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Uber has acquired the Otto recently, which is one of the leading truck startups, being the startup company it had developed the self-driving trucks.
It is 91 employees company. With the help of only few employees it was possible for the Otto to develop the self-driving trucks.
With the acquisition of Otto, Uber is stepping its first step towards the long-haul trucking business, with the intention to establish itself as the freight hauler and also the technology partner for the industry.
At the same time, Otto plans to expand its business by increasing the number of fleets of trucks from 6 to about 15, for this it has made partnership with some of the independent truckers. The cofounder of Otto, Mr. Lior Ron said in an interview regarding this.
He also said that, all the branded trucks of Otto and many others that are equipped with the Otto technology will begin the hauling freight bound services for the warehouses and the stores.
Uber has started aiding the services to truck fleets, independent drivers and shippers. The services go beyond the Otto's initial goal of self-driving trucks.
And it is also trying to compete with the brokers who connect the shippers and the fleets for their business.
The complete autonomous truck technology is still many years away, the experts in the automotive industries expect that this technology will hit the roads after two decades. But Otto has attempted this technology, and its vehicles are managed by the driver or the engineer within the car.
The Uber-Otto efforts include the navigation, mapping and tracking. And these two will be the host of many companies who wish to do something with these three technologies. These can be introduced even the work for the autonomous vehicle project goes on the other side.
An executive at one company said that, Uber had approached him to haul his goods, but later it moved on hiring people for its trucking field, as it recently entered into that business.
The company aims to transform the competitive and the fragmented industry in $700 billion a year it is publicly known for the low margins.
And the company is now challenging the experts and the hosts in the market, these hosts are the publicly traded companies in the market, they range from the third party logistics firms C.H Robinson and XPO logistics to countless mom and pop trucking business.
Otto has the motor carrier permits from the US department of transportation and the Motor vehicle department of California; this is an approval to move cargo from earlier this year.
After the acquisition of the Uber, on the eleventh day Otto has requested for the approval to permit haul freight, so that Otto can expand its fleet to 15 trucks.
The co-founder of Otto said in an interview that, they are going to partner with the industry and with thousands of the owner operated truck drivers, who have reached to their company.
He also said that, they are having a friendly and the professional conversation with everyone, and they don't want to develop the technology just for the growth of the technology, but also for the benefits of the people.
Uber is the leading raid-hailing firm in the industry. It was the $68 billion startup and it now it is the most powerful venture capital firm; it bought Otto last month with the $680 million deal, Otto just had 100 employees, but still the firm had the best power to develop the autonomous vehicles.
Uber's brand name and the financial background would support the Otto in its prospects. But some of the industry experts are having doubts and confusions that how the small Silicon Valley startup that has little experience can enter the long-haul trucking.
The vice president of C.H. Robinson, Mr. Kevin Abbott said that, the transportation industry is based on the financial support relationship, and there is a lot more to do other than finding a piece of the equipment.
Abbott has found that, Uber is the latest company among the line of companies that has tried to be in the place of the brokers who match the loads correctly with the vehicles.
Uber and Otto also face a lot of competitions from the growing startups emerging in the industry.
The startups like the Transfix, Convey and cargo chief are trying to take off the traditional brokers by matching the shippers with the carriers that uses the complex algorithms. The trucker path has created a popular navigation app for the drivers.
Brand advantage
Otto has hired Mr. Bill Driegert, who has many years experience in the logistics field, he helped to find the leading freight broker, Coyote; he also worked as the chief innovation officer.
Uber and Otto are working to develop the freight network, to connect the shippers and the carriers, just like the Uber which matches the passengers and the drivers.
Trucking push is really an advantage in leverage the mapping and also for the logistics expertise. Uber has gained many passengers in the transport as well as in the food industry.
Ron said that, this is same as connecting dots that is connecting the carriers and the shippers; they are connected to the long-haul piece.
Uber as it did for the UberRush and the UberEats, now tries for the UberPiece, with reference to the company's on-demand delivery service.
Self-driving truck technology will be an advantage in the industry, as there is a high demand for the drivers. Otto said that, even in the absence of the self-driving technology, the cost of the trucking goods can be reduced by quickly finding freight, thereby finding the simplest route so that it will reduce the fuel consumption.
In Uber if you press a button, it will show the cars which relates to you in three minutes, but in freight, it will show your truck in five hours, that is how the technology has improved so much. Uber is tackling that problem alone.
Among the world's biggest logistics services, XPO logistics are the one that has invested more in the software that increases the utilization of the trucks and also reduces the fuel consumption.
C.H. Robinson, the transportation company that has developed a technology that helps the companies to track their shipments, and it has also developed an app for the carriers with smaller fleets.
The transportation analyst at the investment bank Stephens Inc, Mr. Jack Atkins said that, the model which was used by Uber to disturb the taxi industry cannot be used in the trucking industry. Most of the companies avoid risks while shipping goods than hailing the customers to the rides.
He says that, it is not just like the near-term threat; it is because of the complexity of the industry. It is not as simple as, moving from the point A to the point B in the midtown.
Entering the miles
Ron tells that the autonomous driving technology of Otto is in the testing phase, the autonomous trucks can drive by themselves on the high roads with the help of the two copilots or the engineers as the backup.
The trucks pull some items in the company's garage in order to test how well the trucks respond to the hauling weight, the company will move the goods for shippers soon.
Otto has two dozen drivers now, but it will have more drivers in the future as it has made the partnership with the independent drivers.
Author Bio :
Anand Rajendran is the Co-founder & CEO of Casperon. He is a a content marketing and social media marketing Specialist.
He covers many things like ecommerce, marketing, design, development, strategy, plus emerging trends, including omnichannel and cloud replatforming. Getmetaxi Software is a Taxi Dispatch Software developed by Casperon Technologies .


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There are hundreds of laws designed to keep workers safe at work and still the HSE recorded over 150 deaths at work last year.
This figure does not include those who die in road or other transport accidents while carrying out their work, or the thousands who die from industrial diseases such as cancer, or from exposure to asbestos. Many others are injured or suffer long term, debilitating, illnesses which can also have a great impact on their families
GMB Safety Representatives work to make GMB members safer at work in around 25,000 UK workplaces where they work. These GMB Safety Reps are safety watchdogs who represent GMB members' interests on health and safety matters.
Many of GMB's nine regions have a full time Health and Safety Officer to support Regional Officers and members. We also have a specialist Health and Safety Department at our National Office.
This structure means GMB members have access to masses of health and safety information for them to use to help organise their workplace and make it safer for GMB members who work there.
GMB believes that health and safety need not be a complicated process only understood by 'experts'. Indeed we believe that the people who are most likely to understand the risks associated with a particular job are those who actually do the work.
The starting point for the GMB approach to reducing accidents and ill health caused by work is to identify what can cause harm at work. This could be noise, asbestos, lifting heavy boxes, dangerous machinery etc. If we do not know what is causing harm we cannot begin to prevent it. Once the hazards have been identified the next step is to take action to eliminate or reduce as much as possible the risk of these things causing harm.
Look for the things that can cause an accident or damage health.
Stop using or doing whatever it is that could harm or cause ill health to GMB members. If this is not possible-
Look at ways to make the job safer. This could be through changing the ways the job is done, or by providing a barrier between the hazard and the worker. Once the job has been made as safe as possible, thought can be given to extra safeguards such as-
Masks, gloves and other protective equipment is the least effective method of preventing harm as it does not make the task itself any safer. But it should be considered once the hazard has been identified, and employers have tried to eliminate the risk and put control measures in place.
GMB is committed to providing our members with the best possible value for money and is continually working to promote safer workplaces.
All GMB members can expect:
You can view the most asked questions by clicking here
For more information on the roles and responsibilities of GMB Safety Representatives please click here
If you have any questions surrounding health and safety issues please use the contact form below

subset: commoncrawl


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Google has removed the link to Google Reader from the main list of links at the top of its Gmail page; it's still available, but you have to click the 'More ▼' link now and choose from the dropdown menu.
A lot of RSS fans (including me) are upset about this, as shown in this TechCrunch article. Although I use an excellent RSS aggregator, FeedDemon, at home, I use GMail and Google Reader via the Web at work, and I was somewhat put out that the link seemed to have disappeared.
As the TechCrunch article says,
You can customize Gmail to a degree, and – particularly for a free product – that's really awesome, but you can't yet change the order of the top menu items – and that's what's getting users riled up.
Maybe Google will listen to this vocal subset of users, maybe they won't. But I think it may be better if we don't wait to see what happens, and instead a TechCrunch-reading developer immediately starts coding a browser extension that puts the damn 'Reader' link back.
Since we can't install stuff on our work machines an extension wouldn't be any use to me, though ...


