
A gorgeous city that is pedestrian-friendly, affordable (in fact, it is one of the least expensive cities in the nation), and filled with things to do – including a thriving arts scene and some of the world's best barbecue – you'd think everyone would be hunting for apartments in Kansas City! But Kansas City actually made Conde Nast Traveler's list of the nation's "Most Underrated Cities for Millennials."
Since you are ready to explore Kansas City apartments, you may have already discovered all of the wonderful things this city has to offer. If not – here's what you need to know about living in Kansas City!
Things to Do in Kansas City:
Amazing BBQ and cool jazz – what more do you need to know?
Actually, Kansas City offers much more than sweet, tangy barbecue joints and the cool notes of jazz, but what a great place to start! As the Barbecue Capital of the World, Kansas City is home to more than 100 barbecue restaurants just in the metro area! Be sure to try Brobeck's Barbeque, the American Restaurant, and LC's Bar-B-Que.
After you find your favorite BBQ in KC, it's time to find your favorite jazz club. Be sure to check out Broadway Jazz Club, which features local jazz musicians. In June, the Jazz in the Woods music festival – the city's largest free music festival – is a must. Kansas City has more than 20 jazz clubs to choose from, as well as larger venues. The historic Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland opened in 1927 and has hosted some big names in music, including BB King, Paul Simon, and Tony Bennett. And if you want to learn more about KC and its long history with jazz, be sure to visit the American Jazz Museum.
Of course, you can't move to Kansas City and not take a walk down 18th and Vine, a downtown strip that is considered the cradle of jazz. The area is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is home to a variety of clubs, restaurants, and shops. If you want to live in this unique area, there are plenty of apartments in this Kansas City gem.
The unique Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art features a prized collection of European paintings by artists such as Rembrandt, Monet, Van Gogh, Rubens, and many others. The museum also features an extensive collection of Asian, American, Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and African art and the Kansas City Sculpture Garden. The museum is also famous for its sculptures of giant badminton shuttlecocks, created by Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen.
Speaking of art, be sure to take a tour of the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site. The house and studio are just as Missouri artist Thomas Hart Benton left them when he died in 1975. The house was built around 1903 and covers 7,800 square feet.
Founded in 1909, the Kansas City Zoo is home to more than 1,300 animals. This award-winning zoo has been named one of America's best zoos and is one of the nation's best for viewing chimpanzees and kangaroos. The zoo is located in Swope Park, a huge park that covers 1,805 acres. In addition to the zoo, the park is home to a swimming pool, a golf course, ball fields, the Starlight Theater, and a nature center.
When you are in the mood for roller coasters and water slides, Worlds of Fun and Oceans of Fun has you covered! The World of Fun is the only amusement park in Kansas City. In addition to roller coasters and other rides, Worlds of Fun features the Planet Snoopy Kids Area, Dinosaurs Alive!, restaurants, and theaters featuring live entertainment. Oceans of Fun features swimming pools, water slides, a lazy river, and Buccaneer Bay, a five-acre lake used for kayaking and canoeing.
Sports fans, get ready to cheer on the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium! This large stadium is part of the Truman Sports Complex and is one of the nation's largest football stadiums. Truman Sports Complex also contains Kauffman Stadium, home to the MLB's Kansas City Royals. In addition to game night, the stadiums also host a variety of concerts and other events.
The Harry S. Truman National Historic Site is also a must-see in Kansas City. This site features several properties associated with the 33 President, including the Truman Home in nearby Independence, Missouri and the Truman Farm Home in Grandview. The Harry S. Truman National Historic Site provides guided, self-guided, and audio tours.
The last thing you'd expect to find in downtown Kansas City is a seashell – especially a giant seashell. But you may think you've stumbled across one when you get a view of the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts! The structure resembles the spiral ridges of a conch shell, making it unique downtown landmark. The facility features 285,000 square feet of performance space, separated into two performance halls – a feature shared by only the Kennedy Center in DC and the Lincoln Center in New York City.
Kansas City has some great places to shop – including the historic City Market. This market has been operating since 1857 and is the region's largest farmers' market. City Market has more than 140 stalls and attracts nearly 600,000 per year. In addition to the fresh produce, baked goods, and other items, the City Market features restaurants, gift shops, and the Arabia Steamboat Museum.
What to Consider When Moving to Kansas City:
Sure, Kansas City is famous for BBQ and jazz, but did you know that it is also a regional hub for the US Government? In fact, the federal government is one of the largest employers in Kansas City with over 146 agencies located here. Other major employers include HCA Midwest, Sprint Corporation, and Cerner. Companies headquartered in KC include Hostess Brands, AMC Theaters, Barkley Inc., and Russell Stover Candies.
Looking for apartments in Kansas City might get a little overwhelming, considering you have more than 240 neighborhoods to explore! If you want to live in the heart of the city, some of Kansas City's downtown neighborhoods include Hyde Park, Ivanhoe, the Crossroads Art District, Quality Hill, and River Market.
Located just outside of downtown, the Plaza area is also popular. Neighborhoods here include Country Club, a historic and upscale group of neighborhoods dating back to 1906, and Brookside, which is home to the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Rockhurst University. Russell Stover Candies is also located in Brookside.
If you love to shop, the perfect neighborhood exists in KC, and that neighborhood in Country Club Plaza! It is a beautiful, upscale shopping plaza and neighborhood, featuring high-end boutiques, restaurants, offices, and entertainment. The neighborhood contains apartment buildings and mansions. The Plaza was named one of the World's Great Places by Project for Public Spaces.
Why Kansas City Apartments Are Hot:
What do you get when you take the world's best barbecue, add in fantastic jazz venues, heap in gorgeous fountains and fantastic architecture, and sprinkle with some history, great shops, and professional sports teams? You get one of the hottest cities in the Midwest! Kansas City is a fun, walkable, dynamic city with plenty to offer – including a strong economy and beautiful parks. The City of Fountains may resemble a European village, but Kansas City is truly the "Heart of America!"
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Featuring a Set of 1-carat created Yellow Topaz Round Brilliant cut Stud earrings - $6.49 Shipping for $0.01
Featuring a set of round brilliant cut perfectly created yellow Topaz stud earrings. Yellow Topaz is the birthstone for the month of November. Each setting is Hallmarked for authenticity, and factory stamped .925 to indicate its solid core of Sterling Silver. These stunning earrings are the perfect complement to any outfit day or night! Totaling approximately 1.00-carat, each high grade yellow gemstone is perfectly hand set for a timeless look. Classic yet modern in style, this set works for any occasion. When you shop at JewelryDOD.com, you don't have to spend $1000's to look like a Million!
Similar Earrings sell in Designer Stores & Boutiques for up to $50.00
Just got a set for my daughter! I hope the quality is as good as they show!


