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I admit I dunno how I got here in the first place … ah, right, yesterday was Paddy's day and I was sitting at home with a sick child. Now, I tinkered around a bit with a hosted CouchDB solution to store/query JSON output from a side-project of mine.
Then I thought: where are we re hosted NoSQL in general? Seems others had that question as well. So I sat down and here is a (naturally incomplete) list of so called NoSQL datastores that are available 'in the cloud'. Most of them with an established freemium model, few of them in (public) beta. In terms of type (K/V, wide-column, doc, graph) we find quite everything, incl. proprietary types – like Amazon and Google have – where it's sorta hard to tell what kind of beasts they are. Not that it matters, but for completeness 😉
OK, nuff time wasted, here we go:
Amazon's hosted NoSQL datastores
Both SimpleDB and DynamoDB are sorta key-value stores where the latter seems to be for more serious business (scale out). They explain the difference between SimpleDB and DynamoDB in detail. Pricing is in place, looks sensible. I have not tried any of these yet.
Google's hosted NoSQL datastores
Tightly integrated with Google App Engine (GAE) comes the datastore with its own query language. If you're on GAE, this is what you get and what you have to use, anyways. And then, since a bit more than a year there is BigQuery with which I've been toying around now for a year or so. Very performant and powerful but not the most obvious and clear pricing strategy.
Joyent's Riak
Joyent offers a so called Riak Smartmachine. I have been toying around with Riak a while ago but haven't found time to test Joyent's Riak offering (though I'm pleased with their Node.js offering, hence assuming similar level of service, documentation, etc.).
Cassandra in the cloud
I only found one hosted Cassandra offering. Can that be? Didn't look closer. Anyone?
So, both cloudno.de and Cloudant offer hosted CouchDB instances (the former also offers Redis). I am currently using the free plan ('Oxygen') with Cloudant and find it very straight-forward and easy to use. Prizing looks OK in both cases though I sometimes find it hard to pick the 'best fit' for a given workload. Could anyone write an app please that does this for me? 🙂
Also for MongoDB I was able to spot two offerings: MongoHQ seems somewhat to be the established player in the field, nice docs and sensible princing. Apparently, Joyent is also offering a MongoDB Smartmachine – anyone tried it?
Graph datastores
There are quite some offerings in this area: the general-purpose sort of graph data stores and the RDF-focused ones. In the former category there is Neo4j's Heroku add-on which I had the pleasure to test drive and found it very useable and useful. And then there is an OrientDB-based offering called Nuvolabase; I have signed up and tried it out some weeks ago and I must say I really like it. Disclaimer: I know the main person behind OrientDB as we've done a joint (research) project some years ago.
Last but not least: RDF-focused graph datastores in the cloud. I guess my absolute favourite still is Dydra which I've been using manually (SPARQL endpoint, curl, etc.) and in programmatically, inapplications. I think they are still in beta and pricing is not yet announced. And then there is the good old Talis Platform, the established cloud-RDF-store for a couple of years now. Any plans known?
UPDATE (2013-05-22): This page has been translated into Spanish language by Maria Ramos from Webhostinghub.com/support/edu.


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Tennessee Highway Patrol Encourages Back to School Safety
NASHVILLE-- Tennessee Highway Patrol Colonel Tracy Trott is reminding motorists to exercise an abundance of caution in neighborhoods and around school zones during the upcoming 2013-2014 school year. State Troopers will target speeders, distracted drivers and those who disregard stopped school buses that are loading and unloading children.
State Troopers issued 5,247 citations in school zones during the 2012-2013 school year. That's up from 3,856 citations issued in 2011-12. Last year's citations included 759 speeding violations and two citations for passing a stopped school bus.
"Our priority is to educate motorists on the importance of safe driving practices around school zones and buses and in high pedestrian traffic areas," Colonel Trott said. "We are also urging motorists who are transporting children to and from school to ensure they are safely restrained in seat belts, booster seats and child restraint devices. This effort stretches far beyond school zones," he added.
Between 2008 and 2012, there has been a 7.0 percent decrease in the number of crashes occurring in school zones between the hours of 6 a.m. and 9 a.m. and the hours of 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. There was also a 73.5 percent decline in the total number of school bus-related crashes between those same hours.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) noted that 123 school-age pedestrians (younger than 19) have been killed in school-transportation-related crashes since 2001. Over two-thirds (69%) were struck by school buses and 26 percent by other vehicles involved in the crashes. There were 49 (40 %) school age pedestrians killed in school transportation-related crashes between the ages of five and seven, according to NHTSA.
"We have seen a 31.4 percent increase in the number of overall pedestrian fatalities across the state, compared to this same time period in 2012," Trott said. "It's imperative for drivers to share the road with pedestrians and bicyclists, and to comply with pedestrian yield laws. We all have a responsibility to make sure pedestrians are safe."
In Tennessee, there have been 46 pedestrians killed on state roadways in 2013. That's 11 more than at this time in 2012. Nationwide, there were a total of 4,432 pedestrian fatalities in 2011 (the latest figure available), the 14-and-younger age group accounted for 230 (5%) of those fatalities.
The Pupil Transportation section of the Tennessee Highway Patrol also oversees all school bus inspections in the state and determines whether public school bus systems are in compliance with the safety requirements by state law.
During fiscal year 2012-13, 11,401 school buses were inspected with 1,367 being placed out of service.
Each day, 26 million children in the United States ride school buses, including 600,000 in Tennessee, according to NHTSA.
The speed limit in school zones is 15 miles per hour and the fine for speeding in a school zone is up to $500. It is also against the law to pass a school bus when it is stopped and loading or unloading passengers. The driver can be fined no less than $250 and up to $1,000.
Please see the attached document for more facts and safety tips.
The Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security's (www.TN.Gov/safety) mission is to ensure that our state is a safe, secure place in which to live, work and travel; enforce the law with integrity; and provide customer-focused services professionally and efficiently.

subset: commoncrawl


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Florida investor Kenneth Rosen has never plowed a single penny into the stock market, which he likens to legalized gambling. Instead, income-producing properties have provided the path to prosperity for the 75-year-old Rosen. Over the past 30 years, he has bought and sold $300 million in investment real estate, including apartment complexes, small office buildings, retail centers and small-bay warehouses.
"If I'm going to be successful, I want to control my own money and not turn it over to someone else and go home and pray. That's why I never bought a stock in my entire career," says the founder and president of Kendar Realty Inc. based in Coral Gables, Fla.
As a commercial real estate owner, Rosen firmly believes that he can control his own destiny. "I can do things to improve the value. I can increase or lower rents. I can refinance. That is my building. I can see it, touch it, feel it and smell it."
A pioneer of condo conversions in the Sunshine State and the past president of the Realtor Association of Greater Miami, Rosen is busy hosting book signings these days. "Investing In Income Properties: The Big Six Formula for Achieving Wealth in Real Estate" is a recently released how-to guide for fledgling investors. The focus is on properties ranging in value from $500,000 to $5 million.
Rosen's advice comes from the trenches. He currently owns 113,000 sq. ft. of office space valued at $28 million. His equity stake in the office portfolio is $17 million. That leaves $11 million in debt on the portfolio that Rosen is paying off at attractive interest rates.
Why did Rosen write the book? "I wanted to show how income-producing real estate is far superior to any other investment in the world, provided of course you find the right property," says the Boston University graduate and father of seven. "I wanted to give them my personal experiences, the experiences of other successful investors, and to let them know the pitfalls."
Published by John Wiley & Sons, the book took 18 months for Rosen to complete. Approximately 2,200 copies sold over the past nine months and a second printing is in the works. The book also is being translated into Arabic to accommodate a request from a large publisher in Egypt.
The author's big takeaway is that six core principles — The Big Six — make or break each real estate deal, starting with location. Quality of construction is next, followed by the tenant profile, the property's upside potential, financing, and price.
"The amazing thing is that each step has to be done in exact order because each builds on elements of the previous component," says Rosen. "You can stop after the first step — location — if the building is worth $5 million and the owner insists on getting $10 million. You take a walk."
One pitfall investors should avoid, urges Rosen, is the temptation to buy hybrid forms of real estate that are not income properties. That's a lesson Rosen learned the hard way. In the early 1980s, Rosen was flush with cash after a series of successful condo conversions. He teamed up with a major capital partner to acquire a country club located in the southern portion of Miami-Dade County on highly desirable land.
The problem was that the country club operation began losing $1 million annually, and plans to rezone the land to allow for the construction of condo and apartment units had become bogged down. The partnership ultimately was forced to sell to a big developer at a huge loss. Rosen lost more than $2 million of his $3 million investment. Looking back, his ego got the better of him. "I stepped into a hornet's nest, but it taught me a lesson because I never went into another deal other than real estate."
Fast forward to today where Rosen is peppered with questions from beginning investors about how much capital it takes to get in the game. Their first step should be to determine their net worth, taking into account everything from home equity to CDs and IRA accounts. Still, it's possible to acquire a five-unit apartment building with $10,000 cash and first mortgage at 80% loan-to-value and a second mortgage, says Rosen. That's certainly not the case in every market, "but you can get started with a lot less money than you think."
It sure beats waiting for REIT share prices to rise.
Contact Editor Matt Valley at [email protected].


