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Speaking Events
At the 2016 Kyiv International Book Festival with
The Road to Donetsk
Moondance Events
Wednesday 18th April 2018 at 7pm. Waterstones Brussels Book Club book of the month.
Home House Private Members Club, Mayfair, Monday 25th September 7pm. Victim or Bitch? Meet the female authors
Thursday 12th October at 6pm. Ever fancied writing a book?
How can you long for someone who doesn't exist?
Cat has always been in control of her life. Happily married to Dom, but flying high as a political lobbyist, she dismisses his desire to start a family ... until she herself is ready.
But what if it is then too late?Complex and selfish, intelligent and open, if she is to succeed in having that elusive child, Cat must battle through gruelling fertility treatment and the emotional strain it places on her marriage. By her side, Dom, easygoing and ever the optimist, finds that he too risks being run ragged by their journey.
Both are forced to come to terms with their longing for a baby against the blitz on a relationship tested like never before.
Bittersweet, at times funny, and always emotionally raw, this is by far the most moving and honest novel you'll ever read about IVF and its impact on a marriage.
Donetsk Events
It is 1994 and an idealistic Vanessa Parker enters the world of international aid, bringing with her youth and passion to do good in the 'Wild East' of Ukraine after the sudden collapse of communism. The country and its people completely win her heart. As does Dan, a jaded American Deputy Bureau Chief of USAID. Older, wiser, Dan laughs at Vanessa's naivety. Corruption is rife. The mind-set of the Ukrainian people is at times impenetrable. Her efforts to coordinate millions of dollars worth of aid are met with ridicule, whilst the British aid experts throw up smoke screens. At times thwarted, Vanessa's determination to help is set when she meets the resourceful, magnificent wives of a Donetsk mining village threatened with pit closures.
But then Dan springs a bolt from the blue, which throws her into turmoil...
No events planned at present
An Introduction to Creative Writing - join us in my cosy kitchen for a morning of fun and creativity. We're taking a break over the summer but look out for more workshops in the autumn...
Some feedback thus far
"Thank you for a fantastic and comprehensive beginners' course on creative writing. It was wonderful." */*
"Such a fab workshop, so much fun! Look forward to the follow-up." */*
"I became aware that I have more imagination than I thought, an extraordinary discovery. Felt safe to share." */*
"Im going straight to the coffee shop to start writing!" */*
"A great way to get those creative juices flowing." */*
"Lots of inspiration, guidance and support."


