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Friday, February 2, 2018
The five stages of opening 2018 Topps
I found 2018 Topps around 1:30 in the afternoon yesterday. I have no adventures to tell. There were no pack searchers (I've seen a pack searcher maybe once or twice in my life). The merchandise appeared freshly stocked. Blasters, hangers and packs. In fact, when I pulled three loose packs out of the gravity feeder, I was the first customer to touch those babies.
I was first. There's your adventure.
A year ago, I took pictures when I found the first cards of the season. I had time. I was off that day. Yesterday, I worked a double shift because one of my co-workers is on vacation. Topps really needs to work on its release dates because, last year aside, this happens all the time. If they would just ask for my schedule I could get these posts up in a more timely fashion.
So, no pictures of stocked shelves this time, or conversations with the baseball-loving checkout girl. It was all "in, out, drive, open, work, work, work, work, WORK, WORK, WORK, WORK ..."
But I did scan everything for you.
And during all that scanning time, I had time to think. There are five stages to opening 2018 Topps:
1. Excitement
2. Frustration
3. Surprise
4. Bitterness
5. Resignation
I had just gone through all of them without knowing it. I'll go through them for you now. But of course, I'll throw cards in with the self-analysis, so you don't get squirmy.
Opening the first cards of the season is always exciting. No matter how old I get, no matter how jaded I get, no matter how out-of-sync I am with modern trends, seeing new card product on the shelves and opening that first pack and spotting the first card of the year is always exciting.
The Billy Hamilton card is the first card of the year. That might be the best "first card" I've ever pulled, certainly since I started blogging. I should review those and do a future post.
So, yeah, that was exciting. I saw the new design in person and it was rush.
But what quickly followed was ...
Ugh. I so wanted to enjoy opening these cards at my leisure. But there was no time. I quickly shuffled through the first pack. Who are these people? I know fewer and fewer players on cards, it gets so frus ...
Well, let's open the pack and I can explain better.
Pack 1
#68 - Billy Hamilton, Reds
#284 - Jose Pirela, Padres
I congratulated myself for knowing who a Padre was.
#42 - Cody Bellinger
Woooooooooooooooooo! First Dodger is the Rookie of the Year. Yeah, I know that's no feat when there are 47 Cody Bellingers in the set. I don't care. Wooooooooooooooo! Future Stars and Rookie Cups and Logos Oh My. Jammed all together so it makes no sense! But woooooooooooooooooooooo!
Let's look at the back of a 2018 card:
Don't let Bellinger's brief career fool you, the five-line limit for stats has returned. I still think that's not the right call, but, again, I get it. I just wish Topps would do something else with the leftover space besides the huge Twitter/Instagram handles (it really looks goofy when the player has no social media and #TOPPSBASEBALL is used in its place) and all that territory for the header. Also, that's some kind of creative white space on the right. We putting jersey swatches in there?
Finally, please note what's got to be the first use of the word "incongruously" on a baseball card. I've now had to look up that word three times to make sure I spelled it correctly. Yes, I've been writing for 30 years.
#316 - Max Fried, Braves
There are a boatload of cards with rookie card logos on them in this set. Topps is on record as being proud of this. Meanwhile, I have no time to figure out who all these people are.
#277 - Aaron Slegers, Twins
Moar rookie. No idea.
#TS-80 - Alex Verdugo, Dodgers, Topps Salute insert
Moar rookie. This is what the Topps Salute insert set looks like (this insert set is the most loosely defined insert series of all-time. "Let's put rookies, legends, throwback uniforms, Mother's Day uniforms, Father's Day uniforms, Independence Day uniforms, dogs that do handstands, and people wearing purple eating pizza in one set and call it 'Topps Salute'").
As pleased as I am to pull another Dodger, Verdugo should not be appearing in insert sets. He has 23 career MLB at-bats. And no guarantee he will be playing for L.A. this year.
#DJH-26 - Derek Jeter, 1996 World Series Champion, Derek Jeter insert set
This is what Target uses to punish you for buying Topps baseball cards. You get a Derek Jeter insert card. I'm starting to miss the old days of pulling colored-border parallels of Miami Marlins.
#155 - Matt Joyce, Athletics
#314 - Colorado Rockies team card
Dudes standing around after: a) their pitcher gives up 9 runs?; b) the trainer tends to the catcher who was just plunked in the junk?; c) security tackles a nitwit who ran on the field?
I need answers!
#100 - Giancarlo Stanton, Marlins
Awesome. More cards like this. This will be the last card of Stanton's that I will like for a long, long time.
Also, as Phungo pointed out, hero numbers have returned.
#260 - Rick Porcello, Red Sox
#342 - Sean Manea, Athletics
That's the end of pack one.
And that brings me to Stage 3 of opening 2018 Topps:
I don't hate the design.
I've never hated the design. Oh, sure it's weird. Why the waterslide? Why is the name and team bar disintegrating? Why the glowing swoosh light behind the team logo? Is this indicating the speed at which the logo is falling down the slide?
But when I get past that -- and the fact the slide is covering up the first part of the player's name -- I kind of like it. The design is colorful, especially when compared with the last couple of years. It doesn't take up too much space on the card. And, this may make me sound odd, but I get a sense of light and breeziness with these cards that carries over to the back. Bright colors. Sunshine. Beaches. Waterslides. Summer. Baseball. I know it's just me, but it's kinda cool.
Pack 2
#336 - Bruce Maxwell, Athletics
As usual, pulling a bunch of Oakland A's is not helping my self-esteem in trying to identify ballplayers.
#283 - Koji Uehara, Cubs
#26 - Cesar Hernandez, Phillies
#272 - Paul Blackburn, Athletics
#185 - Chance Sisco, Orioles
LTM-CE - Corey Seager, Dodgers, Legends in the Making insert
I am very bored by inserts. If some of them were actually about something, then I wouldn't mind them showing up in packs, but the majority made now are excuses to repeat rookies, stars and legends that we've seen over and over.
It was pointed out to me that this card has an error on the back:
The second line of the write-up should read "Seager left the yard three times ...". If only this were 1981 Fleer and I could search for a corrected version and made a cool 25 bucks.
Home Run Challenge card
Card for a contest I won't enter. Nutshell: Log on. Pick a player. Pick a game. You might win a grand prize to go to the Home Run Derby (no thanks).
#294 - Jose Altuve, Astros, AL Batting Average Leaders
#144 - Jean Segura, Mariners
#212 - Lance McCullers, Astros, World Series subset
Ugh. These things. I forgot about these.
We're going to get nothing but World Series games showing the winners, while the Dodgers, who almost won the damn thing, get completely shut out. I suddenly hate you, 2018 Topps.
#46 - Cam Bedrosian, Angels
#132 - Marcell Ozuna, Marlins
I'd rather see a player's face on his card.
#30 - Carlos Correa, Astros
That ends Pack 2. Not the greatest pack for me.
But let's talk about the photos, since a couple other bloggers have brought it up.
The pictures do seem better this year, almost Stadium Club-light in a lot of cases. But I don't know if that's merely the wider amount of space reserved for photo presentation compared with the last few years.
It seems that Topps has been leading up to this design for three years now.
In 2016, Topps unveiled its first full bleed flagship design. But chunky graphics dominated the lower fourth and the smoke corners ate up even more territory.
So in 2017, they got rid of the smoke corners, but left some haze on the bottom, which divided the bottom portion of the card from the top portion.
So, learning from their mistakes -- DON'T MESS WITH THE PHOTO -- we arrive at 2018. I still think there's a little bit of haze under the team bar, but it doesn't bother me as much.
What does bother me is ...
2016 Topps and 2017 Topps were just PRACTICE for 2018 Topps!!!
I want all my money back from 2016 and 2017.
Pack 3
#10 - Francisco Lindor, Indians
#143 - James Paxton, Mariners
#90 - Miguel Cabrera, Tigers
#195 - Avisail Garcia, White Sox, AL Batting Average Leaders
#21 - Harrison Bader, Cardinals
LTM-MM - Manny Machado, Legends in the Making insert
HR Challenge ad card
#263 - Chase Utley, Dodgers
Fourth Dodger pulled. Nice pack selecting, Night Owl. Topps informs you on the back that Chase Utley does not participate in social media. This is not a surprise.
#73 - Miami Marlins team card
#57 - Scott Feldman, Reds
#102 - Wil Myers, Padres
#27 - Josh Tomlin, Indians
#240 - Robinson Cano, Mariners
That's a pretty card.
And that ends pack 3.
Everyone let out a big sigh.
I bought just three packs because I don't need any more new cards from sets I'm not collecting. I still haven't put away all my 2017 cards.
But after viewing them, and seeing that I like them just a little, it seems silly to have more 2016 and 2017 Topps -- two unfinished, ugly sets -- than of 2018.
It's also silly to waste money on a set that basically continues what was started in 2016, which is something I don't appreciate. But I will probably waste a little money here and there to take the edge off of life.
That's just the way I collect. I accept it. I'm resigned to it. At least I buy a lot less of it than I did five years ago.
How's that for an endorsement?
2018 Topps: It's not 2016 or 2017 Topps.
19 comments:
Not many Yankees. You must feel cheated to not pull an Aaron Judge.ReplyDelete
I wish Topps would tell MLB and MLBPA to put their big boy pants on and allow the crowd to not be blurred in the player's photos. Every fan give MLB the right to use their likeness when they attend a game. It's printed in the fine print on the back of the tickets.ReplyDelete
Gianocarlo Stanton's base card in Oakland looks amazing because of the background is legible. When you compare it to the card you pulled afterwards, Rick Porcello, it's even more impressive because of the blurred background on Porcello's card looks horrible.Replies
Excellent point on "background"!Delete
I made a similar comment about the blurred backgrounds in the past and then someone informed me that Topps was using the original pictures and they did not doctor the background.Delete
I just checked on gettyimages.com and found the exact Harrison Bader photograph... Topps did NOT blur out the crowd in the background on Bader's card. I'm going to assume it's the same across the board.
That's how the image looks. No doctoring of backgrounds going on. Here's the Porcello card on Getty: https://www.gettyimages.com/license/687861150Delete
I thought the Marcell Ozuna card almost looked 1973-like.ReplyDeleteReplies
Exactly, a la the 1973 Willie Davis.Delete
Do you know how great a dog-that-does-handstands card would be? Maybe in Opening Day.ReplyDelete
Nice post. Almost makes me want to back to long form bloggingReplyDelete
This comment has been removed by the author.ReplyDelete
Haven't looked for and/or bought any 2018 Topps yet, but that Slegers is my already favorite card of 2018...ReplyDelete
(Damn typos...)
Thank you for my first look at the 2018 cards. Thanks to this great post, I won't have to waste money buying any of these cards. The cards are much too busy and like steelehere, I don't like the blurred backgrounds. Had to go back and search for the RC logo on Fried's card after your following comment mentioned it. A tribute should stand out like the all-star cards in the 75 set or maybe the rookie cup on this year's Bellinger card. The Gianocarlo Stanton card is my favorite, because of what steelehere pointed out and I like the posed card as opposed to an action shot. Your comment "I'd rather see a player's face on his card" is my exact point on any card no matter what the year!ReplyDelete
"..... You get a Derek Jeter insert card. I'm starting to miss the old days of pulling colored-border parallels of Miami Marlins." I lol'd at this.ReplyDelete
Thanks for buying these so I don't have to. Always appreciate other guys throwing themselves on their sword.Replies
This is the fourth or fifth 2018 Topps post of the day... and yours by far has the most Athletics featured. So that's something. You avoided pulling a Judge. That's something too.ReplyDelete
That Cam Bedrosian card has me wondering how his brother Cody is doing. I remember in 1990 how Steve stepped away for a bit because Cody had leukemia and the Giants started selling Cody Bear stuffed animals to raise money for childhood leukemia programs.ReplyDelete
"How's that for an endorsement? 2018 Topps: It's not 2016 or 2017 Topps. "ReplyDelete
What the heck, that's how a lot of us elect Presidents these days...


