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Ofcom has raised the prospect of cheaper landline and broadband tariffs with proposals to cut the wholesale prices charged by BT Openreach to other providers.
The communications regulator, which regulates prices because of BT's "significant market power", wants steady annual reductions against the consumer price index (CPI) between April 2014 and March 2017.
Prices on fully unbundled lines would come down by up to -6% against the CPI every year, with reductions of between CPI-8% and CPI-12% for shared unbundled lines, and between CPI-2% and CPI-8% for wholesale line rentals.
Ofcom said it expects that communications providers would pass on the reductions to customers, and that the cuts should provide incentives to invest in networks.
The proposals are open to consultation until September 25, following which Ofcom will look at what others have to say and make a final decision in the spring of next year.
Ofcom has also published a Wholesale Broadband Access Review, looking at competition in the market for wholesale broadband products. It's aiming to impose some regulations, including a charge control, on BT's services in the 10% of the UK where it has no effective competition.


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Sunday, April 26, 2009
Garden Dreams
We've put the trees in the "back back yard," were the playhouse is. We are planning to put the popcorn back there this year as well, so it doesn't cross polinate with the flour corn we are putting in the regular garden. Eventually this area will be the mini-orchard, with the fruit trees and a beehive.
In the "back yard" we have the veggie garden and the compost. And the tire swing. And the clothes line. And, hopefully, the shade-loving wildflower patch.
In the side yard, were the massive roses are, we've put in all the berries. The herbs are in the kitchen window box.
We are planning to put the perrenials in the front yard, along with some lavendar by the front porch, to go with the smaller roses. We hope to have an almond and a walnut in the front yard, eventually. Shane's Dad has some great walnuts and he is going to start some saplings, and he's giving us one. I cannot even begin to thank him for all the help he's given us - including helping us prune like crazy when we moved here last fall.
Our dreams are probably bigger than our abilities--well, my abilities. But with Shane temporarily out of work and me working four 10's, we think we can keep up with it all. We think of it as an investment in our house and our family. We intend to stay here forever, but if we do need to sell, established fruit trees and vines, as well as the climate appropriate perrennials, should help the resell value. But mostly we are excited for the food and beauty! E is as excited as we are to grow our own food (M is mostly happy about strawberries). And that's a really good feeling.
4 comments:
Yay! I'm so happy for you guys. I can't wait to eat all the "fruits" of your labors.ReplyDelete
Will you share all your goodies with us? My parents have some pretty incredible peach trees that I am willing to bargain with (they don't know that yet, but who cares!)ReplyDelete
Keep us posted on how it all turns out!
Wow, Amanda. I'm jealous! I have an area that needs to be terraced so I can maybe plant some tomatoes and basil and green beans, but I don't have nearly the kind of space you have. Way to be self-sufficient with your gardening!ReplyDelete
Oh, by the way: I'll be in Utah in early August to have a 40-days-after 40th birthday party. Wanna come?
Yes, Riss and Jenn, you can share the fruits of our labor! Assuming that we have any . . . :-)ReplyDelete
Sheila, I would love to see you in August and celebrate your birthday!!! Please keep me posted on the details.

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The Guidance Department is excited to inform parents of all the guidance related events that we will be hosting throughout the 2011/2012 school year. Whether you are a parent of a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior, we have something for all grade levels. Since our Guidance Breakfasts were so well attended last year, we have added to our Guidance Breakfast series. Please be sure to check out the FULL schedule of all Guidance events by clicking here. Also to see our Guidance Breakfast schedule click here.
Two Guidance events have been re-scheduled
The first event that has been re-scheduled is the Senior College Planning Night. The Senior College Planning Night was originally schedule for 9/29 at 6:30 P.M. The new time for Senior College Planning Night will be Wednesday 10/5 at 6:30 P.M. in the BHS Auditorium. All seniors and senior parents are welcome to attend.
The second event is for grade 9 parents. The Freshman Parent Breakfast is moving from Wednesday 9/21 at 8:30 A.M. in the BHS Lower Library to Wednesday 9/28 at 8:30 A.M. in the BHS Lower Library We apologize for any confusion this may cause you.
As always please feel free to e-mail or call us with any questions. Our contact information can be found on the right hand side under "contact us".


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Lights Out is a 2016 American supernatural horror film, directed by David F. Sandberg in his major directorial debut, produced by Lawrence Grey, James Wan, and Eric Heisserer, and written by Heisserer. It stars Teresa Palmer, Gabriel Bateman, Billy Burke and Maria Bello. It is based on Sandberg's 2013 short film of the same name and features Lotta Losten, who starred in the short.
The film had its world premiere at the Los Angeles Film Festival on June 8, 2016, and was released in the United States and Canada on July 22, 2016 by Warner Bros. The film has grossed over $146 million and received generally positive critical reviews.


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Whether you found a fabulous but dirty oil painting at a thrift store or you have a family classic hanging on a wall, oil paintings sometimes need cleaning. This is largely due to dirt and pollution accumulating on the painting's varnish.
Only attempt home cleaning methods on paintings which have little value; never attempt to clean a valuable painting yourself. Ask an art conservator, found through your nearest local art museum, for help with valuable art.
Remove the Painting from Its Frame
If there is a frame, remove the painting from it and lay it on a flat surface before you begin. Check the sides of the canvas to see if there is any paint there; this hidden area is a great place to test any of these methods.
Use caution if the painting appears cracked or flaky. These home methods will likely make the condition worse.
Take a "before" photo of the painting, so you can have a record of what it looked like before you began. Take another photo afterward and compare the two.
Dust First
To clean the painting properly, first try to get as much dust off of it as possible. Use a soft brush, such as a baby toothbrush or a sponge. Be wary of using a sponge if the paint is flaking off, because it will cause more paint to come off.
Another method you can try is to simply take a piece of white bread and blot the painting with it. The bread absorbs grease and dirt.
Homemade Cleaning Solutions
Briana Cecil-Satchwell of Overstockart.com recommends using a few drops of a mild dishwashing detergent on a damp, clean cloth. Test an inconspicuous area of the painting, such as the part hidden under the frame, by rubbing the solution gently over the dirty paint. Stop if any paint comes off.
If the dishwashing detergent doesn't do the job, she suggests using a small amount of rubbing alcohol on a cotton ball to clean the painting
Potato Method
Another home remedy for cleaning oil paintings is to cut a big white potato in half, then rub the white moist part over the painting. Do this gently; do not use brute force to try to get the dirt off. The dirt will stick to the potato. Then blot the painting with lukewarm water and a soft cloth to clean off the potato residue.
Cleaning with Art Restoration Products
Should the home methods not appeal, try art restoration products like Gainsborough Emulsion Cleaner (see Resources below). These are chemicals that are made specifically for restoring oil paintings. Wear rubber gloves, follow their directions, and have adequate ventilation.
Margaret Dilloway
Margaret Dilloway's debut novel, "How to be an American Housewife," is out now and her second, "The Care and Handling of Roses with Thorns," will be published in August 2012. She has been a writer for more than 10 years and has written for publications such as "San Diego Family Magazine" and the Huffington Post. Dilloway holds a B.A. from Scripps College.


