text:
No announcement yet.
Congratulations England, the Ashes will soon be yours!
new posts
Leave a comment:
Ah yes the old convict jokes.
Any Aussie offended by the old convict jokes isn't a true blue Aussie.
Until we have a substantial change at the top the same old problems will continue.
Also, one aspect of the situation is that no former test player is willing to speak out.
Leave a comment:
Ah the convict joke.
I'm sure the Aussies have never heard that one before
Leave a comment:
Oh well! I suppose the Ausies will go back to basics at their training camp....
Convict Barrack Sydney N.S. Wales [ca. 1820]
Because their cricket was criminal
Paul GLOAT! GLOAT! GLOOOAAAAT!
Leave a comment:
Another factor is that these test players are treated like bloody rock stars and are pampered and catered to every whim they want, they are un-accountable, they are un-diciplined. Vastly over payed, over exposed, more concerned about their next commercial than dedicating time to their bread and butter of training hard.
You could be describing the England Football Team there to a tee! Bunch of overpaid, poncey posey Nancy boys the lot of 'em. Absolute shower.
Leave a comment:
I read a very good bit in a local paper and it makes a very good point that maybe the reason that the Australians are a shambles is that Cricket Australia is stuck in the 1970's as a professional organisation, every one who has been connected to this bloody shambles has had their contracts extended by two to four years.
Another factor is that these test players are treated like bloody rock stars and are pampered and catered to every whim they want, they are un-accountable, they are un-diciplined. Vastly over payed, over exposed, more concerned about their next commercial than dedicating time to their bread and butter of training hard.
Just look at one incident, the Australians had the crap smacked out of them in their first innings of the 5th Test, and instead of getting into the nets and practice like what the English did, they were all huddled aroung a sports shrink.
Leave a comment:
He wrote another one after that, when Australia won the 2nd test called 10 Reasons Why Australia Will Win the Ashes, but that doesn't seem to have got so much coverage.
Personally I think the Aussie press have been brilliant - very funny (but good natured) article about 'the English' in the Australian had me laughing out loud
NOW our Ashes shame is complete, the AWAAT team has decided to bow in humility, man up and accept that the sporting world has changed forever.
It is now a fait accompli that England will win the next soccer World Cup. It is also inevitable an Englishman will win the Wimbledon tennis tittle and that the Land of Hope and Glory will produce a surfing world champion.
The least we at AWAAT can do is to salute and dedicate today's column to all things English.
So, with a heavy heart, here goes.
Will Swanton - the author of the 10 Reasons, has written another:
THE only thing more enjoyable than putting together a pre-series list of 10 reasons why the England cricketers were duds has been the reaction over the past 24 hours.
I've been told by someone with a comically straight face I should deliver a formal apology. Here's what you can do with your formal apology. Stick it in Billy Cooper's trumpet.
But all the gloating is great. Do your damnedest. Sport swings off its hinges with different opinions. The more people who have a crack, the better.
For the benefit of the bloke with the comically straight face, lets revisit the 10 reasons.
more here ....
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/ipad/ash...-1225983791369Last edited by Tuck's Luck; 07 Jan 11, 16:22.
Leave a comment:
G'day cope, I saw that article yesterday and I found it quite amusing.... both the author and newspaper have little repute here in Oz. Most likely a piece to stir circulation.
Leave a comment:
I'm totally proud of the boys and well done. Im going to be magnanomous in victory because life is full of swings and roundabouts however this is for the journalist from the Australian Daily Telegraph.
From the Australian Daily Telegraph in November.
10 Reasons why England will not retain the Ashes.
They walked around The Oval after their dominant home summer like they were God's gifts to Wisden. Here's who they really beat. No one. Nuffies and cheats. England clean-swept the worst team on the planet, Bangladesh, and then won three out of four Tests against rotten Pakistan. Now they're portrayed as superstars.
2 Kevin Pietersen He might be growing a moustache for a very good cause but he's still getting around looking like Dirk Diggler out of Boogie Nights. His most recent Test efforts have been the biggest joke. John Buchanan was right with his assessment of Pietersen. Buchanan was panned because the truth hurt. There's more than one 'I' in Kevin Pietersen and it hurts morale. Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar..End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
3 No top speedster
Jimmy Anderson, Stuart Broad and Steve Finn are respectable quicks. But they lack the fear factor. Every truly great attack has someone pushing 150km/h, like Mitchell Johnson does for Australia. None of the touring fast bowlers are frightening. Away from swing and seam-friendly England, that doesn't leave them with much.
4 Passive captain
Andrew Strauss has to lead by example because his introverted demeanour doesn't get the blood pumping too much. Only his scores do. He leads with quiet assurance when things are going well. But he comes across as introverted and submissive when things start going pear-shaped.
5 No superstars
Pietersen is as good as anyone when he's in the mood, but he hasn't been in the mood for a long time. He couldn't make a hundred against Bangladesh - his 99 was close but no cigar - and Doug Bollinger, Ben Hilfenhaus and Johnson can smell blood. Graeme Swann is the only Englishman to make a world XI right now.England are successful because they know their limitations. Which means there are limitations.
6 Over-analysis
They've faced bowling machines with footage of Australian speedsters running in at them - and still didn't want to know about Mitchell Johnson. They've given themselves three weeks in Australia to acclimatise but haven't played on pitches like the monster they'll encounter at the Gabba. Every breath they take is a part of a suffocating plan. There's no freedom, nothing instinctive or adventurous. Paralysis by over-analysis.
7 No depth
In such a cramped schedule, injuries are bound to hit both camps. England are in serious strife if they lose any of their first XI. There's a vast gulf between their top-tier players and those on the standby list. Australia can only hope and pray that off-spinner Monty Panesar is called in for Graeme Swann. Australia have eight Test-standard speedsters in the queue.
8 Chokers
This is England we're talking about. Losing is a tradition. Think soccer World Cups. Think Tim Henman at Wimbledon. Think every cricket tour of Australia since 1986-87. They always arrive talking themselves up, vowing they won't wilt under the heat and pressure and scrutiny, then wilt under the heat and pressure and scrutiny. They've hired a self-described Yips Doctor - because they need one.
9 Warm-ups
Everyone keeps rattling on about England's perfect preparation. They must be having a laugh. A few of them made runs at Adelaide Oval. It's like batting on the Hume Highway. Anyone seen the scorecards? Western Australia rolled England for 223. South Australia dismissed them for 288 on the Hume. And Australia A ripped through their top order in Hobart A yesterday. Perfectly prepared? Piffle.
10 Scars
Five of their top six batsmen are the same lot who stumbled and bumbled through the 5-0 loss on England's last trip to Australia. The scarring is deep and real. Jimmy Anderson's memories of Australia are all nightmarish. He averaged 45.16. Broad and Finn are yet to play a Test series in Australia. Hard surfaces jarring bones and muscles, oppressive heat - they won't know what or who has hit them
Leave a comment:
Simon Katich didn't strangle him hard enough.....
Leave a comment:
I know i'll get flack for this but, i would make Michael Clarke our new test captain.
We need Punter to hang in there for another 12-24 months until the team is re-jigged and someone can put their hand up for the job.
Anyhoo, congrats to England. The won in all areas of the game and deserve the kudos.
Leave a comment:
Well that was pretty comprehensive.
Leave a comment:
I know i'll get flack for this but, i would make Michael Clarke our new test captain.
Leave a comment:
Originally posted by Rojik View PostAnd replace him with...
I've been asking people that question all summer and am yet to hear a decent answer.
Leave a comment:
HistoryNet.com Articles
America's Civil War
American History
Aviation History
Civil War Times
Military History
Wild West
World War II
ACG Gaming
ACG Network
Latest Topics
Yesterday, 23:57
by 17thfabnThe U.S. CDC is recommending masks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
h...Yesterday, 22:33
by NikkiIt's real and I'm feeling it.
Getting restless and running out of things to do.
How are you coping?...Yesterday, 19:21