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As the automotive industry makes the transition from steel to composites and other advanced lightweight materials, engineers are facing new design challenges. Sensuron's distributed sensing platforms can help remove uncertainty from designing with new materials.
By obtaining spatially continuous data along the entire length of an optical fiber, Sensuron's technology provides engineers with accurate, comprehensive views of strain fields, 3D shape, liquid level, temperature distributions, and more. All of these parameters can measured simultaneously and in real time. This unique ability ensures maximum coverage of an application and the flexibility to resolve challenges across automotive organizations.
Sensuron's platforms offer multi-sensing capabilities, meaning they can simultaneously sense multiple parameters.
Multi-sensing abilities, fully distributed data and access to real time information enables users to replace multiple disparate sensing technologies with a single platform.
Sensuron's platforms provide spatially continuous information giving customers a full picture of how their application is behaving.
Ten times more data than existing sensing technologies provides customers with the information they need to innovate and control processes.
Sensuron's systems operate in dynamic environments enabling customers to perform the tests they need without using multiple technology platforms.
Simultaneously monitor deformation, temperature, strain fields and more.
Test components to check for fatigue over time
Characterize composite and metal chassis in static or dynamic environments
Optimize design and safety components and assemblies through model validation.
Exhaust system, engine room, radiator, break pads and more.

subset: commoncrawl


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Hey everybody! Today has been such an eventful day. First of all I realized I left my laptop charger at my mum (back in Salaj county) so we couldn't edit the photos. But it's Christmas Eve, and we really wanted to show you guys these photos, and wish you all a Merry Christmas! We shot a video also, but we cannot edit it. Let's hope we can deal with it til tomorrow morning because it is really really funny!
Anyway, we had our Christmas Eve dinner and this year our mum decided to surprise us with gifts, so we opened them also. It was so much fun! Now we are preparing to watch Elf because everyone is talking about it, even though it is such an old one.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Saci & Kinga
Share on :
{ Christmas Eve }
Reviewed by pada mama
Published :
Rating : 4.5
Published :
Rating : 4.5


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Customer-centric innovation and growth drives BeyondTrust to favorability in all categories, including product, market and innovation leadership
PHOENIX, AZ--(Marketwired - Jun 12, 2017) - BeyondTrust, the leading cyber security company dedicated to preventing privilege misuse and stopping unauthorized access, announced today that it has been named among the leaders in every category of the KuppingerCole 2017 Leadership Compass for Privilege Management. The recognition comes as the latest in a string of positive third-party validations, driven by BeyondTrust's commitment to innovation and growth. In the past year, BeyondTrust has also received positive recognition from Forrester, Gartner, Quadrant Research and SC Magazine.
BeyondTrust was named as one of the leaders in every category of the report, including overall leaders, product leaders, market leaders and innovation leaders. KuppingerCole noted BeyondTrust's history as a long-standing and stable company, its support for both proxy- and host-based privilege management and its significantly improved integration across the product portfolio. The report also highlighted BeyondTrust's support for adaptive, dynamic authentication based on risk, as well as its deep integration into target platforms with BeyondTrust's host-centric approach.
KuppingerCole placed BeyondTrust as "strong positive" or "positive" for:
"The PowerBroker product family offers a simple and straightforward deployment for the central components, making it easier for customers who include deployment timelines in their requirements," said Martin Kuppinger, founder and principal analyst, KuppingerCole. "KuppingerCole places BeyondTrust among the market leaders in privileged access management for its product and market innovation."
"BeyondTrust is honored to be named among product, market and innovation leaders in the 2017 KuppingerCole Leadership Compass for Privilege Management as we strive to bring our customers the most cohesive and advanced privileged access management solution available," said Brad Hibbert, Chief Technology Officer, BeyondTrust. "As a customer-driven company, we provide our customers a solution, not just a set of tools, that continues to be positively recognized by distinguished third-party evaluators."
About KuppingerCole
KuppingerCole, founded in 2004, is a global Analyst Company headquartered in Europe focusing on Information Security and Identity and Access Management (IAM). KuppingerCole stands for expertise, thought leadership, outstanding practical relevance, and a vendor-neutral view on the information security market segments, covering all relevant aspects like: Identity and Access Management (IAM), Governance & Auditing Tools, Cloud and Virtualization Security, Information Protection, Mobile as well as Software Security, System and Network Security, Security Monitoring, Analytics & Reporting, Governance, and Organization & Policies.
For further information, please contact firstname.lastname@example.com
About BeyondTrust
BeyondTrust is a global information security software company that helps organizations prevent cyber attacks and unauthorized data access due to privilege abuse. Our solutions give you the visibility to confidently reduce risks and the control to take proactive, informed action against data breach threats. And because threats can come from anywhere, we built a platform that unifies the most effective technologies for addressing both internal and external risk: Privileged Access Management and Vulnerability Management. Our solutions grow with your needs, making sure you maintain control no matter where your company goes. BeyondTrust's security solutions are trusted by over 4,000 customers worldwide, including half of the Fortune 100. To learn more about BeyondTrust, please visit www.beyondtrust.com.
Follow BeyondTrust
Twitter: http://twitter.com/beyondtrust
Blog: https://www.beyondtrust.com/blog/
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/companies/beyondtrust
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/beyondtrust
Contact Information:
For BeyondTrust:
Mike Bradshaw
Connect Marketing for BeyondTrust


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About Us
Less Than 6 Degrees Tampa Bay is a business and social networking group to "bridge the bay" with people of all ages, religions, cultures and ethnic backgrounds who have similar business and social interests and want to give back to our community. We alternate locations in Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties.
Who We Are
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Red Dragon Island, and if you haven't played it, you're missing out on a thrilling adventure through old Japan with Jack and Annie, the heroes of the Magic Tree House series.
(Oh, and you also get to master a bunch of awesome ninja skills like climbing up walls and using a grappling hook.)
Whether you've been through Red Dragon Island before or not, now's a great time to head back. Not just because it's a great adventure, but because the Magic Tree House store has been updated with the latest, greatest books from the series. Head on over to Poptropica and visit Red Dragon Island to get the scoop on A Perfect Time for Pandas, and its accompanying Fact Tracker, Pandas and Other Endangered Species.
And then find the ninja master and get to work!
Monday, July 9, 2012
Is there ever a bad time for pandas?


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Donate to Charities Save Money On Taxes
Donate Money to Charities and Get a Tax Deduction
Whether it is an earthquake in Haiti, or other major event, or just a desire to help out a cause or charity, donating money is one of the best ways to help out. While other donations are always welcome, the fact is that cash donations are the most helpful because they can be directed to the area of greatest need.
Donating money to charity has another advantage. Cash donations to charities are tax deductible for most people. That means that your donation not only helps important causes do their work, it also helps your own personal finances by decreasing the amount of money owed on Federal Income Taxes. For someone in the 30% tax bracket, every dollar donated to charity would result in approximately, a 30% reduction in taxes. In other words, a thirty cent decrease in the amount of taxes owed to the government.
Another advantage of cash donations to charity is that they produce less headaches for filing taxes and are much less likely to result in an audit or other review of your tax returns. While cash donations above a certain amount require that a receipt or other documentation be kept for record purposes, there is no need to get involved in more complicated topics like valuing your charitable donation like there is when you donate a car to charity or donate used household goods like clothing to charities.
Use Tax Savings to Make A Bigger Donation
While saving money on income taxes is nice, many people are more interested in helping out important non-profit organizations and charities that do good works. Fortunately, the tax deductions that donations provide can make it so that a bigger donation is possible.
If a taxpayer is in the 30% tax bracket and wants to make a sizable charitable donation, the tax savings generated by the income tax deduction can be added to the charitable contribution. For example, a $1,000 donation would generate approximately $300 in tax savings. The donor could choose therefor to donate $1,300 instead, with same $1,000 net effect on their personal finances. In other words, a large donation can be made for the same out of pocket amount.
Always check with your tax professional prior to making any tax planning decisions.
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Grime MC stayed onstage for just 15 of the 45 minutes he was due to play
Wiley is refusing to return his reported £15,000 fee after he stayed onstage for just 15 of the 45 minutes he was due to play at Cockrock Festival earlier this month.
The grime MC criticised the Cumbrian festival and those attending the event, labelling them "pagans", after he was booed off stage on July 20. He later bragged about earning £15,000 for a quarter of an hour's work on Twitter.
The festival's organisers then confirmed that they would be seeking legal advice and have apparently asked for Wiley to return his performance fee.
"They say it's a charity event and they want their money back," Wiley told BBC Newsbeat. "I've just stood on stage and been coined and bottled. Obviously I'm not giving the money back."
Before he took to the stage on July 20, Wiley had complained on Twitter about having to travel from London to Cumbria for the festival, which he now concedes may have contributed to the poor reception he received. "When I went on I knew some people were going to be unhappy," he admitted.
He added: "The escalation on Twitter is uncontrollable. The woman who was looking after us said if it gets too much, come off. After 15 minutes I looked at the floor and it was covered in coins. Any one of those coins could have taken my eye out."
Wiley also defended his use of the word "pagan" to describe the Cumbrian festival-goers, saying: "Pagan's just a word but they don't know that yet. It's a London thing. I don't want them to think I hate Cumbria."
Wiley previously explained his Twitter rant against Glastonbury Festival, after which he left the site before his scheduled appearance there on June 29, claiming he believes the festival is too interested in making lots of money.