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Blazing the Northeast Texas Trail
Posted by Joseph Pitchford | Tags: Bed & Breakfast , Rail-Trails , Routes & Rides , U.S. - Texas
The Northeast Texas Trail (NETT) is a partially completed rail-trail conversion, stretching 130 miles across six counties and 19 towns, from Farmersville to New Boston, Texas. Over a three-day weekend from October 26 to 28, 2012, Steve DeBauge and I completed a "thru-bike" of the entire NETT corridor. The challenge was as much logistical as it was physical -- but well worth it.
We came away convinced that the NETT vision will ultimately yield a recreational treasure and tourism draw for Northeast Texas. That said, there is a reason this end-to-end trip had never been accomplished before. While the right-of-way legal battles have been won and the user base is building, there are still several segments that are overgrown and/or illegally fenced off. It will take even more hard work, passion, and, yes, some money to get the entire route ready for regular cyclo-tourism.
On the trail between Wolfe City and Ladonia.
THE PLAN. Given the overall distance and the unknown condition of some segments, our plan was to split the trail into three manageable riding days. Our daily mileage divided up almost perfectly: Day 1, 48 miles, Farmersville to Roxton; Day 2, 44 miles, Roxton to Clarksville; Day 3, 39 miles, Clarksville to New Boston.
This was going to be a credit-card tour, meaning that we would carry only clothes, water, bike tools, and a credit card -- no food and no camping/cooking equipment. Using tips from other trail users and extensive Internet research, we carefully mapped out all breaks, meal stops, and overnight lodging we would need along the way.
The fact that we ate well and slept comfortably along the NETT is one of the most important things I have to report. Although the NETT is still a work in progress, we showed that it is feasible to make the entire trek without worrying about the next meal and whether or not you'll find a comfortable bed/hot shower.
THE TRIP. My wife dropped us off at 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 26, in downtown Farmersville (about an hour northeast of Dallas). Two more friends, Travis Jeakins and Austin Arnold, joined us for that first day only. They would ride with us until Pecan Gap, and it was great to have the extra company. The early riding was steady on the generally good segments between Farmersville and Wolfe City.
One of many old rail bridges along the NETT (Austin Arnold, Travis Jeakins, and author Joseph Pitchford).
Along the way, we took a short break at the Celeste Exxon, and later made our first full meal stop about 22 miles in, at El Arbol Mexican Restaurant in Wolfe City. Fueled by a tasty lunch, we felt strong heading to Roxton for our first overnight stay. En route, we made a quick stop in Ladonia to say hello to Mayor Jan Cooper, whom Steve and I had met in September 2011 on our first overnight NETT trip.
Steve DeBauge, Travis Jeakins, Mayor Cooper, and Austin Arnold.
Upon reaching Pecan Gap, locals strongly warned against riding the illegally fenced trail segment just northeast of that town (from CR 3550 to the town of Ben Franklin). We reluctantly detoured around it on FM 128. Finally arriving in Roxton, we checked in with proprietor Ronnie Rhodes at the very comfortable Roxton House Guest Cottage.
We cleaned up, then walked to the Roxton Grocery & Café for dinner. The Friday night special was catfish, and we demolished our fair share of the perfectly prepared filets.
After a very restful night, we started out Day 2 in Roxton with a big breakfast at Big A's, personally served by proprietor Allen Hughes. Later, after navigating the notorious overgrowth and fences on the Roxton-to-Paris segment (averaging about 4 mph!), we met up with NETT board president Earl Erickson for a personal tour of the Trail de Paris, which runs for six perfectly paved miles through that city. Earl then drove ahead to meet us for lunch at Weezy's in the town of Blossom.
Okay, the trail is a little overgrown here.
Energized by good food and great company, we said goodbye to Earl and pressed on to Clarksville. Our lodging for the night in Clarksville was the truly beautiful Courthouse Inn B&B, owned by Cheryl and Perry O'Brian.
The Courthouse Inn B&B.
After checking in, we made our way to the town square for dinner at The Italian Bistro. Again, a very satisfactory meal. The next morning, Perry pulled out all the stops with a hearty breakfast, and sent us very well fed on our way to the finish line in New Boston.
We were extremely disappointed by the segment from Clarksville to Annona -- completely overgrown and impassible, and even worse than the Roxton–to-Paris segment. Fortunately, US 82 offers a wide shoulder as an alternate route, nearly parallel to the trail. A few miles east of Annona, the trail returned to rideable condition, particularly after the intersection with Garland Chapel Road/CR 3312. This occasionally rough trail segment took us to Avery, where we enjoyed a break at the Clark Gas Station/7-11.
We could have had a nice pizza lunch at the Avery 7-11, but our plan was to make it to DeKalb. The trail from Avery to DeKalb was beautiful, and we were rewarded for our decision with a terrific meal at the famous Front Street Junction Café. The Sunday-after-church crowd did not seem to mind two cyclists in their midst, as we devoured a few rounds of good country cooking.
After lunch, we had only about 12 miles to go from De Kalb to New Boston. These were some of the easiest miles of the entire trip -- very well-maintained trails, absolutely ready for cyclists of almost any experience level. We finished up exactly on schedule in New Boston, at 3 p.m. on Sunday, October 28. A good friend picked us up at T&P Trailhead Park in downtown New Boston (with appropriate beverages), and another great bike trip was in the books.
Steve DeBauge (left) and the author enjoy a victory beverage in New Boston.
Highlights. Adventure! Great people in great small Texas towns! Fresh air, beauty, and sunshine! Good food, and surprisingly good lodging.
Lowlights. Bad/fenced/unrideable segments, including Roxton-Paris, Pecan Gap-Ben Franklin, and Clarksville-Annona. The angry (and unfenced!) bull outside of Roxton. Some old rail bridges, while picturesque, may be intimidating for the inexperienced rider.
Equipment & Technology. Prior to the trip, I mapped the entire NETT route in the online program Ride with GPS. I then loaded this GPS map into my iPhone, using an app called Cyclemeter. This turned out to be very helpful. In a few locations where the trail grew faint, I could determine the way to go by zooming my imported GPS map in Cyclemeter. The Cyclemeter app was running constantly in the background, giving us a complete record of our trip, including speed, mileage, and more. I also used my iPhone for all photos and video, shot from a handlebar mount. As for our bikes, Steve rides an older 26-inch-wheeled Trek, while my steed is a Salsa El Mariachi with 29-inch wheels -- my new favorite bike. Both bikes have front suspension, which is helpful on much of the NETT. An extra accolade for my Viscacha seat pack, made by Revelate Designs. It held all the gear needed for three days, and because it attaches to the seat rails and seat post without the need for a rack, my bike was considerably lighter than Steve's -- something we noticed while hoisting our bikes over numerous fences! I used WTB Nano tubeless tires, expertly installed by fellow NETT cyclist Kevin Campagna at BicyclesPlus, Dallas. Great tires and no flats! Steve had just one flat with his Slime-brand tubes (on the Roxton to Paris segment, of course).
Conclusion. The Northeast Texas Trail has the potential to become Texas' own version of Missouri's incredible Katy Trail -- a spectacular recreational amenity and economic driver for northeast Texas. While the NETT is not truly complete yet, our trip showed it is ready for the more intrepid cyclist -- with all due care and caution. For more information, visit the NETT Facebook page.
32 responses so far ↓
Michael McCoy - Jan 2, 2013 at 8:22 AMHere's the link to a nice pdf schematic of the trail: http://www.traildeparis.org/userFiles/380/nettownsinsetmap2012.pdf Not sure how current it is -- Joseph?
Joseph Pitchford - Jan 2, 2013 at 12:18 PMYes, that map of the Northeast Texas Trail is current. It does not differentiate between cleared and less cleared segments. Best way to determine that is to ask here, or on the NETT Facebook page (link above). Here is a link to an importable GPS map: http://ridewithgps.com/users/115743/routes
Kevin Campagna - Jan 2, 2013 at 2:38 PMNice work Joseph. It's awesome to see this in an ACA blog.
Zac - Jan 2, 2013 at 3:33 PMAwesome!
Jim Sayer - Jan 3, 2013 at 11:49 AMWanna go! And I too love my new Salsa Mariachi --
Kathleen - Jan 3, 2013 at 8:34 PMGreat posting, Joseph. And I applaud you and your friends' trailblazing and bushwacking. Liked the technical notes too. Thanks for writing.
bryan - Jan 6, 2013 at 4:18 PMGreat project, we have the resources to solidify this trail. We just need to bring the entire cycling community together and make it happen.
Shane - Jan 14, 2013 at 5:38 PMThat was a great read and hopefully it inspirers more people to ride the NETT I know it has for me. I can't wait to get out there and try it myself.
Phil Loveless - Jan 24, 2013 at 8:06 PMGrew up in the Pittsburg and Mt. Vernon area. Folks for this route need to visit the Silver Comet trail here in Georgia to get an idea of the economic impact such a trail can have on small towns. Look forward to riding the NETT in the future when it is fully maintained.
Phillip Dye - Feb 7, 2013 at 10:43 AMTexas Highways - March 2013 edition highlighted this trail under Northeast Explorer. I was looking for a 100 mile plus safe off the busy highway ride, I was ready to take it on until I read these post. I think the article will generate a lot of interest and I hope it does. It looks much more glamours than you Reality adventure. Maybe I will do part of the trail.
Jeff - Feb 8, 2013 at 6:47 AMLooks like a fun adventure! Thanks for the writeup, I'm looking forward to riding the NETT one day soon.
Joseph Pitchford - Feb 8, 2013 at 7:36 AMIn reponse to Philip Dye: I hope you give the NETT a try. The good news is that there are fairly easy (and low-traffic) detours around the fenced/overgrown sections. There is also a lot of momentum toward improving/clearing the trail. Check out the NETT Facebook page for regular updates---and there is a web site coming soon.
T - Feb 12, 2013 at 1:14 PMI too just read about this in TX Highways and am thinking about driving up from Houston to check out the trail. I'm still figuring out logistics. I'll be riding solo and driving up there solo, So I'll probably start at one end, ride in 40-50 miles to one of the towns, spend the night the ride back to my vehicle. Again, I just read about this earlier this afternoon and am still in the planning stages. Are there any updates to the conditions of the trail? If you had to ride one day, stop for the night and then return, what section would you recommend?
Last question (for now): Is a mtnbike the way to go or would a cross bike be better? My mtnbike is geared but the CX bike is single speed which might be a benefit in the grassier sections.
Let me know.
Joseph Pitchford - Feb 13, 2013 at 4:09 PMT, for a trip the length you are contemplating, I would recommend starting in Farmersville and riding to Ladonia (about 31 miles, one way) or to Roxton (about 48 miles, one way). Depending on your fitness/mileage goals, both offer a nice out-and-back overnight trip.
The Farmersville-Ladonia trail is essentially all clear/rideable, just overgrown in a few segments. No B&B in Ladonia, but you may be able to camp there. The only restaurant in Ladonia is Gloria's Kitchen, a great little place. There is also a gas station in town that has burgers/beer.
Farmersville-Roxton does have a few segments that are better routed around, including Pecan Gap to Ben Franklin. The entire Farmersville-Roxton trip took us a full day, from 9am to 6pm, including all breaks and a nice lunch in Wolfe City. In Roxton, you can stay at The Roxton Guest House. Contact the owner, Mr. Rhodes, at (903) three-four-six-three-8-8-three. Good places to eat in Roxton, as noted above.
As for the bike, I prefer front suspension and wide tires when I am in the saddle that long on a trail.
Again, check out our "NE Texas Trail" page on Facebook, especially if you want some folks to join you. Good luck!
T - Feb 14, 2013 at 8:06 AMThanks man. Wow, 9-6 for 48 miles sounds rough, especially if I'm driving back to Houston afterwards on Sunday. I'm tentatively planning on 2/23 & 2/24.
Is there any elevation to speak of? If not, I may convert my mtn bike into a single speed to get rid of the grass in deraillures concern.
Jeff - Feb 14, 2013 at 8:24 AMRe: elevation
Not really, the trail is mostly between 500 and 700 ft, and the elevation profile looks pretty tame. I think a SS would be fine, esp if you have a flip flop hub (and have a lower available gear just in case).
Click on the NETT route to see the elevation profile. Hover over the route or profile to see the corresponding location on the other: http://ridewithgps.com/users/115743/routes
Spinner - Feb 16, 2013 at 11:31 AMa couple of use are thinking (like "T") of doing a out & back trail ride, but we will be on recumbent trikes - will your recombination's work for us as well?
Spinner - Feb 16, 2013 at 11:36 AM"T" - we are thinking about doing that same trip (MAYBE THE SHORTER), we will be ride recumbent trikes! Please lets us know how is goes!
Joseph Pitchford - Feb 16, 2013 at 1:06 PMSpinner, I don't have any experience riding a recumbent, but I am guessing that very tall grass and overgrowth would not be ideal. You may want to stick to the very clear sections, which are found on the East and West ends of the NETT.
From the West end, Farmersville-Merritt-Celeste is 13.4 miles, one way, and makes a nice out-and-back ride. There is an Exxon in Celeste that offers decent food and the usual drinks, etc.
From the East end of the trail, you can try New Boston-DeKalb-Avery, which is 22.3 miles one way. Ride to Avery, and take a break at the Clark/7-11. On the return leg, stop in DeKalb for lunch, where there are several restaurants, including Front Street Junction Cafe.
Good luck, have a great trip!
Spinner - Feb 17, 2013 at 4:47 AMThanks Joseph!
Angela - Mar 28, 2013 at 9:42 PMI've seen that the trail is easily open to walkers/hikers. Did you see anyone hiking, or do you know of any resources, or anyone I could talk to? I'm excited about the trail, and it'd be a great thru-hike with easy accessibility to food, etc. (I'd like to try it next month)
Joseph Pitchford - Mar 29, 2013 at 2:01 PMAngela, I have seen numerous hikers/walkers on the NETT, but I am not personally aware of any overnight trips (except by the local Boy Scouts). Does not mean it has not happened. As far as a true thru-hike, keep in mind that some sectons are still pretty overgown, and even an experienced hiker would be forced onto adjacent roads for certain segments. That said, there are many segments that are ready for hiking right now. From the West, Farmersville to Pecan Gap is 37 miles one-way. From the East, New Boston to Avery is 22 miles, one way (much of this segment parallels US 82, so is very nice but not exactly out in the wilderness). As always, exercise due caution, and hike at your own risk. Good Luck!!
Luke - Apr 3, 2013 at 8:43 PMGreat report on your trip. I live very close to the trail in New Boston. Have really enjoyed riding my mt. bike there, but just recently found out that they will be paving the trail with asphalt. Do you know if the plan it to pave the entire length of the trail? I really like the dirt surface.
Nolan Kuehn - May 9, 2013 at 5:48 PMHey, I read about the trail being "illegally fenced" more than once! What's being done about this?
This trail is a gold mine waiting to be harvested by the local communities. Wake up and look at the economic benefit derived form similar trail development in many other areas. Daylight is burning, folks! Let's get the show on the riad and complete the trail development. It means too much to the communities of East Texas.
..Nolan Kuehn
Richard White - May 17, 2013 at 10:28 AMHow cool, just found this, was looking for potential bikepacking opportunities for overnights. I'd also make Boy Scouts aware, many do biking related activities and are always on the look out for Eagle Scout service projects.
Dean Nix - Jun 10, 2013 at 3:36 PMIf I wanted to make this a three night out and back, what overnight stop would you recommend after Roxton heading East.
Joseph Pitchford - Jun 10, 2013 at 11:30 PMHello Dean, I just answered your question on our Northeast Texas Trail Facebook page. Plenty of lodging in Paris, which is about halfway. You may have trouble finding lodging in New Boston, but I hope you do---sounds like a great trip!
Tracy - Oct 5, 2013 at 11:56 AMSo glad I found this write up. this trail runs through my home town and I had no idea it even existed (De Kalb).
We are thinking of doing this in November but would like to camp along the way. Does anyone know if this would be possible or have any experience camping along this trail.
richard hargrove - Jun 10, 2014 at 4:01 PMA friend and I are planning to ride from Farmersville to Wolfe City as an out-and-back day ride. Is riding that stretch on a cyclocross bike with 700x35mm tires feasible? Or is a mountain bike absolutely required?
Dean Nix - Jun 11, 2014 at 6:42 AMRichard, I have done that section out and back on a CX bike four times now. You should be fine. I have however sliced two x35 tires on the trail but they were very soft Schwable race tires.
Dean - Jan 26, 2016 at 1:21 PMThis is really interesting opportunity, but I am more concerned about locals fencing off the public trailway. Has that been resolved or is it still a problem?
Greg - Aug 28, 2016 at 2:43 PMAny current update reports of the trail being fenced off and unpassable anywhere? I'm thinking of bikepacking the whole NETT Farmersville to New Boston. Is overnighting on the trail okay? Any camping location recommendations?