text:
A Developer.com Site
An Eweek.com Site
This is the most amazing flash i have ever seen, hands down
Hey?! where'd you find that? Some other guy found the exact same site...but from a different name etc....the link is here: http://board.flashkit.com/board/show...hreadid=131735
well that's to the thread, and he found it yesterday.
Nonetheless! what a kicking site!
Yeah! The thing is at the start, it says Number 3. So I'm guessing there are more!
GC email me immedietly
Except it didnt go hmm go figure, oh well...
Forum Rules
Advertiser Disclosure:
Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which QuinStreet receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. QuinStreet does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
ON THE first day of Year 11, I wagged school so I could go into the city with my friends. We were going to meet our idols, the New Kids on the Block.
We'd waited for three years for the biggest boy band in the world to finally come to Australia. School could wait. We wore our homemade knock-off New Kids jackets, and we each bore gifts that we planned to give our favourite New Kid; mine was a bottle of Paco Rabanne aftershave for 19-year-old Joe McIntyre (the baby of the group).
We were just 15 and we didn't have a plan for how exactly we would meet the New Kids, but we parked ourselves at a table in the lobby of the InterContinental Sydney and waited. There was one scream-filled sighting of Jon Knight (the shy one) sneaking back into the hotel with his hood up before security booted us and the other fans outside, where we stood on a corner singing The Right Stuff for morning TV cameras.
You may have heard the saying, "Never meet your idols." It never occurred to me not to try and meet my idols — although cautionary tales are no match for a teenage girl who believes she will not only meet but one day marry her favourite singer in her favourite band.
In the ensuing 24 years since that day outside the InterContinental, I have been to 23 New Kids concerts. But this is not a story about being a groupie. And yet, the most obvious word for what I am — "fan" — doesn't seem to cut it. Fan doesn't encompass the amount of joy these five men have brought to my life, or the way they have influenced my career.
I did not marry Joe, but I did become an entertainment journalist and move to the United States, things I am not sure would have happened had I not been a hardcore New Kids fan who one day theorised that the only way to meet her idols was to become a magazine writer.
New Kids on the Block parted ways in 1994. I was in uni by then, but I still believed that if I met Joe, he would recognise me. He would feel my appreciation and love and would realise that I was special. He would know me.
In 1998, I was working at Interview magazine in the US and learned that Joe was working on a solo record. Even better, he was going to be at a movie screening in TriBeCa. Sitting in my cubicle in SoHo, I squirmed with excitement. That was a short walk from my office! I was now 21 years old and working at a cool New York magazine. And I was about to meet Joe in a situation that didn't require screaming at him from behind a wall of security guards. This was my chance!
Outside the TriBeCa Grill, next to the cinema, a crowd of twenty-something women milled about. My heart was pounding. He was as familiar to me as a T-shirt you've worn into the softest comfort, but this situation was startling new. I had seen him in 1992, but in tears, from the front row at the Sydney Entertainment Centre. Now, that 15-year-old inside me was jumping up and down in my skull screeching, "It's him! It's him!"
Finally, it was my turn to shake his hand. "Joe, I'm from Australia," I blurted, desperately wanting to set myself apart from the other girls there. "Oh yeah?" he said, not looking up from the CD he was signing. When he did make eye contact, it was brief, flashing me his toothy smile before he moved onto the next girl.
The disappointment was sharp. That was it? My big moment was entirely unremarkable for Joe. He was charming and polite, but he hadn't recognised me. Even worse was the realisation: Of course he didn't. How could he? Why would he?
The shock was like learning there was no Santa. I felt an uneasy mix of happiness and humiliation as I watched him disappear into the building. There was only one thing to do. I went inside the TriBeCa Grill with my new friends, and I ordered a sundae and a beer.
I went on to meet Joe a few more times, sometimes as a fan but more often as a journalist. I interviewed him and his fellow New Kid Jordan Knight (the handsome one), and was amazed that I was able to open my mouth and have well-formulated, interesting questions tumble out.
I got a kick out of feeling like I had transcended the status of "fan" and made it into a world where we were connecting as artist and media professional. As if that somehow was more "real" than the artist and fan relationship.
When the New Kids reunited in 2008, seeing all five of them on stage again after a 14-year dry spell was one of the most thrilling moments of my years of fandom. Sitting down to interview all five of them backstage in Philadelphia was surreal. Wow, if I turn and look at all of them surrounding me, it has the same effect as being on a tilt-a-wheel, I remember thinking.
Focus, concentrate, don't freak out. I also found myself wondering if I had become a journalist with the sole purpose of one day getting to be in exactly this spot. Um, so what do I do when this interview is over? Retire?
I did not retire. In fact, I just wrote a book about the New Kids and their multi-platinum album Hangin' Tough. It comes out in April and part of me is still in shock that the 15-year-old who chased their minibus across Phillip St in 1992 made it this far.
Here's the thing, though: it's taken me 24 years to realise that my happiest place is not sitting in front of them with a tape recorder, or having one of them recognise me at some industry event or even writing a book about them. It's back on the other side, as a fan, where the real joy lies.
Last year, I splurged on one of their fan VIP packages, where I got to go backstage at their Florida show and get photos with the guys. By this point, my book was done, so I was free to simply show up sporting that homemade jacket from when I was 15 and be a fan meeting her idols.
The pressure was off — I didn't have to appear cool and calm or concentrate on asking the right questions. Even after all these years, I felt as giddy as I did the first time I met Joe. For so long, these five guys had been unattainable pin-ups and here they were, joking around, giving me hugs and laughing at my ghetto jacket.
Last June, as the last bars of Hangin' Tough rang out in the stadium and confetti poured down from the ceiling, I stood just feet away from a corner of the stage screaming my lungs out. When Donnie (the 'bad boy') came over to the edge of the stage, I held up my homemade New Kids jacket and tried to catch his eye.
I was just one girl in a million. One fan, no more special than the rest. Donnie finally met my eyes and acknowledged my cheers. He drew his hands to his chest and made a heart shape with this fingers. He nodded and I nodded back. Blockheads will understand.
Rebecca Wallwork's book New Kids on the Block: Hanging Tough will be released on April 21 by Bloomsbury.