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Security for Landlords Managing Multiple Buildings
Landlords who manage multiple buildings require a range of security services which Foremost provide across Nottingham and surrounding towns.
Typical security services provided to the Landlords include
- manned guarding
- security gatehouse and weighbridge duties
- visitor & contractor passes
- goods inwards / outwards services and vehicle checks
- vehicle and personnel searching
- secure keyholding and fast alarm response
- Void / vacant property inspection and meter readings
This is complemented by additional functions including
- changing light fittings
- replenishment of washrooms and meeting areas
- arrangement and management of maintenance contractors
- acting as a contact point for the landlord with building tenants
By acting as the landlords representative on site, Foremost Security maximise the value of the security service whilst minimising the administrative cost of the landlord. Additional services supplied are tailored to meet the exact needs of the landlord.


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Commission rates
Commission rates are very straightforward and are as follows;
£5 commission on orders under £100
£10 commission on orders between £100 and £200
£20 commission on orders above £200
£30 commission on orders above £300
By 'orders' we mean orders before VAT.
Please note that most orders we receive are in excess of £200.
Please note that for you to receive the commission your friend/colleague needs to order directly online using the link that identifies you as the referrer.
Commission isn't just one-off, but you can receive commission each and every time you refer a new client.
Related links:
Set up your account
Your account
Start earning
Receiving payment
If this is your first time please click 'register' or click 'login' if you are returning and want to sign in to check your commission.


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Mortgage interest deduction not always valuable
The home mortgage interest tax deduction is a major benefit of home ownership. Right?
The answer: Not necessarily.
The mortgage interest deduction may be the largest individual deduction available — it saved taxpayers $69.7 billion in 2013, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation — but that doesn't mean you'll benefit significantly from it, if at all.
Studies show you're most likely to benefit from the deduction if your household income is more than $100,000 a year or if you live in an area with higher housing costs, such as the West or East coasts or a major city.
Taxpayers can only claim the mortgage interest deduction if they itemize.
And it only makes sense to itemize if the sum of your individual deductions exceeds the standard deduction, which for the 2013 tax year is $12,400 for married couples filing jointly, $6,200 for singles and married individuals filing separately, and $9,100 for heads of household.
States with highest average deduction
Source: Pew Center on the States
Along with mortgage interest, you may itemize deductions for things like property taxes, charitable donations and, in some cases, mortgage interest.
For anyone who purchased a less expensive home, has an extremely low mortgage interest rate, is a number of years into a home loan and/or is filing jointly, interest payments will be less than or barely exceed the standard deduction.
Lots of homeowners fall into one or more of the above categories, which is why it should be no surprise that a Pew Charitable Trusts study found less than half of all homeowners claim the mortgage interest tax deduction.
That figure includes homeowners who have paid off their mortgages and have no interest to deduct.
But that accounts for just 29.3% of homeowners, a recent Zillow.com study found.
Still, the National Association of Homebuilders says seven out of 10 homeowners with a mortgage claim the deduction in a given year. That's a huge majority, even if all deductions aren't created equal.
The first and second years of home ownership have the greatest potential for tax benefits, because monthly mortgage payments at the beginning of a loan are almost entirely interest. Also, taxpayers can usually fully deduct any points they paid to reduce their mortgage interest rate in the tax year they buy the home.
States with lowest average deduction
Source: Pew Center on the States
|North Dakota
|West Virginia
|South Dakota
But since interest payments gradually decrease over the life of a home loan, homeowners in the later years of paying off a mortgage might lose their mortgage interest deduction.
The standard deduction might provide equal or greater tax savings.
Another common misconception relates to the difference between a tax deduction and a tax credit.
A tax credit reduces your taxes dollar for dollar. If you get a $2,500 tax credit, your tax bill will be $2,500 lower.
The tax benefits associated with home ownership are deductions, not credits.
They reduce the amount of your taxable income. Their dollar value is equal to the amount of the deduction minus the standard deduction times your marginal tax rate.
So, if you have tax deductions of $15,000, you are married filing jointly and you fall into the 25% marginal tax bracket, you aren't saving $15,000 on your tax bill.
You also aren't saving $3,750 on your tax bill ($15,000 x 25%). You're saving $650 ([$15,000 - $12,400] x 25%).
In fact, the Reason Foundation, a libertarian think tank, found the average amount homeowners saved thanks to the mortgage interest tax deduction was just $615 in 2012.
In the past, when interest rates were substantially higher (such as in the 1980s), the deductions were worth much more, but homeowners should still understand the true level of tax savings that home ownership brings, how these savings are calculated and that these savings are often overstated, even by financial and real estate experts.
The bottom line is that buying property to get tax benefits is the wrong reason to buy property.
The additional expenses associated with owning property will probably offset any tax benefits you receive.
And advice that you shouldn't pay off your mortgage early because you'll lose the tax deduction is just wrong. It doesn't make sense to pay a dollar in interest to save 25 cents on your tax bill.


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Portals developed with us are a blend of useful information, good classification, aesthetic design, powerful search, user-friendly navigation and above all delivering a pleasant experience. Feathersoft embraces all these and much more in every web portal development designed with us. Our strength is in the in-depth knowledge of latest and advanced web technologies. Our understanding of the target audience results in portals that are simple and effective.
Feathersoft experts have the potential to deliver portals on various verticals like E-Commerce Portals, Product Portals, Custom Portals, Marriage Portals, Educational portals, Career Portals, Movie Portals, Real Estate Portals, Fashion Portals, News Portals, Market Research Portals, and Institutional Portals.
Do you have plans on starting a web portal? Why wait? Get in touch with us today.


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Sundays 7pm - 9pm & Thursday 3pm - 5pm
Rodrigo Hill was born in Brazil and has been living in Whaingaroa on and off for almost a decade and counting. Rodrigo was inspired by a local Mexican RCR DJ that used to play music from Latin America every Sunday night on a show called Viva la Musica.
Years after a DJ from NY city started a show around the same time from 7-9pm every Sunday night, the show was called Across 110th Street and played mostly world music. Rodrigo's show, Musical Journeys is a fusion of these pioneering Radio shows and at the same time a continuation, a way to share and pay respect to various cultural and musical movements from across the globe.
Rodrigo plays mostly African derived rhythms from West Africa, Cuba, Brazil, Latino America and beyond. Tune in almost every Sunday from 7-9pm and replaying Thursdays 3-5pm.
Check out the podcast archive for more Musical Journey's Sunday shows.


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Problems wanting to start up. like its not getting fuel to turn over
1990 Nissan Maxima
Problems wanting to start up. like its not getting fuel to turn over
(1990 Nissan Maxima)
first replaced fuel filter which worked it would start and run, but only lasted a couple of days. Then back to the same, and was looking to find another filter that we could of missed and found one of the egr vacum line was jammed full of carbon so cleared a few hoses and egr sylnoid valve and tryed to starting to blow the rest clear and found that if we pluged one of the vacume lines it would start and run again but the moment you realease the hose the car would bog down sputter and die so it was a temp fix that lasted a week or sothen back to not startin so this time if was just the oppisite. if you pluged it hose it would sputter and die live open it would start and run. now its doin it again and the hoses clogged with carbon. we feel like we really have just been getting lucky and all but now its back to the same and still really no real answer or solution to the problem. Any ideas would be very helpful thanks.
2 answers & 0 comments
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MaxCDN Support: Tutorial
CDN Slowness/Bad Performance
January 23, 2015
"Why is my Pull Zone slow and my website even slower, even though I've implemented a CDN?"
There are plenty of tools available to help you troubleshoot why your site is running slowly. You can use a third-party website like Pingdom and WebPagetest, or you can use a browser extension like FireBug for Firefox. Regardless of which method you choose, run a test on your website and look for any files that return one of the following HTTP status codes: 404, 403, 304, 502.
- HTTP 302: The file has been moved. This is typically due to a redirection specified in the server's .htaccess file. Check the file and remove the redirection.
- HTTP 403: You do not have permission to view the requested file. Check the file and directory permissions on your origin server to ensure it is able to be viewed on the web.
- HTTP 404: The requested file is not found. Check your origin server to make sure the file exists, and check the site's source code to ensure the file is being linked properly.
- HTTP 502: Please visit the 502 troubleshooting page for more help.
- Another common reason for a slow Pull Zone is when your server is blocking traffic from the CDN as a part of mitigating a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack. Our technical support staff can determine if this is the case, and if so they can assist you with whitelisting our IP ranges.
- Always feel free to call or email us at email@example.com if you have any questions.
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If you want to ensure that kids in Texas child care get the attention and nutrition they deserve, it's time to speak up. Monday, October 10th is the deadline to submit your comments to state officials to shape the new Texas child care standards.
As you may know, the Department of Family and Protective Services (DFPS) is required to update child care standards at least once every six years. As part of that process, the agency recently proposed new standards for child care centers, which closely mirror the standards that have been in place for the last six years.
We encourage you to contact DFPS at [email protected] to urge the agency to strengthen the draft standards.
As we've explained in this public radio story and other media stories, we're calling on the agency to improve standards for child nutrition and child-caregiver ratios.
If you want to read up a little on these issues, take a look at our recent policy brief on nutrition in child care and this new op-ed on child care ratios by Dallas early childhood policy leaders.
Thank you for speaking out for Texas kids!