subset: commoncrawl


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Time was, my baby didn't sleep. Not just the odd night waking here and there: he was awake, and bawling, every two hours. All night. Every night. For twelve months.
When I asked advice from the health visitor, she suggested 'sleeping when he sleeps'. Silly cow, I thought, he doesn't bloody sleep. Not even during the day. Tiredness made me grumpy (and blunt about it too): I suspect I may have muttered as much – whatever I did or didn't say, the woman scuttled out of the house quick sharp and I haven't seen her since.
I am reminded of this as we descend into Robin Hood's Bay. It's fabulously spooky: mist rolls in across the muddy beach, crawling up narrow lanes that twist and hug the cliff. Figures loom in and out of view; fleeting glimpses of people I half hope are the spectral remains of the smugglers who once claimed this part of the North Yorkshire coast as their own.
The steep slopes and rocks of this place would have rendered the buggy useless, so we left it behind. But Milo decided he absolutely completely had to fall asleep on the bus on the way over and he's now a dead weight in my arms.
'He looks heavy,' says my Dad a little too cheerfully.
I scowl and shift the sleeping boy to ease the burning sensation that spreads through my arms. It starts to rain. Cute little pitter-patters fall first, an advance army that signals the rapid advancement of big, heavy drops. Proper rain.
'We need to get inside!'
Dad has disappeared. He does this a lot; Mum and I can never work out why, when we go out as a group, he always strays off somewhere. We spend many hours waiting for him in the place we last saw him and calling him on a mobile he never answers. For his part, Dad spends many hours bemused by his wife and daughter's inexplicable annoyance.
'Dad! We need to get inside!' I shout but it's only Mum who answers.
She points to a café. We duck through a door and find a tiny room cantilevered over a stream, its windows streaming. Damp families and discarded cagoules are squashed up inside in gently steaming heaps.
Mum spots an empty table in the corner. I lay Milo on the bench: he flicks his head about and I think he's about to wake up but he settles back into his dream. Mum and I look around forlornly: with Milo on the bench there's nowhere else to sit.
Just then, Dad pitches up, carrying three tiny stools, and we're forced to perch uncomfortably around the narrow end of the table.
'He won't sleep like that for long,' I say confidently. 'It can't be comfy, can it?'
Six coffees, three slices of cake and two hours later, Milo wakes up. The rain has stopped and all the families we'd sheltered with are long gone. The waitresses look uneasy: I think they're worried we're about to claim squatter's rights. Milo opens his eyes, yawns and before he has time to open his mouth we're out of the café, Dad haring off down the hill like a prisoner on day release, Mum and me cracking our knees and stretching our arms.
'Did you have a lovely sleep, Milo?' asks Mum.
'No,' says he firmly. He shakes his candyfloss hair for added emphasis.
Mum and I look at each other and roll our eyes. There's nowt so contrary as children.
Ratings. Babychanging facilities: No. Cafe: Yes. Buggy-friendly? No. Cost: £1.30 for a coffee and the cake comes big and cheap. Worth it? Yes. Apart from a fantastic, crab-full beach (mud not sand), the Old Coastguard Station has kid-friendly displays including a tank stuffed with shore crabs, sea scorpion, eel pouts and common prawn (free entry).


text: Have you ever been listening to a radio station and heard a great song – but then the DJ doesn't tell you who it was that sang it? Well, Josh Garrett just came over and told me to check out Adam's blog, where he's got a great link up to yes.com. Basically it's a website where you can track any radio station's "almost live" playlist, complete with the time and links to iTunes. So crazy!


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Let's face it, it's important as a woman to think about your finances and your retirement, regardless of your marital status. Many women don't know the first place to start, or how to even begin investing in stocks, mutual funds, or even real estate. One way to overcome this hurdle, and educate yourself in the process, is to join or form an investment club. Investment clubs offer you a fabulous way to build a portfolio and enjoy time with women who share similar interests. In fact, the National Association of Investors Corporation (NAIC), says that over 500,000 women are already members of investment clubs.
What is an Investment Club?
An investment club is a small group of people who pool their own money to invest, traditionally in the stock market. You can choose the number of people (usually less than 15) and whether or not you want it to be a women-only investment club, which generally perform better than male-only clubs! You can meet however often you like, typically on a monthly basis, to learn about investing and make decisions as a group as to the investments you will make.
How Does an Investment Club Get Started?
You can start by asking around to see if any of the women you know show any interest in forming an investment club. Ask at work, your parenting organizations, and your friends. Once you have a core group of people, you will need to set the club up legally, typically establishing a partnership through the IRS. You'll then determine how much each person needs to contribute initially, and then on a monthly basis. You'll want to determine your meeting format (in person or online) and it's best to conduct your meetings in a formal manner, taking minutes and voting on investments and investment strategies.
Running the Investment Club
Once the club is established you'll want it to continue to run smoothly. Make it a point to set up established procedures for introducing new members and for when existing members want to leave the group. You'll probably want to elect officers so that people within the investment club have specific roles. The club should insure that proper financial documentation is kept for all purchases and sales. Chicks Laying Nest Eggs provides sample documentation for Operating Procedures, Minutes, Rules, and the IRS.
Most of all, make your investment group fun! Your primary goal is to make money and work toward a secure retirement, but there's no reason not to make it a social situation as well. Bring desserts and share personal stories with your investment partners!


