text:
The generation that will pay
MILLENNIALS | Millennials, frustrated with the nation's debt and spending but juggling babies and law school, are taking action: They're running for Congress |Emily Belz
Ricky Gill wasn't like other 17-year-olds. In 2004, instead of goofing around after school, he was the one public high school student in California the governor selected to serve on the state board of education. Now, as a 24-year-old, he is running for Congress-while going to law school. The minimum age to be a member of the House is 25; Gill, a Republican, will turn 25 in May 2012, one month before the primary.
"A lot of people think I'm young now, and I wouldn't contest that, but I was really young then," he said, thinking of his teenage term on the school board. The years between that stint of public service and congressional candidacy have been filled with work on his family's vineyard, college at Princeton University, a summer on Capitol Hill, studies at the University of California at Berkeley law school, and serving as legal counsel for the Oakland A's. Gill is the youngest of three brothers in a family of first-generation immigrants. His parents are physicians, his father from Uganda, his mother from India. Both came to the United States as adults.
The average age in Congress is 57. But a striking number of millennials-the generation aged roughly between 20 and 30 years old-have filed to run for House seats in 2012. A rash of long-shot candidates pop up every election cycle, but these youngsters-who are filing early and forgoing conventional paths to Congress like time in a state legislature, or a few more years between college graduation and a House campaign-may actually win, given the record frustration voters are voicing toward incumbents. The young candidates would form a second wave of generational newcomers following the young Republicans elected in 2010, about a half dozen members now in their early thirties.
Gill is challenging three-term Democratic Rep. Jerry McNerney, 60, in California's newly drawn 9th Congressional District, a competitive seat representing the mostly agricultural San Joaquin Valley that The Cook Political Report says leans Democratic.
Thanks to redistricting, McNerney found himself living outside the district (he currently serves in the state's 11th Congressional District), while Gill has grown up in it. (McNerney says he plans to move to the district.) Gill also has raised $756,000, according to the Federal Election Commission, $115,000 more than McNerney-a potentially major indicator of the candidate's viability. As a result, the National Republican Congressional Committee has named him in its "Young Guns" program for up-and-coming candidates who have met certain benchmarks-and its chairman, Rep. Pete Sessions, R-Texas, reportedly emails Gill every day to check on the race.
Millennials aren't very good at turning out for elections, but they backed President Barack Obama by a 2-to-1 margin in the 2008 election. Their political angst has found its most recently visible expression in the Occupy Wall Street protests, yet the majority of 20-somethings who have filed to run for Congress so far are Republicans.
The candidates I interviewed said they didn't feel that their generation's interests had representation in Congress. The "youth unemployment" rate (16- to 24-year-olds) is 18.1 percent, according to the Department of Labor, and the share of young people who are employed is at its lowest level on record. The millennial generation expects to bear the brunt of entitlement cuts, and very few expect to receive Social Security benefits at all. Twenty-somethings face a difficult credit market, where securing a mortgage is not a given, and they usually emerge from college with significant debt as college tuition has soared.
The anecdotal stories from young congressional candidates parallel recent polling data from Generation Opportunity (see sidebar below), an organization that studies millennials and the economy. Sixty-nine percent of millennials said political leaders do not reflect the interests of young Americans. Sixty-six percent are "deeply concerned" about the national debt, and 76 percent said they would like to see a reduction in federal spending. (That, however, contrasts with a study on millennials that the Pew Research Center conducted this year that showed only 35 percent of millennials favored smaller government.) The researchers also found 69 percent of millennials prefer cutting federal spending to raising taxes to balance the budget.
Paul Conway, former chief of staff at the Labor Department during the Bush administration, heads up Generation Opportunity, and he analyzed some of the results of the poll. "We have a generation now who has gone through a tremendous amount," he said, citing 9/11, two wars, and economic collapse. "They see less in their wallet, they see their own friends unemployed, and feel they can't make payments into their future."
Twenty-four-year-old Weston Wamp believes, "The debt-paying generation will rise to the occasion in this country." Wamp is running for a seat in eastern Tennessee once held by his father, eight-term Republican Rep. Zach Wamp. The elder Wamp made an unsuccessful bid for governor of Tennessee in 2010, and Republican Chuck Fleischmann won the seat Wamp vacated.
Wamp started his own marketing firm in Chattanooga, Tenn., after graduating from the University of Tennessee in 2009. He works about half time on his business and half time on his campaign. He will turn the qualifying age of 25 in March 2012. Wamp denied that he feels entitled to his dad's seat, but said that he absorbed political knowledge and wisdom by growing up around his dad and his dad's friends. "[Republican Sen. Tom] Coburn is like an uncle to me," Wamp said. "Frankly, I think they need some reinforcements from our generation?...?the framers of the Constitution made the age 25 for a reason."
Wamp's contention with Fleischmann is that he votes along party lines. Fleischmann has voted with his party 95 percent of the time, but he bucked Republican leadership on at least one major vote, casting a "no" on the debt ceiling deal along with 65 of the more conservative members of the House. "Another thing our generation has to bring to the table is a willingness to work across party lines," Wamp said, though "not compromise for the sake of compromise." Bipartisanship is only imagined on Capitol Hill right now, but it's an aspiration shared by other millennial candidates. Brett Lindstrom, 30, running as a Republican for a seat in Nebraska, commented, "You do have to work across party lines?...?I'm more than happy to listen to Democrats' ideas."
Gill and Wamp are bachelors, but others like Lindstrom are married and brand new fathers. On average, millennials may be delaying life decisions like marriage, but Lindstrom said almost all of his friends are married: "Maybe it's partly the Midwest." Two years ago he and his wife Leigh received invitations to 17 weddings in one year, and "now we're all having kids at the same time."
Lindstrom, who was a quarterback for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, finds little time to sleep between his regular job as a financial adviser, the campaign, and caring for his 4-month-old daughter. Lindstrom's wife also works full-time, while family members help care for their baby during the day. "It sounds like it's crazy, but it's not undoable," Lindstrom said. He admits he and his wife have had some "discussions" about balancing the campaign with a new baby, and related lack of sleep.
On the campaign trail he's taken part in seven parades so far, and he's learning to be more comfortable approaching people in a café and introducing himself. When he's not campaigning or being a father, his role as a financial adviser has him working with retirees who he says are often as fearful of their economic future as his generation is. "The generation above us, they haven't been very good stewards of [public] money," he said.
On the other side of the country, another sleep-deprived father of a 5-month-old is running for Congress. Evan Feinberg, 27, moved his young family back to his roots near Pittsburgh, Pa., to run in the primary against Rep. Tim Murphy, whom Feinberg terms an "Arlen Specter Republican."
Feinberg, a Grove City College graduate, worked at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C., and then on the staff of Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., and Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky. His wife Sarah is an officer in the Marine Corps Reserves and an Iraq War veteran. Aside from working on Capitol Hill, Feinberg's political experience is limited to chairing the College Republicans, but he brushes off criticisms about his young age, calling it an "asset." "[Murphy]'s going to have the bigger problem convincing folks that his age and experience qualify him for serving in Washington," Feinberg said.
But the question of experience is a serious one. Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C., won his seat one week after his 29th birthday, and for his first two terms he was the youngest member of Congress. He's in his fourth term now. Even though McHenry was young when he came into office, he had already served as an assistant to Labor Secretary Elaine Chao during the Bush administration and served a term in the North Carolina General Assembly.
"You have to have some amount of experience to be effective," McHenry said. "It's the nature of the world-you have to prove yourself as a young person no matter what career path you choose." He ticked off the 30-somethings who won seats in the 2010 election and their political experience: 35-year-old Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala., served on the Montgomery city council; 39-year-old Rep. Tom Reed, R-N.Y., was mayor of Corning, N.Y.; and others served in state legislatures. (He added that starting a business and starting a family are good experience, too.) McHenry is glad to have some other younger colleagues now. "You have more 30-somethings on the Republican side than I think we've ever had," he said. As a result of the 2010 elections, the average age of House Republicans dropped from 56.5 to 54.9, while the average age of House Democrats rose from 58 to 60.2.
"While some may question the credibility of millennials on things, that's what the campaign process is about," said Generation Opportunity's Conway. "But as a nation, we don't question the credibility of someone who is 17 or 18 years old who signs up to fight for our country."
Fresh from the battlefield of the financial sector, Ethan Wingfield, 26, is running as a Republican against Democratic Rep. Heath Shuler in western North Carolina. Wingfield, born and raised in Shuler's district, left North Carolina to attend Brown University.
In 2006, his senior year, Wingfield was president of Brown's Reformed University Fellowship (RUF), a student ministry affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in America, when Brown suspended the organization, saying the 200-member group maintained a "culture of contempt and dishonesty." Wingfield and RUF eventually took Brown's action to the press, and after a six-month dispute, the university restored the student ministry's membership. Wingfield graduated, started his own technology company, sold it, and joined Capital One, where he rose to become an adviser to the CEO. Since then he and his wife Jacqueline have moved back to North Carolina, and he is about to formally kick off his campaign.
Three-term congressman Shuler has an uphill battle for reelection, since the Republican state legislature is enacting redistricting that will cut out much of his Democratic support. The Republican primary roster has started to fill with challengers.
Unlike most candidates, Wingfield doesn't gloss over the work ahead: "Primarying or running in a general against an incumbent is a really tough way to win." But he knows other facts: Some counties in western North Carolina are dealing with unemployment percentages in the double digits. "I look around at my peers and my friends I grew up with, and they're really struggling," he said. "You used to be able to go to school, graduate, work hard, buy a house, settle down, have a kid. That American dream seems to be disintegrating before our eyes."
Capital One, notes Wingfield, did not take any federal bailouts, and added thousands of jobs while the rest of the economy was shrinking. He thinks the federal government could learn about budgeting from the private sector. Wingfield wants to take on another congressional practice-budgeting via emergency spending legislation that's effective for a few months rather than passing an actual budget for a fiscal year.
"As a young person, I'm free to take a 50-year time horizon, because I'm going to live in that world," Wingfield said. "Being a finance person, from a fiscal perspective, I think we are way closer to the edge than most people realize.?...?I really do think that we have a limited window of time to make serious changes. If I wait 10 or 20 years to do it, I think that window would have passed. Why not do it now?"
Troubling signs
MILLENNIALS | The views of Millennials, according to the Generation Opportunity Poll
. 54% believe America is on the wrong track, only 24 percent believe the United States is headed in the right direction.
. 77% of respondents (18-29) are delaying major life changes due to economic restraints.
. 54% agree they have "more opportunity" than their parents, and 27 percent think their children will have less.
. 56% agree with "American Exceptionalism," and over half indicated they are not optimistic about the country's future.
. 56% believe the wrong leadership is in Washington and 61 percent will vote on a candidate's record, not charisma.
. 31% of those 18-29 approve of Obama's handling of youth unemployment.
. 57% said they will learn more about the policy positions of presidential candidates in 2012 than they did in 2008.
. 69% say political leaders do NOT reflect the interests of young Americans.
Greatest threats to national security:
- National Debt (62 percent),
- Energy Dependency (61 percent)
- Indebtedness to Foreign Powers (50 percent)
. 70% (net) would increase production of domestic energy sources like oil.
. 80% view China as a danger: economic threat (48 percent), both economic and military threat (28 percent), and military alone (4 percent).
. 22% (net) would decrease production of domestic energy sources like oil, natural gas, and coal.


