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Ventana Research coined the term "enterprise spreadsheet" in 2004 to describe a variety of software applications that add a desktop spreadsheet's user interface (usually that of Microsoft Excel) to components that address the issues that arise when desktop spreadsheets are used in repetitive, collaborative enterprise processes. Enterprise spreadsheets are designed to provide the best of both worlds in that they offer the ease of use and flexibility of desktop spreadsheets while overcoming their defects – chiefly inability to maintain data integrity, lack of referential integrity and dimensionality, absence of workflow and process controls, limited security and access controls as well as poor auditability. All of these issues can cause serious problems for business use, which I'll discuss below.
Companies should investigate enterprise spreadsheet applications that can address desktop spreadsheet issues because they can provide better results, save an organization substantial amounts of time and provide greater accuracy and security. Most products are designed to be a cost-effective replacement for the desktop variety. Enterprise spreadsheets fill various roles to suit specific business needs. Some take the form of a simple data collection program that maps the spreadsheet's two-dimensional grid to a relational or multidimensional data store. Others offer business intelligence software capabilities that enable self-service automated reporting from enterprise data sources. Still others may be relatively elaborate applications that incorporate programmed workflows, access controls, audit trails and more sophisticated visualization methods than are available in Excel and utilize a relational or multidimensional data store. Dozens of applications that incorporate enterprise spreadsheets are available today.
Enterprise spreadsheets fill an important role in corporate computing environments. For example, the spreadsheet interface has become common in business planning applications because companies find it easier to train people to use this software when it has a familiar look and feel. It might serve as an alternative user interface to an ERP system for specific tasks, where the object is to simplify and shorten data input or facilitate some analytical interaction (such as comparing two columns of numbers to spot matches or data inconsistencies). An enterprise spreadsheet also may serve as an automated conduit for moving data from one enterprise system to another, using macros to automate actions on the data as it moves between systems. Using macros makes it easier for business people, not IT specialists, to program these actions because far more people understand how to use them than are able to program applications or data connectors. These spreadsheets may serve as a data on-ramp or off-ramp to some process handled in an enterprise system such as ERP or CRM that requires human intervention. In this role, an enterprise spreadsheet provides the programmed workflows, security and referential integrity to fill a process gap that an enterprise system cannot address or is too expensive to implement and maintain in that core system. In addition to collecting data, enterprise spreadsheets may enrich data from an enterprise source in a controlled environment, federate data from multiple systems, perform checks or reconciliations before data enters an enterprise system or perform some analysis for decision support.
I regard the electronic spreadsheet as among the top five most important advances in business management to come along in the last 100 years. It revolutionized almost all aspects of running an organization. It was the original "killer app" that made it necessary for people to go out and buy a personal computer. Yet it has inherent technological defects when used in repetitive, collaborative enterprise processes. One is a lack of data integrity, which maintains the accuracy and consistency of data – spreadsheets are notoriously error-prone. More than one-third (35%) of participants in our benchmark research on spreadsheets said that data errors are common in the most important spreadsheet they use in their job, and another 26 percent said errors in formulas are common.
A related drawback is that desktop spreadsheets lack referential integrity; that is, the meaning and context of an individual cell is defined by row and column headers rather than being defined within the individual cell. This creates the familiar problem when a group of spreadsheets supposedly containing the same data are combined, but someone has added or deleted a row or column: The result is inaccurate. In our spreadsheet research more than half (56%) of spreadsheet users – even those who have been using them for more than a decade – said that they find it usually or always time-consuming to combine data from multiple spreadsheets. Another problem is that desktop spreadsheets, being two-dimensional grids, have limited ability to manipulate and report data having three or more dimensions. While accountants can work around this limit, it's a problem for most business users because businesses work in multiple dimensions such as organizational structures (regions or divisions, for example), products (from families down to individual stock keeping units), customers (national accounts down to drop-ship locations), dimensionality and time.
They also lack programmed workflow: People attach spreadsheets to email messages, making it difficult to keep track of the latest versions. More than one-fourth (28%) of research participants said that processes that run on desktop spreadsheets frequently break down because people using them don't know what to do next or forget to pass them along. Likewise, they lack process controls to ensure that they are reviewed properly and that any deficiencies found in the spreadsheet are noted and automatically returned to the preparer for correction. Finally, desktop spreadsheets have limited security, access controls and audit functions as well as poor auditability. To address these deficiencies, people – especially those in finance organizations – have to spend a great deal of time reviewing and correcting spreadsheets. So while our Office of Finance research finds that the accuracy of information gleaned in desktop spreadsheet processes is acceptable, fewer than one-third of organizations said that the information the finance department provides is timely.
Because enterprise spreadsheets address these issues, they can reduce the incidence of errors and malfeasance that make using spreadsheets in repetitive, collaborative enterprise processes problematic. In many cases, enterprise spreadsheets support what we call "continuous accounting" in that they ensure data quality from end to end in financial processes. Of course, not every enterprise spreadsheet product addresses all the issues I've mentioned. But often this doesn't matter if, for example, the offering is designed to perform a limited set of functions such as reporting or acting as a data conduit connecting two systems in an otherwise controlled environment.
Businesses should recognize that they no longer have to put up with the shortcomings of desktop spreadsheets. They have options to have the best of both worlds, allowing people to continue working in a familiar environment but without the drawbacks that spreadsheets impose when they are used improperly. There is no good reason not to consider adopting such an application. After all, people routinely spend time exploring application options for their smartphones but rarely spend any time getting to know business software that can increase their productivity. There are many forms of enterprise spreadsheet applications to solve a range of business issues. I recommend that businesses investigate options that give users the ease, convenience and familiarity of spreadsheets without the hassle and risk that often goes with them.
Robert Kugel
Senior Vice President Research
Follow Me on Twitter @rdkugelVR and
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
Today's proponents of artificial intelligence (AI) tend to focus on its spectacular uses such as self-driving cars and uplifting ones such as medical treatment. AI also has the potential to aid humanity in more modest ways such as eliminating the need for individuals to do tedious repetitive work in white-collar areas. Along these lines, at its recent Vision users conference, IBM displayed an application of its Watson cognitive computing technology designed to automate important aspects of regulatory and legal compliance. Should it prove workable, the application of cognitive computing to compliance could be the first step in achieving what various "Paperwork Reduction Act" legislation has failed to do: substantially cutting the time needed to comply with rules imposed by government entities.
Regulatory compliance requires plenty of effort, especially in heavily regulated industries and especially during periods of rapid change in rules. Regulatory burdens on business in the United States have been increasing and growing more complex. For example, the number of pages added to the U.S. Federal Register, a rough measure of rule-making, grew 38 percent, from 529,223 pages in the 1980s to 730,176 in the 2000s, and that growth is on pace to reach 800,000 for the decade ending in 2019. Not all of these additions apply to a specific company's business, and not all changes are relevant. But poring through pages of laws, rules and judicial rulings to identify relevant new requirements or changes to existing ones requires expertise and often considerable effort. Determining how to address regulatory changes and ensuring that these requirements are being met also entails knowledge and experience and consumes time. While necessary virtually none of all this work adds to the bottom line (except to the extent that it avoids fines or penalties) or improves a company's competitiveness.
In concept, cognitive computing is well suited to help manage compliance because it has the ability to continuously scan all sources of rule-making, identify those that may be relevant to an organization, and provide suggestions on how best to comply with rules and oversee the compliance program. It can improve the effectiveness of the compliance process by reducing the risk that a company will overlook regulations that apply to it or will implement a compliance program that does not adequately address requirements. In short, by using automation, cognitive computing can increase the efficiency with which a company addresses its compliance requirements. Our benchmark research on governance, risk and compliance (GRC) finds that this is important: Companies most often focus on GRC to contain overall risk and the risk of failure to comply with regulations (77% and 74%, respectively) and much less often to cut costs (31%).
The primary steps any company faces in addressing regulatory compliance are identifying and understanding regulations that apply to it; determining how to address each of them; creating the appropriate measures and governance to achieve compliance; ensuring that the necessary documentation is created to confirm conformance; and guaranteeing that issues that arise are handled properly. Companies face challenges in doing this correctly and in a timely fashion. The process of interpreting the regulations and linking them to the appropriate controls is difficult and costly. Expertise is necessary, on the part of internal staff, external consultants or legal counsel. Historically companies have devolved responsibility for regulatory compliance to the individual business units most closely affected because it was the practical approach. However, decentralized approaches make it difficult to gauge overall compliance, and as the scope of regulation increases over time they lead to duplicate controls and increased costs of compliance.
IBM Watson is potentially a good fit for managing regulatory compliance because it pools knowledge of a topic. As in the case of medicine, the collective efforts of all companies using Watson to assist in managing regulation help all of the participants. Because their combined learning processes are cumulative, Watson can build a knowledge base fast and absorb new facts and conditions quickly. It's to all participants' advantage to expand the capabilities of the system cooperatively. In both disciplines, learning involves mastering a technical language and syntax and being able to link their meaning to specific recommended actions.
Watson's approach to cognitive compliance starts by parsing the body of regulations in a fashion similar to the work it has done in consuming the scientific literature in the field of medicine. It then would identify all compliance requirements that may be relevant to a specific financial institution. The company would vet the list it produces to arrive at a list of validated compliance requirements. The cognitive compliance system would then use Watson to generate a recommended set of controls and procedures based on accepted practices (which may be rooted in anything from black-letter law to actions taken by similar companies). The user company would select those that it deems appropriate. These decisions would be made by trained individuals – for example, those with compliance responsibilities in a particular area, internal counsel or attorneys specializing in a relevant practice area. Once established, a cognitive compliance system could automate the process of monitoring regulatory actions and rule-making that is relevant to the company and flagging anything that requires review.
IBM intends to focus Watson's cognitive compliance efforts initially on the financial services sector. In part this is because the company already has a significant presence in this market segment, but the main reason is because in the United States the complexity of the rules governing this industry has mushroomed since the financial crisis of the past decade. For example, the so-called Volcker Rule, intended to prevent banks from engaging in speculations that put government deposit insurance and the financial system at risk, was spelled out in just 165 words in the 2010 Dodd-Frank Act. However, translating that concept into practice required the collaboration of five regulatory agencies: The Federal Reserve, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). It took about five years for this group to assemble a 71-page rule (not written in plain English) that has an 891-page preamble. As to cost of dealing with this complexity, in 2015, the OCC estimated that the cost of complying with Dodd-Frank for the seven largest U.S. banks in 2014 was US$400 million. In another example, 13 Europe-based banks spent between $100 million and $500 million each to achieve compliance with a rule requiring them to create umbrella legal structures for their local operations and take part in the Fed's annual stress tests. To be sure, the current regulatory conditions affecting banks is an extreme example. However, for that reason it's an attractive potential market.
If applying cognitive computing to regulatory compliance works for financial services, there are likely to be many other industries in which the regulatory requirements are demanding enough to track and implement to make its use worthwhile. One intriguing possibility for the longer term is Watson's potential to identify duplicate or conflicting regulations and laws and enable legislators and regulatory bodies to streamline or rationalize them. We recommend that financial services organizations and perhaps others look into this intriguing possibility.
Robert Kugel
Senior Vice President Research
Follow Me on Twitter @rdkugelVR and
Connect with me on LinkedIn.