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A weekly wrap of the things you should know in basketball.
* Tracy McGrady in a Chinese beer commercial. Yeah, that beer will be flying off the shelves now….
* Indiana bench warmer and noted deadbeat Lance Stephenson mocks LeBron James with a choke sign during their Game 3 win over the Heat. With all they've been through with the Malice in the Palace etc., if I were the Pacers I'd can his arse right now. Not surprisingly, the Heat dished out some old-school retribution on him too, in the form of a vicious elbow to the throat from hired goon (and useless basketball player) Dexter Pittman. Hate to say it, but I like it.
* Adam Morrison is looking a bit shabbier than usual these days.
* Some kid gets a picture of the 'Red Rocket' Matt Bonner shaved into his head, and then gets suspended by his school. Not to worry though, the Spurs ended up giving him free tickets to a playoff game and some autographed memorabilia. Sweet!
* Kobe Bryant turns back the clock with a nasty reverse slam in Game 5 against the Thunder.
* From the same game, if you haven't seen the ridiculous Russell Westbrook and-one bank shot, check it out.
* Deron Williams has been hanging around the Nets' free agent mini-camps this week. That's surprising, to say the least. I think most people, myself included, saw Williams leaving the Nets for greener pastures this offseason and rightfully so, because they've just about botched every move they've made this year. But this news (and the fact he was recently in Turkey and Russia with Prokhorov and Kirilenko) indicates that the Nets are very much in play. I just hope he's not getting seduced by the big move to Brooklyn. Remember Deron, you can't put lipstick on a pig….
* Kyrie Irving disguised as an old man, schools a bunch of dudes on a playground. Note sure if the whole thing was rigged, but it's pretty cool nonetheless.
* A James Harden cake?
* It looks like Shaquille O'Neal may be interviewed for the GM opening in Orlando. I'll repeat that, Shaquille O'Neal may be interviewed for the GM opening in Orlando. That's the same Shaquille O'Neal who left them high and dry (for the Lakers) in 1996, and the same guy who has revealed himself in recent years to be an egotistical buffoon with spotty league-wide hoops knowledge. These guys running the Magic have clearly lost their minds.
Tags: Adam Morrison, Deron Williams, James Harden, Kobe Bryant, Kyrie Irving, Lance Stephenson, Matt Bonner, Russell Westbrook, Tracy McGrady, Whats Doin
« « Previous Post: Day 25 – Heat Check
» » Next Post: Day 26 – Philly force Game 7, All-NBA teams announced


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Fotograph: QIAN Jun
Rechteinhaber: ATP
Titel: ABB Formula E Race at Home Challenge, eSPORTS, Simulator rac
Ort: MONACO (MCO) / / MONACO
DIGITAL E-PRIX-RACING. eSPORTS Formula E Grand Prix - Motorsport practiced in a Simulator, Electric Racing Race series with the MAHINDRA Team of India. As a replacement for suspended events during the COVID-19 pandemic, Formula E has launched its official eSports series. (Editors note: This image was computer generated in-game),
ATP Photoagency, Munich, Germany Phone ++49-89-9827001 - Mail firstname.lastname@example.com,


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Things like the World Cup and the Olympics are supposed to be held in places that can represent the entire world in a good way. Everyone is supposed to come together to compete, to have fun, and to get along with each other. Russia has too many strict laws towards different lifestyles to be open towards non-nationals. The World Cup would be better off being held elsewhere.
The Russian government is racist and it is one of many reasons that the World Cup should not be permitted to be held there. I also believe that the Olympics should have been moved out of Sochi after they instated their homophobic laws in that country. People should take a stand against their tyranny and not permit these games to make money for countries who openly discriminate such as Russia.
Russia, like China, has a spotty human rights record and shouldn't host any major sporting events until the Russian government becomes softer. Russian leaders are still wary of political opposition as a throwback to harsh regimes of the Soviet Union. The 2018 FIFA World Cup will be an eye-opening experience for world soccer when Russia's civil rights still have problems four years from now.
I think that Russians are too racist in general, but do not think that they are allowing this racism. With that said, though, they do allow certain forms of prejudice. For example, they lock up musicians if Putin doesn't agree with the message and now being gay is illegal there.
The Russian Government does not promote or condone racism and has laws banning racist practices throughout the country, I don't think racism is enough of a concern in Russia for the organizers of the World Cup to avoid hosting their event in the country, I think there are much larger considerations to be had when determining where to host it.


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On the 27th of February this year, 17-year-old David Acott uploaded to YouTube a video of himself unboxing a game. His excitement is palpable. The game was Dying Light, and David had been waiting on it for months, after it had been delayed the previous year. He was a big fan of Techland's games. "It is an 18, and I'm not 18 yet, so, uh, I'm breaking rules here, but it's a great game," he jokes.
Less than two weeks later, David was admitted to hospital to be treated for a rare cancer that had developed in his lower abdomen, a complication of a life-saving liver transplant that he'd undergone two and a half years earlier. His next video, dated March 3rd, is heartbreaking to watch. Talking about his treatment, David seems totally dejected – until he starts talking about Dying Light again, at which point you can see him really light up. He talks about the zombie kill montage video he's got planned, and shows off his new official guide book. "I can read this in hospital," he says. "I'm going to be clever with this game, I don't want to be messing about - I'm going to be a pro at it… it's all I want to play right now, I love it so much."
He died on the 11th of March, a few months before his 18th birthday.
"That last video… you could tell he was not well," says David's mother, Janet Acott. "Watching that one is difficult. At that point he still didn't know that he was dying. We knew he had cancer, and that he was going to have to go into hospital and stay there for treatment… but at the time they were very positive, they said it was very treatable. But in that last video we had just had the news that the lump had not responded to the chemo that he'd had so far. You can tell he's down, he looks miserable. But about halfway through, you just see his whole face lift, and his demeanour improve… he's thinking he's going into hospital and everything will be fine, so he's making plans. He was very hopeful. And that was a week before he died. He didn't know."
David's love of video games was something that Janet never really felt like she could relate to whilst he was alive. She knew that it was a big part of her lovely, kind, well-mannered son's life, and he and his younger brother Howard played a lot together. But in the wake of this tragedy, over the next six months, David's family and the developers of Dying Light would forge an extraordinary connection. Janet and her younger son, Howard, found themselves welcomed into Techland's world – and Techland were welcomed into theirs.
"I guess it all started off in April, with an email sent to Techland's inbox," says Michal Napora, Techland's community manager in Wroclaw, Poland. (It was some of Howard's friends who sent it.) "I got this mail that said, hey, we just wanted to show you this video - he was a friend of ours. I clicked on the link and it was the last video that David had made. As soon as I started watching it… it was sad, right. It was so sad. I went to my boss, chatted to our legal department, and they told us that we could certainly do something, but before we could do anything with it it would be a good idea to chat to a parent, so we don't do something they don't want us to do."
Michal and his colleagues were thinking that it would be a nice idea to include a little tribute to David in the game: a note, a landmark, something to commemorate him. But they were naturally wary of intruding upon a family's grief – and, as Techland's marketing chap Paul Milewski told me, they really didn't want to look like they were doing it for attention.
"At that point we thought, maybe we shouldn't meddle in this, they probably don't want to deal with something like this right now," says Paul. "Their son just passed away, and suddenly some company is getting in touch… we thought, they probably won't even know who we are."
Michal sent a response to the email, giving his details, and Howard's friends passed it on to Janet. Far from being put out, she was surprised and delighted that the developer had reached out about putting a tribute to David in the game.
"I think, for me to get through it – well, to keep going – I had to have things to focus on," she reflects. "So that gave me something. You just want your child, or whomever you've lost, to stay alive somehow. This gave us that. I thought, wow, how amazing would this be?"
Janet emailed back the very next day. After talking with Michal, they decided on a mural. Michal took the idea to one of Techland's artists, Julita Arendt, who came up with a few sketches. After Janet picked her favourite, Julita finished up the art, and Techland put it into a patch in May. The video below shows you where to find it.
"Quite a lot of people over here got really involved in this project," said Michal. "It was really cool, because it felt like a personal mission. Once we put it in the game, after the patch, we gave Janet a map of where to find it, and she passed that on to [David's younger brother] Howard. We were so happy to finally show it off to her."
Video credit: The Lonne Survivor.
Everybody at Techland expected this story to end there. They were still a little nervous about drawing too much attention to the mural, so they handed it over to Janet and backed away. But for Janet, this had introduced her to a whole world that her son was part of that she had previously known very little about. Some of David's friends and YouTube subscribers sent her screenshots and videos of the mural. Howard was over the moon about it. "It's been like a little light in this dark, sad time," she says. "It's given us something to smile about. So we wanted to come out and see them, put names to faces. I really wanted to say thank you properly."
And that is how, in late August, Janet and Howard (now 15) ended up planning a trip to Poland to meet the people at Techland in the flesh. "The two of us are going on this adventure," Janet told me at the time. She sounded genuinely thrilled. "We've never been to Poland. I've got to buy us decent coats!"
Janet and Howard arrived in Wroclaw in early October, and Michal and Paul took them out for dumplings. "They were just so lovely," Janet told me afterwards. "Michal is just adorable. He's so enthusiastic and excitable, like a labrador puppy."
Part of that, says Michal, was because he was actually pretty nervous. "I'll be honest with you – we've never brought anyone from the outside world like this into our offices!" he says. "On the morning when they were coming over, I was thinking… crap, I hope they're going to like this."
Janet and Howard got a full tour of Techland's offices, and met all of the people who had been involved in the mural they had made for David. Howard (who's also a very keen gamer) got an inside look at Dying Light, which Janet says has made him even more interested in a potential career in games. At one point – when Janet brought out a framed photo collage that she had made as a thank-you gift – things suddenly got very emotional.
"They've really taken David to their hearts," said Janet. "When I met Julita, that was the one moment… she welled up, I welled up, we all had a big cuddle. Nobody knew what to say. We were so overcome. Howard just stood there being embarrassed by us! I think that's what's so special about this. It had really touched her; you could tell that she really genuinely cared about the work that she'd done. It wasn't them just doing a job. Everyone who'd been involved in the process wanted to say something to us about David. They felt a connection to him."
"All of a sudden Julita's got this person in front of her, this mother whose son passed away, and she's thanking her for what she did. She's never had something like that. It got kind of emotional there," said Michal.
"It was… I guess it was strange, but in a nice way. Julita started to cry a little bit, as did Janet, and she gave us a gift which was this really beautiful photo of David and the mural. She gave it to us in a frame, which was signed with thank you notes… it was beautiful. You know those moments where you don't really know what to say? This was one of them. It was very sad, but also really, really nice, all at the same time and we didn't have the words. We were shaking a little bit."
It is clear, from Techland's side, that this experience has reminded them that the things they make are played by real people, and have real effects on their lives. The realisation that this gesture – a small gesture, for them, at the beginning – has helped this family in their grief is something that caught Paul off guard. "Janet told us that our offer to do something for David helped her son Howard deal with what was going on," said Paul. "And we thought… wow, really? That was one of the first things she told us: 'this is really sweet of you guys, you've given Howard something to smile about.' That's when I thought… okay, this is for real now."
"You sort of get to know this person through email, through Twitter and all that stuff, but when you actually take that relationship to the real world, it's a pretty cool feeling," said Michal. "We work on games pretty much every day of the week and a lot of it's not that exciting, really, but when we were showing Jane and Howard around, there was such excitement, and it gave us energy. It made us think, you know what, this is some cool stuff that we're doing for a living."
"We make games, which is pretty cool I guess, but seeing you've made someone happy in a meaningful way… it might sound cliche, but it's pretty priceless," said Paul. "We didn't expect to feel these emotions. We didn't expect that she would actually want to come and visit us. If you'd told me this was going to happen, I'd have thought… that's never going to happen. But it did, and it gave meaning to what we do, you know?"
For Janet, this has been something to focus on in an unimaginably difficult time for her and her family. She tells me that it's difficult to overstate how positive this has been for her – and her younger son. "I really feel for Howard," she told me. "The whole dynamic of the house has changed. This has given him something, he feels part of that community. He's now an only child. He's lost his best friend, his big brother. But this has given him something.
"With the grieving process that he's going through, I would say video games have been hugely important. Instead of just being stuck in his room alone, having lost his big brother and best friend, with nobody to talk to, he's on his headset chatting and shouting and playing with friends, and talking. It is a way of engaging. It's given him that – if this situation had happened 20 years ago, he'd have been a sad little person, at home with us adults, and would have had to invite people round or go out. But he's got so many friends he can talk to.
"We can't get our heads around it sometimes, how incredible it is. It's given us something to focus on, which has been a positive," says Janet. "Of course, you don't want this to be the case. You don't want to have to lose a child. But to have something positive, something to focus on, was really important to help us get through."