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Minister of Finance stresses the strength of the Saudi economy
April 3, 2009
Minister of Finance Dr. Ibrahim Al-Assaf offered assurances regarding the strength of the Saudi economy during a joint press conference in London last night with the Governor of the Saudi Arabian Monetary Agency (SAMA), Dr. Mohammed Al-Jasser.
"The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been in continuous economic recovery and the situation will improve for the better over the next year," said Dr. Al-Assaf. He added as a result of the economic policies pursued by the government with regard to its investment program and the diversity of local economic activities, "the Saudi economic growth has not been greatly affected by the economic crisis like other countries."
Dr. Al-Assaf observed that Saudi Arabia has adopted a Program of Investment and Development in Governmental and Monetary Sectors, which will have a fund of about $400 billion over five years. According to a study by the International Fund, which examined the economic policies of the G-20 countries, the Saudi program for investment in infrastructure and other programs is the largest in the group. The study noted that for three years the Kingdom has allocated about ten percent of its gross domestic product to the program.
Finally, Dr. Al-Assaf denied reports by world news agencies that the Kingdom has provided $ 90 billion to the International Monetary Fund, calling the claims baseless.
For his part, Dr. Al-Jasser reported that the Kingdom has joined the Council of Financial Stability (formerly the Financial Stability Forum), which is entrusted along with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to monitor financial sectors around the world.
He also noted that the Saudi financial sector has not suffered any serious problems and does not need re-capitalization or bailout operations.


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Food Banks Face Emptied Larders
Turkey, stuffing and pumpkin pie filled the kitchen of the Bowery Mission on Thursday morning, ready to serve 5,000 hungry people expected at sites around the city. But the annual Thanksgiving abundance doled out by the Lower East Side nonprofit group masked a troubling situation.
Sandy put a heavy strain on New York City's food banks and pantries, which distributed millions of pounds of food to storm victims while also feeding their normal clientele. Donations and federal assistance have helped with the shortfall, but officials at several large charities remain anxious about the months ahead.
"I do worry about after the holidays," said Matt Krivich, assistant director of the Bowery Mission, which distributed an estimated 80,000 pounds of supplies since the Oct. 29 storm, on top of 600 to 800 meals served daily. "There are still households that are strained and living off reserves," he said. "And what happens when their reserves run out?"
The superstorm hit an emergency-food system already weakened by the not-too-distant recession and years of sluggish job growth.
Food banks stepped in to help the unemployed and their families deal with rising costs amid cuts to the federal Emergency Food Assistance Program, the biggest source of sustenance for the needy, according to a report released this week by the Food Bank for New York City.
The group said it is supplying 25% fewer pantries and soup kitchens than it was five years ago, as closures weaken the safety net. The report says 1.4 million New Yorkers rely on these organizations for food, based on estimates made before Sandy left thousands homeless.
As the storm began to deplete resources, the Food Bank for New York City was forced to seek permission to tap reserves held at its warehouse for city and state government programs. Margarette Purvis, president and CEO of the charity, said she is uncertain of how to replace that food in the next few weeks, before public attention shifts away from the post-storm recovery.
"You always run that risk of donor fatigue," said Ms. Purvis. "We saw this same thing for Hurricane Katrina."
Benny Wechsler, who oversees food distribution for the Metropolitan Council on Jewish Poverty, said that before Sandy the group's warehouse in Brooklyn's Canarsie section was roughly 60% full with provisions meant to last through December.
Post-storm outreach added some 500 people to the group's daily rolls, and the food reserves were depleted by the second week, Mr. Wechsler said.
"We will continue giving to people but don't know if we can give as much as we did," he said.
Even some small charities in neighborhoods unaffected by the storm have struggled to meet an uptick in demand. At the Mount Hebron Food for Life pantry in Brooklyn's Brownsville area, director David Moses has seen the number of weekly clients jump by nearly a third as people from hard-hit areas find the pantry. He is considering closing the pantry every other week to marshal his resources.
"That's my very last resort," he said. "I have to do what I can do to keep my doors open."
God's Love We Deliver, a food-distribution agency that typically serves 4,000 people too ill to cook, distributed some 8,000 frozen meals and 2,300 kits filled with nonperishable provisions in the days after the storm, said spokeswoman Em Findley. But that outpouring of supplies wasn't just a response to increased need: the SoHo charity lost power in the blackout and risked spoilage to $70,000 worth of food.
James Winans, a fundraiser for the Bowery Mission, has a wary eye on the long winter ahead now that the post-storm havoc and Thanksgiving are past. "I feel like it hasn't sunk in, what we've been through," he said. "I feel like we've been going on adrenaline."


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I am a surveyor and use QGIS for maintaining soil test records on civil projects and am constantly provided with test lot area or number of lots required. These are more often than not irregular in shape and am wondering. Is there a plugin/solution to cut a layer that contains irregular polygons into equal areas or number of lots with a specified area, with the result being the most number of lots based on the area provided?
The most straight-forward way:
there are some ways splitting shapefiles with opensource tools. but i have never tried to split them equal parts when input files are an irregular polygon. still you want to try you can try following ways.
i hope it helps you...


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I got an error message when I tried to backup a file to an external hard drive. I noticed that the mount point now has 2 identical names, with one having a trailing underscore. When I looked at the properties of the original one (without the underscore). I can successfully backup to the one having an underscore.Code:
Contents: unreadable
Can I safely delete the original? Is this the product of some kind of recovery?