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Skip grep, use awk | BSD Now 201
Posted on: July 6, 2017
Posted in: BSD Now, Featured, Video
We interview a unicorn, FreeNAS 11.0 is out, show you how to run Nextcloud in a FreeBSD jail & talk about the connection between oil changes and software patches.
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– Show Notes: –
FreeNAS 11.0 is Now Here
- The FreeNAS blog informs us:
After several FreeNAS Release Candidates, FreeNAS 11.0 was released today. This version brings new virtualization and object storage features to the World's Most Popular Open Source Storage Operating System. FreeNAS 11.0 adds bhyve virtual machines to its popular SAN/NAS, jails, and plugins, letting you use host web-scale VMs on your FreeNAS box. It also gives users S3-compatible object storage services, which turns your FreeNAS box into an S3-compatible server, letting you avoid reliance on the cloud.
FreeNAS 11.0 also introduces the beta version of a new administration GUI. The new GUI is based on the popular Angular framework and the FreeNAS team expects the GUI to be themeable and feature complete by 11.1. The new GUI follows the same flow as the existing GUI, but looks better. For now, the FreeNAS team has released it in beta form to get input from the FreeNAS community. The new GUI, as well as the classic GUI, are selectable from the login screen.
Also new in FreeNAS 11 is an Alert Service page which configures the system to send critical alerts from FreeNAS to other applications and services such as Slack, PagerDuty, AWS, Hipchat, InfluxDB, Mattermost, OpsGenie, and VictorOps. FreeNAS 11.0 has an improved Services menu that adds the ability to manage which services and applications are started at boot.
The FreeNAS community is large and vibrant. We invite you to join us on the FreeNAS forum and the #freenas IRC channel on Freenode. To download FreeNAS and sign-up for the FreeNAS Newsletter, visit freenas.org/download.
Building an IPsec Gateway With OpenBSD
- Pierre-Yves Ritschard wrote the following blog article:
With private networks just released on Exoscale, there are now more options to implement secure access to Exoscale cloud infrastructure. While we still recommend the bastion approach, as detailed in this article, there are applications or systems which do not lend themselves well to working this way.
In these cases, the next best thing is building IPsec gateways. IPsec is a protocol which works directly at layer 3. It uses its configuration to determine which network flows should be sent encrypted on the wire. Once IPsec is correctly configured, selected network flows are transparently encrypted and applications do not need to modify anything to benefit from secured traffic.
- In addition to encryption, IPSec also authenticates the end points, so you can be sure you are exchanging packets with a trusted host
For the purposes of this article we will work under the following assumptions: We want a host to network setup, providing access to cloud-hosted infrastructure from a desktop environment.
Only stock tooling should be used on desktop environment, no additional VPN client should be needed.
In this case, to ensure no additional software is needed on the client, we will configure an L2TP/IPsec gateway. This article will use OpenBSD as the operating system to implement the gateway. While this choice may sound surprising, OpenBSD excels at building gateways of all sorts thanks to its simple configuration formats and inclusion of all necessary software and documentation to do so in the base system.
- The tutorial assumes you have setup a local network between the hosts in the cloud, and walks through the configuration of an OpenBSD host as a IPsec gateway
On the OpenBSD host, all necessary software is already installed. We will configure the system, as well as pf, npppd, and ipsec
- Configure L2TP
- Configure IPsec
- Configure NAT
- Enabled services: ipsec isakmpd npppd
- The tutorial then walks through configuring a OS X client, but other desktops will be very similar
Running Nextcloud in a jail on FreeBSD
I recently setup Nextcloud 12 inside a FreeBSD jail in order to allow me access to files i might need while at University. I figured this would be a optimal solution for files that I might need access to unexpectedly, on computers where I am not in complete control. My Nextcloud instance is externally accessible, and yet if someone were to get inside my Jail, I could rest easy knowing they still didn't have access to the rest of my host server. I chronicled the setup process including jail setup using iocage, https with Lets Encrypt, and full setup of the web stack.
Nextcloud has a variety of features such as calendar synchronization, email, collaborative editing, and even video conferencing. I haven't had time to play with all these different offerings and have only utilized the file synchronization, but even if file sync is not needed, Nextcloud has many offerings that make it worth setting up.
- MariaDB, PHP 7.0, and Apache 2.4
To manage my jails I'm using iocage. In terms of jail managers it's a fairly new player in the game of jail management and is being very actively developed. It just had a full rewrite in Python, and while the code in the background might be different, the actual user interface has stayed the same.
Iocage makes use of ZFS clones in order to create "base jails", which allow for sharing of one set of system packages between multiple jails, reducing the amount of resources necessary. Alternatively, jails can be completely independent from each other; however, using a base jail makes it easier to update multiple jails as well.
- pkg install iocage
- sysrc iocage_enable=YES
- iocage fetch -r 11.0-RELEASE
- iocage create tag="stratus" jail_zfs=on vnet=off boot=on ip4_addr="sge0|172.20.0.100/32″ -r 11.0-RELEASE
- iocage start stratus
- iocage console stratus
I have chosen to provide storage to the Nextcloud Jail by mounting a dataset over NFS on my host box. This means my server can focus on serving Nextcloud and my storage box can focus on housing the data. The Nextcloud Jail is not even aware of this since the NFS Mount is simply mounted by the host server into the jail. The other benefit of this is the Nextcloud jail doesn't need to be able to see my storage server, nor the ability to mount the NFS share itself.
Using a separate server for storage isn't necessary and if the storage for my Nextcloud server was being stored on the same server I would have created a ZFS dataset on the host and mounted it into the jail.
Next I set up a dataset for the database and delegated it into the jail. Using a separate dataset allows me to specify certain properties that are better for a database, it also makes migration easier in case I ever need to move or backup the database.
With most of the requirements in place it was time to start setting up Nextcloud. The requirements for Nextcloud include your basic web stack of a web server, database, and PHP.
- Also covers the setup of acme.sh for LetsEncrypt. This is now available as a package, and doesn't need to be manually fetched
- Install a few more packages, and do a bit of configuration, and you have a NextCloud server
Historical: My first OpenBSD Hackathon
- This is a blog post by our friend, and OpenBSD developer: Peter Hessler
This is a story about encouragement. Every time I use the word "I", you should think "I as in me, not I as in the author".
In 2003, I was invited to my first OpenBSD Hackathon. Way before I was into networking, I was porting software to my favourite OS. Specifically, I was porting games.
On the first night most of the hackathon attendees end up at the bar for food and beer, and I'm sitting next to Theo de Raadt, the founder of OpenBSD. At some point during the evening, he's telling me about all of these "crazy" ideas he has about randomizing libraries, and protections that can be done in ld.so. (ld.so is the part of the OS that loads the libraries your program needs. It's, uh, kinda important.) Theo is encouraging me to help implement some of these ideas! At some point I tell Theo "I'm just a porter, I don't know C."
Theo responds with "It isn't hard, I'll have Dale (Rahn) show you how ld.so works, and you can do it." I was hoping that all of this would be forgotten by the next day, but sure enough Dale comes by. "Hey, are you Peter? Theo wanted me to show you how ld.so works" Dale spends an hour or two showing me how it works, the code structure, and how to recover in case of failure.
At first I had lots of failures. Then more failures. And even more failures. Once, I broke my machine so badly I had to reinstall it. I learned a lot about how an OS works during this. But, I eventually started doing changes without it breaking. And some even did what I wanted! By the end of the hackathon I had came up with a useful patch, that was committed as part of a larger change.
I was a nobody. With some encouragement, enough liquid courage to override my imposter syndrome, and a few hours of mentoring, I'm now doing big projects. The next time you're sitting at a table with someone new to your field, ask yourself: how can you encourage them? You just might make the world better.
Thank you Dale. And thank you Theo.
- Everyone has to start somewhere.
- One of the things that sets the BSDs apart from certain other open source operating systems, is the welcoming community, and the tradition of mentorship.
- Sure, someone else in the OpenBSD project could have done the bits that Peter did, likely a lot more quickly, but then OpenBSD wouldn't have gained a new committer.
- So, if you are interested in working on one of the BSDs, reach out, and we'll try to help you find a mentor.
- What part of the system do you want to work on?
Interview – Dan McDonald – firstname.lastname@example.com (danboid)
News Roundup
FreeBSD 11.1-RC1 Available
- 11.1-RC1 Installation images are available for:
- amd64, i386
- powerpc, powerpc64
- sparc64
- armv6 BANANAPI, BEAGLEBONE, CUBIEBOARD, CUBIEBOARD2, CUBOX-HUMMINGBOARD, GUMSTIX, RPI-B, RPI2, PANDABOARD, WANDBOARD
- aarch64 (aka arm64), including the RPI3, Pine64, OverDrive 1000, and Cavium Server
- A summary of changes since BETA3 includes:
- Several build toolchain related fixes.
- A use-after-free in RPC client code has been corrected.
- The ntpd(8) leap-seconds file has been updated.
- Various VM subsystem fixes.
- The '_' character is now allowed in newfs(8) labels.
- A potential sleep while holding a mutex has been corrected in the sa(4) driver.
- A memory leak in an ioctl handler has been fixed in the ses(4) driver.
- Virtual Machine Disk Images are available for the amd64 and i386 architectures.
Amazon EC2 AMI Images of FreeBSD/amd64 EC2 AMIs are available
- The freebsd-update(8) utility supports binary upgrades of amd64 and i386 systems running earlier FreeBSD releases. Systems running earlier FreeBSD releases can upgrade as follows:
freebsd-update upgrade -r 11.1-RC1
- During this process, freebsd-update(8) may ask the user to help by merging some configuration files or by confirming that the automatically performed merging was done correctly.
freebsd-update install
- The system must be rebooted with the newly installed kernel before continuing.
shutdown -r now
- After rebooting, freebsd-update needs to be run again to install the new userland components:
freebsd-update install
- It is recommended to rebuild and install all applications if possible, especially if upgrading from an earlier FreeBSD release, for example, FreeBSD 10.x. Alternatively, the user can install misc/compat10x and other compatibility libraries, afterwards the system must be rebooted into the new userland:
shutdown -r now
- Finally, after rebooting, freebsd-update needs to be run again to remove stale files:
freebsd-update install
Oil changes, safety recalls, and software patches
Every few months I get an email from my local mechanic reminding me that it's time to get my car's oil changed. I generally ignore these emails; it costs time and money to get this done (I'm sure I could do it myself, but the time it would cost is worth more than the money it would save) and I drive little enough — about 2000 km/year — that I'm not too worried about the consequences of going for a bit longer than nominally advised between oil changes. I do get oil changes done… but typically once every 8-12 months, rather than the recommended 4-6 months. From what I've seen, I don't think I'm alone in taking a somewhat lackadaisical approach to routine oil changes.
On the other hand, there's another type of notification which elicits more prompt attention: Safety recalls. There are two good reasons for this: First, whether for vehicles, food, or other products, the risk of ignoring a safety recall is not merely that the product will break, but rather that the product will be actively unsafe; and second, when there's a safety recall you don't have to pay for the replacement or fix — the cost is covered by the manufacturer.
I started thinking about this distinction — and more specifically the difference in user behaviour — in the aftermath of the "WannaCry" malware. While WannaCry attracted widespread attention for its "ransomware" nature, the more concerning aspect of this incident is how it propagated: By exploiting a vulnerability in SMB for which Microsoft issued patches two months earlier. As someone who works in computer security, I find this horrifying — and I was particularly concerned when I heard that the NHS was postponing surgeries because they couldn't access patient records. Think about it: If the NHS couldn't access patient records due to WannaCry, it suggests WannaCry infiltrated systems used to access patient records — meaning that someone else exploiting the same vulnerabilities could have accessed those records. The SMB subsystem in Windows was not merely broken; until patches were applied, it was actively unsafe.
I imagine that most people in my industry would agree that security patches should be treated in the same vein as safety recalls — unless you're certain that you're not affected, take care of them as a matter of urgency — but it seems that far more users instead treat security patches more like oil changes: something to be taken care of when convenient… or not at all, if not convenient. It's easy to say that such users are wrong; but as an industry it's time that we think about why they are wrong rather than merely blaming them for their problems.
There are a few factors which I think are major contributors to this problem. First, the number of updates: When critical patches occur frequently enough to become routine, alarm fatigue sets in and people cease to give the attention updates deserve, even if on a conscious level they still recognize the importance of applying updates.
- Colin also talks about his time as the FreeBSD Security Officer, and the problems in ensuring the patches are correct and do not break the system when installed
- He also points out the problem of systems like Windows Update, the combines optional updates, and things like its license checking tool, in the same interface that delivers important updates. Or my recent machines, that gets constant popups about how some security updates will not be delivered because my processor is too new.
My bank sends me special offers in the mail but phones if my credit card usage trips fraud alarms; this is the sort of distinction in intrusiveness we should see for different types of software updates
Finally, I think there is a problem with the mental model most people have of computer security. Movies portray attackers as geniuses who can break into any system in minutes; journalists routinely warn people that "nobody is safe"; and insurance companies offer insurance against "cyberattacks" in much the same way as they offer insurance against tornados. Faced with this wall of misinformation, it's not surprising that people get confused between 400 pound hackers sitting on beds and actual advanced persistent threats. Yes, if the NSA wants to break into your computer, they can probably do it — but most attackers are not the NSA, just like most burglars are not Ethan Hunt. You lock your front door, not because you think it will protect you from the most determined thieves, but because it's an easy step which dramatically reduces your risk from opportunistic attack; but users don't see applying security updates as the equivalent of locking their front door when they leave home.
SKIP grep, use AWK
- This is a tip from Jonathan Palardy in a series of blog posts about awk. It is especially helpful for people who write a lot of shell scripts or are using a lot of pipes with awk and grep.
Over the years, I've seen many people use this pattern (filter-map):
$ [data is generated] | grep something | awk '{print $2}'
but it can be shortened to:
$ [data is generated] | awk '/something/ {print $2}'
- AWK can take a regular expression (the part between the slashes) and matches that to the input. Anything that matches is being passed to the print $2 action (to print the second column).
Why would I do this?
I can think of 4 reasons:
- it's shorter to type
- it spawns one less process
- awk uses modern (read "Perl") regular expressions, by default – like grep -E
- it's ready to "augment" with more awk
- How about matching the inverse (search for patterns that do NOT match)?
But "grep -v" is OK…
Many people have pointed out that "grep -v" can be done more concisely with:
$ [data is generated] | awk '! /something/'
- See if you have such combinations of grep piped to awk and fix those in your shell scripts. It saves you one process and makes your scripts much more readable. Also, check out the other intro links on the blog if you are new to awk.
vim Adventures
- This website, created by Doron Linder, will playfully teach you how to use vim.
- Hit any key to get started and follow the instructions on the playing field by moving the cursor around.
- There is also a menu in the bottom left corner to save your game.
- Try it out, increase your vim-fu, and learn how to use a powerful text editor more efficiently.
Beastie Bits
- Slides from PkgSrcCon
- OpenBSD's doas adds systemd compat shim
- Deadlock Empire — "Each challenge below is a computer program of two or more threads. You take the role of the Scheduler – and a cunning one! Your objective is to exploit flaws in the programs to make them crash or otherwise malfunction."
- EuroBSDcon 2017 Travel Grant Application Now Open
- Registration for vBSDCon is open – Registration is only $100 if you register before July 31. Discount hotel rooms arranged at the Hyatt for only $100/night while supplies last.
- BSD Taiwan call for papers opens, closes July 31stWindows Application Versand
- Send questions, comments, show ideas/topics, or stories you want mentioned on the show to email@example.com


