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Frame Rating Part 2: Finding and Defining Stutter
Another update
In our previous article and video, I introduced you to our upcoming testing methodology for evaluating graphics cards based not only frame rates but on frame smoothness and the efficiency of those frame rates. I showed off some of the new hardware we are using for this process and detailed how direct capture of graphics card output allows us to find interesting frame and animation anomalies using some Photoshop still frames.
Today we are taking that a step further and looking at a couple of captured videos that demonstrate a "stutter" and walking you through, frame by frame, how we can detect, visualize and even start to measure them.
This video takes a couple of examples of stutter in games, DiRT 3 and Dishonored to be exact, and shows what they look like in real time, at 25% speed and then finally in a much more detailed frame-by-frame analysis.
Obviously this is just a couple instances of what a stutter is and there are often times less apparent in-game stutters that are even harder to see in video playback. Not to worry - this capture method is capable of seeing those issues as well and we plan on diving into the "micro" level as well shortly.
We aren't going to start talking about whose card and what driver is being used yet and I know that there are still a lot of questions to be answered on this topic. You will be hearing more quite soon from us and I thank you all for your comments, critiques and support.
Let me know below what you thought of this video and any questions that you might have.
im glad to see you guys giving this issue some coverage, Ryan. Keep up the great work!
Yeah total thumbs up on the video and taking the time to point out the frames and moving back and forth, and showing the sliver frame (the 2nd/last time you made it CLEAR so marking that sliver frame helped).
Very good, video not too long (which is good), good explanation and walk through with the green penning in very necessary.
Thank you it was a good teaching video.
So, I'm guessing you're developing automated tools that generate the quantitative benchmarks, but analysis like in the video above is for analysis/qualitative evaluation?
That is correct!
I am so glad you are testing this way.
That still with the 5 frames alone shows why this is a superior method.
What a waste of power.
Will you have some way of pointing this kind of thing out for regular benchmarks?
Would it be possible to note how many times the game stutters, and for how long? Maybe how many times scenes are rendered with unnecessary frames?
Or would that be a pain?
I really want to know how many useless frames my computer is wasting cycles on, that dont enhance my experience.
An easy way to show this, is to make fraps record all the individual frame times, and not just record the fps each second. That way you get a visual picture of the drops like in Hardocp's reviews. The green bar is the target 60fps and the red bar is the least acceptable 30fps line. If we experience any major drops like seen between 281 and 301, then you have a stuttering. Now Hardocp aren't recording all the individual frames here, but it's fortunately very easy to enable in fraps and use.
This gives us a graph like this one.
Another site with focus on this...
And this new article
I do not fully agree with Anonymous.
These graphs and results doesn't identify where and when these stutters occurs. There could be 80 frames at a period which would sound great, however they could be displayed in a stuttered pattern.
The reverse reasoning apply for dropped frames.
Nilbog, yes we are working on things to do exactly as you are asking: how many stutters, how BAD the stutters are, etc. Runts = frames that are wasted and shouldn't be used as part of a frame rate measurement.
Wow that is going to be a lot of data. This method is genius!
Its sounding like PcPer is going to have the most in-depth GPU performance info. I can't wait to read these. Thanks guys!
Are you saying that you are going to try and note how long the stutters are, like in milliseconds?
Will Runts be pointed out separately or will the FPS have an asterisk?
Well so much for the the long standing argument on the human eye not being able to see more than 30 FPS... lol
What we have here is a fake "5 FPS" in one screen, cut to megga sliver jags, so the eyeball equivalent is 6FPS (on the worst stutter frame shown).
So it certainly appears people claiming 30-60 FPS is a very noticeable difference for them have a lot of facts to back themselves up with here. Of course it would mean they don't have "supervision" or a "superfastbrain", but some lousy vidcard output... LOL
Yes, exactly where things should wind up, a reasonable explanation... yet so funny...
The scientific break down/explanation is awesome, but what is the solution to the micro stutter issue?
Personally it doesn't really bother me, I don't even notice it most of the time.
Having micro stutter identified in future card reviews (based on different games) will be awesome for those who are really bothered by the issue though, so keep up the awesome work :)
The solution will be a combination of better / smarter game engines and better / smarter graphics cards / drivers.
That's a lot of /.
Great video!
I love these type of explanatory and comparison research work!
Frame stutter that you note, I wonder if this is caused by how the 3D Engine generates all objects based on the camera view's perspective.
What I mean is, this project may be tapping into the relationship of Game Engine with GPU and Drivers. Generally, to resolve this, the whole math may be required to be re-thought. Reminds me of how 3D Image Rendering works.
I do agree that less of these cuts does make the experience more enjoyable and closer to realism.
Keep it up :)
Do you have data on how long each frame takes to render? The previous anonymous's link to the FPS histogram was interesting, but it might be interesting to see this histogram of frame rendering times over the course of the benchmark rather than averaged. I think stutter would show up as "tailouts" to long rendering times next to an otherwise tight grouping of times.
Yes, we can tell that kind of information with the tools we have here and as we continue to cover this method we'll be sharing that data.
Single stutters aren't that big of a deal really. They happen, the causes can be multiple (and usually I/O related), they're annoying but don't excessively alter the experience as long as they're not frequent
The matter at hand, in my opinion, is smooth frame delivery at a micro level: framerates that don't equate to the same level of animation smoothness, the very thing that has always been so very apparent with multi-gpu setups and that to a lesser extent also exists on single cards. That's something that can substantially alter the experience and that needs to be focused on.
I'll never be thankful enough to Scott Wasson at tech report for finally putting a magnifying glass on this long standing issue.
That's to say:
Ryan, you have equipment that allows you to delve deeper into it and with the scientific objectivity that should convince everybody;
you already mentioned that you will take it to the micro level, I just hope that that's where you will focus your work instead of on normal stutters, which are already clearly visible to everyone without slow motion videos.
Yup, we will indeed do that! For this video and step in the teaching process I thought it relevent to show a single stutter before diving into LOTS of them.
Ryan, based on the data you've gathered so far, is there any reason for people who bought AMD cards to think they should have gone nVidia (or vice versa)?
/nervous 7870 owner.
Not yet.
So I guess micro stutter and and tearing is something that comes with being on PC. When I was a strict console gamer I was not very aware of these issue. Now that I am strictly a PC gamer I have become more sensitive to them.
I have notice stutter and tearing on console system for a well. Yes, even on the Nintendo system; although the low resolution make it less noticeable or negligible. During that time, there wasn't anything better.
However, I believe no one complained about them because you could not apply any such upgrade as possibly with PC.
This is another reason why I prefer PC.
You can tune it without a corporate organization telling you otherwise.
It can be eliminated more easily on consoles because of the fixed hardware that a software developer targets.
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Micro stutter is a specially a problem wit CF, i wonder if you gone do some work on that two?
Also heavy loaded Eyefinty could be interesting to test, as ofc you can not capture all screens, you still can capture one monitor, and what i see that would be enough for testing.
I also had tons of problems in the beginning, and was on the verge of selling my second 5870, when i was reading on the WSGF of a guy that got a 3th card, and it reduced the problem for him whit in tolerable limits.
I then got a 3th 2GB Matrix, thinking, if it dose not fix my problem i just send it back and sell my second card, but yes for me, the problem also reduced significantly, now i got 6 months a go a cheap 4th 5870 Matrix to bridge me over till there are 8970s or 780s with more then 4GB mem. (as i want to use a 6000x1920 setup)
And the 4th even reduced the micro stutters even a little more, the general theory was that every card got more time to prepare for the next frame.
Now i hear that the driver for GCN 7xx0 cards is badly optimized to prevent Micro stutters, compared to my VLIW 5870 cards, nut new optimized anti micro stutter drivers are in the make.
(so i am actually glad i waited a extra generation ;-)
Now i am wondering, if you have your testbed ready for prime time, if you gone do some single, CF/SLI, Tri-CF/SLI and Quad-CF/SLI testing?
And i think it actually would be interesting to see 5870 vs 6970 vs 7970 vs 480 vs 580 vs 680, up to quad setups, to see if different generations act different, tho its properly a bid mouths to test.
Also what i think would make reading the frame-time graph better is if you would arrange the frame-time data in a graph that dose not go up and down, but starts with the longest frame-time and then the second longest frame-time.
Also display the frame-time in the graph, so that a 150ms frame is on the graph just as long as ten 15ms frames.
So in the example image/graph below Graph A and B are the same, only A is displaying the data as it occurs, ware in B the data is ordered neatly from long to short.
And properly actually easier to read for most readers.
Yeah, multi-GPU testing is in the books as well. Also, Eyefinity / Surround should be testable with this method by capturing a single screen, yes.
There is one game genre whose developers have been dealing with the matter since long ago (due to the genre gameplay nature): racing sims.
For stutter, the game simply do not display everything it can "spit". But this causes input lag.
For input lag, one common tweak is to disconnect (up to a point) the video from the controller input and from the physics simulation.
rFactor (2005) config:
Render Once Per VSync="0" // Attempts to render once per vsync; 1 = use timer, no wait; 2 = use vblank, no wait; 3 = use vblank, wait
Max Framerate="100.00000" // 0 to disable (note: positive numbers only, we always use the 'alternate' method now)
Steady Framerate Thresh="0.00000" // Allowed threshold in seconds to try to 'catch up' when falling behind using Max Framerate (use 0 for original behavior). This helps steady the framerate but may introduce more latency.
Flush Previous Frame="0" // Make sure command queue from previous frame is finished (may help prevent stuttering)
Synchronize Frame="0" // Extrapolate graphics using estimated render time in attempt to more accurately synchronize physics with graphics, 0.0 (off) - 1.0 (full)
Delay Video Swap="0" // Whether to delay video swap if card is busy - this should only be used if framerate clearly improves - otherwise it is only delaying response time
great stuff !! nobody has ever really payed attention to this !!! keep it up :)
This highlights one of the great advantages of consoles, in that developers can iron out these problems with absolute certainty prior to the game shipping.
I am a long-time PC gamer, but recently I started playing more PS3 titles simply because the overall experience (as opposed to the gee-whiz tech specs) was superior to that offered by my PC.
I have a high-powered rig: 4.8ghz i7-2600k, GTX670 OC'ed, SSD, etc. And it all looks good on paper. But when you start playing a lot of these PC games, they're really glitchy and I find myself yearning for the ability to just play the game without worrying so much. Throw in all the poorly-optimized console ports with blurry textures and we've got a real problem here.
Awesome work, Ryan!
No point it peaking at 1000FPS if it drops to a min of 1FPS. You will notice the 1FPS not the 1000FPS.
Great Work. Keep it up.
Just curious as to whether the frame rate limit feature of nvidia cards can help with screen tearing issues or make them worse?
I use a GTX680, and introducing vsync is a pain as the input lag becomes more noticeable with my high-input lag screen (a multi input catleap 27")
I've tried capping the frame rate limiter on the drivers to 59fps, but still experience screen tearing. I'd love to know how tweaking this can free up gpu resource/lower power use and also improve frame rates overall? -
God how I love you guys.
You make my job so, so much easier!
Great Idea !
In time can you take it to the max. ?
Since you seem to have some Programming experience can you develop a "Benchmark" or "Testing Tool" that produces the issues you seek to detect (IE: "frame smoothness", "frame and animation anomalies", "stutter", "runts", and "other").
Have the 'Capture Computer' hold a copy of the "True Output" and compare that to what is captured. Via USB you can send a "Fault Detected Signal" to the "Benchmark Computer" and your Program can vary Parameters in THAT particular Subroutine to fully explore (and detect) those Faults.
Sort of like a "Feedback Loop" for Auto-Focus (in a Camera) that finds parts of your Program that successfully detect Faults and make a Report of what works and what does not detect Problems.
Maybe you could then develop Theories and ANSWERS as to exactly which Problems occur and under what circumstances (along with knowing which Video Card combinations are better, or worse).
It may turn out to be something simple (like moving two Textures at once) or much more complicated (moving more Textures than the Buffers can hold AND also trying to redraw the Screen, etc.).
Thanks for your efforts so far and good luck on your Journey.
Also see:
Inside the second with Nvidia's frame capture tools -- Display-level reckoning for GPUs
http://techreport.com/review/24553/inside-the-second-with-nvidia-frame-c... .
Can these tests be done on a CRT monitor vs Panel just to rule out any possibilities related to monitor technologies?
It would be great to see if there's any % difference between the two considering a CRT is absolutely lag free.


