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Black Friday 2020 Online – How Retailers Will Adapt
Scrambling for TVs, jumping over one another for computer games, fighting over that discounted pair of jeans. Back Friday certainly brings the best out of people! But things will surely look different this year, right? With stores closed due to lockdowns and social distancing measures in place, the usual animalistic ways of consumers will have to be tamed. But how will we react to one of the biggest sale days of the year? And how will retailers adapt to this Black Friday pandemic situation we're all in? Let's find out in Black Friday 2020 Online – How Retailers Will Adapt.
Black Friday – The Stats 2020
Black Friday takes place the day after Thanksgiving. That means it falls on Friday November 27, 2020. But is it really a big deal? Hell yes is the answer, even during a 'Covid Crisis.'
- Black Friday weekend has seen a steady growth over the years, with US retailers generating more than $5 billion in online sales between 2013 and 2019.
- And it's not just an American thing. According to Finder statistics, Brits spent a whopping £5.6 billion in the festive sales of 2019.
But let's face it. Things have changed considerably since last year, so how will the Covid-19 age impact Black Friday spending? Well it seems there's still going to be a fair amount of money flying around. More than last year in fact.
- While fewer Brits are planning to take part in Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2020 compares to 2019 (38% rather than 42%), those who will shop are predicted to up their spending, shelling out £295.67 on average which is 18% (£44.47) more than last year when shoppers planned to spend £251.20 on average during the sales. This means that Black Friday and Cyber Monday spending will hike to a whopping £6 billion in 2020.
There's a similar situation across the pond too with data presented by Stock Apps indicating that about 42% of Americans plan to spend over $500 during Black Friday shopping. The survey was carried out nationwide in the US from October 9-11, 2020 and generated 30,223 online responses from individuals aged 18 years and older. It revealed that 28% of Americans also plan to spend the same amount as last year's Black Friday shopping season – completely undeterred by the pandemic.
An Acceleration of Digital Spending
While making savings is the driving factor behind Black Friday's popularity, the forced lockdowns and covid-19 news has altered consumer behaviour and led to an acceleration of digital spending. While shoppers once dashed to the shops and camped outside stores to grab a bargain, many now have their credit card ready to spend with their favourite digital brand.
Indeed, online retailers are expecting a 45% Black Friday boost.
This is backed by figures which indicate that e-commerce has already expanded by 34.9% in the year to October as opposed to last year. Andy Mulcahy, strategy and insight director at online retail association IMRG, said:
"We were anticipating a huge surge online this peak, and circumstances have conspired to ensure that is the case; the stores are closed, furlough has been extended and shoppers are being advised to get the bulk of their Christmas shopping done before December."
Black Market Retail Strategies 2020
So, in light of the current landscape and all this data. How are retailers adapting and what can you do to ensure your brand has maximum Black Friday exposure?
Well, firstly it's important to note that retail brands have had a shock. Stock that was meant to be sold in store may still be lingering. And if you only had a physical shop, you might still be spun out by the reality of e-commerce. The most important thing is to take a breather, adjust to the new environment and check out these useful tips:
Meet the Early Black Friday Demand
Technically, Black Friday 2020 should start on November 27. But with more people stuck at home in front of their computer, trees going up early and festive lights flashing outside houses in mid-November, retailers have spotted an early consumer demand and have launched their Black Friday initiatives sooner rather than later. This is a smart move considering 77% of consumers say they have bought more during lockdown and will continue to do so.
Having a solid online strategy this year is an absolute must. So let's peek at the big brands getting in the Black Friday spirit sooner rather than later.
*Note, extended sales are also a great way to get rid of those boxes of products you over ordered in March, without knowing what was around the corner.
Currys PC World
According to Sara Skirboll, resident Shopping & Trends expert for RetailMeNot, electronics will sell out the fastest on Black Friday.
"If you see a good deal on TVs – Apple TVs and 4Ks are hot! – computers or phones, pick (them) up immediately," she advises.
Indeed, electronics retailers such as Currys PC World have already launched their Black Friday marketing and it's looking pretty good so far. They've:
- Updated their homepage, providing a clear CTA and a link to Black Friday discounts.
- Created FOMO, with 'must end soon' messages encouraging consumers to buy.
- Streamlined their social, providing 'shop the event' links. Remember, tweets with visuals get 10x the engagement of tweets without a visual component.
Other social media tips and tricks you can do for Black Friday include:
- Linking through to content that's 'Covid friendly'. Many companies such as Superdrug are promoting home delivery during Black Friday or Click and Collect services.
- Promote offers AND instant gifts. Everyone loves a freebie.
- A whopping 65% of spend during Black Friday is predicted to be via Amazon. It's therefore no surprise that the Seattle-based giant has joined in with the fun early on Facebook. In fact, the retail experts were so on the ball that they launched their campaign before Halloween, popping very specific dates in their marketing efforts to push people into action.
Note the simple yet effective slogan – Shop early. Relax later. It's to the point and is directly aimed at those looking for something to do as they sit at home during lockdown situations.
Top marketing tip 1: Create Black Friday FOMO by giving your promotion a date as this lets shoppers know it's not on forever and they've got to act. You can also place countdown clocks on specific Lightening Deals. This is something Amazon has also done to create excitement and bring in cash. Use bright fonts, cross out old prices and write reduction percentages so that people feel they're getting an extra good deal.
Top marketing tip 2: Don't forget that all-important Black Friday marketing upsell. Amazon is great at putting a large number of products in your line of vision to help customers buy as much as possible. Or at least to pick the cheapest one. Again, remember to include the Black Friday discounts. You can also group items together that match or are frequently sold together in order to push budgets further.
- Optimise Your Homepage
The homepage of your website is a starting point for many consumers. And with 2020 pushing more and more people towards e-commerce it's essential that your website is up to scratch. As well as making your Black Friday offers clear and highly visible, you should also make it super easy for consumers to head along your marketing funnel. In other words, minimise clicks and get the sale in the bag quickly.
Let's use Sky as an example. They've been giving people extras during the pandemic. A smart idea considering TV consumption is up 24%. They've also launched early Black Friday deals adopting a visually impressive, no-nonsense, no hassle approach. Remember, competition is high as more businesses adapt a digital presence.
Sky's Black Friday campaign is effective because:
- The homepage is used to drive consumers down the sales funnel with simple 'Get Started' and 'See all Deals' CTAs. This is accompanied by bold, bright and attractive 50% off imagery which catches the attention of the consumer. Such messaging appears at the top of the homepage and is therefore given priority during the Black Friday period and is not buried elsewhere in the site.
- Both the user experience and buyer journey are made clear which encourages people not to abandon what they've started. Transparency is key as it tells people they can get what they want quickly.
- Basket updates are made clear every step of the way, so people won't get a shock at the end and abandon their basket. This is important when considering the design of your e-commerce site, especially if you're entering the digital retail world for the first time.
- The Black Friday offer has wide appeal. As a retailer during Black Friday it's important to cast your net wide and appeal to different audiences interested in your brand. For example, Sky has covered all angles by focussing on mobile, TV and broadband packages. Again, note how the Limited Time Offer message appears to induce FOMO.
- Make Your Black Friday Campaign Mobile Friendly. Having a strong digital presence is a must for Black Friday 2020. But you also need your site to be mobile friendly. There are many reasons for this. Firstly $2.9 billion worth of Black Friday sales happen through mobile phones. So, if your site isn't responsive and mobile friendly, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of sales. Secondly, Google has adopted a mobile first approach to SEO. This means it prioritises mobile over desktop content. So if your desktop content is strong but your mobile content is weak it's time to for a content refresh and update.
Enjoyed reading Black Friday 2020 Online – How Retailers Will Adapt? Please hit the share button. Contact me today to improve your online presence. My agency Contentworks offers web content, social media management, videos, PR materials, e-books and more.


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I am naturally skeptical of anyone that is too confident about their investing strategy. There are no guarantees in the market or the economy so the very fast push for the stimulus (government investment) currently moving through congress is naturally something that is raising warning flags. Whether you agree with the need for a stimulus plan or not don't ignore the uncertainty and risk.
[VIDEO] Stimulus or Broken Window?
Regardless of political feelings, investors can and should be dealing with the risk of a stimulus very proactively. By accepting and dealing with uncertainty you can avoid the investor trap of "talking your position." Too often traders and politicians in defending their chosen plan of action refuse to acknowledge the potential risks and refuse to consider alternatives. Talking your position like this can lead to mistakes and a very exposed portfolio.
The risk of any stimulus is that it could be nothing more than a broken window. The broken window fallacy can best be described with a short story about a small village with its own economy. In this village a small boy throws a rock through the baker's window and breaks it. Is the boy a hero or a villain?
The argument for heroism is that the boys actions have caused the baker to spend money to buy a new window. That money is now available to be spent by the glazier in supplies and equipment. The supplies and equipment manufacturers can use the money to pay their employees who in turn may buy bread from the baker. In effect the boy has unlocked the value that was frozen in the window and the village's economy is now benefiting.
A stimulus that spends money on bailing out broken companies, public works projects and pork is like the boy. The boy is taking money from the U.S. consumer and then injecting it into the economy to stimulate growth. It is widely believed that this is justifiable because it is hypothesized that each dollar injected in the economy will "multiply" and ultimately provide a bigger benefit that the raw value of the injection itself.
The premise for the boy as a hero (or the need for a stimulus) depends on the assumption that the "baker" or U.S. consumer would not have used that money to spend and invest anyway. It assumes that the baker or consumer would have only hoarded that money and kept it idle.
An equally valid argument can be made that in fact the "boy" or government has merely reduced the value of the economy by one window because the baker or consumer would have spent or invested the money rather than hoarding it. By taking action like this, the boy has actually made the economy worse.
The point of this article was not to prove that one argument is valid while the other is worthless. In fact, no one knows which one is correct or why it will or won't work. That is the real take-away from this discussion; that uncertainty can work against you. If the stimulus doesn't work in the near term and growth does not come back to equities long stock traders will be worse than they are today.
By sowing the seeds of doubt, I hope to motivate investors and traders to start thinking about diversification across asset classes. Educate yourself about how assets like currencies, fixed income or commodities behave during recessions. Anyone can learn to implement strategies that decreases account volatility and protect against risk and there are plenty of free resources to do so, including our very own little Learning Markets site.
Image courtesy Jason Hargrove.