text:
Attorney at Law
Copyright © 2010. All rights reserved worldwide
Lease-Options have always been a favorite tool of residential real estate investors. It is easy to get tenant/buyers into such an arrangement (because of the low down payment) and has traditionally been easy to get them out through the forcible detainer (eviction) process if they default (See our companion article, Evictions in Texas). However, changes to the Texas Property Code (Sec. 5.061 et seq.) made in 2005 define lease-options for longer than 6 months as "executory contracts" which (like contracts for deed) are now subject to strict regulation and penalties if not done exactly right. Numerous initial and ongoing requirements must be observed, and the burden is on the landlord/seller to meet these. Failure to do so incurs not only penalties under the Property Code but potential liability for the landlord/seller under the Deceptive Trade Practices – Consumer Protection Act. The latter can involve treble damages and an award of attorney's fees against the landlord/seller.
The risk to the seller of engaging in executory contracts (lease-options and contracts for deed) has therefore discouraged their use, and investors have moved away from these devices in favor of wraparounds and land trusts. For more information on wraps and trusts, read our articles on these subjects at LoneStarLandLaw.com.
However, lease-options may still have some utility if the term is less than 6 months or if the property is paid for (which means that a lender's consent will not have to be obtained).
How to Identify an "Executory Contract"
What exactly is an executory contract? Look at Section 5.062(a)(2) of the Property Code: "An option to purchase real property that includes or is combined or executed concurrently with a residential lease agreement, together with the lease, is considered an executory contract for conveyance of real property."There is an exception for lease-options for six months or less – otherwise, the residential sales contract promulgated by the Texas Real Estate Commission would have violated this provision if combined with a temporary lease. Note that options that are not combined with a residential lease as well as options on commercial property are not affected by Sec. 5.061.
Executory contracts include any transaction that defers some action by either party that pertains to ownership or possession of real property into the future. Think of it this way: an "executed" contract is one that is fully performed today. It is done, finished. An "executory" contract, on the other hand, leaves something dangling. Usually the dangling item is the most important item of all, namely, who owns the property and when do they get the deed?
In Executory Contracts Conveyance of Title is Usually Delayed
Executory contracts can often be recognized by their similar structure. Typically, one party (the seller) holds "legal title" to the property. This usually means he retains a deed to the property in his name. The other party (the buyer) holds "equitable title," meaning that he has only an equitable right to receive legal title at some time in the future if certain conditions are met. This arrangement gives an advantage to the seller, because enforcement of "equitable rights" by a purchaser generally involves filing suit and asking that one's equitable rights be recognized by a court and enforced – a lengthy and expensive process at best. Buyers under financial pressure are more likely to abandon their option rights along with their down payments.
In the past, unscrupulous sellers used this situation to their advantage. They disregarded the buyer's equitable rights, representing to Justices of the Peace that such buyers were ordinary tenants subject to ordinary leases, obtaining evictions for minor or technical defaults, and often confiscating large down payments in the process. The seller was then free to move on to his next "victim" and obtain another down payment. The legislature rightly acted to stop such abuse.
Executory Contracts: Requirements and Penalties
Make no mistake, one can still do a transaction by means of an executory contract – but many requirements now exist that did not apply before the 2005 revisions to the Property Code. Sections 5.069 and 5.070 contain a number of these requirements, which must be met before the executory contract is signed by the purchaser:
5.069(a) (1) requires that the seller provide the purchaser with a survey which is no older than a year, or a current plat.
5.069(a)(2) requires that the seller provide the purchaser with copies of liens, restrictive covenants, and easements affecting the property.
5.069(a)(3) requires that a "Seller's Disclosure of Property Condition" be provided by the seller.
5.069(b) states that if the property is not located in a recorded subdivision, then the seller is required to provide a separate disclosure form stating utilities may not be available to the property until the subdivision is recorded.
5.069(c) pertains to advertising the availability of an executory contract. It requires that the advertisement disclose information regarding the availability of water, sewer, and electric service.
5.070(a)(1) requires the seller to provide the purchaser with a tax certificate from the collector for each taxing unit that collects taxes due on the property.
5.070(a)(2) requires the seller to provide the purchaser with a copy of any insurance policy, binder, or evidence that indicates the name of the insurer and insured; a description of the insured property; and the policy amount.
Cancellation and Refund
What happens if the foregoing requirements are not met? Firstly, failure to do so is defined as "false, misleading, or deceptive act or practice" under the DTPA (Sec. 17.46, Texas Business & Commerce Code); secondly, the purchaser is entitled under Sec. 5.069(d)(2) to "cancel and rescind the executory contract and receive a full refund of all payments made to the seller." That would include any down payment plus monthly payments that have been made.
Note that Sec. 5.074(a) entitles a purchaser to cancel an executory contract for any reason within 14 days of signing, even if all of the statutory requirements have been met.
Financial Disclosure Required
An additional pre-closing requirement is imposed by Sec. 5.071, which requires that the seller provide a thorough disclosure of the financial terms of the transaction, including the interest rate, amount of interest charged for the term of the contract, the total amount of principal and interest to be paid, and the non-existence of a pre-payment penalty. There is some slight relief under this section in that violation of it is not defined as a DTPA violation.
The 7 Day Letter
Another, related pre-closing requirement is contained in Sec. 5.016, which states that "A person may not convey an interest in or enter into a contract to convey an interest in residential real property that will be encumbered by a recorded lien" without giving a 7 day notice to both the lender and the purchaser. The section sets out the required content of this notice, which is quite technical. It should be observed, however, that at this time this section provides no real penalties other than to allow the purchaser to back out of the transaction prior to closing if the 7 day notice was not given.
Certain Punitive Fees and Clauses
Sec. 5.073 prohibits these. Excessive late fees are banned, as a pre-payment penalties and any clause that "prohibits the purchaser from pledging the purchaser's interest in the property as security to obtain a loan or place improvements. . . ."
Recording Requirement
In the past, lease-options did not need to be recorded in the real property records. No longer. Sec. 5.076 states that "the seller shall record the executory contract, including the attached disclosure statement . . . on or before the 30th day after the date the contract is executed. Additionally, any instrument that "terminates the contract" must also be recorded.
Annual Accounting Statement
Sec. 5.077 requires that the seller provide an annual accounting statement every January, which must include the amounts paid, the remaining amount owed, the number of payments remaining, the amount paid in taxes, the amount paid for insurance, an accounting for any insurance monies paid by the insurer, and a copy of the current insurance policy.
Buyer's Right to Convert to a Deed
The buyer has an absolute right "at any time and without paying penalties or charges of any kind" to convert an executory contract to "recorded, legal title" under Sec. 5.081. The seller has no choice in the matter so long as the buyer tenders the balance owed under the contract.
Buyer's Rights upon Default
It is not permissible to simply evict a tenant/buyer under one of these contracts if there is a default. Sections 5.063 and 5.064 specify the content of a notice of default, which must be followed to the letter if it is to be valid. The tenant/buyer is allowed 30 days unconditional right to cure the default. Moreover, if the tenant/buyer has paid in 40% or more of the purchase price, then a 60 day notice is required and, if the default is not cured, then a traditional foreclosure (not an eviction) must be used to regain possession and title (Sec. 5.066).
The Reality of the Courtroom
Why not just ignore the executory contract rules and march merrily forward? The reason is that courts and juries generally do not favor investors and landlords, who are often perceived as profiteers preying upon the weak and helpless. It often does not matter how clever your legal argument is. If a transaction does not pass the "smell test" a seller/landlord will likely lose. Underestimate a jury of 6 or 12 of your peers at your peril. Even if the executory contract rules are found not to apply, remember that the court can look to the "laundry list" of offenses under the Deceptive Trade Practices-Consumer Protection Act. Section 17.50(a)(3) of the Act prohibits "any unconscionable action or course of action by any person" – an exceptionally broad statement.
Forfeiture remains a hot-button area. Section 5.073(a)(4) prohibits a forfeiture of a buyer's down payment or option fee if a monthly payment is late. This is an important change, because it codifies what judges and juries have been telling lawyers for quite some time. They hate forfeitures. The trend in the law is to view any substantial forfeiture as unreasonable and unconscionable, whether within the context of an executory contract or not, if it results in a buyer losing either a large down payment or the home itself.
Executory Contract Distinguished from Other Preferential Rights
Right of First Refusal (ROFR)
An option to purchase, in a technical sense, is a unilateral contract which gives the holder of the option the right to compel sale of the property at certain price. It must be in writing, exercisable within a specific term, and either recite a price or a formula to compute a price.
A ROFR merely requires the owner, when and if he or she decides to sell, to first offer the property to the holder (ie., the buyer). ROFR's generally do not specify a price. Depending on how the ROFR is worded, the seller may be required to first negotiate a specific deal with a third-party buyer and then freeze that transaction momentarily while the holder of the ROFR is given a chance, for a specified time, to buy the property at the same price and terms. Often the price is to be determined by what fair market value is at the time of sale. Careful: As soon as you include a specific price, it is likely that an ROFR will be interpreted as an option. ROFR's are therefore not an effective substitute for an investor seller who wants to pre-set an above-market price in order to lock in a long-term profit.
Right of First Offer (ROFO) and Right of First Negotiation (ROFN)
There are two lesser forms of preferential or pre-emptive right:
- a right of first offer (ROFO) which obligates the seller to notify a buyer of his intention to sell, and the buyer will then have the right to make an offer, the terms of which are not specified in advance; and
- a right of first negotiation (ROFN), which obligates the seller to negotiate exclusively with the buyer for a prescribed period of time. Price and terms of sale are open.
ROFR's, ROFO's, and ROFN's are all potentially useful substitutes for a lease-option, but they must be carefully structured and worded so as not to fall into the executory conveyance "trap."
Landlords and sellers should generally avoid lease-options because of the numerous requirements and potential liability for doing them improperly. In addition to stiff penalties contained in the Property Code, certain violations are defined to be DTPA violations, which can result in treble damages plus attorney's fees. Such contracts are no longer advisable or even feasible for property in Texas unless the property is paid for or used exclusively for commercial purposes.
Another caution: Beware of "seminar forms" or lease-option forms off the internet, never much good since they were not designed specifically for Texas. These can now get you in real trouble. If you have such forms entitled Purchase Option Agreement, Option Cancellation and Release Agreement, Option to Purchase Real Estate, Performance Mortgage to Secure Option, Secured Reverse Assignment Agreement, Slick Tricks to Get What I Want Without Telling Anyone What I'm Doing, and the like, they are toxic waste in the State of Texas. Throw them away. One can call a cat a dog but that does not change the nature of the beast. Courts look to substance over form. Moreover, a judge and jury will likely be angry with a seller who tries to pull a fast one with overly-clever verbage – and more inclined to consider a finding of fraud.
Find a good real estate lawyer, one with courtroom experience, and consult him regularly. His fees are cheap insurance. Pay attention to what he says about how a judge or jury will react to your proposed deal. A good lawyer knows that documents should be drafted as if you will one day have to defend them in court.
Information in this article is proved for general educational purposes only and is not offered as legal advice upon which anyone may rely. The law changes. Legal counsel relating to your individual needs and circumstances is advisable before taking any action that has legal consequences. Consult your tax advisor as well. This firm does not represent you unless and until it is retained and expressly retained in writing to do so.
Copyright © 2010 by David J. Willis. All rights reserved worldwide. David J. Willis is board certified in both residential and commercial real estate law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. More information is available at his web site, http://www.LoneStarLandLaw.com