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Sizing Details
All of the sizes and dimensions for our product line are listed and made available under the imperial (inches) measuring system.
For conversions to metric, please refer to Google's Conversion Kits.
Care Instructions
Care instructions for our product line are located within the item description section for each and every product page listed.
Duvet Inserts
Although we provide Duvet Covers ONLY, complimenting Duvet Inserts can be found on Amazon here.
Wholesale Availability
Interested in carrying Nature | City Co. for your storefront displays and boutique shelving end caps? Feel free to fill out our Wholesale Inquiry Form, or contact us direct here: firstname.lastname@example.com
In the case of damages, incorrect or missing pieces, please have all relevant information received, such as photos of proof, invoice receipt, packages received ready to submit before contacting.
Returns are not available for Made to Order items.


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Mr. Pugsly's Peanut Butter Vegan Dog Biscuits (12 oz.) -- temporarily out
Quantity in Basket:
Code: Mr Pugsly
Shipping Weight: 0.00 pounds
MR. PUGSLY'S PEANUT BUTTER VEGAN DOG BISCUITS (12 oz. bag)
These amazing dog biscuits are made with organically
grown quinoa as the base ingredient. This ground quinoa
is a complete protein and is considered to be a
hypoallergenic grain. It's combined here with oatmeal,
brown rice, sunflower oil and the most natural and
delicious peanut butter made from fresh peanuts.
Each biscuit is fortified with
some essential vitamins and chelated minerals
(including calcium) for strong, healthy teeth
and bones. No salt, sugar, or artificial ingredients
Ingredients: Organic Ground Quinoa, Oatmeal, Sunflower Oil (preserved with mixed Tocopherols), Peanut Butter, Brown Rice, Calcium Ascorbate (Vitamin C), Monosodium Phosphate, Potassium Chloride, Taurine, DL-Methionine, Vitamin A Acetate, D-Alpha Tocopherol (Source of Vitamin E Supplement), D-Activated Plant Sterol (Source of Vitamin D2), Thiamine Mononitrate (Vitamin B1), Choline Chloride, Inositol, Niacin, Calcium Pantothenate, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Vitamin B6), Zinc Amino Acid Chelate, Calcium Amino Acid Chelate, Iron Amino Acid Chelate, Folic Acid, Manganese Amino Acid Chelate, Copper Amino Acid Chelate, Cobalt Amino Acid Chelate, Sodium Selenite.


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The Bad Romance hitmaker admits she struggles with such strong bouts of perfectionism she finds it almost impossible to be satisfied with the final outcome of her songs - just like the late Beatles star.
She says, "I am perpetually unhappy with what I create. Even though I might tell you that (song) Edge Of Glory is a pop masterpiece, when it's all said and finished there will be things I dread, and every time I listen to it I'll hear them.
"In John Lennon's (1980) Playboy (magazine) interview he talked about how he hated certain songs because of the way they were finished. And they might be my favourite songs, but Lennon couldn't listen to them."


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In this tip, we will see how to use the Ubuntu Terminal to record sound coming from your microphone, no need to use third-party software. The commands given below are operational for sound cards using the ALSA sound driver. The quality of recorded sound will vary depending on the quality of the microphone used.
So, turn on your microphone, launch the Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T), then issue this command:
sox -t alsa default ./recording.wav
The sound file will be recorded in the WAV format. To record the audio file using the FLAC format, then issue this command:
sox -t alsa default ./recording.flac
To stop recording, simply press Ctrl+C. The audio file will be saved in the Home folder.


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Written on:
11 December, 2018
The Health and Safety of Polyester Fabric
Polyester fabric has a variety of beneficial uses with limited health and safety concerns. Polyester is extensively used in clothing and is commonly blended with cotton, rayon or wool. Polyester's additional applications include waterproof roof matting, rope fabrication, hoses, carpeting and home furnishings such as sheets and curtains. Polyester fabric usually is a stable, sensible choice when accompanied by proper care and handling.
Polyester is machine washable, quick-drying and wrinkle-resistant. A synthetic, naturally bright fiber, polyester modifies easily to meet various strength and size needs. It is strong and durable with shape retention compared to other fibers that may flatten with extended use. Industrial clothing requires the long-lasting wear polyester gives. Some polyester fabrics are fire retardant, but as a rule, they dissolve at a certain temperature.
Health and safety advantages include withstanding mildew, abrasions and the majority of chemicals. Insulation ability imparts protective qualities to harsh-weather gear. Warming trapped air within the fibers by the body retains heat. Additionally, polyester fabric provides cushioning and comfort to pillows, upholstery padding and comforters.
Polyester fabric will burn upon exposure to direct flame with a melting point of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Clothing, bedding and all applicable material manufacturers are required to comply with OSHA Hazard Communication Standards. While fire is atypical, allergy-related issues occurring as a reaction to polyester fabric are a more frequent problem.
Health Effects
Possible adverse reactions to fabrics and textiles are always a possibility. Some people may experience skin rashes, including contact dermatitis or skin inflammation, due to contact with certain substances. Others may suffer respiratory issues or eye irritation with similar causes.
- paulprescott72/iStock/Getty Images


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Corvallis Skateboard School
Private/Group skateboard instruction for people of all ages, who want to learn the basics, and how to be safe. Instructors with 20 + years of skating experience. Location varies, see calendar here.
To attend one or more of our events please make sure you follow the instructions below:
To fill out our registration form please go to the calendar above and select the even you'd like to register for.
Make sure we already have your liability waiver or bring it with you.


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Recent Posts
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Tag Archives: Michigan Poker Monsters
icufish and 1game Strategy Episode Show Notes
Please post your comments and questions about the latest episode here. What did you think about the advice to Gambit from Jason 'icufish' and Derek '1game'? Did you enjoy the stories from John 'Rumrunner'? We want to know. Feel free … Continue reading
Posted in Game Theory, Show Notes Tagged 1Game, Frank Panama, Gambit, icufish, jason smith, Michigan Poker Monsters, rumrunner Leave a comment


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Professor T. C. James is a Visiting Fellow at Research and Information System for Developing Countries, New Delhi, India. The views expressed in the paper are personal and do not reflect the views of the organisation. The paper is based on India-Africa Partnership in Health Care: Accomplishments and Prospects by T. C. James et. al, RIS, 2015)
The Third India-Africa Forum Summit, held in New Delhi in October 2015, announced ambitious programmes for development of cooperation between Africa and India. Health is a major sector for such a partnership. The Indian Prime Minister, in his final statement...
President, African Development Bank Group
CEO, Biovac Institute
Director, Centre for African Entrepreneurship and Leadership (CAEL) at University of Wolverhampton, UK
Professor of International Business at Offenburg University
Former President of the United Republic of Tanzania
Executive Secretary of the Economic Commission for Africa
Director of International Records Management Trust


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OOTA Writers support Perth Poetry Festival, Sunday 13 August.
The wet blustery weather of Sunday 13 August did not deter the full house of poetry lovers who attended the OOTA Writer's (Out of the Asylum) afternoon poetry reading at Mattie Furphy House in Swanbourne.
Introduced by OOTA Vice President Renee Pettitt-Schipp, a panel of OOTA's richly talented poets read a selection of their works at a free event arranged as part of the 2017 Perth Poetry Festival. The readers included Josephine Clarke, Chris Konrad, Rose van Son, Kevin Gillam, Shane McCauley, Maureen Gibbons and Ross Jackson.
OOTA committee members Jan Napier organised the event, assisted by Liz Hearnden, Maureen Gibbons and Renee Pettitt-Schipp, and thanks are extended to Mattie Furphy House for providing the venue and to FAWWA (Fellowship of Australian Writers WA) for providing refreshments.


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Google's Android smartphone operating system is a runaway success, for obvious reasons. For one, it's the only real feature-for-feature competitor with Apple's revolutionary iOS; for another, it's free to license, open source and swiftly updated. Finally, it's available now… even while the (paid) likes of Windows Phone 7 struggle to get out of the starting gate.
But how big of a success is Android? Google CEO Eric Schmidt recently gave the numbers at the Techonomy conference, and the numbers are staggering: according to Schmidt, about 200,000 new Android devices are being sold every day.
That's impressive in itself, but consider how swiftly that number has grown. Just two months ago, Android devices were only selling 100,000 a day; back in April, that number was just 60,000.
No wonder that Android has recently overtaken iPhone as the more popular smartphone platform. Of course, making every smartphone an iPhone isn't Apple's business strategy, and at the end of the day, a good operating system that can function on anything is going to outpace a great operating system that can only work on one device. Look at the history of Windows versus Mac OS.
Even so, the numbers are clear: Android is swiftly becoming the rule of smartphone operating systems, and not the exception.
Read more at CNet


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Due to a production error, a photo caption in an Aug. 10 Brow Beat misidentified actor Corey Hawkins. The photo has been replaced.
In an Aug. 9 Brow Beat, Marissa Martinelli and Forrest Wickman misstated the year The Avengers was eligible for an Academy Award.
In an Aug. 9 Slatest, Matthew Zeitlin misstated that the official death toll in Puerto Rico from Hurricane Maria was 67. It is 64.
The Aug. 8 Culture Gabfest show page originally included audio for the incorrect episode of the podcast.
In an Aug. 8 Moneybox, Henry Grabar mischaracterized recent driver suicides as being that of yellow-cab drivers. The deaths were of both taxi and livery drivers.
In an Aug. 8 Slatest, Josh Voorhees misspelled Kansas Gov. Jeff Colyer's last name.
In an Aug. 7 Slatest, Amy Pollard misstated that Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz once tried to kill himself using Xanax and marijuana. He made two suicide attempts, one involving ibuprofen and one involving alcohol.
In an Aug. 6 Brow Beat, Rob Dozier said HBO was "following in the footsteps" of Showtime by posting one of its pilots on YouTube. HBO has been posting pilots online since at least 2008.
In an Aug. 6 Science, Dan Rockmore misidentified the author of It Can't Happen Here. It was Sinclair Lewis, not Upton Sinclair.
In an Aug. 6 Slatest, Matthew Zeitlin misstated the terms of AMC's subscription program. It is three movies a week for $19.95 a month, not three movies a month.
In an Aug. 6 Wide Angle, Lynn Q. Yu misspelled Agnes Scott quiz bowl coach Eleanor Hutchens' last name. Yu also misstated that College Bowl was broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall. It was from 30 Rockefeller Plaza.
In an Aug. 5 Jurisprudence, David R. Lurie misstated that a civil judicial proceeding cannot be the subject of an obstruction charge. Courts have recognized that witness tampering and certain other obstructive acts can come into play in civil proceedings.
In an Aug. 5 Politics, Christina Cauterucci misspelled Rosalynn Carter's first name.
Slate strives to correct all errors of fact. If you've seen an error in our pages, let us know at email@example.com. General comments should be posted in our Comments sections associated with each article.