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Crown Prince chairs Cabinet session (7/8/13)
July 8, 2013
Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz chaired the weekly Cabinet meeting in Jeddah today. The ministers extended their congratulations to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the Crown Prince, the Second Deputy Prime Minister, the Saudi people, and the Arab and Islamic nations on the occasion of the advent of the holy month of Ramadan. They prayed to God Almighty to help everyone in their fasting and prayers and wished for the spread of compassion and unity among all Muslims.
Then, the Cabinet reviewed a number of reports on the latest regional and international developments, focusing particularly on events in Egypt and Syria. It congratulated interim Egyptian President Adli Mansour, stressing that current conditions in Egypt require wise and sincere actions to maintain the country's security and stability.
The Cabinet denounced the deteriorating situation in Syria, in which the illegitimate Assad regime is using heavy weapons against its own people. It called upon the international community to halt the violence and genocide and to ensure the delivery of humanitarian assistance to civilians. The ministers expressed regret over the failure of the United Nations Security Council to adopt a statement calling for the admittance of humanitarian aid to the besieged city of Homs. However, they welcomed the election by the Syrian opposition of Ahmad Assi Al-Jarba as their new president.
The Cabinet also expressed appreciation to Tunisian Prime Minister Ali Al-Areedh, who recently visited the Kingdom, for his praise of the strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Tunisia.
On domestic affairs, the Crown Prince was briefed on all the preparations undertaken by various private and governmental bodies for providing the best services for visitors and Umrah (minor pilgrimage) performers during the holy month of Ramadan.
Addressing its remaining agenda items, the Cabinet approved the establishment of an organizational unit at the Ministry of Agriculture called the "Center for Seeds"; authorized the General President of Youth Welfare to sign a draft memorandum of understanding with the Ministry of Sports and Tourism of Belarus in the field of sports; and authorized the Minister of Islamic Affairs, Endowments, Call and Guidance to sign a draft Memorandum of Understanding with the Ministry of Islamic Affairs in the Maldives in the field of Islamic affairs and endowments.
The Cabinet approved the appointments of Prince Khalid bin Mishaal bin Saud bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud as Administrative Advisor at the Ministry of Interior (15th rank); Mohammed Al-Haqbani as Governorate Undersecretary at the Governorate of Tabuk Province (15th rank); Abdullah Al-Fawzan as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Fahd Khallaf as Minister Plenipotentiary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Latifa Nian as Assistant Undersecretary for Family Affairs at the Ministry of Social Affairs (14th rank); Suleiman Al-Muqbel as Administrative Advisor at the Ministry of Social Affairs (14th rank); and Rashed Al-Qasim as Director General of Administrative and Financial Affairs at Control and Investigation Authority (14th rank).