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Date(s) - 02/06/2014
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
College Activities Center
The award winning and critically acclaimed Imago Theatre production FROGZ! comes to the West Virginia University at Parkersburg stage as part of the college's Distinguished Performance Series. The performance takes place Thursday, Feb. 6 at 7 p.m. in the College Activities Center. This show is recommended for families, including children ages 4 and up.
Tickets at the door are $10 for adults and $5 for students and children. WVU Parkersburg students may purchase special advance tickets for themselves and one guest for $2. Tickets are available in the college business office (8 a.m. – 4 p.m.) or by calling 304-424-8223. All tickets at the door will be regular price.


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Author Notes: A Food and Wine issue a few months back had a great recipe for crispy rosemary potatoes where the potato chunks were boiled until tender and finished at a high heat to be super crisp. While this isn't a new technique, I was shocked at how much better than regular roasted potatoes these were. I decided to try this on sunchokes, which I often want to use but I'm not interested in pureed veggies (after making baby food for months especially). I added a bright gremolata to balance the rich nuttiness of the sunchokes. I'd serve this with whole roasted fish, or lighter meats. —meganvt01
Food52 Review: This is a great technique for when sunchokes are in season. The insides are so tender it is almost creamy, while the edges are delightful bits of crispy goodness. Topping them off with the gremolata bring everything to life. The vibrant parsley and lemon with a bit of a punch from the garlic are wonderful with the toasty nuts. - biffbourgeois —Stephanie Bourgeois
Serves: 4
Roasted sunchokes
pounds sunchokes, peeled and cut into 3/4" chunks
cup olive oil
Hazelnut gremolata
tablespoons hazelnuts, toasted and chopped
tablespoons Italian parsley, chopped
teaspoon lemon zest, minced
small clove garlic, pressed or finely minced
- Add 2 tablespoons of kosher salt to a stock pot of boiling water. Add the sunchokes and boil until tender, about 15 - 20 minutes depending on the size of your chunks. Drain the sunchokes and pour out the water in the pot. Add the sunchokes back to the warmed pot to steam off the excess water. Add the olive oil and toss, season with kosher salt and pepper.
- In a pre-heated 425 degree oven, cook the sunchokes on a baking sheet unti crispy. Another 15 - 20 more minutes.
- Toss all of the gremolata ingredients together and season with salt and pepper. Serve the sunchokes with gremolata sprinkled over top.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Most Impressive Dinner Party Side
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Root Vegetable Side


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BOSTON (AP) Anthony Rizzo scored the tiebreaking run in the ninth, then endured some uncertain moments in the bottom of the inning before he could celebrate.
He and his Cubs teammates lingered on the field until a replay review confirmed the on-field decision: Rizzo had caught Luis Valbuena's throw from third base to first on a grounder in time to get Dustin Pedroia for the final out.
''It was nerve-wracking,'' Rizzo said after Chicago's 2-1 win over the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday night, ''especially with Big Papi coming up.''
Had the call been overturned, David Ortiz would have batted with runners at first and second and two outs.
''I didn't even see the replay,'' said Pedroia, who gestured in frustration after crossing the bag. ''I feel like I was right there. It was bang-bang. I don't know.''
Rizzo started the ninth with a single, went to third on a double by Starlin Castro and scored on Valbuena's sacrifice fly off Koji Uehara (3-2). Mookie Betts made the catch in medium right field, but his throw was off line and Rizzo scored easily.
''Oh, gosh, what a great at-bat,'' Cubs manager Rick Renteria said. ''He fell behind (and) was just still able to put enough of the barrel on the baseball to get it deep enough to score the run.''
The double was the 37th extra-base hit for Castro, who entered the game tied with Troy Tulowitzki of the Colorado Rockies for the major league lead among shortstops with 36.
Pedro Strop (1-3) pitched a perfect eighth and Hector Rondon worked the ninth for his 11th save in 13 chances.
Boston continued to struggle offensively one night after getting no hits against Jake Arrieta for 7 2-3 innings until Stephen Drew singled. The Red Sox ended that game with season lows of two hits and three base runners in a 2-0 loss. In their last five games, they've scored more than two runs just once.
''It gets a little frustrating at times, particularly with the number of opportunities we continue to create,'' manager John Farrell said. ''And that's the thing that we have to continue to focus on internally, is that the opportunities are there and yet at times we're not cashing in.''
But their dominant home pitching persisted.
For the 14th straight game at Fenway Park, the Red Sox allowed no more than three runs, extending their franchise record. The last longer streak in the American League was 15 games by the Chicago White Sox, the last game in 1966 and the first 14 in 1967.
The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the fifth against Edwin Jackson. Jackie Bradley Jr. doubled and scored from third on a single by Pedroia.
The Cubs tied it in the sixth after going hitless against Clay Buchholz since Chris Coghlan led off the game with a single.
''Both Jax and Buchholz were grinding it out against each other,'' Renteria said.
Justin Ruggiano started the sixth with a double, moved to third on a single by Darwin Barney and scored when Coghlan grounded into a force play at second base. Ryan Sweeney's single put runners at first and third, but the threat ended when Rizzo lined out to first baseman Mike Napoli, who stepped on first to double up Sweeney.
Chicago threatened again in the seventh when a single by Castro, a passed ball and a hit batter put runners at first and third with one out. Andrew Miller replaced Buchholz and struck out pinch-hitter Junior Lake and Ruggiano to end the inning.
NOTES: Boston used an all-rookie outfield of LF Brock Holt, CF Bradley and RF Betts. Holt played only the infield in limited time in the majors the past two seasons. Betts was mostly a minor league second baseman but has played only the outfield in his three games since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket. ... Jackson pitched six innings, just the second time he's lasted that long in his last eight starts. ... The Red Sox sent LHP Rich Hill from Triple-A Pawtucket to the Los Angeles Angels for cash and released LHP Chris Capuano, who was designated for assignment last Wednesday. ... Boston 3B Xander Bogaerts is hitless in his last 19 at-bats after going 0 for 4. ... Travis Wood (7-6) faces Boston's Brandon Workman (1-1) on Wednesday night in the finale of the three-game interleague series.