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Geraldo: If "Ramos" was "Raminski," would we care?
On one side, O'Reilly claimed the incident was another sign that the United States should tighten its borders. On the other side, Rivera contended that the story was about drunk driving -- not illegal immigration. The two Fox correspondents fingerpointed and volleyed arguments vehemently, making CNN's Crossfire look like high tea.
I first stumbled upon this story on the Chicago Tribune. The article seemed interesting, but the issue only seemed blog-worthy after I watched the video. The pair's fury was almost palpable, even on the tiny three inch by three inch screen. O'Reilly's temples throbbed and his voice almost cracked with unadulterated agression. Rivera shot fire with his eyes and refused to be bullied.
O'Reilly: This guy shouldn't have been here!
Rivera: Cool your jets. I has nothing to do with illegal aliens, it has to do with drunk driving. Don't obscure tragedy to make a cheap political point!
O'Reilly: You want anarchy! You want open-border anarchy.
O'Reilly and Rivera cleary come from different backgrounds. Turns out, the latter has special ties to the issue. He reportedly told the AP that his father came to the United States from Puerto Rico as an immigrant. As reporters, we wield tremendous power. When our unique perspectives help bring a minority voice to the table, I think we have an obligation to our community to speak up. Many news stations appear semi-homogeneous: most of the newsroom comprises people who share the same skin color, the same economic status and the same privileged lifestyle. As the saying goes, we can be the difference we choose to see in the world -- even if we catch heat for it on national TV.


text: Share: Comments Print July 13, 2008 at 8:17 PM How is latest Microsoft move for Yahoo playing with investors? Posted by Tricia Duryee Microsoft and Carl Icahn made Yahoo an offer it apparently could, and did, refuse over the weekend. It was another flavor of the search-only alternative transaction Microsoft has been floating since May, but this time around, according to a Saturday night statement from Yahoo, Icahn would get the Yahoo leftovers. Some investors are wary of that outcome, given that Icahn has yet to articulate what he would do if he were in charge. This latest aggressive offer may add a new dimension to investors' thinking ahead of Yahoo's Aug. 1 stockholder meeting, which is starting to look like the OK Corral. Reuters quoted a representative of Legg Mason Capital Management, the second-largest Yahoo shareholder, saying the fund managers would prefer a full acquisition over a partial deal. Other vocal shareholders echoed that sentiment. "We have made no decision on Icahn because we have no information about how he would run the company if Microsoft does not buy Yahoo. Furthermore, the latest developments to sell Yahoo search to Microsoft is unappealing," portfolio manager Robert Hagstrom, told Reuters in an e-mail. A Microsoft spokesman told me the company would not have a comment Sunday. Yahoo described the contours of the latest offer and the terms under which it was made, using words not often found in corporate press releases, such as "ludicrous" and "bludgeoned." The company's language addresses specifics of this latest iteration of the deal, but also appears calculated to play up investors' worries about an Icahn-controlled Yahoo. Yahoo reiterated its willingness to sell the whole company for at least $33 a share before Aug. 1, or negotiate a better deal for just the search business. According to Yahoo, the latest offer, crafted jointly by Icahn and Microsoft, was made Friday night. The company's board of directors had less than 24 hours to accept, without negotiation on the fundamental terms. (That deadline was disputed by sources close to Microsoft, quoted in The Wall Street Journal, who said Microsoft wanted to finish a deal over the weekend and announce it Monday. The Journal's account also said talks began Thursday.) Selling Yahoo's search business to Microsoft and the complex restructuring that would result, "would preclude a potential sale of all of Yahoo! for a full and fair price," Yahoo said. It also emphasized the risk and complexity of teasing just the search business out of Yahoo and combining it with Microsoft. Financial terms, as described by unnamed sources in The Journal, were improved from Microsoft's last search-only proposal. Some of the terms: — $1 billion for Yahoo's search business, and guaranteed payments from Microsoft to Yahoo of $2.3 billion for five years; — Microsoft would buy $3.9 billion worth of Yahoo stock; Microsoft and Icahn were asking for the "immediate replacement" of Yahoo's board and the ouster of the management team, something Yahoo said would "destabalize" the company for "the one year it would take to gain regulatory approval for this deal." It would have left the remainder of Yahoo under the control of Icahn's proposed slate of directors — who will be up for election in the proxy fight Aug. 1. Yahoo described them as having "virtually no working knowledge" of its businesses. Yahoo rejected this deal, citing the strength of its existing business and the search-advertising deal it signed with Google last month, after announcing that all talks with Microsoft were off. The Google deal will come under the spotlight on Tuesday when a Senate antitrust subcommittee holds a hearing on it and the online advertising industry. Microsoft General Counsel Brad Smith is one of the witnesses scheduled to testify. (Check out my colleague Brier Dudley's take on the ramped-up antitrust attention being paid to Google as a result of Microsoft's battle for Yahoo.) After enumerating Yahoo's reasons for rejecting the latest proposal, Chairman Roy Bostock teed-off on Microsoft and Icahn, calling their alliance "odd and opportunistic." His statement continued, "Clearly, Microsoft, having failed to advance in search, is aligning with the short-term objectives of Mr. Icahn to coerce Yahoo! into selling its core strategic search assets on terms that are highly advantageous to Microsoft, but disadvantageous to Yahoo! stockholders. Yahoo's Board of Directors will not allow that to happen. Yahoo!'s Board remains open to any transaction that delivers full value to our stockholders — we just do not believe such a transaction should be dictated by Microsoft and a single short-term investor." (Microsoft will reveal just how well its broader online business is faring as part of its fiscal fourth-quarter and full-year earnings report on Thursday. Its strategy will come under the microscope again the following Thursday, July 24, when it holds a day-long business review with Wall Street analysts and top executives.) Bostock said it would be "ludicrous" to think the Yahoo board could accept the terms of the deal and the manner in which it was proposed. "While this type of erratic and unpredictable behavior is consistent with what we have come to expect from Microsoft, we will not be bludgeoned into a transaction that is not in the best interests of our stockholders," Bostock stated. He also called Microsoft's insistence that it wouldn't negotiate with current Yahoo management "completely absurd and irresponsible given the complexity of the deal." This looks like one of the last possible avenues for a deal has turned out to be a dead end. I expect all sides to continue to make noise as they battle for investor hearts and minds in the 18 days before the showdown at the shareholder meeting. Comments


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Signs of Gutter Problems
Gutters play a key role in protecting your home, foundation, and more from water damage.
Easy install. Protection that lasts a lifetime.See Products
Professionally installed. For more demanding environments.See Products
It all started back in 1996 when we were in the gutter cleaning business. After cleaning out millions of feet of gutter, we observed that no gutter guard was performing as promised. We realized that a reliable gutter protection solution was needed and incorporated in 2000. We explored new designs, the best materials, and doing what is best for customers to create what is now an extensive patent portfolio of the highest praised gutter guards available. We are proud to offer you gutter guards you can trust. The Nation's Most Trusted Gutter Guards.®
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Have had 4 previous homes with gutters and wish I had found these before. The stainless fine mesh lets water in and keeps all but extremely small particles from entering the gutter.
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I installed these gutter guards on my daughter's house for her and was so impressed by the quality of the product that I ordered and installed them on my own home immediately after. I might add that I removed plastic mesh guards from both houses and had a lot of leaves and dirt to remove before installing the new ones.
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Recently purchased and installed on my house. Works great so on to the garage!
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I installed 136 feet of this gutter guard on my house. I had the foam inserts but they allowed debris to collect. Took about 5 hours to remove the foam and install these guards. I used the tape and saved the included screws to use if needed the tape seems to hold well.
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Just finished installing and it went on pretty well as advertised. Seems to keep stuff out of the gutters.
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The installation instructions and pictures were most helpful, and the installation was quite simple and quick.
Massachusetts Peter
Went up so easy and keeps pine needles out. We wish we bought them a long time ago.
Oregon Danny
Soon after putting up the guards it started to rain and became very windy for 2 days – but our gutters remained clean AND it is fall!
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Excellent, installed by myself in under two hours, including cleaning gutters, moving the ladder, and I'm 73 years young.
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Much, much better than the plastic gutter guard product installed a few years back.
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Austin Beer Week is a multi-day, multi-event, brewer-centric showcase of all things craft beer.
Austin Beer Week is produced by a small but thirsty band of loyal Austin craft beer drinkers, in partnership with the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit supporting Texas craft brewers and the craft beer community.
Austin Beer Week's unique event structure provides an open palate for, well, opening palates. To the extent events are curated, brewers and venues are encouraged to embrace the creative, playful, even daring when planning activities, which can range from intense food-beer appreciation from nationally recognized chefs to tongue-in-cheek competitions testing keg-lifting mettle.
Brewers and venues know Austin Beer Week is no time to play it safe -- and they don't.
Austin Beer Week's nature as both marathon and sprint results in brewers racing from event to event all nine days, all over greater Austin, and all so they can personally connect with you. How cool is that? Yes, they're hustling to grow, but anyone who's been around craft beer knows that's only a portion of their motivation. Appreciation and invest in the community is the other, and we are blessed for that.
So Austin Beer Week is not only our way of celebrating craft beer, but of giving back, through the exposure and direct economic impact the week generates for the craft beer community (brewers and venues, in particular), and by benefitting the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.