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Christian Outlook – October 20, 2018
Mat Staver, of Liberty Counsel, joins Don Kroah to talk about the release of Pastor Andrew Brunson after spending two years in a Turkish prison. Mark Elfstrand talks with Os Guinness about his book Last Call for Liberty: How America's Genius for Freedom Has Become Its Greatest Threat, and the troubling rhetoric coming out of Washington D.C. Author Drew Dyck talks with John and Kathy about the incivility of the Left. Mark Elfstrand turns to Dr. Ryan Burge to help us understand where this disturbing rhetoric is taking us. What happens to all the information we give to Facebook and Google? Rachel Alexander talks to Georgene Rice about her article, "The Creepy Line, How Google and Facebook Manipulate Society." Kathy Emmons, of John and Kathy, talks to Pastor Tim Keller about his book, The Prodigal Prophet, Jonah and the Mystery of God's Mercy, and its relevance to today's issues. Bob Burney catches up with Fire Chief Kelvin Cochran to talk about what he's been doing after being fired by the City of Atlanta for writing a Bible-study book without the city's permission.


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Spring/Summer 2014-2015 Adult Enrichment Classes
Adult Faith Formation for All
Adult Faith Formation for 2014-2015 Announced
Adult Faith Formation for Women
Sacred Heart is offering a women's faith sharing group as part of the Adult Enrichment of the parish. The women's group will be using Sunday by Sunday, a weekly look at the Sunday readings by Good Ground Press. No advance reading or preparation is needed. We will be using Sunday by Sunday to look at and reflect on the message of the upcoming Sunday readings. Participating in the faith sharing group is a great way to deepen your understanding and reflect on how the Sunday readings are speaking to you personally. The women in the faith sharing group support and affirm one another as they explore and discuss how the readings apply to their personal faith journey, as well as their commitment to living a Christian life.
The group will meet on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm – 6:30pm at the Sacred Heart Family Life Center on Quarrier Street. Meetings start on Thursday, October 2. All adult women of the parish are welcome. You do not need to be present each week to be a part of the group. You can start attending at any time and come as often as suits your schedule. There is no cost to attend and materials will be provided. Please contact Mary DePriest at email@example.com or 304-932-9032 with any questions.


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In today's rapidly internationalizing business world, employers prioritize adaptable candidates who can fulfill multiple roles within their organization. Complementing your Business Administration or International Business degree with a strategically selected minor can help equip you with valuable expertise and breadth of knowledge – qualities that will take you far in the private, public, or non-profit sectors.
Read on to discover how pursuing a minor can enhance your business degree, help you get the most out of your internships, and better prepare you for today's evolving business landscape.
Minor in Psychology to Gain Conflict Resolution and Mediation Skills
Business is largely about communication and understanding human behavior. Professionals who know how to mediate disagreements and resolve personal differences can help a business lock down profitable deals and make agreements with other companies.
Students who study abroad in Rome have the opportunity to choose from dozens of psychology courses to complement their business degree. You might take Cognitive Psychology and learn about human behavior and cultural differences – perfect for mastering future cross-border negotiations, or diffusing internal office tensions. Or, you may select Theories of Personality for insight into diverse temperaments, and how to more effectively collaborate with classmates (and future colleagues).
Minor in Entrepreneurship to Launch your Own Business
While some business graduates will go on to work for global or national companies, others may choose to steer their own ship and become entrepreneurs.
If your dream is to start your own business, then it makes good sense to take courses like Introduction to Entrepreneurship, which helps students understand the fundamentals of organizing and launching their own business venture. Other courses offered at John Cabot University, such as International Entrepreneurship, can help students develop a global perspective plus practical insights into how to develop and manage an international team of employees.
Minor in Creative Writing to Master the Art of Persuasion
Many start-ups and non-profits submit grant proposals to the government or private investors, bidding for funds to support their enterprise. Non-profit organizations in particular need grants to stay afloat, and require skilled business writers on staff with persuasive proposal writing skills. Minoring in creative writing rounds out your business degree by honing your ability to communicate – a must-have for successful networking, deal-making, and fundraising.
Business students who attend university in Italy and want to explore the non-profit sector may pursue internships at one of Rome's many non-profit organizations, such as Greenpeace Italia. This is a great way to get an inside look at how these initiatives operate, and perhaps even get the chance to help craft a winning grant or project proposal.
Which minor would you choose to complement your Business degree when you study abroad in Italy?


