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About GeniusDen Busienss Incubator
Get away from the home office where the view never changes and get away from the noisy coffee shops to the best coworking space in Dallas. GeniusDen coworking and virtual office is a shared office space community - custom designed and built for your focus and productivity. And we want you here.
GeniusDen is located in the creative arts hub of Deep Ellum on the East end of downtown Dallas. Our members work at our common desks in the open creative coworking spaces. Teams from three to ten people can office in one of our shared office spaces. You can see more at https://www.GeniusDen.com and see our Values and Mission – what we believe and why. Besides our office space for rent, we offer remote memberships and virtual office space with mailboxes. GeniusDen is your remote office: now you can have a physical address for your online business. We have Open Desks, Dedicated Desks, Private Offices, education events and social events. We also have conference room rental and Event Space Rental. See https://geniusden.com/upcoming-events/ to attend a current event. Looking for a small office space for rent? Or want a mailbox for rent, or just looking to rent a conference room for a day? Come schedule a tour at GeniusDen - you're invited.
Open Hours
8:00 AM to 5:00 PM M-F
- Open 24 Hours
- Coffee Provided
- Conference Room
- Kitchen
- Parking
- Pet Friendly
- Private Areas
- Shared Printer
- Weekends
- Wi-fi
3106 Commerce St, Dallas, TX, United States


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Tamera Mowry-Housley was in great spirits on the red carpet for the 2012 NAACP Image Awards, held at The Shrine Auditorium in LA last night.
She selected a Nicole Miller cowl-neck gown for the occasion.
Those aren't holes in her soft grey caviar beaded gown. It's a purposeful distressed detail to give the look a bit of an edge, whilst the open back adds some sex appeal.
A black beaded clutch completed her look.
Credit: Getty

subset: commoncrawl


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These individuals risked their lives at a time when they were needed most, and with no regard to their health and well-being. They deserve to be covered for their injuries."
Port Washington, NY (PRWEB) April 27, 2015
Parker Waichman LLP, a national personal injury law firm that has spent many years fighting to ensure that the heroes of 9/11 are never forgotten, is commenting on news involving the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. According to an April 14, 2015 announcement posted by Senator Charles Schumer of New York, a bill was introduced in the Senate to renew the Act and its two programs, the World Trade Center (WTC) Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund (VCF). These programs will expire in October 2015 and October 2016, respectively, unless Congress takes action. The bipartisan group was led by United States senators Kirsten Gillibrand (Democrat-New York), Lisa Murkowski (Republican-Arkansas), Charles E. Schumer (Democrat-New York), and Mark Kirk (Republican-Illinois); the bill was introduced with 12 co-sponsors. The WTC Health Programs has enrolled participants in 429 out of 435 Congressional Districts and in all 50 states. "Nearly 14 years ago, we relied on our first responders to lead the rescue and recovery work at Ground Zero, in Shanksville and at the Pentagon—we cannot turn our back now when they need us most," Senator Gillibrand said, according to the announcement.
A separate press release posted on Long Island Exchange indicates that the bipartisan group was joined by New York Congressman Lee Zeldin, who stated, "I'm proud to be here today to help reintroduce The James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act. It's essential that The Zadroga Act is extended so that the necessary assistance is provided to our 9/11 first responders. After 9/11, we vowed to never forget; this is a critical way we can remember and help all of those who showed enormous amounts of courage and bravery in the aftermath of the attack on America. That's why I co-sponsor the Act and will be urging all of my colleagues to vote for it."
According to Parker Waichman, extending the Zadroga Act will help many 9/11 responders and survivors who were injured due to the terrorist attacks. "We are pleased that lawmakers are taking action to extend these programs," said Matthew J. McCauley, Senior Litigation Counsel at Parker Waichman. "These individuals risked their lives at a time when they were needed most, and with no regard to their health and well-being. They deserve to be covered for their injuries."
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio commented that, "We have a moral obligation to continue to stand with them and ensure that they receive the health care and support they need and deserve." according to a release on Noodls.com.
Parker Waichman LLP has actively worked toward passage of the Zadroga Act, which was passed in 2010. The firm's actions include, in part, lobbying efforts and trips to Washington DC that were led by Mr. McCauley, often, along with the firm's clients. Mr. McCauley and Parker Waichman continue to support the Zadroga Act and also continue to support efforts to extend the Act's timeline and its scope.
Parker Waichman LLP, which worked, and continues to fight, alongside Ground Zero first responders, survivors, and their advocates, to help ensure passage of the Zadroga Act and its amendments, vows to continue its efforts to safeguard these heroes and ensure that they receive all of the Zadroga Act compensation they deserve. If you or a loved one are eligible for compensation under the Zadroga Act, and would like assistance with your claim, please visit Parker Waichman's Zadroga Act claims page at yourlawyer.com, or call 1-800-LAW-INFO (1-800-529-4636).


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Epistles of Lucius: Something and Nothing
Posted by That One Guy
Some of you may not know the amazing story of the discovery of the documents referred to as "The Epistles of Lucius" and "The Book of Absurdity" (collectively called the Lubb Ickamaddi Library).