text:
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Our on-site Toyota finance department works with car shoppers of all needs and backgrounds, so use our online form to apply for our loan services if you hold a pristine credit rating, a sub-prime credit score or are dealing with any situation in between. We work with many different lenders in the area to ensure we are providing our Frankfort, KY neighbors with the range of options that they deserve. Our credit application comes with zero obligations, so apply from your nearby Georgetown home now!

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Syria was under growing pressure yesterday to stop using military force against pro-democracy protesters after Washington imposed sanctions on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for rights violations.
Syrian security forces have cracked down on flashpoints of unrest with tanks, gunfire and mass arrests in an attempt to crush the revolt against four decades of rule by the Assad family.
Western powers at first made only muted criticisms of Assad's handling of two months of unrest, then stepped up their condemnation and imposed sanctions on key Syrian figures.
Washington's decision to target Assad specifically raises the stakes in a conflict human rights groups say has cost the lives of at least 700 civilians and poses questions about whether the West may ultimately seek his overthrow.
A senior US official said the new sanctions were meant to force Assad to carry out promised political reforms.
"President Assad has a clear choice — either to lead this transition to democracy or to leave," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Leading Syrian opposition figure Haitham al-Maleh said the decision meant "members of the regime are now under siege."
"Any move by the international community may help the Syrian people in continuing their uprising," he said.
The US Department of the Treasury said it would freeze any assets owned by Syrian officials in the US or which fall within US jurisdiction, and bar US individuals and companies from dealing with them.
The sanctions also include Syria's vice president, prime minister, interior and defense ministers, the head of military intelligence and the director of the political security branch.
US Treasury official David Cohen said the move sent a clear message to Assad and his inner circle that "they will be held accountable for the ongoing violence and repression," but it was unclear what assets, if any, would be blocked.
An EU diplomat said the EU was expected to extend sanctions on Syria next week which would also include Assad.
"What I detect from members states ... is that there is a clear majority, if not now a consensus, for putting him on the list," the diplomat said.
The unrest in Syria began when protesters, inspired by uprisings in other parts of the Arab world, took to the streets in March calling for greater freedoms and an end to corruption.
As Assad made some token gestures toward reforms, including lifting a decades-old emergency law, the crackdown by troops, security forces and irregular Assad loyalists intensified.
Syrian authorities blame most of the violence on armed groups backed by Islamists and outside powers, who they say have killed more than 120 soldiers and police.
Switzerland said it would impose travel bans on 13 top Syrian officials, not including Assad, and freeze any of their assets held in Swiss banks, matching a decision by the EU.
Amnesty International welcomed Washington's move and called on US President Barack Obama, who was expected to give a speech yesterday about the Arab uprisings, to impose an arms embargo.
"The Syrian government has responded to peaceful calls for reform with the most brutal tactics clearly intended to shatter the will of the people," T. Kumar of Amnesty International said.
"President al-Assad and those around him must be held individually criminally responsible before the ICC [International Criminal Court] or national courts of states exercising universal jurisdiction," he said.


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Baker's Twine Wrapped Eggs Tutorial
I got a jump start on decorating this year with these simple baker's twine wrapped eggs.
You just need a few supplies to make these; baker's twine, hard boiled eggs and a glue dot runner.
I recommend using a hard boiled egg for these unless you like to live dangerously and want to risk using an uncooked egg. In order for the glue to adhere to the egg, you'll want to make sure that it's completely dry and at room temperature.
Start by running a row of glue dots all the way around the egg. Look closely at this picture and you can see the light blue glue dots!
Now, simply wrap your bakers twine around the egg on top of the row of glue dots. The glue will be strong enough to hold the twine tightly in place but not so sticky that you can't lift off the twine and reposition it if needed.
Start on either side of your first row and lay down another stripe of glue dots. Wrap your twine around that stripe and repeat the whole process again and again until your whole egg is covered!
When you get to the top (and bottom), stripe the glue back and forth then cut your twine a few inches long. Carefully cover the remaining area by winding your twine in concentric circles.
I want to make a whole vase full of these. Of course, it's going to require that I buy additional colors of baker's twine. Oh darn.
12 comments
- Jenny said...
Those are so cute! I may have to make some :)
- March 23, 2012 at 11:49 AM
- Angie said...
How cute!
- March 23, 2012 at 12:41 PM
- rubyslipperz said...
Really cute idea!!! My imagination is taking off...fun yarns...braided pearl cottons...
- March 23, 2012 at 2:24 PM
- Karen said...
hooray for spring! those are awesome. my family in the nw is teasing me about all the unexpected snow they're getting. hope you're enjoying it :D
- March 23, 2012 at 6:57 PM
- Tutus & Tea Parties said...
I love bakers twine! Great eggs. :)
I would love for you to link up and share:
- March 24, 2012 at 9:55 AM
- Heather {The Lovely Cupboard} said...
Oooh, these are so cute. I've got some twine that might make its way out of the craft drawer soon.
Found you via Craftgawker.
- March 25, 2012 at 1:06 PM
- Brenda said...
LOVE these! Great idea!
- March 26, 2012 at 9:27 AM
- Kelsey said...
I want to feature these on an easter egg roundup I'm doing! Embracingmessy.blogspot.com. Please email me and let me know if this is ok at firstname.lastname@example.com!
- April 1, 2012 at 8:45 AM
Great idea but I would use styrofoam eggs instead of hard boiled.
- April 4, 2012 at 4:43 PM
- Lemanie said...
Wow this is so different!! I love it!!! I think I may do this for my centerpiece! You should put this on Pinterest!! =)
Lemanie's Randomness Blog
- April 6, 2012 at 6:31 AM
- Megan {Honey We're Home} said...
Love this! Just repinned it! Happy Easter!
- April 8, 2012 at 4:51 PM
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- May 15, 2013 at 11:22 AM


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My beautiful feet of clay
Lest any think I am a God among Priests, allow me to disabuse of the notion. I'll discuss last night to demonstrate I'm… yaknow? I think you'll have to pick a label. Anyhow…
Once more, a touch of background. I'm a "friend" of the guild to which I belong. That's the label for those who, due to lack of time or other scheduling conflicts, aren't full members but who get to come along for the ride sometimes. You've got the A team who is forging ahead on the new stuff, you've got the B team which is in on the big raids with A but who are still trying to get gear from the places A has already pretty well cleared, and then you've got the "oh, yeah, him" people. Me. Who are around, and who, if called, will fill a hole – almost always B team stuff as we're not even that well geared. So I've been studying and planning Kara. Oh, and I've seen SSC's Lurker twice, and been deeply dismayed with my performance.
Anyway, last night I got the unexpected whisper. "Can you join us for Gruul's?" heh – sure. They know my skill and gear, so they know what they're getting. Away I go.
This is the day the patch came out. CTRA has conflicted with something else the leaders are using which is bothered by the patch which makes the whole thing… peculiar. (oRA2 had no problem, but only a few of us had that — that may be changing very soon.) So it's a bit more confused than normal. The raids just clearing the last few ogres in front of Gruul when I arrive. And on arrival, I shut down my brain as the raid leader starts the plan discussion: Group one here (ping minimap), group two here, (again minimap), group three… I'm in group two, I decide to be proactive and get to my station…
If you've done Gruul or you've researched him you know exactly what comes next. The key word is "wipe".
To the good, I learned the base character of my guild. There were some "what?" comments, but amid the desperate running around – no, rather BURYING the sounds of desperately trying to salvage the situation – were peals of laughter. "Look, Leroy's a PRIEST now…"
We ran, rezzed, buffed, listened to the plan, and killed Gruul – even though he grew more than 20 times. Memory says it was 24, but another guildie says 22.
And since the log doesn't report growths, I can't tell you for sure. [Found it. 22 growths, though he died one second after the last growth.] Regardless, yes. Six guildies standing – the last tank died just after reaching the 1% mark, but… gads, we did it. And I was glad I didn't add to a night's frustration… till I got a whisper from the GM. "pulling you to officer chat…"
Ever get that feeling? Sure, you have, I don't need to describe it at all. With worried thoughts, I answered the call. To discover I was being offered a promotion – from "friend" to … skip the title, it boils down to the bottom of the regular member ranks as opposed to an associate member. Turns out I do good despite the mishap. To toot my horn a bit, I'm taken as such KNOWING I cannot change my schedule and will still miss start times of several events. So, why are they offering? Lesson time, friends.
When they ask, I come. I've attended more runs in the time I've been a friend than a couple of the full members. When I come, I come ready. That trick I have of having my raid-bag stocked? The most wait is as I hit a repair spot – and I habitually ensure I know the closest repair to where my hearthstone is set. So repair and get there with pots, drinks, candles… And the instant there I start popping buffs on anyone who needs it, no wait. And, well, I do all the things I used to require as basic of all people I was allegedly in charge of as a class leader.
Will I be A team? Probably not – time and gear will tend to inhibit this. And in fact the next post will probably be the gear post that got all hung up during what seemed to be gear week not so long ago – when Ego and Matt and a few others stole the words out of my mouth – as I discuss my weaknesses and how I plan to develop and compensate. But – if called, I'll be ready.
And… that means I need to do some research. SSC and Mag, just in case. (And maybe a big sign on the computer as a reminder: "You are not Leroy. Wait for the leader to say GO before you go. Idiot." )