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Spring Football Preview: The Defense
By ODU Athletics
March 18, 2013
On Wednesday, March 20 Old Dominion University football will begin spring practice. The Monarchs went 11-2 in their last season in the CAA and will begin transitioning to FBS in 2013.
The Defense
The defense will be led by new defensive coordinator Rich Nagy. Nagy joins the Monarchs after spending last season as the defensive boss at Western Michigan.
"The two biggest things is effort and to compete. I'll harp on those two all the time," Nagy said. "Those are two things you can control, there are certain things you can't control, but those are two that you can, and that's something I want to see from everyone."
This will be Nagy's first chance to coach the Monarchs on the field and implement his defense.
"Working with them this spring is extremely important. The players need to understand what we're trying to accomplish," Nagy said. "Once they understand the concept of the defense, everything else will come easier."
The Monarchs return six starters from a season ago, but lose All-CAA linebacker Craig Wilkins, and a pair of safeties in Devon Simmons and Carvin Powell.
Defensive Line
Nate Barnes
Galen Evans
Jacob Green
Dominique Guinn-Bailey
Jonathan McLean
Malik Gumbs
Chris Smith
Alex Johnson
Darius Wilkins
Andrew Everett
Anderson Miller
Terrell Reid
Preston Smith
Kanyia Anderson
Gary Scruggs
Scott Wiggins
The Monarchs lost two starters from the 2012 CAA Championship team, including All-CAA performer Chris Burnette and Erik Saylor, who played both defensive tackle and end. Dominique Guinn-Bailey started six games and his elevated play allowed ODU to move Saylor to the outside. A native of Portsmouth, Guinn-Bailey recorded 52 tackles en route to All-CAA honors.
"Dom has a lot of ability, it started to surface as the season came on. He matured and started to understand the concepts of the defense," defensive line coach Bill Dee said. "He finished strong and had a great year. We look for the same improvement this year."
Preston Smith returns after starting 11 games as a sophomore at defensive end. He recorded 50 tackles and notched three sacks.
"As the year went on, he started to show some signs of where he can be. His best football is ahead of him, I hope this spring we speed up the improvement," Dee said. "We're looking for him to let it go. If he does that, the ceiling for him is really high."
Junior Nate Barnes played in 12 games and also had a strong off-season in conditioning workouts. Freshmen Galen Evans saw action at defensive end and tackle, respectively, in their first seasons. Everett recorded 19 tackles and two sacks and played in all 13 games, earning two starts. Evans' season was cut short due to an injury, but recorded 16 tackles and two sacks.
Mid-year transfers Kanyia Anderson (Oscar Smith) will compete at defensive end.
"Will see how they progress. We will have a lot of competition, which will be good. I think that competition always makes you better," Dee said.
Larry Alston III
John Darr
Rodney Hunter
Rob Mahan
Caleb Taylor
Neal-Anthony Hale
Mike Lennox
TJ Ricks
D.J. Simon
Anthony Wilson
Julien Randolph
T.J. Armstrong
ODU returns its second and third leading tacklers from last season but loses the schools all-time leader in just about every defensive category in Craig Wilkins. The Monarchs will look to a plethora of players to fill the void but also count on John Darr to pick up the slack.
Taylor finished second last year in tackles with 87 and tied Wilkins with a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss. He took over the starting linebacker role in the fifth game of the year and had four games with double-digit tackles.
"Caleb played really well for us this year. He started taking more command of the position as the season went along," linebackers coach Corey Hetherman said. "He did a great job in the off-season condition program. We're asking him to step up and be a leader of the unit. This is a big spring for him."
Darr started all 13 games and was the third leading tackler on last year's squad with 75 tackles and 10.0 tackles for loss.
"Last winter and spring he really stepped up and made big improvements in the weight room. The biggest thing was his football knowledge, he has a firm knowledge of the whole scheme and that made him a better player," Hetherman said. "John played well for us last year and played almost every play for us last year."
Larry Alston III is penciled in to start at the third linebacker spot but there will be several players competing for playing time
"Larry worked hard in the weight room, he put on some good weight. He's the guy right now but that position is wide open. Larry is very athletic, physical. When it starts to click he plays fast, and when he plays fast we can be a very good defense," Hetherman said.
Rob Mahan and TJ Ricks are two guys who will vie for playing time. Mahan appeared in five games last season while Ricks redshirted. Ricks was able to put hard work in the weight room and film room and looks to put that on the field for the spring.
D.J Simon was brought in as a mid-year transfer from Navarro College while T.J. Armstrong graduated from Clarion Area High School (Pa.) early to enroll in January.
"We brought D.J. into compete for a starting position. We see him as an inside linebacker so he'll compete with John and Caleb, but that being said, if there the best three, we'll find a way to get all three on the field," Hetherman said. "We expect him to play on defense and special teams. This is a big spring for him."
Armstrong was a two-way star for Clarion Area and earned all-state honors.
"T.J. Armstrong graduated early and has put on good weight since he's been here. This is a very different defense for him, so it will be good for him to get a jump start on everything."
Malique Johnson
Fellonte Misher
Paul Morant
Andre Simmons
Brandon Bacchus
Corey Taylor
"Its all about competition, we're raising the bar in how much we compete on a daily basis. I think we did a great job in the weight room, the strength coaches did a great job there. Now its time to take all of that work to the field," Nagy said.
All five returners at the safety position played in at least nine games during the 2012 season. Senior to be Paul Morant has the most experience of the group, has he played in all 13 games last year, including three starts. Morant had 50 tackles last year including a career-high tying 11 tackles at James Madison. Andre Simmons played in nine games and had two starts. He recorded 31 tackles and had the game-clinching interception in the win over New Hampshire.
"There are a lot of kids that played, unfortunately there were lapses in judgment at times that we have to get better at," Nagy said. "We've had guys that have had good off-seasons. They all did good things in workouts. They want to do a good job and want to be the leaders out there."
True freshmen Malique Johnson contributed on both defense and special teams. Misher played in all 12 games, recording a start at Richmond while Johnson appeared in 11 games and started three. Redshirt freshman Brandon Bacchus played in nine games, playing primarily on special teams.
Corner Back
Aaron Evans
T.J. Cowart
Eriq Lewis
Reggie Owens
Akil Jones
Keenen Terry
Rob Thompson
Jevon Neal
The Monarchs return both starting corners in T.J. Cowart and Reggie Owens received a lot of playing time. Cowart led the group with 39 tackles and an interception while Owens had 31 stops and recorded two sacks, both coming in the Villanova game. Evans tied with Cowart for a corner back best three pass breakups.
"I expect it to be a confident group with so many guys that have seen game action," secondary coach Marc Bacote said. "We're looking for them to add some leadership. The system is there for them to play fast, to be in the right spot and make a lot of plays."
Jevon Neal was a mid-year transfer from Blinn College and ran a 4.39 40-yard dash in off-season conditioning, a team-best. Rob Thompson also came in during the mid-year and is from St. Joseph's High School in New Jersey.
"Jevon brings a certain toughness and confidence, he's a guy that is going to push the others and that just makes everyone else better," Bacote said. "Rob is very athletic, he has the height and length, being an early enrollee from high school, he has to get used to the speed of the game."
Stay tuned to ODUSports.com for tomorrow's preview on the Offense.


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From Travel + Leisure:
"With local legends like Ben and Jerry and jam-band Phish, this lakefront town is known for its hippie vibe. And while breweries, coffee shops (rated No. 9), bike paths, and live music venues solidify its college with a capital C identity, a thriving artisanal food scene suggests that Burlington is growing up. Get a taste at City Market, where you can buy Strafford Creamery Ice Cream, made fresh each week, and, if you arrive around 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday or Saturday, a loaf of the highly coveted Gérard Rubaud's bread." Complete listing >>


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I have a column in a SQL Server 7.0 table that allows NULL values. I want this column to be unique when it has a value other than NULL. What's the best way to program this behavior? If I put a UNIQUE constraint on the column, I can include only one record that has a NULL value. I'm using a trigger to enforce this restriction, but can you recommend a simpler way to ensure that all non-NULL values are unique?
SQL Server has no built-in mechanism to prohibit duplicates except NULLs, so you need to implement a custom CHECK constraint to enforce this restriction. For example, Listing 1, page 64, shows a code snippet that enforces the kind of integrity you're looking for. In SQL Server 2000, you can use INSTEAD OF triggers as well to carry out this enforcement. For information about INSTEAD OF triggers, see Itzik Ben-Gen, T-SQL Black Belt, "Tricks with INSTEAD OF Triggers," December 2000, InstantDoc ID 15828; and Kalen Delaney, Inside SQL Server, "INSTEAD OF Triggers on Views," December 2000, InstantDoc ID 15791, and Inside SQL Server, "INSTEAD OF Triggers," November 2000, InstantDoc ID 15524.


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Cleavage Creek Wine Cellar to donate 10 percent of the price of each bottle sold to fund breast cancer research.
Wine company donates for research
Post A Job
Posting your nonprofit job with the Philanthropy Journal is an easy, cost-effective way to fill your current job vacancies.
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Veteran board member Creighton Blackwell and newly minted board chair Luke Weingarten discuss nonprofit boards, engaging stakeholders, and why you don't always need a preponderance of data to know what's right.
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Indiana University alumnus Doug Hamilton and his partner of 35 years, Don Vossburg, create new $2.2 million scholarship for LGBTQ students, IEG names Peter Laatz as its new Global Managing Director, Keep America Beautiful is teaming up to help mobilize affiliate organizations and volunteers across the country to clean up these shared public spaces during shutdown, and more.