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This afternoon as part of Beakerhead there was a bunch of science buskers along Stephen Avenue Mall. It is part of a program called Four to Six, and it will happen tomorrow after the work day between 4:00-6:00pm.
A couple highlights to look for:
- Drivable furniture
- Roaming scientists and laboratories – the one hosted by Telus Spark was very interesting and perfect for someone like me that has the attention span of a gnat. I plan to write about it later.
- Art cars.
- Get your fortune told by a giant Chinese Fortune Cat (see picture above)
- Giant motorized spider (see picture above)
- Drummers drumming
- Lego
- A hand-held Theremin
- Drinks and cocktails at Art Gallery of Calgary with the BassBus (see invitation in photo above)
It all adds up to an enjoyable way to end the work day. If you have children bring them to work for the afternoon and then spend an hour or so visiting the various activities. Or you if you are interested in someone at the office, invite them to join you after work and make a date ending up at the Art Gallery of Calgary. It all adds up to a fun time where you can learn something new.
Another event to be aware of this weekend is the Calgary Mini Makers Faire. It is kind of a big deal. It started in California a number of years ago and it is finally here. It will be held on Saturday and Sunday at the Alberta College of Art and Design (1407 – 14 Avenue NW) located on the crest of the hill beside SAIT and the Jubilee Auditorium. There is a C-Train Station located close by too – SAIT/ACA/Jubilee. Tickets are selling briskly, so I would make an encouragement to purchase as soon as possible. Prices are $15-20 daily or $27-37 for the weekend, children under 12 are free and can be purchased online at http://www.makerfaireyyc.ca/
For more info on Beakerhead and other activities planned for the weekend visit their website http://beakerhead.org
Related articles
- Beakerhead: A 750-kilogram spider drops in to Calgary (blogs.calgaryherald.com)


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Selena Gomez reading book about making marriage last?
HollywoodNews.com: After spotting Selena Gomez's latest reading material, fans might be wondering if the actress and singer is planning a big day with Justin Bieber.
Gomez was recently caught carrying the book 'The 5 Love Languages: The Secret To Love That Lasts,' which is a self-help book on making marriage last, states Hollyscoop. The book begins with the chapter that is titled, "What Happens To Love After The Wedding?"
Bieber has revealed that he would like to get married young in order to start a family, but it seems that these two might be planning for the future sooner than expected.
Do you think they will marry one day?
Follow Hollywood News on Twitter for up-to-date news information.
Hollywood News, Hollywood Awards, Awards, Movies, News, Award News, Breaking News, Entertainment News, Movie News, Music News
Image by PR Photos


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Craiglea Lodge is the perfect location for family holidays, corporate events, celebrations and special occasions. Craiglea opens its doors for exclusive use to enjoy the calm and isolated Highland treasures.
This Scottish Highlands hideaway with accommodation for 15-20 guests offers privacy and seclusion, whilst contemplating the abundance of unique and thrilling entertainment on your doorstep. The area also boasts the peaceful harbour which is the natural habitat of an array of wildlife including whooper swans, puffins and seals.
Situated just 30 miles from John O'Groats, Craiglea provides for a unique Scottish atmosphere to enjoy a wonderful Highlands adventure.
Craiglea is a 4 star Scottish Highlands retreat comprising three listed guest houses, and has an indoor leisure area with a private heated swimming pool, jacuzzi, sauna and relaxed seating to overlook the stunning scenery. Craiglea offers its guests luxury accommodation in one of the last unspoilt locations in the British Isles boasting unparalleled natural beauty and seclusion, breath-taking landscape views, pure air, centuries of history and heritage, friendly locals and privacy.
Nestled in a picturesque hillside in Latheronwheel, Caithness, Craiglea is the perfect place to escape from it all and where the only stress is to choose between the thrills of the many outdoor pursuits on offer or the tranquillity of stunning natural surroundings.
Whether renting the entire facility exclusively or just one dwelling, Craiglea can accommodate for a whole spectrum of corporate events, group bonding and team building exercises.
Guests can enjoy a range of activities including mountain biking, guided walks and hikes, wildlife tours, falconry, deep sea fishing, shark fishing and game shooting, whisky trails and tasting, golf and clay pigeon shooting to name a few.


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The electronic producer and artist speaks to us about his tender and emotive new EP for The Sounds of Sweet Nothing
Halls is electronic producer/artist Samuel Howard, whose second EP, 'Fragile', was released last month by The Sounds Of Sweet Nothing, a year after his debut. Close, gentle, delicate, the new record's songs are built of tiny circular loops and tender-but-deadpan vocals (as on the almost religious I Am Not Who You Want), like fragments from soundtracks to forgotten films of extreme melancholy. There is a nocturnal grandeur to these tracks, which are less skittery and sample-based than in earlier tracks (like Chakra Drums), and the south London-based musician looks to be on the verge of something big. Listen to and buy the Fragile EP here.
...your secret talent?
I can dance quite well.
...your worst vice?
Can't say I actually have a vice. Maybe it'll come with age.
…the story behind your name?
Contrary to a few things I've read the name did not come about because I stayed in university housing, that was just a coincidence. Only one song was written whilst I was staying there. I wanted the name to be cavernous, cold, concise.
... your favourite sound?
At the moment, crisp, clear sounds. I want everything to sound sharp and intensely precise at the moment.
...your worst fashion secret?
I don't really have one...
...your favourite website?
Not sure, probably Discogs. Websites you can trawl through.
...your favourite label?
P.W Elverum & Sun. The packaging for the records they sell feel so special, everything is really well thought out.
...at the top of your hit/shit list?
Hit as in good, or hit as in kill? If the former, "Staircase" by Radiohead. If the latter, the list goes on...
...are you listening to now?
'Low' by David Bowie, 'Felt' by Nils Frahm and 'Kind of Blue' by Miles Davis.
How would you describe your work?
'Pensive searching'. Especially the new material I've been working on; my work is at it's most cohesive yet but still has a yearning...I always want better and better.
What are you most excited about next?
Releasing the new songs that I've been finishing. I have written a lot since the summer and I want to release it as something special. We'll see.