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Countdown To Dublin: 45,000 Tickets Sold For Croke Park Classic So Far
According to a Croke Park representative 45,000 tickets have been sold so far for the Nittany Lions' season opener against UCF in Dublin, Ireland.
While this figure still comes well short of the stadium's 82,300 capacity it is right on par with similar events to have taken place on the grounds in recent years. In 2012 the Notre Dame and Navy contest was played in front of a crowd of just over 43,000. Seating for Penn State's contest is reportedly configured to host up to 70,000 fans.
For comparison to a more familiar venue the 45,000 tickets currently sold would come up just 2,000 shy of selling out Northwestern's Ryan Field.
The represenative could not say how many tickets had been sold to Penn State fans but it would be safe to assume that the Nittany Lion faithful would either lead the demographic come game day or just slightly trail Dublin natives.
Either way it looks as though there will be plenty on hand to see the first game of the James Franklin era.
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subset: commoncrawl


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Originally from Kansas City, MO, Jeanne now lives in Reading, MA with her husband. She has two grown sons (which explains her extensive research on how to save for and fund a college education). She is one of the few who truly enjoys country music in New England and has taken up cross-country skiing in an effort to actually look forward to being outside in the long, cold northern winter.
Jeanne is an occasional speaker and has been quoted in the press.
- Founded Financially In Tune in 2011
- Develops customized financial plans for each client based on the client's goals and resources
- Determines investment allocation and fund selection, primarily using low cost index funds.
- Certified Financial Planner® since 1996
- 10 years as a Wealth Manager with an investment management firm in Boston
- 30 years experience in financial services includes roles in strategic planning and marketing for such firms as Fidelity Investments, Financial Research Corporation, Funds Distributor and American Express.
- BA in Economics with honors - Mount Holyoke College, South Hadley, MA – 1979
- MALD (Master of Arts in Law and Diplomancy) with concentrations in International Economics and Business - Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University, Medford, MA
- Certificate of Completion in Financial Planning - Boston University, Boston, MA.
Volunteer, Press & Awards
Jeanne has volunteered in a number of financial literacy activities, such as presenting annually to seniors at Mount Holyoke College on basic financial planning issues, and speaking at the Boston Public Library Series, "Taking the Mystery out of Retirement."
Further, she has been selected by the Boston Globe to be the financial planner for several money makeovers. Jeanne was recognized for Excellence in Financial Planning at the 2015 Women in Finance Market Choice Awards held in New York City in December 2015. In the past, she has taught investments classes to students seeking to enter the financial planning profession.


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Worship services are held each Sunday at 8 am and 9:30 am and are in a "modern traditional" format with meaningful hymns and music. The service is projected onto a large screen and printed in a Worship folder, making the service easy to follow. We celebrate Holy Communion every week and we practice open communion - all who are baptized are welcome at communion. You don't need to be a member of Grace to receive communion.
Grace is an open and inclusive community of faith. You can expect a casual and welcoming environment to worship. You'll find a caring family of faith that supports one another and reaches out to serve people in need locally and around the world.
There are fun and engaging children's programs for children 5th grade and younger. Grace is place where God's word is preached and connections are made. Please stay for coffee and fellowship following each service.


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Kotobee Author is a comprehensive ebook creator and EPUB editor, suitable for textbooks, storybooks, magazines and everything in between. With Kotobee Author you can create interactive ebooks rich with video, audio, 3D visuals, widgets, questions, and…
Collections 3D All Apps Audio Blackboard creator editor education encrypted EPUB file EPUB export integrate interactive ebooks Kotobee Author LMS Moodle publishing questions training video Vijua widgets
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Goodnight. I would like to know how to load subroutines that I have in a directory, so that they only load when executing their command. The initial code is the following:
[COLOR=#666666][FONT=Artifakt];loads all needed subroutines
Code:(vl-load-com) (if (findfile ".\\Subrutinas\\LeeMac") (mapcar '(lambda (x) (if (wcmatch (strcase x) "*.LSP") (load (strcat (findfile ".\\Subrutinas\\LeeMac") "\\" x) ) ;_load ) ;_ if ) ;_ lambda (vl-directory-files (findfile ".\\Subrutinas\\LeeMac") ) ;_ vl-directory-files ) ;_ mapcar ) ;_ if
I tried to change "load" for "autoload", but it does not work. In leemac folder y have three files .lsp.
StrikethroughV1-1.lsp define "strike", "strike2", "strike3", "under", "under2", "overunder2"
cajaenvolvente(minboundingbox).lsp load minboundingbox.lsp.


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How we feel at work affects the performance and the general atmosphere within the team. A good health of employees is the safest investment which a company can do in the long term. A balanced nutritional behaviour is a source of energy and self-confidence that has a beneficial impact on results and relationships at the workplace.
Given that obesity is an epidemy according to the World Health Organization, medical services in nutrition influence more than the employees' wellbeing and their happiness. They can lead to better health on the long run. Smart Nutrition can help you construct and implement health programs on nutrition issues.
We set different objectives for our programs with each individual company and we monitor their progress in real time.
For details and customized offers, please contact us by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com or at the phone number 0736622526.
Thorough eating education is often neglected in training the children. And, unfortunately, like any other thing which is not given due attention at the right age, lack of minimal nutritional discipline can have unpleasant consequences in the long term, both for children and for their parents.
Through its programs dedicated to kindergartens and schools, Smart Nutrition supports a nutritional education based on balanced eating principles and focused on eating habits accurate and understandable by children.
We offer educational packages for:
For details and customized offers, please contact us by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Take a series of photos of a subject who is engaged in some activity or other. The point of having an activity is to preoccupy your subject, and if this can be achieved without too much movement or changes in location, so much the better. As this is primarily a portrait exercise rather than an exercise in reportage, try not to get distracted by the demands of showing how the actions are performed — concentrate instead on the person and the facial expression.
Subject: this is Russell, a joiner who's done lots of work on our house over the years, and is currently working around the corner for our neighbours.
Here are the shortlisted pics with a little commentary on each. What I consider to the the best overall shot is enlarged at the end.
Sawing 1 & 2:
The idea here was to show some actual physical work typical of his trade. In both I tried to use a slightly slow shutter speed to get a bit of motion blur on the arm. I'm not sure I got this right; there's enough blur to be noticeable in the image but maybe not quite enough to really denote movement. In terms of composition, 1 has the cleaner background but 2 makes better use of the lines and shapes in the frame. In both there isn't enough of his face.
Working 1 & 2:
In the first of these two I wanted to show a more upright position, and in the second I wanted to zoom in closer on the face. However, neither is wholly successful for similar reasons to the sawing pics: not enough of the face, so you can't get a feel for the facial expression. By this point I was beginning to realise that his work is inherently inclined towards facing walls and/or looking down… No. 2 in particular is weak as there is no context on what he's working on – it's just a picture of a bloke leaning over.
Thinking 1 & 2:
I felt these were the most successful of the set. Even though he isn't very 'active', he is working, albeit in more of a mental capacity: he's standing back, checking what he's done, and planning his next move. I found these pics much better at giving a feel for the person as you get to see more of the face. The pencil behind the ear gives the clue to his trade – more subtle than a saw or a hammer – and I deliberately left a bit of space to the right for him to be staring into. 1 has more tonal detail but 2 has a cleaner background.
So my preferred shot of the lot is the one below.
What I've learned
I've learned that you can get much more natural-looking pictures of people by NOT asking them to specifically pose. Letting them get on with doing their own thing and forget that the camera is there can be a useful technique.