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100 WITMER ROAD P.O. BOX 963, HORSHAM, PENNSYLVANIA -- I am sending this letter anywhere I can. GMAC has ruined my life and taken our home like so many others. What a joke because really no one at GMAC actually gives a damn how they are treating Americans, so really it is a big joke and waste of my time. I am not sure why I am writing this letter, because God knows it will not help or make a difference. Apparently whoever heads up the mortgage department does not care about customer service, nor can they read. If they could read, they would see that GMAC has hurt so many hardworking, struggling American families with their horrible ethical practices.
After the American government bailed GMAC out of their financial struggles, this is how we are repaid. Having my home foreclosed has been one of the worst feeling I have ever had. GMAC has caused my family and so many others to be forced from their homes, without even a second thought. Oh GMAC says they try, but do they really? Honestly does anyone really review each case? No because if they did, no one who has an ounce of humanity would cause this much destruction.
All I hear is how they don't want our home, why would they? It is worth $50,000 less than we owe. But yet here I am with an income of $6,800 and two stable incomes (a Master's prepared nurse and a teacher) dealing with the loss of our home, the home we build and were so proud of.
At 27 years old, my husband and I were living the American dream. We grew up poor, worked our way through college, and now we have a home, or we did have a home. I do not even want to hear how you give a damn, because it is just a paper signing mill, and everyone knows that. Just open your internet browser and type in GMAC Complaints and wow it is amazing, thousands of complaints posted about how horrible GMAC has treated them in this time of need. Most of the complaints are all the same based on hardworking American losing their homes, because GMAC lied to them, and was not willing to help.
My heart goes out to so many American hurt by GMAC's dishonest, deceitful, falsehearted, fraudulent and pathetic practices. This is why so many states are in the process of investigating the illegal practice of foreclosure mills. I do believe that in the future GMAC will get everything that is coming to them and they will pay for what they have done to hurt America. Processing this high number of foreclosures and causing families that are hardworking to lose their homes will come back and hurt GMAC. The economy will never recover if you do not change how you treat Americans.
I would assume that whoever is the head of GMAC Mortgage department knows that the economy is struggling and families are losing their homes due to financial struggles, but they are just enjoying their big bailouts and fancy house, while American are hurting so bad. I was just like so many families, I got behind on my mortgage, I was trying to help my struggling family remain in their home. I then became behind on my mortgage and that was it. We got behind in September and GMAC never gave us the help we needed to stay in our home. How can you sleep at night, knowing the nightmare you have caused tens of thousands of Americans.
I work as a nurse and my husband is teacher. I save lives every day at work and my husband influences the lives of our youth. I have put myself through graduate school and Nurse Practitioner school to better myself and the world, but what world am I bettering? The one where GMAC the company who represents American causes such harm and sadness to so many.
As fellow Americans how can you do this to people that are hard working and just fell behind for two months. A series of failed loan modifications, poor customer service, and just plain horrible misconduct and our home is gone just like that. Now we are back on track, we have two incomes and two stable great paying jobs, but it was too late for us. Our home is gone, gone, gone and I cry everyday at how stupid I was to allow this to happen, I am a nurse with a master's degree, wow what is wrong with me. I am sure each and every one of you has been sick and helped by a nurse, and now when I need help, this is how I am repaid.
It is disgusting to me how an American company can do this when we are in the worst economical downturn ever, with no end in sight. Removing families from their homes will only harm the economy more. Why, why, can GMAC not see this.
I will not stop until I am able to sue GMAC for myself and for the others they have hurt. I will succeed and sue GMAC somehow. I know it will not get my house back, but I will do this one way or another. I have contacted a lawyer, but I do not have the money to spend at this time, but I will find a way. I know this letter was a pointless waste of my time, but it helps a little to write about it. I have spent probably 60 hours researching how to get help and all I find are like stories below about the pain caused by GMAC.
CALIFORNIA -- Let me start by saying that I am self-employed and my wife works full time. We purchased our home around 8 years ago and it has been in the family for about 40+ years. We have been struggling like a lot of people for the last three years. The first two years I sold off personal belongings and assets to maintain my mortgage. By the end of last year it became very hard to maintain. I received a hamp trial payment modification in November I made the November and December Payment. I was late on the third payment and called in and was told they would not accept it as it was late and I was required to be on time. I accept my role in this.
At this point we were at a low and thought we WOULD lose the home. In April things picked up so we decided to submit for a loan modification again. We contacted GMAC mortgage and spoke with them, they directed us to their website for the financial analysis packet and loan modification packet. All seemed to be normal and on May 1st 2010 we submitted all paperwork.
A few times in May and June I called to check the status and was told it is in review. June 30th 2010 I contacted them and was told I was missing two important pieces of paperwork. I decided at this time I better start documenting every call to them. I faxed off the two papers, again. Within a week they were missing a different form I had previously faxed, I faxed that in. July 13th I was told they had my paperwork and would receive and answer within 15 days. July 26th 2010 I called and was told they needed another 15 days.
The first week of August 2010 I called and another paper was missing and needed to be faxed. I expressed my concerns and was told it happens. Thousands of people a day submit paperwork. I told the representative I was worried about foreclosure and was told not to worry, my default letter had expired because they did not follow up at the time and they would not foreclose on me while they were reviewing a loan modification. I re-faxed it in for the third time. I was then told that I would again, have an answer in 15 days.
Aug 11th, 2010 I called. They said I will have an answer in 15 days. Aug 11th 2010 I received a letter stating I was past due and should contact them to discuss options on the best way they could help me. Aug 12th 2010 I called and was informed I was denied for the hamp loan but they were reviewing it for a traditional loan modification. I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told no, call back in 15 days. Aug 12th 2010, 1 hour later. I called and asked to speak to a supervisor and was told they cannot transfer me to one but I should call every 3 - 5 days.
August 16th 2010, I call. Guess what? I was missing another signed sheet. I then faxed it in. Aug 19th 2010. I called: still reviewing it for a traditional modification. Aug. 23Rd 2010. I called in: still no word. They only received my completed packet on August 16th 2010. They needed 30 - 60 days to get an approval. I was told to call back in 30 days. Aug 26th 2010 I called: no word. Just call in whenever I want. August 31, 2010 I called: loan mod in review. I was told they have to answer within 30 days so call back by Sept, 17th 2010. They didn't get my packet until the 16th of Aug.
Sept 8th 2010 I called: oops, it was late, they were closed. Sept 10th 2010 I called: still in review for a traditional modification. Now informed that a loan modification in review will not stop a foreclosure. Sept 15th 2010: I called: was asked if I was calling about the home currently in foreclosure!!! I said "What? No, checking status of a loan modification." The representative said "The loan modification should have been approved or denied 4 days ago. Still looks like it's in review." The representative said I might still be approved for a loan modification. Call back in 15 days.
Sept 16th 2010, I called: no help, no answers, no supervisors??? I was told "they will call you shortly on the loan modification" I said "what's that mean?" The representative said, "we will call you back shortly." I told the representative I needed some help, some answers. I was told they cannot do anything until the review process department contacts them.
Sept 17th 2010. I called: the account was turned over to a lawyer yesterday for foreclosure. Still in review for a traditional loan modification. The representative recommended I call back weekly to check status. I was told there was no sale date pending.
Sept 17th 2010. 1-888-995-Hope representative calls them and conferences me in on the call. The GMAC representative is made aware I am on the call and asks if they can discuss the account with the hope representative I stated yes. The hope representative and myself were informed that my family home would be auctioned off OCTOBER 4th 2010. The hope representative asked if we could postpone the auction date and the GMAC representative stated no. It was turned over to the attorney and we would need to contact them. I was directed to call back on the traditional loan modification in 15 days.
Note the timeline here: Sept 15th 2010. Put into foreclosure status. Sept 16th 2010. Sent to the attorney. Sept 17th 2010 auction date set for October 4th 2010, 17 days away. I immediately call my spouse who was attending a family funeral. I told my spouse they were auctioning our house off in less than 20 days. All I heard for 20 minutes was sobbing on the other end of the phone.
Sept 17th later that day: I called their attorney. He was very polite and professional. He answered my questions. He also stated that there is no, I repeat, no auction date set for my home. The information I received was not accurate. The attorney then told me about the procedure and the timelines involved. 1-2 Weeks to record the default. 90 Day waiting period. Then an auction date is set. If the traditional modification review is finished and approved in that timeline then the foreclosure is stopped. If it is declined then they proceed without stopping or delaying. But this timeline is in California. I do not know if they have the same timeline in other states.
I ask, is this false hope? The traditional review? Why would they do this? They would lose so much money taking this property. I just need help. Reduce the payment. Extend the loan. Just "make my home affordable". But guess what, we are still in review. Call back in 15 days.
The sad thing is I would not have any of this information had I not called them. I think I have received 1 collection call in 8 months and 1 letter in 6 months. I just don't understand why they have to deceive us. The mental anguish we have been through I wish on no family. We want to keep our home.
I know several people that just walked away from the homes they purchased. Real estate offices have key drop off stations for people from what I hear. People just move out and drop the keys off with the agents that sold them the home. We just need some help, some answers. Why trip over pennies and lose dollars? Where are the supervisors at GMAC mortgage?
WATERLOO, IA -- We fell behind in our mortgage as I was in hospice care and my husband lost his job and were assured by GMAC Mortgage that we had several options. We could do a loan modification, "catch up" by increasing our monthly payments, or tack what we owe on the back of the loan. To this end, we supplied GMAC Mortgage with our financial information. GMAC Mortgage also stated that they were sympathetic to our situation and would work with us -- they really didn't want the house back.
Even after the sheriff came to the door in January with a foreclosure notice (with sale set for April 28, 2010), we were not worried as GMAC Mortgage lulled us into a false sense of security by telling us they were still "working on it", and that we had "several options" and they "didn't want our house back" and they were "sympathetic to our hardship". My husband stayed in constant communication with this company, and no issues were raised over the next months leading up to our foreclosure date of April 28, 2010.
We knew that as long as you had an active open loan application that a foreclosure could not take place until there was a determination from the lender, so we were not panicking. On April 27th, GMAC Mortgage contacted us and asked us to fax over some additional information. As this was "last minute", my husband scrambled around to make copies and find a fax machine to use. He then called GMAC to confirm that they had received his fax, and they said they had the information requested and they would get back to us. There were 9 pages in all that were faxed to GMAC.
Early the next morning, we were informed that we were "denied by everyone". I was a bit suspicious about this, as GMAC couldn't have possibly submitted our information to lenders and receive an answer literally overnight. And what happened to our other "options"? Our home was put up for sale that same day with the sheriff's office, and there was nothing we could do to stop it.
Not trusting what we were told by GMAC Mortgage regarding being "denied by everyone", I repeatedly requested the evidence of whom we were submitted to and their reason for denial, but were not supplied this information. Finally, on June 18th, with me on one extension and my husband on the other and with a tape recorder running, I got a customer service representative on the phone, Mary. She informed us that we were never submitted anywhere, so there wasn't ever a denial!
My husband asked about the 9 pages they had asked us to fax to them. The representative told us that she was showing this documentation as received on the 29th, not the 27th as we claimed. We knew that we faxed over 9 pages of information and they were, in fact, received the day before the foreclosure sale was set on April 28th and that GMAC had confirmed that they were in receipt of this information. We also knew that if we had an active application for consideration of funding, that a foreclosure could not happen. And we knew that it would take at least a full business day during regular business hours to submit and have a response to our application.
As it was past business hours when GMAC said they received our information, there was no way that there could be any determination regarding our application. Why in the world would we dash around to accommodate a last minute request for information unless they asked us for it? And why were we "denied" if there wasn't any application? What had GMAC Mortgage been doing all these months on our supposed behalf?
What really bothers us is, if GMAC Mortgage never had any intention of assisting us in the loan modification program, they should have just told us. That way, we could attempt to procure financing on our own. GMAC Mortgage violated our rights by denying us this process. And they have conveniently altered the timeline of the events of April 28th to reflect their position -- we never provided any financial information so there was no application to be done, so no denial was ever issued.
My husband and I appeared on the 10:00 news (WWL-TV, Channel 4, New Orleans) on June 17th. The station's "Action Reporter", Bill Capo, took up our cause. The network even gave Mr. Capo extra time to present our story as it was so timely and compelling. We are grateful to Mr. Capo and Channel 4 for their assistance and their efforts. We plan to do a follow up interview and hope to have some resolution to report. Our home is now property of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. As I am permanently disabled, we are trying to work a subsidy plan out with our Federal Government and are working toward that resolution.
Our attempts to contact any key management or decision makers of GMAC Mortgage has been unsuccessful. For those of you that have wanted to simply have a conversation with anyone from this company past their inept customer service, you know that they only provide their customer service line or an online form to complete. It wasn't until after I filed a complaint with our Attorney General's Office (Mr. James D. "Buddy" Caldwell) and the Department of Justice, that I received a response from GMAC Mortgage through the Attorney Generals' office, with some viable contact information.
Yes, GMAC Mortgage continues to lie about the events of April 27 and 28. But, I now have the name of a real live person who is an "Advocacy Resolution Specialist" for GMAC Mortgage (yes, they actually have one of these!). Mr. Bryan ** can be reached at 1 -800-627-0128 extension ** or directly at **. I'm confident that if GMAC Mortgage has an advocacy specialist, then they certainly would welcome calls from their customers, the people that keep them in business, regarding their experiences, concerns and dissatisfaction with their business practices.
It's funny, with all of our attempts to come to some resolution in this matter, we were never referred to such a department. The way we deal with such entities as GMAC Mortgage, is by not doing business with them. But for many of us, it's already too late for that. But there are actions you can take. File a complaint with every elected official representing our country and your particular state. Some examples of such contacts are the President, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Attorney General (Department of Justice), along with your state government officials (Governor, Senators, Congressmen).
Remember, it was our government that gave GMAC a whole bunch of our tax money. In addition, file a complaint or report with any watchdog group or consumer advocacy organization pertaining to mortgage companies, such as the Better Business Bureau. When filing a complaint of this nature, I can't stress enough that documentation is key here. Write down who you speak to, their title/department, the date, time, what was discussed, and if applicable, their extension or direct line.