It all began in the year 2005 in the dusty town of Lubbock, TX. Until this point, Lubbock was mostly known for Texas Tech and the Dixie Chicks. But it so happens that during the early spring of 2005 a farmer was tilling his fields for planting when his plow hit on something obviously metallic. Further inspection revealed a metal box decorated with odd symbols buried deep in the ground. Trembling with excited anticipation (and a smidgen of fear) the farmer pried open the box…and was hit with a light and magnificence so profound he may have wet his pants (just a little).
Now he told academic authorities that all he uncovered were the documents. But this, we know now, must have been a lie. Because the Garments of Lucius were supposed to be buried with the books so that he could garb himself upon his birth in this land. Instead, when he was birthed into the land, he was naked as the day he was born. Unfortunately, the folk in Lubbock are a little touchy about naked men running through their streets shouting religious wisdoms. Poor Lucius was promptly seized and committed to the local psych hospital. He hasn't been heard from since. Many think that Lucius was secretly transferred to Area 51 where he could spread the Good Nonsense of the Book of Absurdity to all the captive aliens there. Whatever his fate, this was one of the letters uncovered by the farmer. Enjoy!
The Epistle of Something and Nothing
There is Nothing and there is Something. There is nothing and there is something. Something began as the tiniest particle of light trapped within a vast and never ending sea of inky blackness. Nothing. Then Something said OHM!!!!!! And light exploded, illuminating the darkness. And the Light brought with it Creation. And Creation brought with it Life. And the Something continued to resound sending ripples of OHM throughout the eternal sea of Nothing and leaving Life in its wake. Creation was and is everything. It started as the planets and the heavenly bodies. The cosmic orchestra. Then came the gods. Those hyper intelligent and spiritual beings who sprang from the very essence of Something, who resounded from ITS holy core. They looked on Creation with avarice and lusted after Life. They sought to control it. So the battle began. A struggle that wages as long as Creation exists. A struggle that drives the very foundations of Creation, that fuel the ripples of OHM across the void and perpetuate existence. The Eternal Struggle is slave to the Cycle just like everything else in Creation. But Nothing cannot be discounted. Nothing is constantly struggling against Something trying to reclaim it. Trying to swallow it back into itself and restore its silent entropy. This is Nothing. This is the essence of everything that Something is for. Eventually, however, Nothing grinds Something to a halt and begins to push it back, to swallow it back up, as it were. And it does. And it has. Countless times before. Because even Nothing and Something are part of a great Cycle. Because Nothing can never Truly swallow Something. Just as Something can never truly conquer Nothing. For Nothing is vast and eternal. And that has been the Cycle for countless times before. Until now.
Call it a glitch. But this time when the gods sprang from the heart of Something, some of them got the idea, had the desire to create Life themselves. Only it couldn't happen without Something. So these tricksy gods gathered fragments of Something and put them into fleshly shells. And viola. "Intelligent Life" was created. That's right. Humans. And are there other non humans out there? Yes. Something is vast beyond our comprehension. And there are more gods than stars in the sky scattered over ITS expanse. And these usurper gods claimed themselves to be Something even though they weren't. Not really. More like mad scientists. Crazy spiritual hackers. But they claimed to be IT anyway. That primal Spark that all This was born from. They claimed this for themselves and Intelligent Life believed it. Later, Intelligent Life would become more vain than was good for it and, claiming to be IT themselves, attempt to overthrow the usurper gods. But something happened that the usurpers never expected. You see, up till this time, Something had always been a presence. Living yes, aware yes, but not exactly conscious. It had a purpose and it fulfilled that purpose. Until the fragments of ITSELF trapped inside ITS own creation became Aware. For the first time Something was conscious of ITSELF and it said I AM. And with that affirmation came Love. Love for Creation. Love for Life. And Something wanted to protect Creation from Nothing. To fight back. So it made ITSELF in Creation aware of Nothing. And here we are.
About That One GuyJason lives, laughs and loves in the Land of Enchantment. He has been many exciting things in his life, but his title has always been "author." His book, "The Ruined Man," was a finalist in the 2017 NM-AZ Book Awards. Follow him on Facebook at: facebook.com/jasondegrayauthor Twitter: @infinityjones and Instagram @theruinedman and don't forget to check out his blog at universalshiftblog.wordpress.com
Posted on April 30, 2013, in Author, Fiction, Philosophy, Religion and Spirituality, Spirituality, writing and tagged Absurd, cosmology, Creation, cycle, Death, Dixie Chicks, evolution, fiction, funny, God, hackers, humans, humor, life, Lubbock, nothing, Realm of Possibility, Religion, Satire, scientists, shamus, something, texas tech, universal shift, Writing. Bookmark the permalink. 5 Comments.
erickeys | April 30, 2013 at 6:06 pm
Pretty neat stuff. Hope Lucius gets a break. Or at least a good agent.