subset: commoncrawl


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Monitoring wide-field surrounding information is essential for vision-based autonomous navigation in micro-air-vehicles (MAV). Our image-cube (iCube) module, which consists of multiple sensors that are facing different angles in 3-D space, can be applied to the wide-field of view optic flows estimation (μ-Compound eyes) and to attitude control (μ-Ocelli) in the Micro Autonomous Systems and Technology (MAST) platforms. In this paper, we report an analog/digital (A/D) mixed-mode optic-flow sensor, which generates both optic flows and normal images in different modes for μ-Compound eyes and μ-Ocelli applications. The sensor employs a time-stamp based optic flow algorithm which is modified from the conventional EMD (Elementary Motion Detector) algorithm to give an optimum partitioning of hardware blocks in analog and digital domains as well as adequate allocation of pixel-level, column-parallel, and chiplevel signal processing. Temporal filtering, which may require huge hardware resources if implemented in digital domain, is remained in a pixel-level analog processing unit. The rest of the blocks, including feature detection and timestamp latching, are implemented using digital circuits in a column-parallel processing unit. Finally, time-stamp information is decoded into velocity from look-up tables, multiplications, and simple subtraction circuits in a chip-level processing unit, thus significantly reducing core digital processing power consumption. In the normal image mode, the sensor generates 8-b digital images using single slope ADCs in the column unit. In the optic flow mode, the sensor estimates 8-b 1-D optic flows from the integrated mixed-mode algorithm core and 2-D optic flows with an external timestamp processing, respectively.
Original language | English |
Article number | 87251F |
Journal | Proceedings of SPIE - The International Society for Optical Engineering |
Volume | 8725 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |
Event | 2013 Micro- and Nanotechnology Sensors, Systems, and Applications V Conference - Baltimore, MD, United States Duration: 2013 Apr 29 → 2013 May 3 |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Computer Science Applications
- Applied Mathematics
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering


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Drake's Alleged Baby Mama Was Featured on 'Real Mistresses of Atlanta'
Drake's Alleged Baby Mama Took Shot at Reality TV Fame ... 'Real Mistresses of Atlanta'
Drake knows how to pick 'em -- the mother of his alleged son starred on a reality show ... about professional side chicks.
We dug up an old trailer for a 2012 show called "Real Mistresses of Atlanta," in which Sophie Brussaux -- who used her stage name, Rosee Divine -- is introduced as one of the four leading ladies. She called herself a French model who likes luxury.
In one scene she's seen talking to an anonymous NBA player over the phone, and he tells her to buy a condo she liked. The implication is pretty clear ... he's married, but he's also Sophie's sugar daddy.
Waiting for your permission to load the Instagram Media.
Producer Mickey 'Memphitz' Wright -- the ex-bf of "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" star K. Michelle -- created and produced the show. He reportedly shopped it around to TV execs, and sources at Oxygen tell us the network was very interested ... but, ultimately no one bought it.
There are no episodes or seasons listed on the Internet.
Sophie's still living well though. TMZ broke the story, Drake's been financially supporting her since the birth of his alleged son, Adonis.


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Einat H. ArtziPresident. Assoc. Arch; Interior Designer; ASID, NKBA member
Einat is a seasoned Interior Designer, having over 15 years of experience in the field, working with architects, contractors, cabinet makers and other professionals. She specializes in interior spaces design, kitchen and bath design, custom furniture, color & materials matching as well as home accessories.
Growing up in a family of master carpenters, Einat learned to appreciate the beauty and pragmatism in design from a young age. Pursuing her dream, Einat graduated from the prestigious Tel-Aviv College with an Associate Architect degree. She quickly gained experience in the field with various architects. Einat has been living in the US since 1999. She completed the Professional Level Program in Interior Design at UCLA. Upon completion of this program, she joined a leading design & build company in Los Angeles as a designer. She relocated to San Diego in 2004. Einat takes great pride in her work and treats every client with special care, always being attentive to their needs. Her keen ability to listen to and understand her clients is the key to achieving the most thoughtful and satisfying design possible based on their vision, while staying within their means. "I strongly believe that beauty and functionality go hand in hand in any succesful design project. This balance enables my clients to be true to their personal self-expression of style while maintaining comfort in their most special place – their home." |


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Thursday, November 2nd, 2017
NBC SPORTS REGIONAL NETWORKS OFFER ITS FIRST DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER STREAMING PRODUCT, NBC SPORTS GOLD's "BLAZERS PASS"
Pass Includes Access to 15 Games in 2017-18 NBA Season for In-Market Blazers Fan
"Blazers Pass" Available for Purchase Starting Today for $34.99
"Blazers Pass" Tips Off December 11th as Trail Blazers Face NBA Champion Golden State Warriors
Stamford, Conn. – November 2, 2017 – NBC Sports Regional Networks today announced the launch of its first direct-to-consumer product, NBC Sports Gold's "Blazers Pass." The streaming product allows any fans residing in Blazers territory to purchase 15 games during the 2017-18 NBA season. NBC Sports Northwest will continue to present its traditional TV offering and streaming via "TV Everywhere" of Blazers games, with a record 77 games this season, including the 15 games also available via "Blazers Pass." The pass is part of NBC Sports Gold's suite of direct-to-consumer live streaming products to desktop, mobile, tablets and connected TV devices. It is powered by NBC Sports' Playmaker Media.
NBC Sports Gold's "Blazers Pass" is available to purchase now for $34.99 for the full 15-game package. If purchased by December 1, fans will receive a 10% discount with an introductory purchase price of $31.50. The pass is only available for purchase by fans in Blazers Territory, as determined by NBA rules. Fans can visit http://www.nbcsports.com/blazerspass to check whether the pass is available in their area, and to purchase the product.
"When we set out to renew our rights last year, distribution was a top priority," said David Preschlack, President, NBC Sports Regional Networks and Platform and Content Strategy. "In today's media environment, fans have the ability to follow their favorite teams in a variety of ways. We're pleased to offer Rip City this new DTC product, so that fans can follow Damian Lillard, CJ McCollum, Jusuf Nurkic, and the team during key games. In addition, we're pleased to offer NBC Sports Northwest customers access to more games than ever before."
"NBC Sports Regional Networks has worked hard to make our games accessible to our passionate fan base," said Chris McGowan, President and CEO of the Trail Blazers. "This DTC offering is another example of our two organizations working together to provide a way for all fans in the region to watch across any platform. We continue to make access to our games a top priority."
"Blazers Pass" subscribers will also receive a complimentary gift package, and will be entered into a monthly drawing for a chance to win a pair of tickets for a courtside experience to a home game. Fans can also enter, at no cost, for a chance to win a courtside experience; find out how to enter at http://www.nbcsports.com/blazerspass.
The first game of the 15-game package is a playoff rematch on the road against the NBA Champion Golden State Warriors, who eliminated the Blazers in the first round of last season's NBA Playoffs. The full "Blazers Pass" schedule is below:
NBC Sports Gold is available on Apple iOS, Android, Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast and online at NBCSportsGold.com. NBC Sports Gold is powered by Playmaker Media, NBC Sports Digital's technology service which provides end-to-end support for companies in need of best-in-class live streaming and VOD solutions.
-NBC Sports Regional Networks –
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Void where prohibited. Legal res. of WA and OR who are 18+. Begins 11/2/17 at 8 AM PT and ends 4/9/18 at 11:59 PM PT. Limit 1 entry/person. To enter, and for Official Rules, visit http://www.nbcsports.com/BlazersPass. Sponsors: NBC Sports Northwest, NBC Sports Group, and NBCUniversal Media, LLC.