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Your New Office – Walls Optional
Nuvia extends the reach of the desk phone on to computers, smartphones, and tablets, allowing users to be anywhere and on virtually any device and still be "in-the-office".
This one-number solution allows employees to make and receive calls from their main business phone number on any device of their choice without sacrificing quality or features.
Nuvia's Smart Office clients deliver powerful unified communications features like presence, instant messaging, video calling, conferencing and collaboration.
Time – it's you and your team's most important resource. Squandering work time often comes at the expense of personal time. Nuvia is designed to make you more productive wherever you need to work. In the office, in a home office, a hotel room, an airport or a coffee shop, our clients keep you connected and make you more responsive to co-workers and customers.
Consolidated SIP Devices
With Nuvia, you can have one number for multiple SIP devices.
Whether it is on mobile or desktop, you can have access to your business directory.
Then Nuvia Call Grabber allows you to pick up your call wherever you go, from any SIP device.


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Buffet is smarter than I am. He's probably smarter than a lot of other people as well. He certainly showed how smart he is when he jumped at the opportunity to get a 10% yield on a piece of paper from Goldman Sachs.
He also has warrants which are separate and obligate him to nothing but watching Goldman's fortunes for the next five years for free. I don't think his opportunistic investment says anything about the health (or non-health) of the financial system in total. I think his investment says lots about how smart he is. First, to make the deal, and, second, to have the cash to make the deal when most are scrambling for capital.
- Bernanke's Plea for Bailout Is Met With Skepticism
- Click here to watch Bernanke's testimony
It's an expensive vehicle for Goldman, but it makes sense financially, and, especially, psychologically. Their leverage ratio goes from about 23:1 to around 18;1. That's a good step towards the lower leverage they will be required to have as a commercial bank. Earnings will be diluted about 20%, but their Tier One capital ratio goes to over 13% from 11% or so. Dilution is to be avoided if possible, but this makes sense since they either have to sell off a lot of assets over the next few years to conform to the commercial bank standards, or sell equity to get there. Or a little bit of both.
In the old days of start up biotech investing, the rule was to raise capital when you could, not when you had to. This is a good del for Warren, and fair deal for Goldman. But it says nothing about the overall health of the financial structure. Unless you figure he wouldn't have done such a deal if he thought the game was going to end tomorrow.
I was struck by his high regard for Paulson which he voiced during "Squawk" this morning. I agree that either candidate should ask him to stay on for at least another year. I did love his comment that he wished he had $700 billion to buy the derivatives with. Maybe we should ask him to do it ! And I'm not kidding !


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24-Month OPT Stem Extension
OPT Extension Application Package APPLY
F-1 students approved for standard post-completion optional practical training based on a bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree in a STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) field that appears on the DHS STEM-Designated Degree Program List can apply to USCIS for a one-time 24-month extension of post-completion OPT (for a total eligibility of up to 29 months). To be eligible for the extension, the student's employer must be registered in E-Verify and must agree to report to the DSO when the student is terminated or leaves employment. The student must apply for the STEM OPT extension before their standard period of post-completion OPT expires, and must also agree to make periodic reports to the DSO.
To apply for the 24-Month OPT STEM Extension, students must complete the application and submit to the ISSO along with supporting documents.
- The regulations state that "The employment authorization period for the 24-month OPT extension begins on the day after the expiration of the initial post-completion OPT employment authorization and ends 24 months thereafter, regardless of the date the actual extension is approved."
- A student who has applied for a STEM extension can continue working for up to 180 days beyond the expiration of the prior post-completion OPT EAD while the STEM extension application is pending.
- To be eligible for a STEM OPT extension, the student's employer must be "registered in the E-Verify program" and be "a participant in good standing in the E-Verify program, as determined by USCIS."
- An individual is eligible for only one 24-month STEM OPT extension. According to SEVP, this is a lifetime limit.
- A student may change employers during the 24-month period, but all employers that a student will work for during the STEM extension period must be registered in the DHS E-Verify program, and the student must report the change in employment to his or her DSO.
Special reporting requirements during STEM OPT Extension
In addition to the regular OPT reporting requirements, there are enhanced reporting requirements for students approved for a 24-month STEM OPT extension.
- During the 24-month STEM OPT extension, the student must report to his or her DSO within 10 days of any change of the following. The DSO must then update SEVIS within 21 days of receiving notification of the change from the student
- STEM OPT recipients must also make a "validation report" to the DSO every six months starting from the date the 24-month extension begins and ending when the student's F-1 status ends, the student changes educational levels at the same school, the student transfers to another school, or the 24-month OPT extension ends, whichever is first.
Employers of students granted the 24-month STEM OPT extension must also agree to report within 48 hours the termination or departure of a student if the termination or departure is prior to the end of the authorized period of OPT. The employer must make this report "to the DSO at the student's school or through any other means or process identified by DHS."
For a student who is on a 24-month extension, this employment may include
- Multiple employers. A student may work for more than one employer, but all employment must be related to his or her degree program and all employers must be enrolled in E-Verify.
- Work for hire. This is also commonly referred to as 1099 employment where an individual performs a service based on a contractual relationship rather than an employment relationship. The company for whom the student is providing services must be registered with E-Verify. If requested by DHS, the student must be prepared to provide evidence showing the duration of the contract period and the name and address of the contracting company.
- Self-employed business owner. A student on a 24-month extension can start a business and be self-employed. In this situation, the student must register his or her business with E-Verify and work full time. The student must be able to prove that he or she has the proper business licenses and is actively engaged in a business related to his or her degree program.
- Employment through an agency or consulting firm. Students on a STEM extension may be employed by an employment agency or consulting firm. The employment agency or consulting firm must be registered with E-Verify, but the third parties contracting with the agency or firm (for which the student is providing services) need not be."
For more information, refer to USCIS web site "Regulations Relating to Practical Training" at: http://www.uscis.gov/RegulationsToOpt


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By Jess Clayton-Berry
Water is one of humanities' basic survival needs and would be considered a necessity to a healthy student life.
However, a series of problems with a new water tank has left students in three campus houses without access to water.
For the past few weeks, the residents of houses 4-6 in Harwich Court have been experiencing numerous issues with either a lacking of hot water or no water at all every time the new system trips.
This re-occurrence of faulty taps, cold showers, and no water in general has left 48 students in a predicament where they are deprived of one of our basic survival needs.
Ruby Barry, a first-year drama student living in house six said: "I had to wait several hours for my shower to run anything remotely warm – I know my flatmate had to have a frozen cold shower because he just had to get clean."
Another student in house 5 reported that their shower and taps had stopped working altogether, but university engineers had responded fairly quickly to fix it. However, it had stopped working again the following day.
"I had the same problem around a week ago. My shower had stopped working and our kitchen had no hot water. They fixed it after I reported it, but the problem seems unsolved now," Ken Lee, a third-year international relations student from house 5, told us.
When questioned about why this was such a regular occurrence, an engineer who had been called out to resolve the issue replied that the problem was stemming from the installation of a new water tank. Evidently, it's been doing more harm than good with engineers having to keep coming out to fix the system each time it trips.
However, whilst a lot of the students can understand the university's dilemma in fixing this problem and also tending to other problems across campus, many cannot forgive the lack of communication with the residents.
Many of the complainants have stated that things wouldn't be so bad if they knew what was happening and had received a warning that the tank may be performing poorly. They say there's a lacking of communication from the maintenance team.
This includes Charlotte Dickinson who is a first-year law student living in house 6:
"The fact that the water isn't working or is cold is obviously a massive problem. But it's also the fact that we've had no warning or message about it – that's not acceptable."


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Your generous support is always deeply appreciated!
If you would like to mail us a love offering, you can do so by sending a check to Unity in the Foothills, 1622 Torringford Street, Torrington, CT 06790.
If you would like to make a love offering donation via PayPal, please use the secure link below!
"Cast your bread upon the waters, for you shall find it after many days. - Ecclesiastes 11:1."


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Austin, TX 78744
Texas State Parks near Houston
Soak up the sun on a quiet beach, kayak tranquil coastal waterways, visit the birthplace of Texas, and hike on scenic trails shaded by towering pine trees. All of these many adventures are yours for the taking at the Texas State Parks near Houston. Settled near the Texas Piney Woods and the Gulf Coast, Houston is a great starting point for experiencing these two different worlds.
Not only that, one-of-a-kind historic sites abound, such as the birthplace of Texas (Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park), the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, and the Battleship Texas State Historic Site. If you're looking to discover Texas' history or to explore the great outdoors, you have no shortage of state parks to visit near Houston. Check out a few of the options below and start planning your next adventure today.
Sea Rim State Park
Immerse yourself in the pristine and unspoiled beauty of the Texas Gulf Coast at Sea Rim State Park. Set among coastal wetlands about 100 miles east of Houston, the park is a natural wonderland full of endless adventure. Paddle along the park's 16 miles of trails that take you through tranquil marshes channels and lakes.
Opt for one of the three trails ranging from an easy one-hour excursion to a challenging four-hour, 10-mile tour that will test your fitness. Along the way, you may see alligators or some of the many kinds of native and migratory birds that call the park home throughout the year, including roseate spoonbills, egrets, herons, ducks, and meadowlarks.
In addition to all its inland wonders, Sea Rim State Park sits along a five-mile stretch of Gulf Coast shoreline. Build a sandcastle or work on your suntan on the beach and swim in the gulf. The park is also a great place to go fishing as you can enjoy the best of both worlds: saltwater fishing off of the beach and freshwater in the marsh lakes and estuaries. When it's time to turn in for the evening, pitch a tent right on the beach or spend the night at one of the campsites, some of which come with electricity.
Sheldon Lake State Park
Admire all the diverse wildlife of the Texas Gulf Coast when you visit Sheldon Lake State Park. Located just 20 miles from downtown Houston, the park is a former fishery turned learning center. Follow the half-mile self-guided nature trail and you'll pass 28 naturalized ponds home to alligators and other animals. For a photo-worthy view of the park, ascend to the top of the 82-foot-tall John Jacob Observation Tower, from where you'll spy the surrounding wetlands and the Houston skyline off in the distance.
Wildlife observation isn't the only thing you can do at Sheldon Lake State Park. Cast your line from one of the two fishing ponds open year-round, or drop your boat into Sheldon Lake from the ramp on Pineland Road.
Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park
The Battle of San Jacinto may have won Texas her independence from Mexico, but it was in Washington-on-the-Brazos that she was forged into a nation of her own. During the runaway scrape of March 1836, delegates from all over the territory met to formally declare independence and craft a constitution for a new republic.
Today, the site of the Birthplace of Texas stands as Washington-on-the-Brazos State Park, a tribute to this momentous chapter in American history that offers a peak at what life was like in the Lone Star State's earliest days. Step inside the Star of the Republic Museum to see a chronological and cultural history of early Texas, from the Native Americans to the events of the Texas Revolution.
Then stop by Independence Hall, a recreation of the simple frame building that the Texas delegates met in to form a new nation. Finally, see what life was like on the frontier in the mid-19th century at the Barrington Living History Farm. Formerly the home of Anson Jones, the last president of the Republic of Texas, the farm is manned by costumed interpreters doing chores around the farm, just like they would have done 150 years ago.
Other Texas State Parks near Houston
Austin, TX 78744