I hope they gave him pants. A good agent would be nice too… 😀
Thanks for reading!
erickeys | April 30, 2013 at 6:26 pm
Pants are a good start. The clothes may not make the man but they do cover up his nakidity.
Very true. But then again, what's a little nekkidness to the spiritually enlightened? They're so aware they aren't even aware they don't have clothes on.
erickeys | April 30, 2013 at 7:05 pm
True! Next time I forget to wear my pants to work or a wedding I'll just tell them that I am really spiritually aware.


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Weekly Must-Have: Nike Juvenate Casual Shoes
Tips on how to mix this week's hottest item with your every day style. You've got questions. We've got outfits. Get It Girl.
Nike Juvenate Casual Shoes 'Bright Crimson':
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Add Nike Juvenate to your style at finishline.com and don't forget to hashtag #FNLstyle when you show off your Weekly Must-Have looks.


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Hospitals As Hotels: The Role of Patient Amenities in Hospital Demand
NBER Working Paper No. 14619
Amenities such as good food, attentive staff, and pleasant surroundings may play an important role in hospital demand. We use a marketing survey to measure amenities at hospitals in greater Los Angeles and analyze the choice behavior of Medicare pneumonia patients in this market. We find that the mean valuation of amenities is positive and substantial. From the patient perspective, hospital quality therefore embodies amenities as well as clinical quality. We also find that a one-standard-deviation increase in amenities raises a hospital's demand by 38.4% on average, whereas demand is substantially less responsive to clinical quality as measured by pneumonia mortality. These findings imply that hospitals may have an incentive to compete in amenities, with potentially important implications for welfare.
A non-technical summary of this paper is available in the 2009 number 1 issue of the NBER Bulletin on Aging and Health. You can sign up to receive the NBER Bulletin on Aging and Health by email.
Machine-readable bibliographic record - MARC, RIS, BibTeX
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w14619
Users who downloaded this paper also downloaded* these:
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I lied on the Internet and she asked me to be her girlfriend.
I've grown extremely close with a few people over the past two years, the only problem is they know me as someone else. I was 14 and insecure, so when someone asked me how old I was I lied and said I was 16... Now, that doesn't seem like a big deal but like fellow liars may know, one thing leads to another. It's like I couldn't even help myself, I didn't give myself time to process anything before it was already typed and sent. I told them my name was Riley (it's not) and when we talked for almost a year, we would send each other pictures of ourselves... I didn't know what to do since I obviously didn't look like the age I gave, so I sent a picture of my older sister. We continued talking and I got extremely close with this girl... She wanted to skype and I always refused... Despite that, the other day she asked me to be her girlfriend. Had I not lied about who I was , I wouldn't feel so guilty about saying yes. I truly do love talking to her but it's not fair for her - she deserves better. I honestly don't know what to do. I know it's my fault and I shouldn't be acting like the victim. I just don't know how to break up with her without confessing and completely breaking her heart. I don't want to hurt her. She's always cared for me and the feeling I have for her aren't fake... So, how do I tell her I just want to be friends? How can I tell her that a day after accepting...
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Ie u just want to be friends get a gold fish
Just tell her the way that you posted above. All you could do is be honest with her, maybe she might understand, or maybe she won't it's a chance you have to take. You really want to be honest then do it.
Fess up. You may find it's not that bad.


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Flipkart's First Tablet Foray Delivers Unimpressive Sales
Flipkart Internet Pvt.'s first attempt to follow in the footsteps of Amazon.com and use its position as India's largest online marketplace to launch a tablet has so far fallen flat.
Sales and reviews of DigiFlip Pro XT712 have been unimpressive since Flipkart launched the 9,999 rupee ($165) tablet in late June, analysts say.
That has not stopped Flipkart from expandingits tablet offerings. This week, the Bangalore-based company rolled out five new tablets with more options in terms of size and storage capacity, picture quality and price. Its tablets now start at 5,999 rupees and goes all the way up to 15,999 rupees.
"Our intention is to be a player in this category," said Michael Adnani, vice president for retail business at Flipkart."To do that, we have to have a better portfolio of products."
While bigger phones and less expensive and lighter laptops have been eating away at the tablet market worldwide, Flipkart had decided to enter the sector because it thinks there is a market for affordable tablets and the more people that get online, the more likely they are to shop through its website
Mr. Adnani said the sales of the first version of DigiFlip Pro "exceeded the company's expectation." He said the company sold thousands of them though he would not give an exact number.
Research firm International Data Corp. estimates that Flipkart had shipped fewer than 4,000 tablets in India in a little more than a month of sales through the end of July.
In the three months through June, top tablet maker Samsung Electronics shipped 171,000 units to India, followed by Apple Inc. which sent out 75,000 tablets and Lenovo Group which shipped 45,000, according to Singapore-based research firm Canalys.
The reviews section of DigiFlip Pro on Flipkart's website showed that close to 25% of consumers thought the tablet was "below average," said Karan Thakkar, a senior analyst at IDC who tracks tablets and mobile phones in India.
"We didn't see much excitement in the market around DigiFlip Pro," he said.