And get them on tape… Let them know you are recording the conversation. How often is it that we, as consumers, are told when we call a company or organization that "the call may be recorded for quality assurance or training purposes."? There's no better evidence than their own words! But for others currently doing business with GMAC Mortgage, there is hope -- they now have Mr. Bryan **, Advocacy Resolution Specialist, to listen and act on their inquiries and concerns. I know I feel so much better just knowing that Mr. **, Advocacy Resolution Specialist is "there" for me!
There are numerous reports of GMAC Mortgage's unethical business practices available online with consumer report groups. I know that realistically, almost every business in our country has had some form of complaint filed against them by a consumer, whether warranted or not. But the sheer volumes of complaints filed against GMAC, I believe, speaks volumes. Even if what GMAC Mortgage did pertaining to us is not, on paper, against the law, there is a moral side to what sort of operating procedures this company subscribes to. If GMAC Mortgage would lie and cheat a Baptist Minister and his terminal wife, I think it's pretty safe to say, no one is safe.
Over the last several months my husband and I have been trying to work with GMAC Mortgage to save our home. I am unemployed and my husband is self-employed and as many others have....we too have fallen on hard times. I wanted to share with you my horrible ordeal The easiest way to do this would be a time line.
In September 2009 I contacted GMAC to explain my hardship. They were kind enough to give us a 4-month forbearance taking us through December 09 (We truly appreciated this. I had hopes that within the next 4 months our business would pick up and I would be able to find a job. Unfortunately this did not happen). December 22, 2009 we received a letter from Orlans/Moran (GMAC's Attorney's) stating that our Mortgage was in default and that we needed to contact GMAC to make some kind of arrangements. I contacted GMAC immediately and asked what the process would be. They stated to submit paper work for a Loan Modification.
January 11, 2010 all necessary paper work including a financial analysis for loss mitigation workout, a financial hardship affidavit, request for transcript of tax returns, bank statements and the source of income (which was Massachusetts Unemployment) was faxed. I called and confirmed that they received all paper work. On January 21, 2010 we were sent by certified mail a Notice of Intention to foreclose on Tuesday, February 16, 2010.
January 22, 2010 I contacted both GMAC and Orlans/Moran (GMAC's Attorney's) to see how I could stop this from happening. Both parties told me two things - That I needed to contact the Loss Mitigation department (which I had already done) and that if we called on Thursday, February 11, 2010 (5 days prior to the auction date) and not any earlier we could ask to postpone the auction. At this point I had high hopes of delaying the auction and saving our home because of the Hope for Homeowners and/or a Loan Modification.
January 26, 2010 I contacted GMAC to see what the Status of the Loan Modification was. They said it was still in review. February 3, 2010 I was sent a letter regarding some additional documentation they needed. They were missing a copy of the most recent pay stub (which I had sent them already), Unemployment award letter and 2008 Taxes (which again...I had already sent them).
February 8, 2010 called to see if there was any update on the loan modification and to explain that we maybe filing for Bankruptcy. Nothing at this point. Instructed at this time to call on Thursday, February 11th to ask to postpone the auction as instructed.
February 11, 2010 I called to asked to have the auction postponed. A ticket was entered. I instructed the gentlemen to make sure that they called me on my cell if they had any questions or need anything. I was adamant about it! I also asked them to put in the notes that I was very very close to getting a job....I am on the 3rd round of interviews and all I was asking was for a couple of weeks to see if I got the job. They told me that they would document that.
February 11, 2010 - At 2:00 Eastern time I received a call from a woman named Maureen who asked me to give her a call. It was late that evening and I had to wait until the morning to contact her. February 12, 2010 - Called Maureen around 10 AM regarding message left the night prior (888-714-4622, option #5 and extension - 2365415). I left all the information needed for her to get back in touch with me including my cell phone.
About an hour later I tried calling Maureen back and still got voicemail. I finally called the regular call center in which I was told that the request had been denied due to missing documentation. The documentation stated that they did not have the signed 2008 tax form which I had already faxed over twice before. Very upset I stated that I would send the information right way. The representative told me that the fax could take up 24 to 48 hrs to receive and once received I could ask for the auction to be postponed. 24 to 48 business hours would bring us to TUESDAY! This was unacceptable to me and demanded a different solution...she gave me an emergency fax line (866-355-6034).
I still wanted to talk with Maureen who I was told was a supervisor....I called and left a total of 6 message throughout the day asking Maureen to contact me. I begged her to just call me and update me as to where I stood. I never received a phone call from her. I called the call center at least 5 to 6 different times demanding to speak with a supervisor....NO ONE would put me through to one.
Everyone told me that they would need to enter a ticket for a call back and I would be contacted within 24 to 48 hours! WHAT!!! I was so upset...all I was looking for was answers....all I wanted was for someone to "own" my file so I did not have to speak with 7-8 different representatives who I had to repeat my story to 7-8 different times.
Finally at 4:33 while speaking with a woman I was told that my fax was received, that a request to have the auction postponed was submitted once again and I was insured that I would be contacted by a supervisor that evening before closing. I waited all night...NO ONE called.
February 15, 2010 - first thing in the morning I called Maureen and left a message on her voicemail and then I called the call center...at which time I was informed that I would not be granted the postponement of the auction because I was denied for both the Hope for Homeowners and a Traditional Modification because I could not afford to pay the mortgage. I am sure you can imagine how upset I was/am. I tried to explain to the representative that all I am asking for is a couple of weeks to postpone the sale. That I have a 3rd round job interview this week that if I get the job would allow me to pay my mortgage and get me on my feet again.
I asked why a supervisor never contacted me and they stated that there was a ticket still open for one to call and I told them it was unacceptable. I told the gentleman that I would not get off the phone until I was talked with a supervisor. The gentleman came back 3 times and told me that there was no one to speak with...but I told him I was not going to get off the phone.
Finally they placed me with Stacey. I explained to Stacy what I had gone through over the last couple of days, I explained to her how many calls I had placed to Maureen, I explained to her my situation with my employment and that all I needed was 2 weeks to find out if I got the job. All I was asking was for 2 weeks. The answer was no. At this time Ms. ** we truly feel that GMAC has intentionally deceived us for the following reason:
They knew that we might file Chapter 13 Bankruptcy which would immediately hault any foreclosure or auction process. We feel that they intentionally delayed our request to speak with a superior so we could not escalate the situation. We were adamant that my cell phone number be the only contact number and we also stated not to call the house number which is where Maureen left the message.
We were never contacted to be notified that any of our packets were missing documents...the only time we found this out was when I called them to request an update. At which point we did receive a letter of missed items...but only after I had called them days prior and request what info was missing. We believe that GMAC knew all along that we did not qualify for either one of the plans but chose to tell us only hours before the deadline and on a Federal/State Holiday so we would not have access to the courts to save our home by way of filing the Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.
Ms. ** - I know that at this time we can not afford the home. I am not naive to that. All I am asking or was asking for was a delay in the auction....in order to see if I did get the job. 2-4 weeks tops! I am not sure why waiting another couple weeks would hurt them or their investors. (GNMA) If I don't get the job...then we move on. At least I know I had the option and can tell my children we tried.
My mortgage was sold to GMAC in 2006, and I have paid on time etc. etc. on every payment, as I do with all my bills. I have a credit score of 795, no debt (other than mortgage) and have a good salary income and a long term position with a fortune 100 company. I have been trying to refinance this property with GMAC for nearly a year!!! Each time I start the process, I am quoted a reasonable rate (30 year fixed) and start the process. As I get into the process, they tell me they have "questions" about this or that and send me a NEW good faith estimate with higher interest rates and fees, and want me to "buy the rate down".
This has now happened twice. I complain, and they eventually say they don't know what's wrong but the answer is to let the current lock run out and start over. Since I have now been through this several times, I have explained that "I expect that we not do this again." Since then, I call, I email, I write, I fax, and they won't even call me back. I got one call (at 11:52 PM on Sunday night) where the "agent" left me a very brief message saying (for the third time in 9 months) that they have been out of the office and I was told to call back.
5 calls and 3 emails, and two weeks later. AGAIN, no contact and no call back. The more I know, the less they want to talk to me. Now that I can see what they are doing and know rates, etc. etc. etc. They revert back to "I don't know why" and just get off the phone, saying they will call me back. Which they NEVER do. I sincerely believe they are working VERY hard for one of two things.
Wait for rates to go up so that it isn't worth it for me to refinance (and they can keep the higher interest loan) or wait until I give in and give up altogether, or give in and they give me a loan where I am paying high fees, and "buying down" the rate to what is even then higher than market rates (5.25% at this writing) as opposed to market rates of around 4.5%. Disgusting and Shameful. I really don't know how people that work there doing this kind of thing live with themselves.
WATERLOO, IOWA -- I want to thank the gentleman who posted the address and name of the president of GMAC so I could contact him. But it did no good to do so. After sending him 3 letters, it was as good as contacting the morons in the mortgage department. I have literally spent hours, days and months regarding wrong charges, unpaid balances, 11 home inspections in one year with a charge each time, on a three-month new loan modification! After spending over 2 hours on the phone yesterday, being transferred three times, getting the tax department only to have the woman I was speaking to who could not answer my questions - I got hung up on!!!
This has gone on for the last five years and has caused me a nervous breakdown and high blood pressure. It is about time to give them the house back and add one more to their already hundreds or thousands of foreclosures. From the president on down are the dumbest and laziest employees of any company I have ever dealt with. Stay away from this company. I have beem tax exempt for two years now and they are still adding taxes onto my mortgage.
Being disabled and ill, I am exempt from property taxes in Virginia. The state sent a letter stating 100% exempt from taxes and GMAC said that wasn't good enough. So the state issued a second letter which runs through 2012. That got faxed to them yesterday, January 25, 2011. Oh, on top of it all, they gave me the wrong fax number twice so it made me have to get dressed, get to my car with my walker, and get to a fax machine.
My fourth trip was yesterday. I only wish another company would buy my mortgage as I know there could not be another company could never be as stupid as GMAC is. If you think I'm kidding, plug in GMAC into the box of this home page and you will find 19 pages of complaints.
1100 VIRGINIA DRIVE, FORT WASHINGTON, PENNSYLVANIA -- We have both our regular mortgage and a home equity account with GMAC mortgage - both always in 100% good standings. A couple of months back, GMAC credited the home equity account payment to the regular mortgage and then contacted us about lack of payment to our home equity account. Even though our initial contact with them resulted in an assurance that they'd made the mistake and would immediately get it corrected, within just a couple of days, they locked up our home equity account and notified us we were in default.
After many, many, many calls, we finally talked to various supervisors, all of which told us it was our responsibility to prove to them that they made an error even though they could see that they had credited two payments to the same account, and even though they could see that our history indicated that we always made two separate payments to the two separate accounts. After getting copies of the paid checks and sending to them, they still did not reinstate our locked up home equity account nor did they provide any confirmation as they had assured us they would that our credit score would not be affected by their error.
In trying to reach a manager or official, all you get is customer services representatives apparently in some other county. We're still waiting for confirmation of this being cleared up weeks after it all started. This company has absolutely no outlet for contacting anyone at any level that can make sure they've fixed their own errors - at least none that customers are made aware of.
Customer Service representatives are apparently not allowed to provide written confirmation that any errors were made on their side. Their Customer Service representatives are apparently not allowed to provide management names and/or telephone numbers to dissatisfied customers. I would never recommend GMAC to anyone looking for financing of any type.
WATERLOO, IOWA -- GMAC, LLC is handling my loan and I recently qualified for AD-Valorem Tax Exemption because I am a Totally and Permanently Disabled Veteran. I file all the appropriate forms with my county and was granted the tax exemption. I then proceed to call GMAC to notify them of my tax exempt status with the county and they inform me to fax the documentation to them which I proceeded to do the next day. This was done on November 2, 2011.
I then get a letter from them dated November 10, 2011 stating to me, "In response to your request, we updated our records to reflect receipt of your partial tax exempt status 2012. Your escrow account has been updated to reflect non-ad valorem taxes only (solid waste and water control). Analysis scheduled for December". None of this was done and I have called them 7 times to hold them accountable with what they stated to me. Till this day they have not updated my escrow account and no analysis was ever performed in December 2011 and all I get is a run around.
As far as I am concerned, this is Deceitful Corporate Malpractice. It is also unprofessional and unethical conduct for a company to mail a letter to one of their customers bluntly lying to them. It is no more or no less than armed robbery. To all new home buyers, beware. Do not get into an ESCROW clause. Steer clear of them because if not the mortgage company will screw you out of your hard earned money, make interest on your own money and don't give it to these filthy rich corporate criminals.
In all my 52 years have I EVER dealt with such a horrible customer service division! The people are definitely outsourced from another country and are ridiculous to deal with. They do nothing to help the customer. I might add that I am a fantastic customer and have never been late and have always paid more than is due each month. I am trying to get them to sign a subordination letter while I refinance my first mortgage and you can never get past these droids!
If you know what's best for you, NEVER willingly do business with this company! I am so outraged that I am trying to find any outlet possible to let everyone know how AWFUL they are! SHAME on them for being the typical huge entity that doesn't care about the individual customer... This is what's wrong with big impersonal companies like GMAC. The government should have let them go out of business!
HORSHAM, PENNSYLVANIA -- I have a second home equity line of credit (HELOC) loan on some investment property that is now in the hands of GMAC Mortgage. (The account was bought by them last November.) This morning I tried over and over to speak to a human regarding an endorsement they were supposed to process for an insurance check sent to them about a month ago (for the December 14 severe windstorm in Seattle).
The IVR system is extremely convoluted, and when one does connect to a human it's "not their department" and/or one is on the phone with a call center in India. I even had the bright idea to try to reach the "new loan department" but after a few sentences... "sorry pal - not my department".
It seems GMAC Mortgage is less than willing to speak with or have anything to do with their current clientele. After about an hour of the complete runaround I gave up. This is beyond pathetic. Yes - most companies are trying to be competitive and/or cut costs - but this is way over the line.
Once the damage to my property is fixed and I can re-fi this place I am using my credit union. The rates are competitive enough and when I call I actually get a human that has an interest in my account. GMAC Mortgage is gettin' the boot.
In frustration - I sent a rather pointed letter to the president of the U.S. Residential Finance Group at the following address: Mr. David M. Applegate, GMAC Mortgage Corporate Headquarters, 100 Witmer Road, P.O. Box 963, Horsham, PA 19044. Anyone else who has the "pleasure" of having a GMAC Mortgage account with similar problems is urged to contact Mr. Applegate at the address above.