text:
I have 2 questions about upcoming release (heavily delayed) of this game for AmigaOS.
There is no separate section about Gorky 17 game yet so I post my questions here.
1) Was there any restriction in licence agreement with Hyperion concerning language/localization of the game?
The game was created by polish team and has full polish localization (text and speech). The AmigaOS version is without polish language. I would like to know is it the licence agreement problem or development problem that stopped you from adding this language?
2) Linux PPC version made by Hyperion requires only 603e CPU. PC version also needs only 233 MHz CPU. For the Amiga version release, which was planned originally in 2004, most probably 603e/604e CPU would be sufficient also.
The upcoming AmigaOS version has artificially inflated requirements to 500 MHz CPU making it impossible to play by Classic Amiga users.
Is it possible and/or planned to add version without enhancement eg. with original (not hi-res) graphic for Classic Amiga users?
I think that making the game available also for Classic Amiga users, would have higher your sales rate.


text:
A Career in Teleneurology: A Panel Discussion
|Event Time:
|Tuesday May 7, 2019 2:00 pm to 2:45 pm
|ELA Type:
|Navigating Your Career
|Experiential Learning Area, Practice, Policy, and Ethics, Academic
|Eric Anderson MD, PhD
|A panel comprised of neurologists who identify as 50-100 percent of their time being spent practicing telemedicine will engage in an open, interactive discussion with the audience regarding the pros and cons, quality of life, career aspirations, lifestyle impact, and feasibility.
|Completion Message:
|Attendees should understand the different venues where telemedicine may be employed, and how these can be successfully integrated into practice
|CME Credits:
|Core Competencies:
|Patient Care, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism
|Start/End Time
|A Career in Teleneurology: A Panel Discussion
|Eric Anderson MD, PhD, Vahid Behravan MD, Tamika M. Burrus MD, FAAN, Nancy Hammond MD, Jaime Hatcher-Martin MD, PhD, Theresa Beth Sevilis MD
|Eric Anderson, MD, PhD
|Dr. Anderson has received personal compensation for consulting, serving on a scientific advisory board, speaking, or other activities with Phillips Healthcare, Law offices of Andrew Sindler. Dr. Anderson has received compensation for serving on the Board of Directors of Corticare.
|Vahid Behravan, MD
|Dr. Behravan has nothing to disclose.
|Tamika M. Burrus, MD, FAAN
|Dr. Burrus has nothing to disclose.
|Nancy Hammond, MD
|speakers honorarium from Cyberonics . . . . . I am the principal investigator for my site of a multi-center clinical trial sponsored by Sunovion Pharmaceuticals. I do not personally receive funds from this entity.
|Jaime Hatcher-Martin, MD, PhD
|Dr. Hatcher-Martin has nothing to disclose.
|Theresa Beth Sevilis, MD
|Dr. Sevilis has nothing to disclose.


text:
Curation on Google News
Mission & overall approach
The Google News Curation Team helps users follow a story or find a source anywhere on Google News. We collaborate directly with other teams that build and maintain Google News, enabling the development of features that support our product's mission to be trusted, credible, and enjoyable.
The team focuses on 2 main areas of work:
- Topic curation for major events such as award shows or sports championships, as well as general interests
- Source curation within the Newsstand tab, generally organized by seasonal events and promotions
How it works: Topics
Based on empirical signals such as aggregate publisher activity and demonstrable user interest, we steadily identify topics and subjects that are generating attention. We define these topics broadly: they can be a major international event, the latest development in a personal interest, or anything in between.
For these topics, the curation team provides additional structure -- such as sub-topics (e.g. in the case of an award show, sub-topics might include movies that are finalists for receiving an award), related items, and more. Importantly, the team only defines a structure -- all topics and sub-topics are then algorithmically populated with content.
These topics are the sole instance of human curation within Google News. Curated topics can be found by searching Google News for related terms; they may also appear as suggestions in For You or Newsstand.
How it works: Newsstand
In select countries, the Newsstand tab contains promotions, featured content, and collections of sources around a given theme or event. Curators identify publishers for these promotions based on timing, the quality of the edition's user experience, and relevance to the promotional theme. Read more information on Newsstand.
Additional information
- Our curation activity is managed independently from other product or business teams at Google. The team is subject to Google and Alphabet Codes of Conduct, with particular attention to the sections on conflicts of interest.
- The team does not create original content. All content indexed in Google News comes from publishers and content creators who already exist on the Web.
- The team does not perform any reporting or gathering of any additional information.
- The team does not actively review sources in the Google News corpus. If we encounter potential content violations in the course of our normal work, we notify our operations and policy teams accordingly.


text:
Posted by Editoress on 12/1/07
Bike Shop Mechanics
Bicycle store in Mississauga is looking for BIKE MECHANICS and BIKE BUILDER FT/PT
Mechanics experience required and references
Bike Assembly experience is an asset
Please call 905-821-1077 ask for Jean Paul or Jay
Also you can email your resume firstname.lastname@example.com
National Sales Manager Opportunity - Sports Nutrition
PHLI the makers of Accelerade, Endurox R4, and Accel Gel are looking to fill this new position.
Summary of Responsibilities
Achieve sales objectives and also generate new business within the powdered sports drink, gel and supplement markets. Sales objectives are to attain or exceed current and long-term sales and profit goals in accordance with company sales plans, programs, and budgets. This will also include communicating information on account and competitive activities to other sales and sales management personnel and provide effective service to assigned customers.
Specific Responsibilities
Achieve sales volume goals by focusing on the top 10 metro markets.
Implement sales and marketing strategy similar to what has been successful in the US.
Identify and develop new sports retail accounts by focusing on cycling, triathlon, running and accounts that primarily cater to endurance athletes.
Product distribution also needs to be increased in health/fitness and drug retail outlets.
Develop and implement account specific business plans to ensure the optimal level of success in distribution, display, pricing and promotional support.
Communicate with sales people, broker personnel, and distributors to ensure the successful implementation of the business plan.
Account Management
Contact accounts on a planned regular basis.
Work with sales people, broker personnel, and distributors to develop call schedule and execute business plan.
Develop, implement, and monitor promotional activities at the account level that are consistent with established guidelines.
Provide accurate forecasts based on analysis of past performance and account specific data.
Professional Experience
7+ years of selling and management experience.
Bachelor degree preferred.
Strong negotiation skills.
Effective planning, organizational, interpersonal, speaking and writing skills required.
This position will require extensive travel, including calling on specific accounts, attending trade shows, meetings, and athletic events. The ideal candidate will have demonstrated leadership ability, excellent written and verbal communication skills, proven success managing projects, and experience working in a team environment.
Position offers competitive salary and excellent benefits package.
Qualified applicants email resumes to:
Fax to: 732-739-4360
PacificHealth Laboratories, Inc.
Human Resources
100 Matawan Rd - Suite 240
Matawan, NJ 07747
|Return to Canadian Cyclist homepage | Back to Top


text:
Older Workers See Gains In Jobs Report
By Carole Fleck , May 03, 2013 10:22 AM
Despite fears of a spring slowdown, the economy continued to improve in April as employers created 165,000 new jobs and the unemployment rate held steady for older workers, the government reported Friday.
Among all workers 55 and older, the jobless rate remained at 5.5 percent last month, same as in March.
For men in that age group, the rate held steady at 5.7 percent for the second consecutive month. For women, the unemployment rate fell from 5.2 percent in March to 4.8 percent in April. That's a considerable improvement, though levels tend to be more volatile for women because their figures are not seasonally adjusted.
Nationally, the jobless rate ticked down one-tenth of 1 percent to 7.5 percent, the lowest level in four years, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Some 11.7 million people are out of work, down by 673,000 from January.
To understand how far we've come, consider that the jobless rate in April, 2012, stood at 8.1 percent; in April, 2011, it hovered at 9 percent; and in April, 2010, it hit 9.9 percent.
[ Read: How Should Older Workers Navigate the Job Market?]
April's better-than-expected jobs report eased economists' fears of a spring slowdown leading into a summer slump. That's been the pattern over the last several years-a stronger recovery early in the year that peters out as spring and summer approach. Still, the economy needs to add at least 200,000 jobs a month for the jobless rate to fall.
At this rate of growth, says economist Adam Hersh with the Center for American Progress, "we will not reach full employment until June 2021."
One troublesome spot in the report: More Americans were working part-time in April because they couldn't find full-time work, or because their hours were cut, the BLS noted. Their numbers rose by 278,000 to 7.9 million.
One devastating spot in the report: One in two unemployed older workers was out of work for six months or more in April. That figure underscores the brutal challenge many older job seekers face in finding work. Overall, the number of long-term unemployed fell by 258,000 to 4.4 million last month.
Once again, the duration of unemployment last month grew for older workers to 50.2 weeks from 49.2 weeks in March. For those under 55, the duration in April grew to 36.9 weeks from 35.7 weeks the month before.
Given the amount of time it's taking workers 55-plus to find a job, it's not surprising that some have given up altogether. The number of older discouraged workers (people who stopped looking for work because they grew so discouraged by their prospects) rose by nearly 50,000 in April.
To highlight the plight of older job seekers, PBS NewsHour will air a broadcast Friday night as part of its series on older workers and the economy. Correspondent Paul Solman looks at the grim prospects facing the long-term unemployed.
Underemployment, which combines the unemployed with those who are working part-time because they couldn't find full-time work, stood at 17.5 percent in April. That was down from 18.2 percent in April 2012, according to the Gallup polling organization, which tracks that data.
In the latest report on downsizing, employers announced plans to trim payrolls by 38,121 in April, the lowest level of job cuts since December, according to the outplacement consultancy Challenger, Gray & Christmas. For the first four months of 2013, the pace of downsizing-at 183,162-was virtually the same as a year ago.
The retail industry suffered the biggest job cuts announced in April, the report said.
"The biggest concern is that consumers, who had been holding up the economy for so many months, are starting to scale back their spending as wages continue to stagnate," John A. Challenger, chief executive officer, said in a statement. "American's wages are not quite keeping pace with increased expenses. As a result, we are not going to see a big increase in consumer spending."
Aerospace and defense firms announced 2,927 job cuts last month, most of which were blamed on federal spending cuts or concerns over sequestration.
The number of Americans seeking unemployment aid fell last week to a seasonally adjusted 324,000, the lowest since 2008, the government reported earlier this week. The four-week average, a more accurate gauge, fell by 16,000 to 342,250.
Photo: KYNGPAO/flickr
Also of Interest
- Women Face Tough Challenges in Retirement... But Can Overcome Them!
- Retirement Gamble: Wake-Up Call on 401(k) Fees
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See the AARP home page for deals, savings tips, trivia and more