text:
The American Esperanto Book, by Arthur Baker
As someone who reads a great deal of materials in and about Esperanto [1], a significant challenge presents itself in the way that so many similar books with similar aims seek to distinguish themselves from all the other books. This book demonstrates one of the more ironic aspects of Esperanto literature, in that a language that prides itself on being a universal language nevertheless targets its appeal in very specific ways, including very specifically to cultures. While the United States is not the most popular nation among which are Esperantists, for somewhat specific reasons, it is remarkable and striking that one of the foremost American Esperantists wrote a book seeking to appeal to and explain the interaction between American culture and our own native use of language and the universal culture of Esperantism, and this book does a good job at capturing that tension between the universal and the particular that marks the efforts of any universal culture at understanding the specific and parochial interests of its intended audience. In stark contrast to many books I read, I can feel pretty confident about being part of this book's intended target audience, and there is something gratifying in that.
What makes this book an American Esperanto Book, after all? The contents of this book are not particularly surprising when looked at from the larger context of Esperanto educational material. The book itself was published in 1907 by an early adopter of the language in the United States. In contrast to many other more recent Esperanto books, the table of contents is located at the beginning rather than the end. The book spends a bit under 80 pages discussing the alphabet and grammar of Esperanto, another 100 pages or so showing various translation exercises, another few pages showing examples of correspondence and then contains an interesting essay on Esperantism, under the assumption that anyone who reads this far into the book will be pretty committed to the ideals of learning a universal language with a feeling of peace and respect for other people. At this point, for unknown reasons, the pagination starts again and the book contains an Esperanto-English dictionary and then an English-Esperanto dictionary, both of them labeled as vocabularies. Throughout, the author seeks to impress upon his audience the need to shorten vowels, get used to some of the more unusual sounds in Esperanto, and to understand the flexibility of word order that results from a proper use of the accusative case.
I cannot be sure just how successful this book was when written to promote the learning of Esperanto to the wider reading public. The fact that I have the book in my own library now, after more than a century, and the fact that it remains a worthwhile and functional book, though, suggests the book has considerable enduring matter. I found it striking and noteworthy to reflect upon the additional materials that were located in the book by the previous owner of the book, including an old article an a long-forgotten pictographic language that demonstrates the difficulty that universal languages have in catching on because of the learning demands they place on people who think, usually falsely, that they already know how to communicate well enough already. The encouragement to learn languages is a reminder that we cannot be understood by others who might wish to understand us if they could, and that there are others who we cannot understand at present, yet many who have an interest in universal communication strongly underestimate the challenges to universal language competence, whether that is in English or any other language. Those who have acquired the habit of learning other languages often struggle to understand the mindset of those who have no such interest, and who are unmoved by appeals to ideals of peace and unity with humanity. The fact that this book at least seeks to appeal to Americans is a strong point in favor of the wisdom of its author and others like him.
[1] See, for example:


text:
Daniel Boulud believes he has a solution to the acute labor shortage in the restaurant industry: a European-style apprenticeship program that taps high-school students, drawing them into the job pool in partnership with the city's Department of Education.At any one time, the French chef has between 10 to 30 job openings in his seven restaurants and catering business in New York City. His plight is similar to that of restaurants citywide that offer both fine and casual dining.In fact, the restaurant industry, one of the fastest-growing in the city, has been hobbled by an inability to attract enough workers. During the past six months, there have been an average of 2,500 open kitchen positions at any one time, estimates Luke Fryer, chief executive of Harri.com, a new job site that connects restaurants and employees."People talk about the long-term unemployed, but for the restaurant industry it's the opposite: The position goes unfilled," he said.With the number of eateries increasing more than 40% during the past decade, to more than 20,000 in the city, the market has become extremely competitive, especially among culinary-school graduates, whose skills are in high demand. Though restaurants are starved for workers, they can't compete against each other on pay because their profit margins are thin and they are loath to raise their menu prices for fear of driving diners away.
Chef Daniel Boulud preps recipe for jobs crisis
This Week in Crain's: May 5, 2014
That has kept wages low. Despite high demand, the average annual salary in the food-service sector in the city was $25,025, including tips, in 2012, or just 2% more than in 2011, according to New York Department of Labor data. The growth of fast-food and "quick-casual" restaurants which pay $8 an hour, compared with companies like Mr. Boulud's Dinex Group that start kitchen workers at $11 or $12 an hour—may also contribute to stagnating wages. But even $12 an hour is tight for employees given the high cost of living in New York.Mr. Boulud is cooking up at least a partial remedy. His business partner, Lili Lynton, reached out to the DOE about a month ago to address Dinex's increasing turnover rate—a number the company began systematically tracking last year, expecting to have a full year of data in 2014.The plan involves recruiting a handful of New York City high-school students into its kitchens in September, when they will start internship programs to learn basic skills from Mr. Boulud's elite staff. Then, upon graduation, they would be eligible to become apprentices at the Dinex Group."We are in the early stages of outlining what the partnership would be," said Diallo Shabazz, senior director of partnerships and sustainability education with the DOE, adding that it could "create a talent pipeline" for Dinex and become a template the city could implement with other employers.The DOE oversees 13 technical culinary schools and has placed students in internships for years—with companies such as Union Square Hospitality Group and Bryant Park Grill—but it has never had a culinary apprenticeship program like the kind that is popular in Europe. Those typically last two years and result in full-time employment.Restaurateurs believe that cultivating their own talent will lead to greater employee loyalty—or so they hope. Culinary schools, they say, have contributed to high turnover rates because their graduates often carry hefty loans and will switch jobs for even small increases in pay."We appreciate that they have these skills, but they are skills they could learn on the job," said Ms. Lynton. "This is about retention, not saving money" on younger, less-skilled workers, she said.Mr. Boulud learned his craft as an apprentice, not in culinary school.Even so, culinary-school graduates have an edge in the marketplace. The unemployment rate for them is low to nonexistent."The job market for our students is very strong," said Maureen Drum Fagin, director of career services and administration for the Institute of Culinary Education, which charges up to $36,840 for a degree. These days, ICE students do more advanced kitchen work as part of their practical training."Years ago, they were doing purely prep tasks," said Ms. Drum Fagin, "but because of the acute shortage of staff, they are going on the line sooner to get to a higher level."The DOE's internship program has also been a source for employers. Union Square Hospitality Group, for example, has had students from Food and Finance High School on West 50th Street serve as interns in its kitchens since 2010, assigning one student to each of its nine restaurants."We take high-school interns with the hope that they work for us while they are in [college or culinary school]," said Sabato Sagaria, chief restaurant officer of USHG. "It's like a three-month hiring process. We have to be more creative about the doors we are knocking on." Each USHG kitchen has about three to five openings at any given time of the year.Roger Turgeon, the principal of Food and Finance—and a former professional chef—is open to working with Dinex to ramp up the program, provided that the internship-apprentice track has an educational component that involves at least an associate's degree.
"One of my primary concerns is to continue our students' education," said Mr. Turgeon. "I wouldn't want them to do this without the commitment for a formal education. An employer is always going to give the person with a degree the promotion over someone who doesn't have a degree," he pointed out.Schools like Food and Finance would be responsible for vetting which students would be eligible for the program with Dinex and other potential participants.While DOE fleshes out the details of a standardized apprenticeship program, it is in discussions with food-industry insiders and hosting symposia to learn what skills students need to learn to be successful."We have been hearing that younger workers are more eager to learn new skills, and are easier to train," said Mr. Shabazz.


text:
Every once in awhile, I find a new author (of prose or poetry, whichever) and decide to get as many of his or her books as possible, then read them in a great flurry to form a very clear concept of that writer's style.
It usually backfires, because I put off even the activities I enjoy, and fail to read them until they're all due back at the library. My tsundoku works against me and I end up reading, like, 2 books of a potential dozen.
But that fate has been averted, more or less, with Luci Shaw. I discovered her in trying to find poems about Petoskey stones (which, as you may recall, I adore hunting on the Lake Michigan shoreline).
Turning up Polishing the Petoskey Stone: what a boon! There's only one poem about Petoskeys in it, but the book's introduction explains why that title was chosen. Shaw's friend showed her how the fossils could be buffed on anything – one's blue jeans, the arm of a chair, the fabric of a car door interior. After a road trip's-worth of rubbing at a stone, the resulting sheen made Luci consider God, polishing each one of us individually; our particular sorrows, joys, dull moments, energetic evenings, manic Mondays are all part of the process of making us shine forth.
Polishing the Petoskey Stone astonished me with its wisdom and imagery. Every other poem, if not every single one, provided illumination of God's work through a wealth of natural pictures: frogs, shells, the view from an airplane window, circles, blood. So much of it provided new and weighty illustrations about the Incarnation of Jesus Christ.
I eventually recognized that the sub-headings within were not simply section titles but the titles of earlier collections. Polishing the Petoskey Stone contains poems originally published in Listen to the Green, The Secret Trees, The Sighting, and Postcard from the Shore. Not all of them, but about two-thirds.
Likewise, a handful from The Secret Trees turn up in The Green Earth and Water Lines; whole sections of Water Lines in Water My Soul; various selections from this and that book in Accompanied by Angels: Poems of the Incarnation. Where there is any overlap of theme, there will be an overlap of poems.
And yet, the introductions to each book, the occasional endnotes, the different structure, and the fact that good poetry is worth re-reading and rumination all add up to a complete lack of regret for getting them all out.
I tried to read in order, more or less, but the strictures of time and the MelCat system mean that I read certain later books earlier on. Harvesting the Fog is a later book – published in 2010, not the 70's or the early aughts. I didn't care for it half as much, as it seemed more concerned with simple description than with embodying the intangible.
I still have six books of hers to read, and 4 more to track down and read thereafter, but I doubt they'll change my judgment of Shaw: carefully observant, fresh and evocative, somewhat familiar in subject and tone to those fond of CS Lewis (while different in form). I commend her to you all as a poet who will refresh your soul.