text:
#WWDC2018 Keynote Recap – New Software Galore and a Temple Partnership
By: Michael Carey
Welcome to Apple Apex. This weekly column will feature the biggest need-to-know stories for fans and users of all things Apple. Check back weekly for the latest news, rumors, and leaks on everything Apple.
On Monday, Apple helped their yearly Worldwide Developers Conference (also known as WWDC) to reveal new software updates to all their platforms.
iOS 12
As Apple previously stated, the main focal ppint of iOS 12 is all about performance. After the shaky release of iOS 11 and its many bugs, Apple opted to go less on features, and more on stability of the iOS ecosystem.
In iOS 12, Apple is advertising up to a 70% faster swipe to the Camera App, up to a 50% faster keyboard display, and up to 2x faster app launch. Slowdowns have been a consistent problem with iOS 11 since its release in the Fall of 2017.
FaceTime is also seeing a heavily requested feature from users. For the first time, FaceTime will feature the ability to FaceTime with up to 32 individuals using an iOS device. To address concerns, Apple has redesigned the FaceTime app as well, featuring a new tile layout for conversations bigger than 2 iOS users. Whoever is speaking at the time, the application will automatically blow up the tile of that individual.
In response to Samsung's ARMoji, Apple is debuting their own AR Emoji feature called Memoji. This feature will allow iPhone X users to custom create their own personal emoji with AR technology, allowing users to customize skin tone, eyewear, facial hair, and more. Apple's Animoji also will see four new additions to the feature including a Koala bear, a Tiger, a Ghost, and a T.Rex.
In addition to what is above, here are some of the other new features joining the iOS 12 update.
- Camera Effects – Similar to Snapchat and Instagram stories, the Camera app will now allow users to new filters, animated text effects, fun stickers, and more.
- Screen Time – For the parents (or those who wish to limit iPhone time), a new setting will allow users to track app activity, and set timers for use of specific apps.
- Grouped Notifications – Another heavily requested feature, Apple will now group notifications in the Lock Screen, and the Notification Center. Apple is also advertising that "Siri also makes intelligent suggestions about your alerts based on how you interact with them.
Another major feature that was highlight was Contactless Student ID Cards. Being implemented into the Wallet App, Student ID Cards can be added to things such as entry to dorms, laundry, food, purchases and more. Apple partnered with a handful of universities, including Temple University, for this feature coming this fall.
iOS 12 is expected to be released this fall.
MacOS Majove
Apple's next iteration of MacOS is feature packed.
Dark Mode will make its official debut on the Mac platform. This will be a feature that is implemented in every part of the MacOS platform, including in Messages, Keynote, Safari, Calendar, and Photos.
Like the iOS App Store, the MacOS App Store will see a brand new overhaul. Now, users will see a new experience when purchasing apps, including front-and-center reviews, new Create, Work, Play, Develop tabs, and stories about Apps from developers, and users.
In addition to the visually appealing Dark Mode, Apple is bringing a new feature called Dynamic Desktop. This feature will allow the user to customize their work environment with a time-shifting desktop wallpaper. As the day progress, your wallpaper can change from a morning scene, to an afternoon, and to an evening scene. While it isn't confirmed if users can use third-party images or applications, Apple highlighted the feature with the Majove wallpaper.
To address clutter on the desktop, Stacks will help you organize your desktop. By grouping the desktop icons, files, and images into Stacks, one's clutter becomes organized into a handful of icons including Images, Documents, and Presentations.
In addition to what is above, here are some of the other new features joining the iOS 12 update.
- Quick Look – Do more in Quick Look by marking up images, cropping images, rotating, trimming audio and video files, and share via Mail or Messages.
- Screenshots – Users can now screen capture by video their entire screen, or a selected space, as well as for screenshots. Screenshots also will feature the same corner tile feature as iOS devices, which can be used in Markup.
- FaceTime – iOS/MacOS users can FaceTime with up to 32 users at any given time.
- Apps – News, Stocks, Home, and Voice Memos will debut on the Mac this fall.
MacOS Majove is expected to be released this fall.
watchOS 5
watchOS 5 is all about competition, and communication.
Activity Competitions will help Apple Watch users reach their goals even further. In addition to sharing activities with friends, users can now challenge their friends to a seven-day competition where points can be earned based on exercises and closing rings. In addition, there is Personalized Coaching, to help push users to achieve their goals and beat their friends.
Apple Watch will now be feature Auto-Workout Detection if a user begins a workout without initializing their Watch. The Watch will also remind you to end your workout if you get distracted, or when you are halted for a period of time.
Say hello to Walkie-Talkie, A simple, fast way to communicate with your friends with an Apple Watch. Coming as a new app, simply press the TALK Button and speak. Once the user sends their message, you will be notified when a new communication is received.
Siri for Apple Watch will also receive a nice upgrade, via the Siri Watch Face. It now will offer more proactive shortcuts throughout the day based on routines and information such as workout data. Siri will work with Apple Maps on the watch, and also update you on sports scores.
In addition to what is above, here are some of the other new features joining the watchOS 5 update.
- Student ID Cards – Student ID Cards in the Wallet App can now be used to access dorm rooms, laundry, dining halls, and more. Temple University is among the handful of Universities implementing this feature first by the end of the year.
- Enhanced Notifications – Third-Party applications will now have interactive controls in the Notifications pull down.
- New WatchFace and Bands – To celebrate Pride Month, Apple is releasing a new rainbow-colored WatchFace that will debut on Monday, June 4th, As well as a new Nylon rainbow band. New Summer colors for Bands include Marine Green, Peach, and Sky Blue.
- Apple Podcasts – Users can now listen to their favorite podcasts on the go with Apple Podcasts on Apple Watch.
watchOS 5 is expected to be released this fall.
tvOS 12
While tvOS 12 did not receive the most Keynote time, the Apple TV's software is receiving some love.
The biggest addition will be the support of Dolby ATMOS, which is the highest quality "cinematic audio experience" available on the market today. The feature brings 360 degrees sound quality to immerse the user into the experience of their film or TV Show.
As cable boxes and services are beginning to dwindle, Charter Communications customers will soon be able to purchase an Apple 4KTV through their cable provider through a current-exclusive partnership with Apple, as well as iPhones and iPads. Apple stated that future partnerships with other cable companies will be coming soon. In addition, Zero Sign-On will allow users to never have to sign into every single application by entering their cable provider information. By being connected to your ISP, Apple TV will automatically unlock all apps that require the sign in.
In addition to what is above, here are some of the other new features joining the tvOS 12 update.
- Apple TV app – there will soon be a quick button feature added to Control Center of Apple TV users, which will be added automatically once the user's Apple TV is hooked up.
- Aeriel Screensavers – New Aerial Screensavers will be added to Apple TV, as well as text-based information as to where the scenes are shot at. In partnership with the International Space Station, users can now have screensavers from space and the ISS.
tvOS 12 is expected to be released this Fall.
Thank you for checking out Apple Apex. Check back weekly for the latest news, rumors, and leaks on everything Apple.
This article was written, researched, and edited by Michael Carey. If you wish to connect with Michael, follow him on Twitter at @MichaeICarey or email him at firstname.lastname@example.com .
Disclaimer – Michael Carey and WHIP Radio are in no way affiliated with Apple. Apple Newsroom contributed to this report.
Michael is an award-winning radio host at WHIP Radio. He has been a staple host on WHIP's Wake Up Call, and has recently occupied the role of Program Director for the station.


text:
On May 7, 1994, John Beverly "Bev" Wilson, 60, a well-known stage manager who once worked with the National Ballet of Canada, was found dead in the laundry room of his Eglinton Avenue West and Avenue Road apartment building. He was found in a large pool of blood, dead from a single stab wound.
Wilson, who also worked at the Bayview Playhouse Theatre, was expected to join friends that evening for dinner, but failed to answer his door.
"He was part of that older generation of theatre people, the old guard," Peter Peroff, former owner of the Bayview Playhouse, told media. Wilson was known to leave the back door unlocked to allow late-night visitors to come in without disturbing other residents.
About a year after his death, David Christopher Mellish, 33, was arrested and charged with second-degree murder. Wilson and Mellish, who was once a male prostitute, had a sexual relationship for about six years prior to the attack, and it included Mellish receiving pay and accommodation for sex. Wilson retired in early 1994 and told Mellish he had AIDS. Wilson continued to welcome Mellish into his home to do housecleaning for pay.
Mellish suffered from paranoid schizophrenia and was found four times to be unfit to stand trial. He pleaded guilty to manslaughter.
On August 23, 1999, was sentenced to one day in jail with three years' probation. He had already spent almost four and a half years in a psychiatric institution, and altogether including time awaiting trial, had served the equivalent of a nine-year sentence.
Murder Village Map
Vital Statistics
Name: John Beverly "Bev" Wilson
Age: 60
Gender: Male
Date of Death: May 7, 1994
Manner of Death: Stabbed
Location: Eglinton and Avenue Road
Suspect Name: David Christopher Mellish
Conviction & Sentence: Manslaughter, 1 day plus three years probation. With time served, approximately nine years total


text:
Who is Church of New Life?
We are a contemporary Pentecostal Church, and are a Member of Australian Christian Churches.
We believe that Jesus Christ was born of a virgin and is the Son of God. He grew and walked the earth, calling disciples, then gave himself to be crucified on the cross and rose from the dead three days later.
We believe that he died on the cross for us to remove our sin and give us new life.
We also believe in the manifestation of the gifts of healing, miracles and the baptism in the Holy Spirit, evidenced by the speaking in other tongues.
We believe in the Authority and Infallibleness of the Holy Bible.
We believe in salvation by faith in Jesus Christ and that he will soon return for his church to raise the dead in Christ and take up those believers still living.