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Artist Jenna Antonelli built this Chocobo, from the Final Fantasy series, as a commission piece. Whoever you are that paid for it, you are a lucky man/lady.
The whole thing was sculpted by hand. Blow one of these images up to see the detail on the feathers and you'll appreciate just how much work that must have taken.
You can check out some work in progress shots at Jenna's site below.
Chocobo Commission [Jenna Antonelli, via Plastikitty]


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This is the place for topics relating to using Accordance on a PC with the BasiliskII emulator.
Please also check the Emulator page on the website.
About emulator discussion
Started by Helen Brown , May 14 2005 12:19 PM
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05 Jun 2019
Members are advised that the Nominations for Elected Officers for 2019/20 will open on Friday 7 June, 2019. For full details and information on the positions available CLICK HERE.Read more
04 Jun 2019
The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club (RPAYC) is to host the 5.5 Metre Class World Championship 2020 to take place from 9-13 January, with the Scandinavian Gold Cup, Alfreds Gold...Read more
30 May 2019
Team Australia's Beau White (with teammate Rod Waterhouse) have won the return of the Worrell 1000. The Worrell 1000 catamaran race which covers 1000 miles of offshore racing aboard off...Read more
30 May 2019
Lion Island Series ResultsCongratulations to all of the placegetters for the 2019 Lion Island Series. PHS Div 1 1st - Showtime - Campbell Letchford 2nd - Popeye - Craig Douglas 3rd - Harlequin - D...Read more
29 May 2019
A big turnout for stage 1 of the dustbuster series, with 55 motivated men and women getting up in the early hours of the morning to attend the first race...Read more
22 May 2019
The annual Yachting Presentation to celebrate the 2018/2019 Sailing season was held on Saturday evening. With the Pittwater Room filled with crews representing yachts across a wide range of events held...Read more
18 May 2019
NOTICE is hereby given of a General Meeting of THE ROYAL PRINCE ALFRED YACHT CLUB to be held on Tuesday, 11th June 2019 commencing at the hour of 8:00 pm...Read more
17 May 2019
For 2019 The Royal Prince Alfred Yacht Club welcomes Selden for Sailing as the naming right sponsor of the Ice Breaker Series. With a turnover of 40 million Euro, 220 employees...Read more
15 May 2019
Next week is National Volunteer Week, a time to celebrate the generous contribution of volunteers across Australia. Sport provides a great opportunity to help others and this video of 15 year old...Read more
Check the latest conditions:


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Contributed on 11/23/14 by tbsummers4
Email This Contributor
Record #: 1011
Thank you for visiting the West Virginia Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in West Virginia, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 11/23/14 • Approved: 11/24/14 • Last Updated: 11/24/14 • R1011-G0


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Cindy Ha advances in US Girls' Junior
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) Cindy Ha beat qualifying medalist Angel Yin 2 and 1 on Thursday at Forest Highlands to reach the U.S. Girls' Junior quarterfinals.
After a delay for lightning at the Meadow Course, the 17-year-old Ha won the par-4 15th with a 25-foot birdie putt and the par-4 16th with a par to take a 2-up lead and finished off the long-hitting Yin with a par for a halve on the par-3 17th.
''I thought, cruise it down there, get it to a tap-in putt and it just happened to go it,'' Ha said about the long putt on No. 15. ''I just got that momentum.''
Ha, a Vanderbilt recruit from Demarest, New Jersey, set up the third-round match with a 19-hole victory over Yealimi Noh of Concord, California in the morning session. The 15-year-old Yin, from Arcadia, California, beat Bailey Tardy of Norcross, Georgia, 1 up.
''I've never been so nervous in my life,'' Ha said before facing Yin. ''She hits the ball a mile and seeing her swing, it kind of intimidates you a little.''
Ha, a semifinalist last week in the U.S. Women's Amateur Public Links in Washington, will face Brigitte Dunne of Camarillo, California. Dunne beat Mary Janiga of Wellington, Florida, 4 and 3.
In the other upper-bracket quarterfinal, Princess Mary Superal of the Philippines will play Bethany Wu of Diamond Bar, California. Superal beat Kristen Gillman of Austin, Texas, 3 and 1, and Wu topped Rose Huang of Honolulu 4 and 2.
Mexico's Marijosse Navarro, second in stroke-play qualifying, reached the lower-bracket quarterfinals, beating Fuzzy Brooks of Kingwood, Texas, in 19 holes. The 17-year-old Navarro, a three-time Women's Mexican Amateur champion, was sixth this year for Texas A&M in the NCAA tournament.
Navarro will play Andrea Lee of Hermosa Beach, California, a 2-and-1 winner over Gigi Stoll of Tigard, Oregon.
In the other quarterfinal, Australia's Shelly Shin will play Binny Lee of Frisco, Texas. Shin routed Clare Amelia Legaspi of the Philippines 6 and 5, and Binny Lee edged Sofia Chabon of the Philippines 2 up.
The semifinals are Friday afternoon, and the final is set for Saturday.


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Chemical usage, disaster issues and wildlife are among the topics that will be discussed in the upcoming Integrated Pest Management workshop in Raymond, Miss., on Feb. 21.
Mississippi State University's Extension Service is sponsoring the General Pest Management Workshop at the Central Mississippi Research and Extension Center. Registration is $10 and begins at 8 a.m. for the full-day event to be held in the auditorium.
"The workshop will provide agriculture professionals with current information related to pest management in a variety of situations," said David Ingram, Extension plant pathologist and research professor based in Raymond. "Homeowners are welcome to attend, but the program is designed primarily for ag consultants and Extension personnel."
Sessions will cover fungicide chemistry, organic farming, pesticide regulations and worker protection standards. Other subjects include the Mississippi Animal Response Team, avian influenza and wildlife consulting opportunities. Participants will hear a report on Hurricane Katrina's impact on the coastal nursery industry.
The program will serve as training and re-certification for agricultural consultants as well as in-service training for county directors and area agents in Extension.
For more information on the six-hour workshop, contact local Extension offices or Ingram at (601) 857-2284 or email@example.com.


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Denver Cutthroats gear up for CHL finals against Allen Americans
The Denver Cutthroats had some time to gear up for the Central Hockey League finals, but only found out Wednesday night who they would match up against.
The test could not be tougher. The defending champion Allen Americans are heading to Denver for Games 1 and 2 Friday and Saturday at the Denver Coliseum to play for the Ray Miron President's Cup — named for the one of the CHL founders.
Allen dispatched the Quad City Mallards 3-2 in Game 7 of its semifinal series Wednesday night in Allen, Texas, which is 25 miles north of Dallas.
Allen and Denver already know each other well: The Cutthroats lost to them last year in the first round of the playoffs in five games. Allen went on to be crowned champs.


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Kate Gosselin Runs Around In Super Skimpy Outfits On Last Night's 'Kate Plus 8!"
BFFs, I definitely think Kate Gosselin looks unbelievable for having had eight children BUT does that mean she needs to wear plunging necklines and super short shorts?
Kate Gosselin is proud to show off her body and the reality mom wants to you to know it! The latest installment of the TLC Kate Plus 8 specials aired, Aug. 30 and nothing seemed out of the ordinary except for Kate's choice of outfits! The former nurse, pranced around NYC in over-the-top outfits while out with her eight little Gosselettes on a sightseeing tour. Instead of opting for a cute modest tank top and flip flops, Kate thought it would be a great idea to wear revealing halter tops and 3-inch heels!
In the episode, Kate and her kiddies go on a double-decker bus tour, eat at a Chinese restaurant in Chinatown and even visit the Statue of Liberty. But shockingly, Kate does it all while wearing unnecessary stilettos — she even showed off side boob in her black Statue of Liberty halter. OH, and don't let me forget to tell you that she decides to climb up a ladder in her heels just so she can coyly ask the captain if she can "help drive the boat."
I'm not saying Kate should hide her awesomely toned figure but on an educational vacation with her kids? Kate, I know you're a single mom, household name, and rocked out at the 2010 Emmys — but come on … cover up a bit!