text:
Three months after a Washington State Supreme Court ruling effectively halted rural development that is reliant on well water, the effort to safeguard property rights and help foster badly-needed economic development outside fast-growing urban regions in the state, is gaining steam.
Two bills – one bipartisan and one Democratic – address the ruling's impacts. Testimony on both during the Tuesday, January 24 Senate Agriculture, Water, Trade and Economic Development Committee meeting, underscored that property owners want to build new homes on parcels where that would not now be allowed. Also getting emphasis are the potential tax impacts of the ruling on rural communities, and the robust economic benefits provided by state fisheries.
Salmon: Holding Their Own
The state's go-to yardstick – in this case applied by the high court, but often enforced by administrative agencies – pits worst-case scenarios for currently-healthy fish populations, or an imagined scarcity of rural land, against the right to develop private property, and grow rural or ex-urban economies. All this is done under the rubric of the Growth Management Act (GMA), which is badly in need of reform, according to abundant testimony at fall, 2016 legislative hearings.
A 2016 State of Salmon in Watersheds report from Governor Jay Inslee's Salmon Restoration Office finds that of 15 species of salmon being monitored in Washington for progress toward Endangered Species Act (ESA) goals, only three are getting worse. Two are approaching ESA goals, 6 are making progress, and 4 are holding steady.
There is also abundant evidence from federal fisheries agencies that salmon are holding their own on the Snake River, where a U.S. judge last year triggered further review of possible dam removals, to protect fish populations. Domestic wells make up one percent of Washington's water use.
Hirst Ruling
It is against this charged backdrop that effects rippled from the state high court's October, 2016 "Hirst" ruling. Justices held that permit-exempt wells allowed under Department of Ecology guidelines did not meet GMA watershed level requirements.
In addition to blocking development on privately-owned residential land, the decision prompted several counties to issue emergency building moratoriums. The ruling also required building permit applicants to spend tens of thousands of dollars on hydro-geological studies to prove that permit-exempt wells would not harm long-standing, or senior, water rights.
SB 5239 would allow cities, towns and counties to rely on the Ecology water resource rules framework both for approving building permits requiring well water, and for developing their comprehensive plans under GMA. The bipartisan bill's sponsors include State Sen. Judy Warnick (R-13), Sen. Dean Takko (D-19) and Majority Caucus Chair Randi Becker (R-2).
Lifting 'Unnecessary Burdens'
Warnick is the prime sponsor of SB 5239, and Chair of the committee. She stated, "I have heard from many people from all corners of our state who are very worried that the court's expansive interpretation of the Growth Management Act…will have severe negative consequences for property owners, local governments, rural residents, community banks, our state agencies and many others."
Warnick continued, "SB 5239 seeks to accomplish two main goals: One, it is designed to establish a level of coordination between local governments and Ecology's management of water resources that existed before the Hirst opinion upended it. Two, it reinforces the legislature's long-standing expectation that household wells, which are exempt from state permitting because they are limited in size, should be protected and allowed in Washington without placing unnecessary burdens on the people who want to use them."
State Rep. Mary Dye (R-9) in a news release this week said of Hirst, "The decision renders properties as less buildable, which decreases property value because it adds additional regulatory costs for the development of a well. This decision really impacts property values in eastern Washington. We have to fully fund basic education this session. Now, we have this decision impacting our property tax revenue that could go to fund our local schools. It really puts us in a catch-22."
Fisheries Boost Economy
A competing, Democratic-sponsored bill, SB 5024, would allow counties to establish programs to reduce the impact of new permit-exempt wells on surface water. It would also create a committee to report the success of these efforts to Governor Jay Inslee and the legislature. Sponsors include State Sen. John McCoy (D-38), Sen. Bob Hasegawa (D-11), Sen. David Frockt (D-46) and Sen. Lisa Wellman (D-41).
McCoy said, "This state relies on the recreational and commercial fisheries of this state. Recreational fisheries bring in $1.2 billion a year, and…commercial (ones) bring in approximately $3.3 billion a year. Those are two very large industries that rely on instream flows and the ability for people outside the state to come in and harvest our salmon, so we have to be mindful of this."
'Worthless Property'
Bellingham resident Sue Ann Croft testified in support of Warnick's bill. News of the Hirst decision reached her family after her son in mid-September closed on a homebuilding project involving an exempt shared well. She said, "Now, we are basically sitting almost on a worthless piece of property. The only difference now is that we can use a rain catchment system…after speaking with a consultant, it's going to cost us $4,000 just to come up with the plan, it doesn't include putting it in.…(and) a rain catchment system may not even be allowed later."
Tim Ballew, Chairman for the Lummi Nation, said the tribe does not support either bill. He said the legislature should "take a deep breath before considering rewriting 100 years of water policy…" and "develop laws that are consistent with laws of nature that also acknowledge the senior water rights of the community."
Jan Himebaugh, Government Affairs Director for the Building Industry Association of Washington, told Lens, "These are families and builders who did the land process right, they did the proper engineering, the proper reviews, the proper checks, and finally go in for the building permit, only to be denied or to have a caveat that the building permit isn't proof of available water for now or the future – making it impossible to find a lender for construction. It is heartbreaking to hear these people's stories."


text:
Vintage have earned their fantastic reputation for building quality guitars at amazing prices. With a large range of both electric and acoustic instruments they provide guitarists with an affordable solution to getting that great tone! With absolute value for money their instruments are perfect for beginners right up to intermediates.
Their acoustic range is fantastic and consists of very stylistic folk shape models in an array of different colours. They're the ideal beginners acoustic guitar, comfortable, great sounding and cheap!
The electric range features some classic shapes, styles and colours including the LP and SG shapes. Even left handed models are available! Just take a browse through the range to see which is the best match for you!
All available models are for sale with FREE next day UK delivery! If you want to try before you buy then pop into our store near Frome or give us a call on 0845 2222 603 for some more information.


text:
Going the extra mile to assist you
Whether we are providing services for customer airlines, tour operators, or passengers, we are always going the extra mile to ensure you get what you need. Need a special check-in procedure, a separate check in desk? No problem. Our staff is happy to assist. Left something on the plane? Please visit our lost and found services where Willy is glad to help you track down your items.
At AAS, we truly care about lost items and appreciate the personal contact with passengers.
- Check-in Services
- Gate Services
- Arrival and Transfer Services
- Ticketing Services
- Lost & Found services
- Passenger care and airline support during irregularities
- Dedicated Services
- Pre-Flight preparation
- Flight administration (sales reporting)
How can we help you?
Please contact our Customer Service Manager on duty:
Email: email@example.com
Duty hours: Daily 06:30 – 21:00
Day in the life
I like working for AAS as we are very strong team that sticks together in every situation. As we are a rather small team, I have the opportunity to work in different divisions, such as Check-in, Gate or Lost & Found.


text:
SeaWorld has obtained permission to import a Pacific white-sided dolphin from a marine park in Japan, despite calls for the company to cut ties with Japanese parks, citing a connection to the brutal dolphin drive hunts in Taiji.
The dolphin to be imported, a female named Kirara born in captivity in 2006, lives at Kamogawa Sea World, a park that has a business relationship with the U.S. SeaWorld, but is a separate company. SeaWorld had originally applied to import the dolphin in August of 2012.
A document obtained through the Federal Register reads:
The dolphin would be imported from Kamogawa SeaWorld 1404-18 Higashi-cho, Kamogawa, Chiba, Japan to Sea World San Antonio, 10500 SeaWorld Drive, San Antonio, TX 78251 for the purposes of public display.
There are several reasons why protesters have already voiced fierce opposition to the import. First, the trip is over 6,500 miles -- a 20-plus hour ride that can cause extreme stress for the dolphin.
There's also the issue of the marine park's connection to the drive hunts in Taiji, Japan, which slaughter hundreds of dolphins each year. Kamogawa Sea World is accredited by the Japan Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA) -- the same organization that includes marine parks that buy dolphins caught in the drive fishery, including the Taiji Whale Museum (the same park that houses the baby albino dolphin captured last year, dubbed "Angel"). While SeaWorld has announced that it does not support the drive fisheries or buy animals from them, many say that the company is fraternizing with the enemy by dealing with JAZA parks.
Kamogawa Sea World also has a history of capturing wild marine mammals -- it also owns two orcas named Bingo and Stella, captured in Iceland; as well as three belugas captured in Canada and Russia.
In its application, SeaWorld (U.S.) states that the parents of Kirara, were both "incidentally captured" in fishing nets on February 5 and 8 in 1994. Many activists have questioned this statement, saying that it's likely that the animals were intentionally captured.
SeaWorld has until June 30, 2017 to import Kirara from Japan.
Conservationists have been vocal about the transport since its inception. Said Candace Crespi of the Oceanic Preservation Society:
"Another sad example of SeaWorld separating mother and calf and transporting intelligent marine mammals thousands of miles to make a profit."
You can contact your local representative (find your representative here) and NOAA lead permit analyst Jennifer Skidmore (firstname.lastname@example.com) at (301) 427-8401 to tell them to bar SeaWorld from importing Kirara.
SeaWorld plans to import Kirara, a Pacific white-sided dolphin from Kamogawa SeaWorld in Japan, despite JAZA's ties to the drive hunt fisheries, and the stress that she would be put under during the journey. Join The Dodo and me in calling on SeaWorld to cancel its plans to import Kirara, and lead the fight against cruel dolphin drive hunts in Japan.
[rebelmouse-campaign #TaijiNeverAgain target=1000 increment=500 twitter_share_message="Join @dodo and me in calling on SeaWorld to stop supporting the brutal drive hunts in Taiji #TaijiNeverAgain" call="**Sign this petition** or share on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with **#TaijiNeverAgain**" theme=dodo]


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New Series of the Human Zoo<img class="wideThumb" src="http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/wbs/subjects/bsci/news-home/zoowide.jpg" style="display: none" />
Regular listeners will be pleased to hear that Nick Chater's radio programme The Human Zoo has returned to BBC Radio 4 for its fifth season.
In The Human Zoo, presenter Michael Blastland joins Nick each week to discuss aspects of psychology and behavioural science that affect our every day lives. Nick's expertise is supplemented by comments from other experts and practitioners from around the country.
The topics being covered in this series include declinism - why everything seemed better in 'the good old days'; risk aversion - why we worry about bad things happening despite the odds; information - and when we ignore it; and persuasion - in particular how it applies to the upcoming general election. You can read an introduction to the episode on declinism on the WBS website.
The new series airs on Tuesdays at 15:30. The first episode aired on Tuesday 13 January, and the series will run for four weeks. If you missed this weeks episode, or would like to catch up on previous series, you can find them all on BBC iPlayer.