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Hailed as one of the country's most promising young playwrights, McArthur fellow Branden Jacobs-Jenkins received a lot of praise as well as an Obie award for Appropriate , his 2014 play that approaches the topic of race sideways, elliptically. The form is familiar, influenced by such well-known family dramas as Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night and Tracy Letts's more contemporary August, Osage County. After seeing Appropriate, observed Hilton Als in the New Yorker , "I understand how committed [Jacob-Jenkins] was to rooting around in and talking back to 'the culture,' that is, the theatre history that was capable of producing him and, before him, Sam Shepard and Lorraine Hansberry and Eugene O'Neill...."
The family that gathers after the death of a patriarch in Appropriate, which opens at Curious Theatre Company on Saturday, September 2, is white, and much of the dialogue is laugh-out-loud funny — until a book of hideous photographs of lynch victims is discovered in the attic, and points to a possible side of their grandfather that his offspring had never suspected.
Jamil Jude, an up-and-coming young director whose relationship with Curious artistic director Chip Walton goes back over six years, is currently in Denver rehearsing the cast for Appropriate, a play he's deeply enthusiastic about. "He's so smart," Jude says of Jacobs-Jenkins. "Today's new plays can often be one-sided; it seems like they always lead toward preaching to the choir and proselytizing. Branden doesn't have to try hard to make his point. He shows the different side to a familiar argument."
The playwright fell in love with theatrical family
stories and appropriated that form, but then wondered how he could use it to address larger issues. "He's talking about history and the legacy of inequality and white supremacy, how ingrained the systems are — without having to say those words or have a character stand on a soapbox," Jude explains. "He's got identifiable characters, and at the end of it, you can't help saying, 'There's something about this system that's not right.'"
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The mystery of the photographs is never solved in Appropriate. "I think a solution would let audiences off the hook," says Jude. "What do you do with the skeletons in your family? Each individual is forced to come up with their own way to deal with the things they find unsavory. It's disingenuous for the play to say, 'Here's what you do with them.' It's up to the individual to say, 'I'm going to tackle this head-on.' Only then can we really start to move toward greater inclusion."
Jude has had long talks with his team of eight actors, discussing the play's themes, sharing articles about white supremacy and privilege, and preparing them for responses to the show — "especially," he says, "because as contemporary white artists, they'll be facing questions from the audience, members who push back or don't understand."
Under Walton, Curious has made it a mission to take on thorny contemporary issues. The company calls itself "a social justice organization whose platform is live theater." Admirable as this is, it raises questions about whether artistic quality will be sacrificed or audiences subjected to earnest moralizing. Jude has an answer for that.
"The folks at Curious are really great, really smart," he says. "I'm thankful to be working with an organization like that. They would admit they're on a journey and there is no place that, once you get there, your work is done. I feel very certain that Curious doesn't see themselves as having achieved some state of transcendence or reached some height. It's more like, 'What can we do? How can we share our message?' This is an entire company dedicated to that idea.
"For so long, we have thought of social-justice work and art as standing at two different ends," he continues. "Twentieth-century artists did that a lot: either/or. We did ourselves a disservice. Now we find things that are highly artistic, where social justice is just part of the artistic fabric." Jude notes that a television show like Blackish is "smart and well done and has a social-justice thing inside of it. I feel like in the work of artists of color, like Frida Kahlo, August Wilson, Lorraine Hansberry, the social justice and the art are so inextricably linked. Curious is aligning themselves inside a tradition where you can't separate them."
Two youngsters are present when the family in Appropriate discovers some of the attic's secrets — a child under ten and a young teenager — and for Jude, this represents one of the moments when the play touches organically on contemporary issues. "I'm struck with how the parents respond, how they navigate this," Jude says. "What do the kids know about violence? What should parents be doing to actively educate their children about the true history of this country? How do we begin to talk about these things? We all can agree about the big things, the Charlottesville riots; we all can point to that and say, 'That's wrong.' But can we look at how our schools are being re-segregated and say, 'Here's an issue, and when I participate in this system, take my kids from one school to another, I'm contributing'? That's how systems of injustice are built — defendable choices that reflect a system of inequality. The play presents these situations for these characters, and you see them navigate.
"That's not to discredit the need for family," Jude adds. "Often we flock to those who share our cultural background. I would imagine that if you are, say, in Spain, and you see someone with Colorado Rockies gear, you might say hello, maybe find yourself visiting with that person. I think that is just a normal human tendency. But we have to recognize that 'Here are the people I sit with at the lunch table at school' perpetuates. When people become adults, they go back to the same thing: 'When I have a job opening, I'm going to my network, and my network's all white.' So many of us people of color, trans persons, we don't get that same 'I'm going to find my group of people to sit around the lunch table with' in the professional world.
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"There are the white supremacists — I try to watch Fox News," he adds. "They're saying, 'What do you want Trump to do? He's already denounced the KKK and the Nazis' — as if the civil-rights movement and common decency haven't told us that that's the bare minimum. I'm hoping this play is an opportunity for us to pull back that curtain. Most of us have passed the 101 class. The question is, 'What does 201 look like?'"
But even with such weighty issues, Jude stresses how much fun he's having working with the Appropriate cast. "Everyone is tremendous — their dedication not only to their artistic craft, but to the topics of the play, their willingness to talk it through and learn more about themselves and the world around them.
"The play is gonna be great," he concludes. "But even if we stunk up the building, the conversation with these people is the thing I'll cherish most."
Appropriate opens on Saturday, September 2, and runs through October 14 at Curious Theatre Company, 1080 Acoma Street. Tickets range from $20 to $48; for more information, call 303-623-0524 or go to curioustheatre.org.


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He really looks way more handsome with casual clothes on, don't you think? ♥♥♥ Can't help but still be amazed by his looks! ^^ So even though KeyEast haven't announced it yet, it seems the drama will aready push through as planned. ^^ Good luck Kim Hyun Joong. We are all excited to see you act again. ^^ 김현중 화이팅!!
credits: @wonder_ellie + hyunbar66 + @Woojusin0606


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Al's right. We really don't have problems in the U.S.A.
DIVING INTO THE WRECK Game
12 hours ago
I read this shortly before I went to bed. I shouldn't have checked my e-mail because I ended up tossing and turning as I composed a response to Jeff Bezos.
I didn't appreciate Hatchette's efforts to pull me into their little war. And I know I'll be in the minority here at TPV, but I don't appreciate Amazon's either.
Yes, I've watched Hatchette harm friends' careers over the years. I don't agree with their pathetic propaganda campaign. And it makes me sick that Hatchette and their one-percenters spread their elitist BS across the world when it'a all about how many extra Benjamins they can collect.
On the other hand, Amazon isn't innocent, and they have caused me direct harm when they've removed my books from their retail site by arbitrarily and randomly changing the rules of what's acceptable erotica. They also froze my account for several hours in December because I dared to question their policies even though it was a polite, professional e-mail. Frankly, I don't trust Amazon any more than I trust Hatchette.
So my question becomes why should I support either of these multi-million dollar companies in what amounts to a public schoolyard fight?
There's no reason to. Hatchette already lost the e-book/change war when they entered into a conspiracy to price-fix with four other publishers and Apple. As for Amazon, someone else will replace them as the top U.S. retailer in twenty or so years.
My only concern here is my own company and my own bottom line. Because it's just business, right? Or at least that's the line both companies have dished out when they screw over someone.
So here's my answer to both Michael Pietsch and Jeff Bezos: When you pay me, I'll do your company's dirty work. Until then, leave me out of your playground slap fight.
Barry, I respect your opinion and normally, I agree with you on how things are developing in the publishing industry.
But "smart alliances" for you is not necessarily a good choice for me. Amazon treats you very differently than they treat me. If James Patterson walked up to another Hatchette mid-list author not as well known and said exactly what you said here, how would you take it? Because to me, it sounds like a subtle threat, even though I sincerely doubt that's how you meant it.
I've learned an important lesson from the Big 5, and that's not to put all my eggs in the one basket. Thankfully, I learned that lesson before the Kernel Pornocalypse last fall. Who stood up for the erotica writers then? It sure wasn't Amazon.
As you and Joe Konrath have said numerous times, we don't know the exact terms Amazon and Hatchette are fighting over. Oh, we can guess, and I have a suspicion about which guesses are correct. But right now, I have to wonder if Anonymous B. is also correct in his/her comment above. Why do supporters need to CC Amazon if they write to the Hatchette CEO?I fully expected to be ripped into as Toni had been. I got a bare acknowledgement of my points and that the effect on KDP authors wasn't his "primary interest." In other words, this has turned into an ideological battle for him as much as it has for James Patterson and Douglas Preston. And he avoided my specific questions, something he often rails at Patterson and Preston for doing.