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Title : De stropende actie-valk, omhals, En 't Bubbel-Rotje onder de klaauwen van den UIL..
Map maker : ANONYMOUS.
Date : Amsterdam, 1720.Size : 5.1 x 5.1 inches. / 13.0 x 13.0 cm.
Colouring : Uncoloured.
Description :Decorative print satirizing the stock exchange business after it collapse in the beginning of the 18th century, that led to the complete ruin of many of over-eager French, Dutch and English shareholders. Underneath the print text in Dutch and French. From Great mirror of folly. - Het groote tafereel der dwaasheid, vertoonende de opkomst, voortgang en ondergang der actie, bubbel en windnegotie, in Vrankryk, Engeland, en de Nederlanden, gepleegt in den jaare MDCCXX. An early issue of the renowned monument for the speculative mania of 1720. 'The great mirror of folly, showing the rise, progress, and downfall of the bubble in stocks and windy speculation in France, England, and the Netherlands in the year 1720' constitute a collection of mostly satirical plates on the speculations connected with the operations of John Law, together with the charters of important companies, comedies, poems, etc.Decorative!.
Condition : A good and dark impression. Wide margins. Repair of split in right hand margin.
The item is no longer available for sale.Click here to see for how much the item sold or the estimated value.Missed this item? Never miss another item again!


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One of the most common New Year's resolutions is to travel more. It's right up there with going to the gym and eating healthier.
And like so many other resolutions that start out with the best intentions this one is often the first to fail. Not because of motivation or ambition, but because travel brings people out of their comfort zone.
But when you ask why, most people will offer some form of excuse involving time or money. They forget to ask for time off, work got too busy, they have a baby on the way, didn't save enough money, house needed painting, couldn't find a cheap ticket, couldn't find someone to go with, yadda, yadda, yadda, blah, blah blah.
Travel will educate you, but it doesn't happen immediately. Long term travel will make you healthier, stronger & wealthier, but its easier for people to see the immediate gratification in going to the gym today. Giving up pizza tonight. Finding a good book on Audible, or signing up for an online class. These give the impression of results without leaving your comfort zone. Where travel forces you to pack a bag, ask for time off of work, purchase a plane ticket, book accommodations & make a commitment.
Usually you find people don't follow through with their New Year's resolutions because they don't have the energy to commit. Or in the case of travel they are too afraid to commit. People will start out looking at the map, and pick their dream destination. But that is about all the effort they put in. Some will look up hotel costs, maybe even buy a guide book from Amazon or the local bookstore. Some might even put in the effort to check flight costs, but most will not click the "BOOK TRIP NOW" button. They justify it by saying, " Let me think about it, and maybe next paycheck I will book it."
Change is good, but change is hard. People are creatures of habits, and getting out of your comfort zone is hard to do. Its your comfort zone for a reason, and it takes dedication & courage. Escaping your usual range of familiarity is hard, but if you want something you have never had before you're going to have to do something you have never done before.
Chasing travel dreams can be overwhelming, but turning dreams into reality can be a nerve racking adventure. It comes with a mix of emotions. "Yes, I'm doing it, but also a what did I get myself into?" This usually happens the second you buy your plane ticket. You're locked in, and there's no going back now.
Soon you will be exploring a place where you don't speak the language, don't know anyone or know anything about. Its the adventure you have been dreaming about. But the reality of it all keeps more people from booking their dream trip because they aren't sure they are "ready."
Not only do they struggle with whether or not they are ready for the "big trip" they also probably worry about time and/or money. You probably share these concerns as well. Probably because you were raised in an era where travel equals expensive hotel or resort vacation. This persistent myth that travel is expensive is uncovered with all the travel blogs, apps, deal sites, travel hacking websites & magazines out there, but still remains a stereotype that many believe travel is expensive.
A couple of weeks ago I got an email from my friend in Bali: "Why do people still think travel is expensive?!"
I screamed at my computer screen, arms waving, threw my pillow, rolled my eyes, yelling RIGHT!?!? This is a good question, and I still can't figure out why people think this. Well let me rephrase I can't figure out why people associate "luxury", which is synonymous with expensive with travel.
People tend to think when they travel they have to stay in fancy hotels, rent cars & participate in other luxurious activities. Whenever someone asks me why I don't stay in fancy hotels I always respond with my first trip to Jackson Hole. Still one of my most memorable ski trips to date. We had lodging for $34/night less then 100 feet from the chair lift in Jackson Hole where most hotel rooms go for over $200/night.
What's my point? There are travel deals aaaaaaaallllllllll the time if you know where to look, and how to look!. 2017 catered to travelers with some incredible cheap fares, and 2018 is shaping up to be the year of travel so now is the time to act. On top of cheap fares the share economy & gig economy have exploded in popularity. Allowing you to bypass the old travel gatekeepers, and connect with locals for a cheaper adventure. Sites like Couchsurfer & AirBnB are a couple of my favorites.
So today I am going to show you how to start the New Year off right, and fulfill your travel resolutions. Let's get you somewhere in the world you have been dreaming of visiting for far too long. Are you ready to start 2018 off right.
Kiwi, Secret Flying, Holiday Pirates, or Flight Deal. Find your dream destination, or look for cheap flights to your dream travel destination.
Don't worry about anything else, but your travel destination. You can worry about what to pack, expenses, hotel, time off, what to do later. I promise you everything will work itself out. Just book your trip. Lock yourself into your dream adventure. Part of the fun of a trip is the planning, and once your locked in then you get to actually plan your trip. Do things you wanna do, and see the sites you wanna see. BOOK IT! NOW!! Worry about the logistics & planning later. Just book your trip.
Plan your trip. Subscribe to travel blogs like this one. Do some research on the area. Find out exactly what it is you want to see and do. Plan your big trip, and pursue your dreams. This is happening so make it yours. Enjoy it. Half of the fun of a big trip is the planning & research as you uncover all these cool ideas, sites & adventures. You may not be able to get it all in on one trip. That is fine. Just gives you an excuse to take another trip. BONUS! SCORE! DEAL! The rest is easy once you make the commitment to buying a flight.
Over and over again travelers & subscribers to this adventure travel blog have emailed me to say, "I was so worried about my trip. I had so much anxiety about traveling alone, or what it would be like. I had built it up in my own head so much that all I could focus on was the 'what ifs'."
But then I get the emails from the same exact people after their trip, or during their trip telling me, "I should have listened to you sooner Adam. Once I got on the road, or off the plane everything fell into place like it was supposed to. I don't know why I worried so much. Travel is easy, and way cheaper than I thought it was going to be."
Its unnerving to be on your own in another country, and even more scary when your out of your comfort zone. That's why I am here for you. Let AOWANDERS be your virtual "helping hand". Lets take the leap together. I am here to reassure you along the way, answer your questions, take away your fears, and even provide you support. So lets jump together. Make 2018 the year you conquer your travel resolutions!


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Project Communications
How to Create Highly Effective Visual Project Roadmaps for Executives and Other Stakeholders — in an Infographic from Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™
28 August 2017 by Scott M. Graffius ☕ 1 minute read
Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ shares guidance on developing effective project roadmaps for executives and other stakeholders. The content is in the form of an infographic, available on the company site here.
Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions™ is a consultancy specialized in delivering business results through project, program, portfolio, and PMO management inclusive of agile, traditional, and hybrid frameworks. We help organizations achieve more consistent realization of business results, faster time-to-market/delivery speed, upgraded on-time delivery, improved on-budget delivery, better management of risks, improved customer and stakeholder satisfaction, and greater competitive advantage. For more on the company, please visit exceptional-pmo.com.
You're invited to find out more about Scott:
- Check out his bio,
- Find out about his speaking engagements,
- See and like his author page at Amazon,
- See and like his video channel at Vimeo, and
- Visit the website for his business — Exceptional PPM and PMO Solutions.
And connect with Scott on social:


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Written by Ken Gaebler
Published: 7/15/2009
Despite having to resort to cost-cutting practices, many small businesses view their company's recent performance positively and are somewhat optimistic about economic recovery.
Despite having to cut costs and benefits to stay afloat, many small business owners are reporting optimistic views on the economy and their company's performance, said a recent survey.
Entrepreneur magazine's survey of small business owners found that 25 percent of respondents cut costs by making layoffs, 11 percent reduced work hours and 9 percent relied on attrition to reduce staff.
An additional 16 percent targeted benefits expenses by reducing healthcare costs and suspending - or terminating - 401(k) contributions.
Yet small business owners were still not out of the cost-cutting woods - cash flow, credit availability and health care costs were listed as the top challenges for small business owners as well as the small business community as a whole.
Despite capital concerns and negative financial news, for small business owners the year has been going relatively well.
The survey found that 42 percent of small business owners believe they did not do as badly as they could have in the past six months, while 25 percent said they did "surprisingly well."
In addition, small business owners leaned toward an optimistic outlook about the rest of the year's economic conditions - 36 percent were moderately optimistic, 37 percent were optimistic, and 26 percent were pessimistic.
These optimism levels may actually help improve the economy, according to recent research by Nielsen; the study suggested that positive news about the recession correlates to an increase in consumer purchasing.
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Australia is one of the countries leading the world in the move towards dumping cash in favour of digital payments. We are the biggest users of tap and go payments, and the trend is extending to public transport in NSW. After an initial trial on the F1 Manly ferry, contactless payments have been expanded to all Sydney ferries and light rail.
Who is this good news for?
If you're a tourist, or if you don't use public transport often, you may prefer to use contactless payments instead of buying an Adult Opal single trip ticket from a machine. Of course it's also perfect for those days when you have forgotten to top up or misplaced your Opal card.
What if I am a regular commuter?
It's best to stick to Opal for now, unless of course you've left your Opal at home. Weekly and daily fare caps do not apply to contactless payments – which means you could end up paying more. Child and Senior fares are also not available using this payment method.
Is there anything I need to know before using contactless?
- It's important to separate your American Express, Mastercard or Visa card from other cards you're carrying so your fare is charged to the right card.
- If you're paying with a digital device linked to your credit card, select the card you want to use from your digital wallet.
- Tap on with your card or device at the Opal reader before you board the ferry or light rail.
- Tap off with the same card or device you tapped on with when you reach your destination, just as you do with an Opal card.
Plan Your Next Trip
Don't forget to use our Trip Planner or download our handy travel apps to plan your next trip.


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Cricket: Essex end Surrey's unbeaten run in drama
PUBLISHED: 16:10 27 September 2018 | UPDATED: 16:10 27 September 2018
©TGS Photo tgsphoto.co.uk +44 1376 553468
Amid extraordinary scenes at the Kia Oval, Essex captain Ryan ten Doeschate's superb 53 not out from 62 balls earned his side a nerve-shredding one-wicket win as champions Surrey just failed to prevent the 2017 championship winners from chasing down a target of 132.
Morne Morkel's 4-28 spearheaded Surrey's brilliant performance in the field as they strained every sinew to prevent Essex from spoiling their unbeaten record in four-day cricket this summer on a pulsating final afternoon of Specsavers County Championship cricket for 2018.
Jade Dernbach and Amar Virdi also played their part, sharing the other four wickets to fall, and a wonderful finish included a crazy run out of Matt Coles when, for some unknown reason, Ten Doeschate called his partner for a third run when Coles, correctly, shouted 'no' as it would have left him with three balls of a Morkel over to survive.
Ten Doeschate, who hit six fours, had driven Morkel towards the extra cover boundary but Mark Stoneman dived to pull back the ball just feet from the ropes and Will Jacks, who had sprinted to support Stoneman, threw to keeper Ben Foakes with Coles stranded.
Suddenly, 122-8 had become 124-9, and Ten Doeschate was left with just last man Matt Quinn for company as he tried to get his side over the line.
A crucial leg bye, though, gained despite Dernbach barging into non-striker Quinn as he tried to get to the ball, meant Ten Doeschate kept the strike for Morkel's 12th over and the 38-year-old took a two and a single from the second and third balls to take Essex to within two runs of victory.
That left Quinn needing to negotiate the last three balls of Morkel's over and, immediately, he needed attention when an 88mph bouncer thudded into the grille of his helmet.
Quinn, though, signalled he was fine, bravely played down the next ball and, to the final ball of the over, saw Ryan Patel dive forward from silly point and narrowly fail to take a catch off the batsman's glove as he fended off another vicious lifter.
It proved to be Surrey's last chance to bring off a cricketing miracle, with Ten Doeschate turning Dernbach for the winning boundary in the next over, taking Essex to 134-9.
Ten Doeschate and Morkel sought each other out at the end to congratulate each other on a superb battle and Surrey captain Rory Burns said: "What a show for county cricket. It was an unbelievable atmosphere out there, and that's the fight we have shown all season.
"That's a show of our character, to come back in this match and almost get the win even after being bowled out for 67 in our first innings."
Soon, Burns was lifting the championship trophy on the outfield, in the official presentation, and adding: "It's just beginning to sink in now what we've achieved this summer. Everyone has played their part, and Morne showed again just what he has brought to this team both on and off the field since joining us at the start of the season."
Morkel had triggered early Essex jitters by producing an absolute beauty of a leg-cutter which pitched on middle and hit the top of Murali Vijay's off stump.
The Indian Test opener had made just two and 13-1 became 25-2 when Nick Browne drove at off-spinner Virdi and was adjudged caught at slip by Rikki Clarke, even though Sky Sports television replays suggested that bat had not come into contact with the turning ball.
Dan Lawrence lifted Virdi high over long on for six but, on 10, he was surprised by the steep bounce of Dernbach's first ball, when the Surrey seamer replaced Morkel at the Pavilion End, and edged to Clarke at first slip.
And, in the next over, Ravi Bopara's match to forget was completed when he was given out caught at short leg off Virdi for a seven-ball duck, to leave Essex 47-4.
Dernbach, in a sharp spell of 4-2-7-2, also forced Tom Westley (20) to edge a lifter into the safe hands of Clarke but, from 55-5, Ten Doeschate and Adam Wheater steadied Essex with some selective strokeplay.
Virdi was reverse-swept and pulled for successive fours by Ten Doeschate, who then square drove the same bowler for another boundary before Wheater swept the young spinner for two more fours.
Wheater, though, was fortunate to survive on 10 when he top-edged a reverse sweep at Virdi and saw Dernbach fail to hold on to a shoulder-high chance as he dived to his left at backward point.
But, on 11, he edged a rapid leg-cutter from the returning Morkel to second slip where Ryan Patel held on to a sharp catch.
Three balls later and it was 97-7, with Morkel producing another wickedly lifting ball to have Simon Harmer, a first innings century-maker from number eight, caught by keeper Ben Foakes for nought.
Virdi, who had borne the brunt of Essex's efforts to chase down their target aggressively, was wisely withdrawn from the attack with figures of 11-0-73-2 and Dernbach was recalled for a second spell – this time from the Vauxhall End.
It was the irresistible Morkel, though, who struck again to pin Jamie Porter lbw for four with a near-yorker.
At 111-8, the tension around the ground – with another good-sized crowd enjoying more late summer sunshine – was palpable.
Essex had earlier taken 26.2 more overs – and 142.2 overs in total – to work their way through the rest of Surrey's tenacious second innings after the championship winners had resumed on 477-5.
Surrey were eventually bowled out for 541 shortly before lunch and, in one over before the interval against Virdi, Essex scored the first five runs of their chase.
Essex seamer Coles, a substitute for concussion victim Sam Cook, snatched four of the last five Surrey wickets to fall, including a final spell of 3-7 in five overs, to finish with 5-123.
And Porter wrapped up the innings by bowling Dernbach middle stump for two, through an ugly heave, to leave last man Virdi two not out.
Will Jacks added just one run to his overnight score before falling for 53 in the third over of the day, edging a drive at Coles to Harmer at second slip.
But all-rounder Patel, who had resumed on 20, and Clarke took Surrey past 500 for the first time in their title-winning season, and they had added 53 for the seventh wicket when Coles angled one across Clarke from around the wicket to have him caught behind for 39.
Morkel lasted just two balls, before steering a shortish ball from Coles to gully to depart for a duck, and Patel's near three-hour resistance was finally ended when he unluckily thin-edged an attempted leg glance to a rising ball from Coles through to Michael Pepper, the substitute keeper, behind the stumps.
Surrey may have only added 64 more runs for the loss of their last five wickets, but it was enough to set up a truly magnificent finale to the club's memorable title-winning season.
If you value what this story gives you, please consider supporting the Ilford Recorder. Click the link in the orange box below for details.