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He was 78.
Sheehan was born in Roosevelt, N.Y. on June 21, 1933. After graduating from Brooklyn Tech High School he attended the Merchant Marine Academy, graduating in 1955. He spent four years in the Merchant Marine, then went to work for Western Electric.
He married Constance "Connie" Beach on Dec. 29, 1962, and the couple moved to San Diego. He went to work for Univac (now Lockheed Martin) and stayed with the company for 30 years, retiring as a principal applications analyst.
They settled in Point Loma where sons Larry III and Mike were born. In 1980, Sheehan joined with his friend, Matt Masterson, to reactivate Troop 500 at St. Agnes Catholic Church. Troop 500 had existed in Point Loma from the 1950s through the 1970s.
He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 500 for seven years. Under his leadership, the troop became known for the large number of Scouts who earned the rank of Eagle Scout, including his two sons.
Troop 500 had a strong program of outdoor activities, and he developed a lifelong love of the outdoors and of hiking. He accompanied the troop on annual trips to the Grand Canyon and the Colorado River, as well as to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico and to the Sierra, including an ascent of the 14,505-foot Mount Whitney, the tallest mountain in the continental United States.
The Boy Scouts presented him with the District Order of Merit in recognition of his services to Scouting.
After his retirement he developed heart problems and underwent quadruple bypass surgery in the 1990s. His doctor told him to choose a physical goal as part of his recovery, so he decided to climb Mount Whitney again.
Enlisting Masterson as his coach, he undertook a training program, and one year to the day after his heart surgery, he stood atop Mount Whitney for the second time.
His story served as an inspiration to other heart patients.
In addition to his scouting activities, he served as president of Point Loma Little League and as a lector at St. Agnes Catholic Church.
He is survived by Connie, his wife of 49 years; sons Larry and Mike; daughter-in-law Jessie; five grandchildren; and sister Alice Whyte.
A rosary and funeral Mass was held at St. Agnes Catholic Church on April 3, followed by interment at El Camino Memorial Cemetery.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Vincent de Paul Village, 1501 Imperial Ave, San Diego, 92101, or by visiting www.svdpv.org.


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Company divests credit services unit as part of its turnaround plan
At the end of October, the company had entered into an agreement with Dedagroup, an Italian information technology services company, for the sale of CSC's consulting and systems integration services part of its business in Italy.
"This transaction advances CSC's turnaround by reshaping our portfolio and enabling the company to focus on next-generation technology solutions and services," said CSC president and CEO, Mike Lawrie.
After-tax proceeds from the sale will be $750 million to $800 million, the company said. CSC intends to use $300 million to $400 million to repurchase shares and contribute $300 million to $400 million to its pension plans. the rest will be used for general corporate purchases, the company said.
Its credit services unit is the largest independent U.S. consumer credit reporting agency, owning credit files in 15 Midwestern and Central U.S. states representing 20 percent of the U.S. population.
The unit's current fiscal year revenue figure is $230 million, with $100 million in operating income, and earnings per share of 40 cents.
The transaction should close by the end of the year, after regulatory reviews are concluded.
About the Author
Mark Hoover is a senior staff writer with Washington Technology. You can contact him at email@example.com, or connect with him on Twitter at @mhooverWT.
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Send Us Your Snow Pics for Our Gallery
Surprise, surprise, it's WINTER! We want to celebrate the snow by featuring your photos in our online photo gallery. Whether a snow-laden landscape, a fluff-covered front lawn, a snow angel, or a snowman - we want to see them all.
Send us your best pics and we'll include them in our gallery.
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This is a hands-on lab activity about the properties and states of water. Learners will complete activities using different liquids to understand the three states of matter, explain how the high heat capacity and abundance of liquid water makes life... (View More) on Earth possible, and understand that water containing salts and minerals has different properties than fresh water. They will graph data to analyze and articulate results and conclusions. The lab is set up as three stations that small groups of students rotate through; it can also be done as demonstrations (e.g., for younger students). Background information, common preconceptions, a glossary and more is included. This activity is part of the Aquarius Hands-on Laboratory Activities. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students
In this hands-on experiment, students will investigate the basic principle of photosynthesis and learn how light intensity diminishes as a function of distance from the light source. Questions help learners connect these two ideas to determine if... (View More) photosynthesis could occur at Saturn. (View Less)
Materials Cost: $10 - $20 per group of students


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Practical Stress Analysis & Finite Element Methods
Three day course -
December 1st, 2nd and 3rd 2009.
****This course has now reached maximum capacity, and no further registrations can be taken for the December event.****
The course will run again on March 9th at the same location.
Click here to view details of the March course.
FEA has become widely used and universally accepted in many industry sectors. In order to derive maximum benefit from the available technology, engineers should learn about the many strengths of numerical techniques. At the same time, recommendations on how to avoid the inevitable pitfalls will prove invaluable at a later date.
NAFEMS, the only independent not-for-profit organisation with the aim of promoting the effective and reliable use of FEA, addresses this requirement by providing this three day example-driven, practical course. The course offers excellent guidance on how to judge which approximations are acceptable and appropriate for solving a wide range of practical problems. Of equal importance is the manner in which the results are interpreted. Advice is provided which allows the correct decisions to be taken, based on results which are known to be reliable. Interaction is encouraged throughout the course, with the planning and design of a complete FEA project and examples of simple hand calculations, mesh designs and solution designs being set for the class to complete. The course is completely code independent.
Who Should Attend?
This course is aimed at practising engineers who wish to learn more about how to start applying finite element techniques to their particular problems in the most effective manner. The material that is presented is independent of any particular software package, making it ideally suited to current and potential users of all commercial finite element software systems. This course is a must for all engineers aiming to use FEA as a reliable predictive tool for thermal, stiffness and stress analysis.
The course is open to both members and non-members of NAFEMS.
Course Programme
Day 1
The purpose of the first day is to revise the basics of stress analysis - the priority being the treatment of static problems with the use of free-body diagrams. These same diagrams will be essential to a well-planned Finite Element Analysis as they highlight the load path within the structure - this is paramount to our understanding of the problem and the generation of a reliable computer model.
- Units and Conversions
- Weight, Mass and Inertia
- Free-Body Diagrams
- Direct Stress and Strain
- Shear Stress and Strain
- Bending Stress
- Thermal Stress Effects
- Properties of Materials
- Basics of Fatigue and Impact
- Stiffness Calculations
Day 2
The purpose of the second day is to obtain an overview of what a modern-day Finite Element system can provide in terms of solution capabilities, treatment of non-linear effects and the likely accuracy that we can expect. Coupled to this overview, the internal workings of the method are exposed by solving simple problems in a long-handed fashion to properly undertand the primary unknowns, the reactions at constrained nodes, and the methods for calculating strains and stresses.
- Basic Theory of FEA
- Displacement and Load Control
- Introduction to 1D FEA Problems
- Introduction to 2D FEA Problems
- Limitations of Linear Analysis
- Boundary Non-Linearity
- Material Non-Linearity
- Geometric Non-Linearity
- Introduction to 3D Problems
- Processing CAD Data for FEA
Day 3
Day three examines the use of the Finite Element system in an industrial setting. This requires that sensible decisions are made in order to predict a realistic result in a reasonable amount of time and effort. Understanding the problem is paramount and a wide range of problems are solved in order to illustrate the changes in result that can occur when different assumptions are used. The third day also covers a basic introduction to contact and plasticity.
- Design of Pressure Vessel FEA
- Fast and Accurate Meshing Methods
- Implementation of Natural Loads
- Design of Realistic Constraints
- Balanced Loads/Minimum Constraint
- Statically Determinate Reactions
- Application of Material Models
- Hints and Tips for Contact Models
- Worked Example with Plasticity
- Results Interpretation and Checking
Course Tutor
Bob Johnson has presented courses on behalf of NAFEMS for over 10 years, and is recognised as one of the leading figures in the engineering analysis community in the UK. Bob is a well-respected consultant with a wealth of industrial experience.
His lively presentation style puts over the key concepts in a manner which involves participants fully in the course material.
He is also a qualified NAFEMS Registered Analyst at Advanced Level. In addition to being a regular contributor at international conferences and Technical Editor of the BENCHmark magazine .
The Legacy Falcon Hotel
Chapel Street
Tel: 0844 411 9005
Website: http://www.legacy-hotels.co.uk/legacy-thefalcon/
Ideally located in the heart of Stratford Upon Avon, birthplace of William Shakespeare, is The Legacy Falcon Hotel a 16th Century Inn. The hotel is just five minutes walk from Stratford-upon-Avon train station and also has free on-site car parking.
We have secured a limited number of rooms at the venue hotel, at a special rate of £80, including VAT on a bed & breakfast basis. Please contact the hotel directly, quoting reservation number 61010 , to book rooms at the discounted rate. This reduced rate is applicable to NAFEMS delegates until mid of November.
Event Type: Course
Location: Stratford Upon Avon UK
Date: December 1, 2009
An opportunity to ensure that your organisation gets maximum benefit from using FEA
Events - Cancellation Policy
Please note NAFEMS cancellation policy for all UK events is as follows:-
- Cancellation up to 3 weeks before the event date: free of charge;
- Cancellation up to 1 week before the event date: 75% of registration fee non-refundable;
- Cancellation up to 1 week before the event date: all seminar credits non-refundable;
- No show at the event: 100% of registration fee non-refundable;
NAFEMS will discuss the possibility of transferring to an alternative event/course, however an administration charge will be applicable.
This policy is subject to change.