Flipkart's Mr. Adnani said the company is taking the reviews on the DigiFlip "very seriously."
The next wave of tablets will have enhancements based on the feedback from customers, he said.
While Flipkart faces intense competition from more established players in the tablet market, it thinks it will be able to use its massive customer base--millions people have already bought things through its website—to start building a popular technology hardware brand.
"If customers buy (the tablet) and they have an issue or if they don't like it or if they have questions, we are there to support them all the way," as customers that use Flipkart known, he said. "That's the biggest factor in the success of this product."
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Home » Writing Portfolio » Entire Collection » A B C D-E F-G H-J K-M N-O P-Q R S T U V-Z » Greatest Hits
Warming Up To Change
In search of permanence where there is none;
It never did exist for anyone.
I fight hard in the battles I have won,
But winnings crack and crumble in the sun.
How do you live when nothing lasts forever?
To what end must we rise up and endeavor?
I long for permanence, security;
I put a lot into making me me,
To ready myself for eternity
Where everything is found where it should be.
© 2014 Nicholas Emeigh
Read by the Author
SoundCloud Reading
Part of the group "Record-A-Poem," and part of the Playlist "The Poetry of Nicholas Emeigh" which includes 40+ other poems.
Notes: This poem was written on Sunday, April 27, 2014. This poem is about my quest for permanence, security, safety, and comfort. I have an all encompassing need for comfort. Change has been forced on me all my life: death, loss, and other things have always been present in my life. My response to those things was to seek safety and comfort, but those needs have held me back in life. Nothing is permanent in this life, so maybe it is in the next one...
The unique works displayed on the pages herein are © 1997-2013 Nicholas Emeigh. Use is restricted.
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For so futuristic a car, the interior of Google's self-driving car prototype is, well, cheap.
The seats look and feel like they were pulled from the battered and bruised 1998 Ford Escort I drove in college. So do the bulky black buttons for the windows, climate control, emergency stop, and "go." The car of tomorrow has teal accents and lots of flimsy grey plastic that looks cheap. Instead of a dashboard, steering wheel and pedals, there's an empty bin big enough for a carry-on suitcase.
It's a stark contrast to the sleek, sophisticated concept cars we've seen from Google's competitors. The Mercedes-Benz F 015 is a gleaming ingot packed with white leather, blonde wood, black carbon fiber, and more touchscreens than a big box store. Audi's autonomous A7 has a user interface that's as elegant as it is logical. The cab of Daimler's self-driving semi resembles a Swedish sauna.
And then there's Google, with a car that looks like a Roomba, and sounds like one, too. Yes, it's just a prototype, And no, Google doesn't plan to sell this thing to the public. But it's still the vehicle the company uses to show us its vision of the future of transportation, and in that sense, it's not the most appealing sales pitch. It doesn't even have a futuristic code name.
The fact Google invited journalists to ride around a rooftop parking lot didn't make the car seem any cooler.
The ride was more carefully choreographed than a Taylor Swift concert. I pressed the the big black "Go" button, and the car rolled away with a whir. It made a few turns, and maxed out at around 15 mph. A Google employee stepped in front of me, and the car slowed and let him continue on his way unhindered. A car pulled up alongside me, and the Google Car slowed to ensure we didn't collide. Then a cyclist made a similar move, and the car responded in a similar fashion. I saw the car make the exact same trip 10 times in all.
Look past the econobox styling and appointments of the car and the boring drive around that parking look, though, and you can see just how far Google has come in its quest to make drivers irrelevant—and how far ahead of the competition it is.
Killing the Driver
Google has been developing this technology for six years, and is taking a distinctly different approach than everyone else. Conventional automakers are rolling out features piecemeal, over the course of many years, starting with active safety features like automatic braking and lane departure warnings.
Google doesn't give a hoot about anything less than a completely autonomous vehicle, one that reduces "driving" to little more than getting in, typing in a destination, and enjoying the ride. It wants a consumer-ready product ready in four years.
This is how good human drivers think. And the cars have the added advantage of better vision, quicker processing times, and the inability to get distracted, or tired, or drunk, or angry.
The Silicon Valley juggernaut is making rapid progress. Its fleet of modified Lexus SUVs and prototypes has racked up 1.2 million autonomous miles on public roads, and covers 10,000 more each week. Most of that has been done in Mountain View, and Google expanded its testing to Austin last summer.
It's unclear how this technology will reach consumers, but Google is more likely to sell its software than manufacture its own cars. At the very least, it won't sell this dinky prototype to the public.
Predicting the Future
As the Google car moves, its laser, camera, and radar systems constantly scan the environment around it, 360 degrees and up to 200 yards away.
"We look at the world around us, and we detect objects in the scene, we categorize them as different types," says Dmitri Dolgov, the project's chief engineer. The car knows the difference between people, cyclists, cars, trucks, ambulances, cones, and more. Based on those categories and its surroundings, it anticipates what they're likely to do.