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Any programming language has functions that go beyond the basic usage. It happens thanks to a successful design and a wide area of problems it tries to solve.
One such function in JavaScript is the Array.from()
: a workhorse allowing lots of useful transformations on JavaScript collections (arrays, array-like objects, iterables like string, maps, sets, etc).
In this post, I will describe 5 use cases of Array.from()
that are both useful and interesting.
Before I go on, let me recommend something to you.
The path to becoming good at JavaScript isn't easy... but fortunately with a good teacher you can shortcut.
Take "Modern JavaScript From The Beginning 2.0" course by Brad Traversy to become proficient in JavaScript in just a few weeks. Use the coupon code DMITRI and get your 20% discount!
1. Quick introduction
Before starting, let's recall what Array.from()
does. Here's how you would call the function:
Array.from(arrayLikeOrIterable[, mapFunction[, thisArg]]);
It's first obligatory argument arrayLikeOrIterable
is an array-like object or an iterable.
The second optional argument mapFunction(item, index) {...}
is a function invoked on every item in the collection. The returned value is inserted into the new collection.
Finally, the third optional argument thisArg
is used as this
value when invoking mapFunction
. This argument is rarely used.
For examples, let's multiply by 2 the numbers of an array-like object:
const someNumbers = { '0': 10, '1': 15, length: 2 };Array.from(someNumbers, value => value * 2); // => [20, 30]
2. Transform array-like into an array
The first useful application of Array.from()
is indicated directly from its definition: transform an array-like object into an array.
Usually, you meet these strange creatures array-like objects as arguments
special keyword inside of a function, or when working with DOM collections.
In the following example, let's sum the arguments of a function:
function sumArguments() { return Array.from(arguments).reduce((sum, num) => sum + num);}sumArguments(1, 2, 3); // => 6
transforms the array-like arguments
into an array. The new array is reduced to the sum of its elements.
Moreover, you can use Array.from()
with any object or primitive that implements the iterable protocol. Let's see a few examples:
Array.from('Hey'); // => ['H', 'e', 'y']Array.from(new Set(['one', 'two'])); // => ['one', 'two']const map = new Map();map.set('one', 1)map.set('two', 2);Array.from(map); // => [['one', 1], ['two', 2]]
3. Clone an array
There is a tremendous number of ways to clone an array in JavaScript.
As you might expect, Array.from()
easily shallow copies an array:
const numbers = [3, 6, 9];const numbersCopy = Array.from(numbers);numbers === numbersCopy; // => false
creates a shallow copy of numbers
array. The equality check numbers === numbersCopy
is false
, meaning that while having the same items, these are different array objects.
Is it possible to use Array.from()
to create a clone of the array, including all the nested ones? Challenge accepted!
function recursiveClone(val) { return Array.isArray(val) ? Array.from(val, recursiveClone) : val;}const numbers = [[0, 1, 2], ['one', 'two', 'three']];const numbersClone = recursiveClone(numbers);numbersClone; // => [[0, 1, 2], ['one', 'two', 'three']]numbers[0] === numbersClone[0] // => false
creates a deep clone of the supplied array. This is achieved by calling recursively recursiveClone()
on array items that are arrays too.
Can you write a shorter than mine version of recursive clone that uses Array.from()
? If so, please write a comment below!
4. Fill an array with values
In case if you need to initialize an array with the same values, Array.from()
is at your service too.
Let's define a function that creates an array filled with the same default values:
const length = 3;const init = 0;const result = Array.from({ length }, () => init);result; // => [0, 0, 0]
contains a new array having 3
items initialized with zeros. This is done by invoking Array.from()
with an array-like object { length }
, and a map function that returns the initialization value.
However, there is an alternative method array.fill() that can be used to achieve the same result:
const length = 3;const init = 0;const result = Array(length).fill(init);fillArray2(0, 3); // => [0, 0, 0]
method fills the array correctly with initialization values, regardless of empty slots.
4.1 Fill an array with new objects
When every item of the initialized array should be a new object, Array.from()
is a better solution:
const length = 3;const resultA = Array.from({ length }, () => ({}));const resultB = Array(length).fill({});resultA; // => [{}, {}, {}]resultB; // => [{}, {}, {}]resultA[0] === resultA[1]; // => falseresultB[0] === resultB[1]; // => true
created by Array.from()
is initialized with different instances of empty objects {}
. It happens because the map function () => ({})
on every invocation returns a new object.
However, resultB
created by fill()
method is initialized with the same instance of an empty object.
4.2 What about array.map()?
Is it possible to use array.map() method to achieve the same? Let's try that:
const length = 3;const init = 0;const result = Array(length).map(() => init);result; // => [undefined, undefined, undefined]
The map()
approach seems to be incorrect. Instead of the expected array with three zeros, an array with 3 empty slots is created.
It happens because Array(length)
creates an array having 3 empty slots (also called sparse array), but map()
method skips the iteration over these empty slots.
5. Generate ranges of numbers
You can use Array.from()
to generate ranges of values. For example, the following function range generates an array with items starting 0
until end - 1
function range(end) { return Array.from({ length: end }, (_, index) => index);}range(4); // => [0, 1, 2, 3]
Inside range()
function, Array.from()
is supplied with the array-like { length: end }
, and a map function that simply returns the current index. This way you can generate ranges of values.
6. Unique items of an array
A nice trick resulting from the ability of Array.from()
to accept iterable objects is to quickly remove duplicates from an array. It is achieved in combination with Set
data structure:
function unique(array) { return Array.from(new Set(array));}unique([1, 1, 2, 3, 3]); // => [1, 2, 3]
At first, new Set(array)
creates a set containing the items of the array. Internally, the set removes the duplicates.
Because the set is iterable, Array.from()
extracts the unique items into a new array.
7. Conclusion
static method accepts array-like objects, as well as iterables. It accepts a mapping function. Moreover, the function does not skip iteration over empty holes. This combination of features gives Array.from()
a lot of possibilities.
As presented above, you can easily transform array-like objects to arrays, clone arrays, fill arrays with initial values, generates ranges and remove duplicated array items.
Indeed, Array.from()
is a combination of good design, configuration flexibility allowing a wide area of collection transformations.
What other interesting use cases of Array.from() do you know? Please write a comment below!


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We offer a four tiered technical support tree to all of our customers. You decide which options are right for you and we can setup a personalized remote hands support plan that fits your needs.
We employ strict building access policies and employee screenings, coupled with our 24x7x365 surveillance monitoring and flexible support options our team is always available to help on the ground.
Our sites provide the following services and many more:
Sustainable & Clean Hydroelectric Energy (208v-240v)
99.999% Network Uptime w/ Redundancies
Custom Engineered Cooling Systems
24/7/365 Security Monitoring
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Service Tier Management - (Choose Your Level)
Custom Monitoring Software
Custom Consulting (Added Fee)
© Copyright 2018 All Rights Reserved


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Software management to canvas bliss
Keri Ames is the sole owner and fabricator of Yachtsman's Canvas in North Wales, Pa. She's been a marine fabricator for eight years and works with powerboats and sailboats on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay (Md.), southeastern areas of Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey. She began sailing the waters of the Chesapeake Bay with her husband in the late 1990s and opened her own marine fabrication shop in 2013.
What drew you into the marine fabrication industry?
My husband and I wanted a new sail cover for our sailboat and he told me he was confident I could make one. I didn't know how to sew and I didn't own a sewing machine. Up for the challenge, I went out and bought a Brother sewing machine and the book Sewing for Dummies. Through this process, I found a passion for the trade and set a five-year plan to transition from my corporate job. I spent vacations working on my sewing skills, attending fabrication schools and, oh, I bought a better a sewing machine too.
What are your areas of expertise?
I fabricate exterior canvas for both power and sailboats, mainly 30-foot and bigger. Having sailed the Chesapeake Bay for the past 20 years, I have a thorough understanding and appreciation of the importance for the right canvas.
How do you keep up with innovations in textiles, equipment and other materials?
Staying connected both with printed publications such as Marine Fabricator and Specialty Fabrics Review as well as being active on several industry-specific social media groups. I also find it equally important to build relationships with my suppliers and attend industry trade conferences and seminars.
My top three biggest challenges are time, time and time—a direct result of my desire to stay small and hands-on. As a one-person shop, it is tricky to balance management of the business, complete and deliver projects and, most important, have some personal time. I try to focus on the projects that will produce the best results with the highest profitability. Keeping a fluid schedule is key to making the most of my time.
Why are you an MFA member?
Becoming an MFA member has opened many doors for me to establish peer relationships, which I find to be a vital component of success. I have gained valuable knowledge of both products and fabrication techniques through MFA publications and attending the national and regional conventions.
Prior to transitioning into marine canvas fabrication, Keri Ames was a problem analyst manager focusing on software root cause analysis as well as a release manager focusing on new software releases for an enhanced 911 cellular network system. She says her customer service skills and attention to detail have carried over into her canvas work.
Next issue: Fabricator Favorites
Share your knowledge and expertise with others! Each issue we'll ask a question and publish the answers that you, our readers, submit (as space allows). Please keep your responses short (50-100 words) and send a high-resolution photo of yourself (1 MB or larger) to firstname.lastname@example.com with the subject line "Fabricator Favorites."
Our question for the January/February 2019 issue: What's your favorite tool and why?


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Claber is introducing the new range of fittings and accessories, wholly dedicated to large diameter hoses (3/4" and 1").
Aquamaster is the ideal solution for all those situations that require a high water flow, cutting down on pressure loss. Try Aquamaster to connect the suction pump or to cover long distances.
Thanks to the Safety-Lock coupling technology, a tight seal is guaranteed with a click.


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If you have not seen the marijuana documentary, Evergreen: The Road to Legalization, you still have time. But, don't wait too long as the final showing at the Seattle International Film Festival, on July 3rd.
'Evergreen' is an excellent film which gives a non-biased view on the legalization battle between the those for and agains I-502. Towards the end of the film, the un biased view became a little lopsided – but not to the fault of the filmmakers – as the 'No on I-502' party declined to be filmed anymore.
Alison Holcomb and her efforts and dedication for I-502 took center stage and left a memorable impression; as did travel writer Rick Steves and former U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Washington, John McKay. Steve Sarich, had a prominent role in the documentary, leading the opposition against I-502.
The marijuana legalization documentary does a really good job of presenting both views and arguments. In addition, the pacing of the film was superb. Do you enjoy watching documentaries, interested in marijuana legalization and/or a resident of Washington State? If so, this is a must watch film.
If you were one of the lucky ones to view the film on Friday, you were invited to a special after party at the PDA Lounge marijuana dispensary in Belltown. A group of approximately 40 ticket holders showed up to meet and greet the filmmakers and to hang out in the back of the lounge. Not only do these filmmakers know how to make a fabulous documentary, but they know how to party!
Support this piece of work and educate yourself with a little bit of history at the same time!