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Disneyland® Resort
Get Away Today is your go-to for Disneyland packages and is your expert on all things at the Disneyland® Resort.
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Get Away Today has the best Disneyland packages available year round. Our travel specials to the Disneyland® Resort include discounted Disneyland® Resort Park Hopper® tickets and reduced rates, free night hotel specials and exclusive negotiated extras at Anaheim area hotels.
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The Downtown Disney® District is a dining, shopping, and entertainment district situated between the main entrances of Disneyland® Park and Disney California Adventure® Park. This popular shopping and dining scene offers visitors over 40 unique shops and restaurants, a movie theater, and a Monorail station that will take you directly into Tomorrowland inside Disneyland® Park.


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Is it really a "shocker" that many Americans are poorly informed about religion? J.D. at Democracy in America thought so, and he went on to say this:
Still, as Steven Prothero, a professor of religion at Boston University, writes, it is very odd that "those who think religion is a con know more about it than those who think it is God's gift to humanity."
No, it isn't "very odd." It isn't odd at all. Let's think about this. First of all, many of the people who think "religion is a con" are surprisingly obsessed with the subject, and some of them spend an inordinate amount of time railing against it. It seems reasonable that they would pick up at least some superficial knowledge of the details, if only as a means for making fun of religious beliefs in great detail. Most believers don't think "religion" is God's gift to humanity. They will probably say that they regard the religion they profess to be God's gift, and for the most part will be indifferent to or uninterested in the others.
Some of the more interesting findings concern what Americans don't know about their own religions' teachings. The 45% of American Catholics who don't know Catholic Eucharistic teaching sounds surprisingly high, but then you consider the state of the American Catholic Church, the preoccupations of many American Catholic bishops, and the extent to which American Catholics have become fully Americanized and to some extent Protestantized in their cultural and religious habits and it doesn't seem surprising at all. After all, how are these Catholics going to know these teachings if many of their hierarchs and priests aren't teaching them on a regular basis? Along the same lines, the minority of Protestants that cannot identify Martin Luther as the first major Reformed theologian doesn't really surprise me. How many Protestant chuches put that much of an emphasis on church history? How central to modern Protestant religious practice is knowledge about the early Reformers? My impression is that it is not particularly important. These results don't tell us as much as some people seem to think that they do.
The farther afield into world religions one goes, the more one is going to find that Americans are no more knowledgeable about the religions of the rest of the world than they are about anything else in the rest of the world. A nation that cannot locate Iraq on a map is not a nation that is going to know the religious demographics of Asian countries about which they know even less than Iraq. I'm not excusing the ignorance, but I also don't assume that the fact that most Americans regularly attend church has any relationship to whether or not they can recognize Hindu deities. Being religious and having extensive academic religious knowledge are very, very different things, and religion professors should be among the first to know and to emphasize this.
The Pew survey report does contain these crucial points:
Data from the survey indicate that educational attainment – how much schooling an individual has completed – is the single best predictor of religious knowledge. College graduates get nearly eight more questions right on average than do people with a high school education or less. Having taken a religion course in college is also strongly associated with higher religious knowledge.
Other factors linked with religious knowledge include reading Scripture at least once a week and talking about religion with friends and family. People who say they frequently talk about religion with friends and family get an average of roughly two more questions right than those who say they rarely or never discuss religion. People with the highest levels of religious commitment – those who say that they attend worship services at least once a week and that religion is very important in their lives – generally demonstrate higher levels of religious knowledge than those with medium or low religious commitment.
Put another way, people who have spent more time finding out about religion, pay more attention to religion and take a greater interest in religion are better informed about religion. That isn't exactly breaking news. We would presumably find similar gaps in knowledge about politics between politically engaged and politically apathetic citizens, and the same would go for pretty much every other subject.
This discussion interests me because I came to Christianity from a thoroughly secular background by way of a fairly extensive self-education in religious texts of all sorts. Viewed one way, I was extremely well-informed about world religions by the time I was 20. As I look at it now, I was still stunningly ignorant of the most important Truth of all. By the time I was a sophomore in college, I am fairly sure I could have answered all of these questions correctly, but what would that have shown? It showed that I was a religion major and had read many books. That's all very well, but that knowledge didn't mean that I understood anything that really mattered.