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A Ukiah woman was arrested Sunday for allegedly driving drunk after reportedly falling outside the Ukiah Cinema 6 and rear-ending a car a few minutes later, the Ukiah Police Department reported.
According to the UPD, a caller at the movie theater in the 600 block of South State Street reported at 6:09 p.m. Feb. 10 that a woman, identified as Joan E. Rainville, 53, was stumbling as she left the theater and was helped up by witnesses after she fell in the parking lot.
A few minutes later, a blue, 1990 Cadillac waiting at the stoplight on South State Street at East Gobbi Street was rear-ended by a gold, 1998 Toyota Camry driven by Rainville.
One of the witnesses to the accident had helped Rainville to her feet in the parking lot, and the driver of the Cadillac had seen her being helped up.
Officers responded and determined Rainville had been drinking and arrested her on suspicion of driving under the influence.
Hit-and-run driver arrested on suspicion of DUI
A Ukiah man who allegedly fled the scene after hitting a car stopped at a stoplight Sunday was arrested a couple of hours later at his home, the Ukiah Police Department reported.
According to the UPD, officers responded to the 1100 block of South State Street at 9:15 p.m. Feb. 10 when the driver of a blue Honda Civic reported the vehicle was rear-ended by a silver Honda Civic while waiting at a red light at Talmage Road.
Witnesses described the Honda as a two-door with a rear spoiler, and said it had been traveling at a high-rate of speed and playing loud music. After the collision, the suspect driver turned around and headed south, turning onto Washington Avenue.
After speaking to witnesses and examining evidence, officers located the suspect vehicle, which had front-end damage, in the 400 block of Eastlick Street and arrested the driver, identified as Brandon A. Luiz.
Luiz, who reportedly had been drinking, said he fled the scene because he was afraid. He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and fleeing an injury accident.
The driver of the other car received minor injuries and was treated at Ukiah Valley Medical Center.


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West Ham boss Sam Allardyce named Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has been named the Barclays Premier League Manager of the Month for February.
By Emma Webb
Last Updated: 14/03/14 2:59pm
Allardyce beat off competition from Jose Mourinho of Chelsea, Brendan Rodgers at Liverpool and Hull boss Steve Bruce for the award.
Concerns were raised over Allardyce's future at the club after a string of losses through the winter, and crashing out of two cup competitions in the space of four days.
However, motivated by holding Chelsea to a 0-0 draw at Stamford Bridge on January 29, the Hammers boss guided the London club to four wins out of four in the Barclays Premier League through February, beating Swansea City, Aston Villa, Norwich City and Southampton.
Allardyce has been awarded the accolade for this spectacular turnaround of results which saw West Ham record four consecutive clean sheets, and praised his players as 'fantastic'.
He said: "It's thanks to the players for their achievements throughout February.
"It's made a very, very entertaining Premier League - one where I think it's entertained the public from the very start and I think it'll entertain them to the very finish."
This is the fifth time he has received the award, most recently in December 2006 when he was manager of Bolton Wanderers.
West Ham skipper Kevin Nolan was delighted for his boss.
"It's a deserved honour for the gaffer," he said.
"It was a fantastic February."
Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge has also been awarded Player of the Month, after scoring five goals in five appearances and making two assists for the Reds in February.
He said: "I've been working hard and the team have helped me to be successful. I've been praying a lot and I've got a faith in God, and I put it down to that really."


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The Wyoming State Historical Society collects certain information from users, and we would like to explain the types of information we gather and what we do with it. We do not sell any personal information to third parties.
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Personally identifying information that you provide by e-mail or web forms will be used only for such purposes as are described at the point of collection (for example, on a web form), such as to send information to you, or to respond to your questions or comments.
Links to Other Sites
Our web site has links to many other web sites. When you go to another site, you are subject to the privacy and security policies of that site. The Wyoming State Historical Society cannot attest to the accuracy of information provided there.
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Content on the Wyoming State Historical Society website is physically located on State of Wyoming information technology assets. Use and operation of the State of Wyoming web pages are governed by the laws of Wyoming. Information collected at the State of Wyoming web pages may be subject to disclosure under the public record laws of Wyoming including, but not limited to Wyoming Statute §16-4-201 et seq.
The collection and analysis of log data information may utilize third party hosted services or web analytic software. However, these services simply provide the data to the state and do not store or use any collected data internally.
The state also employs security measures which, in the event of any attempt at compromising the state's web pages and its support systems, are capable of identifying the offending individual user and the user's internet service provider.


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I went ahead and asked a band member as you suggested.Originally posted by Rodney
I can confirm to you all with 100% certainty ... Lonely As A Lighthouse was fully recorded and mixed in the studio with Stephen W. Tayler and Sadia in 1997
Ask any of The Fixx band members if you can contact them ... they will confirm it also.
Cheers ...
Lighthouse was never mixed to the band's satisfaction and therefore does not exist in a "finished" state.
It may be mixed to Sadia's or Stephen's taste, but the band makes the final call on what is done and what is not done.
I'd love to hear whatever is out there in Sadia land. It's probably pretty awesome.


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Hello, divine falafel with toppings galore and sweet potato fries
The Chef: Colleen and Liba food truck
The Menu: Incredibly fresh falafel over organic greens topped with roasted eggplant in tomato sauce, red cabbage with black sesame seed, olive-orange relish, rosemary peanuts, pickled onion, dill cardamom pickles, fresh baby apricot slices with chervil, and housemade hummus dressing. Oh, and the most adorable paper bag of hand-cut sweet potato fries with fresh cilantro, garlic, and lime.
The Goods: Today's lunch was meant to be. I was supposed to be on a flight at noon so didn't pack a lunch. Then, right after I discovered my trip was cancelled, I got an invitation from local vegan chef and VN columnist, Jesse Miner, asking if I'd like to hit up his favorite falafel food truck, Liba. He's been raving about this place for months, and always knows exactly where they're going to be at what time, so VN Associate Editor Jenn and I met up with him for an exciting lunchtime adventure. We headed for Potrero Hill and got in line just before the masses arrived. Gail, the lovely owner, took our orders and gave us a tour of the mouth-watering topping bar. Customers can get a regular falafel ($8), small falafel ($5), or falafel bowl over organic greens ($9), and then pile high on as many toppings as they'd like. Let's just say Jenn and I filled our compostable boxes to the very top and had one of our best falafel meals ever. Jesse suggested we order the sweet potato fries to round out our meal, and at $2 a bag, we couldn't resist. We then headed to a local park and enjoyed our food truck meal under giant trees overlooking the city. Check out where Liba is next by following them on Twitter. You'll be happy you did!
VN columnist Jesse Miner and Jennifer with their mile-high falafel salads


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FREE Registration:
The most rapidly growing reseller platform and affiliate network in Europe (now serving affiliates / vendors in the United States / English speaking market).
When registering as vendor and affiliate, you will be able to switch between both account modes in the back office of Digistore24.
This way you sell your own products and promote them on the marketplace, while earning commissions through advertising other vendors' products.
This is an example for your promolink.
You're creating and selling digital products or offering services? Then you're a vendor and advertiser!
You're advertising digital products, earning money thanks to commissions? Then you're a affiliate / publisher!


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Supplying Demand 285671 Washing Machine Lid Switch Fits AP3094500 PS334600
*This is not a Whirlpool® OEM product. The Whirlpool® brand names and logos are the registered trademarks of their respective owners. Any use of the Whirlpool® brand name or model designation for this product is made solely for purposes of demonstrating compatibility. "The trademarks, logos, and service marks (collectively the "Trademarks") displayed herein Supplying Demand are registered and unregistered trademarks of Supplying Demand, its affiliates, and others. Nothing contained herein should be construed as granting, by implication, estoppel, or otherwise, any license or right to use any trademark displayed herein without the written permission of Supplying Demand or such third party that may own the trademark displayed herein. Your misuse of the trademarks displayed herein, or any other content on this website, except as provided herein, is strictly prohibited."


text:
Product features:
Base and interior shelving crafted from wood, encased in smoked glass.
Arts and Techniques: Joinery, Glass Work and Varnishing.
Materials and Finishes: Wood, Glass.
Product Options: High gloss lacquer in black or white. Box available in smoked, bronze or clear glass.
Customization: Custom sizes and colors are available with an upcharge.
Observations for mounting: Contains pads on the base to protect the support area.
Clean and Care: Dry cloth.


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Raise the Roof?
A version of this article appears in the January/February 2005 issue of Home Energy Magazine.
January 01, 2005
The King County Housing Authority adds insulation and slope while removing ventilation to make a more energy-efficient and durable roof.
Across the Northwest, flat roofs top apartment buildings, office complexes, and supermarkets. Cheap and easy to build, flat roofs are the obvious option for boxlike commercial and multifamily buildings. Unfortunately, they can be a bad choice in a cool,wet climate.The problem can be acute in the Northwest, particularly west of the Cascade Mountains, where it usually rains and stays cool from October to July. All that water has a tendency to pool on flat roofs and finds ways to penetrate any roof surface, whether it's tar, bitumen, rubber, asphalt, or metal. In addition to the risks from rainwater leaking in, flat roofs in the Northwest are susceptible to risks from other sources of moisture as well. Mandated by most city building codes, attic ventilation can be effective in some climates. Breather vents designed to draw condensation from the attic space to the exterior can do just the opposite in the Northwest, due to high outdoor relative humidity (RH).Humid air and moisture can accumulate in the attic cavity. Condensation occurs when the warm air from a building's interior meets the relatively cold ...
To read complete online articles, you need to sign up for an Online Subscription.
Once an order has been placed there is an automatic $10 processing fee that will be deducted with any cancellation.
The Home Energy Online articles are for personal use only and may not be printed for distribution. For permission to reprint, please send an e-mail to email@example.com.