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I think I might have nearly recovered from Upmarket on the weekend. Thanks to everyone who came to say hi - it was lovely to meet you all and thanks for coming out in the heat.
New Look 6429. There is a reason there are so many reviews on Pattern Review. This pattern is fantastic. I used a cotton lycra which is painful to sew as it keeps rolling up,but great to wear. I bought a roll of it on special earlier this year which has been really useful because you can't go wrong with a good cotton knit fabric and because it was so cheap I don't make muslins on my knit clothes - I can just use this and if it works fantastic and if not I really haven't lost much.
I read a lot of reviews of this pattern and it really did seem to flatter every body type - there is nothing like a little ruching over the stomache to disguise a few problems. The shape of the back is really flattering too. A few people did have problems with the shape and had to make lots of changes and some found it too big, so I cut a size smaller then usual, but other than that I found it fit perfectly.
The only negative is the facings. They just don't seem to sit right and on the next one I make I will just use some clear elastic and sew that on then turn under and top stitch.
Otherwise it is the perfect summer dress (and will probably be the perfect winter dress with long sleeves).**
Thank goodness for our verandah on hot days (36 again today). The girls still get to be play outside.
** My head was originally in the picture, but thought the face and unbrushed hair might scare people today.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
3 comments:
- Brenda said...
Really like the summer dress, it would be great on a warm day. You sew so beautifully. The girls look like they are having fun.
- bec said...
I have that one too! I made a short sleeve version, which after a few summers has hit the bin due to synthetic fibres + perspiration = stinky! Need a new one, might try sleeveless!
- Carin@Ullhärvan said...
Oh, I do wish it was summer. Today we have -18 degrees celsius. I wish I could walk outside without having to put on all those winterclothes. The girls seems to have a perfect porch to play in.
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Do the helm 1&2 have the same lense size? Or are they not interchangeable lenses?
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Researcher profile: Tove Fall
Tove Fall's research study on dogs and asthma in children was widely reported in the media.
Asthma findings make headlines
An Oscar, the scientific spotlight, and fresh millions in the research account. The autumn of 2015 was an eventful one for Tove Fall, Associate Professor of Epidemiology.
'We had a feeling that the study would draw the attention of the media and the University's information officer prepared me for some potential questions from journalists. That said, it's not easy to prepare for the experience of being interviewed over the phone on Colombian radio with an interpreter translating on the fly. All the attention is a great acknowledgement, but there's also the worry that something will go wrong – the feeling that, after all, it's "just me".'
On Tuesday 3 November, the press release went out: 'Early contact with dogs reduces the risk of childhood asthma'. Suddenly, Tove Fall, Associate Professor of Epidemiology at the Department of Medical Sciences, became the focus of the large media companies. American radio and television network CBS wanted an exclusive interview. British BBC made sure to get two. By the end of the day, Google showed more than two hundred news stories – and that was just the beginning.
'Of course, I recognise the value of getting exposure for my work. As a researcher, you are under constant pressure to bring in money, and in the face of fierce competition for funding, it doesn't hurt if my name is familiar. On the other hand, maybe it can be too much of a good thing. I'm glad I had the experience, but I'm very happy to hand over the limelight to someone else the next time.'
But Tove Fall might have to get used to the public attention. Children and pets are obviously popular topics for journalists, and the research group has already secured four years of funding to take their findings further. Their research will include investigating how dog ownership affects children's normal bacterial flora and the development of type 1 diabetes.
'Things are going well right now. Over the past month, I've received both the Uppsala University Oscar Prize and a major grant from the Swedish Research Council, which I hope will act as a mark of quality assurance for my research. Last time I logged into Facebook, I had received more congratulations than I did when I became a mother.'
Yet there are still things to wish for. As an epidemiologist, Fall devotes a lot of energy to gaining access to the large biobanks. But sometimes, says Fall, rules and regulations can present enormous obstacles. One of the best examples of this is LifeGene, which has the objective of collecting data from half a million Swedes for future research. The Swedish Data Protection Authority stopped their work temporarily, citing insufficiently stated purpose. Although the Swedish administrative courts eventually gave the green light to continue, the project has struggled to recover its initial momentum.
'Of course we have to safeguard privacy, but this also has to be carefully balanced with the important knowledge contributed by research. Long-term, registry-based studies are extremely demanding today, which presents an obstacle to relevant research. I know that we have it relatively good in Sweden, but that's no reason to sit back and relax. I could, for example, talk at length about animal testing or being a young woman in academia. There is a big risk of being pigeonholed, but I would rather stand up for my views and sleep soundly at night. In the end, it's about weighing my career goals against my own values!'
Magnus Alsne
Facts — Tove Fall
Name: Tove Fall.
Age: 36
Family: Husband Nils, two children aged 4 and 7, and dog Ikka.
Would love to return to Nepal where I hiked when I was 20 – and bring my family along.
As soon as I have the time I'll read Sara Danius' latest book in the book club I joined.
I haven't met Lassie, but I sang Christmas carols for Gunnel Linde when I was five and got a signed copy of her book The White Stone (Den vita Stenen).
And finally, I would recommend that everyone grab a Thermos flask – and kids if you have them – and go to the newly renovated Skivling Park in Norby.