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King Crabs successfully hold their own in the Barents Sea
This article was featured in EUROFISH Magazine 1 / 2020
Red king crab (Paralithodes camtschaticus) is one of the best crustaceans that the cold northern seas have to offer. The species was originally only found in the north Pacific but in the 1960s Russian scientists introduced it to the Northeast Atlantic. The conditions in the new habitat suit the crab's biological requirements and so their number has in the meantime spread there extensively.
Made-to-measure for aquaculture
The African sharptooth catfish Clarias gariepinus is a hardy fish of modest needs that is not particular about its diet. Moreover it is an accessorial air-breathing fish that is sometimes to be found living in groups in the most confined spaces at great densities. Its protein- and omega-3-rich fillet tastes good, is healthy and can be processed in many different ways. All this makes C. gariepinus an ideal candidate for aquaculture and it is produced in considerable quantities worldwide.
This article was featured in EUROFISH Magazine 5/2019.
Farmed fish with a long history and an uncertain future
The common carp (Cyprinus carpio) is not only one of the best-known but also one of the most frequently produced freshwater food fishes. Nearly 4.2 million tonnes of this species were reared in carp ponds or in polyculture in 2014, plus a further 150,000 tonnes from fishing. Carp were already popular as food fish in the ancient world, and in Central Europe centuries-old carp fishing ponds are today part of the cultural landscape.
The original distribution area of common carp is in the warm temperate regions of South East Europe and Asia from the Black Sea, through Asia Minor and China, to Japan. The Romans introduced the species to Central Europe about 2,000 years ago and today it is to be found all over Europe, with the exception of Scandinavia. Within this extensive area, however, the species structure is widely controversial. Some taxonomists distinguish four subspecies whose core centres are thought to be found from the Danube River basin to the Ural Mountain range, in the Aral Sea, in the Amur River basin to southern China, and in the waters of North Vietnam. Other experts differentiate only two subspecies – C. c. carpio and C. c. haematopterus, while a third group sees rather a uniform species status. Morphological methods alone hardly enable any satisfactory distinction for, with regard to its body shape, the common carp is one of the most variable freshwater fish species.
Their fillets are used for fish burgers, fish fingers, as well as different surimi products. Alaska pollock can be utilized for different purposes and at relatively affordable cost. Their stocks constitute the largest and the most economically important ground fish resources in the North Pacific Ocean. They are both, well managed and fished on sustainable basis. Yet depletion of their stocks occurs primarily due to natural causes. On that score, a dramatic role is played by the climate change.
Although the walleye pollock (Theragra chalcogramma) known also as the Alaska pollock is a close relative of Atlantic cod, saithe and haddock, intensive fishing started only 50 years ago. Before that, interest in this species was surprisingly low which could possibly be explained by its relatively small body Despite a record length of 91 cm, the length of individuals caught in the net seldom exceeds 50 cm while the weight barely reaches 500 to 600 g. The brownish or greenish coloured, beautifully spotted fish live in large schools at a depth of between 30 and 500 m. In terms of biomass, the stocks of Alaska pollock belong to the largest and most important stocks of food fish due to three main reasons. First, they grow relatively quickly reaching 30 to 40 cm length already at the age of three or four years. From this point onwards, they can spawn virtually every year thus contributing to the survival of the species. It is universally assumed that Alaska pollock lives a maximum 14 to 15 years. Second, their fertility rate is really high. The exact number of eggs depends upon a number of factors including the age, the size and the nutritional status of females, however on average it ranges from 100,000 to 1.2 million. The third reason for the high importance of Alaska pollock is the wide spectrum of feed they use. Although carnivorous they can consume plankton-eating krill or young herrings available in copious amounts in the North Pacific. In the Bering Sea, Alaska pollock accounts for almost 60% of the total fish biomass, while in the Gulf of Alaska and Aleutian Islands they constitute about one fifth of the total fish biomass.
When people talk about halibut in Europe they usually mean Reinhardtius hippoglossoides: Greenland halibut or black halibut. The name halibut is derived from haly (holy) and butt (flat fish) due to its popularity on Catholic holy days.
The species' geographic range extends along the Norwegian coast as far as the cold North Atlantic waters off Greenland, Iceland and Spitzbergen. It is thus to be found in the same habitat as the Atlantic halibut Hippoglossus hippoglossus, a relatively close relation that is considered to be the "real" halibut in a lot of other countries. Although the two species are similar in appearance and behaviour closer examination reveals a number of noteworthy differences.
Meagre (Argyrosomus regius), also called croaker, has been highly valued as a consumption fish since ancient times. The catch volume from the fishery cannot satisfy demand. Production of the species in aquaculture began in France and Italy at the end of the 1990s and in the meantime nearly 20,000 tonnes are supplied annually. Meagre is still considered a niche product but its potential is by no means exhausted yet.
It would be lying to describe meagre as a particularly striking or attractive fish. Its body shape with its two dorsal fins is perch-like, its sides and belly are pale to silvery white, its back and fins brownish or grey-black. The only spot of colour is to be found on the inside of its mouth cavity which in live fishes has a yellow or orange shimmer. What makes this fish so popular is its firm meat that renders it suitable for frying, baking or grilling but also for steaming, smoking or even marinating raw. It has a strong aroma and does not spoil easily because due to its moderate fat content it is less susceptible to oxidation.
Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), also called mountain trout or salmon trout, is a member of the salmon family (Salmonidae). It is a coldwater species that occurs in Arctic, sub-Arctic and Alpine waters as well as in northern coastal waters. Like salmon, Arctic charr enters the upper reaches of rivers to breed. Some populations inhabit freshwater permanently, others migrate to the sea and only return to the rivers for reproduction.
Plaice is one of the commercially most important target species that are fished in the North Atlantic. What makes this flatfish equally significant for both fishermen and fish lovers is not only its excellent meat quality but also the available biomass. Following the low in the 1990s plaice stocks have in the meantime recovered significantly. Nearly 150,000 tonnes are currently caught per year under the ongoing management plan.
Northern shrimp or Coldwater shrimp (Pandalus borealis) which is found all around the Arctic is the most frequent and economically important species of the decapod genus Pandalus. The firm, tender flesh of this coldwater shrimp is deemed particularly tasty. Despite its relatively small size it has been targeted by the fishing industry since the early 20th century. However, the stocks have been declining for several years, probably as a result of global climate change.
The common squid (Loligo vulgaris) and other cephalopod species are of economic significance, especially in southern Europe. Landings from the fishing sector are decreasing, however. For one thing, because the size of the squid populations is strongly influenced by environmental factors, and for another probably because squid are too intensively fished. There is no effective fisheries management, although this would be urgently needed.


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Okay, it is the last day of the month, this is the biggest day for ending sweepstakes. So get ready, and let's all enter and win some sweepstakes!!!! Keep checking back throughout the day, as I will be adding them as I find them. All the links below:
Welcome to the Sweepstakes Corner
Welcome to my new section of the blog. Are you interested in getting started in sweepstakes? Do you need a little help figuring out what to do and where to go? Are you just looking for some great sweepstakes? If so, then keep reading.
Submit a Sweep
Do you have a great sweep you would like to share with others? Use the button above to submit it to be listed on this page.


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YOU CAN EDIT THIS PAGE! Just click any blue "Edit" link and start writing!
Earth : Asia : South Asia : India : Southern India : Tamil Nadu : Southwestern Tamil Nadu : Theni
Theni is a town in western Tamil Nadu, in southern India.
Get in[edit]
Lot of places to visit around Theni. Theni is the place where you can stay and catch buses/ cars to go around the places. First District in tamilnadu(india) got a three international accreditation certificates – Quality Management System (ISO 9001), Environment Management System (ISO 14001) and Occupational Health and Safety Management (ISO 18001).
By Taxi[edit]
Get around[edit]
See[edit][add listing]
Do[edit][add listing]
Buy[edit][add listing]
Good shopping spot for Silk Sarees. Edamal street is a street where you can find lot of shops to shop in
Eat[edit][add listing]
Hotel Theni International.
Maruthi MulitCusine
Nandini Mulitcusine(near Cheran fun park)
Hotel Western Gatz.
Hotel Everest
Drink[edit][add listing]
Sleep[edit][add listing]
Get out[edit]


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Measuring Section-Related Traffic Data by Correlation Methods—A New Approach to Traffic Monitoring and Controlby Elmar Pfannerstill, Verkehrs- und informationstechnik, GmbH, Aachen, Germany,
Document Type: Proceeding Paper
Part of: Applications of Advanced Technologies in Transportation Engineering
Traffic monitoring and control systems require reliable realtime data on traffic flow for an efficient performance. A new 'class' of data, the so-called section-related data such as journey speed and traffic density can be obtained automatically by application of pattern recognition principles and correlation methods to traffic engineering. The so-called MAVE-system incorporates this approach: it analyses traffic condition on the basis of section-related and local data, delivers an 'electronic road map' for authorities and drivers and derives strategies for traffic control.
Subject Headings: Traffic management | Traffic analysis | Correlation | Traffic surveys | Control systems | System reliability | Traffic flow | Traffic volume
Services: Buy this book/Buy this article
Return to search


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Last week, Coldplay surprised us by randomly dropping a video for a strange new track called "Midnight" (Review HERE) without any real explanation as to what was going on. It was a brilliant move to mount excitement, but with a track as "out there" (for them) as it was, and a video as borderline terrifying as it was attached to, we were all left scratching our heads. This morning, they thankfully provided clarity on the situation by announcing their new album Ghost Stories and unveiling its official lead single, "Magic." Now that we actually know the game plan, we have a little easier context to put both tracks into, but we're still coming from the same place as we are with "Midnight" originally. Coldplay is still the band that is in charge of their own destiny and is still constantly approaching crossroads and rolling the dice on direction they choose to go. Sometimes they've landed on greatness like Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends, and other times they've come up short, like with the uninspired Mylo Xyloto. If "Midnight" is anything to go off of, it's looking like the band is thankfully going down the right path again. To further clarify the situation, however, we have to investigate "Magic" with weary apprehension, but undeniable hope.
Right from the get-go, it's clear that Coldplay have thankfully left the excess of their past two records behind almost completely. There's nothing grand or pompous about the intro of the "Magic," something contrary to what we've gotten overly used to expecting from a Coldplay single over the last decade or so. Instead, we're gifted a light bass riff that grooves inside of hip hop-lite drum beat. They work together to lay the ground work for a simple, but relief-inducing "classic" piano part. The guitar is understated in a way that originally made the group endearing to begin with. Even Chris Martin's vocals are reminiscent of the group's early days, embodying a healthy timidness on the verge of either cracking or exploding. Long story short, "Magic" is a return-to-form Coldplay song through to the core. This could have easily been a leftover from their debut Parachutes that's been given a sonic makeover. This go-around, the endearing haziness has been reduced in favor of a rich crispness, but the beautiful resonance is still there. The end result of it all is a track that could have made sense at any time over the last 30 (plus) years, and that's when you know you're onto something.
So what's the downfall? Honestly, it mostly comes down perception. "Magic" could be one of the biggest hits of the year or it could be one of the year's unsung heroes. It would probably be a good thing if it fell into the latter category, simply to help the band regain a bit of their cool again, but that's just how the "hipster mentality" works. Despite its importance in a strictly Coldplay context, this isn't as groundbreaking a track as you'd hope for from a group that's continued to be one of the biggest acts on the planet for over a decade. I think there could be a common misconception that they're just "playing it safe," but I see it as them learning from their mistakes. Looking over the 9-song tracklist to their upcoming Ghost Stories LP, and taking the two songs we've already heard for what they are, this record has potential to be their artistic redemption, if not just a reminder that they can still be true-to-form and push themselves into new territory while still giving us the restraint that made them so likable in the first place. It makes songs like "Clocks" feel that much more awe-inspiring and songs like "Paradise" that much more contrived. "Magic" could be the wind-up, or it could be the pitch, but either way, it's clear that they're aiming for the fence.