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New event hits Chautauqua area
The Chautauqua Art Challenge, an event inspired by the Ridgway Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous, is scheduled to hit Mayville, N.Y. on Sept. 24-29.The weeklong event, conjured up by Rendezvous genius Rick Boni, will feature a painting competition, clay competition, cardboard/fabric sculpture competition, ice carving competition, and wood carving competition."It's a wonderful opportunity," said Liz Boni of Appalachian Arts Studio. "It was probably a couple of years after the Rendezvous where Rick [Boni] thought it'd be really neat to have an event where you're really challenged. "He came up with this idea and we were contacted by the Chautaugua Suites [Hotel] right before the last Rendezvous to see if there was something that we could do for them up at Chautauqua."The Chautauqua Art Challenge will feature 16 artists from around the world competing against each other in multi media art forms."We contacted some carvers that are very versatile and in the carvers that we've met over the years, we've found out that many of them are multi-talented," Liz Boni said. "We contacted several carvers and we have one coming from England, one from Germany, we have Washington state, Colorado, Oregon, California, Pennsylvania, New York, and Delaware."Also in the mix is Chris "Snuffy" DeStefano of Ridgway."I'm going to do my best but I'm going to be challenged in all these events," DeStefano said. "There are a lot of very talented people coming from all over the world and I know some of them, and I'm looking forward to making new friends as well."


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SOURCE: NoCo Gold & Diamond
January 31, 2013 03:00 ET
FORT COLLINS, CO--(Marketwire - Jan 31, 2013) - Gold prices are hovering near all-time highs, which means that Coloradans can get cash for gold jewelry. Unwanted jewelry is instant liquidity, which means cash is sitting in closets or bedrooms across the state. NoCo Gold & Diamond's mobile appraisal services are convenient for all Coloradans.
"One of the greatest things about our business is that we have a mobile appraisal and purchase unit," said the owner of NoCo Gold & Diamond. "Because we save by not spending money on a storefront, we can give customers more money for their gold and we can appraise, purchase and pay you on the spot, whether it is at your home, office or any public location of your choosing," he continued.
NoCo Gold & Diamond provides a convenient mobile service which allows customers to easily sell gold, silver or diamond jewelry. It's a safe and professional appraisal service that comes to you, wherever you are, so that you don't have to take any more time out of your busy day than is absolutely necessary to get cash for gold jewelry or other precious metals.
The experts at NoCo Gold & Diamond have over 25 years of experience in the industry, including experience dealing with gold, silver and diamonds. But, the owner says he has never seen prices this high.
"This has to be the best opportunity I have seen for customers to sell gold or other unwanted jewelry. We have never seen prices this high," he continued.
If you have been considering selling some of your unwanted gold jewelry, NoCo Gold & Diamond makes it easier and more convenient than ever before with mobile appraisal and purchasing services that are designed to fit your schedule and needs. You can visit them online at www.nocogoldanddiamond.com to learn more, or call (970)-658-0488 to get cash for gold jewelry and other precious metals immediately.
NoCo Gold & Diamond
NoCo Gold & Diamond
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Cervical cancer is cancer in the cells of the cervix, the part of the uterus or womb that opens to the vagina.
A virus, called human papilloma virus (HPV), is associated with almost all cases of cervical cancer. HPV is a common virus which is contracted by having sexual relations with someone who also has been exposed to the virus. Most people with HPV never even know they have it. Frequently, the viral infection goes away without ever causing any symptoms. In other women HPV can cause genital warts or changes in the cells which can progress to cervical cancer. HPV rarely goes on to cause cervical cancer without certain other factors such as smoking, or having an immune system which has difficulty removing the virus.
There are two types of HPV—"low-risk" and "high-risk." The low-risk HPV infections can cause genital warts. Sometimes, if the high-risk type of HPV does not go away on its own, it may cause abnormal, or pre-cancerous, cells to form. If these abnormal cells are not found and treated, they may become cancer. The goal of cervical cancer screening is to find these early changes in the cells so that they can be treated before cancer can develop.
You may be at a higher risk if you:
Early cervical pre-cancer cells and even cervical cancer cells can often be present but have no signs or symptoms. That is why it is very important to be sure that you are regularly tested and examined for cervical cancer. Call your doctor if you have irregular bleeding either between periods or after intercourse.
Yes, cervical cancer is treated with surgery, radiation or chemotherapy. You and your doctor can discuss these treatment options and decide the best treatment.
Your doctor can perform a Pap test and/or an HPV test. Remember: No test can absolutely guarantee that you do not have or will not develop cancer of the cervix or any other form of cancer. However, your doctor's examinations and the appropriate screening tests are fast and relatively accurate ways to find out your risk of cervical cancer.
The Pap test is a simple test used to help find cervical cancer as early as possible. It is the best method for finding changes on the cervix that can lead to cancer. The Pap test also can detect infection and other health problems of the uterus and vagina.
Performing a Pap test is easily done in the doctor's office. Some cells are gently brushed from your cervix with a tiny plastic spatula or brush. The cells are then specially prepared, usually in a liquid solution called ThinPrep or Surepath, and sent to a lab. There, they will be examined under a microscope to look for any cells that may be pre-cancerous or cancerous.
The same tissue sample can also be tested for HPV (human papilloma virus). This test can detect the high-risk types of HPV that can cause pre-cancerous changes in cervical cells.
The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) recommend:
You should have your first Pap test within 3 years after you start having sexual intercourse, or by the time you are 21 years old.
Women under 30 should have a Pap test every 1 to 2 years. HPV testing is often less useful in this age group. Young women may have more frequent HPV infections (which are likely to be temporary) and more frequent changes in sex partners. During these years, when HPV infection and Pap test abnormalities are common, it is recommended that women be screened often (every 1-2 years depending on the type of Pap test and patient preference). Fortunately, in young women, most HPV infections and Pap test abnormalities clear up on their own before the infection causes any cell changes or symptoms.
For women age 30 and older, there are several recommended screening options. Women should discuss these screening options with their doctor.
If you have had a hysterectomy for reasons other than cancer, talk with your doctor about discontinuing Pap tests altogether.
Talk with your doctor about the best screening schedule for you and follow your doctor's recommendations. Remember: All women should schedule appointments every year with their gynecologist for important examinations including breast and pelvic exams and preventive health recommendations.
Some insurance companies pay for the Pap test and the HPV test; however, some insurance plans may have certain requirements that the patient must meet, such as an annual deductible. Please check with your insurance company.
Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences
| Supplemental content provided by Healthwise, Incorporated. To learn more, visit www.healthwise.org
For help in finding a doctor or health service that suits your needs, call the UPMC Referral Service at 412-647-UPMC (8762) or 1-800-533-UPMC (8762). Select option 1.
UPMC is an equal opportunity employer. UPMC policy prohibits discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, age, sex, genetics, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, familial status, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected group status. Further, UPMC will continue to support and promote equal employment opportunity, human dignity, and racial, ethnic, and cultural diversity. This policy applies to admissions, employment, and access to and treatment in UPMC programs and activities. This commitment is made by UPMC in accordance with federal, state, and/or local laws and regulations.
Medical information made available on UPMC.com is not intended to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. You should not rely entirely on this information for your health care needs. Ask your own doctor or health care provider any specific medical questions that you have. Further, UPMC.com is not a tool to be used in the case of an emergency. If an emergency arises, you should seek appropriate emergency medical services.
Pittsburgh, PA, USA | UPMC.com