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Highwheeling at Volunteer Park, Seattle, WA
Finally got my 56 inch highwheel back in commission. My goal...do an Ironman as-if it were 1890...the last big year of the highwheel bicycle, i.e., only using technology readily available in 1890.
However, apparently the real 24 hour record was set in 1887 by a 5' 6" 147lb rider named Stillman G. Whittaker a 19th century highwheel bicycle and early safety bicycle champion. He rode 323 miles in 24 hours on the road on his highwheel.
It turns out that the record was set by a Czech rider and highwheel bicycle builders, Josef Zimovčák, in 1996. He covered 324.67 miles (officially measured), breaking a record held for over 109 years!
Updated March 17th, 2009
It looks like in 2002 Manfred Cizek of Vienna, Austria broke Josef Zimovčák's 1996 record of 324.67 miles ridden in 24 hours. Manfred seems to have ridden 339 miles on a highwheel in 24 hours!
I am deeply intrigued by the athletes of the Victorian Age. Pushing the limits of what was possible on machines that were the cutting edge of technology. What a time.
I believe it is a better way to cycle, more comfortable, more analogous to walking or running, more upright, more human.
BFT...looking for a sponsor for his 1890 Ironman dream...
Labels: 1890, fixed_gear_bicycle, highwheel, ironman, volunteer_park


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Girl Scouts of Central & Western Massachusetts Council and the Heifer Learning Center at Overlook Farm is offering a World Neighbors Badge workshop for Junior Scouts on Saturday, April 10 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Juliette Scouts in grades 4 & 5 may also register.
Program info: Your neighbors are not just the ones who live nearby. Your neighbors are also the people who live all over the globe. Learn about them as you work on some of the requirements to earn your World Neighbors Badge.
The program includes free time in the museum after the program.
Groups may bring a bag lunch and eat in a designated area in the museum.
An afternoon session will be added if the morning session fills.
Troops and Individual Scouts may register. Individual Scouts must attend with an adult.
Event # 4718
Registration cost is $20 per Scout.
Registration will end when 15 Scouts have registered or on March 12.
To register: Contact Heifer Learning Center at 508-886-2221 or email@example.com.


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Nov. 25, 2006
BOSTON, Mass. - Sophomore Jimmy Bartolotta enjoyed one of the best offensive performances in MIT history, leading the Engineers to a wild, 94-81, victory at Suffolk University, Saturday afternoon. Rookie Erich Bracht also supplied a tremendous effort in the win, while the Cardinal and Gray finished the game 35-of-43 from the free-throw line.
After struggling from the field in its last two starts, MIT rebounded in a decisive way on Saturday by hitting all five of its first-half three's and building a 25-8 lead midway through the opening period. Bartolotta paced the hot start with three triples, while Will Mroz and Billy Johnson also hit from deep.
The Engineers shot 64% in the first half, but led just 55-50 at the break as Suffolk proved resilient with solid offensive play of its own. Brian Small scored all 19 of his points in the first stanza and John Murphy added 11, while Bartolotta scored 21 in a half for the second time this season in leading MIT.
Although the Rams stayed within striking distance all afternoon, the Engineers remained on top with a combination of post play and execution at the free-throw line. Tech scored 35 points at the charity stripe and closed the tilt by shooting 81.4%.
Bartolotta scored over 30 for the second time this season, going 11-of-15 from the floor and 11-of-12 at the line. In addition to a career-best scoring total, Bartolotta added nine rebounds, four assists and three steals.
The Engineers also authored two double-doubles against Suffolk, highlighted by a 24-point, 11-board effort from freshman Erich Bracht. The 24 markers was a career-high for the rookie and gave Bracht his second consecutive double-double. Johnson also reached the milestone for the first time in his career, scoring 13 points and hauling in 11 boards.
Brad Schoonmaker scored 24 points to lead the Rams, while Small and Murphy each finished with 19. Suffolk's 81 points were the most surrendered by MIT in a winning effort since the Engineers grabbed an 88-87 victory over Babson in 1997.


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Bicycles for Sale
Shore Cycling Sports, LLC is the most modern, full service bicycle shop in the New Jersey Shore Area! Owned and operated by riders with a passion for the sport. Our goal at SCS is to provide the best product offering, support and service in all NJ. SCS is the perfect fit for the seasoned bicyclist or the beginner looking for bicycles for sale. Our mission is to exceed your expectations!
Shore Cycling Sports, LLC has on display over 250 bicycles that you can touch and ride. Each bicycle is immediately available should you wish to take it with you NOW! We have road, mountain, sport comfort, hybrids, beach cruisers, BMX, adult tricyles, tandems and much, much more. Plus we have all the accessories, including clothing and shoes. If you need a bike carrier for your car, we have it. If you need a trailer for your child, we have it. Please take a few minutes to browse our bicycles and accessories. We have something for everyone at Shore Cycling Sports!
Need Your Bike Tuned or Repaired?
SCS maintains a complete full service repair shop, equipped with the most modern tools and staffed seven days a week with fully trained mechanics.


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Good Design Makes the Difference.
We believe good design can be as important as the service you provide or the product you sell. Our design skills help our clients connect with new audiences, acquire customers and manage relationships with current customers.
15 years of experienceOur Chicago-based graphic design firm has over 15 years of experience working in small design boutiques, marketing, publishing and advertising agencies. In short, we bring big agency and publishing experience to mid-sized and small businesses by producing effective, engaging and award-winning creative. We work in both web and print to give you one consistent look.We integrate creativity and technology to produce the perfect solution for your needs and budget—and always on time. Our team has design experience in both print and website communication for large and small clients. Our design expertise in both web and print gives you one consistent look for your whole campaign.


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11/3 - 12/15/06
matthew cusick
@ lisa dent gallery
nov. 3 - dec. 15, 2006
Matthew Cusick was born in New York City. He graduated from The Cooper Union with a BFA in 1993. Cusick's paintings were first exhibited in New York in 1997 at the Andrew Kreps Gallery. Since then, Cusick has had solo exhibitions at the Kent Gallery in New York and the Lisa Dent Gallery in San Francisco as well as exhibitions at the Mark Moore Gallery in Los Angeles and the Museum of Contemporary Art, San Diego... He now teaches at Cooper Union.
matthew cusick illustrates by interleaving maps
and some other stuff
the show includes three big works on panel.
depicting freeways, natural landscapes, mystical beasts
in person, life sized, you see the full picture
and the details
the show also includes "bird of pray" and two other works pinned onto the wall
worth checking out in person. lisadent is at 660 mission at 3d (around the corner from the sfmoma).
view my photo set or slideshow for a few more photos?
words and pictures by billy o'callaghan
full disclosure: i'm interning at the gallery this quarter. {moscomment}
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Drew Heughens Skater Profile
Sponsors: Daykare Skateboard Co., Lakai (flow), Matix (flow), Simplicity Board Shop
Hometown: Howell MI, Stance: ?, Age: , Status: Am
Last Update: Tuesday, May 17, 2005 Submit an Update
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- Contest Results - over a decade's worth of contest history.


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Rachel Bilson: Art of Elysium Gala 2011
Rachel Bilson hits The Art of Elysium's 4th Annual Black Tie "Heaven" Charity Gala on Saturday (January 15) at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
The 29-year-old actress is part of the celeb host committee, along with stars such as Gerard Butler, Kate Bosworth, and Sophia Bush.
Inside the bash, which featured dinner and a Vogue fashion show, Rachel met up with fellow actress Amy Smart.
The day before, Rachel was spotted doing some shopping at Chanel.
FYI: Rachel is wearing a Zac Posen dress and carrying a Ferragamo gold leather miniaudiere. She finished her look with Brian Atwood silver mirrored leather "Martina" pumps.


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Definition of agio
n. - The premium or percentage on a better sort of money when it is given in exchange for an inferior sort. The premium or discount on foreign bills of exchange is sometimes called agio. 2
The word "agio" uses 4 letters: A G I O.
No direct anagrams for agio found in this word list.
Words formed by adding one letter before or after agio (in bold), or to agio in any order:
l - logia m - amigo imago n - gonia s - agios
Shorter words found within agio:
ag ago ai go goa
List shorter words within agio, sorted by length
Words formed from any letters in agio, plus an optional blank or existing letter
List all words starting with agio, words containing agio or words ending with agio
All words formed from agio by changing one letter
Other words with the same letter pairs: ag gi io
Browse words starting with agio by next letter
Previous word in list: aginners
Next word in list: agios
Some random words: ipecac oafish covin ufological gribble llama hm
This is not a dictionary, it's a word game wordfinder.
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Privacy and Cookies Policy - Share - © Copyright 2004-2018 Morewords.com - 22.558mS


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4720 Kensington Drive
San Diego, CA 92116
Welcome to the Fraternal Spiritualist Church website.
Schedule of Services:
For more information on speakers and events, please visit the corresponding pages for Sunday Church or Reverend Millie's "Wednesday Night Forum".
Having Trouble Finding Something?Try taking a look at the Site Map, or try contacting the Webmaster.
|Copyright © Fraternal Spiritualist Church | Report a Problem | Site Map | Contact


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I-Naz - Leave This Ghetto Behind (Little Kids Cursing) [Unsigned Hype]
"Leave This Getto Behind featuring Quan Singz
Directed by BlueCollar Television @Hollywoodthepro
Produced by @newdayworld
written by @inazmusic and @quansingz
download song here
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


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Ladies, celebrate your Baltimore Ravens fandom in ultimate style with this Audrey T-shirt from Touch by Alyssa Milano. Show up to the game with a look that will catch everyone's eye in this stylish V-neck. It features a Baltimore Ravens graphic on the front chest along with a burnout pattern on the back. Stay up-to-date in your Baltimore Ravens apparel with this chic tee!
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Mr. Speaker, I must admit that there are two reasons for me being on my feet today. First, I am happy to inform the House of the notable achievement of a group of individuals from my riding.
Huron—Bruce is home to, among other places, the small hamlet of Glammis. Although the small population may not place Glammis into the category of a major metropolitan centre, what the citizenry lacks in numbers they more than make up for in spirit.
As a result of that determination, next month the Glammis Flyers Broomball Team is destined for the National Men's Broomball Championships in Regina.
This brings me to my second reason for rising today. At the risk of sounding a little boastful, I am pleased to inform the House that the Glammis Flyers last year won the prestigious Ontario Broomball Championship, defeating teams from Barrie, Teviotdale, Arthur and Ottawa. They were all casualties of the Flyers as they steamed along the road to the national championships.
If the success of the past 50 years is any indication of what lies ahead for the Glammis Flyers, I am confident that they will once again be victorious. I wish the entire team all the best in their endeavours.