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This week is something of a landmark in your baby's development. Although a baby born at this stage would still need help with breathing, the lungs have matured to an extent that survival chances outside the uterus are significantly better than earlier in the pregnancy.
When you're on maternity leave, it may be the first occasion that you haven't worked for a long time. This change can be quite daunting, even though you know you'll soon be busy taking care of a baby. Depending on your employer, you'll be entitled to varying amounts of pay during your maternity leave. Every company has a different maternity leave policy. You may get paid or unpaid leave for a specific number of weeks or you may be able to use sick days or vacation days. Ask a human resources representative about your options. Depending on your partner's employer, he may be eligible for the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which means he could get 12 weeks of unpaid leave. Some companies are more generous than others, offering a percentage of your salary during your maternity leave. Going on maternity leave may cause a significant drop in your income. You should talk to your partner about how much money will be coming in and going out and how you will manage a change in your finances.
Even though it's a long way in the future, you might also start thinking about plans for working after the baby is born. You may think that you have no real option financially and have to return full time, but explore the possibilities of working more flexibly, or working part time, or from home one or two days a week. You may also want to start thinking about your child-care options (see You are 32 Weeks and 6 Days).
Should you opt for disposables (use once, then throw away) or cloth (wash, dry, and use again)?
Excerpted from Pregnancy Day by Day.
Copyright © 2008 Dorling Kindersley Limited.
Buy this book now!
© 2000-2016 Sandbox Networks, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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Pest Control
Please read the following information before continuing to request a treatment
When will we carry out the treatment - domestic customers?
*Please note there is a charge for these services.
When will we carry out the treatment - commercial customers?
I understand and wish to continue to report a problem with pests.
We DO NOT provide a treatment service to businesses which store, process or sell food.
We provide a pest control service for both commercial and domestic properties in Birmingham.
If you would like to report a problem with pests within your property (commercial or domestic) please press 'Report a Problem with Pests' button above.
Domestic Customer
For domestic customers who live in Birmingham our pest control service is free for the pests we treat, excluding Wasps and Bedbugs for which there is a charge. For further details on the type of pest we treat within occupied properties are detailed below.
If you have a rat in your house we will be with you on the next working day. If possible we will ring and get there sooner. If you have a rat in your garden we will give you an appointment.
We offer a chargeable to treatment service for mice, which can be accessed by calling 0121 303 6007. Alternatively free mouse poison to any Birmingham residents to self treat any mice problems you may have. This is available at your local Customer Services Centre, where you collect it without having to book an appointment. This will only be supplied to a person over the age of 18. You may be asked for proof of age. You will also be required to provide proof of identity and address.
Commercial Customer
For commercial customers (excluding food businesses) we offer a range of competitively priced treatment service and can offer a range of one off survey or treatment visits through a contract. Please see the commercial pest control page.
For further information on the types of pest we treat in commercial properties are detailed under 'pest control-commercial service' along with charges for this service.
If you are a commercial business and would like to report a rat in the following places: open land or alleyway,only in a neighbouring garden/property or on the highway including shrubbed areas/flowerbeds. Please select the first option: domestic customer for customer type on the form to proceed to the next part.
If you would like information on the commercial services provided by the council please complete a Service Specific Enquiry - Environmental Health.
If you wish to pay for this service by card, please have your details to hand. We accept the following:
- Pests we do NOT treat
We do NOT provide treatment for:
- houseflies
- foxes
- bees - for more information please contact beekeepers association.
For general information on all of the pests mentioned above see our information leaflets.
- Pest control-domestic premises
In occupied domestic properties we provide a free service for rats.
We provide an affordable service for the treatment of mice, cockroaches, wasps and bedbugs. For associated charges click here.
- Pest control-commercial services
We offer a range of competitively priced commercial pest control and clearance services and can tailor our service to your needs by offering either one-off survey or treatment visits through to regular contracts. Please contact us to discuss your requirements. We can deal with any of the following:
- Rodent control (such as; rats or mice)
- Insect control (such as; wasps, fleas or ants )
- Squirrels control
- Pigeon control (bird deterrent)
- Gull control (egg replacement)
Commercial fees and charges
All commercial work for one off visits are charged per hourly visit. However charges are tailored to your needs and may be lowered if a contract is taken. Quotations can be obtained free of charge. Please see our contract advice page (see related links above).
All charges are subject to: VAT (where applicable), costs of materials (poisons, bait boxes, traps etc.), and tipping charges where applicable.
Visit of one hour/part hours will be charged at the full hourly rate, except in relation to ongoing contracts where work is charged part hourly.
Organisations with a good track record of payment may be permitted to pay by invoice, although this is entirely at our discretion and any failure to pay may mean that planned treatments may be withdrawn.
If you receive an invoice for pest control treatment we have undertaken visit our How to Pay page for details on the various methods in which payment can be made.
- Facts about Wasps
Wasps are useful insects during the spring and early summer as workers collect insect larvae, which helps control garden pests. However, towards the end of the summer they often become a nuisance when they start to indulge in their passion for sweet materials. Wasp stings cause concern for most people and unlike bees, wasps can sting several times.
A single queen wasp begins construction on a nest in early spring, which may eventually house more than 500 adult wasps. The queen starts this process by laying up to eight eggs in a small comb protected by several layers of papery material. The queen produces this by foraging for wood fibres which she chews and combines with saliva, to form new papery layers of the nest. After four to six weeks the initial workers hatch and continue construction on the nest while the queen continues to lay eggs and increase the wasp population. By the end of the summer, a large nest will have been formed containing male and female workers, together with a number of specially nurtured new queens. With the onset of severe weather around October the nest dies out and unlike bees, this will not be reused in the future. Once the queens have exited the dying nest they find a location to hibernate over winter often in warm undisturbed places like garden sheds, loft spaces, cellars, under loose bark and even unused bird boxes. The queens emerge in the spring and the life cycle begins again.
Treating wasps yourself
Insecticide powder to treat wasps can be bought from most DIY stores, garden centres and supermarkets. It is important to always read the label carefully and only use the powder properly. Wasps nests should be treated early or late in the day when wasp activity is at its lowest. Firstly, find the entrance to the nest by observing where the wasps are entering. Nests are often located in loft spaces, cavity walls, flower beds, garden sheds, rockeries and roof eaves. Before treating please ensure that all windows and doors are closed, family members and pets are indoors and neighbours have been notified.
When you have located the entrance puff the insect powder in and around the entrance; returning workers will then carry the powder into the nest on their bodies contaminating the nest. Within several days all the wasps should be dead.
- Terms and Conditions: Wasps treatment
We offer a free advice all year round and a seasonal wasp treatment. We charge for this service. Please press the 'report a problem with pests' button above.
In terms of wasps we shall ensure during the same season that if the treatment of a particular nest is unsuccessful that we will retreat free of charge. This only applies to the same nest. Officers are obliged to record the location of the nest treated.
The charge covers all visits required to kill the wasp original nest. We do not carry out this service if:
- wasps are out of reach (usually sited above eaves height)
- We require entry into roof spaces that are not well lit or floor boarded
- or where access is restricted.
For any appointment arranged, visits are normally between 8am and 5pm. We operate weekdays Monday to Friday (except Bank Holidays) but we are currently unable to make weekend visits.
If we call, but there is no access we will leave a calling card with our contact details to advise that a visit was made.
All charges made are in respect of treatments undertaken as specified. Payment does not afford a guarantee of complete eradication or further re-infestation.
We reserve the right to decline the provision of a pest treatment service in situations where in our opinion; we consider such a treatment would adversely affect public or environmental safety.
The treatments available and charges made are subject to change without notice.
We make every effort to fulfil bookings made. However events can sometimes prevent this. On the rare occasions when we are unable to keep an appointment, we will contact customers at the earliest possible opportunity and offer them the best alternative appointment available. If the missed appointment is caused by events beyond the Council's control, we cannot accept responsibility for any inconvenience or losses incurred.
- Refund Policy
A refund will only be completed if the collection has been cancelled at least 2 clear working days (working days being Monday-Friday) before the collection date. If the request is made outside this period the appointment will still remain chargeable.
For example - if your collection date is on a Friday, you must cancel by the Tuesday before.
Please ensure that you understand and agree to this before making payment.
If you require a refund please use our service specific enquiry form. All requests are dealt with on an individual basis, and will be investigated by one of our officers. We may have to contact you to ask for further information about your request before a decision is made.
- Why can't the officer leave poison for me to put down? Its just not convenient to be in all the time
The poisons we use are for commercial use and can only be laid by a trained person. Our officer must assess the need for poison to be laid, to be removed and where it should be laid safely. We can not ask you to do this. You can obtain poison for domestic use from many suppliers such as a DIY store.
- What is proactive Pest Control?
We receive many thousands of calls about rats in the city. However, there are areas of the city which have a larger problem. Rather than waiting for the residents in these areas to call, officers visit all properties to assess and treat where access is possible. They also leave information to ensure residents gain a better understanding about our services and are encouraged to call us. We believe residents who are better informed about our services will be more likely to report the problem in the future. Proactive is about doing something rather than waiting for people to complain. Regular treatment against a larger number of properties has shown the number of calls we receive in that area drops.
- I have treated mice using free poison from the neighbourhood office. The mice continue to come back. What can I do?
If you are living in a rented property, you should notify your landlord. The habits of mice make their treatment difficult. Look for signs of access and seek to get these properly proofed. Ensure food items which can be gnawed such as those open or in cardboard boxes are placed in plastic containers. Food that is not tinned should be minimised to reduce food availability. Floors, surfaces and behind cookers including floor –wall corners should be regularly and thoroughly cleaned. Talk to your neighbours and get them to start treating. You may wish to use a private pest control service. Treatment of one property is unlikely to resolve the problem long term.
- I have mice. What can I do?
If you are living in a rented property, you should notify your landlord. We do offer free mouse poison which can be obtained from your local Customer Services Centre. Please take a copy of a letter as proof of residence and a form of ID.
- My neighbour has wasps. What can we do to get rid of them?
Talk with your neighbour. We are unable to access a property without permission. There is a charge but without contact from your neighbour we cannot treat.
- I keep getting rats in the house. My landlord will not sort this out. What can I do?
The owners of a property are responsible for ensuring it is suitably maintained and if necessary carry out proofing works to prevent rats. You should ensure food items are taken off the floor, the property is thoroughly cleaned and rubbish is not stored for long times. Any rubbish in and out of the property should be disposed of. If there is evidence that you have followed our advice, that proofing has not been carried out by the responsible person and there is a continual problem then action can be taken. This case would be referred to a pest control supervisor or via environmental health.We now offer a chargeable proofing service which our pest control officers can advise you about.
- I've been bitten. What could it be?
There are a variety of insects which bite and symptoms which appear to suggest a bite. Details would need to be taken such as the location where you were bitten, location on body, number of bites, pets, and allergies. If you have located or seen what you think has bitten you, place this is a plastic sealed container (Tupperware).Please note: we do not accept insects in the post for identification.
In order for us to identify the insect that has bitten you, you will need to use our online form 'report a problem with pests' to request a pest identification service. Once we have received your request an Environmental Health officer will contact you shortly.
- Do you treat for bees?
Birmingham city council do not offer a service to remove bees due to their environmental importance. Bees should be left alone if possible. Only if the customer has a swarm of honey bees, advise them to visit the British Bee Keepers Association website www.bbka.org.uk for further advice. Do not advise the customer to call the BBKA.
- I have badgers?
Please contact Wildlife Trust.
- I have bats?
Please contact Brum Bats. It is illegal to disturb bats please visit the Bat Conservation Trust for information on bats and the law.
- My loft is not boarded. Can you treat?
Officers do not enter unboarded lofts. Treatment is considered if it is safe and appropriate from the loft hatch. If treatment requires movement within the loft, then you would be advised of the limitation of the service and to contact a private pest control service. Independent contractor details can be found in your local telephone directory.
- I have a wasps nest located in a tree / eaves height. Can you help?
The officer is able to access a number of locations in a property. However only up to 1m in height from a stable secure and safe location using a ladder. However locations which are higher than this cannot be accessed, we recommend you contact a private contractor. Contact details can be found in your local telephone directory.
- There is a dead fox in my garden. What do I do?
The Street Cleansing section deal with the removal of dead animals. However they request that the animal is placed at the front of the property for collection.
- How can I dispose of a dead rat?
Firstly, put on a pair of rubber gloves. Place a bin liner over the dead rat and wrap. Double bag the item making sure you do not touch the rodent. Place the bag with your domestic rubbish bin. Which once collected will be incinerated.
- What can you do about the smell from the dead rat?
The rodent after ingesting poison will most likely move back to its nest which is often outside to die. However on rare occasions the rat dies inside the property in a location which is difficult to access, officers are not able assist to locate and remove the cause of the smell. The smell often only lasts a couple of weeks, and its impact can be reduced by use of an air freshener. If a rat has died in a location which is easy to access you need to dispose of it yourself. This should be done by first putting on a pair of rubber gloves. Then place a bin liner over the dead rat and wrap. Double bag the item making sure you do not touch the rodent. Place the bag with your domestic rubbish. Which once collected will be incinerated.
- Do we use sticky boards to trap?
Yes but only as a last resort and in line with guidance issued by the British Pest control Association. Traps must be inspected regularly.
- My neighbours have a problem with rats under the decking. I don't need a service but what can be done?
Encourage your neighbour to call Pest Control to offer a free treatment and advice. Alternatively contact Environmental Health who can investigate this enquiry to consider harbourage. Pest Control does work in conjunction with Environmental Health to balance enforcement, guidance and provision of a free rat treatment service.
- I have a dog. Is it safe to treat?
Yes. Please make it clear when you call and to the officer upon their visit. Officer will carry out an assessment of your circumstances and location to find the best location to place poison. Poison can be laid in specific hard wearing bait boxes to keep the bait safely away from your pets. It may not be necessary to bait within your garden. An alternative such as a neighbours garden, with their permission may suit the situation better.
- What if I don't make my property pest proof?
Proofing is essential to prevent vermin gaining entry into your property. You may get further vermin inside your property and may call on Pest Control again. Environmental Health may take formal action against those owners of properties who avoid proofing as they have a legal duty.
- Can you help me prevent pests getting into my property?
Yes. We now offer a chargeable proofing service which our pest control officers can advise you about.
- What can you do if I don't know where the insects are coming from?
We will need to know where the insects are coming from to enable us to take action.
- Are there any exemptions when reporting problems with insect pollution?
Yes, some farmland and open land may be exempt from the provisions of the legislation.
- Are there any terms and conditions relating to this service?
Yes. To view the terms and conditions relating to payments please see the payment terms and conditions page.
- Can't find what you're looking for?
If you haven't been able to find the information that you need then the link below will take you to a form that you can use to ask us further questions.
Service Specific Enquiry
- Direct gov pest control
- Brum bats
- Public Health Act 1961
- Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981
- British Beekeepers Association