Making those predictions is likely the most crucial work the team is doing, and it's based on the huge amount of time the cars have spent dealing with the real world. Anything one car sees is shared with every other car, and nothing is forgotten. From that data, the team builds probabilistic models for the cars to follow.
"All the miles we've driven and all the data that we've collected allowed us to build very accurate models of how different types of objects behave," Dolgov says. "We know what to expect from pedestrians, from cyclists, from cars."
Those are the key learnings the test drive on the roof parking lot was meant to show off. If I may anthropomorphize: The car spotted a person on foot walking near its route and figured, "You're probably going to jaywalk." It saw a car coming up quickly from left and thought, "There's a good chance you're going to keep going and cut me off." When the cyclist in front put his left arm out, the car understood that as a turn signal.
This is how good human drivers think. And the cars have the added advantage of better vision, quicker processing times, and the inability to get distracted, or tired, or drunk, or angry.
Detecting Anomalies
The great challenge of making a car without a steering wheel a human can grab is that the car must be able to handle every situation it encounters. Google acknowledges there's no way to anticipate and model for every situation. So the team created what it calls "anomaly detection."
If the cars see behavior or an object they can't categorize, "they understand their own limitations," Dolgov says. "They understand that there's something really crazy going on and they might not be able to make really good, confident predictions about the future. So they take a very conservative approach."
One of Google's cars once encountered a woman in a wheelchair, armed with a broom, chasing a turkey. Seriously. Unsurprisingly, this was a first for the car. So the car did what a good human driver would have done. It slowed down, Dolgov says, and let the situation play out. Then it went along its way. Unlike a human, though, it did not make a video and post it on Instagram.


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Rose B17 Polystyrene NMC Decoflair :
This decorative rose for wall and ceiling is very easy to install and allows you to quickly get a professional result.
Product characteristics :
Application :
The usual use of rosettes is to hide the fixture and the wiring of a chandelier but you can give free rein to your imagination: hide unused ceiling fixtures, to emphasize the corners of large ceilings, to complete the corner sets of wall moldings, create a wall of rosettes with different models, hide imperfections ...
Paint :
Polystyrene products should only be painted with solvent-free acrylique paints.
Required glue quantity :
For the reference B17 you need approximately 110 g/p of glue, which represents 0,25 of glue cartridge ADEFIX or CM500.
Manufacturing quality :
Manufactured in Europe, NMC roses in polystyrene meet the requirements of European quality standards.
Installation instructions :
The required installation accessories to get a professional quality installation are the glue ADEFIX or CM500 as well as the suggested cutting tool for each product.
In addition to the measuring and marking tools, consider equiping yourself with some complementary tools such as : a cartridge gun, a spatula, a ponge.
Manufacturer :
La Company NMC is the european leading manufacturer of decorative polystyrene and polyurethane mouldings.


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Eight differences between credit and loan
His contract is considered as a credit or a loan may have important legal consequences.
Often the client's main concern is to obtain money.
The question whether the operation by which achieves its objective is called credit or loan, does not "lose sleep". However, the differences are remarkable.
Credit policy
On credit, the financial institution customer makes available a maximum amount of capital, which will be used depending on your needs. In this manner, the customer only pays interest on the funds actually used (plus a commission on the balance available but unwilling).
Loan policy
A loan, the financial institution delivering capital to the borrower, you will have to return within a specified period and the payment of certain interests.
1. In a loan, Customer capital once delivered to home. On credit, it becomes available and returning funds based on customer needs.
2. In a credit, We do not pay interest if you do not have the money. Only interest on money paid and during the time taken. In a loan, to receive capital at the beginning, comes the obligation to pay the agreed interest on the total.
3. The loan can be renewed several times,es. The loan must be repaid within the agreed time. Also, the term of the loans is usually lower than that of loans. In the first duration it is often about one year, while in the second, You can overcome 30 years when mortgage.
4. In the credits, There is a commission on the part of the capital that is available to the client but not used. On loans, no commission for availability.
5. Interest rates are usually higher in the credits on loans.
6. Credits are usually used by professionals and companies with specific cash requirements. The loans are used to finance an acquisition, usually high value, both by companies and consumers.
7. In the loan, we know in advance what it is going to use the funds. On credit, not.
8. With current interest rates, the advantages of the credit facilities were reduced: On the one hand, the availability fee cost much more expensive. Alternatively, as it has been seen during the last crisis, the financial institution can fail to renew its credit facility and send your company directly to a bankruptcy.
But in addition to the differences above, there may be legal consequences for the contract guarantees.
The Third Section of the Audiencia Provincial de Castellón has solved one of these cases Sentence 23 May 2016.
Some customers sign notarized in October 2007 a contract called "Mortgage deed guarantee maximum credit line granted by the Caixa Penedes in favor of Doña Natividad and D. Jose Ignacio". This act, They are appearing well D. Jesus and consorts D. Rogelio and Maria del Pilar, in respect of guarantors / sureties.
In the exhibition I indicated that Caixa Penedes (rear Banco Mare Nostrum) He had agreed with previous "Hiring a current account credit, with the mortgage guarantee referred will be done ".