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A man bitten by a shark while spear fishing on the NSW mid-north coast has undergone surgery.
Paramedics were called to a boat ramp to meet the man who had been bitten by a grey nurse shark at Green Island off South West Rocks shortly before 5pm (AEDT) on Sunday.
He was taken to Port Macquarie Hospital and underwent surgery on Monday to puncture wounds on his leg and is expected to make a full recovery.
Fish Rock Dive Centre instructor Jake Wilton, who dives with grey nurse sharks daily in the Green Island critical habitat area, said they were placid.
He said the man who was attacked had a dead fish attached to his weight belt, which attracted the shark.
"It wasn't an attack, the shark was just hungry," Mr Wilton said.
"I dive with the sharks every day and I've never had a problem.
"Spear fisherman need to make sure they attach dead fish to floatlines, not to their weight belts.
"Otherwise it's like dangling a sausage in front of a hungry kookaburra."


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Shonda Rhimes: So Much in Store For Season FiveSteve Marsi at . Comments
The woman behind Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice recently gave E! tons of gossip, rumors and spoilers for the upcoming fifth season.
Let's dispense with the intro and get right to it. Check out what Shonda Rhimes had to say, then sound off with comments and reactions:
Q: Where is the story taking us next season?
Shonda Rhimes: I think a lot of the focus is going to be on the five core interns we've gotten to know — who aren't interns anymore — George (T.R. Knight), Izzie (Katherine Heigl), Cristina (Sandra Oh), Alex (Justin Chambers) and Meredith (Ellen Pompeo). I really want to focus on them as they deal with the next step in their training. We're also going to spend a lot of time with Mark (Eric Dane), Derek (Patrick Dempsey), Callie (Sara Ramirez) and Erica (Brooke Smith) and see their interactions.
Q: On to MerDer, are you tired of talking about them?
Shonda Rhimes: I was until I got them together. Now it's a whole new world. There's a whole host of problems that come with Meredith and Derek being together, and a whole host of other storylines, drama and excitement. So I'm really excited about them being together, because I feel like what I wanted you to leave with last season is Meredith standing in that field, having done this incredible thing, and the look on her face is a little bit like, "Oh my God, now I actually have to do this." That's important.
Q: Is it more fun for you to write them together?
Shonda Rhimes: Absolutely. It was a real challenge to figure out how to get them together...how to get Meredith to the place where she was healthy enough to make this step with Derek. Now that she's made the step with Derek, it's really exciting to see what's going to come next and how she's going to deal with living with a boy, and all the things a man like Derek, who has been married and is a grown-up, might expect.
Q: MerDer is living together? Are they living in Derek's trailer or in Meredith's house?
Shonda Rhimes: That you'll have to watch and see.
Q: Is Rose going to be a thorn in MerDer's side?
Shonda Rhimes: I don't necessarily think that she's a troublemaker for their relationship in the beginning.
Q: Callie and Erica are going to be a couple next season, are they going to come out to the masses?
Shonda Rhimes: Eventually that's going to play out. I feel like the important thing is that at the end of the season, Callie kissed a girl. We're going to watch that part of it play out: Did she mean to kiss a girl? What does it mean that she's kissed a girl? Is she excited about it? What does it mean for Erica? We don't really know Erica's side of the story yet in terms of what's going on with the two of them. Then we're going to watch the larger world of what happens when the two of them come out of the hospital, and what happens when Callie's dad (Hector Elizondo) finds out. I think it's going to be really interesting because I think it's very different to go from being 19 and declare this, and be a grown woman and declare this, when your family's already thought something else.
Q: Will this season be a journey for them to discover their sexuality?
Shonda Rhimes: They are definitely on a journey, and it's going to be a really interesting one. It's funny, the writers are really excited about it, and we spend a lot of hours talking about how we're going to do it, and what we're going to do, and what might the problems be, and the emotional aspects of it, and the fun that we can have with it.
Q: It seems like they have great onscreen chemistry. Was that a driving force in getting them together?
Shonda Rhimes: There is chemistry there, but also both actresses are so game; they're so willing to do something. Sara is such a fabulously comedic actress and has so much to give, and post-George I felt like she was searching for something. Callie and Erica seem to have a lot of chemistry. We did start them out as being friends and it felt like there was something more there; the same kind of chemistry that I saw between Cristina and Burke (Isaiah Washington) before Christina and Burke got together.
Q: We last saw Alex and Izzie getting hot and steamy, in a depressing sort of way. What's next for them?
Shonda Rhimes: I think you're going to see a lot of really interesting sparks between the two of them.
Q: Is there any truth to that Grey's Anatomy gossip about Izzie having a brain tumor?
Shonda Rhimes: No.
Q: Kevin McKidd has a built-in McName. What's he going to be doing on the show?
Shonda Rhimes: He's going to be playing Owen Hunt, who is a military doctor that comes to the hospital on leave.
Q: He just happens to show up to a hospital where everyone falls for each other? Hmmm...Who is he going for?
Shonda Rhimes: I think Cristina might find him fairly interesting.
Steve Marsi is the Managing Editor of TV Fanatic. Follow him on Google+ or email him here.