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How To Run A Successful Competition On Your Website
Need a new way to attract visitors to your website? Consider running a contest or competition. The promise of a prize is strong enough to draw a lot of attention your way and the competitive aspect means users will be actively engaged, which will leave them with a lasting impression.
The trick, however, is that a lot of planning and coordination is required to pull them off well. Fortunately, with a bit of effort and preparation, anyone can learn how to run a successful competition. Are you ready to add this useful new tool to your marketing campaigns?
Should You Run A Competition?
Despite the marketing efficacy of a good competition, you have to remember that it's a specific tool that accomplishes a specific purpose. In other words, competitions will attract certain kinds of people and encourage them to perform certain kinds of actions. A competition MAY NOT always be the right marketing choice.
So before we begin, you ought to ask yourself: Is running a competition right for me?
Competitions are high risk, high reward. The right rules, the right prizes, and the right theme can result in a viral wave that brings a ton of traffic to your website and a lot of exposure to your brand. But in order to get there, you need to invest a lot of time, energy, and even money.
Perhaps the most important consideration is the prize. How much are you willing to invest there? A competition is only as good as the incentive it offers to potential contestants. Will you give away cash, merchandise, or vacation tickets? Will you have one or multiple prizes? What else do you have that will entice people to care?
Worst case scenario: you end up wasting all of that time, energy, and money because your competition never takes off. If you can't accept that as a potential outcome, you might be better off with a different social media marketing tactic Your Guide To Social Media Marketing Right now, there is an onslaught of both people and companies turning to social media outlets. The competition is fierce, and no company can waste time or money doing it wrong. Read More .
Designing the Competition
If you're set on going with a competition, your first step must be choosing a competition type. Here are a few ideas to start you off:
- Raffle: Users enter according to any number of methods, whether by commenting, emailing, filling out an online form, subscribing to a mailing list, sharing on social media, etc. At the end, a random winner is chosen (or multiple winners) from all entrants. An example would be our regular hardware giveaway contests.
- Submission: Users must submit content as part of the competition. Content ideas include captions, photos, videos, reviews, etc. At the end, a single judge (or a panel of judges) goes through all entrees to decide on a winner (or winners). An example would be our weekly caption contests.
- Trivia: Users must complete a quiz or test as part of the competition. Winners could be anyone who scored over a certain threshold OR the person who scored the highest. In case of a tiebreaker, subsequent tests can be used. Scavenger Hunts are similar to trivia contests. An example would be the L.A. Angels Twitter trivia contest.
When deciding on a competition type, always keep in mind the number one rule: the easier your competition, the more people will enter. Raffles and trivia require the least effort from users so you'll end up with a lot of entrants, while submissions and scavenger hunts require more effort so the competition pool will be smaller.
Do also keep in mind that required effort is correlated with engagement. Raffles might reach far and wide, but the people who enter may forget about the contest soon after they enter. On the other hand, scavenger hunts may not reach as many people, but the people who do participate may be more engaged with your brand.
And don't forget that different competition types require more or less time to set up. Raffles and submissions can be set up relatively quickly, but trivia and scavenger hunts require someone to come up with questions and items.
Launching the Competition
When you have the competition all planned out and ready for public consumption, there are a few more critical details that you need to consider before you can execute. Passing these over can result in a botched contest that can damage your brand's image.
Web logistics. If your competition does go viral, will your website be able to handle those spikes in traffic? It's hard to estimate just how much extra juice you'll need, but you need to prepare for it as best as you can. Be sure to have a backup plan in case your website does buckle to traffic issues.
Track user participation. With a tool like Google Analytics Your Guide To Google Analytics Do you have any idea where your visitors are coming from, what browsers most of them use, what search engines they use, or which of your pages is the most popular? Read More , you can get a breakdown of the amount and type of traffic that's coming to your competition. There are also tools for social analytic reports 3 Ways to Get Your Hands on Free Social Analytics Reports Accessing quality social media reports can often become a costly endeavor. Here are some free ways to get them. Read More and social sharing stats How To Track How Many Times Links Are Shared On Social Media With minimal digging, you can uncover all sorts of interesting social media statistics about any link on the Web. Read More . All of this is useful for knowing what you did right (so you can keep doing it in the future) and what you did wrong (so you can fix it for next time).
Rule enforcement. Whether you've set up your competition to only allow 1 entry per person, per household, or whatever else, you're going to need the proper setup to enforce those limits. The same goes for all limitations, including those based on region, age, etc.
Cheating. The problem with web-based contests is the potential for cheating. No matter how smart you are, there's a tech-savvy user out there who is smarter than you and will find ways to circumnavigate your rule enforcement. If necessary, speak with a web security expert for advice on how to mitigate such attacks.
Promoting the Competition
After you've launched your competition, it's time to get the word out there Get It Right: 5 Creative Ways To Promote Your Home Business Online Just because your business is not an Internet business doesn't mean you can ignore the Web. Here are some simple ways that anybody can utilize the Internet for some affordable business exposure. Read More . However, remember that promotion isn't just about reaching as many ears as you can. You want to retain as many users as possible. To do that, you have to make them care about the competition and your brand.
Social media. Sites like Twitter and Facebook are the fastest ways to build an audience as long as you know how to write tweets that people will retweet How to Write Tweets That Your Followers Will Want To Retweet If you do it right, you could go viral on Twitter. Twitter is one of the fastest ways you could go viral today. The key? Write compelling tweets that others will want to share. Read More . On top of that, consider making a video that people will want to share How To Make Videos Your Friends Will Want To Share What if you created the next viral video? Let's say you want to create videos that spread like wildfire and are seen by millions. Where do you start? I'm going to list several elements that... Read More . Virality is the number one tool for exposure. Just remember to follow the rules of whichever platform you use. For example:
Build a story. Humans have an innate desire to belong. If you want them to care about your competition, you have to establish an emotional connection. One way to do that is to frame your competition with a story. What good is the competition? How does it overlap with the day-to-day lives of your users? What will resonate with them?
Thank You pages. Thanking a user for participating can be a good way to leave them with a good impression of your brand. It's also a good opportunity to present them with other services, products, or offers that they might be interested in.
Final Thoughts
If this is your first competition, start small. There are a lot of details that you need to nail for success and it becomes exponentially harder when your first campaign is overwhelmingly huge to begin with. Don't be afraid to experiment with different types of competitions either.
But most importantly, remember that a competition is just one tool out of many. Use it if you think it can fulfill your needs. If it doesn't work for you, it's okay to seek out a different solution.
Have you ever run an online competition before? What tips and tricks worked for you? Did you run into any setbacks or obstacles? How did you overcome them? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!
Image Credits: Magnifying Glass Via Shutterstock, Enter to Win Via Shutterstock, Model Piece Race Via Shutterstock, Megaphone Man Via Shutterstock
Affiliate Disclosure: By buying the products we recommend, you help keep the site alive. Read more.


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It's my birthday today!
Being in my 30's is not as scary as I thought ... I'm actually enjoying it. =)
Thank you to all my friends and family who called or emailed me with Birthday Greetings.
Tonight Mr. Birthday Clown will come out for the Happy Birthday serenade and Official Candle Blowing ceremony. =)
Abigail got me a darling teddy bear puzzle and we will work on that together after she gets home from school. Speaking of which, that's in one hours time so the Birthday Girl needs to get a bit of laundry folded and put away before then.
Happy Monday and see you later this week!


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DIY garden edging and borders
Posted: January 17, 2017
Categories: Garden Design
For most people the garden is an extension of the home; a place where they can interact with nature, spending time and becoming familiar with elements of the outdoors. The beauty of the garden or of flowerbeds comes from the maintenance. Maintenance of the garden edges and the garden borders are very important. These are what create the boundaries between the lawns, paths, and various other landscaping features and the gardens. Though it is easiest to create the various types of garden edges during the installation of the garden or flowerbeds, garden edges and garden borders can be added to an existing garden. The clean, smooth line of garden edges or garden borders will give the garden a finished look and a sense of clarity.
Four simple steps to garden borders
Step 1
When creating a new bed a garden hose can be utilised to outline the desired lines that made up the garden edges or garden borders that need to be cut. If the garden edges or garden borders already exist, the cuts to freshen the edges and borders can begin without use of the hose. The tools that have traditionally been used to cut garden edges or garden borders are a spade or a half-moon edger. These tools are used to simply cut along the line that has been set out. Cutting curves is a challenge with either tool, and the course of the garden edges or garden borders is somewhat difficult to judge as it moves along. A different tool known as an edge hog is a circular blade on wheels. The wheels provide ease of mobility to cut along nice curves, making a continuous 1.5-inch deep cut/line in the soil. It is easier to gauge the line of the cut as it moves, making it easy to evaluate and revise the line on the fly.
Step 2
Whether the garden edge or border was created by the spade, half-moon edger, or the edge hog tool, this step involves refining the established edge with the spade and removing the turf. The cut should be deepened to four to six inches. The turf on the inside of the bed will also need to be cut with the spade when creating a new bed. Then the cut and loosened turf can be removed by hand with ease. The end goal is to create garden edges or garden borders that have a ninety-degree angle.
Step 3
Cutting garden edges or garden borders always makes everything more appealing to the eye when they are cut razor sharp. One way to accomplish this effect is to use hand shears placed vertically along the trench wall to cut remaining grass blades from the garden edge or garden border. To avoid destroying the right angle of the edge, do not hold the shears in a horizontal position; make sure to hold them vertically. Throughout the growing season, this step should be repeated two or three times to keep the edges looking crisp and clean.
Step 4
Mulching the bed is the final step. The mulch should be put down in a layer of two to three inches. This mulch will add a rich, dark colour to the edge, while at the same time it will suppress any weed growth. Create a gentle slope from the bottom of the edge to the top of the bed by placing mulch right up to the edge of the turf.
Other edging options
There are other garden edging and garden border options that take minimal efforts to be constructed. They include horizontal brick landscape edging, diagonal brick edging, cast concrete edging, flagstone and cobblestone edging, edging with plants, and edging with logs and sleepers. These various examples have their own pros and cons that involve their availability, expense, their design style, and the maintenance involved to keep them up. Each and every option will create attractive garden edges and garden borders, enhancing the garden by giving it a look of precision or in the case of plants as edging, a soft natural look.