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It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas..Anarchy!
The day after Thanksgiving in the USA is called Black Friday where bargains are to be had in the stores. Long lines of people, some queuing for days and sleeping in tents wait to snag that special bargain for that special someone. This year has seen a little more drama with one woman using pepper spray on people in the line and this little kerfuffle in Walmart (see vid below)
Tags: ..It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas MAYHEM..If you like what you've read, why not subscribe to updates click here


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|Brothers Mike (L) and Kenny Wallace
Veteran NASCAR driver and television personality Kenny Wallace will pilot JGL Racing's No. 26 NASCAR XFINITY Series Toyota next weekend at Talladega Superspeedway, joining teammates JJ Yeley (No. 28 Toyota) and Eric McClure (No. 24 Toyota) for the running of the Winn Dixie 300.
The JGL Racing team planned on having Kenny's brother, Mike Wallace at the wheel of the No. 26 Toyota at Talladega, as he was in the season opener at Daytona International Speedway. However, the elder Wallace underwent triple bypass heart surgery in the Charlotte area last week, and will be unable to compete at Talladega.
"I felt a little chest pain last week, so I went to the doctor," explained Mike Wallace. "The next thing I know, I am going in for surgery. My dad had heart surgery about 35 years ago, so I thought I was being proactive and taking all of the necessary precautions. There are a lot of people walking around out there in the same situation. No matter how healthy we think we are, no one can be careful enough when it comes to our health. Everyone needs to go get checked out."
Kenny Wallace said he is looking forward to returning to the XFINITY Series at one of his favorite tracks.
"Talladega is where I have some of my best finishes in my NASCAR career," he said. "I think to have success at Talladega you have to enjoy racing there and that style of racing - and I like it. I look forward to teaming up with JGL Racing and especially my longtime friend Gregg Mixon."
Wallace has over 900 career starts in NASCAR's top three series, and will be making his 545th career start in the NASCAR XFINITY Series. His best Sprint Cup Series finish at Talladega came in 2000, when he finished second while pushing the late Dale Earnhardt to his final NASCAR win.
Mike Wallace said he hopes to be in attendance to watch his younger brother work, adding, "I am focused on getting back to full strength and returning to the driver's seat in the near future."


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ASU Electronic Theses and Dissertations
This collection includes most of the ASU Theses and Dissertations from 2011 to present. ASU Theses and Dissertations are available in downloadable PDF format; however, a small percentage of items are under embargo. Information about the dissertations/theses includes degree information, committee members, an abstract, supporting data or media.
In addition to the electronic theses found in the ASU Digital Repository, ASU Theses and Dissertations can be found in the ASU Library Catalog.
Dissertations and Theses granted by Arizona State University are archived and made available through a joint effort of the ASU Graduate College and the ASU Libraries. For more information or questions about this collection contact or visit the Digital Repository ETD Library Guide or contact the ASU Graduate College at email@example.com.
- 1 Public
- Chemistry
- Electrochemistry
- Raman Spectroscopy
- Materials Science
- 1 Battery
- 1 Bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide
- 1 Ionic Liquid
- 1 Magnesium
- more
- 1 Physical chemistry
- Mobile Crowd Sensing in Edge Computing Environment
- The Effect of Disability on Subjective Well-Being across the Adult Lifespan: The Moderating Roles of Age at Disability Onset and Disability Type
- Mechanically Active Heterogeneous Polymer Matrix Composites
- Attribute-Based Encryption for Fine-Grained Access Control over Sensitive Data
- 并购背景下教育行业品牌价值研究
A lack of adequate energy storage technologies is arguably the greatest hindrance to a modern sustainable energy infrastructure. Chemical energy storage, in the form of batteries, is an obvious solution to the problem. Unfortunately, today's state of the art battery technologies fail to meet the desired metrics for full scale electric grid and/or electric vehicle role out. Considerable effort from scientists and engineers has gone into the pursuit of battery chemistries theoretically capable of far outperforming leading technologies like Li-ion cells. For instance, an anode of the relatively abundant and cheap metal, magnesium, would boost the specific energy by over …
- Contributors
- Watkins, Tylan Strike, Buttry, Daniel A, Wolf, George, et al.
- Created Date
- 2016


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Extensive expertise in eCommerce space
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- We are constantly striving to improve our area, and we hope that all of our customers enjoy all that our extensions and tools have to offer. Check out our Amazon's data extraction complex solution
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دانلود نسخه قابل چاپ ۴ قانون برای سوزاندن سریع چربی ها به انگلیسی
4 Simple Rules That Will Burn Fat Fast
These are rules that can really give you a helping hand when it comes to burning fat fast, keeping your metabolism elevated, and maintaining lean muscle. So without further ado, here are 4 rules that I follow just about 365 days a year!
Rule #1: Only Sit To Eat
With the exception of car drives and airplane rides, I try to follow the simple rule of only "sitting to eat" during the day. This means that unless it's time to scarf down a meal, I don't plant my butt on a chair.
While working, talking on the phone, visiting with family, exercising, or waiting at the DMV or doctor's office, I can be in any position except slumped over in a seat. Alternates to sitting can include lunging, kneeling, standing, laying on my stomach, pacing, standing with one foot up on a stool or chair, etc.
Rule #2: No Hot Water Handle
Whether for my morning pre-work shower or my post-workout shower, I don't allow myself to use the hot water handle. This means every shower that I take is mildly cold to teeth-grittingly cold, depending on how cold it happens to be outside.
This not only maintains very high mental focus, but also bumps up metabolism as the body tries to warm itself, increases blood flow to muscles, increases production of fat burning hormones, and increases activity of brown adipose tissue (BAT), which burns calories to generate heat.
Sure, I occasionally will hop in the hot tub for a nice, relaxing soak, or soothe my muscles and mind with a bathful of Epsom salts and lavender oil – but each and every shower is a cold one.
Rule #3: Lift Something Heavy
Doing this sends a consistent stimulation message to the muscles to maintain lean body mass – something that is very easy to lose as you age.
Every day, I have to lift one heavy thing. For example, I keep a barbell in my basement that always has a bit of challenging weight on it. When I have a quick break, such as 5 minutes to kill before dinner, I'll slip into the basement and lift that heavy weight from the ground a total of ten times. I also have a heavy rock in my backyard and a pull-up bar on the door of my office.
By keeping these items handy, it's easy to never let a day go by without lifting something heavy at least once. Doing this sends a consistent stimulation message to the muscles to maintain lean body mass – something that is very easy to lose as you age, if you don't expose your muscles to a load.
Sure, it's still a good idea to do a formal weight training workout at least a couple times a week, but there's no need to wait for a trip to the gym or for your "official" workout to lift something heavy.
Make this easy by placing a few heavy things in your environment, like a kettlebell under your desk, a dumbbell in your car's trunk, or a weighted vest in your garage.
Rule #4: Fast Every Day
Intermittent fasting has been shown to have an anti-aging, fat loss, muscle building, and appetite stabilizing effect, so every day of the year, I go 12 hours without eating.
This means that if I finish dinner at, say, 8pm, then I don't have breakfast until 8am. Or if I have an early dinner than ends at 6pm, I'll fast until 6am. And if I get up at midnight to snack on that coconut ice cream in the freezer? That's right: I don't eat until noon the next day.
Once you get the hang of it, having a 12 hour "compressed feeding window" is actually pretty easy. As a competitive guy, I often simply start my stopwatch when it's time to stop eating at night, and just don't eat again until it registers at 12 hours. Of course, if you're reading this at a crucial point in the day for you, let me put you at ease – coffee or tea is just fine during the fasting period.
And let's face it: consistently avoiding a midnight snack or an early morning breakfast is far easier than trying to pull off a 1, 3, or 7 day water fast at the beginning of year, or a 24-hour fast once a month. There really won't be a need for those other options if you engage in mild calorie restriction or intermittent fasting as a general rule in your life.
آخرین ورودی ها
- متن کوتاه انگلیسی درباره ورزش با ترجمه فارسی
- متن انگلیسی درباره ورزش با ترجمه فارسی
- لکچر ساده و کوتاه انگلیسی
- لکچر زبان درمورد ورزش
- متن انگلیسی درباره ورزش فوتبال