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USC (US) — No pitcher can make a curveball "break" or a fastball "rise." What hitters—and fans—think they see is simply an illusion, new research shows.
Led by Arthur Shapiro of American University and Zhong-Lin Lu of the University of Southern California, the researchers explain the illusion of the curveball's break in a publicly available study in the journal PLoS ONE.
The study comes a year after the same group won the prize for best illusion at the Vision Sciences annual meeting with a demonstration of how an object falling in a straight line can seem to change direction. That demonstration led to debates among baseball fans over the existence of the break in curveballs, breaking balls, and sliders.
There is no debate in the researchers' minds.
"The curveball does curve, but the curve has been measured and shown to be gradual," Shapiro says. "It's always going to follow a parabolic path. But from a hitter's point of view, an approaching ball can appear to break, drop or do a whole range of unusual behaviors."
To many batters and pitchers, a break is a deviation from the relatively straight path of a fastball. In that sense, all curveballs break.
The authors of the study use the term to describe an apparent sudden drop or other change in trajectory as the ball nears home plate. That, they say, is an illusion.
The PLoS ONE study explains the illusion and relates the perceived size of the break to the shifting of the batter's eye between central and peripheral vision.
"If the batter takes his eye off the ball by 10 degrees, the size of the break is about one foot," says Lu, professor of psychology and biomedical engineering at USC.
He explained that batters tend to switch from central to peripheral vision when the ball is about 20 feet away, or two-thirds of the way to home plate. The eye's peripheral vision lacks the ability to separate the motions of the spinning ball, Lu says. In particular, it gets confused by the combination of the ball's velocity and spin.
The result is a gap between the ball's trajectory and the path as perceived by the batter. The gap is small when the batter switches to peripheral vision, but gets larger as the ball travels the last 20 feet to home plate.
As the ball arrives at the plate, the batter switches back to central vision and sees it in a different spot than expected. That perception of an abrupt change is the "break" in the curveball that frustrates batters.
"Depending on how much and when the batter's eyes shift while tracking the ball, you can actually get a sizable break," Lu said. "The difference between central and peripheral vision is key to understanding the break of the curveball."
A similar illusion explains the "rising fastball," Lu added.
Watch the ball
The obvious remedy for a batter, repeated by parents and coaches everywhere, is to "keep your eye on the ball."
That is easier said than done, according to the authors. As the ball nears home plate, its size in the batter's field of view spills out of the eye's central vision.
"Our central vision is very small," Shapiro says. "It's the size of the tip of your thumb at arm's length. When an object falls outside of that region, strange perceptions can occur."
Lu noted that the spin of the ball tends to draw the eye to the side, making it even harder for the batter to keep the ball in central vision.
"People's eyes have a natural tendency to follow motion," Lu explains.
His advice to hitters: "Don't trust your eyes. Know the limitations of your visual system. This is something that can be trained, probably."
Lu, Shapiro and their co-authors plan to build a physical device to test the curveball illusion. Their study was carried out with volunteers tracking the movement of a disk on a computer monitor.
To the authors' knowledge, the PLoS ONE study represents the first attempt to explain the break in the curveball purely as a visual illusion. Others have tried to explain the break as a result of the hitter overestimating the speed of a pitch.
Truth vs. TV
Responding to comments from baseball fans, Lu agrees that on television, pitches filmed from behind home plate appear to break. He called it a "geometric illusion" based on the fact that for the first part of a pitch, the viewer sees little or no vertical drop.
The ball is falling at the same rate throughout the pitch, Lu explains, but because the pitcher tosses the ball at a slight upward angle, the first part of the pitch appears more or less flat.
As a result, the drop of the ball near home plate surprises the eye.
For Shapiro and Lu, who have studied visual perception for many years, the PLoS ONE results go beyond baseball.
"Humans constantly shift objects between central and peripheral vision and may encounter effects like the curveball's break regularly," the authors write. "Peripheral vision's inability to separate different visual signals may have far-reaching implications in understanding human visual perception and functional vision in daily life."
The research was partially supported by the National Eye Institute.
More news from USC: http://uscnews.usc.edu/


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Houston Area Chiropractor
Thank you for visiting the website of Houston Chiropractor Dr. Robert Boss and Bear Creek Chiropractic Clinic - a professional Houston chiropractic clinic. In practice as well as online, Houston Texas 77084 chiropractor Dr. Boss strives for excellence through superior patient treatment, education and satisfaction.
Serving West Houston, Cinco Ranch, Katy, Cypress, Memorial, Bear Creek and Copperfield Place.
Within our website, Houston and surrounding area residents will find all types of health and wellness related information including information about our office and services, chiropractic, back and neck pain, laser therapy, work and auto injuries and much, much more.
We hope you enjoy the information within and share it with others. Again, thank you for visiting www.bearcreekchiro.com and remember to come back often.
Yours in health,


text: According to the book I'm reading old style C casts are not recommended in C++. However, I've seen numerous examples of these casts in the Civilization 4 SDK. I would think that if their use was really discouraged then a program like Civ4 wouldn't use them, so is there any truth to this or is it just personal preference?


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The copy cannot proceed as it requires administrator privileges.
When copying or moving files, a number of folders, such as the root of C:, \Windows, and \Program Files now require administrative privileges. This was done to improve the system security, but it's a bit annoying if you really need to use these directories.
If you don't need to use these administrative directories, you can copy to other directories without a problem.
In this example, we want access to the system32 directory. As with most files in this directory, the permissions deny us access so we can't copy, delete or move files, even with administrative privileges.
To change permissions or a file or folder perform the following steps:
Check out what others say about this issue and review or add your own comments and solutions!


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Gov. Mead Signs Lottery Bill Into Law
CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — Wyoming residents can start dreaming about hitting the big one.
Gov. Matt Mead on Wednesday signed into law a bill allowing the state to create a lottery or join a multi-state lottery, such as Powerball.
Mead says he's personally lukewarm about a lottery. But he was persuaded by the prospect of Wyoming benefiting from money that state residents have been spending on lottery tickets in surrounding states.
Under the law, the first $6 million in proceeds from the lottery will go to local governments. Any proceeds over that amount would go to a public school foundation fund.
Mead will appoint a nine-member board to oversee the quasi-governmental corporation that will run the lottery. It'll take about a year to get the lottery up and running.


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Twins latest victim of Davis' homer barrage
Robertson surrenders go-ahead grand slam to Orioles slugger in eighth
BALTIMORE -- It was one of those innings where nothing seemed to go right for the Twins.
The Twins entered the bottom of the eighth clinging to a one-run lead over the Orioles and had right-hander Casey Fien in the game with setup man Jared Burton unavailable after pitching in back-to-back games.
Fien promptly gave up two quick singles before the Orioles opted to sacrifice bunt, but instead of throwing to third on the play, Fien got the sure out at first base, which led to manager Ron Gardenhire's decision to intentionally walk Nick Markakis to load the bases for Adam Jones. The intentional walk backfired, however, as Jones tied the game with an RBI single to left before lefty Tyler Robertson was called in to face the red-hot Chris Davis.
That decision also didn't work out, as Davis crushed a grand slam that proved to be the difference for the Orioles in a 9-5 win over the Twins on Friday afternoon in the sold-out opener at Camden Yards.
"It was a great baseball game, but unfortunately it got away from us at the end," Gardenhire said. "They had a lot of good hitters up there and we made mistakes with our pitches and they kept banging them through. And before you know it, Davis comes up and deposits a fastball and there you have it."
Gardenhire wasn't pleased with the end result and also didn't like some of the decision-making from his players that inning.
He thought Fien should've thrown to third base to get the lead runner on the bunt attempt, but Fien defended his choice to throw to first because he couldn't hear his teammates with the loud crowd noise in Baltimore's home opener.
"I went for the sure out," Fien said. "It was on me. I just went for the out I needed. The crowd was loud. I made the decision to go to first and get the out."
It left Gardenhire with the option to either pitch to Markakis or walk him to create a force out at home or get an inning-ending double play. Gardenhire opted to go with the intentional walk, which led to Jones sneaking a ground ball past Eduardo Escobar at shortstop to tie the game.
"We wanted to get a double play set up," Gardenhire said. "We wanted to put him on and hopefully get a ground ball. We got the ground ball, but it just wasn't at someone."
It led to a big at-bat for Davis, who has been the hottest hitter in baseball in the early going. And Davis came through yet again with his fourth homer in four games on a first-pitch fastball from Robertson.
"You'd hope he'd throw a slider, but he threw a fastball, so we'll have to talk about that," Gardenhire said.
Robertson, though, said it was more to do with the location of the pitch, as he left the fastball up in the zone.
"When you leave the ball up to a guy, especially when they're hot, they're going to hit it hard," Robertson said. "He barely swung. He's just on fire right now."
Davis, who already has 16 RBIs in four games, was simply happy to see the ball keep carrying until it landed beyond the left-field fence.
"I was looking for something out over the plate that I could [drive]," Davis said. "I thought when I hit it that's where it was, and the ball just kept carrying."
It spoiled a strong effort offensively from Brian Dozier, who tied a career-high with three RBIs to pace the offense.
Dozier had a two-run triple as part of a four-run fourth inning for the Twins and later provided a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth.
Twins right-hander Liam Hendriks didn't factor into the decision, as he couldn't hold the early lead and gave up four runs on eight hits and a walk over 4 2/3 innings.
"I think I'd throw a good slider or curveball or changeup early and then I'd try to throw a better one and I'd yank it," Hendriks said. "So I was giving them hitters' counts."
Even with Hendriks struggling, the Twins were still in line for the win late in the game, but the bullpen just didn't come through.
"We were a little beat up in our bullpen and it just didn't work out for us," Gardenhire said. "But we battled and had some big hits. We had a lead and we tried to hang on, but it just didn't work out."