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Vancouverites Get Dibs on New Development Pre-Sales
Local Vancouverites now have first crack at new home pre-construction sales, the latest effort to improve affordability for those who actually call the city home. The motion was passed by City Council in a 7 – 2 vote, meaning developers must first market new project pre-sales exclusively to locals for a 30-day time frame, and then extend marketing to Metro Vancouver for a total of 60 days.
To qualify, a buyer must prove they dwell within the city (regardless of citizenship), and that they intend to live within their unit and not sell it on assignment for profit. Bulk purchases of units will also be regulated.
The new measures will help ensure that Vancouverites have access to affordable housing types such as condos before they're snapped up by investors and out-of-country buyers; that developments have been marketed overseas and in forums for foreign buyers before locals have the chance to buy has been sharply criticized as a contributor to skyrocketing prices in Vancouver. It's estimated that out-of-region purchasing activity effectively drives home prices and rents 5 – 10 per cent higher in the city, according to a UBC Saunder School of Business study.
Other measures to improve local affordability include the aggressive taxing of empty homes and an increased focus on gentle density infill – such as townhomes and basement suites – in existing residential neighbourhoods.
However, residents feel the city has been slow to address housing affordability, costing Vision Vancouver – the municipality's current governing party – a seat in the latest by-election.
"Our city faces real challenges. Vancouverites are frustrated – particularly around housing affordability – and they expect more from us," stated Mayor Gregor Robertson in response to Non-Partisan Association member Hector Bremner's recent city council seat victory. "We're working harder to deliver solutions, but tonight's results show us there's much more work to do."
Bremner is acquiring the seat left by Vision Vancouver member Geoff Meggs, who left city council to become Chief of Staff for the provincial NDP government.
Would You Buy a Condo in Google's Living Lab?
Google, the search and data giant, is trying its hand at city building – and Toronto will be its testing ground. Alphabet, the search engine's parent company, signed an agreement this week with the city and Waterfront Toronto to develop a 12-acre "smart city" neighbourhood in the Port Lands, located in Toronto's south-east corner, via its Sidewalk Labs division.
Sidewalk's futuristic undertaking will invest US$50 million to create a 3.3-million-square-foot technology-powered and sensor-monitored multi-use district named Quayside.
Built with emerging "Loft" modular construction (think pre-fab building portions that can be snapped to a grid-like foundation), one of Quayside's goals will be to explore lower-cost and customizable development. It will also be a massive data-collecting enterprise, recording and analysing everything from garbage pickup, hydro use, green space usage, and even the neighbourhood's microclimate. Quayside's findings will be used to inform future city-building policy, Alphabet says, and should it prove to be a success, will extend to cover 800 acres of Toronto's waterfront.
In addition to commercial and office space (which will house Google's new Canadian headquarters) Quayside will include residential space, which begs the questions – would you purchase a home in a living lab? To counter potential data-collecting concerns, Sidewalk is also reportedly developing a privacy policy to protect its residents.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne and Toronto Mayor John Tory were all present at Sidewalk's announcement. "This is a moment for Toronto," said Tory in an interview with the Globe and Mail. "By having Sidewalk interested in coming here, we're building up our credentials as the place to be in the world."
OSFI Reveals Final Version of New Mortgage Rules
It's official – it will become tougher to qualify for a mortgage as of January 1, 2018. The final iteration of Guideline B-20 – a banking regulation that hikes qualification criteria for mortgage borrowers – was announced by the Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions this week. It confirms borrowers who put more than 20 per cent down on their home purchase will need to prove they can carry a mortgage at the Bank of Canada's five-year benchmark rate (currently 2.89 per cent), or their contract rate plus 2 per cent – whichever is higher.
Other changes include "dynamic" loan-to-value requirements – meaning buyers may need to make larger down payments if buying in hot neighbourhoods with volatile pricing – as well as the banning of co-lending and bundled mortgage practices, which traditionally have helped non-A borrowers get their financing.
The new rules are anticipated to greatly impact affordability for affected buyers by as much as 21 per cent, and have been blasted by various corners of the housing industry.
"While Realtors support a sensibly regulated real estate market, OSFI's new stress test for uninsured mortgages is overkill," stated Ontario Real Estate Association CEO Tim Hudak in response to the announcement. "These changes will hurt middle class families and punish careful savers the most, forcing them to take on more debt and higher interest payments.
"It's time for governments to hit the brakes on more demand-side policy interventions and take a wait and see approach."
This latest crop of regulation is unique in that it targets borrowers with larger down payments and who don't require mortgage insurance. "High-ratio" borrowers (those who pay less than 20 per cent down) are already subjected to a stress test, which was introduced last October. Now, stress testing applies to all borrowers of new mortgages (existing mortgage holders are exempt if renewing with their current lender) regardless of down payment size.
Related Read: New B-21 and B-20 Mortgage Rules Are Coming. Here's What to Expect
Canada's Largest Mortgage Insurer is Earthquake-Proof
Speaking of stress testing, how would Canada's largest mortgage insurance provider fare in the face of an extreme financial or natural disaster? The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, which insures roughly 40 per cent of high ratio mortgages across the nation, recently ran a few worst-case scenarios – such as earthquake, dropping oil prices, anti-globalization, and a US-style housing crash – to ensure its capital would remain in tact.
"In each case, our testing confirms that our capital holdings are sufficient to weather each of these extreme scenarios," reads the report.
That the CMHC is on solid ground is good news for all Canadians – as it's a Crown corporation, taxpayers would be on the hook to bail out any mortgage defaults and would be impacted by any economic downturn.
Stated Chief Risk Officer Romy Bowers, "CMHC has always been and continues to be a stabilizing force in Canada's housing system. As a responsible risk manager, we seek out extreme, almost unimaginable situations and ask ourselves 'what if?' That's the goal of our stress testing – to measure how we would stand up to these unlikely shocks. In all cases, this year's stress testing shows we are well capitalized to handle these very severe situations."
Keith Richards Lists Greenwich Village Penthouse
Rolling Stones founding member and guitarist Keith Richards has put his Manhattan duplex up for sale – and you'll be screaming Gimme Shelter for this three-bed, four bath stunner, listed for a cool $11,995,000.
Located in the highly-coveted pre-war 1 Fifth Avenue co-op, this apartment has been extensively renovated by celebrated architect Joe Serrins. It includes some decidedly rock'n roll features such as the leather-wrapped main stair bannister, fully-integrated Sonos sound system and not one but three outdoor terraces with views of Washington Square Park. The lucky buyer will also enjoy a 47-foot-long living, dining and entertainment space, massive master bedroom and bath, and jumbo walk-in closets. They could always Paint It Black – but with massive floor-to-ceiling windows letting in tons of natural light, why would you want to?


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If you have a plumbing and heating related concern that requires immediate action, contact us right away, and experience the Nagra Bros Plumbing & Heating difference for yourself!


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I swear I'm almost done catching up. Our last week or so in Kirksville was a hodgepodge of activities and packing and such. The library kick started there summer program by having a storyteller come to the amphitheater and perform. He was fantastic. Had it not been so blazing hot the boys would have probably lasted longer. Tab found my lifting gloves and decided they made him a transformer. Right on, whatever kept him occupied as all of his toys were packed was fine by me.Benton was trying to find creative ways to play too.Who doesn't love to see some cute bums? Tab bought these bathtub toys for Benton after causing the whole cut on his face issue.Good letters Tab.The boys attended a birthday party for a little boy just a few months older than Benton. They had a blast. It was sure nice to get out of the house.Benton loved his cupcake. I just think I must have forgotten to tell him that he was supposed to eat it and not just smash it into his face.One day when Jason got home from studying for boards. The boys were beside themselves being trapped inside with me and the baby as I packed all day. All they wanted was their daddy to come home and rescue them.Tab finished up his swim lessons.Last time at the aquatic center.
Last scooter ride. I thing Jason was just as sad about this as the boys were. He misses he scooter.And finally, goofy Tab. We received some free pullups samples which is nice since Tab uses them at bedtime. (I think we are two weeks accident free at night by the way). Well the sample included one for boys and one for girls. I was planning of giving the girl one to a friend, but Tab found it and was SOOO excited about wearing his "pretty princess" night time skinnies. We couldn't not let him wear them. He paraded around the house with them and was beyond ecstatic.


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Popular indie rock band, Young the Giant, will be playing two sold out shows at The Fillmore, Silver Spring and Rams Head Live, Baltimore on February 23rd and 25th.
The Southern California band is well known for its top hits on the alternative chart, "Cough Syrup" and "My Body," released on their first album Young the Giant in 2010.
I never really paid much attention to the band initially (aside from their two hits), but after listening to their new album Mind Over Matter, my iTunes library has expanded. Listen to the album free on SoundCloud!
Their beats are catchy and have a laid back sound that is comparable to indie bands, Vampire Weekend and Phoenix. The first album was repetitive so I lost interest. Mind Over Matter was released on January 21st. This new album is much more impressive and polished. It is about growing up and freedom and heartache, themes everyone can share.
The band has grown considerably since their first album and Mind over Matter showcases their new sound. The song "Crystallized" is just plain catchy and amazing. This album appeals to teens and young adults with its young sound and lyrics like, "This is where I come from, this is where I belong, With the beat of your drum, Not any other," from the song "Crystallized".
The track "It's About Time" has a classical rock and roll feel and the guitar riffs remind me of The Arctic Monkeys. The chorus (as cheesy as it sounds) is quite magical and airy while maintaining the rocker edge throughout the rest of the song.
"Firelight" resembles The Beatles' Norwegian Wood at first. It's a nice break in the album with the slow sleepy tone. Sameer Gadhia's voice is just simple and beautiful as he sings, "I don't believe you; I'm in a parachute; Falling in deep; Sleep; Out of control; Can you feel it?"
This album is fresh and perfect for a summer road trip, so I can't wait for temperatures to rise! I am glad to see the band is coming into their own skin, making each track memorable, fluid and original.