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Cited: Aubrey Flinchbaugh, 29, 974 township Road 378, Steubenville, speeding; Colby L. Thomas, 23, Rowlett, Texas, speeding; Jennifer L. Czernecki, 38, 277 Crawford Ave., Wintersville, speeding; Amanda L. Patalune, 32, 231 Woodbridge Drive, Wintersville, speeding; Louis K. Shaw, 46, 2015 Commercial St., Mingo Junction, speeding; William G. Norman III, 46, Cambridge, speeding; David K. Whalen, 54, RD 1, Colliers, speeding; Iris D. Wilson, 27, Apartment A, 817 Rinker Road, speeding; John T. Fabian, 64, 604 Lincoln Ave., Mingo Junction, speeding; Margueaux L. Mallas, 32, 193 Skyview Drive, Wintersville, speeding; Dorothy R. DiCarlo, 80, 128 Brian St., Mingo Junction, speeding; and Brian E. Howard, 53, 410 Henry Ave., driving with suspended license.
Vandalism: Window on vehicle broken in the 500 block of South Fourth Street, Thursday.
Arrested: Brandon L. Billingsley, 30, 593 township Road 155, Rayland, stop sign, driving with suspended license and bench warrant out of municipal court, Thursday.
Arrested: Rusty McEwen, 28, 55 township Road 246, Toronto, bench warrant and fugitive from justice warrant out of Virginia charging fraud, Thursday.
Jefferson County sheriff
Arrested: Bernard A. Hoover, 46, 837 county Road 56, Toronto, failure to appear warrant out of Wintersville county court, Thursday.
Vandalism: Bulldozer windows shot out at construction site on county Road 49, Bergholz, Thursday.
Ohio State Highway Patrol
Arrested: Deon Stinson, 36, 1542 Oregon Ave., possession of drugs, Thursday.
Arrested: Daniel Finsley, 31, 340 Grandview Ave., Tiltonsville, failure to appear warrant out of Steubenville Municipal Court, Thursday.


text: I'm having a lot of fun making these simple cars and trucks for kids. My twelve year old brother loved this tutorial on "how to draw a monster truck for kids", step by step because he loves these things like you wouldn't believe. I think I'm going to do a series of fun for kids style vehicles and other transportation devices because I know that there is a lot of folks out there that would appreciate lessons such as these. Anyways, one of the most popular monster trucks to date is still Big Foot. The color of Big Foot is blue, and yes it is still being used today. I how you guys like this tutorial because I think it will help those of you that have a hard time drawing trucks in general. I will be back with more drawing fun so don't go anywhere too far, you might miss something good. Peace people and enjoy!