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Our sherry vinegars are produced by a family-run company in Jerez, Spain. Joaquin's family has been making sherry vinegar in Jerez for 4 generations. A trained winemaker and cellarmaster, Joaquin recently took over the business from his father. El Majuelo is known as one of the top artisan sherry producers in the region.
This sweet sherry vinegar is produced using the Pedro Ximenez grape. This grape comes from another town but is approved in Jerez to make a sherry vinegar that is sweet as the grapes have been left on the vine for a longer time, allowing the residual sugar to rise. They are then pressed and aged in American Oak for at least 2 years. The result is an exquisite sweet and sour vinegar with a lower acidity


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Refinishing Butcher Block – Originally designed for use in butcher shops and meat markets, butcher blocks are now utilized in properties for a variety of purposes. You are able to set them up as tables, decorations, storage shelves, and obviously, use them for preparing food. If you are interested in owning or applying a single, you ought to read these tips I am about to give you.
The principle objective of a butcher block is for use as a chopping block. As opposed to other surfaces which are easily broken when chopped on, a butcher block is sturdy and handles this properly. The explanation for this is since they are produced of unfinished wood (maple, walnut, teak, and so on.), not some processed lumber that you just obtain with quite a few counter-tops. This allows for effortless chopping without the need of risk of damaging splitting some completed surface. This post related with Butcher block cranford nj.
Read Also: Butcher Block Bar Top
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Iphone 7 Plus & Iphone 7 Price in Kenya
Apple announced the two phones during the September 6 event in San Francisco where they also announced the new iWatch.
The iPhone 7 and 7 Plus feel pretty much the same as the iPhone 6S, and 6s plus respectively.
However, Apple introduced new features including a water resistant design, a static home button, new cameras, and better battery life on your iPhone.
WHERE TO BUY iPHONES
Jumia Kenya from KSh 35,000 Buy Now
Jumia Nigeria from ₦153,000.00 Buy Now
Konga.com from ₦155,000.00 Buy Now
So, What's special About The New iPhones
The new iPhones look pretty much like their predecessors.
However, Apple says the new "HD Retina display" is 25 percent brighter than last year's model. It still features the pressure-sensitive 3D Touch that launched with last year's model.
Also, unlike previous iPhones, the home button can't be physically pressed or clicked.
It's pressure-sensitive and apps can give you three levels of pressure and haptic feedback, like a light or strong buzz.
Where to Buy iPhones In Nigeria & Kenya
Jumia Kenya from KSh 35,000 Buy Now
Jumia Nigeria from ₦153,000.00 Buy Now
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- Water-resistant: Like the latest Samsung phones, the iPhones are water resistant.
- No headphone jack: Instead of the old headphone jack, Apple's new headphones will connect through the Lightning connector port. There is also an adapter for old headphones that comes with the package.
- New camera: The iPhone 7 keeps the 12-megapixel rear camera, but now has a 7-megapixels front camera. The iPhone 7 Plus has two rear cameras (a second, 56mm telephoto lens on the back that works like a built-in zoom feature).
- speakers: The new iPhones have two stereo speakers unlike the previous iPhones with just one camera.
- Longer battery life: Apple estimates 12 hours of LTE browsing on the new iPhones.
- Faster processor: The iPhone 7's new A10 Fusion chip is a 64-bit, quad-core processor that Apple says is 40 percent faster than last year's A9 processor.
- Colors: Glossy jet black, matte black, gold, silver, rose gold
Below is a summary of the iPhone 7 Plus features:
- Platform: ios 10
- Processor: A10
- Colours: Glossy jet black, matte black, gold, silver, rose gold
- Built-in Storage: 32GB, 128GB, 256GB capacities
- Rear Camera: 12 MP Camera
- Rear Camera Features: up to 3264 x 2448-pixel pictures, HDR, autofocus with LED flash
- Front Camera: 7 MP Camera
- Display: 5.5-inch IPS Touch Display, 1080 x 1920 pixels (~401 ppi pixel density)
- SIM Count: Single
- Accelerometer: Yes
- Proximity Sensor: Yes
- Light Sensor: Yes
- Battery: Non-removable Li-Po 3340 mAh battery
- Network: 2G, 3G HSDPA 900, 4G LTE
- Connectivity: Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n, hotspot, microUSB v2.0, GPS
- Bluetooth: Bluetooth v4
iPhone 7 Price in Kenya & Nigeria
The price of iPhone in Nigeria ranges from N180, 000 to N360, 000 depending on where and when you purchase the smartphone. You can purchase the smartphone from leading online stores in Kenya.
Follow the links below to get the best deals.
Jumia Kenya from KSh 35,000 Buy Now
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When using Sata-drive on esata-slot in dockingstation for logout i have an option in infobar.
But when connected to PCI-sata-card i only see bootdrive in infobar-logout.
Is there hotplugging, can i shut down docking-station or even switch cable(dont know if newer one is ok) when pc is still on? Thanks a lot


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Check out our selection of Crucifix Necklace. We are adding more to our inventory everyday! If you're looking the perfect gift, browse our online inventory of anchor jewelry, ankh jewelry, rings and bracelets. If you don't see something you like, please contact us and we will add them to our inventory.
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Between the ages of three and five years children are starting to develop their gross motor skills and start to enjoy a wide variety of different activities.
Gross motor skills are a specific set of skills that involve different body parts such as feet, legs, trunk, head, arms and hands.
These skills are important because they are the "building blocks" or foundation movements for more complex and specialised skills required by children throughout their lives to competently and confidently play different games, sports and recreational activities often offered throughout school and in the community.
FMS categories include:
Three year olds
Developmentally, three year olds are still developing the basic skills required for play. They are able to perform the following FMS:
Four year olds
Four year olds are developing quickly and learn a lot from their experiences and from their play environment. They are able to perform the following FMS:
Five year olds
Five year olds begin to display a variety of styles of play, including copying others, creative play, and making up their own games or activities.
They are able to perform the following FMS:


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ORGANIZER: Sophia
EVENT: Philadelphia Girl Scouts
Sophia Bush wrote -
Thanks for being a part of this.
At Pencils of Promise they focus on building strong structures and sustainable education programs. By forming long-lasting, collaborative relationships with communities, they increase access to quality education and positively impact students and parents in high-need communities throughout Laos, Nicaragua, and Guatemala.
From the beginning, they work with the villages so that they have a greater sense of ownership over their school. They also use local materials, driving the local economy and ensuring that the structures we build are high quality, affordable, and designed with appropriate consideration for local geographies and culture.
They design PoP involvement to be 100% sustainable. From day one, they ensure that the village views the school as theirs and takes ownership of its ongoing maintenance and support. Beyond building a school, they also offer the following education programs to our communities.
PoP provides its local staff with professional development training to empower staff members (many of whom are females and minorities) to grow as professionals and take on leadership and mentorship roles. To learn more about a few of the 40+ the inspiring local women and men who develop and execute their programs on the ground.
Thanks so much for your support.