text:
Finance & Development, March 1985
- Development strategies: Development through the private sector: The views of the new Executive Vice President of IFC
- IFC's new approach to project promotion: Developing investments by sector or industry
- Economic reform in China: Toward greater flexibility in planning, more reliance on market forces
- Planning in developing countries: From comprehensive production planning to strategic policy planning
- Exchange rate policies: Overvalued exchange rates and development: How overvaluation retards growth
- Black markets in foreign exchange: Origins, nature, and implications
- External debt issues: Domestic and external causes of the Latin American debt crisis: The crucial impact of inadequate domestic policies
- The case by case approach to debt problems: Why the Fund favors this approach
- Foreign direct investment in developing countries: Trends, policy issues, and outlook to 1990
- Financing education in sub-Saharan Africa: The broad policy issues
- Urbanization patterns in the Third World: Fostering efficient growth
- The role of development finance corporations
- World economy in transition: Monetary indicators: 1951-83
- Books
- Letters
External debt issues: Domestic and external causes of the Latin American debt crisis: The crucial impact of inadequate domestic policies
- International Monetary Fund. External Relations Dept.
- Published Date:
- March 1985
Show Summary Details
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Posted: December 05, 2018 01:04 AM CST
Updated: November 15, 2019 01:12 AM CST
By her own admission, Drew Barrymore had begun drinking and smoking cigarettes by the age of 9, smoked marijuana at 10 and started using cocaine at 12. It took two stints in rehab in her early teens before she found sobriety. [ + - ]
There was a time when many people figured actor Robert Downey Jr. for dead, such were his struggles with addiction. Drug arrests for cocaine, heroin and marijuana and various stints in rehab had him dealing with his addiction in a very public way. Today, the "Iron Man" actor has been sober since his last stint in rehab in 2001. [ + - ]
Aerosmith was one of the hardest-partying rock and roll bands ever, and lead singer Steven Tyler was no exception. Addicted to heroin and cocaine, he's said he used drugs with every member of the group before going to rehab in 1986. He later relapsed, but has been clean since completing rehab for painkiller abuse in 2009. [ + - ]
World-renowned guitarist Eric Clapton's problems with heroin have been widely reported. During 1971's Concert for Bangladesh, he passed out, was revived and continued his performance. With the help of former addict Pete Townsend, he kicked heroin a few years later and later gave up drinking in the 1980s. In 1998, he founded the Crossroads Centre on Antigua, a medical facility for recovering substance abusers. [ + - ]
Rocker Ozzy Osbourne's struggles with alcohol and drug addiction were so bad that he was fired from Black Sabbath in 1979. His drinking and drug use continued throughout the 1980s, with him crediting his then-manager and later wife, Sharon, for eventually helping him get clean. [ + - ]
Rapper Eminem has often spoken about his addiction to prescription drugs, including Vicodin, Ambien, Valium and Methadone. He eventually had to cancel the European leg of his Anger Management Tour in August 2005 and go into rehab for his addiction to Ambien. [ + - ]
Growing up as a wild child, Angelina Jolie began experimenting with drugs at an early age. By the age of 20, she confessed to doing "just about every drug possible, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD and, my favorite, heroin." She credited her first husband, British actor Jonny Lee Miller, her co-star in 1996's "Hackers," for helping her give up drugs. [ + - ]
Throughout his career, singer-songwriter Elton John has struggled with addictions to alcohol and cocaine. In 1975, he survived an overdose during "Elton Week" in Los Angeles. It wasn't until 1990 that he got sober. [ + - ]
Red Hot Chili Peppers lead singer Anthony Kiedis began using marijuana and cocaine at the age of 12 with his father, later trying heroin accidentally for the first time at age 14. After a heroin overdose killed close friend and bandmate Hillel Slovak in 1988, he vowed never to use again. He's been in and out of rehab since, relapsing twice, but has claimed to have been clean since December 2000. [ + - ]
David Bowie suffered from a cocaine addiction in the 1970s. By his own admission, cocaine use twisted his sanity and he overdosed several times during 1976. It wasn't until the late 1970s that he was able to kick his addiction. [ + - ]
Early in his career, Samuel L. Jackson developed addictions to alcohol and cocaine. After seeing the effects of his addiction, his family entered him in a New York rehab clinic, with his first post-rehab role being that of a crack cocaine addict in Spike Lee's 1991 movie "Jungle Fever." Jackson has called the role cathartic for him. [ + - ]
"Home Improvement" star Tim Allen's struggles growing up have been well documented. Allen spent more than two years in prison after pleading guilty to a cocaine-trafficking charge in 1978, but it took a 1997 DUI arrest that sent him to rehab to get clean and sober. [ + - ]
Black Eyed Peas singer Fergie developed an addiction to crystal methamphetamine while part of the girl band Wild Orchid in the 1990s. "It was the hardest boyfriend I ever had to break up with," she told Time magazine in September 2006. The singer had stated in several interviews that she used hypnotherapy to help overcome her addiction. [ + - ]
Alice Cooper once called himself "probably the most functional alcoholic ever," but that was before he embraced Christianity in the mid-1980s and stopped drinking for good. He's since taken to counseling other rock musicians with addiction problems. [ + - ]
In the late 1990s, Nine Inch Nails front man Trent Reznor turned to alcohol and drugs to deal with depression, social anxiety disorder and the death of his grandmother, who raised him. In 2001, he successfully completed rehab for addiction to alcohol and cocaine. [ + - ]
British comedian Russell Brand is a former heroin addict and a recovering alcoholic. He has abstained from drug use since 2002 and has cited his practice of transcendental meditation as a significant factor in his recovery. [ + - ]
In his memoir, horror master Stephen King tells of a 1987 intervention by family and friends in which they dumped evidence of his addictions from the trash, including beer cans, cocaine, Xanax, Valium, NyQuil and marijuana, on the rug in front of him. King wrote that he sought help and quit all forms of drugs and alcohol and has remained sober since. [ + - ]
Supermodel Naomi Campbell entered rehab in 1999 after a five-year addiction to cocaine. In a 2005 interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer, she referred to cocaine as a "very nasty drug." [ + - ]
After several stints in rehab for an addiction to prescription painkillers, Kelly Osbourne says she has been clean since 2009. "I knew I'd been given another chance at my life, at my career, at happiness. I wanted to grab it," she wrote in her 2009 autobiography "Fierce." [ + - ]
Mary Tyler Moore first went public with her battle with alcoholism in her 1995 book "After All." She sought treatment in the 1980s at the Betty Ford Center after keeping her problem hidden from family and friends. [ + - ]
"One Day at a Time" actress Mackenzie Phillips first tried cocaine at age 11 with her father and was fired from the show over her drug abuse. Phillips, who later aired out her issues with a stint on "Celebrity Rehab" and a tell-all memoir, says she has been sober since a 2008 arrest for drug possession. [ + - ]
Actor Dennis Quaid has spoken several times about his past abuse of cocaine when he first came to Hollywood in the 1970s, telling Larry King in 2002 that "I saw myself being dead in about five years if I didn't stop." [ + - ]
Actress Jamie Lee Curtis is a recovering alcoholic who was once addicted to painkillers she began using after a routine cosmetic surgical procedure. She became sober in 1999 and has said that recovery is the greatest achievement of her life. [ + - ]
Country singer Keith Urban checked himself into the Betty Ford Center a few months after marrying fellow Aussie Nicole Kidman in 2006 for treatment of an alcohol addiction. He has remained sober since. [ + - ]
Ben Affleck entered alcohol rehab in 2001, with a spokesman for the actor saying that "Ben is a self-aware and smart man who had decided that a fuller life awaits him without alcohol." [ + - ]
"Sex and the City" star Kristin Davis told Health magazine in 2008 that she was a recovering alcoholic who found sobriety at age 22. "I've never hid it, but I've been sober the whole time I've been famous, so it wasn't like I had to go to rehab publicly," Davis said at the time. [ + - ]
Throughout the 1980s, Boy George struggled with a heroin addiction, but addictions to other drugs would also follow. After getting clean and enjoying 16 years of sobriety, he relapsed in 2003 and eventually found himself in trouble with the law, including serving four months in prison. He now claims more than four years of sobriety. [ + - ]
The Velvet Underground's Lou Reed became famous for his debauched lifestyle, at one point quipping that he tried to quit drugs by drinking. One of his most famous songs is simply titled "Heroin." But by the 1980s he'd cleaned up his act. He even appeared in a 1989 "Rock Against Drugs" PSA stating, "Drugs. I stopped. You shouldn't start." [ + - ]
In the fall of 2013, Lady Gaga admitted to being addicted to many substances at various points in her life, including marijuana, but said she got to the point where she knew she "had to stop" because she was jeopardizing her health. [ + - ]
While the world of celebrities is filled with stories of those who lost their battles against addiction, not all celebrity addictions have an unhappy ending. Here's a look at some stars who have fought addictions and won.


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There are some real buttmunches out there. Case in point: This K24/K20 swapped Civic was stolen in Leesburg, VA on Sunday night, just after it went up for sale. Let's help find the car.
The car, a 1996 Civic DX, is obviously well cared for and modified rather tastefully, with some suspension work, wheels, and a pretty stock interior. There is also some power under the hood from the Frankenstein swap of a K24/K20 melded together. This is our type of car.
I've been told that the owner is a NASA and SCCA participant and all-around good guy who just wants to sell his car, presumably to get onto the next project. The Civic is on VA tag XHJ-2535. If you have any ideas on the whereabouts of the car, contact the Leesburg Police at 703-771-4500.


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- On Sale
- Art Glass
Refuse to be Limited!
- System 96®
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Grinders, Kilns, Molds
Refuse to be Limited! Keep your options open and your creativity sparked by adding Uroboros' FX90 glass to your 90 compatible projects. The people-friendly and tech-savvy folks at Uroboros have been creating unique colors and special effects products for fusers in sheet, frit, noodles and stringer and more for almost 25 years!
Explore our FX90 products, or place orders for them, in our online store below. Or visit your favorite Uroboros Dealer to experience the broad range of Uroboros 90 products first hand. Read More