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To the editor:
Despite an increase in unemployment, a higher cost of living, an increased elderly population on a fixed income and an unstable economy, the Indian Creek Local School District is once again submitting a large levy to the electorate in this November's election.
Taxpayers in the Indian Creek district are currently paying for seven school levies totaling 24.8 mills. This represents about 63 percent of your property tax burden. The two new levies, if passed, will bring the number of school levies to nine. The proposed new levies are 3.5 mills for a new building fund and 1.45 mills for operational costs. If passed, the new millage will be 29.75 mills, or almost 70 percent of your real estate tax (Look closely at your last tax duplicate.)
The 1.45-mill levy will be for a period of five years. If passed, the levy will doubtlessly appear on future ballots for perpetuity, since it will become a simple "renewal" once passed. The duration of the 3.5-mill new building fund will run for 37 years, until 2050. This tax burden can easily span four generations, and in many cases will continue to be paid by our great-grandchildren who will not be born for a number of years. Debt is not the kind of legacy that future generations should receive from us. They will have enough to worry about paying for the escalating national debt.
Richard Crugnale
Mingo Junction


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PlayStation 3 Dualshock 3 Wireless Controller for $40 + free shipping
Regularly $55. Great price for this controller.
Black & Pink only!
6 Comments add a comment
Pink is also $40.
Before Christmas, I saw official Dualshock controllers in the $30 - $35 range, though.
$40 is still a decent price, but it isn't uncommon on Amazon. Sellers drop into that price range about every 2 months.
Black is usually not on sale, I picked up blue for $36 and it wasn't a particularly low sale price. I was looking for a long while though and got tired of waiting for them to drop (they really don't drop often).
Man Sony is being greedy, with the amount of PS3s out there, these should be $19.99 by now.
@bigshtank: They were at gamestop, black friday 2011.
same price as newegg
costco was selling a controller and a $20 game (little big world 1, sega classics) for $40.


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Some 550 fashionable ladies and gents donned their finest gowns and tuxes, and gathered at the Hyatt Regency Surf City for CASA's Celebration of Children Black & White Ball. Stilt-walkers performed among notables Nancy and Richard Eaton, and Daryl Nelson while they enjoyed a silent auction and chatted with co-chairwomen Lourdes Nark, Cathy Frandsen and Jeanina Esparza. Emcee and news anchor Christine Devine kept things fun during the main program, which included a gourmet feast—the butterscotch pot de creme was too good—entertainment and a live auction with prizes like a Damiani diamond necklace. One of the many highlights, however, came when Darnell Cates shared his experiences in the foster care system. It's no wonder the night netted $600,000 to support the nonprofit's efforts to train mentor-advocates to work with abused and neglected children. Photography by Robert Rooks Photography and Taylor Photography


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One of the achievements in Assassin's Creed: Revelations is "Almost Flying" where I must jump from Galata tower to the "Golden Horn." I know where Galata Tower is, but I haven't seen the "Golden Horn" as a landmark on my map. Where am I jumping towards?
The Golden Horn is the river that separates the top and bottom parts of Constantinople. You just need to parachute from the top of Galata Tower down south all the way to the river. Note you need to parachute into the river (ride it all the way in), don't drop from the parachute or it won't count.
You can see its name in the Database in the Locations section toward the end of the list.


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Hello and welcome to Quiet News Day Episode 100 – we have reached a full century!
This week your hosts Scott Douglas and Peter Laing don't disappoint as they do what they do best and discuss the best journalism, PR and social media stories of the week. Kicking off the show is a discussion about father Chris White and how he was question by police for taking pictures of his daughter the Braehead Shopping Centre. The pair move on to the new Scotsman website and are keen to hear your thoughts about it.
Finally there is a discussion about the Facebook app for iPad and a few Twitter mishaps including freelance journalist Rob Crilly.
As ever links to everything discussed in this week's podcast can be found in the show notes below.


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WEIRTON - The Magnolia High School football team scored early and often while rolling to a 51-12 victory over an outmanned Weir High Friday night at Jimmy Carey Stadium.
The Blue Eagles, likely enhanced their 7th place rank in the West Virginia Class A playoff race because they recorded their sixth straight win and were playing up against a Class AA team. The Blue Eagles are 6-1 for the season and looking forward to their bye week.
The loss, Weir High's seventh in a row this season, spoiled the 2012 homecoming.
Article Photos
Mike Mathison
EYES AHEAD — Weir High's Kameron Davis returns a kickoff during the first half of Friday's 51-12 loss to Magnolia.
Magnolia scored on the second play of the game with a 58-yard end around by two-time All-Stater, Stephen Rogalski, and found the end zone on their next four possessions to put the game away early in the second quarter. The Blue Eagles took a 44-6 lead to the locker room at the half.
The Red Riders, who were outgained 381 total yards to 149 got on the board shortly before halftime when senior Eric Piatt, who missed the last four games with a broken hand, burst through a gaping hole up the middle and raced 71 yards to pay dirt. Piatt led the Red Rider offense with 89 rushing yards on 10 carries.
"Piatt had a very nice run and our freshman, Kameron Davis, had a couple of nice runs," said Red Rider coach, Tony Filberto. "We started eight freshmen against a team that possibly could win the Class A championship. We definitely were outmanned, but the kids played hard.
Fact Box
Magnolia 51, Weir 12
Magnolia 28 16 7 0 - 51
Weir 0 6 0 6 - 12
M: Rogalski 58 run (Railtmayar kick)
M: Rogalski 28 run (Railtmayar kick)
M: Rhode 22 run (Railtmayar Kick)
M: Hanna 40 pass to Rokowski (Railtmayar kick)
M: Keller 1 run (Railtmayar kick)
M: Tackle in end zone for safety
M: Rhode 32 run (Railtmayar kick)
W: Piatt 71 run (pass failed)
M: Rhode 24 run (Railtmayar kick)
W: Davis 14 run (run failed)
RUSHING: Magnolia 39-291-6 (Keller 11-84-1, Rhode 7-104-3, Rogalski 2-79-2, Wetzel 6-17, Brill 1-0, Anderson 11-11, Kacor 1-(-4)). Weir 33-144-2 (Piatt 11-90-1, Davis 14-40-1, Wypasek 8-4).
PASSING: Magnolia 4-6-87-1TD-0INT (All by Hanna); Weir 2-11-15-0TD-0INT (All by Wypasek).
RECEIVING: Magnolia (Walton 2-30, Rogalski 1-40-1, Keller 1-17); Weir (Barnes 2-15).
FIRST DOWNS: Magnolai 12; Weir 5.
PENALTIES: Magnolia 7-55; Weir 2-10.
FUMBLES Magnolia 1-0; Weir 2-1.
"In the second half, when they came down to our level, I thought our kids played very, very well. When you have freshmen playing against an experienced football team, those things are going to happen. I tell our kids that you keep battling and good things will happen. You reap benefits if you keep battling and that's all you can ask of them."
Davis, who rushed the ball 14 times for 40 net yards, scored the second Red Rider touchdown on a 19-yard scamper over the right side on the first play of the fourth quarter.
"We talked this week to our kids about playing hard and playing fast and I thought our kids did it, " said victorious and veteran Magnolia coach, Mark Batton. "We executed well and when you get Stephen (Rogalski) on turf it's pretty nice."
Rogalski, who scored on runs of 58 and 21 yards on the end around play - one to the left and one to the right - is one of the fastest high school players in the state based on several state sprint track championships he has accumulated.
Junior Kage Rohde, joined Rogalski in the touchdown parade hitting pay dirt on runs of 22, 32 and 24 yards. Senior quarterback Tanner Hanna found Rogalski wide open down the middle of the field and hit him with a 35-yard touchdown strike late in the first quarter to give the speedy senior three first period touchdowns.
Sophomore kicker, Clemens Raitmayr, was perfect with extra points after each of Magnolia's seven touchdowns.
The Blue Eagles also sacked Weir High freshman quarterback Jacob Wypasek in the end zone for a safety on the first play of the second period.
Wypasek stepped into the starting quarterback role when sophomore William Larch suffered a knee injury in the loss last week to Oak Glen.
"Our young quarterback is in a tough position," Filberto said about Wypasek. "He got in to about 10 plays last week and started tonight against a doggone good defense and played well."
Batton was complimentary toward the Red Riders.
"They have a nice team," he said. "I know they are young. They're getting more experience every game and I know they will buy into Coach Filberto and his system. They'll grow up and do well. He's got a lot of young talent on that team."
Batton said his Blue Eagles will use the upcoming bye week to heal some bumps and bruises and get ready to host Barnesville in two weeks.
Meanwhile, the Red Riders will host Steubenville Catholic Central next week in what will be Senior Night since it is the final home game of the season.