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Creativity Series - Just Do It! {1}
On Thursdays I've been known to host a mini column called Real Talk where I address some 'issue' I've noticed relating to creativity, blogging and small business. This year I'd like to turn Real Talk into a regular Thursday column so you can depend on it. I think we all need certain things in life that we can depend on and I'm hoping that you'll help me keep the column alive by contributing your thoughts through a comment because what I write is mostly a springboard meant to spark ideas and that's where you come in.
I've been thinking of a way to sort of kick off this column again since it hasn't been that regular so I decided to launch a 10 week series (starting today) on the topic of Creativity and getting those creative wheels turning. Each week on Thursday I'll post a tip and then you can chime in with your thoughts and ideas. I'll also invite some guests to join in on the topic with their thoughts to inspire you. You can comment with complaints, worries, encouragement, fears, additional tips, whatever you want because the goal is for us to open up and get real. I'll try to include a creative exercise each week for those interested in jumping in...
A mind map that I did for myself in March '08. I tend to do one once a year around March. I map things a little differently than others as I don't start in the middle of the page and work outwards. When it comes to self exploration I am not a big believer in following rules and staying within the lines all of the time (wink).
So let us begin!
I believe that anyone can be creative, it's an inherent human trait and not reserved for a gifted few. Think back to your childhood when creativity was unstoppable. You spent hours playing, building, laughing, and daydreaming. Somewhere along the road to adulthood, creativity was substituted with practical, rational thinking in order to adapt and be productive at school or work. As years rolled by, many consider the direction of their lives and notice that something vital is missing. Some report that life has become nothing more than a monotonous hamster wheel of work, bills, and rushing to meet the needs of everyone else before (or instead of) of their own. Can you relate?
I was once a hamster in a wheel but I found my way out by discovering that the missing link was there all along. I needed to be more creative, even it if meant a complete overhaul in lifestyle. While I'm not a Psychologist or Counselor, I do have experience to share and I'm living proof that taking control of one's life to live better and with more passion is entirely possible. Aside from personal struggles in my life, I resigned from a lucrative, but hardly creative, career only three short years ago and today I'm very happy, successful in my eyes, and proud of myself for pursuing my passions because I sat on my dreams for many years. How did I do it? How do so many other creative types do it? Starting today I'll reveal a tip a week (10 weeks total) to reveal the various ways that I tapped into my creative voice. I'll also invite some of my friends who I feel can give you some awesome ideas.
The goal here is to share, build a conversation, motivate, and show you that if you're currently feeling zero creativity in your life then there is hope. I hope those of you who are listening to your creative voice will also chime in with tips on how you became more joyful, successful, and emotionally more tuned in too.
Here's Tip #1:
Look backward in order to move forward. Let's explore the topic of childhood creativity as mentioned briefly above. What did you love to do? One way to recall memories is a centuries old technique that I enjoy called mind mapping. Wikipedia describes it accurately, "Mind mapping is a diagram used to represent words, ideas, tasks, or other items linked to and arranged radially around a central key word or idea." For this particular exercise write, "What I loved to do as a kid" in the middle of a blank sheet of paper and jot down memories, ideas, and associations from there to form branches resembling a tree. This creative exercise is an effective way to organize information. Try to avoid pausing or editing because that encourages linear thinking and mind mapping is a freeform exercise to stimulate out-of-the-box thinking. In fact, once you complete this exercise, you may find mind mapping an effective, and creative way, to solve problems and form new ideas in the future, boosting creative thinking. Connecting with your childhood hobbies and dreams will help you connect to things you once enjoyed before convention set in.
Your thoughts? Any questions that you have for me or others? Any issues or ideas you have encountered lately in your own life around this topic? What did you love to do as a child? What would you love to do now? If fear and money were no issue, what would you change? Are you feeling inspired and creative or are you feeling a bit tapped?
Creative Exercise: Try to carve out some time and research mind mapping. Sit down in a quiet space and create your own mind map.
P.S. This weekly series will only be a few paragraphs long. Most of the 'meat' will be in the comments section. :)
Look for the next creativity post on Thursday, January 22nd! We'll be talking about something lots of us need help with...
(image from holly becker for decor8)


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2010 Suzuki GZ250 Marauder
Suzuki's solution for those who are just starting to ride and look for something in between the standard and cruiser style is the GZ250 Marauder model, a versatile and easy to handle small motorcycle that is able to introduce a large category of riders to the continuously growing world of motorcycles.
2010 Suzuki GZ250 Marauder
Engine:4-stroke, air-cooled, OHC
Transmission:5-speed constant mesh
Horsepower @ RPM:20.1 hp @ 8,000 rpm
Torque @ RPM:18.7 Nm @ 7,000 rpm
Energy:MIKUNI BSR32
Displacement:249 L
Top Speed:75 mph
The small model carries on to 2010 without any changes and, even more, it loses the gray coloring available for previous model years and simply sticks to black. Based on a simple strategy that is best concluded by the words "why fix it if it ain't broken?", the small Marauder is being powered by the same economical 249cc four-stroke, single-cylinder, SOHC, 2-valve engine with Twin Dome Combustion Chamber (TDCC) put at everyone's disposal as the seat is 27.8 inches from the ground and the bike's curb weight is of only 331 lbs.
If you thought that 2010 is just an exception and the GZ250 gets its fair share of revisions on certain intervals, checking out the bike's evolution will change your opinion. First introduced in 1998, the Suzuki GZ250, also called the Marauder, used the GN250 engine and the looks of the VZ800 Marauder in order to do a first great impression and that's pretty much it.
The seat height hasn't been modified ever since, but the first Marauder did weigh an impressive 302 lbs. Small, but reliable, the 249cc single-cylinder, SOHC, four-valves engine produced 20.1 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 18.7 Nm at 7,000 rpm, which is pretty decent even nowadays.
Future production years didn't brought any upgrades or even the smallest change despite the new color schemes with which Suzuki juggled almost every year.
Ever since 2004, the Suzuki GZ250 featured improved fuel economy as a result of a redesigned combustion chamber into a Twin Dome shape. The bike was exactly the same as the one selling today.
Suzuki may start thinking about revising their smallest cruiser as Star Motorcycles likes to dominate the entry-level category with the V Star 250. The engine on this thing is also a 249cc air-cooled SOHC, but that's about where the similarities end as the 60-degree V-twin configuration with 2 valves per cylinder set the Star apart from the easily neglected Suzuki.
Already more of a temptation than the Suzuki, the V Star 250 ads a 27.0 inches seat height and 324 lb wet weight on top of that. Buyers will also have to consider mileage: 82 mpg (Suzuki) and 78 mpg (Star).
But if you're looking for something in between the Suzuki and the Star, Honda is here to provide. The Rebel is an entry-level bike powered by a docile 234cc air-cooled parallel twin-cylinder, SOHC, two valves per cylinder unit. With the lowest seat height in its class (26.6 inches) and the exact same curb weight as the Suzuki (331 lbs), this is quite an alternative.
Having not suffered any design change ever since its introduction, the Suzuki GZ250 proves that timeless looks don't need any by their nature. So what is it that makes beginners crave for this model with each year that passes and each missed revamp?
For starters, the smooth, flawless lines of the bigger Marauder describe the fenders and gas tank while the spoke wheels set it closer to the classic style as well as the multitude of chromed pieces (headlight, mirrors and instrument covers, exhaust and the rear fender ornaments).
It would be nice to see a V-Twin engine instead of the single-cylinder one underneath that gas tank as that is what practically defines a cruiser, but, the way we see things, there are few chances for that to happen pretty soon.
The only color scheme available for 2010 is the simple Black. If it was good enough for Henry Ford, it is also good enough for this Suzuki.
Test Drive
The fact that the bike is virtually unchanged ever since 2004 offers an advantage after all. For example, you can ride a 2005 model and won't ever be allowed to call the thing dated.
Having gone through the specs and features, there wasn't anything in particular that I might want to test despite the handling characteristics and the engine's capabilities.
Light weight, the GZ is very easy to maneuver in tight parking lot conditions, giving no impression of being a cruiser at the first hand. The seat is low, making it easy to flat foot the ground even for short people or girls that are just starting to ride. Also, with the handlebars at quick reach and forward positioned footpegs, riding down the boulevard makes for a comfortable experience.
The power source beneath you is capable of getting you in front of car columns with a little bit of talent in the shifting department, but if you're not in a hurry you can also find your way to that red light without bothering anything but your continuously developing riding skills. Even in city traffic, it is very easy to gain experience on the Suzuki GZ250 as the bike is versatility itself and it even helps you save money with its scooter-like fuel consumption.
What I could have appreciated more was a nice, V-Twin sound, but I guess that its carbureted single-cylinder is good enough even for those who have long been riding and now simply look for an economical and easy mean of transportation, especially through the urban jungle.
I am saying that because once you take this baby down the interstate you suddenly feel like you have outgrown the 20 horsepower engine even if you've just started to ride. But that's no problem because as soon as you arrive in the next town you start counting the mistakes and notice how forgiving the bike actually is. Also, if you plan on covering a lot of miles on a daily basis, it is recommended that you buy a windscreen and mount on it even though you won't be getting it above 70 mph very often.
Suspensions are nice and comfy in their simplicity and they soak up bumps in the road with no stress on the rider's back. Even speed bumps are easy to deal with, but you'll have to lift the bottom of the seat if passing on a little too fast, just like on any other cruiser.
The bike feels stable at any speeds (that's mostly because it doesn't go that fast) and in case of emergency braking, the front disc brake and rear drum brake are there to provide sufficient stopping power. Yet again, the bike's 331 lbs wet weight proves benefic.
Overall, the Suzuki GZ250 Marauder is a nice little motorcycle that I would recommend both to beginners and experienced riders who look for a cheap commuting solution as the bike is great for gaining experience and great fun afterwards.
For 2010, Suzuki plans on selling the GZ250 for a suggested retail price of just in between that of the Star's ($3,990) and Honda's ($3,999). Gee, I wonder what that translates into.
Not a bike for speed addicts, but one that can do the job in a very efficient way and for a very large category of riders, the 2010 Suzuki GZ250 stands as the middle level solution in its category. That means enough speed for whenever needed, awesome fuel consumption, comfort and a very good price.
Engine and Transmission
Displacement: 249 cc
Engine: 4-stroke, air-cooled, OHC
Bore x Stroke: 72.0 mm (2.835 in) x 61.2 mm (2.409 in)
Compression Ratio: 9.0 : 1
Fuel System: MIKUNI BSR32
Lubrication: Wet sump
Ignition: Electronic ignition (Transistorized)
Transmission: 5-speed constant mesh
Final Drive: DID 520V, 110 links
Chassis and Dimensions
Suspension Front: Telescopic, coil spring, oil damped
Suspension Rear: Swingarm type, coil spring, oil damped
Brakes Front: Disc brake
Brakes Rear: Drum brake
Tires Front: 110/90-16M/C 59P, tube type or 110/90-16M/C 59S, tube type
Tires Rear: 130/90-15M/C 66P, tube type or 130/90-15M/C 66S, tube type
Overall Length: 2160 mm (85.0 in)
Overall Width: 815 mm (32.1 in)
Overall Height: 1090 mm (42.9 in)
Seat Height: 680 mm (27.8 in)
Ground Clearance: 125 mm ( 4.9 in)
Wheelbase: 1450 mm (57.1 in)
Curb Weight: 150 kg (331 lbs)
Fuel Tank Capacity: 13.0 L (3.4/2.9 US/Imp gal)
Features & Benefits
1 comments:
This GZ250 would nice for a everyday ride.