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- 100% cotton
- Adjustable silver-tone buckle
- One size fits most
- Hand wash only
- Imported
For bulk pricing on quantities of 25 or more, please contact our Customer Service department at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Customer Reviews
- December 5, 2017
Cute! Don't wear caps often but when I do, I grab this one.
- May 13, 2017
It will work perfect for me cousin
- January 1, 2017
my daughter loved this for Christmas. It is very well made and her new favorite bb hat.
- December 31, 2016
I bought this for a friend who walks her dogs in the morning. She loves it! Very good quality
- August 23, 2016
Nice hat! Made nice, shipped fast! I am glad that I bought it! I recommend it to all animal lovers!
- June 29, 2016
This was a gift for my daughter's birthday. She phoned me to say she totally loves it!
- June 26, 2016
Looks great on. Great for when I go golfing.
- April 25, 2016
I have the black shirt that says this and it goes perfectly with this hat! I love it. Usually I have to do so much to get a cap to fit well on my head...I'm not much of a cap wearer...but this one is so comfortable from the start. I love the colors, the paw prints...everything! Great product!! (Get the shirt with it!! Great combo!)


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A spirometer is an instrument that measures how well your child's lungs are working. To use one, your child breathes into a mouthpiece. The doctor may ask your child to breathe normally or to take a deep breath and blow the air quickly out of his or her lungs, like blowing up a balloon. A recording device measures the amount of air inhaled or exhaled and how much time each breath took. These measurements can help the doctor find out if your child has a lung problem, such as asthma.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice, diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
© 1995-
Images provided by The Nemours Foundation, iStock, Getty Images, Veer, Shutterstock, and Clipart.com.


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A vibrantly regal nod to classic Indian matchbox design bedecks a tote fit for the most royal of errands.
- 100% certified organic cotton
- Button closure
- Design on one side only
- 18" W x 14" H x 8" D (45.7 x 35.6 x 20.3 cm)
- Fairly traded from India
Shop Green!
For bulk pricing on quantities of 25 or more, please contact our Customer Service department at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Customer Reviews
- July 28, 2018
Just as adorable in real life. I used it for a trip and got an amazing amount of compliments from strangers and referred them all to this website
- May 23, 2018
I am completely satisfied with my purchase. Carrying such a good looking bag, I have no worries about a strap breaking or a seam splitting. The bag feels heavy enough and is big enough to handle my bulkier items with a handy snap on top to keep most of it secure in the bag. I carry heavy items with the confidence that it will make it to it's destination inside the bag and not the ground. It's an over-all good quality tote bag and it's good-looking. The best and a most important part is that it feed 35 meals to shelter animals. That has to make one feel good to think about while using this tote bag.
- May 15, 2018
This bag is so beautiful & durable. I was so impressed with the quality of the one I ordered that I ordered 5 more! I keep them in my car & use them as shopping bags. The baggers always compliment how nice they are. Great value & a âfeel goodâ purchase.
- December 7, 2017
Love the colors and it is a very sturdy bag with lots of space!
- December 1, 2017
Love this bag! Good quality, and the perfect gift!
- November 25, 2017
This bag is even nicer than I had expected. It is large, sturdy and beautiful.
- May 31, 2017
Just as beautiful as it looks. I'm using it as a grocery bag so I can see it is often as possible. The baggers always complement me on it. I love elephants and it helps remind me and others how we must work hard to protect them.
- May 25, 2017
Lightweight and easy to carry. I use it as a grocery bag and a "going to the movies" purse. That way I can bring a pillow, light jacket (and maybe snacks ;-).


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What to CookCommunity
Editors' Picks — Squid or Octopus
Once again, we want to give a big thanks to all of our volunteer recipe testers for your thoughtful comments and for helping us continue to strengthen our recipe recommendations. You can read each tester's comments by clicking through to the Editors' Picks recipes — the comments are under "Amanda and Merrill's Notes" at the top. And even if the recipe you tested wasn't chosen as an EP, please feel free to leave your testing notes in the recipe's comments section. Constructive criticism is always encouraged!
Congratulations to another great batch of Editors' Picks!
Editors' Picks for Squid or Octopus
- Stuffed Squid Braised in White Wine; Calamari Ripieni Stufati al Vino Bianco
- Grilled Calamari with Curried Crab Stuffing
- Fusilli with Octopus in Red Wine Sauce
- Quick Tako Poke
- Marinated and Grilled Baby Octopus
- Squid Curry Soup
- Pulpo a la Feira
- Grilled Colima Calamari
- Takoyaki
- Sopa de Seite de Mar
- Weeknight Fancy: Squid, Chick Peas, Pasta
- Marinated Seafood Salad with Orange and Olive
- Pan-Roasted Calamari Salad with Tomatoes and Avocado
- Ika Teriyaki


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Bastrop Mayor Betty Alford-Olive hosted a luncheon at the Visitor Center Tuesday to formally welcome the new school board superintendent Dr. George Noflin, while also reacquainting public officials with her Goals from the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Bastrop and Morehouse Parish.
Bastrop Mayor Betty Alford-Olive hosted a luncheon at the Visitor Center Tuesday to formally welcome the new school board superintendent Dr. George Noflin, while also reacquainting public officials with her Goals from the Economic Development Strategic Plan for Bastrop and Morehouse Parish.
"We're trying to pay attention to the west end of town," Alford-Olive said.
Alford-Olive said she "saluted" the Rev. Payne Montgomery for all the work he's done on the west end of Bastrop with his non-profit organization the North Louisiana Community Enhancement Corporation.
"He's really been a force on that side of town, but there's some things he can't address such as the sewer system. That sewer system is 60 plus years old," she said. "I've written to several members of the legislature such as Senator [Mary] Landrieu and Rep. [Rodney] Alexander, asking for help."
Alford-Olive said the town has also been in touch with property owners of abandoned homes on the west end of town.
"We're working harder to encourage them to improve the property," she said.
After Alford-Olive stated some of her ideas for improvements, she formally introduced Noflin.
Noflin said he "recognizes" and "appreciates" the "open arms everyone has presented him."
He pointed out Goal 4 on the mayor's Economic Development Strategic Plan. This goal states that the local educational system, from kindergarten through post-secondary schools, is rated the best in the state.
"There is room for improvement in our school system," he said. "If we keep doing the same thing over and over again, we're going to get the same results over and over again."
Noflin said there will be several changes in the school system July 1, the day he will officially begin his new position as superintendent.
"There will be a lot going on and I plan to be in the mix of all of it," he said.
At the end of the luncheon, guests were allowed to ask Noflin questions about changes and improvements with the school system.
Local businessman Ivory Smith said he had heard the Louisiana School Board had asked for a limit on parent presentation, meaning parents would be limited to the time they could speak during meetings.
Noflin answered, "I haven't heard anything about that. The Louisiana School Board and the Morehouse Parish School Board are two different things."
Director of Bastrop Mainstreet Marc Vereen asked if school facilities would receive more attention form its maintenance.
Noflin said a "crew" had gone through the schools and made some improvements.
"They may not be perfect, but they look a lot better," he said.
Arnett Jewelry store owner Susan Arnett asked if parents could contribute to the schools' maintenance.
Noflin answered: "Some parents are willing to do whatever it takes. Unfortunately, not all parents feel that way."
Noflin ended the luncheon by saying he plans to work closely with everyone to keep communication open.
"If we have good news or bad news, we need to let the press know so that the truth about a situation can get out there," he said "We have to tell our story before other people start telling different stories and put a spin on it."
Noflin said he plans to use his experience within other school systems to make a difference in Morehouse Pairsh.
"I have a passion for what I do," he said. "I'm glad to be here. I'm sure I'm at the right place at the right time."