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Mead, CO – February 20, 2019 – Boulder Scientific, a specialty chemical company, will sponsor three chemical industry conferences in 2019 to provide opportunities for scientists, academics and students to network and advance their knowledge. The company is supporting the 2019 Japan-U.S. Symposium on Polymer Synthesis, the Gordon Research Conference on Organometallic Chemistry and Advances in Polyolefins.
In June, Boulder Scientific will sponsor the 2019 Japan-U.S. Symposium on Polymer Synthesis, which will bring together world leaders in the field of polymer chemistry from the U.S. and Japan to discuss cutting-edge research and drive innovation and collaboration. Slated for June 18-12, 2019, the symposium will be held at Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA and will feature lectures from top Japanese and American academic polymer scientists from such prestigious institutions as Cornell University, Johns Hopkins University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Organometallic Gordon Research Conference will take place July 7-12, 2019 at Salve Regina University in Newport, RI. The event is expected to draw esteemed research leaders working on groundbreaking work from academic, industrial, and government settings around the world. As part of its sponsorship, Boulder Scientific will send one of its scientists to the conference, where researchers will share results on vital innovations and novel compounds with the goal of applying fundamental research to solve important problems.
Boulder Scientific will serve as a Gold-level sponsor of the 2019 Advances in Polyolefins Workshop, September 22-25, 2019. Held biennially, this year's workshop will again bring together researchers from industrial, academic and government laboratories to discuss state-of-the-art developments in polyolefin chemistry and technology. The purpose of the workshop, hosted in Sonoma County, CA, is to address key challenges, opportunities and advances in the polyolefin research.
About Boulder Scientific Company
Boulder Scientific develops and manufactures specialty chemicals used throughout the United States and internationally by companies in the plastics, microelectronics, defense and aerospace industries. The company's unique chemistry, customized services and focus on quality and safety distinguishes Boulder Scientific from its competitors.
The chemicals Boulder Scientific has developed for world-renowned organizations have enabled breakthroughs in drug therapies, industrial and agricultural applications and specialty chemicals. For more information visit www.bouldersci.com


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Are you a good driver but you want a better car so you don't have to worry about your car breaking down on the side of the road and you can make it to work in one piece? What we can do for you is get you financed in a car in Washington DC right now.
We have partnered with some of the best rated new and used cars dealers near Washington DC to get you behind the wheel. Our main goal at Auto Loans East Coast is to connect you with a car dealership that is going to do the most for you with a new or used car when you have low money down and bad credit.
Look at the auto loan rates of used cars in Washington DC
There are tons of car buyers that are having second thoughts on owning a car because of their credit and we don't want that. Both of us want you to have the best possible car with the lowest rate you can possible get and not have to worry about auto financing.
Being in the car business we know a ton of people are most worried about auto financing but when you apply with us your instantly connected to a car dealer in your area.
Did you know that 82% of car buyers shop online for car loan rates and use about 8 different auto websites before picking a car they want to purchase? Yes that's a lot of time and effort, usually the car buying process takes about 3-4 months.
Narrow down the used cars you want in Washington DC
So if your looking for a car make sure you take the time to dig into all the details and make your move from there. We have multiple car dealerships in Washington DC that we can help you with when purchasing a new or used vehicle.
Now is the time to start narrowing down the used cars you want in Washington DC and that also goes for new cars too.


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Home Press 2007
Laurie Morvan's third and most polished release begins in angry blues-rock fashion with the statement, "We've taken enough/ we ain't takin' no more/ Instead of bangin' our head we should be kickin' down doors" - an outcry against our current political situation. On the first three tracks, Laurie Morvan and her band deliver a series of up-tempo blues rockers with her soaring guitar prominent. The rhetorical question "Where are the Girls with Guitars?" is a defiant rebuttal to the labels not taking female guitarists seriously. Well, it's about time they took notice of this blazing singing/songwriting guitarist who penned all 12 cuts on the disc. This is one hard-working, passionate woman giving her all on every track. Laurie's difficult childhood in a rural Illinois town where she, her mother and stepfather built their home with their own hands, seems to be the bedrock of her driving ambition. After getting a degree in electrical engineering and having earned private and commercial jet licenses, she moved to LA, taking an aerospace job. She began to play in rock 'n' roll cover bands, quit her day job, and fell in love with the guitar, practicing eight or nine hours a day. Laurie says, "Playing lead guitar is a lot like doing a life-long dance of seduction with your true love. It's just as important to know when to shut up and listen as it is to hoot and holler, when to tease and when to please, when to be tough and when to be tender." All those styles are in evidence here, but most striking is the emotionally honest ballad, "Family Line," where she laments not being able to give birth and yet manages to say, "Now I've got everything I could ever need." On a disc of energy-charged tunes, this slow burner demands repeat listens.


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Singer Josh Groban Refuses To Dabble With Drugs After A Marijuana Session Left Him Feeling Paranoid And Nursing A Sore Throat The Next Morning.
Picture: Josh Groban - Josh Groban sighting at BBC Radio 2 - London, United Kingdom - Friday 17th April 2015
The You Raise Me Up star insists he has nothing against drugs, but prefers to stay away from them.
He tells Playboy, "I'm a control freak. I've dabbled in a couple of things, but coffee is my drug.
"I tried pot a long time ago and hated it. It made me paranoid - and it left me with a sore throat the next day, when I had to do a really serious song for a teacher.
"I'm not anti-pot... I think it causes fewer injuries than alcohol, but it wasn't for me. I'm sensitive to chemicals. If the Advil bottle says to take two, one is enough for me.
"Remember those high school public-service announcements, where, like, a girl goes to the bathroom to sniff a Magic Marker (pen) and then dies? That would be me."
Don and Sally Hollars' family are all grown up and they live alone. They have...
Cal Weaver and his wife Emily live a perfect sub-urban life, kids, a pleasant house...


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Large Majority of U.S.-based Financial Institutions Indicate Real-Time Payments is a High Priority in 2020
According to the 2020 Real-Time Payments Report from Levvel, a strategic consulting and technical execution services provider, a large majority of financial institutions (FIs) are prioritizing real-time payments over the next 12-18 months, but strategy and execution remain a challenge.
"The reality is that real-time payments are here," says Kathleen McDowell, Senior Director of Financial Services and Payments at Levvel in a blog post. "The technology is available, and customer demand is undeniable. FIs are realizing that to maintain customer satisfaction, reduce attrition, and stay competitive, they absolutely need [a real-time] strategy."
Currently, 74% of FIs are now in progress with or considering real-time payments for at least one of their customer segments to meet growing demand and gain a competitive advantage. However, the research also reveals a gap between strategy and execution as many institutions have not determined how to make real-time payments a reality and thus risk missing the opportunities from faster payments innovation.
Other key findings from the research include:
- 53% are either planning or have completed a significant technology upgrade or a full digital transformation to offer real-time payments
- 72% say they will need to rely on third-party technology providers to help implement real-time payments
- 84% indicate they will use real-time payments to drive other technology changes
Click here to access the full 2020 Real-Time Payments Report


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On Tuesday morning the Chicago Bears activated safety Eddie Jackson from the non-football injury list. The 27-year old was put on the list before training camp after injuring his hamstring working out on his own away from Halas Hall. The former All-Pro being back will help out a secondary that has had a few players injured in the last week of camp.
Head coach Matt Nagy also announced this morning that there is no change in the status of rookie offensive tackle Teven Jenkins and he will remain sidelined with back tightness.
Nagy also said this morning that the plan for their preseason opener on Saturday is for the starters to only play a series or two, or about 8-10 plays, which means we'll get plenty of Justin Fields leading the second string offense. With the Miami Dolphins at Halas Hall this week I would expect Fields to get plenty of valuable, yet controlled reps, while facing the 'Fins defense.


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Real Women. Real Life. Real Finance
Welcome to another Miko's Moments.
Today, I want to talk about your worth, more importantly, your perceived value.
During this last week, I took some mental health days. Though I can not go into full detail about what is happening in my personal life, I am here to tell you this. YOU ARE DESERVING!
The question you need to ask yourself is, "What do you believe you deserve?" From your finances? From your partner and friends? From your professional life and career? What do you believe you deserve from every aspect of your life?
I am not talking about entitlement and thinking you have the right to something; I am talking about how much you believe you are worth and your ultimate value.
Lately, I have been struggling, not with knowing my worth, but finding the strength to stick up for my value. The truth is, believing your worth is different than demanding it. For me, one is much more complicated than the other. You fear if you stick up for yourself, demand your worth, and voice your power, some things may disappear from your life, especially when it comes to the people you love. You don't want them to leave but can't stand to accept anything less than your value. It's a struggle I know so many of us deal with.
I think that a lot of women struggle with and doubt their deservingness. Here's what I learned. You will always create the results you believe you deserve. Beyond that, you will always stay in a bad situation if you believe you're only worthy of staying. Especially if you don't believe you deserve better.
It's even more important to understand that your value and self-worth as an individual is never tied to your money. When you allow your self-esteem to be measured in numbers, you fail to realize that your value is a measure of your beliefs. Your perception of yourself and how worthy you think you are, does have a direct correlation to the actions you take with your money.
Be kind and appreciate yourself. Self-worth is all about the way you value yourself. Understanding your self-value means that you know you are worthy. You alone control how you feel about yourself. Don't settle for anything less and have the strength to demand your value.
I'll be back next week for another Miko's Moments. Have a great weekend.