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Listings in Employee Surveys, Event/Experiential Marketing Consultants, Marketing Strategy, International Research, Colleges/Universities, Content Management, Analytical Technology and Web Design in Illinois
in Market Research Consultants, Graphic Design, Full Service Marketing Communications, Branding Consultants, Web Design
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in Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Product Marketing Consultants, Consumer Research, Consumer Marketing Consultants, Neuromarketing/Sensory Research, Partnership/Affiliate Marketing
At Curion, we couple our fresh thinking with our industry-defining methodologies and technologies to deliver a deeper understanding of the consumer to bring successful products to market.
111 Deer Lake Road
Suite 120
Deerfield, Illinois 60015
United States of America
Rebranding Experts
in Marketing Communications Consultants, Branding Consultants, Brand/Image Research, Brand Identity
Marketing communications firm focused on the successful rebranding of companies and organizations to accelerate their strategic growth.
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Oak Park, Illinois 60302
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Customer Lifecycle, LLC
in Market Research Consultants, Qualitative Research, Quantitative Research, Customer Satisfaction, B2B Market Research, Focus Group Moderators, International Research, Consumer Research, Market Segmentation, Full Service Research
Customer Lifecycle, LLC is a global research based consultancy that works with clients to get more value and better business results from research through significantly improved coordination, deployment and integration of research findings and custom
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Consight Marketing Group
in Market Research Consultants, Qualitative Research, Customer Satisfaction, B2B Market Research, Competitive/Market Intelligence, B2B Marketing Consultants, Product Marketing Consultants, Consumer Research, Brand/Image Research, Customer Experience
Consight is a combination of consulting and insight which has been developed from voice of the customer research.
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Killian Branding
in SEO/SEM, Full Service Advertising, Branding Consultants, Web Design, Brand Identity
Brand strategy execution must evolve from the inside out. First, convince your internal audience. Second, customers/clients. Third, prospects. Much later, if ever, the general public.
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Agency EA
in Market Research Consultants, Event/Experiential Marketing Consultants, B2B Marketing Consultants, Graphic Design, Web Design
Agency EA is a full-service brand experience agency. We unite brands with their target audiences by creating exceptional user events, worldwide event programs, summits, conferences and B2B experiential campaigns.
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in Qualitative Research, Research Field Services, Online Focus Groups, Online Surveys/Software, Focus Group Facilities, International Research, Online Communities
Fieldwork has been a leader in world-class marketing research services and facilities for over 35 years.
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in Full Service Advertising, Branding Consultants, Public Relations, Consumer Marketing Consultants, Concept Development
Dixon|James is a Chicago-based, independent marketing communications firm dedicated to building and protecting your brands.
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text:
The well-known ability-to-repay rule — which stipulates that lenders must ensure borrowers meet certain lending criteria at the point of origination or face the legal consequences — goes into effect on Jan. 10, making this week the final countdown to the new housing finance era. Critics say it will kill originations. Not everyone agrees.
The qualified mortgage rule, which identifies the type of loans that are safe from legal scrutiny from an underwriting standpoint, also takes effect Friday, leaving the market a bit uncertain even though many lenders say they've had enough time to prepare.
So what should lenders and borrowers expect when the clock hits midnight on the 10?
Some borrowers will definitely take a hit in terms of credit access, but Marcus McCue an executive vice president with Guardian Mortgage, says his company has been focused all along on the types of loans that identify as QM, making this week's transition less impactful for his company.
Guardian also is primarily selling loans off to the GSEs, and the new rules offer some exceptions for Fannie and Freddie loans when it comes to QM's 43% debt-to-income ratio requirement.
Still, even though a 43% DTI is not always required for GSE loans, McCue admits there's some ambiguity as to how far those exceptions will ultimately go.
If the system determining eligibility at the GSEs is tweaked along the way, there may be some confusion as to what loans qualify under the QM exceptions and what loans do not, he explains.
For example, there may be a loan approved by the GSEs at 45% DTI, but other factors could end up disqualifying another mortgage with the same DTI if the enterprises factor in additional details the second time around, McCue suggested.
The Guardian executive says, unfortunately, lenders don't have the decisioning guidelines for the GSEs' qualifying software, so they may find themselves suddenly surprised if adjustments are made or the GSEs begin pulling the strings one way or the other on loans that seem similar on their face.
McCue says Guardian will not be delving into the non-qualified mortgage space, but he does believe there will be some play in that segment. His belief is shared by Jeff Taylor, managing partner of mortgage risk analytics firm Digital Risk.
"In the current credit environment, most of the loans being originated would qualify for QM," Taylor said. But he added, the new environment "draws a hard line in the sand," and it removes all subjectivity so lenders cannot consider other compensating factors.
As soon as the market settles into the new ability-to-repay era, Taylor expects more opportunistic funds – or hedge funds – to re-enter the space and take a stab at non-QM loans.
It will be up to each fund to determine how much risk they want to take on and where they want to play, Taylor explained. Any of these funds that jump in will address the underlying risks by charging higher interest rates, he added.
"I have heard of several firms that are thinking about it," he told HousingWire. But he said, "Everybody is waiting to see what happens."
Overall, Taylor says the New Year is about compliance and following the black letter of the law.
For McCue, entering 2014 is something his team is prepared for. He is confident in Guardian's ability to keep the same momentum as last year since the company has always focused on QM. Yet, he admits with new points and fees requirements tacked on this year, some borrowers will have trouble qualifying – albeit, a small percentage of his business.
Some of those potentially impacted include investors in single-family properties, first-time homebuyers and individuals buying condos, he noted.


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Ver videos
Some history lesson: How it all started – snowboarding in this case.
TWS says
Snow Craft is TransWorld's original video series, created by Lukas and Jesse Huffman, celebrating grassroots board builders past and present. The new series, Snow Craft Generations, looks at the triumphs and failures of Dimitrije Milovich from Winterstick, and Pete Saari and Mike Olson from Mervin Manufacturing, as well as some up and coming board shapers. It's a must watch for anyone who calls themselves a snowboarder.
Posted: September 4, 2014
Ver videos


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With the Loray Mill clearing its last hurdle to redevelopment this week, Jack Kiser playfully tied it to the approach of Easter.
�I find it interesting that this is Holy Week and this building is being resurrected,� said Gastonia�s special projects executive, who has spent 18 years trying to find a new use for the vacant, historic structure. �This is a historic day for Gastonia.�
The sale of the Loray Mill finally closed late Wednesday after a 10-month wait. The transfer of the property from Preservation North Carolina to two newly created limited liability companies means that the development team can begin converting the building into 190 market-rate, �Class A� loft apartments.
The residential renovation will eventually neighbor 78,000 square feet of new commercial space, and 34,000 square feet of amenities and self-storage space for tenants. The apartments could open as soon as mid-2014.
Loray Mill LLC secured all of its building permits last week, and the general contractor can begin the renovation immediately, Kiser said. A ceremonial construction kickoff will be held at 6 p.m. April 9, in front of the mill on Second Avenue.
Officials learned last June � after a two-year application process � that the Federal Housing Administration had approved a $20 million loan to make the project possible. They expected the sale to close and construction to begin by the fall.
The ongoing push to give the old mill new life had already lasted two decades. The building had gradually deteriorated since it was vacated in 1993, in turn bringing down the spirit and outlook of the residential community around it.
So when the closing process dragged on, skepticism and fear surfaced again that the federal loan wouldn�t come through. Kiser said the delay was largely due to a federal court case that affected historic tax credit projects across the country.
Wednesday�s news was a sweet realization for people such as Lucy Penegar, vice chairwoman of the Gaston County Historic Preservation Commission. She has championed the mill preservation effort since the early 1990s, even using her own time and effort to mow the grass and help keep up the property at times.
�The best of things sometimes takes longer to happen,� she said. �And this is one of the best happenings in Gastonia�s history.�
Mayor John Bridgeman was equally ecstatic. He can appreciate the fortitude it has taken to see the project through, as he chaired the citizens committee that was appointed in 1995 to consider potential new uses for the mill.
�This is what we have all been waiting for,� he said.
Trickle-up effect
One of the greatest upshots of the redevelopment could be its effect on the surrounding homes in the Loray Mill Historic District. A 2007 Gastonia study estimated a potential $300 million impact on the residential village over a 30-year period.
That analysis was done before the housing market collapse. But it still has merit, officials say, because home values in the Loray Mill village were low even before then.
�This tremendous project will be the catalyst for millions of dollars of reinvestment in the surrounding area and will be of great economic benefit to Gastonia as a whole,� Bridgeman said.
A permanent exhibit on textile mill history and Loray�s place in it will be created. Gastonia and Gaston County have each committed to leasing about 20,000 square feet of the commercial space for 10 years, with plans to sublease it to other tenants.
The project, which is generating no tax revenue now, will also receive a 50 percent property tax deferral that is available to historic properties in the state.
Industrial loft projects have been growth catalysts in areas such as Asheville and the NoDa section of Charlotte. With the shortage of historic loft living opportunities in the Queen City, developers expect to tap into that market with commuters, Kiser said.
Preservation N.C. President Myrick Howard referred to the Loray Mill as �one of North Carolina�s most important historic places.�
�We�re thrilled that the years of hard work by many partners to preserve it have succeeded,� he said. �Loray is going to be a tremendous asset for Gastonia and the entire state for generations to come.�
You can reach Michael Barrett at 704-869-1826 or twitter.com/GazetteMike.
Loray Mill renovation plan
Total investment: $39 million ($20 million federal loan, $19 million private equity)
Units in Phase 1: 190 Class A, loft apartments
First units ready for occupancy: 2015 or 2016
Amenities: Gym, swimming pool, secured parking, self-storage space
Commercial space being upfitted: 78,000 square feet
Loray Mill chronology
1902 � The �Million Dollar Mill� is built by George Gray and John Love, whose last names are the basis of the �Loray� name. The firm Lockwood Greene of Boston designs the six-story building and surrounding village
1927 � It attains the status as the largest, single-roof textile mill in the South, operating more than 10,000 spindles and employing 3,500 workers
1929 � The property plays host to the 1929 Loray Mill Strike, led by the Communist National Textile Workers Union, which gains international attention. The conflict leads to violence and results in the death of Gastonia Police Chief Orville Aderholt and balladeer/workers� rights champion Ella May Wiggins
1993 � The mill closes after Firestone constructs a new plant in Kings Mountain
1995 � Gastonia Mayor Jick Garland appoints a citizens committee to explore ways to preserve and adaptively reuse the building
1998 � Firestone donates the building to Preservation North Carolina
2008 � Numerous failed attempts to redevelop the mill are followed by yet another one, when the nation�s economy collapses
2010 � Prospective developers apply for funding through the Federal Housing Administration
2012 � After a two-year wait, FHA financing is secured in June
2013 � The sale of the mill closes, as ownership transfers from Preservation N.C. to Loray Mill Redevelopment LLC. A construction kickoff date is set for April 9