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War of the Worlds Walkthrough – Bathurst Mews & Bayswater Road
Claw tentacles of impending doom
A spotlight will dictate where someone will be grabbed from. When they get grabbed, jump onto the claw with them as they're picked up.
Bayswater road boss time
RUN! Run a lot. The massive contraption has some sort of strange gravity lazer which turns buildings into bricks then launches them either up or down, for one reason or another. The first bit of the boss is easy, just run and run and run. It'll never do anything to you, only buildings, so just worry about running, jumping and timing.
Eventually you'll come to a ledge which you cannot jump down from or you'll die. However, stand just back from the edge so you can run and jump onto the building as it flies into the air. As it comes up, jump on it and run across quickly.
Level Five:Hyde Park North
Level Three: Edgeware Road


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Update: A credit card offer in this post may no longer be available, but check the Hot Deals for the latest offers!
Today is the last day to activate the 2nd quarter bonus on the Chase Freedom card!
You can still earn bonus points on all your restaurant and Lowe's purchases from April 1, 2014, to June 30, 2014. But you have to register for the bonus by TODAY, June 14, 2014. It just takes a minute.
What Are Chase Freedom Category Bonuses?
You can earn 5 points per $1 you spend, or 5% cash back, on categories that rotate every 3 months.
For April, May, and June 2014, the Chase Freedom bonus categories are restaurants and Lowe's home improvement stores. You'll earn the bonus on spending in these categories, up to $1,500 per quarter.
Remember, you can buy gift cards at Lowe's to lots of other retailers, like Amazon, Southwest, Petsmart, or department stores.
You must have the Chase Sapphire Preferred, (no longer offered) Chase Ink Bold or Chase Ink Plus, to transfer Ultimate Rewards points to hotels and airlines.
But you have to activate the bonus each quarter. It doesn't happen automatically.
Activating the quarterly bonus is retroactive, meaning that you will earn 5X points or 5% cash back on all of your restaurant and Lowe's purchases (up to a maximum of $1,500) in April, May, and June.
What About Next Quarter?
You can activate next quarter's bonus categories starting June 15, 2014.
For July, August, and September 2014, you'll earn 5 points per $1 you spend, or 5% cash back, at gas stations and Kohl's department stores.
It's easy to maximize the bonus by buying gift cards at gas stations for purchases you'll make later.
Bottom Line
Today is the last day to activate the Chase Freedom card 2nd quarter category bonus
for restaurants and Lowe's home improvement stores.
You'll still earn 5 Ultimate Rewards points per $1 spent, or 5% cash back on these categories until June 30, 2014.
And from June 15, 2014, you can activate the 3rd quarter category bonus for gas stations and Kohl's department stores.


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It was sunny, warm and relaxing in Cluj-Napoca's Central Park, this past Saturday. Alongside ELSA's (European Law Students' Association) volunteers, we gave info on recycling and gathered signatures for our petition: to reorganize the Unirii Square (in construction at the moment) so that little patches of green/at least a part of the original park will be replanted. The new plan includes mainly stone pavement; see the architectural plan here – http://www.slicker.ro!
Don't forget to sign the petition here or on the previous post 😉
Greenish Thanks! 🙂
Eco Steps Team


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I am sympathetic with Ben Fordham's call, in his 12/19 letter to the editor of The Citizen of Laconia (www.citizen.com), to "DO something". We should do something that works. What we have been doing fails because it has been based on fantasy, not realism.
We have established "gun free zones" to protect children and others, but "gun free zones" only protect the killers and serve up unprotected victims.
Fordham apparently wonders why people want guns for protection since we have so much law enforcement, police, FBI, etc. If law enforcement is the answer, then why are there so many dead in Newtown? Newtown is evidence of the truth of the NRA claim, "when seconds count, the police are minutes away."
There are gut wrenching questions about weapons, violence, crime, and evil that we don't want to address (just like many people postpone writing wills and healthcare proxies, etc.) because the topic is discomforting. When something like Newtown happens, many politicians claim they are doing something by promoting good sounding, but ineffective remedies. If we want to save lives, we have to address these issues honestly and realistically.
First, no one advocates unrestricted access to guns (even criminals don't want everyone to have guns, just them). Clearly some people have demonstrated by their actions that they are not responsible enough to have legal access to a gun, e.g., felons, the mentally ill.
Second. Gun laws don't stop criminals from getting guns, they only keep law abiding people from being able to protect themselves. With more than 1 million people annually crossing our borders illegally and with hundreds, if not thousands, of tons of illegal drugs entering the country annually, it is a fantasy to believe that criminals won't get and use guns no matter how strict our gun laws.
Also, cities and states with stricter gun laws generally have more violence and gun related crime than places with more lenient gun laws (where intended victims might be able to defend themselves). Even with its very strict gun laws, there are more people shot to death in Chicago every month than at Newtown.
Third. Despite Mayor Blumberg's lies, other countries also have mass public killings. Norway, Scotland, Germany, and others where public mass killings occurred have strong nationwide anti-gun laws…ignored by killers.
Fourth. There is an upside to gun ownership, not just a downside. Besides being used for legal personal enjoyment, e.g., hunting and target shooting, guns are used dozens, perhaps hundreds of times a day to prevent law abiding people from becoming victims, often without firing a shot. (How does a 4'9" woman without a gun protect herself from a 6'5" attacker?) The media doesn't consider these events newsworthy so it doesn't report them.
Finally, we grieve for the families of the victims of this horrible crime in Newtown and for all crime victims. But, if we want to reduce the number of victims, we need to do things that work
To reduce crime our culture needs to condemn violence, respect life, and denigrate people who disregard the effects of their actions on others. We must not reward criminals with freedom or the fame they desire. Unfortunately, our culture does the opposite. (See my article in Tueday's Citizen for a fuller discussion.)
Changing our culture will take lots of time and effort, and, perhaps most difficult, we have to decide that we want to change our culture.
Until we change our culture, we can live in a fantasyland where we believe that "gun free zone" signs and strict anti-gun laws will protect people, and then feel bad when we watch as children and adults continue to be killed. Or, we can do something that actually works. We can create an environment where criminals are deterred because their potential victim may successfully fight back. We can start immediately by repealing the counter-productive "gun free zone" law and let responsible, trained school staff be prepared to protect the children in their charge.