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In contrast with these robot celebrations, recent figures of show that the global economic downturn has hit robotics particularly hard in the country with the world's highest robot-to-human ratio. Shipments of industrial robots in Japan fell 33 percent in the last quarter of 2008, and 59 percent in the first quarter of 2009, according to the Japan Robot Association.
Analysts expect the industrial robotics market in Japan to shrink by as much as 40 percent this year, commenting that investment in robots "has been the first to go as companies protect their human workers" and that many of Japan's robotics projects tend to be too far-fetched and cannot be readily brought to market.
Meanwhile, robots which have found their niche, such as unmanned aerial systems and ground bots that can aid warfighters, continue to succeed spectacularly.
NY Times
Popular Science


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InTheVip presents Kylee Reese in video On the grind
Rating: 2.62
We rolled up in the limo, walked inside like we owned the night and took over the club. The Champagne was chilled and flowing. Everybody had smiles from ear t o ear. The girls were showing their love and the goods. Kylee set her sites on Jordan, but she was playing it off just to see how bad he wanted her. It did not take long for her to notice the huge bulge in his pants. As the rest of the girls were strutting their stuff, Kylee and Jordan disappeared into the one of the more private VIP rooms. They got naked and started fucking in record time. Kylee took Jordans massive member like it was a sport. She was getting pounded, and she was loved it. Kylee spread her legs wide enough for the whole world to see.
Watch the full Video. Join Now


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Opening on Sunday, November 10, Disembodied: Portrait Miniatures and Their Contemporary Relatives reawakens the spirit of these works, which are removed by hundreds of years from the hands into which they were originally placed.
The Thinker: A CMA Blog
The Cleveland Museum of Art is proud to welcome electronic artist Mark Fell to Transformer Station on Wednesday, November 13 as part of the CMA Concerts at Transformer Station series. The concert series aims at showcasing eclectic and adventurous music in the Hingetown arts venue.
Photos from MIX: Underneath on Friday, November 1, 2013.
In tribute of the many female artists who paved the way for those today, THE GIRLS IN THE BAND(2011) tells the poignant, untold stories of female jazz and big band instrumentalists and their fascinating, groundbreaking journeys from the 1920s to today. We catch up with the film's director before the film's screening at the CMA this weekend.
Many works of African art refer to and derive meaning from an invisible realm beyond the material world, serving as conduits between the living and the spirits, as conveyed throughout the Cleveland Museum of Art's newest exhibition, Fragments of the Invisible. In the spirit of Halloween and MIX: Underneath, we go beneath the surface and examine the spirituality and power behind masks, particularly the Helmet Mask on view in the exhibition.
Fragments of the Invisible marks the American debut of 34 works of Central African art acquired in 2010 by the Cleveland Museum of Art from the Belgian couple René and Odette Delenne. Many of the works that make up this transformative acquisition have never before been published nor displayed, until the exhibition opens on Sunday, October 27, 2013.
It is clear from examples that survive from the Middle Ages and early Renaissance, that the crucifix, in the hands of a great artist, achieved the status of a consummate work of art. The Cleveland Museum of Art possesses a beautiful example of a large-scale, painted crucifix made in Pisa during the 1230s. The majestic Cleveland crucifix is one of the few elaborate painted Italian crosses in the United States.
In a unique partnership between Lakeland Community College, the Cleveland Museum of Art, and the Laura and Alvin Siegal Lifelong Learning Program, a three session mini-course this month will deepen the connections between fine arts, film, and graphic fiction. The course, co-developed by the CMA, consists of three 90 minute weekly live video conferences, which explore the origins, genres, and influences of graphic fiction and narrative.
One quick visit to the current exhibition at the CMA, Less is More: Minimal Prints, will illustrate the power behind such seemingly straight-forward art and explain how that initial reaction is not far from what was intended. The museum's Curator of Prints, Jane Glaubinger, provides us with some explanatory background on this exhibition and its featured artists.
In Luxuriance: Silks from Islamic Lands, 1250–1900, the most distinguished areas of the world highlighted include textiles from Islamic lands including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Spain, and Turkey. Beginning the first week of September, we spotlight a different period within the collection here on the CMA blog. This final week, we focus on the textiles of Egypt and Syria.


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Communications System Toolbox™ provides algorithms and apps for the analysis, design, end-to-end simulation, and verification of communications systems in MATLAB® and Simulink®. Toolbox algorithms, including channel coding, modulation, MIMO, and OFDM, enable you to compose a physical layer model of your system. You can simulate your models to measure performance.
The system toolbox provides constellation and eye diagrams, bit-error-rate, and other analysis tools and scopes for validating your designs. These tools enable you to analyze signals, visualize channel characteristics, and obtain performance metrics such as error vector magnitude (EVM). Channel and RF impairment models and compensation algorithms, including carrier and symbol timing synchronizers, enable you to realistically model your link-level specifications and compensate for the effects of channel degradations.
Using Communications System Toolbox hardware support packages, you can connect your transmitter and receiver models to radio devices and verify your designs with over-the-air testing. The system toolbox supports fixed-point arithmetic and C or HDL code generation.
Algorithms are available as MATLAB functions, System objects™, and Simulink blocks.


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Campbellsville Independent
Nov. 5-9
Monday - No school.
Tuesday - No school.
Wednesday - Corn dog, peas and carrots, lima beans, pineapple tidbits, fruit and milk.
Thursday - Spaghetti with meat sauce, salad with romaine lettuce, tomato slices, garlic bread, fruit cocktail, fruit and milk.
Friday - Chili, crackers, cheese slice, celery sticks, Elf Grahams, strawberry cups, fruit and milk.
Taylor County
Nov. 5-9
Monday - No school.
If you currently subscribe or have subscribed in the past to the Central Kentucky News-Journal, then simply find your account number on your mailing label and enter it below.
Click the question mark below to see where your account ID appears on your mailing label.
If you are new to the award winning Central Kentucky News-Journal and wish to get a subscription or simply gain access to our online content then please enter your ZIP code below and continue to setup your account.
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Thursday 04 February 17:30 – 19:00
London Megastore
179 Shaftesbury Avenue, London, WC2H 8JR, UK
FORBIDDEN PLANET is delighted to announce that we've teamed up with COM.X to find out who really does have the Super-S gene! On Thursday 4th February at 5:30pm at the London Megastore, 179 Shaftesbury Avenue, we have an event with:
• Dan Boultwood • Boo Cook • Rufus Dayglo • Eddie Deighton • Andi Ewington • John Higgins • Sally Hurst • Frazer Irving • Andie Tong • Calum Alexander West • Steve Sampson • Matt Timson
and more!
To promote the release of 45 we've gathered together writers and artists from the entire book to sign, sketch and chat!
This will be one of our trademark free-form signings – no tables, no queues. With an array of fantastic Com.X titles on hand, this event blows away the barriers and gives readers and fans a change to really find out what goes on in the world of comics!