text:
NYX-2925 demonstrated statistically significant effects on a range of neuroimaging biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes, including pain scores
Neuroimaging biomarkers correlated with patient-reported pain improvements
NYX-2925 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported
Conference call today at
"The statistically significant effects on both pain-related brain activity and patient-reported clinical measures elegantly demonstrates that NYX-2925 is acting in the brain to alter pain processing, leading to pain alleviation," said
Summary of Top-line Study Results
Primary Endpoint Findings – Neuroimaging Biomarkers
Fibromyalgia is associated with increased overall levels of glutamate/glutamine (Glx) in certain brain regions and studies have shown a correlation between pain severity and these higher Glx levels. Placebo administration did not result in significant differences from baseline in any of the neuroimaging biomarkers. Compared to placebo, administration of NYX-2925 resulted in statistically significant reductions of Glx levels in these key pain-regulating brain regions, including the dorsal anterior cingulate cortex at rest (p<0.05) and the posterior insular cortex following an evoked pain stimulus (p<0.05). This Glx reduction in the posterior insular cortex correlated with reductions in clinical pain (p<0.05). NYX-2925 administration also resulted in reduced connectivity between brain regions that are known to be associated with the processing of centralized chronic pain.
Secondary Endpoint Findings – Patient-Reported Outcomes
Significant clinical improvements on key symptoms of fibromyalgia were observed following treatment with NYX-2925 (week 6) compared to baseline (week 0) and placebo (week 2). NYX-2925 resulted in statistically significant improvements across multiple patient-reported clinical measures, including:
- Average daily pain score: 1.09-point reduction from baseline (p=0.0027) and 0.66-point reduction vs. placebo (p=0.0072) on a scale ranging from 0 to 10
- Worst daily pain score: 0.98-point reduction from baseline (p=0.0169) and 0.61-point reduction vs. placebo (p=0.0360) on a scale ranging from 0 to 10
- Total FIQR score: 9.6-point reduction from baseline (p=0.0085) and 6.3-point reduction vs. placebo (p=0.0135) on a scale ranging from 0 to 100
- PROMISFM Fatigue Profile total score: 5.4-point reduction from baseline (p=0.0081) and 5.6-point reduction vs. placebo (p=0.0049) on a scale ranging from 16 to 80
In addition, trends of improvement were observed on the other clinical measures evaluated in the study. Together, the effects on the clinical measures demonstrate improvements across a broad range of fibromyalgia symptoms with NYX-2925.
Across all patients in the study, NYX-2925 was well tolerated with no serious adverse events reported.
"The results with NYX-2925 are compelling and compare very favorably with the effects of approved fibromyalgia drug treatments we previously evaluated in separate and similar studies," said
The company plans to submit the detailed results from this study for publication and presentation at future scientific and medical meetings.
Conference Call Information
About the Phase 2 Fibromyalgia Study
The study was a single-blind, placebo-controlled study to assess the efficacy and safety of daily oral administration of NYX-2925 in 23 female patients with a confirmed diagnosis of fibromyalgia (NCT03249103). In a sequential manner, but blinded to the patient, all patients received daily doses of placebo, 20 mg NYX-2925, and 200 mg NYX-2925 for two weeks each. At baseline and during each two-week treatment period, patients underwent a series of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans, combined with proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), to measure key brain activity and neurochemistry biomarkers known to be associated with perception and processing of centralized chronic pain. The study's primary endpoint was the evaluation of changes in these specific biomarkers. Imaging data analysis was performed by analysts who were blinded to treatment sequence. Secondary endpoints included several patient-reported assessments to evaluate the effects of NYX-2925 on fibromyalgia symptoms. These patient-reported outcomes included average daily pain and worst daily pain measured using the 10-point Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), the impact of patients' fibromyalgia on daily living measured by the Revised Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQR), scores on the Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Fibromyalgia (PROMISFM) scale, pain severity and impact on functioning measured by the Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), mood and anxiety measured by the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), and cognitive impairment measured using the Multidimensional Inventory of Subjective Cognitive Impairment (MISCI).
At baseline, patients in the study had a mean average daily pain score of 5.3 on the NRS, which has a range from 0 to 10 (where 0 = no pain and 10 = worst pain imaginable) and had a mean baseline total FIQR score of 54.4 (this scale has a maximum score of 100, with higher scores indicating worse fibromyalgia). Based on these scores, the patients in the study were considered to have moderate-to-severe fibromyalgia.
About Fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition associated with widespread pain and tenderness, as well as general fatigue. Fibromyalgia is considered by many to be a condition that is largely mediated in the central nervous system, given that fibromyalgia sufferers often present without a direct peripheral insult or injury. People suffering from fibromyalgia also often experience sleep disruption, depressed mood, and cognitive impairment. It is estimated that, in
About NYX-2925
NYX-2925 is a novel oral NMDA receptor modulator currently in Phase 2 clinical development for the treatment of chronic pain. In clinical studies, NYX-2925 has been shown to have activity that affects central pain processing, resulting in alleviation of pain and other symptoms associated with chronic pain conditions. In preclinical models of numerous neuropathic pain conditions, NYX-2925 has shown robust activity with a favorable tolerability profile. In Phase 1 and Phase 2 clinical studies, NYX-2925 has exhibited a favorable safety and tolerability profile across a wide dose range.
Aptinyx Inc. is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on the discovery, development, and commercialization of proprietary synthetic small molecules for the treatment of brain and nervous system disorders. Aptinyx has a platform for discovery of novel compounds that work through a unique mechanism to modulate—rather than block or over-activate—NMDA receptors and enhance synaptic plasticity, the foundation of neural cell communication. The company has three product candidates in clinical development in central nervous system indications, including chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, and cognitive impairment associated with Parkinson's disease. Aptinyx is also advancing additional compounds from its proprietary discovery platform, which continues to generate a rich and diverse pipeline of small-molecule NMDA receptor modulators with the potential to treat an array of neurologic disorders. For more information, visit www.aptinyx.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
Statements contained in this press release regarding matters that are not historical facts are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Because such statements are subject to risks and uncertainties, actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding the company's business plans and objectives, including future plans or expectations for NYX-2925, therapeutic effects of the company's product candidates, expectations regarding the design, implementation, timing, and success of its current and planned clinical studies, and expectations regarding its uses and sufficiency of capital. Risks that contribute to the uncertain nature of the forward-looking statements include: the success, cost, and timing of the company's product candidate development activities and planned clinical studies; the company's ability to execute on its strategy; positive results from a clinical study may not necessarily be predictive of the results of future or ongoing clinical studies; regulatory developments in
Investor & Media Contact:
firstname.lastname@example.com or firstname.lastname@example.com
Source: Aptinyx Inc.


text:
Going up or down the stairs has never been so easy or effortless. No more hanging onto that railing for support and feeling the anxiety of wondering how long it will take before reaching the top. Take a load off—sit down on your Acorn Stair Lift, safely installed by your Buffalo stairlift installers, and ride up with ease.
Straight Stair Lifts Brochure
Stair Lifts of Buffalo serves customers throughout Western New York (WNY) including Buffalo, Williamsville, Amherst, Kenmore, Grand Island, Lockport, Niagara Falls, Rochester & Syracuse.


text:
2019 Muster – Celebrating Aussie Country
The artists for the 34th annual Bungendore Country Music Muster have now been finalised and it is going to be a fantastic weekend of Aussie country music.
Guest artists for the 2019 muster include multiple golden guitar winner Pete Denahy and entertainer Rodney Vincent bringing to the stage his unique blend of country, comedy and story telling that never fails to entertain. There is a fantastic line up of Australian bush balladeers including the wonderful Owen Blundell, Keith Jamieson, and Ernie Constance, Di Lindsay and Peter Simpson, Justin Standley, Brian Letton, Jed & Trudy Hintz, Terry Gordon, Kate Daniel & Alisha Smith. Supporting the artists and entertainers in their own right are two great Country Music Bands, The Bungendore Muster Band led by Lindsay Waddington, and the ever popular Peter Coad and the Coad Sister's Band.
We are also pleased to announce the finalists of the 22nd Annual Stan Coster Memorial Australian Bush Ballad Awards for the 2019 Muster. Once again the awards attracted nominations from the very best Australian country artists and the judges were set a real challenge to decide the finalists. Winners in the eight categories will be announced and finalists will be performing at the Stan Coster Australian Bush Ballad Awards being held at 8pm on Saturday night of the muster.
This year the Muster also recognises three outstanding Bush Balladeers at a plaque ceremony being held at 3pm on Friday 1st February at Bush Balladeers Place Bungendore Park. All are welcome to join us to celebrate the outstanding contribution made by Owen Blundell, Keith Jamieson & Ernie Constance to the Australian Bush Balladeer industry of Australia and the Bungendore Country Music Muster over many years.
The Bungendore Showground opens at 12pm on Monday 28th January for campers and caravans with a full week of walk ups for campers and invited artists leading up to the festival. There is also the poet's breakfast from Tuesday to Saturday and other fun activities including bingo, and the muster sausage sizzle.
The muster weekend kicks off on Saturday the 2nd of February when the village of Bungendore hosts the Muster busking competition with $1000 in prize money and the opportunity to appear on the muster stage. In the afternoon the music moves to the showground for the 1pm start of the all Australian Country Music Festival with an exciting line-up of Australia's country music artists and musicians. At 8pm the much awaited Stan Coster Awards commence.
On Sunday the 3rd from 10am, award winners and guest artists return to the stage for the gala showcase with entertainment right through to 6pm.
Bungendore is located just outside of the nation's capital in a beautiful valley in the Southern Tablelands near Lake George. While enjoying camping in the country surrounds of Bungendore, festival goers can also enjoy everything that the region has to offer including award winning wineries and restaurants and the must see Bungendore Wood Works Gallery.
Visitors can also enjoy the Southern Harvest Farmers Markets which will be open on Saturday morning in in the Saint Philips Church grounds Bungendore, selling regional food including fresh meat and vegetables, honey, eggs and lots more… A Family Hoedown is also planned to follow the markets on Saturday afternoon and promises lots of fun for Bungendore locals and visiting families to celebrate the Muster weekend. Local venues, hotels & clubs are also getting into the spirit and we can't wait to see you there.


text:
Out of Stock
Ships to AK CA FL MN MO NC TX DC
(available in more states here)
Recently awarded Best of Class in the Fruit Wine category in the 2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition! A beautiful wine... full bodied and absolutely delicious. Enjoy with chocolate and cheeses or just by itself!
2018 New Orleans International Wine Awards - Double Gold, Best of Class
2018 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition - Best of Class
2018 Lone Star International Wine Competition - Gold
2018 Drink Outside the Grape Competition - Gold
2015 Lone Star International Wine Competition - Silver
2014 Wines of the South Competition - Silver


text:
IOTA's Fresco planters with a distinctive 'polished plaster' look are chosen for Hotel Indigo London Kensington, part of the InterContinental Hotels Group [IHG].
The project featured 34nr. Fresco Rectangle 800 planters [L 800 x W 300 x H 400mm], complemented with matching 600mm cube planters. The planters are used to green the long frontage of the hotel, at both pavement and first floor terrace levels.
Fresco is a range of mid-weight planters, manufactured from a cement-based composite material. Fresco has a distinctive look inspired by Italian 'polished plaster'; and its tone-on-tone shades of warm grey combine to give an overall effect which is contemporary without being hard edged.
Hotel Indigo is a chain of boutique hotels; and is part of the InterContinental Hotels Group [IHG], which also owns the Intercontinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn brands. Each Hotel Indigo property is designed to reflect the culture, character and history of the surrounding neighbourhood; and the Hotel Indigo London Kensington is in Barkston Gardens, just a few minutes walk from Earl's Court Tube Station.
Contact IOTA T. 01934 522617


text:
Coffee Grades & Coffee Cupping
At Brown Bag Coffee Roasters we are proud to be able to offer high quality single origin beans to our customers. When discussing beans, there are 2 things that are important. The GRADE of the coffee and CUPPING. Let's start with the grade first.
Grade 1: Specialty Grade Coffee Beans: no primary defects, 0-3 full defects, sorted with a maximum of 5% above and 5% below specified screen size or range of screen size, and exhibiting a distinct attribute in one or more of the following areas: taste, acidity, body, or aroma. Also must be free of cup faults and taints. Zero quakers allowed. Moisture content between 9-13%.
A quaker is an industry term to describe under-ripe , undeveloped coffee seeds that fail to roast properly. These are most often the result of unripe, green coffee cherry making it into the final product. Normally, these are skimmed off as floaters (in the wet-process ) or visually removed in the dry-process method.
Grade 2: Premium Grade Coffee Beans: Same as Grade 1 except maximum of 3 quakers. 0-8 full defects.
Grade 3: Exchange Grade Coffee Beans: 50% above screen 15 and less than 5% below screen 15. Max of 5 quakers. Must be free from faults. 9-23 full defects.
Grade 4: Standard Grade Coffee Beans: 24-86 full defects.
Grade 5: Off Grade Coffee Beans: More than 86 full defects.
Brown Bag Coffee Roasters only purchase green beans that meet Grade 1 or Grade 2. The quality of the bean and how it has been handled is very important to us.
Coffee cupping, or coffee tasting, is the practice of observing the tastes and aromas of brewed coffee.
It is a professional practice but can be done informally by anyone or by professionals known as "Q Graders".
A standard coffee cupping procedure involves deeply sniffing the coffee, then loudly slurping the coffee so it spreads to the back of the tongue. The coffee taster attempts to measure aspects of the coffee's taste, specifically the body (the texture or mouthfeel, such as oiliness), sweetness, acidity (a sharp and tangy feeling, like when biting into an orange), flavour (the characters in the cup), and aftertaste. Since coffee beans embody telltale flavours from the region where they were grown, cuppers may attempt to identify the coffee's origin.
At Brown Bag Coffee Roasters, we offer studio tours in which we roast some coffee together and do an informal cupping session. To book your session, please fill out the form below.