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A neat and convenient way to find great photos to add to blog posts. Photodropper can be installed for free from the WordPress.org plugin repository. The following screenshots show the installation and sample use of this plugin.
This plugin works really well for blogging. At the time of writing this guide it does not work in Visual Composer.


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Attention: KWKT (Waco, Temple Killeen area) and KYLE (Bryan, College Station area) moved to different frequencies.
If you currently use an antenna to watch TV for free, you may need to re-scan your television set to continue to receive these TV channels.
Cable and satellite viewers are not affected by any of these changes. For more information, visit fox44news.com or TVAnswers.org


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New Ex Machina Trailer: The Turing Test Has Never Looked More Sinister
Ex Machina has always been described as a "sci-fi thriller," but while previous promos have emphasized the intellectual, philosophical side of the film, this trailer tries to play up the creepy thrills:
Oscar Isaac's CEO seemed like a shady character before, but now he seems like a straight-up villain. There's also an interesting juxtaposition of two lines that we heard in the previous trailer, but not together: "did you know that I'm here to test you?" and "don't believe anything he tells you," which seems to imply that Domhnall Gleeson's character might not be testing Ava at all. Indeed, her line "I'll be testing you today," indicates that she might be testing him. I have no idea how that would work, but it's certainly intriguing.
Here's the official synopsis for Ex Machina:
Alex Garland, writer of 28 Days Later and Sunshine, makes his directorial debut with the stylish and cerebral thriller, EX MACHINA. Caleb Smith (Domhnall Gleeson), a programmer at an internet-search giant, wins a competition to spend a week at the private mountain estate of the company's brilliant and reclusive CEO, Nathan Bateman (Oscar Isaac). Upon his arrival, Caleb learns that Nathan has chosen him to be the human component in a Turing Test-charging him with evaluating the capabilities, and ultimately the consciousness, of Nathan's latest experiment in artificial intelligence. That experiment is Ava (Alicia Vikander), a breathtaking A.I. whose emotional intelligence proves more sophisticated, seductive––and more deceptive––than the two men could have imagined.
Ex Machina comes out in theaters on April 10.


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Posted by Bruce Kahl on February 17, 2003
In Reply to: Paste-Pot posted by S. on February 17, 2003
: Does any one know what a "paste-pot" is, literally and/or figuratively? Thanks for any information.
I saw on a few sites references to "billstickers"--men
in Victorian England whose job was to post advertisements on poles. The glue they
used was carried in a "paste pot".
There is also a comic book hero series called "The Trapster" aka "Paste Pot Pete" aka Peter Petruski who invented a super glue and uses it to fight various baddies.


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Posts for "heritage" tag
Aboriginal Affairs on Key Legislation
Recorded on 13 December 2016. | Posted on 15 December 2016.
This week's interview focuses on two key pieces of legislation that have recently been reviewed and amended and that affect Anangu tjuta – the South Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act and the Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY)... read on
The Paper Tracker works hard to provide accurate and up-to-date information. We will correct any inaccurate information as soon as it is brought to our attention. Please contact us if you have additional information or can provide us with an update.


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Ordinary Annuity Guide
An ordinary annuity is considered by most people to be a fixed annuity. A fixed annuity is one that pays a fixed amount of earnings regardless of the performance of stock or bond markets. The fixed amount varies depending on the insurance company that issues the annuity, but is usually between 3% and 5%.
An ordinary immediate fixed annuity is a relatively safe way to generate guaranteed income for life. It is purchased with a single, lump-sum premium. Payouts by the insurance company begin immediately. If an ordinary annuity is purchased with after-tax dollars, taxes are paid only on the portion of the payment that represents earnings.
» Get Quotes Form the Best Annuity Providers
Ordinary Annuity Basics
When the contract for an ordinary fixed annuity is signed, the premium given to the insurance company is invested in extremely conservative, low-risk mutual funds. These funds will typically invest in high-quality government and corporate bonds. High-quality bonds are considered to be much safer investments than equities because bondholders are required to be paid first should the company that issued the bonds declare bankruptcy. Owners of common stock, however, risk their entire investment, as they are not required to be paid if the company is liquidated.
Fixed annuities are most often recommended as immediate annuities for those in retirement. However, a fixed annuity can be useful for an investor who has not yet retired. If his or her other investments incur substantial risk or if there are no other significant assets, a fixed annuity can provide stability without a risk of loss.
Comparing an Ordinary Annuity to Variable and Indexed Annuities
While ordinary fixed annuities are relatively safe because they invest in high-quality bond funds, there are two other types of annuities in which an investor can take on more risk in an effort to gain more growth: Variable annuities and Indexed annuities. Depending on where an investor is in his or her investing timeframe, he or she may want to consider one or both of these types of annuities.
Variable Annuities
A variable annuity is best suited for an investor with 10 or more years before he or she will need to begin receiving payouts from the annuity. Variable annuities achieve their growth by earnings derived from the stock market. When the annuity contract is signed, the insurance company invests the premium per the owner's instructions. If he or she is looking for maximum growth, the choice of funds will include a number of highly aggressive stock funds. These can be domestic funds, foreign funds, emerging markets funds or any number of other types of funds.
It might be easier for the variable annuity newcomer to think of a variable annuity as a "fund of funds". It's also important to remember that with growth comes risk. The higher the return that the investor is attempting to gain, the more risk he or she must take.
Indexed Annuities
An indexed annuity is sometimes considered to be a hybrid between a fixed annuity and a variable annuity. Like a variable annuity, it can grow through an investment in the stock market. But, like a fixed annuity, it can offer relative safety.
The gains paid on an indexed annuity are tied to an underlying stock market index. The Standard and Poor's 500 is the index most often used, as it viewed as the most representative of American industry. However, indexed annuity funds cap the rate that will be paid. For example, if the cap rate is 6%, even if the S&P 500 rises 8%, only 6% will be paid to the annuity. In order to offer an additional level of investor protection, most insurance companies now also offer a floor at which losses will not drop below. If the floor is 0%, and the market is down 3% for the year, the investor will lose nothing.
Don't Just Shop, Implement a Solid Retirement Strategy
Purchasing an annuity is a big decision. Online research is a good start, but prudent investors should discuss all their options and risks with an independent financial advisor. Request a free, no-obligation consultation today, along with a report of current rates on brand-name annuities.Speak with an advisor over the phone about annuities for FREE.
The Key Benefits of an Ordinary Fixed Annuity
An immediate ordinary fixed annuity offers three very important financial protections: Guaranteed income for life, asset protection from creditors and no limit on the amount that can be contributed.
Guaranteed Lifetime Income
While life insurance is sometimes referred to as protection against dying too soon, ordinary annuities are sometimes referred to as protection against living too long. Outliving ones financial resources is becoming more of a concern as people are living longer in retirement. An investor who reaches retirement age at 65 may need income for 20, 25 or 30 years. And, getting older often does not get cheaper. Expenses during retirement can be just as high as they were before retirement.
An ordinary annuity can provide a much-needed financial cushion. Further, investors can add options to an ordinary annuity such as one that pays a death benefit to a beneficiary or one that continues to pay a surviving spouse until his or her death. And, the tax treatment of an ordinary annuity is very favorable. All earnings grow tax-deferred until they are taken as part of a monthly payout.
Protecting Assets from Creditors
Annuities represent irrevocable contracts. As such, the premium that is given to an insurance company in exchange for monthly payouts is protected from creditors and most legal judgments. In addition, several states also protect the annuity payouts as they are returned to the annuitant. This can be especially beneficial for those professionals who can be sued frequently, such as lawyers, surgeons and contractors.
No Limit to Contributions
There is no limit to the dollar amount of a fixed annuity, and no limit to the number of annuities an investor can have. For investors looking to guarantee a large income in retirement or for those who have contributed the maximum to retirement plans, ordinary annuities can provide a substantial advantage over other types of annuities and other types of retirement savings vehicles.
One final advantage to an ordinary fixed annuity is that the payouts are allowed to pay long-term care insurance premiums while still allowing the owner to qualify for Medicaid. This is optimal for an investor who would otherwise have to sell all of his or her assets in order to qualify for nursing home care paid for by Medicaid.
To find the best annuity products request a free, comprehensive quote comparision. Secure your retirement today, Get Started Now.