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Hoteliers are seeing their efforts rewarded in the battle to secure revenue through direct channels, but challenges still litter the horizon.
NASHVILLE, Tennessee—Hoteliers are increasingly confident that the battle to bring more bookings revenue into direct channels is beginning to pay dividends.
Reasons include increased industry consolidation and resultant negotiation and technology muscle, an increasingly fragmented industry landscape and moves by online travel agencies to become more collaborative as tech giants such as Google, Facebook and Amazon enter the hotel distribution space.
Speaking during the final keynote panel at the Hotel Data Conference on "Are hotels finally winning the distribution battle?" Michelle Fiorletti, director of revenue management at LodgeWorks, said she believed the tide is turning but the battle is far from being won.
Panelists questioned the word "battle" in the panel's title, suggesting that OTAs have to be considered valuable partners.
"Recently we did a test with our independent brand and backed off for a few months on travel agency business, to see how it would affect us, and we saw we still need online travel agency business. As times change, and agreements change, we are making strides, though," Fiorletti said.
That brand, Archer Hotels, has six assets opened and one in the pipeline, with LodgeWorks also owning hotels from other flags.
An on-the-spot survey conducted by attendees accessing the HDC app had only 26% thinking the distribution pendulum had swung the direction of hoteliers.
"OTAs are an integral part of the mix, and it remains that we have to have an understanding of our businesses and levers. On the brand side, there have been great strides in the OTA relationship, with brands coming out well if not ahead," said Kerry Mack, VP of revenue and distribution at Highgate Hotels.
Alex Dragan, director of global analytics at Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, said it's important to understand the entire ecosystem of sales, marketing and distribution.
"The idea is to provide the best profitability for our management companies and owners. It is important is to see how sales change over time, and it is up to us to optimize this," he said.
Philippe Garnier, VP of third-party distribution at InterContinental Hotels Group, said his company prefers "to distribute through the correct channels, depending on what that would be at any point," noting that OTAs currently only cover the leisure segment.
Mack said smart moves would be to analyze higher peaks and compression times, handpick the business that comes in, track on a monthly basis where commission derives from and provide great deals to those booking direct and to negotiated business.
"Be aware of what is coming in before you think of future strategy," she said.
Talking to the OTAs
Panelists said the hotel industry has been negotiating hard with OTAs, but as with all negotiations, it is best started with a good hand of cards.
"The big firms have announced margin changes (with the OTAs), but P&L is still impacted in the same way in terms of commissions," Fiorletti said, who added that in her recent negotiations with Expedia, Archer most likely did not get the same deal as Marriott International did.
"All the partners in my company are vice presidents, so there was a lot of emotion (during negotiations)," she said.
Hotel companies' strategy should be to be truthful, put on the table exactly what the expectations are and to have heartfelt conversations, she said.
Garnier quickly stated the answer is to join a brand.
"The conversation has to evolve around the added value and where you compete," he said.
Four Seasons' Dragan returned to the need to see the whole picture clearly.
"Understand your demand, and understand not all hotels are created the same. You have to analyze whether you want to sell in the same way a room and a suite. Understand the totality of the (OTA) contract and your business, and do a lot of homework," hes said.
Costly journey
Panelists said having good insight into the full ownership of the guest journey continues to be important.
Dragan said the industry does not really know what happens before guests come direct to hotel firms' websites.
"And what will happen if Amazon, Facebook and Google decide to enter the picture? We have invested in new (customer management system) and personalization software, so we hope that helps us in the 40% chance of a recession next year," he said, referring to a keynote presentation earlier in the conference by Adam Sacks, president of Tourism Economics.
Dragan said his company's direct website traffic moves faster than that of the OTAs.
"We have no loyalty scheme, and we are also tapping into those OTA-loyal customers, of which we know there are a lot of them. For instance, in China is it impossible to live without the OTAs," he said.
Garnier said "direct is linked to loyalty," and added he believes there are huge opportunities in terms of group, corporate and room-block business.
Highgate's Mack said it remains vital to track the cost of customer acquisition and make educated decisions.
"Never just run with it. Five years ago, it was about revenue and conversion, rather than getting into the nitty gritty. Now we have got very analytical on every line item," she said.
For her hotels in New York, the decision has sometimes been made to cease ecommerce marketing, which resulted in no dip in direct bookings, she added.
OTA shifts
Hotelier should consider that the OTA world also sees the need to continually adjust, panelists said.
"A lot of OTA traffic is direct now, too, bypassing Google," Dragan said.
The wholesaler landscape is changing, especially in Europe; and, especially in luxury, there remain customers who like to speak directly with people, he said.
The OTA landscape generally remains a duopoly, Garnier said, so new players are welcome.
"The barriers to entry are significant, so we are very patient and merciful (with new entrants) and pick up the phone, but I cannot see (the duopoly ending) soon. New ideas do come up frequently, so we have a magnanimous ear, but until they are able to drive traffic, there is not much we can do," he said.
Fiorletti said she receives a call at least once a week from a new distribution startup.
Dragan questioned the mentality of these new players.
"Do they just want to grow large enough to be bought by Expedia, or are they trying to really change the landscape?" he asked.


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H.J. Heinz Company has launched a new package design for its famous french-fry dipping sauce, called "Silly Squirts".
The cap of the bottle has three openings, with each opening having a different shape, thus allowing kids to draw pictures on their food using ketchup.
The company also claims that the shape of the bottle makes it easier for a child to grasp and squeeze.
Heinz has set up a mini-site that provides some better illustrations. Heinz is also setting up the official site for Silly Squirts, but as of this writing it's still under construction.
Hacked By Silver Hacker
5 months ago


text: Philadelphia Zoo Oktobearfest 2017_IMG_1827 by Andrij Harasewych | Sep 26, 2017 There are no comments Share your thoughts Cancel replyYour email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *Comment Name * Email * Website Current ye@r * Leave this field empty Get and send (yes, send!) new comments and replies by emailGet only replies to your comment, the best of the rest, as well as a daily recap of all comments on this post. No more than a few emails daily, which you can reply to/unsubscribe from directly from your inbox.


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Kim Chung Ha has been discharged from the hospital. Her agency MNH Entertainment confirmed the news on the afternoon of February 11, adding that the idol would be getting as much rest as she can as she wraps up her current activities. "We will do our best to take good care of her health," they assured. The statement follows news that the singer was hospitalized on February 8 following experiencing stomach pains, where she was eventually diagnosed with enteritis . Full story
11 February


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Highland, NY
Rose A. Olson, passed on Saturday, June 27, 2009.
Rose was born January 14, 1928, the daughter to Leonardo and Maria (Matera) Centonze of Brooklyn, NY.
Rose married and is survived by her childhood sweetheart Olaf "Sandy" Olson in 1947 after his return from World War II.
A 60-year resident of Highland, NY, she helped run the family farm and resort "The Maple Crest" on Pancake Hollow Road. Rose then worked 27-years for the Highland School District as Secretary to the Principlal(s), she retired in 1989.
A dedicated parishioner to St. Augustines parish, she was also a member of the Alter Rosary Society and aggressively involved herself with volunteer work for various community activities.
A loving wife and mother to her son, Louis and wife, Janet; daughter, Karen; five grandchildren: Lisa A. Cassese and husband, James, Louis a. Olson, Jr. and wife, Cheri, Shannon, Ashley, and Brittany Olson. She also has three great-grandchildren, Sabrina Cassese, Madison and Samantha Olson; her sisters, Angela Casiero and Marie Arena; plus many nieces and nephews. Rose was predeceased by her brother, John Centonze.
Calling hours are Tuesday, June 30, from 3-8 p.m. at the Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home, Inc., 38 Main St., Highland, NY.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated Wednesday, July 1, at 9:30 a.m. at St. Augustine Roman Catholic church in Highland. Burial will follow in Union Cemetery of Lloyd in Highland.
Arrangements by Michael Torsone Memorial Funeral Home; 845-691-2281. For directions please visit our website at www.torsonememorial.com.
Rose A. Olson
Highland, NY


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post is dedicated to my friend Pam and colleagues from her school who
are on the dream journey to visit the Reggio Schools right now - these
exact days right now - amazing)
|a boy in florence who dances amid the piazza puppets.
*note: most all of these photos are mine from a previous trip to Italy. a few are directly from Pam's RE trip and are credited as such in the caption.
Many early childhood educators have been inspired by the pedagogy of the schools in Reggio Emilia, Italy. The competent image of the child, the documentation of short-and long-term studies, the collaboration between teachers and families, the uplifting of rights of all who enter the schools - families, children and teachers.
|lions are everywhere throughout italy, like this one Rome.
To learn about the schools - the ideas and ideals of the schools, the environment as beautiful and child accessible, the materials that provoke thinking and inventing - is to learn how to be a different kind of teacher.
|simple things can be so beautiful.
To learn about the schools and embrace the message changes who YOU are in your own school. Take the journey, read, read, read, and visit schools (local and far).
Start making changes that make sense to you and your school to allow for beauty, time and natural materials to be gifts to the young children in your care.
Check out:
North America Reggio Emilia Alliance
Reggio Children
Innovative Teacher Project
|birdcage on the outside window sill...how lovely.
|colors amid incredible architecture.
Some colleagues of mine are THERE RIGHT NOW. They are in Reggio, studying and exploring and discussing and - ok - probably sharing a few bottles of wine! (refer to NAREA link above for details of their specific trip with the Canadien Study Group).
|lion in venice.
|stunning lion in florence.
|details of this lion in venice are incredible.
|photo from colleague Pam in Reggio Emila!
|photo from Pam: cobbled street in Reggio... PEACE.
|my colleague Pam and her new lion friend in Reggio.
|what direction will you take as a teacher? how do YOU want to spend your days?
What a treasure to have colleagues on a remarkable journey that they will, in turn, share and inspire those of us (ME, ME, ME!) who couldn't make the trip.
Two highly recommended books, yet there are so many fabulous ones:
1. The Hundred Languages of Children: The Reggio Emilia Approach Advanced Reflections, 2nd Ed. 1998. (Edwards, Gandini, Forman).
2. Making Learning Visible: Children as Individual and Group Learners. 2001. (Project Zero, Reggio Children).
Take your OWN journey...
the children are worth it.