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The best bike gadgmo I ever didn't buy
August 19, 2012 § 36 Comments
I was sitting in my office last December when the secretary buzzed me. "Wanky," she said. "Mr. Geiger is here to see you."
"Mr. Geiger. Mr. Alan Geiger."
"I don't know any Alan Geiger. What's he want?"
"I'm not sure but he says he has something for you."
"What? He's selling radiation readers?"
"Do you want me to tell him you're busy?"
"If he knows me at all, he'll know that's a lie. I'll come out."
Wanky, meet Mr. Geiger. Mr. Geiger, Wankmeister.
I went out into the lobby and he was sitting in the chair as if he owned it. He was short, looked like he was in his late 50's but he had that fit cyclist look which meant he could have been in his 70's. He hopped right up. "I brought a couple of things for you," he said.
In my line of work no one ever just pops in to "bring me something" unless it's a summons and complaint. I raised an eyebrow. "Okay…"
"First, I want you to have this magazine. It's the best bike mag in Japan. You'll love it." He handed me a giant, full-color bike magazine, all in Japanese, that makes anything ever put out by Bicycling look like it was done on recycled tissue paper.
"Uh, thanks." How did he know I read Japanese?
"But most importantly, I want you to have this."
I tensed, waiting for the hammer. He fished into his pocket and pulled out a little plastic zipper pouch. "I got it at the hundred-yen shop in Harajuku. Perfect for your iPhone, a couple of bucks, and a credit card. Waterproof. Fits in your back jersey pocket like it was made for it." He held out the little plastic pouch, which was made of clear plastic and shot through with reinforcing strips.
"Are you fucking kidding me, dude?" was what I thought. But incredibly, the only thing that came out was "Wow. Uh, thanks. Thanks a bunch…Alan."
"Gotta go," said Alan, then he said, "That is that." And then he was gone, with a tip of his hat.
My secretary had watched the whole thing, and after he left, she couldn't suppress a giggle. "Who was he?"
"Damned if I know." And damned if I did.
My life partner
I looked over the little pouch once I returned to my office. It was sturdy as hell. It had a nice, easy grip ring on the zipper. It was perfectly sized for an iPhone. Curiosity being more than a land rover on Mars, it got the better of me. I put my phone inside. Then I clicked the round hole at the bottom of the phone and up came the screen. "Will it really work through the plastic?" It did. Then I placed a call to Mrs. WM.
"Hello?" she said.
"It's me. Nothing."
"Okay. Bye." This was one of our deeper conversations. Amazingly, the sound came right through the plastic.
Two weeks later I and my pouch had become inseparable, so much so that it had led to a rift with my trusty leather wallet. I'd transferred all my stuff to the pouch, and in the process had weeded out all of the crap that accumulates in wallets, kind of like the spontaneous regeneration that occurs in shoe closets.
That pouch went with me on every single bike ride. It was bullet proof, rain proof, sweat proof, and key proof. Soon I took to dropping it into the pocket of my suit coat. The sheriff's deputies would look at me kind of funny when I showed them my bar card as I prepared to go through security at the courthouse. It's not every lawyer in a wool suit and shiny black shoes who whips out a plastic zipper pouch.
Hard travelin'
After six months of constant use, and no small amount of abuse, the side of the pouch began to tear. No problem. We had a roll of Granny's Special Japanese Duct Tape at home, and I taped it up while also reinforcing the other corners. Some things are disposable. This pouch wasn't. It was without question the best non-bicycling product I'd never not bought for cycling. No more fumbling for shit in my back pocket. No more swapping stuff from wallet to jersey. No more forgetting shit in the jersey until the credit card and the Jackson got new and improved with a stiff dose of hot water and Tide.
Best of all, it was the ultimate fashion statement. As it got rattier, the deputies' eyebrows raised higher and higher. And to say that it matched the ding in the rear bumper of my Camry, well, that hardly needs saying.
By last Thursday's edition of the New Pier Ride, however, as I sat on the bricks and fiddled with my phone, it became apparent that the pouch was not going to last a whole lot longer without another round of duct tape surgery, which was fine with me. But it also occurred to me that if I knew where to get replacements, assuming they were to be had somewhere other than Harajuku, I could lay in a few for stock. With care and a roll of duct tape, they'd last me the rest of my life.
I turned to the SBW dude on my left. "You know Alan Geiger?"
"Alan? Sure? Why?"
"What's his email?"
My neighbor gave it to me. I sent the email. In five minutes Alan had pinged me back. "You used to only be able to get them in Harajuku. But there's a new Daiso, a couple of blocks down from the big Marukai in Gardena. Don't go to the Daiso in Torrance. They won't have 'em. In the office supply section. You want size B7. The price has gone up, though. They cost a buck fifty now. If they're in stock, buy a fistful. That place is funny. They'll have something you like, and then you'll never see it again."
What goes around, comes around
Mrs. WM and I made the trek out to the Daiso in Gardena. Everything was exactly as Alan had described it, down to the location. His perfect description made it a five-second affair to choose from the plethora of pouches: B7. I scooped up ten of them. At a buck-fifty, that was a price even I could afford.
This morning as I got ready to roll out I happily chose a new pouch from the new stack, stuffed it, and consigned the tattered one to the trash. Then it occurred to me as I looked at the remaining ones. Maybe, instead of hoarding them all for myself, and despite the vagaries of the supply chain, maybe I should try and pass on the karma? I grabbed two extras and shoved them into my jersey.
As we rolled out of Malaga Cove I handed one to New Girl. "Here," I said. "Don't ask what or why. Just put your phone and money in it. You'll thank me later." She nodded.
When the wankoton hit the bottom of the reservoir I grabbed Sparkles's jersey. I could see her phone making a sharp outline in her jersey pocket. "Hey, Sparkles. Here. For your phone. You'll thank me later." She looked at it, smiled, and tucked it away.
I got a funny feeling that lasted the rest of the ride.
Back at the ranch
Later today it occurred to me to find something out about this mysterious giver of pouches and Japanese bike magazines. I made a few calls until I hit pay dirt: Cary the Elder, he who knows everyone, connected me with Alan. Moments later we were chatting on the phone.
"Oh, yes," he said. "Everyone in Central Park has one of those. I discovered them ten years ago at the Hundred Yen shops in Japan, and since I go back and forth, I always brought a few boxes with me to hand out. I thought my popularity in New York, such as it was, depended on it!"
"You just…handed them out?"
"Oh, absolutely. People had no idea what they were or what they were good for until they used it. Then it was like, 'How did I ever live without one?' followed by 'Where can I get a replacement?'"
"I saw Tara with one."
"Yes. A friend of mine was having lunch with a friend, and my friend took out her pouch to pay the tab. The other woman looked and said, 'Do you know Alan?' They're everywhere now."
"We picked up ten yesterday, and I…well…I gave out a couple."
Alan's voice warmed even more over the phone. "Oh, then you're carrying on the tradition. That's how it should be. They're small things, but somehow, they're bigger than they look."
I thanked him for the gift, but I wasn't talking about the pouch. And he knew it.
§ 36 Responses to The best bike gadgmo I ever didn't buy
Looks perfect! I want one. 🙂
I think this might be one of my favorites. And I'm not talking about the pouch, either.
Heh – I'm a former NYC riding buddy of Alan's. Been living in Tokyo for the last 18 years. Can't stand the traffic (even after NYC); and ended up switched over to rock climbing. Hardly ride anymore, but may just have to get one of those pouches to carry in my climbing pack.
Some things change but Alan is still an awesome guy.
Thanks for the article – well done indeed.
I think that beats out my billion dollar mink skin Rapha "essentials" case. I gotta grab one!
Alan got me started with these pouches years ago when we both lived in NYC. I retired to Middlebury, Vermont and have the only one in the state. I have yet to see them in any stores here so I call Alan for the occaisional replacement. There is one in my jersey pocket every one of the 8000 miles a year that I ride. Thank you Alan.
FYI they sell these on Strava.com, probably not coincidence. Further coincidence, I bought 5 last time and gave them out. It's kind of like when postage goes up by a penny or two, best just to buy a whole bunch and make other people's lives just that tiny bit easier by handing them out.
Think a new evo lte would fit? ziplocks aren't cutting it.
How many were left in stock in Gardena? I doubt I can get over there for a few days. I've been looking for something like this ever since I bought an iphone.
What, no Hello Kitty emblazoned across them? I need to pick some up to hand out to the dirt crowd. Thanks WM, now I'll give the appearance of actually liking people.
Nice. I've been using a diabetic testing kit pouch, similar to this:
It holds a tube, chuck, emergency $5 bill, etc, and even has an elastic dohicky for the C02.
…but it's waterproof. The cell phone and cash go in a sandwich bag
correction: it is *not* waterproof
Earlier today, I scooped up the last 2 B7 pouches at the Gardena Daiso Japan.
I actually liked the slightly larger A6 pouch better, it's a little easier to take the phone in & out. And the A6 still fits into jersey pocket.
There quite a few A6 pouches on the racks.
That Daiso store is one interesting place — the bubblegum pink decor, plus the constant loop of saccharine Japanese pop music — how does the staff endure it ?! But it was very clean, organized, and neat. Not like your typical "Dollar" crap stores.
[…] the wankmeister said, much more humorously than I ever could, it's "the best bike gadgmo I ever didn't buy." I call it the Gadgmo Nihon Recursive Pocket, a pocket IN your pocket. You have my […]
Any interest in sending a few up North in exchange for some Specialized swag? 🙂
Unfortunately, I couldn't find these on the Daiso website – do you have the product number so I can look them up? There's no specific office supplies section online…


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The Breakfast Baton 21 - John Holland
Our last guest, David Mills, has passed the baton to John Holland.
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These days you'll find John Holland down at his mini golf site at Lake Pertobe, happily watching people making their way around the course and signing hole in one certificates when they get to the end. He describes it as the best job in Warrnambool, and indeed, he's spent a lot of his time here keeping people entertained and making them happy...
Born on a farm just out of Colac, John, along with his twin brother, was the eldest of seven kids. He left school and went to work on the farm when his father had a heart attack, and after the farm was sold, fell into a range of jobs before taking on a position in the relatively new leisure activity known as ten pin bowling. Like all new fads, ten pin bowling went through the roof for a short time before plummeting in popularity, but John stuck with it and, in 1967, found himself involved with the ten pin bowl in Warrnambool.
From there, he added on many other new forms of entertainment including jukeboxes, pin ball machines, and even got a pool table built to kick off another sideline supplying pool tables to pubs and clubs. Not long after he settled in Warrnambool, the opportunity arose to get involved in radio as well, and he spent close to 30 years doing a footy show. He still does commentary for cycling events, although he admits to knowing nothing about the sport!
While on holiday in Adelaide in the 80's, John had the idea of building a mini golf in Warrnambool, and after acquiring some land to do so has been running one now for around 20 years. No doubt there aren't many homes in Warrnambool which don't have one of his hole in one certificates stuck proudly on the fridge somewhere...!
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First-term U.S. Rep. Joseph P. Kennedy III announced Thursday his intention to seek re-election.
Kennedy said he will keep on the course of improving economic development and jobs within the 4th Congressional District which includes the north end of Fall River, Somerset, Swansea, Freetown, Taunton, Attleboro and Newton.
But more importantly, the congressman told The Herald News this week, he wants to continue to help individuals and families achieve more economic opportunities.
"People need to feel like there is a better future for their families tomorrow," Kennedy said. "I want to keep up that momentum."
In November 2012, Kennedy handily trumped Republican challenger Sean Bielat to fill the seat of now retired Democratic congressman Barney Frank and won a landslide victory in Fall River.
Kennedy has received the endorsements of four mayors in the 4th district including Mayor Thomas Hoye Jr. of Taunton, Mayor Kevin Dumas of Attleboro, Mayor Setti Warren of Newton and Fall River Mayor Will Flanagan.
"Congressman Kennedy has worked tirelessly to bring growth, innovation and opportunity to the Greater Taunton area," Hoye said. "With his focus on STEM education and workforce training, he has become a leading voice for business development in our city, as well as exciting new projects like the proposed life sciences center in Myles Standish. I'm proud to work with him for Taunton's future."
Asked who he viewed could be possible challengers in the race for the congressional seat, Kennedy said he takes to heart a lesson from his late uncle, Senator Edward M. Kennedy.
"When I campaigned for him in 2006 he said how he approached campaigning was to run for the position and not against another candidate," said Kennedy, "Let people know why you're running. It certainly worked well for him."
Kennedy serves on the Science & Technology and Foreign Affairs committees and has worked on workforce development, American manufacturing and technological innovation.
In his first year in office, Kennedy has also concentrated on constituent services with permanent offices in Newton and Attleboro and he and his staff conduct office hours in Fall River and every other community in his district.
Kennedy had planned on a campaign kick-off event Thursday night in Taunton but the event was cancelled due to weather. A new campaign event for supporters and volunteers will be re-scheduled in the months ahead, according to Kennedy staff.