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Follow Tu_Mihi_Nescio on IG
Also My Goals:
Focused Eyes [25/100]
Own A Vend World [X]
Anubis Spirit [X]
Legendary Items [X]
Sponsor [X]
Dr Title [X]
Max Level [70/125]
I Don't want Tell You My IGN
UwU UwU
Farm lgrid
IGN : MarvaGT
Main World : MARVA
Vend world : 3RA
Instagram : marva_gaming
Youtube : Marva Gaming
Discord : Marva#6571
This is how I earned over 50 wls profit in a week or smth.
1. Buy a farm for 15-17 wls, NO MORE THAN 17.
2. Buy 1k-ish (200/3 or 65/1) pepper seeds.
3. Farm daily or 500 per day. Doesn't matter that much.
4. Buy a set or smth this step doesn't matter
Or you can spend it all on Burning Eyes
Here are some other option you could try:
- Science Station [Since station is like 6-7/1, u can buy ton of it and earn daily wls] [As i've mentioned above, its a long-term investment]
- Lazy farming [Hire people to break your farmable and use slime in your farm world, dont forget to use tractor and chicken plow]
- Lazy farming Part 2 [Buy seeds and sell blocks]
- Trade [Buy cheap, Sell more, check all item price first and start to do it when u found a cheap one]
- Spirit Storage Unit [Kind of gambling and risky, all u gotta do is buy SSU and place in 30 + 10 + 14 ghost in a jar and a boss goo, if you're lucky enough, u can get dreamcatcher which worth around 6 dls if im not wrong or maybe lower] [Not reccomended but u'd try if u want]
- Catching Ghost [Take a long time to sell but pretty profitable, buy jar, catch ghost,sell ghost in jar, plant the seed, harvest the tree, catch ghost again, untill u ran out of jar]
- Vend world [Pretty profitable, surgery or crime card vend world]
- Lazy massing [Buy seeds and splice it! Example: puzzle brick and hospital bed = Surg-e which worth like 8-11/1]
- Tackle boxes [It wont give much profit though, but u still can earn some wls per 2 days]
- Investing [Buying item from an event, and wait untill the price rise - Please note that not all event item will rise, try to do some research about the item first]
- Geiger farming [Buy geiger charger + luminous eye and try to use it with different account and do it over and over again]
- Shatter Quest [Buy ton of crystal, make something with it, sell it during carnival because people might need it for the ring quest]
- Surgery [Kind of gambling and risky, all u gotta do is buy packs and do surgery as much as u can everyday and hope to get thingamabob] [Not reccomended but u'd try if u want]
All the thing i mentioned above is based on my experience
[ Instagram: @Deterxfox ] | [ Discord: Deterxfox#9428 ]


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CNN Student News - October 24, 2012CNN 조회 수 1451 추천 수 0 2012.10.24 07:03:25
Obama, Romney Crisscrossing the Country
Aired October 24, 2012 - 04:00:00 ET
CARL AZUZ, CNN ANCHOR: I`m Carl Azuz. And this is CNN STUDENT NEWS. World Series starts tonight, so good luck to you, Tigers and Giants fans. We are going to have some serious history coming up. But first, we are hitting the campaign trail.
For the top two presidential candidates, the debates are over, the conventions are far behind us, the election is less than two weeks away. So now what? What are they doing between right this second and election day? In a nutshell, it`s an all-out sprint. President Barack Obama and Republican Presidential nominee Mitt Romney are crisscrossing the country. They are meeting with potential voters, going on TV shows, posing for pictures and campaigning in front of crowds. There will a lot of that, especially in swing states, where it`s uncertain which candidate is likely to win. The campaigns are buying up ad space, so you`ll see more commercials on more channels, and their running mates, wives and families are doing all they can to get supporters to vote on November Sixth. At this point, it`s anyone`s guess who will win the election. A CNN political reporter says Americans will wake up on election day not knowing who their next president will be. It makes the campaigning and the candidates due between now and election day even more significant.
Our next story takes us to Italy, some people in the scientific world are stunned about a court case that just wrapped up there.
Six scientists and a government official have been convicted on manslaughter charges, and sentenced to six years in prison. This goes back to an earthquake that hit the city of L in 2009. The court ruled that these scientists didn`t do enough to warn people that there was an earthquake risk. The trial focused on a meeting that happened one week before the quake. City residents had raised concerns about recent seismic activity. At this meeting, the scientists determined it was unlikely that a major quake would hit. Unlikely, but not impossible. When that major quake did hit, more than 300 people were killed. Earthquake experts around the world say it`s impossible to predict earthquakes with any kind of accuracy, they say this court ruling could stop scientists from making predictions in the future. But another expert says, the case wasn`t about predictions, it was about communication and the failure to get information out.
Back in the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration, the FDA says it`s looking into reports of a possible connection between energy drinks and five deaths. The parents of 14-year old are suing Monster Beverage, which makes Monster energy drinks. The parents say their daughter died from heart problems after drinking Monster Energy on two consecutive days. Law suit says the drinks had 480 milligrams of caffeine, that`s equal to about 15 cans of soda or three cups of coffee. And it`s nearly five times more caffeine than medical experts say teenagers should have in a day. The FDA says it hasn`t found any direct link so far between this teen`s death and the energy drink. Monster Beverage says it`s saddened by the death, but "doesn`t believe that its beverages are in any way responsible."
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Today`s "Shoutout" goes out to Mr. Tolen`s American Government & Civics Class at Niles Community High School in Troy, Michigan.
What is this: You know what to do, is it a mammal, reptile, a fish or amphibian? You`ve got three seconds, go!
What you are looking at is a mammal, specifically it`s a beluga whale, which is sometimes called, a white whale. That`s your answer and that`s your "Shoutout."
AZUZ: Well, here is a fun fact for you. Belugas are sometimes called canaries of the sea, because they make this high-pitch chirping sounds, scientists are saying, though, that`s not the only sounds that these whales can make.
AZUZ: It sounded kind of like a person`s voice, but muffled, right? That was a beluga. Researchers think it figured out how to mimic the human voice after spending a lot of time around people. What clued researchers in was when a diver thought someone was giving him underwater directions, telling him to get out of the tank. It turns out, he was hearing the whale.
It`s fascinating stuff. The next story today is about pirates. Not the movies, those are kind of fun, we are talking about the pirates involved in some of the very dangerous attacks we`ve reported on in recent years. Now, according to new information, there are actually fewer of those attacks this year. The International Maritime Bureau says piracy is at its lowest level since 2008. During the first nine months of this year, the organization says there have been 233 actual and attempted pirate attacks around the world. During the same timeframe last year, there were 352. The leader of the group says it`s good news, but he added that the voters where these attacks happen are still dangerous, and that there still needs to be a Naval presence there.
On this day in history, in 1861, the first transcontinental telegram was sent from San Francisco to Washington, D.C. It was the first instant communication from one side of the U.S. to the other. In 1940, part of the Fair Labor Standards Act went into effect. It set the standard work week for American workers at 40 hours, and in 1992, the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Atlanta Braves in a six game to win the World Series. It was the first time that a Canadian team won the baseball championship.
Something else happened on this day in history, and it makes October 24th an annual event. It`s United Nations Day, because on this day in 1945, the international organization was born. The idea for the U.N. came out of World War II. Representatives from 50 countries got together to create a charter for the group. It says the U.N.`s goals are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations and work together to solve global problems. On October 24th, 1945, a majority of the countries ratified that charter and the United Nations officially came into existence.
This is Alexandria Horstman, she`s using that laptop to attend school with little help from her friends. Here is what this about: Alexandria is a freshman in Highland, Illinois. At the start of this school year, doctors told her she`d have to miss up to three months because of some medical problem she was dealing with. Her school uses laptops and iPads, so one of her friends came up with this idea to carry Alexandria, using her laptop from class to class. So she`s not skipping school, she is skyping school. She is getting better, faster than doctors predicted. In fact, Alexandria could be back in class in person this week. And here is the word to the wise for you: telekinesis, it`s the ability to make things move without touching them, so you are using just your mind. It might sound like a superpower, and it is for some comic book characters, but researchers are using telekinesis to help people who have everyday physical struggles, like for example, people who are paralyzed. Take a look at this.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: If you have someone that can`t communicate, you can completely change their quality of life by allowing them to communicate. But the next thing that you want to restore is mobility. So, the next project that we took upon ourselves was to try to be able to drive a wheelchair with mind signals.
I`m the creator and the director of the Georgia Tech brain lab, which is a research group that`s devoted to researching and understanding what kind of control we can have from brain signals alone.
We were one of the very first labs to control a wheelchair with brain signals. And we`ve used a variety of different mechanisms, so that we might have boxes flashing at different speeds, and we can tell by brain signal processing that if you are watching this box that`s flashing at ten times a second, or this one that`s flashing at 15 times a second, all you have to do is pay attention to the one you want. If you want to turn right, you pay attention to the one on the right, and we can see, which one you are looking at by the oscillations in the brain, how many times a second your brain is processing it. We can say, you are looking at the one that`s flashing ten times a second, and we can turn a wheelchair. Out most recent wheelchair, one of my master students, Michael Boys (ph), who is a wheelchair user himself, reverse-engineered his own wheelchair to be driven by this - the visual interface, and he actually drove it around the building quite a bit. So, that was exciting, and it gives people control without having to move a joystick, without having to press a button, but to be able to move around your own home without assistance was very important. We are very focused on providing independence to people with physical disabilities.
AZUZ: Some football coaches might not seem like natural pranksters, but the head coach at Umass had a good one. He was running a team meeting last week that was interrupted by state police officers. They said they had paperwork for two walk on players, guys might have thought they were in trouble, but when they read the fine print, it turns out they were being awarded full athletic scholarships. The Youtube video makes one thing clear: the team might not have the best record on the field, but that coach is number one in the college football prankings. Oh yeah, football puns. We can`t pass them up. We are going to take a hike and pass them back to your teachers. I`m Carl Azuz.
원문출처 : http://rss.cnn.com/~r/services/podcasting/studentnews/rss/~3/J3TWORqLXF8/sn-102412.cnn.m4v


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Kádár Étkezde (Kádár Diner) – Simply Authentic Hungarian Lunch in Budapest
Eating at Kadar Etkezde in Budapest is partly dining partly submerging into decades old Hungarian culture: yes, it is a simple eatery with a very diverse clientele all united in the joy of eating something authentic, well-known, made well, without any fuss. As Frommer's puts it (placing the eatery in the Jewish walking tour) Kádár Étkezde "is a simple local lunchroom serving a regular clientele ranging from young paint-spattered workers to elderly Jews." The sholet is genuine. The worn-down charm likewise.
If you want to know more about the social phenomenon of Kadar Etkezde, this is a nice description made by Dumneazu. If you are specifically interested in Jewish places and attractions in Budapest, I suggest the Jewish Budapest map.
Address: Klauzál tér 9., Budapest, 1072
Phone: 00-36-1-321-3622
Opening hours: Mon-Sat 11:30 – 15:30
Note: No dinner time. Sundays closed.
Getting here: tram/ streetcar 4 or 6, get off at Király utca stop
See the location of Kadar Etkezde on the Budapest Tourist Map (check the knife and fork map icon in the middle, and click on the icons to learn more about the neighboring places of interest or click on the View Larger Map blue link under the map). Notice that Kadar Etkezde is not far from the Grand Synagogue in Dohány street, and the Mai Manó House of Photography.
Read more about the Best Restaurants in Budapest.