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expert advice MORE
Homeschooling Vs. Public Schooling
Q: Where can I find statistical information on homeschooling vs. public schooling? I am a public-school teacher who has considered homeschooling my own children. I am now taking a graduate course and chose this topic for a paper to present to teaching peers who are very opposed to homeschooling. I would like some graphs that would show tracking of homeschoolers vs. public-school students in areas of college success, career success, sport success, etc.
A: I do not know of any specific graphs in all the areas you mention, but of the statistics that are available, the accomplishments of homeschooled children on standardized tests are quite amazing.
Here is an excerpt from a recent study of homeschoolers: "According to a report published by the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) and funded by the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, homeschool student achievement test scores were exceptionally high. The median scores for every subtest at every grade were well above those of public and Catholic/private-school students. On average, homeschool students in grades one to four performed one grade level above their age-level public/private school peers on achievement tests. Students who had been homeschooled their entire academic life had higher scholastic achievement test scores than students who had also attended other educational programs."
One interesting facet of the study noted that academic achievement was equally high regardless of whether the student was enrolled in a full-service curriculum, or whether the parent had a state-issued teaching certificate.
The study states, "Even with a conservative analysis of the data, the achievement levels of the homeschool students in the study were exceptional. Within each grade level and each skill area, the median scores for homeschool students fell between the 70th and 80th percentile of students nationwide and between the 60th and 70th percentile of Catholic/Private school students. For younger students, this is a one year lead. By the time homeschool students are in 8th grade, they are four years ahead of their public/private school counterparts."
Also, "Homeschool students did quite well in 1998 on the ACT college entrance examination. They had an average ACT composite score of 22.8 which is .38 standard deviations above the national ACT average of 21.0 (ACT, 1998). This places the average homeschool student in the 65th percentile of all ACT test takers."
Also, be sure to visit the National Home Education Research Institute for more information.
More on: Expert Advice
Isabel Shaw is a freelance writer and homeschooling mom of 15 years. She and her husband Ray homeschool their two daughters, Jessica and Amanda. Besides being a contributor to FamilyEducation.com, Shaw has written for Home Education Magazine, The Link, Homeschooling Horizons Magazine, The Homeschool Gazette, and other publications.