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Imagine what Paula Spurlock must have been going through. Shortly after having a hip replaced in 2011, the trouble started. "I had horrible itching, really bad migraines and intense pain throughout my body," she said. "I couldn't take it. Every single thing in me itched."
After many months and several trips to specialists, Spurlock was told it could be anything from food allergies to her medication. But no matter what she changed, the symptoms persisted and Spurlock resigned herself to a life of misery. "I just kind of thought that's what life was going to be like," she said.
Then, she got a phone call. "I had a PET scan for a lung problem and they said, 'Paula, what's going on with your right hip?' I told them I had it replaced and they said, 'Well, it lights up on your PET scan.'"
More than a year after it was implanted, tests showed Paula was highly allergic to the metal in her new hip and to the surgical cement often used to hold joints in place. "That's the one thing that never occurred to any of us," she said. "No wonder I was miserable."
It's a problem that is sure to get worse in the coming years. By 2030, the demand for hip and knee replacements in the U.S. will skyrocket. More than 11,000 people a day are expected to have implant surgeries by then, an increase of 174 percent for hip replacements and nearly 700 percent for knees.
"It's huge," said Karin Pacheco, MD an allergist at National Jewish Health in Denver. "We are an aging society, and the number of people who need new joints is going to increase and, for some of these people, they won't know that they're allergic until after the implant is put in."
"Nine out of 10 people who get implants do great," said Pacheco. "But 10 percent don't, and they're miserable."
The best way to tell if someone is allergic is to do a skin patch test. "But not everybody knows how to do it, not everybody has access to the right antigens, and it also takes about a week to do," she said. "Not everybody has that kind of time before their surgery."
So, Pacheco and her team at National Jewish Health have come up with an alternative, developing the first blood test that can detect allergies to nickel.
Nickel is not only one of the most common metals used in joint implants, but it's also the most common contact allergen in the U.S. "We think about 15 percent of the population is sensitized to nickel," she said.
Pacheco says there are many advantages to the concept of using a blood test to check for allergies before surgery. "First of all it's much easier," she said. "You can send the blood in and it will get developed quickly, and you won't need to have somebody available who knows how to do the patch testing." Then, if an allergy is detected, patients could avoid the misery of an allergic reaction by choosing a different implant, and the health care system could save millions of dollars in revision procedures.
"If we find a patient is allergic after the fact, unfortunately, the only option right now is to take the joint out and replace it with something to which they're not allergic," said Pacheco. "It would be nice to get it right the first time."
Studies to evaluate the nickel blood test are continuing, and soon researchers here hope to develop blood tests to other allergens, like cobalt and bone cement.
After having her metal hip removed and replaced with a ceramic model, Paula Spurlock's life is back to normal. "I haven't had any migraines or itching or any problems," she said. "It's been wonderful." But, she cautions, if you even think you have an allergy to metal, get it checked out before implant surgery. "It's really important that we get that out there," she said, "so others can can avoid all the things that I went through. It was a very long and miserable year and half."
Researchers hope the blood test will be approved and widely used in the next couple of years.
Allergies To New Hips And Knees Surface Only After Surgery Is Done... Until Now
Imagine what Paula Spurlock must have been going through. Shortly after having a hip replaced in 2011, the trouble started. "I had horrible itching, really bad migraines and intense pain throughout my body," she said. "I couldn't take it. Every single thing in me itched."


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'American Idol' Singers – Then and Now
Country music has been a happy home for a number of 'American Idol' contestants, including two winners — three if you count Kelly Clarkson, who just recently decided to try her luck in the genre. Since their time on the show, the singers have grown up considerably. Even Scotty McCreery and Lauren Alaina — who are just one year removed from the FOX reality series — look different than they did when fans met them in 2011.
Take a look at 10 'American Idol' singers who've enjoyed the most success in country music. We've dug up a few photos these men and women might not want to share and compared them with similar photos from 2012. A few people, like Josh Gracin, look surprisingly similar, while others — like Clarkson and Bucky Covington — have made many changes. Click the big orange button below to see how they've grown.


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Our home loans feature a simple online application, instant preapproval and local experts ready to guide you. We offer fixed-rate terms from 10-30 years and adjustable-rate terms for 5-10 years.
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A. The amount charged for services performed by Heartland Credit Union.
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A. When comparison shopping, look at points, fees and the Annual Percentage Rate (APR). The APR includes the fees that are charged on your loan. Although one lender may have a slightly lower rate, they may charge more fees, and hence have the same APR as a lender with the slightly higher rate.
Q. What is the difference between APR and interest rate?
A. The APR (annual percentage rate) reflects the cost of your mortgage loan as a yearly rate. It also incorporates the cost to obtain the loan, such as discount fees and loan origination fee. The interest rate is the actual note rate.
Q. Why is the Annual Percentage Rate (APR) on the Truth-in-Lending disclosure higher than the rate shown on my mortgage note?
A. The rate reflected on the APR shows the cost of the credit as a yearly rate. This rate is generally higher than the rate stated on your mortgage note because, in addition to the interest rate, APR includes other costs such as origination fee, loan discount points, pre-paid interest, and mortgage insurance. The APR allows you to compare the total cost of financing your loan among various lenders.
Q. What is prepaid interest?
A. This is the interim interest that accrues on the mortgage loan from the date of the loan closing to the beginning of the period covered by the first monthly payment. For example, if your closing date is scheduled for June 15, the first mortgage payment is due August 1. We will calculate a per-day interest amount that is collected at the time of closing. This amount covers the interest accrued from June 15 to July 1.
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A. If you are concerned that interest rates may rise during the time your loan is being processed, you can "lock in" the current rate for a short time, usually between 30 and 180 days. When you "lock in" to an interest rate, you are guaranteed that rate for that agreed upon length of time. The benefit is the security of knowing the interest rate is fixed if interest rates should increase. If you are locked in and rates decrease, you will not usually get the benefit of the decrease in interest rates. If you choose to "float" or defer "locking in" an interest rate, your rate will fluctuate with the market and will be subject to both upward and downward trends in the market. The benefit to floating a rate is if interest rates were to decrease, you would have the option of locking into a lower rate.
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Q. Should I get my loan pre-approved?
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Q. How do I apply for a mortgage?
A. The best way is to apply online, as we can pre-approve you on the spot. We can also take your application in person by appointment. An application typically takes 30-60 minutes to complete.
Q. How do I determine which mortgage product will meet my needs?
A. Everyone's situation is different. Most people will benefit from either consulting by phone or in person with an Heartland Credit Union mortgage expert who is committed to discovering your needs, and helping you match those needs with a suitable home loan.
Q. What documents will typically be requested when I make application for a first mortgage loan?
A. We may request: W2's, paystubs , bank statements, and the purchase contract on the home you are buying. Depending upon your situation, other documents may also be needed.
Approval & Closing
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A. Depending on your credit history, down payment, and the loan program selected, we can usually approve you immediately.
Q. How long will it take to close if I applied for my mortgage through a "pre-approval" program?
A. If you applied through a "pre-approval" program and were approved, many times we can close within 3-4 weeks after a purchase contract has been signed.
Q. If I refinance my existing loan with you, will I have to pay all the closing costs again?
A. Typically, yes, as there is a cost to process any new loan application. This cost may include fees paid to third parties, such as the appraisal provider and the title and closing providers.
Q. Can you include my closing costs in the loan amount?
A. On a purchase transaction, you typically cannot finance your closing costs into the loan amount. However, we have several programs under which you may be able to finance some, or all, of the costs. If you are refinancing, you may be able to refinance some, or all, of your closing costs.
Q. Do you require title insurance?
A. Yes, a Mortgagee's Title Insurance Policy will be required on purchase transactions.
Q. What homeowner's insurance requirements will I need to meet at closing?
A. We will require a one-year paid receipt for homeowner's insurance policy for at least the amount of the mortgage at the loan closing.
Q. What is title insurance?
A. Title insurance provides the lender and the buyer (if you purchase owner's coverage) with coverage for losses resulting from specific title defects listed in the policy. In cases where land and property have changed hands over time, there is always the possibility an error has occurred. If an error has occurred, it may be that someone else may be in title to or have an interest in the property, that improvements encroach on property lines or that other similar problems may exist. In these scenarios, if you do not have title insurance you could lose your investment in your home.
Q. What is PMI and why is it required?
A. Private mortgage insurance (PMI) is insurance written by a private company that protects the lender from losses in the event the borrower defaults on the mortgage. Borrowers are required to pay the premium for private mortgage insurance. Private mortgage insurance limits a lender's exposure to financial loss resulting from loan default. If you make a down payment of less than 20%, even if you have a good credit profile, lenders generally require private mortgage insurance.
Q. What is the minimum down payment required by a lender in order to eliminate PMI?
A. Typically, on a primary residence, the minimum that you need to put down to eliminate PMI is 20%. If you are putting less than this down, but wish to avoid PMI, your lender may have alternative products and pricing options they may offer in lieu of PMI.
Q. How much does mortgage insurance cost?
A. The cost of PMI is divided into two parts. The first part is a payment made at the time of closing. The second is an ongoing payment made each month with your principal and interest payment.
Escrow Accounts
Q. What is an escrow account?
A. An escrow account is typically established at the time you close your mortgage loan. This account is held by us for the future payments of recurring items relating to the mortgaged property, such as real estate taxes and insurance premiums, as they become due. We may require you to pay an initial amount for each of those items to start the reserve account at the time of closing. Depending upon the amount of your down payment, we may permit you to waive our escrow account and pay expenses yourself.
Q. Are there any limitations on how much lenders can collect from a borrower for the borrower's escrow account?
A. Lenders and servicers are required to follow the standards set forth in the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) and applicable state law. RESPA and some states set limits on the amount which can be collected by the lender or servicer to pay for escrow items, such as property taxes and insurance, and place a cap on the amount of the reserve. Reserves are funds that a servicer may require a borrower to pay into an escrow account to cover unanticipated disbursements which will need to be made before the borrower's payment is available in the escrow account. There are limits on the additional amounts that can be collected as reserves.


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