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Item number: EUR2380
Genuine Antique Hand Colored Map
Maker: Herisson.
Antique hand colored engraved map of Spain and Portugal, written in French, published in the "Atlas du Dictionnaire de Geographie Universelle Ancienne et Moderne," By Herisson, 1806. Visible plate mark. Very good overall antique condition with some mild toning and foxing. Map measures approximately 7" x 8.5" (H x W) to the neatline.
Item Number: EUR2380


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This year at Impelix we published original blogs each month on topics ranging from Zero Trust to ransomware to passwordless — even security (failures) in our favorite Hollywood movies. With 2021 coming to an end, I've done a roundup of our most popular posts from this past year …
#3 – "Where There's a Will, There's a Way"
Key Quote
"I offer this real-life scenario as a reminder that technology is not the panacea to all our cyber security problems … It's absolutely essential that we constantly monitor and tweak our detection and response methods and adjust these as threats evolve — whether these are intentional or unintentional."
#2 – The Year of Passwordless
Key Quote
#1 – Security Failures in Movies
Key Quote
Driving Onward to 2022
I hope these top three posts were either a great refresher or first-time read. Stay tuned, there are many more to come in the year ahead! In the meantime, we wish you happy holidays and cheers to a New Year!


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In July, 30 homes sold in Lake of the Woods.
0 sold between $130-199,999;
1 sold between $200-249,999;
5 sold between $250,000-299,999;
8 sold between $300-349,999;
9 sold between $350,000-399,999;
3 sold between $400-499,999;
1 homes sold over $500,000; 2 home sold between $700,000-$900,000;
1 home sold over $1million!
40 Active/Coming Soon Listings for Sale
49 Homes Under Contract
206 Homes Sold since January 1, 2021.
Whether you're looking for homes for sale in Lake of the Woods VA or Waterfront property in Virginia we are your Real Estate Advisors for Stafford, Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania, Locust Grove, Central Virginia, and Greater Virginia. Thinking of selling? In any market condition, "what is my home worth?" is the #1 question asked by homeowners. If you wish to sell your home, it needs to be sold for top dollar and in a timely manner. Pricing your home accurately, Pat will partner with you to make the selling process so much easier. Get started today by calling us at (540) 388-2541 or contact Pat Licata


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Viola Davis Felt Like She 'Made It' Starring On 'NYPD Blue'
For many television viewers, NYPD Blue is the gold standard of police procedural dramas. The series went off the air fifteen years ago, but it helped pave the way for many shows that are currently in syndication, and it remains hugely popular with fans — many of whom weren't even alive when the show first debuted on television. One high-profile fan of the show is the award-winning actor Viola Davis, who actually made a guest appearance on the show during one of the early seasons. In an interview given after she became an established Hollywood star, Davis opened up about how it felt to land a coveted role on the influential television series.
'NYPD Blue' was a very influential police procedural drama
NYPD Blue premiered on television in 1993 and changed the game from the start. The show, set in Manhattan and following a group of dedicated fictional detectives, was gritty in a way that no other police procedural drama had been up until that point. The series never shied away from detailing disturbing subject matter and is considered to be groundbreaking in the way that it showed nudity and violence.
One of the longest-running shows on primetime television, NYPD Blue ran from 1993 until 2005, before taking its final bow. Many of the cast members, including stars like Jimmy Smits, remain best known for their work in the series. Still, some guest stars who had only minor roles or bit parts in NYPD Blue would go on to achieve fame on their own terms, for other projects. One of these stars is Viola Davis, who made an appearance on NYPD Blue in 1996.
How did Viola Davis get into acting?
Viola Davis was born in South Carolina in 1965, according to IMDb. Raised in poverty, Davis was determined to make a better way for herself in the world and discovered her love of acting at an early age. After she graduated from high school, Davis began attending Rhode Island College, majoring in theater, ultimately graduating in 1988. Davis went on to attend the prestigious Juilliard School for four years.
In the early nineties, Davis worked on stage, appearing in several Broadway productions. Her first film appearance was in the 1996 movie The Substance of Fire. Although her role was a small one, it earned Davis her Screen Actors Guild Card. It was also that year that Davis made her first television appearance — in the hit drama NYPD Blue, no less.
What did Viola Davis say about appearing in 'NYPD Blue'?
Although Viola Davis' role in the episode of NYPD Blue was brief, it made an impression — and not long after, the talented performer was racking up parts in both television and film projects. These days, Davis is one of the most decorated actors in Hollywood, with an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and two Tony Awards to her credit. Still, she has never forgotten her start, and in a 2017 interview with Entertainment Tonight, Davis was shown the clip of her work in the 1996 episode of NYPD Blue. After joking about the wig she wore in the scene, Davis said that she remembered that time clearly because she really felt as though she had "made it" when she was cast on a show as successful as NYPD Blue.
Davis and one of her NYPD Blue co-stars got the chance to work together again in 2017, when Jimmy Smits, who starred on the police procedural drama for many years, landed a recurring role on Davis's own hit show, How to Get Away With Murder. There's no doubt that the two co-stars shared many memories behind the scenes, reminiscing about their years in television.


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OMNITAB - a computer program for statistical and numerical analysis 1966 first edition.
US Dept Commerce, National Bureau of Standards, Wash., D.C., 1966; 256 pages, References, diagrams.
Condition: Good+ overall, blue cloth hardcover stamped in gilt; rubbed & some wear at extremities; spine title dulled, prev. owner's name in ink at upper corner of front board & personal lettering at tail of spine; pages are clean & unmarked, binding is sound.
Keywords: omnitab, general purpose digital computer, man-machine, vintage programming manuals, IBM 7094, punched cards in scientific computing, national bureau of standards
Categories: 1960's computers and computing, Computer Science, Databooks, Handbooks, Manuals, Human-Computer Interaction, Programming and Programming Languages, Assembly and Machine Language, General Programming, Philosophy of Programming, Technical Journals, Proceedings, Conferences, Miscellaneous, Word Processing, Data Processing
See all items by Hilsenrath, Ziegler, Messina, Astin, National Bureau of Standards
Price: $20.00
Item Description
Extensive use was made of the digital computer in preparing this publication; in addition to the computer results which are obviously taken from the computer output, the text itself was prepared with the aid of the digital computer and a card-controlled typewriter. The first draft of the manuscript was punched on cards and processed on the IBM 870 Document Writer. After numerous editorial revisions, the cards were fed into an IBM 7094 computer which recomposed the lines and justified the text to the specified width. These justified cards were then fed through the Document Writer again to produce the camera-ready copy from which the pages in this Handbook were produced' (from the introd.) 'As high-speed computers assume an increasingly important role in the scientific, technological and economic life of modern society, it is becoming necessary to develop techniques that will provide the user with more convenient and efficient access to these machines...This Handbook presents the results of one of the efforts to make it easier for scientists and engineers to use large digital computers. It describes the OMNITAB general-purpose digital computer program, a tool that permits workers who are unfamiliar with programming to communicate with a large computer in a highly efficient manner by means of simple English sentences. it is hoped that this publication will serve as a manual for those who will be using the program, and to serve as a stimulus for further improvements in the man-machine interaction' (from the Foreword)
INCLUDES - general-purpose programs; the operating system; biblliography of general purpose computer programs; OMNITAB program - vocabulary & sentence structure, rules, bibliography of applications; Commands - input instructions, output, function generation, manipulation arithmetic operations, bessel functions, etc; Special Features, diagnostic, self-teaching, graphical presentation of data, etc; Statistical & Numerical Analysis; Repeat Mode; Matrix Operations; Array ops; Mathematical and special Operators; Fundamental physical constants; Documentation of and With OMNITAB; causes and consequences of error diagnostics; Index to OMNITAB Commands, more.


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President Trump has signed an executive order, effectively banning the popular Chinese-owned apps TikTok and WeChat.
This is a complicated issue. We're not going to dissect the political game-playing here, or even the legal technicalities of the order – that can of worms could fuel a 5,000-word essay – but what we can do is break down the major beats of the story for you.
Essentially, the executive order prohibits TikTok and WeChat's parent companies from any transactional deals with US-based companies. That's different to simply banning the apps in the US – while there is still some debate over the specifics, it could force Apple to remove the apps from its App Stores worldwide, not just regionally. There's a deadline of September 20 before the apps would need to be removed.
Even if you're not a user of TikTok or WeChat – and unless you're a teenager or live in China, the demographics would suggest you don't – it's hard to overstate the impact of these apps. WeChat in particular, while not very big in the rest of the world, is virtually indispensable for many in China.
That's a big deal and, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, could have a very significant knock-on effect. He expects iPhone sales in China to drop by around 30% if Apple is forced to remove these two incredibly popular apps from its App Store. With Apple's products doing increasingly well in China, that would be a big blow to its bottom line.
TikTok intends to fight the order, but already there is talk of American companies acquiring or merging with TikTok in order to continue its US-based operations. Apparently Twitter and Microsoft have both shown an interest in working with TikTok, and such an agreement would satisfy Trump enough to let the apps continue.
Something tells us this app drama is far from over – watch this space.


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Louis Meola
Louis Meola is a Boston local who received a BFA in printmaking from Emmanuel College and an MFA from SMFA at Tufts University. An avid printmaker who will "literally print anything", Louis has made prints with skateboards, trash, broken press beds, dirty faculty napkins, crab shells, and rusty copper. He next wants to experiment with broken glass and/or spaghetti. In his own words, "I prefer the messy side of printmaking, and no I am not referring to crooked margins and dirty edges, I'm talking about noise, information, plate tone, and experimental approaches. You can leave your academic wiping at the door."
Louis recommends all young artists try printmaking because working in a medium that is so repetitive allows students to build up a strong relationship with their imagery and materials.