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"But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness." - 2 Timothy 2:16
"Many of the things we learned during this trial that our children were saying and doing were profane, were ugly," Judge Thomas Lipps said Sunday.
As the outsiders leave town, we are here to live in our community, to pick up the pieces of what has transpired during the past six months.
So, where do we go from here?
One, we pray.
We pray that our teenagers understand how to be upstanding members of the community.
We pray that our adults fully teach our teenagers the difference between right and wrong.
We pray that our teenagers will quit drinking.
We pray that our adults will have long, hard discussions with teenagers about this case.
We pray that our teenagers have a full grasp on peer pressure and how it can be positive and negative.
We pray that our adults continue to pry into the lives of their teeenagers.
We pray that our teenagers understand that prying means how much we love them.
As witnessed by the call for a grand juty by Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine on Sunday, this case is far from over.
In addition, it is expected that civil lawsuits will follow.
A lot of people still have a lot of hard questions to answer.
"As part of our investigation, BCI agents identified 43 individuals who attended at least one of the two parties," DeWine said in a press conference Sunday. "Investigators interviewed 27 of these individuals, while 16 refused to cooperate.
"A grand jury is an investigative tool that is uniquely suited to ensure fairness and to complete this investigation. And this community needs assurance that no stone has been left unturned in our search for the truth."
"Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging: and whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise." - Proverbs 20:1
There are a bunch of people who woke up this morning with a new normal.
Yet, life goes on for everybody.
We all wake up in the morning, look in the mirror and choose how we live the day.
Are we there to help someone up or keep them down?
Are we there to edify?
Are we there to be an encourager or a discourager?
Are we there to lead by example?
Are we there to be a hypocrite?
During his sentencing, Lipps encouraged people "to have discussions about how you talk to your friends, how you record things on the social media so prevalent today and how you conduct yourself when drinking is put upon you by your friends."
Peer pressure today is a lot different than back in the day.
Social media is not always a good thing and, if you followed this case, you learned that by some of the most obnoxious things ever said.
There is enough blame in this situation to go around.
What we need is to start the healing process.
We need leaders to be leaders and that comes of all ages.
What we need to stop is people saying "this" or "that" should have been done.
Stop already.
Also, I hope that the granting of immunity by Judge Lipps teaches everyone that a deal was not already in place, something that far too many people swore was already in place.
Again, stop already.
"Be sober, be vigilant: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour." - 1Peter 5:8
From www.learn-about-alcohol.com:
Every day an average of 11,318 teens try alcohol for the first time. That is almost 4.1 million people a year
Underage drinkers account for 11.4 percent of all alcohol consumed in the U.S.
Americans drink the heaviest in their teens to mid-20s. Alcohol use declines after that.
Teens that drink alcohol are 50 times more likely to use cocaine than teens that do not drink.
Teens who consume alcohol by the age of 15 are 4 times more likely to develop alcohol dependence as adults than those who do not begin drinking until the legal age of 21.
From aacap.org:
An estimated 20 million adults in the United States abuse alcohol. More than half of these alcoholics started drinking heavily when they were teenagers.
Each year more that 10,000 young people in the United States are killed and 40,000 injured in alcohol-related automobile accidents.
The average age of first marijuana use is 14, and alcohol use can start before age 12. The use of marijuana and alcohol in high school has become common.
It is said there are some 3,000,000 teenage alcoholics.
That, folks, is the size of Arkansas.
What we, as adults, cannot do is pull a Pontius Pilate and wash our hands of the situation.
"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." - Matthew 27:24
We adults have a responsibility and an accountability to the youth.
We must stand up and tell them the truth.
We must tell them the realities of life and not what their version tends to be.
We must do the speaking.
We must stand tall.
We must teach our teens how to be good role models.
We must teach our teens how to be good leaders.
We must be continually active in their lives.
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." - 1Thessalonians 5:22
As I said before and I will do again:
Boys forgot that they have grandmothers, mothers, aunts, sisters, cousins and nieces in their families.
Girls forgot that they have grandfathers, fathers, uncles, brothers, cousins and nephews in their families.
Both sides forgot that they have a responsibility to be good friends.
Both sides forgot that under no certain circumstances were they raised to act like that.
I am a child of an alcoholic.
My dad's dad was an alcoholic.
My dad's brother was an alcoholic.
I took my first drink in the eighth-grade.
I did my fair share of drinking throughout high school and college.
I understand the situation.
I get it.
We must teach another type of peer pressure - where the will to do the right thing comes first.
All of this, though, like I have said before, comes down to a heart issue.
Charles Spurgeon once said, "an unchanged life equals an unchanged heart."
He also said, in 1893, "let us ask for wisdom and discretion in doing that which is right. Firmness of purpose should be adorned with gentleness of manner in carrying it out."
Just a reminder that alcohol and teenagers do not mix.
From www.teenhelp.com
51.7 percent have tried alcohol.
43.1 percent have had an alcoholic drink in the past year.
25.1 percent have been drunk.
15.2 percent have had one or more binge drinking episodes.
70.6 percent have tried alcohol.
63.7 percent have had an alcoholic drink in the past year.
48.9 percent have been drunk.
25.6 percent have had one or more binge drinking episodes.
1.9 percent have been daily drinking for at least one month at some point in their lives.
80 percent have tried alcohol.
73.8 percent have had an alcoholic drink in the past year.
62.3 percent have been drunk.
30.8 percent binge drank in the past two weeks.
3.6 percent use alcohol daily.
(Mathison, a Weirton resident, is the sports editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times and can be contacted at email@example.com)


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My question is basically that recently we have had a lot of snow, some of it is high enough to be over the damp-proof course (DPC). Should I be worried about this, or would damp penetration take longer than the snow takes to clear?
Here in Alberta this turns out to be a non-problem. What tends to happen is that the snow slides off the roof, stacks against the house. Within a day or so, heat from house melts a finger sized crevasse and the snow is no longer touching the house.
Assuming that there is reasonable siding on the house this is a non-worry item IMHO.
If however, the ground is impervious to water penetration, and you start getting a pool of water at the base of this crack, then watch that carefully that it doesn't get above the foundation course. If this happens, you need to create drainage to take care of it. I've not seen this happen in our climate.
I pile snow against the base of my house using half a sheet of plywood as a form to make a vertical wall about a foot thick. It looks like a concrete foundation but made out of snow. After a day, there is a gap about 5mm or about 3/16" between the snow and the house. This acts as extra insulation (about R1 per inch of snow) and keeps the wall that much warmer. As spring approaches, I spread the snow on the lawn away from the house where it can drain away. There is a decent temperature difference when I feel the interior wall where I have the snow and do not have the snow: especially when it gets to around -30C. Just like an igloo.


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And just for the fun of it, here's the original photo from when this recipe was first posted in 2008.
Greek Yogurt and Cottage Cheese Dip with Dill
(Makes 2 cups, recipe created by Kalyn)
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese (the brand I used has only 5 grams fat in 1 cup; use full-fat cottage cheese if you prefer)
1 cup fat-free Greek Yogurt (I like Fage Total Greek Yogurt, use full-fat or low-fat yogurt if you prefer)
1-2 tsp. dried dill weed (depending on how much you like dill)
2 tsp. Bon Appetit or Beau Monde seasoning (see below for more information or replacement if you can't find these spice blends)
1-2 tsp. onion powder (can also use finely grated onion if you don't have onion powder)
About Bon Appetit and Beau Monde Seasoning:
South Beach/Low-Carb Suggestions:
This low-fat dip would be great for any phase of the South Beach Diet. Use approved low-glycemic vegetables such as celery, cucumbers, tomatoes, broccoli, cauliflower, jicama, sugar snap peas, and bell pepper strips for Phase One. For other low-carb eating plans you may prefer full-fat yogurt and cottage cheese.
Nutritional Information?
I chose the South Beach Diet to manage my weight partly so I wouldn't have to count calories, carbs, points, or fat grams, but if you want nutritional information for a recipe, I recommend entering the recipe into Calorie Count, which will calculate it for you.
More Tasty Dips made with Yogurt:
(Recipes from other blogs may not be South Beach Diet friendly, check ingredients.)
Yogurt Dip for Falafel or Veggies from One Hot Stove
World's Best Tzatziki Sauce from Kalyn's Kitchen
Spicy Yogurt Dip from Saffron Trail
Greek Yogurt and Tahini Dip for Tomatoes and Cucumbers from Kalyn's Kitchen
Swiss Chard Tzatziki from Simply Recipes
(Want even more recipes? I find these recipes from other blogs using Food Blog Search.)
Blogger Disclosure:


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I am looking for a library or framework for creating software versions Roll and Move board games -- games where the basic play centers around players rolling a dice and advancing a pawn along a path.
I'm not interested as much in graphics, rendering methods, and so forth. I'm more interested in a system for defining these kinds of games, their rules, and managing game states. Ideally I'd like to see something like an XML file I could create that defines the game, and an interpreter that could load it up and run the given game.