He expressed that had been granted credit availability to 180,000 €. this amount, It was paid in full in the customer's account and agreed as maturing 23 October 2037. the possibility of further provisions foreseen. The refund would be done by monthly installments of principal and interest.
The ordinary interest was a 5,20% the first year and thereafter, Euribor more 0,95% in the first arrangement. Interest for late payment was set at 19% and early termination clause was established for non-payment of any installment.
To secure payment, mortgage on a housing estate was established pricing purposes auction 270,000 €. This house was valued by the Valuation Society S.A. in 195.795 euros 1 October 2007.
entrenchment clause was established by which: "D. Jesus (….) and consorts Don Rogelio and Maria del Pilar , (…) afianzan tan ampliamente como en derecho sea posible el cumplimiento de las obligaciones contraídas por la parte acreditada en el presente contra to de crédito. (….).
The deposit paid will be valid here, while the outstanding balance of credit, plus the outstanding interest payment, whether ordinary and delay, exceeds 80 % of the appraised value"
Don Jesus filed suit against the bank, asking to be declared extinct bail.
The Court of 1st Instance number 5 Castellon gave judgment dismissing the lawsuit. He considered that the parties contracted a credit and not a loan. In this manner, until the year 2037, they could make new arrangements so it can not be extinguished warranty.
Don Jesus appealed to the Provincial Court, claiming that as much as the contract is denominated credit facility, actually it was a simple loan. Therefore, at the time it was less than debt 80% of the appraised value of the mortgaged property, la fianza debía quedar extinguida.
For Hearing, which was hired was a home equity loan:
• There is a first arrangement of the total amount (180.000€) and subsequent provisions are subject to strict discipline governed by the bank. In a credit, after analyzing the creditworthiness of the customer and the contract signed, successive provisions are made at the discretion of the client (provided that the agreed conditions are met).
• The return is expected by a rigid quota system comprehensive monthly principal and interest, which differs from freedom as available and payment by the customer in a credit.
• The rest of the clauses is the characteristic of a home equity loan (even, with its "ground clause" of 3%).
We have a membership contract between a professional and a consumer, to which the principle applies "When in doubt against forges" enshrined in Articles 1288 C.Civil: "Interpretation of the dark clauses of a contract shall not favor the party that caused the darkness", 6.2 LCGC and 80.2 TR of the Law on Protection of Consumers and Users.
The bond of the applicant, He was subject to a conditions precedent whereby, It is extinguished when the debt had decreased below a 80% of the appraised value.
Produced this fact as indicated by the applicant and not having contributed anything about the financial institution when "For his professional character and for who knows all the economic data of the operation, who she was in better or had more probative facility to quantify them ( art. 217.7 LEC )" , Section concludes that It has fulfilled the condition of bail extintiva.
the appeal is revoked and the sentence appealed.
In summary, the differences between a loan and a credit They are relevant, both between the parties, and even towards third parties.


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He's finally done it.
Your Brother/Cousin/Best mate/other has taken the plunge and proposed to the man or woman he loves. You're one of the first people to find out, as he excitedly explains to you that he's getting hitched and he wants you to be his Best Man.
Caught up in the moment, you exuberantly agree. Some moments later, you start to think about what it actually means: organising a Stag Night, which will be a logistical pain but probably quite rewarding… and giving the keynote speech to the assembled guests.
You may be the sort of person who relishes this opportunity, who has a thousand ideas for a memorable address and who is unfazed by stepping into the spotlight. Congratulations! This article is not for you.
However, if you're perhaps:
- A little bit intimidated by the idea of speaking to all those people
- Unsure of what's expected of you
- Feeling lost because you have no idea where to start
…then fear not, you've come to the right place.
Don't panic
There is a simple, 5 step process which will take you from a standing start to a memorable speech, regardless of your Groom, your audience, or your experience in public speaking.
This post will walk you through the formula, which is distilled from the combined wisdom of all the smart, funny people I've had the privilege to talk to about the subject over the years. Their golden nuggets of advice have helped me write a bunch of speeches with friends and colleagues – now they can help you do the same.
For simplicity, I'm going to refer to the happy couple throughout as the 'Bride and Groom' – but this guide will work for any shape of relationship, provided the participants have asked you to play the role of a Best Man.
Step 1: Know your mission; know your audience
As Best Man, you have to take the Groom on a journey.
When you stand up, the Groom has just finished making his own speech. Traditionally, it will have been heartfelt and emotional, containing a tribute to his Bride which will have reminded everyone just why they turned up to share in the happy day. He will be on the mountaintop.
You have to take him from that mountaintop, all the way to the abyss.
You can lean him out as far as you like over that bottomless pit of humiliation, until in the mid-point of your speech you are holding him suspended only by his metaphorical hair… provided that, by the end, you can set him back on the mountaintop.
In practical terms, this means that you'll fulfill the expectations of the audience by telling stories which may provoke laughter and have the Groom squirming in his seat, but you won't share anything that could do permanent damage to his relationship with the Bride or her family. You will skate close to the thin ice, but you'll never allow yourself to go crashing through it.