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Michigan Condominium Lawyers
Condominium Law
Amending the Master Deed and Condominium Bylaws
A Michigan Condominium Association's Articles of Incorporation, Master Deed and Bylaws must be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure that they are compliant with changes in federal law, state law and that the governing documents adequately address the needs of the co-owners. Common signs that a Michigan Condominium Association's Articles of Incorporation, Master Deed and Bylaws need to be updated are as follows:
1. The Articles of Incorporation are Dated Prior to January 15, 2015. In 2015 and 2018, major revisions were made to the Michigan Nonprofit Corporation Act, MCL 450.2101, et. seq., Act 162 of 1982. A few examples of the changes include, 1) participation in meetings by electronic means, 2) voting by electronic means, 3) additional limitations on director and officer liability, 4) new requirements for the inspection of association records and 5) the ability to create nonexecutive committees. The Articles of Incorporation should also permit a Michigan Condominium Association to take action by voting outside to accommodate the busy lifestyles of co-owners in today's society. We recommend reviewing your Condominium Association's Articles of Incorporation to determine if they are in need of updating. A copy of your Michigan Condominium Association's Articles of Incorporation can be found here.
2. The Master Deed and Bylaws have not been updated to account for changes in the Michigan Condominium Act. The Michigan Condominium Act, MCL 559.101, et. seq. was originally enacted in 1978. Any Master Deed or Bylaws drafted prior to 1978 should be immediately reviewed and amended to reflect numerous changes in Michigan and Federal law. Moreover, in 2001 and 2002, significant amendments were made to the Michigan Condominium Act. The Michigan Condominium Act was also updated in 2014 as well. If a condominium association's master deed and bylaws were not amended to reflect the above changes to the Michigan Condominium Act, there is a strong likelihood that the Master Deed and Bylaws need to be updated.
- The Master Deed and Bylaws were Written by the Developer's Attorney
Condominium developers often draft a Master Deed and Condominium Bylaws to protect the interests of Developer. A Condominium Developer's goals are primarily to sell units and complete the project as the Developer is often not concerned about long range planning and operations of a condominium association. After control of a condominium association's board of directors is transferred from the developer to the co-owners, it is wise for a condominium association to amend their governing documents. The amendments not only make the documents more user friendly by removing obsolete provisions, but also ensure that a successor developer will not attempt to take advantage of certain developer rights later on the life cycle of a project. Developers also commonly include "anti-lawsuit" provisions in condominium bylaws to prevent themselves from being sued. In some cases, these provisions are so broad that they later prevent condominium associations from enforcing the condominium bylaws or collecting assessments without co-owner approval, which is often difficult to obtain for practical reasons. Additionally, at the completion of the condominium project, many developers fail to record a consolidating master deed and leave the condominium project with numerous amendments. Co-owners and condominium association board members often become frustrated searching through the various amendments in search of answers to simple questions. Accordingly, many condominium associations will file a restated Master Deed and Condominium Bylaws that combines numerous amendments into a single document for ease of use.
- The Master Deed and Bylaws Do Not Address Current Issues.
Master Deeds and Condominium Bylaws can become outdated based on changes in technology or the law. Times are changing and so should your condominium documents. Given that the law evolves much slower than technology and various other trends, condominium associations should take a proactive approach to anticipating potential issues. A reactive approach will often result in litigation if potential problems are not addressed in the condominium bylaws before they arise. Examples of common issues that are not addressed in many condominium bylaws are as follows:
Electronic Vehicle Charging Stations
Electronic Voting
HAM Radio
Insurance Coverage
Medical Marijuana
|Rental Caps
Remote Meeting Participation
Short-Term Rentals (Airbnb)
Social Media
Smart Phone Use
Smoking Bans
Solar Panels
Website Use
Wi-Fi Use
- The Master Deed, Bylaws or Condominium Subdivision Plan contain conflicting provisions.
Human error in drafting condominium documents can result in the condominium documents containing conflicting provisions. Ambiguous drafting often leads to expensive litigation and condominium documents that contain conflicts in the Master Deed, Condominium Bylaws or Condominium Subdivision Plan should be amended immediately to avoid potential litigation.
- The Condominium Bylaws do not contain adequate enforcement mechanisms.
All condominium bylaws should allow for the condominium association to recover attorney's fees and costs as allowed by MCL 559.206 of the Michigan Condominium Act. In addition, condominium bylaws should allow for the assessments of damages, including attorney's fees and costs, back to a co-owner that has violated the condominium documents. Additionally, not all condominium bylaws permit the condominium association to impose fines for violations of the condominium documents. Condominium associations should amend their documents to ensure that they have adequate enforcement provisions.
- The Master Deed, Bylaws or Condominium Subdivision Plan are unclear.
At Hirzel, Law PLC, we believe that condominium documents should be drafted in plain English to the extent possible. Many condominium documents are drafted by attorneys and for attorneys, which make them incomprehensible to condominium associations boards and co-owners. If a condominium association is constantly having battles over the interpretation of language contained in condominium documents, it may be time to amend the documents to clarify specific issues.
Bylaw Enforcement
One of the most important jobs of a condominium association board is to enforce the various regulations contained in the condominium bylaws. The condominium bylaws are in place to ensure the orderly operation of the condominium association, preserve the aesthetics of the community, preserve property values and to protect the health, safety and welfare of the co-owners. The board of directors of a condominium association has a duty to enforce the condominium bylaws as written. It is important that a condominium association board enforce the bylaws in a uniform manner. In most cases, the condominium bylaws allow for the condominium association to recover its attorney's fees and costs for having to take action to enforce the condominium bylaws. The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC routinely assist Michigan Condominium Associations with enforcing their condominium bylaws. Examples of condominium bylaws that that we typically enforce are as follows:
|Aesthetic Restrictions
Commercial Use Restrictions
Co-Owner Damage to Common Elements
Drone Restrictions
Electric Vehicle Charing Station Restrictions
Failure to Obtain Approval for Modifications
Flag Restrictions
Hoarding/Sanitary Restrictions
Holiday Decoration Restrictions
Illegal Drug Use Restrictions
Insurance Requirements
Landscaping Restrictions
|Leasing Restrictions
Mailbox Restrictions
Nuisance/Noise Issues
Parking Restrictions
Pet Restrictions
Residential Use Restrictions
Sign Restrictions
Smartphone Use Restrictions
Smoking Restrictions
Social Media/Website Restrictions
Solar Panel Restrictions
Wi-Fi Restrictions
As nonprofit corporations, Michigan Condominium Associations are heavily reliant on collecting assessments from co-owners in order to provide essential services and fund their operations. Each time that a co-owner fails to pay assessments, the rest of the co-owners are unfairly forced to shoulder the burden of the condominium association's operational costs. Michigan Condominium Associations must be aggressive, proactive and diligent in pursuing delinquent co-owners to ensure that they can continue to provide essential services to all co-owners. The Michigan Condominium Act and most condominium bylaws allow for a condominium association to recover the attorney's fees and costs that are incurred in pursuing collections. Hirzel Law, PLC handles all aspects of collection activities that range from the initial demand letter, recording a lien for unpaid assessments, foreclosing by advertisement, judicial foreclosure, filing a complaint for a money judgment, bankruptcy issues and lien priority issues.
Common Element Modification Agreements
It is not uncommon for co-owners to request permission to make modifications to common elements or units. If condominium association boards approve such modifications, it is best practice to enter into a written modification agreement that sets forth the terms and conditions of the approval that can be recorded in the register of deeds. From the perspective of a co-owner, this is important in order to avoid a new board coming along many years later and attempting to pursue a co-owner for a bylaw violation. From the perspective of the condominium association's board of directors, this is important as the condominium association does not want to take on any additional responsibility or risk that results from the modification. The condominium association will want to make clear that the co-owner is responsible for the cost of construction, hiring a licensed contractor, maintaining the modification, repairing the modification, insuring the modification and indemnifying the condominium association if it causes damage.
Condominium associations routinely enter into contracts for construction, internet service, landscaping, maintenance, professional property management, repair and snow plowing, along with various other services that are essential to operating condominium association. All condominium contracts should be in writing and all major contracts should be reviewed by an attorney in order to protect the interests of the condominium association. If a vendor breaches its contract with a condominium association, the attorney's at Hirzel Law, PLC can help resolve these issues as we frequently litigate breach of contract claims in court.
Developer Liability
The transition from a condominium association being developer controlled to co-owner controlled is the most critical phase in the life cycle of a condominium. Unfortunately, many co-owners and new board members have little experience in determining whether a developer has fulfilled its obligations under the Michigan Condominium Act and condominium documents. The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC frequently represent condominium associations in issues that arise out of the transition control from the developer to the co-owners and issues that arise involving successor developers that later step into the shoes of the developer or attempt to re-develop a failed or incomplete condominium project. Common issues that we assist Michigan Condominium Associations with related to developers and successor developers are as follows:
|Calling the First Annual Meeting
Construction Defect Litigation
Contract Review
Electing Co-Owner Directors
Financial Audits/Reviews
Failing to pay assessments/expenses
Fraud/Misrepresentation Claims
|Illegal Contraction of a Condominium
Illegal Expansion of a Condominium
Elimination of "need not be built" units
Recreational Facilities
Reserve Funding
Reserve Studies
Warranty Claims
Properly run elections and meetings are a hallmark of a well-run condominium association. The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC are well versed in the proper procedures involved with running a board meeting, annual meeting or special meeting. We frequently attend association meetings and our roles range from issue specific presentations to running the meeting from start to finish. We assist our condominium association clients with the following issues associated with meetings:
Consent to Electronic Notice
Counting Ballots
Officer Qualifications
Drafting Meeting Notices
Drafting Proxies
Director Qualifications
Electing Directors
|Establishing Quorum
Meeting Minutes
Mortgagee Voting
Designation of Voting Representatives
Remote Participation
Robert's Rules of Order
Voter Eligibility
Voting Outside of a Meeting
FHA/VA Certification
FHA and VA Certification of a condominium creates a larger pool of potential purchasers will results in higher property value in condominiums. The Fair Housing Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs each of have rigorous and distinct requirements for certifying a condominium project so that a potential purchase can obtain a FHA or VA mortgage to purchase a condominium unit. The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC assist Michigan condominium associations in obtaining FHA and VA certification.
Insurance Coverage
Condominium Associations have various insurance policies that typically cover fire, vandalism, general liability, workmen's compensation, fidelity bond coverage and/or directors' and officers' insurance. It is not uncommon for insurance carriers to deny claims and/or to have disputes arise as to what type of repairs are required or covered under an insurance policy or the condominium documents. Similarly, if the repair and insurance policies are not aligned in the condominium bylaws, disputes often arise between the insurance carrier for a co-owner's HO-6 policy and the insurance carrier for the condominium association. The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLC have experience in guiding condominium associations through the insurance claims process and filing actions for declaratory relief or breach of contracts when insurance claims have been wrongfully denied.
Opinion Letters
Condominium associations frequently require guidance with respect to the interpretation of their master deed, condominium bylaws, state law or federal law. The attorneys at Hirzel Law, PLLC frequently provide opinion letters to condominium associations relating to the following issues:
|Amending Condominium Documents
Board Authority
Bylaw Enforcement
Co-Owner Liability
Developer Liability
Fair Housing Act Compliance
|Insurance Claims
Maintenance Responsibilities
Michigan Condominium Act Compliance
Nonprofit Corporation Act Compliance
OTARD / FCC Antenna Rules
Voting Requirements
Rules and Regulations
Condominium associations are permitted to adopt reasonable rules and regulations to implement the condominium bylaws. In most cases, the board of directors is permitted to adopt rules and regulations without a vote of the co-owners. Common rules and regulations that Hirzel Law, PLC drafts for condominium associations are as follows:
|Architectural Control Procedures
Bylaw Enforcement Policies
Board of Directors Codes of Conduct
Clubhouse Rules
Collection Policies
Fair Housing Accommodation Policies
Fine Procedures
|Maintenance Matrixes
Modification Request Procedures
Parking Rules
Pet Policies
Pool Rules
Recreational Facilities Usage Policies
Satellite Dish / Antenna Rules
Condo Lawyers in Michigan
Contact Hirzel Law, Michigan condominium law firm, if you have questions about compliance with the federal Fair Housing Act. We have a team of experienced attorneys who are ready to assist you. Contact us today to set up an appointment!
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There are many actors in this industry who struggled to make their position strong and 2 of those ones are Nikhil and Ritu Varma. After giving some really worthy films, Nikhil is teamed up with the talented and gorgeous Pelli Choopulu fame, Ritu Varma for the film Keshava.
Sudheer Varma has given just 2 films so far but they have been some of the most entertaining ones. He is known to have given a breakthrough film for Nikhil with Swamy Ra Ra and hopefully this will clinch the titles too. Now since this combination in itself is a fabulous one, watch out for a thriller whose definition is yet to come out in May.
We wish the entire team a success and hope the movie is in its best of forms.