text:
New Year - New Regime
As is normal during the festive season, my hand eczema flared up with a vengence. The cold weather did not help the condition and I spent a lot of time wearing cotton gloves.
I feel sure that my condition over Christmas was primarily made worse by my diet. Ordinarily I am quite strict as to what I eat but of course Christmas is a time of indulgence, with too much sweet rich foods and snacks consumed, so I only have myself to blame for the poor state of my hands.
My hands are split and bleeding on both palms with flaky skin adding to their generally great appearance. I am applying moisturiiser numerous times a day and my regular routine of Hydromol ointment under cotton gloves at night is being strictly maintained.
Having recently read of good reports about a product from "Childs Farm" as mentioned in my last post, I have been using the Tea Tree & Grapefruit moisturiser exclusively except at night. The results have been very positive. Whether this is a normal recovery phase for my hand eczema, as occurs after a flare up, or as a direct result of using this product remains to be seen. I will of course keep you updated on this blog.
Diet is a contributary factor in controlling my hand eczema and I have made the decision for 2018 to become a "flexitarian". Basically this means I am a vegetarian but will very occasionally eat meat if offered at say a family Christmas dinner. I gave up red meat several years ago, only eating poultry or fish, so the transition will hopefully not be difficult. With this change in diet I am hoping to control the amount of flare ups I experience.
I am absolutely adamant that I will not use oral or topical steroids, even when things are really bad such as over the Christmas period. Firstly because for me steroid creams and ointments do not work, they just thin my skin and I am prone to literally ripping the skin from my hand with the smallest of knocks. Bleeding under the skin, pruritus I think it is called, is also a side effect of these medications which is not a good look.
Secondly is the fact that continued use of steroids is not exactly a healthy option and I do not want to put chemicals into my body everytime things get bad. Long term management of my condition, rather than trying to find a quick fix, has to be my goal from now on.
So to conclude, I have changed my diet, stopped any use of steroidal products and added "Childs Farm Tea Tree & Grapefruit" moisturiser to my daily regime. Let us see what difference this can make in 2018.


text:
10" Honing Tool
The Warther Cutlery Diamond Knife Sharpener comes with a 10" diamond stick for sharpening and honing your knives at home. The handle on the sharpener is the same handle as our current product line.
Sharpening: 9am-4pm Mon-Fri / Store: 9am-5pm • Sun. 10am-5pm (Closed on Sundays in Jan., Feb., March)
(330) 343-7513 or Contact Us


text:
Police: Victim's story of drive-by shooting not quite right
MANTUA - A man who accidentally shot himself tried to cover his mistake with a story of a drive-by shooting in Gloucester County, police said.
Officers were called to the Villages of Berkley, on Berkley Road, about 10:40 p.m. Monday for a reported shooting.
The man told police somebody in a car shot him and then fled the area, according to a report issued Tuesday.
But after officers from several neighboring police departments joined a search for the suspect, it was discovered the man had accidentally shot himself, police said.
Police said Tuesday the investigation is ongoing and it's not yet clear if the man will be charged.
Also in South Jersey
- Amazon needs to fill 2,000 jobs at South Jersey complex
- Judge: Wenonah, Mantua must rewrite police merger deal
Read or Share this story: https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/crime/2018/09/04/man-shoots-self-accident-tells-mantua-police-drive-shooting/1189036002/


text: Grind Size - Why Does it Matter? August 22, 2017David Patteson The size of the particles of coffee that are used when brewing or extracting, play a massive part in the end flavour, body, acidity and sweetness. A coffee grind that is too coarse will be result in coffee that is weak, watery, sour and / or salty. However, go too fine and the coffee will taste burnt, ashy and smokey. Read more → artisan roasters barista Barista Blend barista training beans espresso new website buy coffee cairns Coffee Cairns Coffee for Cafe coffee freshness espresso learn Retail roast date small batch roasters specialty coffee specialty coffee australia Specialty Coffee Cairns specialty coffee queensland Specialty Coffee Roasters technique Wholesale Wholesale Coffee Cairns wholesale specialty coffee cairns


text:
Spain and the Montmelò circuit, north of Barcelona: the place where the 2019 Formula 1 world championship gets underway. There are eight days of pre-season testing: two sessions of four days each, with another four-day break in between. By the time it's all over, on the evening of Friday 1 March, there will already be some important answers. To questions such as: which car is fastest? How much quicker are the 2019 cars compared to last year? Exactly what sort of F1 can we expect to see getting off the long flight to Australia, for the opening round of the season on March 17 in Melbourne?
But don't harbour any illusions. Because testing generally poses more questions than it answers. Or rather, while the teams and drivers may have some ideas about the relative performances of their cars, they keep them firmly to themselves. In every battle, hiding your ultimate potential is key. Formula 1 is no exception. And given that the stopwatch – the implacable final arbiter – offers little room for individual interpretation, the tactics that teams sometimes resort to in order to confound their rivals often display impressive gamesmanship.
Even back in 1987, the warring McLaren and Williams teams didn't want to show their respective hands at pre-season testing in Rio de Janeiro. So they started timing their laps not from the start-finish straight in front of the pits, but from various different points on the track. And they never timed more than one flying lap at a time. The result was that nobody learned anything about their comparative lap times, casting a convenient fog on the question of who was quicker.
Today, things aren't much different – and you only get the full picture of relative performance once the season is well and truly underway. But there are the tyres too, which play a role. And this year, Pirelli's tyre range introduces a number of new aspects. Just three colours on the track at every race represent several different compounds. There five 2019 slick compounds in total, so the compounds can differ for each colour depending on the race, as we explain in detail elsewhere. We come off the back of Formula 1 in 2018, where lap records were shattered at almost every circuit. Maybe this tendency will continue. But above all it will be the tyres themselves, even before anything the teams say, that will begin to give away who makes the most of the new compounds for this year.
The teams and cars deliver the power and performance. Pirelli brings the control. Only those who use the tyres best will be able to climb all the way to the top. And the circuits and lap times will tell us how it happens…


text:
Unfortunately, you don't have sufficient Points to add this selection to your Shopping Cart. If you already have rewards stored in your Shopping Cart, you can delete these rewards. If you have points + pay rewards in your cart, you can adjust the points + pay ratio to make more points available to add this reward to your cart.
Please note: A minimum of #minimum_threshold# Points is required for this reward.
You don't have enough points to redeem this reward. This could be because:
An error has occurred. Please try again.
Lite-Box combines the best materials with a contemporary design and is among the lightest and sturdiest in its class. State-of-the-art technology combined with a great deal of attention to detail gives this collection its key look.A large volume, boxy case in a dynamic vertical design with prominent outside corner protections. The interior is a winner too and is fully lined with soft touch premium fabric. It also has two divider pads and cross ribbons that ensure perfect organisation.


text:
There's a dire need for child care in Canada. Many cities have shortages of up to forty percent of the required child care spaces, and there's no relief in sight.
It's understandable that many families might be considering hiring a foreign nanny or an au pair, but before you do, there are a few things you should know about the Canadian immigration system.
Even if you have answered the million dollar question of where to find a daycare near me, found the perfect place and fell in love with the people, life has a funny way of turning things upside down.
I know. Three years ago I was settled in Alberta. My only daughter was in a fantastic daycare, and everything was figured out. Fast forward to today, and I am in British Columbia, I have another 16 month old daughter, and I work from home because I just couldn't find daycare that met our needs when I needed it.
Every family needs a baby sitter now and then. But even though that's true, it can be very difficult to find babysitting jobs! We're working to make it easier for Canadian families to find child care providers, including babysitters, and to help them be found!
There are several reasons why Sitta.ca is a great place to find babysitting jobs. Here are some of the best ones.
Nanny services. Nanny agencies. Child care agencies. Call them what you will, they all do the same thing: charge a fee to connect parents with child care providers.
Sometimes the care provider pays. Sometimes the parent pays. Sometimes they both pay. But no matter how you look at it, someone is paying, and it's usually not cheap. Sitta.ca makes nanny agencies obsolete. Here's how.