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I am 22. I am very young looking; most people guess my age between 12 and 16. I am 22!!!!!!!!!
However my mom is 46 and people guess her age at early 30's. My dad is 51 and people guess his age at early 40s. So we look young but we look very good too. Late bloomers! But with this young-looking disease, when I am frustrated that's its name, I became curious about the differences between girls at age 22. Some look young, others old and some look their age.
Also there is a famous photographer who took pictures of only female 13 year olds. I don't remember her name or the exhibit. I am stating this because… 1. She inspired this thought. 2. I don't want her thinking I am plagiarizing her art.
Below are famous women at age 22 and what they were doing at the time.
Anne Hathaway (Age 22) The Princess Diaries 2
Julia Roberts (22) Steel Magnolias
Kate Winslet (22) Titanic
Kesha (22) "Your Love Is My Drug" came out in 2010.
Lady Gaga (22) Alejandro came out in 2010.
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What Children Know About Politics
In her long essay "The Great Beast," written in 1939, Simone Weil tried to understand what she called "the permanence and variability of national characteristics." She was intent on showing that Hitlerism was indeed different from many other kinds of nationalist imperialism, but was by no means something new in the world's history. She insisted that Rome, a long-standing bête noire of hers, had anticipated the Nazis, and in fact was far more successful as a conqueror: a relatively larger number of people were subdued absolutely for a much longer time. Yet she was quick to point out that nations change, often unaccountably. She judged medieval Romans "completely unlike" the ancient Romans. The latter had, in her eyes, perfected a ruthless military machine, harnessed to a "centralized state." The former were "incapable of unity, order, or administration"; the various city-states to which they owed allegiance squabbled, but not in a vengeful or even, it seems, murderous way. Machiavelli mentions that in one of Florence's campaigns not a single soldier was killed.
As for Mlle Weil's native land, she scoffs at the expression "eternal France"; sometimes it has had more than a touch of Roman hauteur ("the state as sole fount of authority and object of devotion") and sometimes it has been ruled quite differently. She considered Napoleon another of history's Roman consuls; whereas upon occasion France has been among the more peaceful nations.
How does a nation maintain a certain notion of itself over a given span of time—so that policies pursued by one government with or without the consent of a particular citizenry become policies believed in, accepted quite eagerly or casually by succeeding generations of men and women? With respect to Rome's lengthy tenure of military and political supremacy, Simone Weil observes, in partial explanation: "It is only from the conviction that she is chosen from all eternity for sovereign mastery over others that a nation can draw the force to behave in this way." She knows that a sustained "conviction" has to be passed down from parents to children. Myths are developed, and in one way or another they are transmitted; in the remote past by word of mouth, more recently through books, and in our time over radio and television as well.
The Nazis had their explicit propaganda, aimed at "public enlightenment"; for Mlle Weil the renowned Virgil was not much more than a Goebbels who could write narrative poetry. She declares his "Thou, Roman, bethink thee to rule the people imperially" to be "the best formulation" of an empire's need for a myth of "universal dominion." Successive generations of Romans heard those words, and others like them; and soon enough were willing to participate in the vicious, senseless, arbitrary practices Weil documents at considerable length in her essay—which is meant to show that Hitler was not a barbarian: "Would to heaven he were!" she exclaims. The distinction she draws between the assaults of barbarians and those of Hitler is an interesting one, and deserves…
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On 15 March 2017, advocates from over 80 countries including Singapore came toge
Strathclyde Business School Executive Dean Professor David Hillier shortlisted
SBS is in the top 10 of UK business schools and is ranked 34th in the top 90 ran
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Citi-YMCA Youth for Causes 2016 – Invitation to Strathclyde Alumni
The event took place on Monday 23 Nov 2015 which Strathclyde alumni and MBA
Mr Goh Guan Kiat, President of the University of Strathclyde Alumni in Singapore
Life is a journey, not a destination - Ralph Waldo Emerson
Professor David Hillier has been appointed as the new Executive Dean
CEOWORLD Business School Rankings 2014
Another international recognition for the Strathclyde Business School!
The MSc in Global Sustainable Cities at Strathclyde Business School
Strathclyde MBA Ranking by the Financial Times
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Strathclyde MBA ranked top 40th in Economist's global MBA ranking
YMCA Teachers' Appreciation Dinner
Speech by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education
Strathclyde Value Creation and Business Success
SBS's Executive MBA named one of the UK's top 5.
YMCA School held their Games Day this year on 22 May.
Nomination for 2013 YMCA Awards for Teachers Begins.
YMCA School wishes all a Happy Lunar New Year!
Strathclyde MBA Graduation Presentation Ceremony.
Strathclyde MBA Student & Alumni Past Events
Strathclyde MBA Student & Alumni Past Events
Download the latest issue (Dec 2012) of YConnect!
Strathclyde MBA Graduate Mr. Inderjit Singh.