text: This is a Used set of 2015 Fischer KOA 80 Skis with Fischer W10 Bindings that adjust to fit US Adult boot size 5-12. Experience the lightweight performance of Air Tec and Air Carbon with Fischers KO 80 Skis. At 80 mm underfoot, the Koa 80 handles a wide variety of conditions, from bullet proof ice to a few inches of fresh snow with ease. The All Mountain Rocker gives you noticeable lift and easy initiation in softer conditions, without reducing overall control or grip when the conditions demand it. Fischers Air Tec lightens the Koa 80 without skimping on performance, so you can ski all day and come out the next day for more! This Ski was used in a high end ski shop rental or lease program and is a C Condition Ski which means it will have heavier scratches and scuffs, and chips larger than 1/2 inch. Some of our C Condition skis may have Ptex/Epoxy repairs as well so please view the condition picture to see a close up detail of the type of ski you will receive. The scratches etc will not affect the use of the ski, it is merely cosmetic. We generally have inventory of most listed skis so your set will be in similar condition as the ones show in the pictures. This set has the mountain rental company name and length etched into the topskin. Make sure to view our wide range of winter sports inventory in our Store.


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Julie Bishop MP launches Restless Continent
In this video the Honourable Julie Bishop MP launches Professor Michael Wesley's book, 'Restless Continent.' Delivering the address at Parliament House, Ms Bishop discusses the importance of academic discourse in public policy formulation and Australia's engagement in the region.
Dealing with Threats in Tumultuous Times: General Jim Mattis
In this talk, General Mattis, former commander of US Central Command discusses the changing security environment.
Power Shift - John Garnaut in Conversation with Hugh White
Five years ago, Hugh White lobbed a grenade into Australia€™s debate about the world with his Quarterly Essay €˜Power Shift€™.
Master of International Relations at ANU
The study of international relations has never been more relevant than in today's globalised world, and nowhere more so than in Asia, its fastest-changing region.


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Awkward Encounters of the Conventional Kind: Nashville Comic Con Notebook
Conventions always have their ups and downs, but I felt like I had bungled every part of this one, and it was still only Friday night. [more]
All Images in This Gallery (5 Total):


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Between kids running around the house and the wear and tear of everyday life, your hardwood floors can take a beating over the years. Breathe new life into your flooring with our refinishing service - we can get your hardwood to look like new again!
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Christmas may be the season of good will, but that doesn't mean it's easy for charity PROs to get Christmas cards, gift ranges and pleas for volunteers into the press.
The voluntary sector is dogged by media misconceptions that have to be tackled through PR. For example, charity shops' image is that they are staffed by retired old ladies pushing bric-a-brac that no one wants.
Banc, which promotes the retail side of Oxfam's business, tries to flag up surprising products in the charity's range when sending out press releases, such as its belly-dancing kits.
'I take a simple approach: outlining the product, price and where it can be bought with enclosed pictures, just as other retailers would,' says Banc associate director Richard Davies. 'But I add some humour as charities are often seen as very worthy and serious.'
Davies has found that the second-hand craze, spurred on by eBay, has worked to his advantage. One way he plans to generate coverage in the run-up to Christmas is by releasing trend-led stories about the most popular items that people are prepared to give away or buy. Another angle he intends to pursue is that Christmas gifts tend to be predictable, but 'if you go into Oxfam, you never know what you'll come out with'.
In Oxfam's case, when promoting its range it is keen to keep the trading side of the business separate from the campaigning arm in terms of PR.
At retail level, Oxfam does not feel it is appropriate, for example, to use celebrities associated with its wider causes.
However, the overwhelming majority of charities feel that having some kind of celebrity involvement with a PR campaign at Christmas is a pre-requisite. The column inches charities received last winter included Age Concern's celebrity recipe book, the Meningitis Trust's star-designed Christmas cards, and Macmillan Cancer Relief when Robbie Williams and Westlife donated gifts.
'If you have a celebrity attached to your charity, you're guaranteed to get coverage,' says Nick Ede, founder of celebrity agency Eden Lifestyle and organises Christmas events on a pro bono basis for The Stroke Association.
Whereas in the past it would be carol singers and church-goers who would knock on your door, Ede argues that the mantle has been handed to stars.
Verity Rowles, fundraising manager at Help A London Child (HALC), Capital FM's charity that distributes toys and food to disadvantaged families, agrees. In its first Christmas campaign for HALC last year, the likes of Britney Spears, Will Young and Kylie Minogue asked listeners to give up an hour of their time. 'It's inappropriate for our presenters to be constantly asking listeners to (help) because their job is to entertain.
But celebrities seem to have carte blanche to ask people to do things that others can't,' she says.
As celebrities increasingly team up with charities, long-term PR planning is crucial to get as much media leverage out of them as possible. PDSA, for example, launched its calendar in September in a bid to beat the Christmas media melee. The Daily Mail, Hello! and Heat all ran features.
'It was quite early to launch but we wanted to be ahead of the game and get people thinking about it as a good stocking-filler,' says PDSA media and PR manager Liza Randall.
Careful planning
The charity has also secured a Christmas feature in Good Housekeeping around the story of its 'Pet Survivor of the Year' winner that turned out to be a donkey. The magazine ran a photoshoot with Del Boy the Donkey and interviewed the charity.
For long-lead publications like this, forward planning is essential.
As Marie Claire features editor Charlotte Moore advises: 'Get in there early. Speak to the magazine when it's pulling together products for its December gift guide. For us, that tends to be three months in advance or even earlier.'
In Marie Claire's case, just hoping you'll get coverage by mentioning a celebrity name isn't going to work. 'There's no point ringing us about any old celebrity,' adds Moore. 'It has to fit in with the magazine. We'd be more interested in someone not hugely famous but with a strong story linked to the charity.'
Last year, a spate of negative articles about the small percentage of sales charities achieve for these goods served to make their task harder by putting people off buying their ranges.
To combat this, nine charities have clubbed together - Macmillan Cancer Relief, the RSPCA, the NSPCC, WaterAid, the British Heart Foundation, Shelter, Mencap, RSPB and Cancer Research UK - to launch a PR campaign highlighting the contribution that gift sales make to their causes.
Make yourself heard
'It's important that people get the whole picture and we want them to have a greater understanding of where the money goes and how it can really make a difference,' says Mencap trading manager Gill Leech. 'Whether you buy charity cards from catalogues, on the web or at retail outlets, they all help.'
The charities' plan is that the campaign will be picked up predominantly by newspaper journalists interested in soundbites such as: for the price of a Macmillan calendar (£4), the charity can give 40 people a copy of its Cancer Guide; and through WaterAid's sales last year, more than 1,000 people have a lasting supply of clean water.
Although in this case charities have got together to fight for a common cause, it's important that each charity promotes its individual ranges in the press because it's a fiercely competitive sector.
Some charities have had better campaign results by shunning the world of celebrity in favour of shocking images and straplines (see box). In its PR drive for Samaritans volunteers, Sheffield-based agency Dig for Fire commissioned posters with controversial straplines such as: 'I've just had sex with my daughter. Do you think she'll tell anyone?'
'We weren't just shocking for shock's sake,' says associate PR director Sarah Chapman. 'The posters reflected the types of things people say when they phone up. We needed volunteers who could handle the realities of being a Samaritans volunteer.'
And being focused on what you're trying to achieve in a PR drive - whether that be selling retail products, raising awareness of what charity card sales can do or drumming up suitable volunteers - is paramount.
Whatever vehicle a charity uses to carry its message, the most successful campaigns keep it simple to give it the most chance of being heard in the Christmas rush.
Last Christmas, Dig for Fire was taken on by the Samaritans to launch a drive in Sheffield for volunteers. From a poster budget of £5,000 and no PR budget, the agency used a creative execution that would catch media attention through controversy. It chose a poster saying 'I wish the baby Jesus had never been born', which meant to reflect a typical caller comment at Christmas.
Knowing this campaign was likely to upset religious figureheads, the PR team consulted and warned churches in the local area beforehand, which helped to defuse negative media fallout. 'They were surprisingly understanding,' says associate PR director Sarah Chapman.
'Some regional media said this approach may have been going too far, but it created a debate and got across the feelings that some people go through at Christmas.'
The agency maintained the approach and although the brief was local - the campaign received coverage in regional media such as Sheffield's The Star and The Yorkshire Post - the story was also picked up in The Daily Telegraph, the BBC News website and the Guardian Unlimited website.
It also formed the centrepiece of a debate on Radio 4, as well as getting air time on Radio Leeds, Real Radio and Radio Sheffield.