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Two 18-year-olds have been charged after police say they were involved in a series of overnight thefts from parked cars in the area.
New York State Police say they responded to the area of the Robin's Meadows housing development in the Town of Wawayanda on numerous reports of thefts from parked vehicles on the morning of Monday, May 20.
Cash and miscellaneous personal items were reported stolen, according to police.
Further investigation led to the arrest of 18-year-old Middletown residents Brandon Royer and Thomas Ferrante.
Both suspects were charged with petit larceny and trespassing. They were arraigned in the City of Middletown Court and remanded to the Orange County Jail in lieu of bail.
New York State Police remind residents to lock their vehicles and remove valuable items.
Investigations are ongoing and additional charges are expected, police say. Anyone who resides in the Robin's Meadows development and is missing items from their vehicle should contact State Police at (845) 344-5300.
Click here to sign up for Daily Voice's free daily emails and news alerts.


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Fashion knowledge may influence many facets of daily life. This content below offers the fashion techniques that are easy to integrate to you regular.
Sheer outfits are super sexy, but avoid how sheer and what's showing. Something too sheer might cause you appear tawdry.
Lighter colored jeans are generally more best for casual look.
Don't overstock your beauty kit. Choose things that you really love with a variety of the season. Think of what you should need for day versus night. Makeup will not last forever once you start making use of it. Germs can grow in opened products.
Try out a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner for frizzy hair.This will give your hair by refusing to secure excessive moisture. Avoid everything that volumizes which includes products containing wheat and rice. For reviews about wonder wallet just go to the link I've put into this article.
Don't thrust your mascara wand.It can only trap air in the mascara bottle. This ups the potential risk of bacteria. Move your brush inside the container to make certain that it is coated.
Usually do not seem like you need to be perfect inside your search for fashion. Once you shoot for perfection, your look appears forced. Several of the runways which include a straightforward "flaw" and an otherwise fashionable outfit.
Consume your beauty items before getting rid of them. You need to simply get the best from tube containers by making use of squeezers typically sold for toothpaste. You are able to turn your bottles upside-down or their side to have the best from them. You may even take the top off to find the product is nearly gone.This can help you save some cash over time.
The previous rule that you ought to not wear white clothing following the Labor Day has passed no longer applies. You can put on clothes in virtually any time don't let a date stop you from wearing the colour. In case your body looks great in white, then use it, use it all year 'round. No one is planning to say anything to you for this.
Because a trend is popular does not mean you must stick to it. Follow your likes, not what others like. Trust your instincts most of all. They will likely lead you on the proper direction.
Sign up to a fashion magazines and newsletter of some sort in order that you are up to date with several of the newest trends. This will assist to offer you every one of the information about fashion trends which can be in this season.
Don't style hair in a fashion that creates two different textures. You won't look edgy you'll just seem in contrast to looking edgy and quirky.
Quilted fabrics will be big this winter and winter. But there are some good quality leather compact wonderful wallets to make buying Christmas gifts even easier.
Seriously consider the clothing you might be purchasing is made from. It is vital that you just see the label to view what materials listed on the garment.
Use solid colors to structure your system gets. A straightforward solid color provides the ability to wear a colorful patterned top that could grab attention. Wearing a brightly colored top will draw the eye of others nearer the face.
Know your very own body well and discover what is definitely the styles that be right for you. Do you possess an hourglass, hourglass, or pear shape? The body shape will help to construct the particular style that works well with you.
Should you be a company traveler, take clothing that happen to be anti-wrinkle or easy-care. Many rooms in hotels offer ironing boards and irons, however you shouldn't need to spend your time ironing for no reason. You ought to automatically hang your clothes when you are getting to your hotel.
You have to research them online to find out what you must do every season.
Don't forget the strength of accessorizing. The correct selections of accessories could make the ideal complement or update to the majority of any outfit. Make sure to keep in mind the overall look that you are trying to achieve while you are putting an outfit together.
For those who have long legs, behind or legs, if you accentuate them you will look better and feel more confident. This practice also draws attention away from the parts of your body that you are not fond of.
You've got these details beneath your belt, so you're ready to add charm to your wardrobe. Fashion isn't in regards to the clothes you wear, but about the way you feel. Remain in fashion by putting on what allows you to experience the most comfortable.


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Southwest largest US domestic carrier, weighs into B737 debate
Southwest Airlines remained the largest carrier in the US domestic market in Jul-2010 with 10 million passengers, a 4.7% year-on-year increase, equating to 14% more passengers than the second largest carrier, Delta Air Lines (with 8.6 million passengers). In the seven months to Jul-2010, Southwest handled 61.3 million passengers, 18% or almost 10 million more passengers than Delta (51.9 million).
JetBlue largest LCC in international market
JetBlue was the largest LCC in the international market, with 347,000 passengers in the month, to rank sixth, behind Delta (2.3 million passengers), American, Continental, United and US Airways. Southwest was not in the Top 10, meaning Delta was the largest overall (domestic and international) US carrier, with 10.8 million passengers in Jul-2010, compared to 10.0 million at Southwest.
Ryanair and Southwest interested in re-engined B737
In other news, Southwest joined the debate into the reengineering of the B787, with COO Mike Van de Ven commenting: "We certainly recognize the need for new economics. We are indifferent to whether that's a new airplane or a re- engined airplane. One thing is for sure, waiting until 2025 to make a change is not an option". Ryanair CFO Howard Millar similarly stated Europe's largest LCC is "very interested" in a re-engined B737.
Ryanair and Southwest both operate exclusively Boeing fleets with Ryanair having 250 B737-800s in service with plans to increase its fleet to 299 by Mar-2013 while Southwest has 544 B737s in service with 116 on order. In Jul-2010, Boeing commenced that Southwest would be "very involved" in Boeing's single-aisle decision commenting: "Whatever we do, it's going to be something that Gary Kelly likes."
Selected LCCs daily share price movements (% change): 15-Oct-2010


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How To Become A Licensed Real Estate Broker In West Virginia
With the housing market well on the way to complete recovery, many licensees making the move to become a real estate broker in West Virginia. After all, one of the benefits of a forming a career in real estate is the control it allows you in shaping your personal success. The step towards becoming a broker is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the life of a real estate professional. There is no need to wait for a promotion. A real estate licensee is able to simply make the decision to sign up for broker training and the state exam. Once this decision has been made, it may be only a matter of weeks before you are working as a West Virginia broker. Real estate sales associates in West Virginia who are ready to take the next step in their real estate careers can begin the process of becoming a licensed real estate broker by completing the state's requirements for licensure.
West Virginia Real Estate License Requirements
- Age: at least 18 years old
- Education: a high school diploma or GED
- Courses: complete 90 hours of approved real estate courses if licensed as a salesperson in West Virginia
- Courses: complete 180 hours of approved real estate courses if not licensed as a salesperson in West Virginia
- Courses need to have been completed during the 5 year period preceding the application date
- Courses will be based on Real Estate Principles and Practice (30 hours), Real Estate Law (20 hours), Real Estate Finance (20 hours), Real Estate Appraisal (20 hours)
- Experience: at least 2 years of active experience as a real estate salesperson
West Virginia Reciprocal Agreements Currently, the state of West Virginia has reciprocity agreements in place with:
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Georgia
- Iowa
- Massachusetts
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New York
- North Carolina
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Virginia
Real Estate Broker Licensure Exam in West Virginia You can take the exam any time you like, as it is held every month at the Charleston House Holiday Inn.
You need to bring your notification letter, $25 testing fee, and ID to the exam place.
The test is written on a paper. You are allowed to take a calculator with you for the math part. Don't be late, it is better for you to arrive 30 minutes before the exam starts.
Real Estate Broker Software
The Right Tools The most professional real estate workers often require software to efficiently sort through paper work. It has been pointed out that good software such as Brokermint can transform a real estate business for the better. Back office software should be able to create a consistent and manageable flow from lead generation to closing and accounting. It should be able to cross integrate with Contact Management systems (CRM), MLS and Accounting Packages. The main goal of this type of software is to help real estate experts save time managing day-to-day operations, get instant visibility on production data and remain in compliance with regulations.
Software like Brokermint perfectly fits for small companies that recently started their real estate business.
There are other tools that are useful to real estate agents. Having a strong social media presence through sites such as Facebook or LinkedIn can come in very handy in attracting potential customers. Also consider using Zillow and Trulia. These websites help track information on available real estate properties in local areas. Be sure to familiarize yourself with the kinds of tools that real estate brokers need to work in the field. It is a necessity to feel prepared in this business.
We have licensed brokers on our team to help with all technology related questions. Get your free real estate technology consultation now!
Get Your Free Live Demo Now
And find out why more than 900 real estate businesses trust Brokermint