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(AP) Braves grab NL East title, beat Cubs 5-2
By JAY COHEN
AP Sports Writer
Freddie Freeman stood at the front of the cramped visiting clubhouse at Wrigley Field. Wearing a champagne-soaked gray T-shirt celebrating Atlanta's NL East title, the big first baseman dreamed of more parties next month.
"This is only one celebration of four, hopefully," he said with a grin.
Atlanta wrapped up the division crown, and then rode two homers by Andrelton Simmons to a 5-2 victory over the Chicago Cubs that touched off a wild party for the victorious Braves.
Sunday's game was in the sixth inning when Washington lost 4-2 to Miami, giving the Braves their first NL East championship in eight years. There were a few high-fives in Atlanta's dugout when the Marlins won, and a couple of Braves fans did the tomahawk chop in the stands.
Manager Fredi Gonzalez high-fived a fan as he made his way to the dugout after a lineup change, and the celebration really picked up when Craig Kimbrel finished for his major league-best 49th save. The Braves poured out of the dugout and bullpen and jumped in a circle near the mound at the 99-year-old ballpark.
"What a great feeling," Gonzalez said. "It really is a great feeling to realize we've played 150-some games to get to this point. We knew early on that the Nationals had lost but we still wanted to be able to celebrate and come out with a win. And we did."
The Braves sprayed bubbly and doused each other with beer during the clubhouse portion of the party. Cigars were passed around, and the smoke quickly filled the small room. A couple of players took a quick break to check on their fantasy football teams, and then rejoined the celebration.
"We're a young team and we're still learning and we're doing our jobs still," Simmons said. "We're only going to get better. So we've got to keep everybody healthy and we'll be fine."
Simmons hit a solo drive in the fourth and a two-run shot in the eighth, giving him 17 homers on the year. It was more than enough run support for Julio Teheran (13-8), who struck out seven over six innings of one-run ball.
The Cubs had a chance to tie it when they put runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, but Teheran managed to escape the jam despite a solid at-bat by Starlin Castro. Teheran needed 11 pitches to get Castro for a swinging strikeout, preserving Atlanta's 3-1 lead.
"We have a lot of close games and we just haven't been able to come back or rally at home," Cubs manager Dale Sveum said.
Freeman also hit a two-run homer for the Braves, who have won three of four. Freeman went got three hits and is batting .356 (26 for 73) with six homers and 17 RBIs in his last 20 games.
Freeman went deep in the first against Edwin Jackson (8-17), who allowed three runs and eight hits in six-plus innings. The right-hander leads the majors with 17 losses in his first season with the Cubs.
"I kind of feel like I got beat with two pitches," Jackson said, "moreso the slider 1-2 (to Simmons) than the fastball by Freeman."
Atlanta is headed to the playoffs for the second straight year and third time in four seasons. But it's the first division title for the Braves since 2005, when they won 90 games and then lost to Houston in the division series.
The Braves were the NL's top wild card a year ago, trying to make one more playoff run for Chipper Jones in the third baseman's final season. Those hopes were quickly dashed when they committed three errors in a 6-3 home loss to St. Louis in their only game of the 2012 postseason.
"We know last year what happened," Simmons said. "We played pretty good but not good enough and we had to deal with a one-game playoff thing. It's definitely a different feeling.
"Now we know we've got some time, we've got some games to work with. We've got a little bit of time to rest our players."
The only question now is home-field advantage throughout the NL playoffs, with Atlanta, Los Angeles and St. Louis in the mix for the league's best record.
It's quite the accomplishment for Gonzalez and the Braves, who were beset by injuries for much of the year. Veteran catcher Brian McCann missed the first month following offseason shoulder surgery. The outfield of Jason Heyward and brothers Justin and B.J. Upton all missed time. Second baseman Dan Uggla had eye surgery and pitcher Tim Hudson broke his right ankle in July, shelving the right-hander for the rest of the season.
Atlanta kept going the way it often does _ with outstanding pitching. Teheran, Mike Minor and Kris Medlen helped anchor the rotation, while Kimbrel led the Braves' shutdown bullpen, which overcame injuries to left-handers Jonny Venters and Eric O'Flaherty to once again be among the majors' best relief corps.
Of course, the lineup had its share of key performances. Freeman blossomed into a feared slugger, unheralded rookie Evan Gattis stepped up and Chris Johnson proved to be a more than adequate replacement for Jones at third.
"We had the injury bug with a lot of our starters," Freeman said. "For us to overcome this and get everybody back and healthy going into the playoffs is pretty cool."
NOTES: The Braves went 5-1 against the Cubs this season … Minor (13-7, 3.19 ERA) is slated to face Milwaukee RHP Marco Estrada (6-4, 4.26 ERA) when the Braves return home to open a three-game series against the Brewers on Monday. … Cubs RHP Jeff Samardzija (8-12, 4.42 ERA) faces Pirates RHP Charlie Morton (7-4, 3.35 ERA) on Monday in the opener of a three-game series at Wrigley.
Jay Cohen can be reached at http://www.twitter.com/jcohenap


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For small business owners, the recession continues(Read article summary)
Cornwall lists several key elements needed for small businesses to get back on track.
Kevin Wolf/AP Images for NFIB/File
September was another month of low expectations and pessimism for the small-business community, with the NFIB Small Business Optimism Index losing 0.1 points and falling to 92.8. The recession-level reading was pulled down by a deterioration in labor market indicators, with job creation plans plunging 6 points, job openings falling one point and more firms reporting decreases in employment than those reporting increases in employment.
The survey shows that key elements that will be needed for small businesses to, once again, help pull us out of a recession are just not improving:
- Capital spending is clearly in a "maintenance mode." Business owners are keeping things running and replacing things when absolutely necessary, but they are not rushing out to expand space and equipment. The continue to be in a hunker down frame of mind, which is a good way to be for the foreseeable future.
- Sales continue to be sluggish. The source of cash we need to pull us out of a recession is not more access to debt. That is absolutely the worst approach. The economy is fragile and small businesses are financially on the edge in many cases. Debt issued to small businesses may feel good for a very short period of time as it might fix immediate cash flow concerns, but it only makes things worse if sales do not improve. Debt payments increase the company's overhead which makes operational cash flow even more strained.
- Spending by consumers will only improve when their employment improves and their confidence in continued employment is strengthened. Right now these things are nowhere in sight.


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- What They Said
Aguero a major doubt for Arsenal meeting
This season ESPN Goals is completely free. It's the first place to see every goal from every Premier League game, all season long
Premier League round-up: Mighty Manchester
Premier League table and results
Manchester City assistant manager David Platt admitted Sergio Aguero is a doubt for City's next Premier League game against Arsenal, after limping off in the win over Stoke. He said: "It's difficult to assess an injury like that and how long it is going to be. Certainly on Saturday [the FA Cup game against Watford] he will be out and my experience would say he will be doubtful for Arsenal.
"But it is far too early to tell. There will be a lot of swelling in there and a bit of bleeding and, to be honest, we won't know for 48 hours how quickly it is going to settle down."
Tony Pulis was turning his attention to the transfer window, hoping to strengthen his Stoke side: "We'd like to do some business. The important thing is we have to wheel and deal as well. We have to move a few out. The squad needs fresh blood, but we have to generate funds. We have to move people on first."
Boss Sir Alex Ferguson was happy to avoid a potential banana skin, as Manchester United beat Wigan 4-0. He said: "Wigan are a difficult team to play against, particularly at their own ground so 4-0 is a good result for us. The game started slowly but once we got the first goal we were away and we were happy to go in a half-time 2-0 up.
"Javier Hernandez is a goal-scorer, a real penalty box player. Van Persie's ability to play is exceptional and his first goal was magnificent. We expected him to be a major player and add something to us and that is exactly what he has done."
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger slammed his players after they were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton, saying they did not even deserve a point: "Considering our performance and the result of the game, I don't think we deserved more today. It is two points lost if you look at the overall target we had for Christmas. It is frustrating and disappointing as we didn't create a lot today.
"After having scored five at Reading and seven against Newcastle, when you sum it up today with all the chances we created there is not a lot to consider. Our game lacked purpose, penetration and speed, all qualities we have usually but that we didn't see tonight.''
Andre Villas-Boas was delighted as Spurs saw off Reading with little fuss. "We did well to close out the festive period with 10 points from four games and hopefully we will continue this form to put ourselves in the position we want to be.
"Aaron Lennon is such a magnificent player and sometimes he does not get the recognition he deserves but his form has been extraordinary. He has been magnificent for us, scoring goals, like last week, and is such a good player."
Brian McDermott paid tribute to Spurs, but admitted some disappointment at how the game panned out for his side. "It was frustrating to concede an equaliser straight after scoring and if we could have had it at 1-0 at half-time then it would've been a really good game.
"This is a really good Tottenham side that Andre has built here and not many people will come away from here taking points."
Aston Villa's recent horrific run brightened slightly, as they took a draw against Swansea. But it was marred by the concession of a late equaliser. Paul Lambert said: "With 30 seconds to go you expect to see it through. First half Swansea were right on top but second half we were very good.
"The goal before half time did change it. We have a lot of injuries so you have to give credit to the players. It is a big point for us."
Opposite number Michael Laudrup was left to rue his side's early profligacy in front of goal: "We could have been 4-0 up after 12 minutes. Incredible. The only negative part was conceding a goal in the end of the first half and not scoring a second one. Aston Villa really fought after three losses."
Fulham manager Martin Jol confessed he was worried by his team's preparations ahead of their 2-1 win over West Brom, due to a disrupted night's sleep on New Year's Eve: "Probably the best fireworks were yesterday at 12 o'clock in front of my hotel!" Jol said. "That was annoying. I said we needed a quiet hotel and it was unbelievable. There were 2,000 people in front of my window! I think it kept the players up too so I was worried. At first I thought it was fans, but it wasn't. To then get a win under our belts the next day, on the first of January, is fantastic.
"It was typical English! Unbelievable celebrations for 15 or 20 minutes then everybody goes home and shoots off and it's quiet after 30 minutes! I was in a penthouse suite at the Hyatt Hotel. The next time we'll go to the Moat House where I lived for seven months when I was younger!"
Steve Clarke bemoaned the performance of his team after goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Alex Kacaniklic sandwiched Romelu Lukaku's equaliser for West Brom: "It was a poor first half from us but a much better second half," Clarke said. "On what we produced in the second half, we deserved at least a point out of the game. But the first half was really disappointing because we've set really high standards here at the Hawthorns and we didn't reach them in the first half."