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Radnor Fire Company Ambulance Receives 2018 CARES Award
October 15, 2018
Radnor Fire Company Ambulance recently received the 2018 CARES Award for actively participating in the Pennsylvania Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES).
Radnor Fire Company Ambulance is one of 122 EMS agencies in the Commonwealth recognized during "CARES Recognition Week" in Pennsylvania. On October 10, 2018, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives adopted a resolution designating October 15 through 19, 2018 as CARES Recognition Week to commend the agencies for their efforts to improve the quality of care for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) in their communities.
Each year, more than 350,000 people in the United States experience an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA). The Cardiac Arrest Registry to Enhance Survival (CARES) is a national cardiac arrest registry developed to help save lives by providing a tool for communities to measure the effectiveness of their emergency response systems and identify opportunities to improve quality of care.
One of 24 statewide registries across the U.S., Pennsylvania CARES helps EMS agencies in the Commonwealth participate in the national CARES registry.Radnor Fire Company Ambulance successfully participated in CARES for the 2017 calendar year and is commended for collecting data, in collaboration with and on behalf of BLS, first responder, and community partners, to measure outcomes, improve the quality of care, and save lives. Participation in CARES allows for measurement of both bystander and 911 response, including information about bystander CPR and AED application, telephone CPR, and EMS response times. Using this information, Radnor Fire Company Ambulance can discover promising practices and implement new programs to improve emergency care for patients in the community.
The agency's dedication to collecting OHCA data has helped strengthen the collaboration between 911 centers, first responders, EMS agencies and hospitals, with the ultimate goal to improve OHCA survival rates.
For more information on CARES and the benefits of cardiac arrest data collection, please visit the Pennsylvania CARES program site (https://smemsc.org/index.php/program-areas/138-2/ ) and the national CARES website (https://mycares.net).
Early CPR is crucial in the survival of the cardiac arrest patient. Radnor Fire Company Ambulance offers numerous different CPR classes including a Hands-Only CPR course which is free of charge. For more information on any CPR course, fill out the CPR/AED Training Request Form under the Public Info tab on the Radnor Fire Company website.


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Neither one thing nor the other. The Discovery was a sort of Tweenie, 19th century maids who assisted both cook and housemaid, a Between-Maid neither aspiring Upstairs nor quite descending all the way Downstairs. Yet on 12 November 1989 it was a Range Rover without the pretensions, which it remains.
It is difficult photographing the motoring dogs. If you get it right with Nelson (above), Wellington (below) disappears into a black morass


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Commission builds on previous inquiries of similar construction
A strong sense of deja vu envelopes the latest royal commission on the construction industry, being held in one of the twin towers at the Paris end of Collins Street.
Building those office peaks sent Mainline Construction into liquidation in the early 1970s. While the directors blamed the militant and at times corrupt Builders' Laborers Federation, its old boss Norm Gallagher replied uncharitably: "It couldn't have happened to a greater pack of prize bastards."
Ten years on in 1982, the Winneke royal commission on the building industry was set up by Liberal prime minister Malcolm Fraser, costing about $1 million. It found Gallagher guilty of receiving secret commissions worth about $250,000, in the form of two beach houses in Gippsland and a unit in Hawthorn. He was sentenced to four months' jail.
A decade later NSW Liberal premier Nick Greiner spent $25 million to set up the Gyles building industry royal commission. It exposed collusive tendering by business and industrial law-breaking by unions. A taskforce was set up to police the industry.
A further 10 years on, the price of industrial justice skyrocketed. Prime Minister John Howard has invested more than $60 million in yet another building inquiry, headed by the gruff and meticulous former NSW Supreme Court judge Terence Rhoderick Hudson Cole. He will pocket $660,000 a year for the privilege.
Mr Cole has heard evidence of a company chaired by Mr Greiner - Baulderstone Hornibrook - paying $275,000 to a man linked to two Melbourne underworld figures to engineer an industrial agreement at the National Gallery of Victoria.
Ironically the man who once set up an inquiry into the industry is now the subject of another inquiry's scrutiny.
The latest commission on an industry of 210,000 businesses nationally and 670,000 employees began in December amid secrecy. The inquiry jumped from office block to office block in search of a venue secure from protesting building workers who claimed the inquiry was a "kangaroo court" set up by a Federal Government in election mode.
Workplace Minister Tony Abbott announced it after a 10-page report by employment advocate Jonathan Hamberger, a former chief-of-staff to Mr Abbott's predecessor, Peter Reith. The Hamberger report, prepared last May, detailed allegations of bribery, secret commissions paid to union delegates, misuse of union funds, use of illegal immigrants and false invoicing. It outlined "industrial cultures" of intimidation, abuse of safety rules and blacklists, and it claimed unions controlled markets by bullying contractors.
Opening the inquiry in Melbourne, Mr Cole trumpeted his powers, then wielded them in a legal ambush of civil rights lawyers. He decreed that in return for the right to appear, unionists and others had to outline knowledge of corrupt or inappropriate industry behaviour. He also restricted cross-examination.
The commission was labelled a "star chamber" and "Stalinist" by lawyer Robert Richter, QC, who withdrew, telling Mr Cole that his directive was "outrageous, unprecedented and provocative".
Mr Cole weathered the storm and subsequent legal challenges with a will that has conjured grudging respect from his enemies. He would not tolerate, with a year to inquire, the courtroom luxury of endless delays from defence counsel. He could also not afford to take evidence willy-nilly. The industry abounds with rumours and myriad detours that could run to a souk of blind alleys. Mr Cole chose to focus on a series of issues and case studies.
That has put Melbourne's State Hockey and Netball Centre, Federation Square and the National Gallery of Victoria under the microscope. The sports centre and "Fed Square" produced behaviour that could be challenged technically under workplace laws, but there appeared no startling revelations of corruption. However, the NGV review raised eyebrows. A study of the demarcation dispute between the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union, the Australian Workers Union and Able Demolitions has led to adverse commission findings against several senior unionists and the Victorian Government. The CFMEU will also suffer in future findings for a violent occupation of Able's NGV site where thousands of dollars of damage was caused.
But the most startling evidence to emerge involved Baulderstone Hornibrook and the two underworld identities.
In sensational circumstances, the commission was told Baulderstone paid $270,000 to contractor Peter Barker to wangle a secret industrial pact with the Electrical Trades Union. Mr Barker passed on more than $190,000 to Dominic "Mick" Gatto and David Hedgcock to help seal the deal.
Mr Gatto, who ran a company called Arbitrations and Mediation Services Pty Ltd - an outfit unknown to most industrial practitioners - was an associate of Alphonse Gangitano, an underworld figure murdered in 1998. Mr Gatto also expressed sympathy for crime figure Victor Peirce, who was gunned down in Port Melbourne last week. Mr Hedgcock, a kick boxer, has been dubbed the unofficial king of Melbourne's nightclub bouncers.
Both are now under investigation by the Tax Office, but they issued a statement saying they were cooperating with the commission, had nothing to hide and rejected any implication that they used "any threats or intimidation".
After moving hearings to Perth last month, Mr Cole said the industry needed a special agency with powers to prosecute unions and employers for improper or illegal conduct. He foreshadowed a regulatory authority after hearing evidence that builders were more likely to seek "commercial solutions" than risk costly disputes. It preceded evidence from five Perth builders that they paid almost $1 million to the CFMEU for casual union tickets, strike pay and training to guarantee industrial peace.
But it followed claims by Baulderstone that it was persuaded to hire labour from a company managed by the son of Perth's powerful CFMEU secretary, Kevin Reynolds.