To help you judge how far is going to be far enough, it's a good plan to chat to the Groom about the Bride and her family. Get a sense of who they are and how they talk to each other. If they're a little mischievous and enjoy a risque joke, maybe you can get away with some off-colour gags; if they're more reserved, perhaps it's not a good idea to divulge exactly what happened on that infamous holiday to Ayia Napa.
Getting back to the mountaintop requires a switching of gears.
Once you've embarrassed the poor guy enough, it will be time to start reminding the guests that the Bride has not, in fact, been sold a pup. You'll talk about his admirable qualities, the reasons why he's been a good friend – and extrapolate those into reasons he'll be a good husband. Don't be bashful: he must have something going for him and, even if you never allude to it again, now is the time to spell it out for the world.
Finally, it's traditional for you to say something(s) nice about the Bride. Good options include complimenting her appearance, considering she's likely to have invested a lot in looking good for the day; explaining the positive impact she has had on the Groom since they got together; and reassuring her that many years of happiness lie ahead.
Oh,and for total clarity: never, ever insult the Bride. A brave Best Man who enjoys a great relationship with the lady (say, that of a brother and sister), might gently tease her, but only with affection and only if he has nerves of steel. One remark has the potential to sour your whole contribution to the day: I counsel you not to risk it.
That's the basic framework. If you keep it in mind, it will greatly simplify the writing of your speech and boost your chances of hitting all the right notes.
Step 2: Get his mates in on the act
If you sit down with a blank page in front of you and expect yourself to cook up funny anecdotes, that's more likely to produce high blood pressure than great results.
Humour is best harvested from its natural habitat: good-natured banter between friends.
Invite the Groom's best friends to join you for an evening and help build the speech. Even if you don't know the people involved tremendously well, it's likely that they'll be flattered when you ask them to participate in the Best Man process – everyone likes to play a part in the big day. In my experience, a table in a quiet pub or the living room of your house with a few beers are ideal settings, but your judgement about what will relax the group is best.
Once you get everyone together, you need to start collecting their stories. Before you begin, make sure you have the essential piece of equipment: a smartphone which can record voice notes. Trying to scribble down material, amid laughter and fast-paced chat, is a thankless task and you'll inevitably lose key details; just as importantly, actually capturing the tone of a person's voice or a memorable turn of phrase can be really valuable when you are planning your own delivery.
You also don't want the conversation to meander so much that it's difficult to draw out specific information when you come to review your notes. To get around this, create a list of general discussion topics you want to cover; these will likely be a bit different for every Groom, but I include my most recent list for reference:
- Earliest memories of the Groom
- Strangest things the Groom has done
- Funniest situations you've been in with the Groom
- The Bride and Groom: how they met each other, how you met her, how they are together
If you keep the atmosphere one of reminiscence and fun, you should have no problem getting enough ideas to build a great speech. Make sure to share your own stories on the topic as you go – this is a great time to record them, as input from others will doubtless bring back things you would otherwise have forgotten.
Step 3: Identify your themes
Once you have a wealth of shared memories to browse through, it's time to review them and pick up any underlying themes which can tie a speech together.
While it's certainly an option to simply tell the 5 best stories about the Groom, this approach is much less satisfying than one which links entertaining anecdotes together to highlight aspects of his character. Done well, a themed speech will have those closest to the Groom nodding their heads in recognition – and on occasion, teaching them something they didn't know!
As you look for themes, it's worth bearing some key questions in mind:
- What does this tell me about the Groom?
- What common behaviours or attitudes of his does it highlight?
- How many other stories support this interpretation?
- Can I use the common thread to say something positive about the Groom?
- Specifically, if I use it to take him to the abyss, will I later be able to flip it around and get him back toward the mountaintop?
If a theme ticks all of these boxes, quickly double-check – is it actually interesting enough to feature?
For example, if the Groom is obsessively clean and tidy, it might be easy to mock him for it and later to point out that it's not all bad, but that subject matter can be very flat if not well-delivered. Don't invest your energy in a theme if it's not likely to be good fun.
Step 4: Plan a Gambit
How are you going to give your speech a shot in the arm that helps it stand out in the memories of the guests? Simple: you're going to run a Gambit.
In the context of the Best Man's Speech, a Gambit is an unusual maneuver which introduces an extra element to the speech, enhancing the experience for the audience. It can take the form of a simple prop, or a musical interlude, or a series of film clips, or really any theatrical flourish which you will be comfortable delivering.
Of all the steps, this one is the most open to interpretation.
If you have uncovered a strong enough theme in Step 3, you might extend it into a Gambit. If, for instance, the Groom is a Teacher, you might:
- Wear a mortarboard hat
- Arrange to have a small blackboard set up on an easel before you speak
- Deliver the speech as a lesson on 'how not to behave if you want to meet a decent woman', taking him to the abyss with details of his dodgy histroy
- Conduct a recap section near the end in which you counterbalance the rum stories with positive observations, setting the Groom back on the mountaintop
By combining a couple of simple, relevant props and fitting the style of your delivery to the theme, you've created a little bit of theatre which chimes with a major element of the Groom's life: the perfect Gambit.