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`His secretary, Mr. Stangerson, said that there were two trains -- one at 9.15 and one at 11. He was to catch the first. {14}
"`And was that the last which you saw of him?'
"A terrible change came over the woman's face as I asked the question. Her features turned perfectly livid. It was some seconds before she could get out the single word `Yes' -- and when it did come it was in a husky unnatural tone.
"There was silence for a moment, and then the daughter spoke in a calm clear voice.
"`No good can ever come of falsehood, mother,' she said. `Let us be frank with this gentleman. We _did_ see Mr. Drebber again.'
"`God forgive you!' cried Madame Charpentier, throwing up her hands and sinking back in her chair. `You have murdered your brother.'
"`Arthur would rather that we spoke the truth,' the girl answered firmly.
"`You had best tell me all about it now,' I said. `Half-confidences are worse than none. Besides, you do not know how much we know of it.'
"`On your head be it, Alice!' cried her mother; and then, turning to me, `I will tell you all, sir. Do not imagine that my agitation on behalf of my son arises from any fear lest he should have had a hand in this terrible affair. He is utterly innocent of it. My dread is, however, that in your eyes and in the eyes of others he may appear to be compromised. That however is surely impossible. His high character, his profession, his antecedents would all forbid it.'
"`Your best way is to make a clean breast of the facts,' I answered. `Depend upon it, if your son is innocent he will be none the worse.'
"`Perhaps, Alice, you had better leave us together,' she said, and her daughter withdrew. `Now, sir,' she continued, `I had no intention of telling you all this, but since my poor daughter has disclosed it I have no alternative. Having once decided to speak, I will tell you all without omitting any particular.'
"`It is your wisest course,' said I.
"`Mr. Drebber has been with us nearly three weeks. He and his secretary, Mr. Stangerson, had been travelling on the Continent. I noticed a "Copenhagen" label upon each of their trunks, showing that that had been their last stopping place. Stangerson was a quiet reserved man, but his employer, I am sorry to say, was far otherwise. He was coarse in his habits and brutish in his ways. The very night of his arrival he became very much the worse for drink, and, indeed, after twelve o'clock in the day he could hardly ever be said to be sober. His manners towards the maid-servants were disgustingly free and familiar. Worst of all, he speedily assumed the same attitude towards my daughter, Alice, and spoke to her more than once in a way which, fortunately, she is too innocent to understand. On one occasion he actually seized her in his arms and embraced her -- an outrage which caused his own secretary to reproach him for his unmanly conduct.'
"`But why did you stand all this,' I asked. `I suppose that you can get rid of your boarders when you wish.'
"Mrs. Charpentier blushed at my pertinent question. `Would to God that I had given him notice on the very day that he came,' she said. `But it was a sore temptation. They were paying a pound a day each -- fourteen pounds a week, and this is the slack season. I am a widow, and my boy in the Navy has cost me much. I grudged to lose the money. I acted for the best. This last was too much, however, and I gave him notice to leave on account of it. That was the reason of his going.'
"`My heart grew light when I saw him drive away. My son is on leave just now, but I did not tell him anything of all this, for his temper is violent, and he is passionately fond of his sister. When I closed the door behind them a load seemed to be lifted from my mind. Alas, in less than an hour there was a ring at the bell, and I learned that Mr. Drebber had returned. He was much excited, and evidently the worse for drink. He forced his way into the room, where I was sitting with my daughter, and made some incoherent remark about having missed his train.


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Fauquier Community Theatre, which marked its 40th anniversary in 2018, has been busily expanding its theatre education programs and upgrading the technical aspects of its venue while still producing five or six well-attended main stage shows each season.
FCT performs at Vint Hill Theatre in Warrenton, which provides a house that seats more than 200, and the company recently invested $80,000 in a massive sound equipment overhaul. "Patrons and productions marvel at the outstanding difference it has brought to the current theatre facility," Artistic Committee Chairperson Sheryl Solow said. "The use of a digital soundboard and new technology has greatly enhanced the auditory experience of the shows."
Vint Hill Theatre has recently been updated with new seat upholstery, carpeting, and aesthetics, and Solow says a lighting design project on the scale of the sound system upgrade is next. Solow says FCT hopes to have its own dedicated space someday. FCT has also sometimes partnered with other local companies in producing shows at Vint Hill Theatre, with the hope of mounting FCT productions at their usual venues in turn.
FCT's season usually opens and closes with musicals, with a mix of comedy, drama, mystery, and Shakespeare in between. FCT also produces a family-friendly holiday show each December. The 2019-2020 season will kick off with "Seussical: The Musical," followed by "Lost in Yonkers" in the fall and "The Best Christmas Pageant Ever" in December. The new year will see "Rabbit Hole" in the winter and "The Night Must Fall" in the spring, with the season closing with "Jesus Christ Superstar."
Solow names several musicals produced within the past few years as among FCT's greatest triumphs, including "1776," "Big Fish," and "Mary Poppins." Other big successes of recent seasons include "The Lion In Winter" and "Steel Magnolias."
FCT also mounts a youth show each June with a cast ages 8-17 and runs two summer camps. A one-week camp focusing on the craft of acting as well as opportunities to learn about other aspects of theatre arts like set and makeup design. A two-week camp produces a full show, offering the same opportunities as the shorter session but culminating in a full production.
The company has experienced consistent growth in season subscriptions over the past decade, and Solow says dedicated audience members come not just from Fauquier County, but parts of Prince William County and elsewhere.
Fauquier Community Theatre has also been expanding its theatre education program as part of its goal of offering a range of challenging creative opportunities that inspire people of all ages and backgrounds to participate in theatre. The company is introducing a summer Adult Musical Audition Workshop for the first time this year. The company plans to offer more summer workshops in the future.
For more information on Fauquier Community Theatre, click here.


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The Jesuit values that are a hallmark of Boston College extend beyond the bounds of campus. Just across the street from Lower Campus, John Acampora has made it his mission over the past 30 years to serve and care for the community, while also feeding hungry BC students.
Acampora has owned Flat Breads Cafe for almost 30 years, but his younger self could not have imagined running a restaurant, he said. His career path brought him from the Bronx to having a high-powered career in the hotel industry, to being a full-time caretaker for his son, before he wound up manning the sandwich shop. One thing has stayed constant—his devotion to serving others.
Many BC students who have passed through campus in the past 30 years are familiar with Acampora, who has given them more than just a hearty meal by striking up conversations, forming relationships, and providing care for the community.
Acampora said he attributes much of who he is to his upbringing in the Riverdale section of the Bronx.
"The Bronx has always been home base for me for a myriad of reasons," Acampora said. "I was born into a loving and supportive Italian-American family, which is something that I look back on with pride. It's the ground point of my personal and religious foundation."
Acampora's Catholic faith has always been central to his identity, he said. After spending his formative years at St. Margaret of Cortona Church, a Catholic parish, Acampora received a Jesuit education at Fordham Preparatory School and later at Fordham University, where he studied business.
After his graduation from Fordham University, Acampora had no plans of entering the food service industry, he said.
Acampora's long and winding career path began with him rejecting the opportunity to work on Wall Street after college, and instead choosing to work in the hotel business. After six months of working at the front desk of the New York Hilton Midtown, which had just opened at the time he started working there, Acampora was asked to attend Hilton's executive training program in Chicago, he said. From there, Acampora worked in cities all over the United States in a managerial capacity, eventually becoming the youngest corporate vice president for Hilton.
Acampora's achievements were not overlooked—Sheraton soon made him an irrefutable offer to work in Boston, he said. With his wife and four children, Acampora moved to Weston, Mass. to pursue the opportunity.
"It was my dream job," Acampora said. "I brought a sense of order to chaos at Sheraton, which was a really great opportunity for me."
After 27 years in the hotel industry, Acampora's career path took a sharp turn.
When his son got into a serious car accident on his way home from college, Acampora embarked upon a six-year journey of supporting his son through 15 major surgeries.
"Through that six-year period, I left my job," Acampora said. "There was really no reason for me to work—it was important that I be with my family and tend to my son's needs on a day-to-day basis."
When Acampora eventually returned to the workforce, he ventured into new territory, and Flat Breads Cafe was born.
"I was back to square one," Acampora said. "But I saw BC as an opportunity. That nice little shop was open, and we took it over."
Getting Flat Breads up and running was pretty simple—a "no-brainer," he said. After renovating the space and putting a functional operating system into place, Flat Breads was open in three months. While the business has been modified over the years, Acampora said that it still exists in its original mold almost 30 years later.
"Flat Breads is not just a sandwich business," Acampora said. "For me, it's a way of life. It has given me the distinct opportunity to give back."
His drive to give back has not gone unnoticed.
"Every time I go into Flat Breads, it's a conversation with John," John DeAngelis, a fellow Fordham Prep alum and CSOM '23, said. "We always talk about Fordham Prep, and once the pandemic dies down, John wants to take us Fordham Prep guys out to dinner. He's just a very kind man."
DeAngelis is a Flat Breads regular, eating there about once a week, he said.
Beyond his relationships with BC students—whom Acampora said he looks at as if they're his own children—Acampora has gone out of his way to support the underprivileged community of the greater Boston area.
Years ago, Acampora and his wife befriended a man in and out of homelessness named Charlie, who sold newspapers at the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola on campus every Sunday. At the end of the day every Sunday, Charlie would exchange the change that he had earned for paper bills at Flat Breads—along with a sandwich. Acampora eventually ended up paying Charlie's $90 weekly rent, he said, for which Charlie was grateful.
More than a decade later, in 2020, Acampora befriended a homeless woman named Lauren. He encouraged Lauren to move off the streets and into a shelter downtown, giving her a $20 bill each time she left Flat Breads. Recently, Acampora discovered that, because of his support, Lauren was able to travel and return to her family in Iowa.
"As an 80-year-old man, I feel eminently fulfilled in that I'm living my Catholic mission in that shop," Acampora said. "I'm living the traditions of St. Ignatius there."
Like many other small businesses, Flat Breads closed for six months at the onset of COVID-19. Not only did the absence of students significantly decrease spring walk-in customers, but also Flat Breads' catering business ceased because of the pandemic, Acampora said.
"We needed to take drastic action, and we closed in early 2020," Acampora said. "What rainy day funds we had were quickly absorbed, and we had to let people go. It was difficult."
Around that time, Acampora organized a GoFundMe page, asking for the support of the BC and broader Newton communities. The outpouring of support, Acampora said, was humbling.
"A collection of local people, and mostly students, chimed in to help us out," Acampora said. "There were even people who had graduated from BC 10 and 12 years ago that chimed in."
Acampora had never realized the impact that Flat Breads has had on its customers, he said.
"BC has a lot of staple restaurants, and Flat Breads is definitely one of them," DeAngelis said. "It's a homey environment, and it's a nice place to be when you're studying away from home."
Paige Nixon, MCAS '24, visited Flat Breads for the first time on her first BC "game day." Although game days looked different during the COVID-19 pandemic, because spectators were not permitted in Alumni Stadium, Flat Breads remained a popular Saturday spot for students.
"The first time I went to Flat Breads, it was the first football game of 2020," Nixon said. "There were tons of people picking up orders, and since we couldn't attend the game or do anything associated with it, I thought it was really meaningful that all of the BC students went to Flat Breads to get their food for the game."
Acampora said that Flat Breads received over 1,100 calls, emails, and cards in early 2020, saying that they missed it and asking when it would reopen.
"Therein lies the phenomenon of Flat Breads—people feel that they own a piece of us and that we serve our customers in the best of all traditions," Acampora said. "I think that sustains us."
Photos by Sarah West / For The Heights