text:
AHELP for CIAO 4.11 Sherpa v1
Context: models
The XSPEC redden model: interstellar extinction.
xsredden The xsredden model is a multiplivative model component.
The model is described at [1] .
Deprecated in Sherpa 4.10.0
The EBV parameter has been renamed E_BmV to match the XSPEC definition. The name EBV can still be used to access the parameter, but this name will be removed in a future release.
>>> create_model_component("xsredden", "mdl") >>> print(mdl)
Create a component of the xsredden model and display its default parameters. The output is:
mdl Param Type Value Min Max Units ----- ---- ----- --- --- ----- mdl.E_BmV thawed 0.05 0 10
The attribute for this object is:
The value of E(B-v) for the line of sight to the source.
- [1] https://heasarc.gsfc.nasa.gov/xanadu/xspec/manual/XSmodelRedden.html
XSPEC version
CIAO 4.11 comes with support for version 12.10.0e of the XSPEC models. This can be checked with the following:
% python -c 'from sherpa.astro import xspec; print(xspec.get_xsversion())' 12.10.0e
See the bugs pages on the Sherpa website for an up-to-date listing of known bugs.
See Also
- models
- xszredden


text:
We're pleased to be hosting this event during National Week of Deaf People (15–21 October).
Join us for morning tea and to hear guest speakers, including:
- Mary-Anne Thomas MP – Parliamentary Secretary for Health and Parliamentary Secretary for Carers
- Brent Phillips – General Manager, Community and Language Services, Vicdeaf
- Kristen Hilton – Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner
Date: Wednesday 19 October 2016
Time: 10.00–11.00am
Venue: Conference Room A, Royal Women's Hospital, Cnr Grattan St & Flemington Rd, Parkville VIC 3052
RSVP: By Wednesday 12 October 2016 to [email protected]. Please advise in your email if you require a hearing loop, have any accessibility and/or dietary requirements. Auslan interpreters will be provided.


text:
Most people consider eating good food as one of the requirements of a nice trip. Food is one of the most significant factors in learning about new certain culture. The UOS Times visited Europe, specifically France, Belgium, and Germany, last winter. Just as the beautiful landscapes of Europe gave us unforgettable memories, the food we tasted helped us learn about these places more intimately. This article will provide you with information about several traditional foods from Europe, especially escargot and schnitzel. Also, we will describe each food's taste.
Escargot is one of the most traditional foods from France. The word escargot means "snails" or "dishes made of snails" in French. It became famous after Antonin Careme, a French chef, added various ingredients such as garlic, herb, and butter to snail dishes.
Our reporter tasted escargot in two restaurants in Paris. One was in the 6th arrondissement (near the Orsay Museum) and the other was in the 18th arrondissement (near the Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Christ). The food was provided with exclusive fork and tongs. Exclusive dishware that had six holes on the surface was also offered. You can eat escargot by grabbing the shells with tongs and taking out the snails from the shells with a fork. At first, we thought it would we thought it would be scary or weird to eat snails. Also, the green materials (perhaps herbs) that blocked the shell's opening somewhat frightened us. However, it was very delicious and chewy, and the green material mentioned above added special flavors to the food. It was like eating Korean conch. We learned why it was one of the most beloved foods in France.
Schnitzel is one of the most traditional foods from Austria, though it is eaten in both Austria and Germany. The word "Schnitzel" means "a cut slice" in German. It is a kind of cutlet made with veal or pork that becomes tender from hammering. It is similar to Cotoletta alla Milanese of Italy and the original form of German schnitzel was made in Austria.. Nowadays, schnitzel is used in various ways in several countries such as Australia, Hungary, and Switzerland, as well as countries in Latin America, too.
The reporter tried schnitzel, specifically German schnitzel , in Frankfurt and Heidelberg. Almost every restaurant in Frankfurt-Sachsenhausen and Heidelberg had schnitzel on its menu. It was served with various side dishes, such as fried noodles, mushrooms, or salad, and the name of the item on the menu was different in accordance with these side dishes. It looked like a Korean or Japanese pork cutlet. However, the schnitzel patty was much thinner than that of a pork cutlet, and the schnitzel was much easier to cut and chew. Its batter was very thin, too. Therefore, it was not greasy and the reporter did not feel stuffed after eating it. It was so delicious that it even made the reporter search restaurants that sell schnitzel in Korea. The reporter drank some very sweet apple juice together with the schnitzel, which was a good combination.
These foods from Europe have remained in our minds, and we will remember their tastes forever as unforgettable memories from our trip. The UOS Times hopes that you have a chance to try these foods someday, perhaps when you go on a trip to Europe.
Hong Sol-eui
Dept. of English Language and Literature, '16


text:
Daily Tarot Reading
Discover our free daily tarot card reading, and take a glimpse into the future. The perfect way to start your day.
The High Priestess is the wisest woman you've ever met. And like all the smartest people in your life, she guards her secrets closely. She's a reminder that to know yourself, you...Read more
APR 2, 2020 - Emotions are rising and swelling like the tide as the Cancer moon aspects Jupiter, Pluto, and Venus this morning. Read full overview


text:
Urbana University Admission Requirements
Get the facts on UU admissions
Urbana University admits students regardless of age, religion, race, ethnicity, color, national origin, ancestry, immigration status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital or familial status, disability, or veteran or military status. We seek to admit applicants who present evidence of past academic success and demonstrate the ability to benefit from the University's academic programs.
Please note that admission requirements may vary depending on the type of degree or enrollment you're looking for.
Learn More About Getting Started at Urbana
Contact us
(937) 772-9239
800.7.URBANA (toll free)


text:
After a long days walk by Howard and Robbie two caves had been earmarked. A visit to the area around the village of Lung Phua was organised. From here a 'pleasant' walk over a Col dropped us into a large enclosed valley. At the sink we felt at and saw at first hand the draught from the entrance with the inflation of a survival bag as seen on the digital camera from the recce trip. From here the team split into two groups, Watto, Snablet and Sweeny set off for the resurgence. Following Howard's instructions we trekked up the river to a point where Snablet did a John Smiths 'bomby', managing to keep the GPS dry. A little further on we were rewarded with a superb view of the resurgence entrance. Sweeny however was not impressed, "Ive been here before" he said as we approached, recognising the reeds and grass growing in the entrance. We were at the bottom end of Nguom Cang.
We retreated to the sink and set off after the others. A short length of boulder stream passage led down to a small climb into a large stream way, daylight could be seen upstream. Downstream swimming and wading in a huge tunnel we finally caught up with the others only to be told that the way on choked after a low airspace. Sweeny, Deb and Andy continued to look for a way on whilst Watto and Snablet pushed rifts chasing draughts only to be stopped by unstable boulders.
Returning to Howard and co we decided to bin it, so someone needed to tell the rest. "Watto go and tell them to bin it", they volunteered 'THE THINGS I DO FOR BRITISH CAVING'. Watto met Deb coming back through the low airspace duck to be told they had found a bit of a way on, we then exited the cave. Howard, Deb, Robbie and Snablet went to confirm that the resurgence was Nguom Cang. After a while Sweeny and Andy reappeared, announcing that they had found a very large passage or chamber with boulders half the size of houses. Woody and Watto were impressed, as the only thing Sweeny was taking any notice of was Kylie. We decided to have a look and to continue surveying. We decided that we were in a large chamber and that the best way was to survey around it, 'laugh!' it was very big. We eventually surveyed round to a type of head wall at the opposite side of the chamber, traversing along this we reached a passage. This turned out to be short, ending at a pitch with the sound of a river at the bottom. As we had no gear it would have to wait. Returning to the chamber we continued traversing around.
A short distance further we entered another passage, this led to a small drop and looking up a small sliver of light could be seen, was this finally China! Time was against us so a retreat was made, we had fun in the chamber trying to locate the way out. We named the chamber 40k in recognition of the expedition total.
The following morning the team returned minus Andy who was suffering with the runs. Our aim today was to survey out to daylight, photo 40k chamber and look for other leads. Things don't always go as planned. After climbing down the small climb towards the light we entered a nice stal covered floor passage, unfortunately this ended a short distance further at a pitch down to a dry middle level. Over the top of the pitch was a steep ramp. Woody ascended this but was stopped by a very bold step around a buttress with a passage beyond to daylight but beyond our reach.
Back in 40k chamber Watto, alias David Bailey was trying to remember all the distances Andy and Howard had told him for using the large flash bulbs. Anyway, it seemed to work because when I shouted "flash" it looked very nice, so it's not that hard (P.S. I haven't seen the results yet)! After this the rest of the trip became very vague as I started suffering the effects of the heat and dehydration, thanks to Woody and Sweeny for the help getting me out.
Luang Van was a superb cave, 831.6m was surveyed with an undescended pitch. I think we will need a Chinese interpreter if that goes.


text:
Tessa woke me up this morning, acting like there was thunder in the area. She jumped up on the bed, was wiggling up against me, and was shaking.
To my knowledge there was no thunder, and Dean, the world's biggest thunder-phobe, appeared to be perfectly fine, so I got up and let them out for a few minutes. It was about 4:00 AM.
I went back to bed, but she was no better. I was about to get up and check the weather radar to see if there were storms it the area when I heard this "chirp" sound. Right away, Tessa shivered harder, so I knew that was the culprit.
But I had no idea what the heck it was.
Finally I got up and walked out into the kitchen, and heard the "chirp" again. I figured out that it was one of our fire alarms. We have two, both built into the wall, and on one of them, the green light was flashing, which doesn't normally happen. It chirped again, and I figured the unit was trying to tell me it was out of whack. I hit the "reset" button and it went back to solid green, and all was well.
I'm not sure why it went berserk. There was no fire or anything - the other one was fine. I hope this isn't going to start to be an issue because it freaked Tessa out majorly!
After a while she figured out that the sound "chirp" had stopped and she went back to sleep.
Very strange morning . . .