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Engert Ave, Greenpoint
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Got a burning question? Why not ask the locals! Simply ask your question below
Engert Ave
"Polish cozy town"
Engert Ave is in the heart of Greenpoint, a lovely polish neighborhood. The streets are very clean and there is good cheap polish food in abundance. Hard to get to by train, but the people are friendly and there are a lot of young people who are rapidly moving into the neighborhood. Much cleaner and safer than bushwick and the surrounding neighborhoods.
Recommended for
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- Singles
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Welcome to narayanan photography. Thank you for stopping by.
I'm an award-winning photographer with over 15 years of experience, and I'm so excited to be in the Scottsdale, Arizona area. I specialize in family and senior portraits, and I love using the natural beauty of Arizona as a backdrop in my sessions. I've been passionate about photography all of my life, and my goal is to give every client the session of their dreams.
Our site is where you'll find everything you need to book the session of your dreams! Also be sure to check out our Raves section to see what our clients are saying.
We look forward to talking with you more about our portrait photography services.


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When I was a kid my father ran a gas station in Monroe. I loved "helping" my father with his business. I swept the floor and washed windshields — albeit I had to stand on a five-gallon bucket in order to reach the windshields. Mostly, I drank pop and ate Cherry Mesh candy bars.
Farmers would come into the gas station, sit down in the chairs and empty grain out of the cuffs of their bib overalls, which I would then sweep up. One old farmer, I noticed, had a thick strand of copper wire around his wrist. It was crudely fashioned, probably with the use of pliers he carried in the side pocket of his bibs. I wished I had pair of pliers like that. Being a nosy kid, I asked the farmer what the copper wire was for. He told me he had arthritis in his fingers and the copper relieved the pain. He held his hand out in front of me, flexed his fingers, then spread them apart in a fan formation. His fingers were bent and gnarled, and fit together in an "S" pattern. They did indeed look painful. I doubted whether the copper had any real effect.
Fast forward to today when I was having my annual check-up. The doctor asked if there were any problems. I had prepared for this question and told the doctor that my left elbow hurt. He checked my elbow, applying pressure here and there, and told me to get an elastic bandage or a copper bracelet. I couldn't believe he was telling me this. My mind flew back 60 years to the farmer and his copper wire.
When Ginnie and I were in Colorado this summer, we ran across a roadside jewelry stand. My elbow was acting up that day, probably from the altitude. Figuring it wouldn't hurt to ask, I inquired if the vendor had any copper bracelets. His eyes lit up as he pointed to a case of rather attractive silver and copper Navajo jewelry. I liked the looks of this jewelry immediately. He pulled out a couple of bracelets and asked, "Got arthritis?"
"As a matter of fact, I do," I told him. "My doctor actually prescribed copper as a pain reliever."
Knowing he had me, the vendor said, "Oh, yes. It's been known for years that copper reduces pain. No one knows for sure why, and it might be psychological. But if it works, who cares?"
He slipped a copper and silver bracelet onto my wrist. I really liked the looks of it.
"If it turns your skin green," the vendor continued, "don't wash it off. It just indicates that the healing quality of the copper is working its way into your skin."
I reached for my credit card. Ginnie pulled hers out first and said, "You've got a birthday coming up. My treat."
That was in July. It is now September and I'm glad to report that the pain in my left elbow, after wearing the copper bracelet continuously is, and I'm going to go out on a limb here (get it?), reduced by 75 percent. Psychological or not, the pain has lessened to a tolerable level — not gone completely, mind you, but minimized considerably. Yes, my wrist is a little green, but I can carry a bucket of water out to the chickens with the left arm and not have to switch arms half way there.
Simply amazing — no expensive arthritis medication, no elastic bandage, just a good old-fashioned home remedy. By the way, when I wear bib overalls, I carry a pair of pliers in the side pocket. Ginnie has to rescue them from the dryer.


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talkhealth > talkbowel > Links
Listed below are links to organisations that offer support and information which we hope will be useful. If you know of an organisation that you think others would benefit from knowing about and it's not on our list please let us know!
funding the best research into bowel cancer, IBD, IBS and other bowel problems
we support and influence research, educate patients, public and professionals and campaign for early diagnosis and best treatment and care for those affected by bowel cancer.
a national charity working to fight all diseases of the digestive system, that is the gut, the liver and the pancreas.
aims to improve life for everyone affected by Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD), the most common forms being Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis.
offers help & information to both patients and Health Care Professionals on how to better manage symptoms of IBS through various publications, the IBS Network website and new online Self-Care Plan, advice from dietitians, expert medical telephone helplines, monthly newsletters, free online community forums and much more


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I would like to first of all take this opportunity to thank all our volunteers, donors, sponsors who have partnered selflessly with us to give our children a better life. Your monetary donations and services in kind is much appreciated. We will not be where we are without your continuous generous support.
I also would like to thank our team of dedicated staff for their hard work and commitment to serve the children and help and help them grow to become wholesome adults.
During my 17 years of services in Yayasan Sunbeams Home, I have seen the children's lives changed for the better in terms of their character and they are more confident of themselves. They also know they can have achievable dreams and goals if they work at it. Most of our older children who have left the home are gainfully employed and independent. This gives me much joy and fulfilment and indeed our labour have not been in vain.
My vision for the future of Yayasan Sunbeams Home is that we will continue to help as many displayed children in our community as our capacity allows, to give them hope for a better future. I also look forward to more committed volunteers to come help us teach and nurture these children to become caring and good citizens of the nation.
To God be the Glory always
Pastor Victor Maniam
General Manager


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bible, Bondage, Calvin, Covenant, Freedom, Galatians, Hagar, John, law, Quote, Reformed, Sarah, Sermons
This is a very good and useful quotation on an important text that has confused a lot of readers; leading them to wrong conclusions.
"Now, let us come to the central theme– the law. When Paul compares Hagar, Abraham's servant, to Mount Sinai and the law which is given on that mountain, he is not referring to the substance of the law. For the law contains many promises of salvation which were fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ; Paul himself declares this is several other passages, as we have already seen. If we take and apply the law in its proper and legitimate usage, we will see it as an incorruptible, life-giving seed, through which God becomes our Father and sets us free. The law only engenders servitude with relation to external issues, as we have discussed before. Our forefathers of old, though they were children of God and heirs of the kingdom of heaven just like ourselves, were under tutors and governors. They were like little children, incomplete until the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Their ceremonies were like bridles and cords preventing those who observes them from enjoying the liberty that we have today through the Lord Jesus Christ. Yet, when Paul speaks of the law creating servitude, he is speaking here of the way in which the Galatians misapplied the law, for he continues by saying that those who are under such servitude will eventually be banished and excluded from the family and inheritance of God. Thus, although our forefathers lived in servitude with regard to external things, yet they were free; for the Spirit gave them faith that overcame their bondage, as it says in the eighth chapter of Romans. Without faith, they could have been cut off from any hope of salvation. To sum up, Paul refers to the law here in the negative way because of the particular interpretation these hypocrites had made of it, corrupting it by reducing it to the observance of petty rules and by making their observance meritorious."
–John Calvin, Sermons on Galatians, pg. 434,435


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Dusty, the cat, is the most famous cat burglar ever to strike in San
Mateo, California. He has stolen hundreds of items in his home
neighborhood and everyone there knows where to check for missing items
-- from underwear and swim suits to a bag of water balloons and a
couple of Frisbees. The local kids have been learning the hard way not
to leave anything outside overnight.
The little looter is a Snowshoe cat who lives with his human mom and dad, Jean Chu and Jim Coleman. They first began to suspect Dusty's larcenous tendencies when they started finding things around the house that did not belong to them. They were able to confirm their suspicions and allow the neighbors to reclaim their possessions.
When things belonged in pairs, Dusty makes two trips to get it all. This includes pairs of shoes and bikini tops and bottoms. He does not limit himself to possessions. His raids also include newspaper bags and Taco Bell wrappers as well. At least when he is collecting the latter he is performing a community service and tidying up the area.
During the day Dusty is like any other cat and spends his leisure hours, which is all of them, eating and sleeping, but when night falls this kitty comes alive and goes on the prowl for whatever strikes his fancy. By the look of things everything strikes his fancy
Dusty's notoriety for his infamous crime sprees spread when he was featured on the Animal Planet show "Must Love Cats." The show set up a motion-detecting, night-vision camera to catch the felonious feline red-pawed. The resulting film footage shows Dusty returning from his late-night forays with everything from a sponge to a doll.
With his fame has come a slew of personal appearances from meeting David Letterman on the Late Show and various functions around the San Francisco Bay area.
In case you are wondering, his record haul for one night has been 11 items. He seems to live by the motto "Too much is never enough." Amazingly, he does not appear to have the need to shred any of these items.