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Hoverboards that lack independent safety certification — basically all that have been sold in the US so far — pose an "imminent hazard" and are now subject to recall or seizure by the US government, according to a letter from the Consumer Products Safety Commission sent to manufacturers, importers, and dealers of hoverboards Thursday. The agency says anyone caught selling uncertified hoverboards will face civil and criminal penalties. The letter was first reported by Mashable.
"Self-balancing scooters that do not meet these voluntary safety standards pose an unreasonable risk of fire to consumers," the agency writes. "Consumers risk serious injury or death if their self-balancing scooters ignite and burn."
"An unreasonable risk of fire."
CPSC says it has received 52 reports of fires resulting from malfunctioning hoverboards from 24 states that have caused over $2 million in property damage, as well as the complete destruction of one home and an automobile. To prevent future hoverboard-related carnage, the agency is calling for a removal of all hoverboards that do not meet safety standards, and for all importers, manufacturers, and sellers to acquire independent safety certification.
"We believe that many of the reported incidents, and the related unreasonable risk of injuries and deaths associated with fires in these products, would be prevented if all such products were manufactured in compliance with the referenced voluntary safety standards," CPSC says. The agency also shared a video of its testing process.
Essentially hoverboard dealers are being ordered to obtain two levels of safety certification: one for the lithium ion batteries as outlined by the United Nations and the US Department of Transportation, and the other for the entire hoverboard by Underwriters Laboratory (UL), a private company known for certifying the safety of all sorts of everyday products. UL announced earlier this month that it had begun accepting submissions from hoverboard manufacturers and distributors.
To date, consumers have had to take hoverboard companies at their word that their products were safe. For example, Swagway touted its use of UL-certified components in order to keep being sold on Amazon, but would have to resubmit its boards for full certification with this new process in place. And as hoverboards grew in popularity, the CPSC released several statements emphasizing its concern about the reports of fires, but has held off on cracking down on manufacturers, most of whom reside in China, and sellers while it tests several of the more prominent brands. But now the agency is bringing its full regulatory weight down on this new industry.


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Mortgage refinancing costs and fees will be different depending on the homeowners financial situation and the type of loan they want. With interest rates so low right now, many homeowners can benefit from getting a mortgage refinanced into a new loan with better interest rates, terms, or conditions. However, getting a home loan refinancing does cost money. Sometimes, the costs can overwhelm the savings, and make a refinance pointless. Here are some common costs that are involved with a typical mortgage refinancing. For more information see Visit NPBS.
Mortgage Lender or Bank Fees
There will be a fee charged by the mortgage lender or bank to facilitate the loan. These fees are for document preparation, administrative costs, processing, and loan underwriting. Almost ever lender and bank charge these fees, so they are not unusual. These fees can cost as much as $900, sometimes more. The places that advertise "no cost" mortgage refinancing may not charge these fees, but they will come at a price somewhere throughout the process. Typically in the form of higher interest rates, or other "costs" that they claim to have no control of.
Home Appraisal
When refinancing a mortgage a homeowner will generally need to pay for an appraiser to inspect the home. These appraisals are required by most banks or lenders in order to ensure that they are not financing a worthless property should things go wrong. If your home does not have a recent appraisal, especially in a turbulent housing market, a recent one will be required. This can cost upwards of $400 for a typical single family home. Sometimes, investment property appraisals can cost a little more and also require a operating income statement.
Also Read: What Is Credit Card Refinancing?
Title and Escrow Fees
These costs are to ensure that the owner of said property, is truly the owner. Not some middleman, tenant, or con artist. Many times a mortgage is owned by not who you pay money to, but their parent company or similar. Sometimes, the true owner of the home loan is buried behind several different corporation names. The title fee covers that aspect, and ensures all parties involved are honest and aware. The escrow fee is simply the cost of having a third, uninvolved party oversee the process to ensure someones interests do not cause dishonesty. Their also may be express mailing and courier fees involved with this as documents get passed along in a timely fashion to all involved parties.
These are the most common costs associated with a home loan refinance. The cost of mortgage refinancing will be different amount depending on factors that include credit worthiness, home value, loan amount, interest rates, and the lender or bank that is used. Generally, the worse the credit rating is, the more expensive the process becomes as lenders need to do more work to find an appropriate deal that will be accepted by a bank. While these costs may be too much for some people, in general, they can be overcome by the savings on a proper mortgage refinancing. The best thing homeowners can do to ensure they pay the least amount possible is shop around and compare costs from a number of different lenders and banks.
Further Reading: Refinancing: Does It Hurt Your Credit?
Shawn Manaher is a former financial advisor, has founded 5 online businesses, and is a coach, speaker, podcast host, and author. He's been featured on Forbes, The Consults Corner on TAE Radio, The Writing Biz, What's Your Story, and more.


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One of the largest and most beautiful tombs of the Middle Kingdom on the hill of Qubbet el-Hawa is that of Sarenput I, which marks the apogee of funereal architecture in Aswan.
, living far from the Residence in Memphis, enjoyed autonomy and revenues, which allowed them to consider themselves as minor sovereigns.
Sarenput lived during the Middle Kingdom (~2055 - 1650 BC) reign of Senuseret (Sesostris) I (~1956-1911 BC).
The "biographical" inscription, which Sarenput left in his tomb, well shows how this powerful character considered himself." I have built my tomb to show my gratitude to the king Kheper-Ka-Ra (Senuseret I).
His majesty made me great in the land. I have overturned very ancient rules and, it resulted that I reached the sky in an instant.
I have employed artisans to work in my tomb and his Majesty congratulated me highly and often in the presence of courtesans and the Queen..
The tomb was equipped with palace furniture, decorated with all sorts of accessories, filled with decorative parts and provided with offerings. I should not want for any necessary thing, it was at the treasure house that all this was claimed for me. His Majesty saw to it that I could have a good life. I was full of joy at having succeeded in reaching the sky, my head touched the firmament, I grazed the stars. I appeared like a star. I danced like the planets, my town celebrated and my troops were jubilant.
For me, the Elephantine gods extended the reign of His Majesty as king they caused His Majesty to be reborn for me in order that he might repeat millions of Sed festivals for me, they granted him eternity as king that he might install himself on the throne of Horus, just as I had wished for him."
Sarenput had no hesitation in according himself a stellar destiny and, thanks to the notable's wishes, the king of Upper and Lower Egypt could regenerate himself eternally in order to permit Sarenput. to profit from the same destiny. We see, nevertheless that, in spite of the bragging, the proud Nomarch doubtless considered himself a royal servant. This shows us that, in the time of Sesostris I (Senwosret), royal authority had been restored throughout the kingdom.
In 2016, a causeway leading to the tomb of Sarenput Iwas uncovered. It is made of blue sandstone, a building material only available in the area of Shat el-Saba Regal, near Kom Ombo, which was also used at and the temple for Satet on the Island of Elephantine.
The causeway is considered the longest ever found on the western bank of the Nile in Aswan, stretching for 133 metres to connect the tomb to the Nile bank. It is decorated with engravings, the most important of which are found on the eastern part of the ramp's northern wall and depict a group of men pulling a bull and presenting it as an offering to Sarenput().
The decoration of the causeway was already underway in year 10 of the reign of Senwosret I (1910 BC). As the pottery shows, the causeway was in use for almost 600 years as a place of memory and funerary ritual activities.
Access to the tomb is via a monumental staircase, which is an integral part of the funerary complex. Unlike those of for example, it is not perpendicular to the face of the cliff but makes an angle of 85 degrees.
From the porch doorway, which gave access to the forecourt, there remain two side jambs of fine limestone (a rare stone in this region, probably imported from far away), each carrying a portrayal of Sarenput with his instruments of power, the Sekhem sceptre and baton of authority.
The forecourt is cut directly into the slope. It comprises a series of six decorated pillars surmounted by architraves and which supported a roof, which has today disappeared. The general effect reminds us of a temple vestibule.
The façade of the tomb comprises hieroglyphic inscriptions, above all around the door, which they frame. Laterally, more figurative representations are presnt.
Around the door are portrayals of Sarenput in the form of larger-than-life statues as on pylons in a temple.
The first room, with 4 pillars, is decorated with frescos and hieroglyphs painted in colour, though much deteriorated.