text:
Skin Care Services and Rates
Skin Care:
Deep Cleansing Signature Facial (1Hr.) $70
(Normal/Oily/Dry or Sensitive Skin)
Purifying and Healing Facial $80
Skin is deeply cleaned with an anti-bacterial and anti-inflammation treatment
Deep Moisture Facial $80
(Dry and Dehydrated)
Extremely hydrating and soothing. Helps stimulate the skin production of collagen and elastin with vitamins A, E, K
Brightening Facial $95
(Age spots, Discolorations, Acne Scars, Hyper-Pigmentation, Melasma)
Brightens skin with vitamin C and extracts of licorice and lily, natural enzyme peel for exfoliant to help lighten dark spots with a lightening and brightening mask.
Ultimate Age Defying $95
This treatment will bring back the radiance to your complexion. It will tone, lift, and actually firm the skin. Helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Teen Facial $50
Deep pore cleaning, diminishing of pore size and leaves the skin clear and fresh.
Express Facial (30 min) $40
Mini facial beautifies all skin types *w/out extractions or mask
Back Facial $70
Deep Cleaning, exfoliated, moisturize, mask and massage for the back
*Add on or Stand-Alone Facial Services:
Glycolic Peel (20-33%) $25.
Reduces the appearance of aging, scarring from acne, discoloration and hyperpigmentation
Bright Eyes $10
Hydrates and tightens the skin around the eye while alleviating dark circles and puffiness
Lip Treatment $10
Lips will be exfoliated, plumped and hydrated
Brightening Mask Treatment $15
Reduces age spots,discoloration and evens out skin tone while enhancing skin radiance
Micro-Derm Treatment $25
Skin polishing for all skin types,reduces fine lines, blemishes, hyper-pigmentation and evens out skin tone


text:
Buyers of mansions in Chicago will look in more than one location. Unless considering a Mansion in Chicago City, buyers have a wide choice of locations to consider in the Chicago suburbs. Mansions and luxury homes are most available in the most expensive suburbs in Illinois. These are mostly located in the metro Chicago area.
We've talked before about Mansions in the Barrington area, now we'll look at alternate options. Before we do that let's look at the top 10 features you will look for in a mansion no matter where you think of buying.
- Size. The square footage of mansions in Chicago suburbs is likely the most important asset it will have.
- Kitchens. Buyers usually want the top chef grade kitchens, second prep kitchens and as applicable kitchens in basements for entertaining.
- Bedrooms. Whether for immediate family, multi generational families or for guests and family members to visit, bedroom count often increases with size but not always. Most mansions offer 6 or more bedrooms and the larger homes have master bedroom wings.
- Features not found in regular homes but often available in luxury homes: Swimming pools, theater rooms, cellars for wine storage, billiard rooms.
- A grand foyer or entry hall. Greet your guests in style and show your art in the gallery.
- Master bedroom wing with a Master dressing room or his and her dressings rooms.
- A library or study. Many owners of mansions in Chicago either work at home, from home or need home office space or a reading room.
- A formal reception room. For afternoon tea or a meeting place for guests.
- A ballroom or dance floor. After all, entertaining is common mansions in Chicago!
- A music or piano room. A grand room for the grand piano and pianist.
Sports facilities both indoor and outdoor may be important to families with children or grand children at home; or to those who enjoy activities such as riding and shooting. Equestrian facilities and shooting rooms for guns may be a top priority.
Car collections are not uncommon either. A car collection will be kept in a separate building to the family cars. Mansions on acreage should provide enough space but permission may be needed for an outbuilding.
Heated garages and elevators are often on the list of wants.
Mansion home styles are dictated a little by the location. Whereas the mansions in Chicago suburbs have lots of land space to use a variety of property styles, mansions in Chicago have much less land and need to combine a more vertical aspect with architectural home style. For all, styles include, Georgian, Contemporary, Traditional, Greystones, Brownstones, Colonial, Victorian, Tudor, Federal and Mid Century Modern.
Mansions in Chicago
In the central part of the city buyers will often find mansions in Lincoln Park, The Gold Coast and luxury high rise condos in the Magnificent Mile. This makes working in the city a breeze and proximity to shopping and leisure is literally at your doorstep. Here are the available mansions for sale in Chicago City. Land space is a premium in the city so luxury mansions with acreage is reserved for the suburbs. The average city lot size is a quarter acre to a zero lot.
Zero lot properties often have roof decks as out door living space.
There are no mansion homes in The Loop or Streeterville. For a mansion here you'll have to think vertical mansion and choose a high rise, but just think of those views! Mansion homes in the city area are commonly close to Lake Michigan.
Chicago historic mansions are available to buy downtown especially in the Gold Coast area of Chicago. Many mansion are more vertical in style including Greystones and contemporary styles. You'll also find younger homes in the city. Browse the listings to find your perfect home.
Mansions in Chicago Suburbs
Suburban Chicagoland is vast. There are several areas that are considered luxury communities. There are many that offer luxury homes for $2 million and up. When looking for a mansion in the suburbs of Chicago buyers are first and foremost looking for expansive square footage. Because this is not always known for a property, I've set the minimum price at $3 million. Homes in this price range will appear, for the most part, in the North and Northwest Suburbs.
If waterfront is your passion, the suburbs have plenty of options. Lake Michigan is a dream but we have some size-able lakes in the burbs. The Coves in South Barrington has an 85 acre lake, nearby are Hawley Lake and Goose Lake both with some substantial properties adjacent. Scroll down to see what's on offer.
Here you can see the most expensive homes in Chicago Suburbs. The north and northwest suburbs have the most choice of Chicago luxury homes for sale. If your budget is a little less you can search for homes in your price range.


text: Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in ORLANDO FL 32854 admin Nov 03, 2014 Espresso Finishes provides custom cabinet refinishing surfaces in ORLANDO, FL 32854. Our services help save homeowners huge over replacing or refacing, with a more satisfying and fresh look for their kitchen (or bathroom)! You will be absolutely amazed by the designs and the ambiance you can end up with in your kitchen or bathroom through the process of refinishing your cabinets. The cabinetry ends up looking better then new because the designs are completely custom tailored to your preferences and desires. There is nothing that adds more value to your home then the look of your kitchen and bathrooms. The investment into a refinishing project pays for itself through the ROI you receive into the value of your home. Click here for more information on cabinet refinishing with Espresso Finishes. To get a quick quote a free consultation for your remodeling project, please call us at 352-464-0846 You may also be interested in: Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in CLEARWATER FL 33763Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in DADE CITY FL 33526Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in BRADENTON FL 34210Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in KATHLEEN FL 33849Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in SAINT PETERSBURG FL 33716Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in ORLANDO FL 32833Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in EDGEWATER FL 32132Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in FORT LAUDERDALE FL 33326Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in CAPE CANAVERAL FL 32920Elegant Cabinet Refinishing in PIERSON FL 32180


text:
Simply register your business and start quoting today.Sign up Now >>
Streamline time consuming property maintenance and repairs tasks.Sign up Now >>
*No credit card required.
Service Providers are very busy and need the ability to run their businesses with simplicity. Whether you are a sole trader, a large group, a franchise network or a national company we have the tools + workflows that will suit your business.
Quote opportunities are given in residential, commercial + strata from property + facility managers, property owners + tenants looking to have both small and large tasks completed. These can be quote opportunities, direct work orders, or you can even be found by setting your status as ready to work + being able to accept jobs from the marketplace - where clients can see you on a map, check out your profile + you get the job just by being in the area. Simple. You can also see any jobs near you, if you are in the area + are looking to quote on some additional tasks.
Quotes opportunities are great but you still need to tools to manage them.
With Bricks + Agent you can add any job from any system whether they come from our platform or from any other source. You can use the same app to generate quotes that automatically turn into invoices once a job is marked as complete, you can schedule all of your tasks with calendar invites + reminders sent directly to your clients. With smart scheduling we can help you determine the best, day time + route for your job and if you are running late we can automatically let everyone know in your schedule when your new ETA to their job + when it is time to start travelling to the job a map pops up for your and your clients so everyone knows when you are going to be there. Once there you can check in, re estimate the time needed, start the timer, be reminded of your next job + when complete, take pics + videos to attach to the job, grab a signature on the app + mark it complete. Then off to your next job + once the work is approved your invoice is automatically sent, so you can focus on your craft + let us take care of the rest.
For a full list of all the service provider features, visit out features page.
Being on the road for most of the day means mobility is really important in running a successful business. Clients expect fast response times to quotation requests + any questions they may have about a job. You can run your business from the palm of your hand any where and at any time.
Solve maintenance requests by chatting or taking a video calls with one person or every person that is needed to resolve the maintenance request. There is no need for multiple phone calls or emails as all the communications related to the maintenance request can be completed on the platform.
Service Providers are busy, so some jobs may slip between the cracks. To help here we have added to your settings page some automation + reminder rules for tasks, statuses + overdue jobs
Xero, MYOB and Quickbooks (coming soon) allow you to create quotes from web and mobile within the app, that automatically turn into invoices at the successful completion of the task.
You can use our custom built scheduler to book time for your jobs or our advanced scheduler for larger organisations requiring a dispatch board. You can share the calendar availability with your clients + allow them to see your schedule + book time subject to your approval. All your appointments that are for the day and upcoming are presented on your dashboard so you can see at a glance your workload for the day and days ahead.
We have both simple + complex workflows to help you best manage the maintenance requests, tasks + schedules. You can: Create. Edit. Approve. Reject. Mark as ready to work. Mark as on the way,. Find Jobs near me. Complete. Review Notes.Build a profile. Create quotes + invoices. Revise. Vary. Recur. See Previous Job History. Review documents.
Set checklists of items you need to bring with you to the site. Use templates to complete the work in a structured way to ensure nothing is missed when you are onsite + completing the tasks.
Find out all elements + areas relating to maintenance + gain valuable insights in the composition + detail of all the maintenance tasks completed at your organisation