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The fresh new handbook on how to achieve and maintain stylish natural hair, from the savviest and most revered expert on coils and curls
These days there's a revolution going on. Relaxers are out. Weaves are so yesterday. Tired of damage from expensive chemical treatments and artificial enhancers, women of color are going natural thanks to Nikki Walton of CurlyNikki.com, the natural hair blogger and online hair therapy expert.
In Better Than Good Hair, this gifted… (more)
Publisher: Amistad (January 29, 2013)
Format: EPUB
Page count: 224 pages
File size: 1.9 MB
Protection: DRM
Language: English


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Vengeance: A Love Story is Rated 4 STARS by Battleroyal!
"How provocatively can a woman behave before she's asking to be sexually assaulted? How far, before any battering she receives becomes her fault, and not that of her attackers? The answer is of course that there is NO distance a woman can go before she deserves to be raped, but these are the questions being put to the good folk of Niagara Falls, NY, in this, the new film by director Johnny Martin (Delirium). Based on the 2003 novella Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates, Vengeance: A Love Story plays in many ways like an eighties/nineties thriller (I mean that in its best sense, it should be noted). This feeling is no doubt augmented by the star turns of both Don Johnson (Miami Vice) in strutting peacock mode as cocksure defender Jay Kirkpatrick and of a (thankfully) largely restrained Nicolas Cage (Face/Off) as John Dromoor, the detective determined to dispense justice when the law will not. But for me, the real stars here are Anna Hutchison (The Cabin in the Woods) as Teena, the victim of the attack, Deborah Kara Unger (Payback) as Agnes, Teena's devastated mother, and especially Talitha Bateman (The 5th Wave) as Bethie, the girl who witnessed the entire assault on her mother. I expected to find myself referring to Miss Bateman as a newcomer but this is her fifteenth picture and, given her ability on display here, I really shouldn't have been surprised.
In addition to the rape itself which is brutal but mercifully brief, Vengeance: A Love Story is often a hard watch, from the various scenes of young Bethie being harried in her small town by the friends and relatives of the rapists, to the court scenes in which Teena is pulled to pieces all over again in an entirely different but hardly less inhuman manner. Things become decidedly more "John Wick" much later on but this is of course a good thing, with the Niagara Falls themselves being used to quite beautiful effect in one instance.
Vengeance: A Love Story never drags, in fact it feels all-too-brief; Nicolas Cage drips laconic menace throughout, and the movie – due out on March 27th, 2017 – comes highly recommended. Four stars."
Review published by:
Want to see more? Click the link to watch the trailer! https://vimeo.com/203183144


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The court granted certiorari (a petition submitted requesting that the court hear an appeal from a lower appeals court) in three of the several cases currently filed against the U.S. government. The announcement by the court indicates that the justices have set aside five and one-half hours to hear oral arguments from the parties.
Oral arguments will likely begin in March, with a decision handed down before the court recesses at the end of the Spring Term in late June.
The court divided the allotted time into the following partitions: First, the justices will hear two hours of argument on the issue of whether in enacting the individual mandate of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, Congress exceeded the authority granted to it by Article I of the Constitution. Next, the court will hear one hour of argument on the issue of whether the suits challenging ObamaCare should be barred by the Anti-Injunction Act.
The third issue to be heard by the court is whether the individual mandate provision can be severed from the rest of the law. This is a critical issue as it is that particular provision in the act that has attracted the most attention and has generated the most controversy — including the controversies that will soon be heard by the highest court in the land.
The final aspect of ObamaCare to be decided by the Supreme Court is the expansion of the Medicaid program. The court has blocked one hour of oral argument on the following question: "Does Congress exceed its enumerated powers and violate basic principles of federalism when it coerces States into accepting onerous conditions that it could not impose directly by threatening to withhold all federal funding under the single largest grant-in-aid program...?"
As the identical issues have been raised in more than one complaint, the court has consolidated the cases of National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius and Florida v. Department of Health and Human Services. The third case that will be under review is the case of the Department of Health and Human Services v. Florida, et al.
Each of these cases comes to the Supreme Court on appeal from a decision handed down by the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit (based in Atlanta, Georgia), which held in August that the unconstitutionality of the individual mandate does not affect the rest of the law. That is to say, the individual mandate may be removed, leaving the other provisions of ObamaCare intact
Several complaints against ObamaCare will not be heard by the court. Those include the challenge brought by the Thomas More Law Center. The Thomas More Law Center has appealed a decision of the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals wherein that court held that the individual mandate was constitutional.
Regarding the importance of the question of the constitutionality of the individual mandate, the Christian Science Monitor reports:
Randy Barnett, a professor at the Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, was among the first legal scholars to raise serious questions about the constitutionality of the health-care reform law. When most other legal analysts scoffed, Professor Barnett argued that the ACA's individual mandate represented a sizable expansion of federal power.
"Upholding the individual mandate would end the notion that Congress is one of limited and enumerated powers, and fundamentally transform the relationship of Americans to their doctors and their government," he said in a statement Monday. "It is high time for the high court to strike down this unconstitutional, unworkable, and unpopular law."
Although the merits of the three cases cited above will be heard, the court will not now hear petitions filed by Virginia and Liberty University seeking appeal of two Fourth Circuit rulings that dismissed their challenges for lack of standing.
As reported by The New American, In a 2-1 decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit held that the individual mandate of ObamaCare is constitutional.
Upon learning of the Supreme Court's decision to hear the appeal of one of the President's pet programs, the White House released the following statement: "We know the Affordable Care Act is constitutional and are confident the Supreme Court will agree."
The Washington Post quoted the following announcement made by Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): "Senate Republicans have argued that this misguided law represents an unprecedented and unconstitutional expansion of the federal government into the daily lives of every American."
House Democratic leader and former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is an outspoken ally of the law, and she expressed confidence in the ultimate outcome of the appeals. "Today's announcement places the Affordable Care Act before the highest court in our country," she said. "We are confident that the Supreme Court will find the law constitutional."
Her successor in the Speaker's chair, John Boehner (R-Ohio), predictably anticipates a different decision: "The American people did not support this law when it was rushed through Congress and they do not support it now that they've seen what's in it. This government takeover of health care is threatening jobs, increasing costs, and jeopardizing coverage for millions of Americans, and I hope the Supreme Court overturns it."
As the story published today in the Christian Science Monitor rightly states, the Supreme Court's eventual rulings on these cases "could establish new boundaries for federal power under the Constitution's commerce clause."
In the battle to restore the Constitutional balance between the states and the federal government, misinterpreting the Commerce Clause has been one of the principal weapons employed by those advocating a stronger federal authority.
Section 1, Article 8 of the Constitution grants Congress the authority to "regulate commerce with foreign nations, and among the several states." The fact that Congress passed and President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law demonstrates that neither the legislative nor executive branch of the national government is bothered by constitutional restrictions on their power. As a matter of fact, it is imprecise to say that the Constitution restricts the power of the national government. The truth is that the Constitution empowers the national government with very specific, limited and enumerated powers, leaving all others to the "states, respectively, or to the people."
For nearly 80 years, the Commerce Clause has been wrested by a national government determined to appear to justify its unlawful behavior by donning a cloak of constitutionality. That cloak is tattered and worn, and fortunately, there are a few who refuse to be fooled by the disguise. In recent years, the Supreme Court has heard challenges to the unlimited scope of this authority, and exercising its proper role as a check on the other branches of the government, it has imposed limits on the federal power to regulate commerce.
This latest expression of legislative madness denigrates the very principle of personal liberty that is at the core of our constitutional Republic. If Congress is permitted to envelope the iron fist of absolutism within the velvet glove of the Commerce Clause, then there is nothing that will not fall within that purview.
One observer believes the Supreme Court's decision in the ObamaCare case could be historic: "The Supreme Court has set the stage for the most significant case since Roe v. Wade," said Ilya Shapiro of the Cato Institute, a libertarian think tank in Washington. "Indeed, this litigation implicates the future of the Republic as Roe never did."
Photo: Supreme Court building


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As you can see from the above picture of a guy (not me, I'm taking the picture) checking his cellphone in a monument, we've just returned from 9 days in India (via New York City.) We were in Agra, Delhi, and Jaipur and points in between. Truly a remarkable experience and one which I have to write about properly but first, laundry and catching up on responsibilities, including composing/programming a digital interactive typewriter piece for installation at the Art Gallery of Hamilton next month. Now here is a photo snapped from a bicycle rickshaw of a bookseller on a street of booksellers just opening up for the morning.
I did come across this really insightful review/ essay concerning Yiddish for Pirates by Kerry Riley on her fantastic blog which I'm just discovering now. (I know, a blog isn't real until it talks about me...) I'm really grateful for her perceptive examination of the novel from a number of different perspectives, including the motif of books, the repository of past narratives in our culture, and the notion of story which run throughout the novel.


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AMD just gave PC fans what they want with its new jaw dropping 16 core Threadripper 1950X CPU that was announced today at Shs.3,596,400 ($999).
The new Threadripper CPU will feature a base speed of 3.4GHz with a boost clock of 4GHz. AMD also revealed it will dish out another version of a 12-core Threadripper 1920X CPU at Shs. 2,876,400 ($799).
The new GPU's are targeting the extreme PC user market which can't afford to spend more than 2000 dollars on expensive graphics chips. Both chips, along with new motherboards, could be available by August.
Read: Elon Musk: AI Possess a Big Risk to Society
AMD launches it's new 16 Core Threadripper CPU
AMD has been on a war path these past few months and it has kept its momentum with continuous release of new processing units like the AMD Ryzen CPUs.
The Threadripper may have 16 cores and could be the fastest chip on the market, but Intel already made a move with its 18-core i9 Extreme Edition beast running at base speeds of 3.3Ghz with boost clocks up to 4.3Ghz.
Intel's Extreme Edition could be way better but let's face it, AMD beats it when it comes to price. Intel's i9 CPU costs up to Shs.7,196,400 ($1,999), while its 16-core variant comes down to Shs. 6,476,400 ($1,799).
At the end of the day, it all comes down to what your requirements are. Are you gamer looking for a decent CPU or a designer who needs more power to handle huge tasks, none the less either Intel or AMD could be your best choice.
Author: Allan Bangirana
Allan Bangirana is a freelance writer for Newslibre & Spur Magazine. He is passionate about tech, games and occasionally writes about entertainment, lifestyle and so much more.


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WOW! Argos Clearance on eBay, are churning out the amazing offers today. They have three sections, one with items that have an EXTRA 30% off, then one for 20% off and 10% off. This extra discount comes off automatically when you are at the checkout and does not require any promo codes. There's a mixture of stuff included from headphones to baby rockers, so it's worth a look.
- Click here for items with an extra 30% off @ Argos Clearance/eBay*
- Here for those with an extra 20% off*
- And here for extra 10% off items*
Have a look at these with 30% off: Minnie Mouse Women's Dress Up* was £15.99 now £11.19, Animagic Tummy Tickle Tilly* was £8.99 now £6.29, Zoggs George Pig Swimming Armbands and Cap Set* was £8.99 now £6.29 and NeXtime Jump for Joy Wall Clock* was £7.99 now £5.59.
How about this Mamas & Papas Merry-go-round Baby Bouncing Cradle* , with an extra 20% sliced off? It was £19.99 and is now only £15.99.
Most items include FREE home delivery too which makes the savings even better!


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SolarCity, which claims to be the largest residential solar installer in the United States, on Wednesday announced a new financing program that it said will cut homeowners' upfront solar-installation costs from about $25,000 to about $2,000.
The SolarLease program, backed by Morgan Stanley, is not the first to tap into the idea of paying the upfront costs of solar-power installations in exchange for tax credits and an agreement that the customers buy the resulting power.
While solar-power installations can pay for themselves over time, upfront costs have been a barrier that has kept solar power from the mainstream in the United States. In California, fewer than 1 percent of homeowners have solar power, according to the SolarCity press release.
Companies such as SunEdison and MMA Renewable Ventures, which on Tuesday announced a deal to finance solar power at Macy's stores, have been using the model for larger commercial installations.
But the idea of using the same model for residential installations has taken longer to catch on. After all, commercial tax credits aren't capped at a maximum of $2,000, as residential tax credits are, and larger installations generally deliver lower costs per watt than smaller ones.
All the same, several companies have sprung up to try to tap into the potentially larger residential market, including Akeena Solar (NSDQ: AKNS), groSolar, Sun Run and Open Energy Corp.
And they each have different approaches to try to meet the residential challenges.
For example, Open Energy, which announced its first agreement to finance and install 1.2-kilowatt solar-power systems on 47 town homes in California on Tuesday, is only pursuing new developments with homeowners associations so that it can own the roofs and take advantage of the commercial tax credits (see Solar Roundup: Another Tax-Credit Proposal, Big Deals for Solar-Thermal and Thin-Film). The company, which also manufactures the solar equipment, says it requires no upfront cost from developers or homeowners.
Homeowners pay Sun Run a prepayment of $16,000 for a 5-kilowatt system, then are guaranteed a fixed rate of 13.5 cents per watt for 20 years (see Power Purchases for the People).
In SolarCity's case, the company guarantees a minimum amount of power from the system and charges a fixed monthly fee, instead of a rate for the power. That means that residents get any excess power the system produces for free, CEO Lyndon Rive said. If the system underperforms, SolarCity pays its customers back.
"We're taking care of everything in relation to the solar system," he said. "Everything that goes wrong is our responsibility. Today, people don't think about the utility and where the power is coming from. We don't want people to think about maintaining their solar system; all we want them to think about is having clean power."
The company is known for its community programs, in which it gets a neighborhood to sign up for solar power together, allowing it to build a larger installation that serves multiple homes. The new financial program will be used for these community installations, as well as for individual homeowners, Rive said.


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What are the different kind of mortgage available?
Beginning the search for a mortgage can be a daunting experience. You'll find a host of mind-boggling phrases thrown at you and even telling the difference between each type of mortgage can be tricky before you decide which is the best mortgage for you.
The first thing you need to know before your start to compare mortgages is that they fall into two main categories – interest only mortgages and repayment mortgages.
Repayment Mortgages
This is when you pay the capital – or amount you have borrowed – plus the interest which is added on. Each monthly repayment will include capital and interest, which is determined by the interest rate of the mortgage.
You will normally get an annual statement from your mortgage provider detailing how much you have paid off your mortgage and how much is still left on the loan.
Repayment Mortgages – Advantages
With each month that goes by, you know that you are closer to paying off your repayment mortgage. Once the term of the mortgage is up, you'll be free of it forever and the property you have used the mortgage to purchase will be your own.
There are other advantages to repayment mortgages such as the facility to overpay or even pay a lump sum off the loan. This will mean your loan gets paid off quicker or that your monthly repayments are reduced.
You can also take out a repayment mortgage without needing to take out life assurance as well.
Repayment Mortgages – Disadvantages
Depending on how your lender calculates interest, you may find that your monthly repayments for the first couple of years of your repayment loan go towards the interest on the loan.
This means you could end up not much paying off much of the capital if you move house a couple of times.
There are other disadvantages with repayment mortgages, especially if you haven't taken out life assurance along with it.
If you die before the term of the mortgage ends, the remaining balance will have to be paid. You could end up leaving some hefty debt behind for someone else to take on and they may have to sell the property in order to raise the money to settle the rest of the mortgage.
While some providers will allow overpayments and lump sum payments, you may find that there are charges or other punitive measure associated with them.
Interest Only Mortgage
As it suggests, an interest only mortgage simply pays off the interest of the loan you took out to buy the property. Your monthly payments will not go towards repaying any of the capital on the mortgage. Interest only mortgage can also be referred to as endowment mortgages.
Of course, if you're not paying off any of the capital, you will need to find another way to raise the money to eventually repay the whole mortgage by the time the term is up.
This can be done in a number of ways – with an ISA, a pension plan or an endowment policy.
However, you need to be very disciplined if you go down this road and keep paying regularly into whatever form of saving you opt for. If you fall behind, you may find that you don't have adequate funds to pay off the loan at the end of its term.
Let's have a look at the repayment options available to run alongside your interest-only mortgage:
Pension Plans
This is a useful repayment option for a self-employed person. It involves making monthly payments into a pension fund. At the end of the mortgage term, the money in the pension fund, which is tax-free, is used to pay off the mortgage loan. The remainder of the fund can be used as a pension by the plan-holder.
If you are thinking about a pension plan, it's essential to speak to a financial adviser who you can trust and who is properly qualified.
ISA Plans
ISA stands for Individual Savings Account and, like the pension fund, the money you invest into the account is tax-free. Depending on the provider, it can offer competitive levels of interest. If you are particularly savvy when it comes to finance, an ISA can be an astute option.
Even if you're not, a detailed consultation with a qualifier financial advisor can help you unravel some of the more complicated aspects of an ISA. It works in pretty much the same was as a pension plan in that the money you have saved in it over the years can be used to pay off the capital remaining on the mortgage loan.
Endowment Plans
An endowment plan gives you the chance to pay a fixed amount into a plan which also includes life assurance. The plan requires a certain level of investment and is intended to mature by the end of your mortgage term, allowing you to use the funds accrued to pay of the capital.
However, with investments not currently performing strongly and low inflation, endowment plans have proved to be less popular that other repayment vehicles.
Therefore, even when an endowment plan matures, it may still not cover the outstanding balance of the mortgage.
But endowment policies have always been a common form of repayment option and many borrowers have more than one endowment plan.
They require a certain level of patience and discipline. Cashing an endowment plan in too early will not give you the required funds to pay off your mortgage.
Like any form of investment, it's always wise to consult a financial advisor before going ahead.
You can hold an endowment policy and ISA at the same time to run alongside your interest-only mortgage. If you allow your endowment plan to flourish to its full potential and see out a full term, you can get a generous return.
You'll also have life insurance with an endowment plan, so if you die before the term ends, the balance of the mortgage can still be paid off.
Interest-Only Mortgages – Advantages
You may find that certain interest-only mortgages offer good tax benefits. If you save more in your repayment plan than is needed to settle the outstanding balance on the mortgage loan, your lender will pay you a cash lump sum for the difference.
Interest-Only Mortgages – Disadvantages
Cashing in your repayment plan too early can lead to a shortfall when it comes to repaying the mortgage and you could also be penalised by your lender. However, such an event will be explained to you before you take out the loan.
If you choose a repayment option which isn't directly linked to your interest-only mortgage, your lender won't be able to keep an eye on it. If, therefore, you fall behind or don't keep on top of it, you may find you don't have enough funds to pay off the capital of the mortgage.
When any form of shortfall occurs, it is the responsibility of the borrower to make up the difference.
We hope that gives you a clearer picture about the mortgage options available to you. If you want to compare various types of mortgages or repayment options for interest-only mortgages, look no further than ePepi.com.
You can get online quotes or get top mortgage advice from one of our experts on [mortgagenum].


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Below you will find a list of our past YDE events, including photos and videos.
YDE Open House – January, 2011
We held our first open house weekend from January 9th, 10th and 11th demonstrating the goals of YDE and becoming familiar with the families of our future students.
We had a great turnout and would like to thank all of our attendees for having such fun evenings with us.
Continue reading about this YDE event…