Of course, there will be situations in which you can't uncover a theme which naturally inspires your Gambit. In these cases, a good alternative is to impose a strong, generic theme and fit your anecdotes into it. A good example I've seen executed is the 'Photoshop special':
- Arrange to have projection equipment set up before you speak
- Accompany your speech with a slideshow, filled with images relevant to the stories you are telling
- Have the images Photoshopped, so that the Groom's face is superimposed onto a range of unlikely characters and dubious situations
Although this is remarkably simple as a concept, it can be truly hilarious if you invest the time in finding the choicest images. Other strong generic ideas include creating an audience participation speech using a Pub Quiz or Game Show format, delivering your speech as a poem, or singing a song. Your comfort with each of these will vary based on where your personal talents lie.
One final option is to pull a stunt, in order to get a reaction from the audience. This is difficult to do well, because you must be conscious of not overstepping the mark, but I do know of a famously teetotal individual who faked swigging from a bottle of whisky to calm his nerves… and created a significant frisson of humour and excitement, which was only heightened when other diners at the top table tried to relieve him of the bottle and were rebuffed.
My recommendation is only to try this approach if you have an idea which you feel very good about – and which you are sure won't cause offense.
Before we move on, a word about logistics: if you're planning something which involves props, needs equipment to be set up, or has any special requirements, try to visit the venue ahead of time. Introduce yourself, talk to the people who will be running the reception and give them a general idea of your plans; they'll be able to steer you on what can and can't be accommodated.
Armed with superior knowledge about the theatre of operations, you'll be able to tweak your strategy, or even discard entirely segments which turn out to be impractical. Make a list of the things you'll need the venue team to do for you, share it with them, then check in again on the day before the wedding so you're certain that they have things in hand. Even the best of Best Men can end up in a bad spot if his props go missing, or his wireless microphone runs out of battery.
Step 5: Prepare to deliver
Now for the hard part…
Except it's not hard. Here are the reasons why:
- You know your mission, to take the Groom on a rollercoaster ride out over the Abyss but land him safely back on the Mountaintop.
- You've considered your audience and included points you think will tickle them, while deleting anything which you think will offend.
- You've done your research, involving his friends and gathering a wealth of stories from which to select your material.
- You've planned a resonant theme, which will bring your speech to life.
- You've created a memorable Gambit– and you've made sure that the necessary background arrangements are in place to help it go smoothly.
With that level of detailed planning, you're in better shape than most people when they stand up to speak.
But you'll have one more weapon in your arsenal: practice.
In the week leading up to the event, try to grab a small audience of sympathetic people to whom you can deliver the speech in full. Any of the Groom's friends who were helpful at the research stage, your own close friends or your partner are ideal candidates.
Don't just do it once, run it again and again. Stop at the end of each section and ask your audience for feedback:
- Which stories are the strongest?
- Which parts of your delivery are working best? What are the strong turns of phrase – and do they have any suggestions about how else you change anything that isn't quite working?
Once you've got through the full speech and you're becoming fluent at delivery, ask them:
- Does the speech flow?
- Would they change the order of the segments?
- Is there anything else they would like to suggest that might improve the speech?
You'll learn a lot about the strengths of the speech by delivering it and hearing the opinions of your audience. You'll also have a few days to change things up if your practice session reveals a problem.
This is also the point at which to decide on whether you will be using notes. All speeches are better without notes, but few people will expect you not to use them, so you have a lot of flexibility.
If you do decide to use notes, I recommend a series of small cue-cards with written prompts, which you can hold in your hand; these will keep you on the right path but ensure that your exact phrasing is spontaneous. There's nothing worse than watching someone read from a sheet of paper without ever looking up.
If, after all your preparation, you're still nervous… consider this:
- Everyone listening wants you to succeed. You're part of the celebration that they've all bought into and they want to keep the good vibe going. They would laugh even if your opening was a bit shaky, so the fact that you're actually bringing a brilliantly-rehearsed powerhouse means that you are home free.
- Everyone will appreciate the work you've put in. It's apparent, even to the most casual observer, that there is a difference between a Best Man who stands up without a plan to ramble drunkenly for 5 minutes and what you are about to do, which is the culmination of several weeks' planning. The guests will be impressed; the Groom will think you're an absolute champion for working so hard to enhance his day.
You're ready
When you have followed this system through, you will find yourself in the top 1% of most prepared public speakers. Everyone is willing you to succeed, you have planned to succeed… so you will.
You're going to be brilliant: believe it. Let your inner rock star come out to play. Oh, and enjoy the drinks people are going to be buying you after 'that awesome performance…'


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This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2013, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
It was the height of frustration for the Utah Utes.
Through the course of an entire season, the Utes forged a reputation as one of the better defensive teams in the Pac-12. Yet last month at Oregon State, that defense took a vacation as Roberto Nelson rained in 3-pointers and Joe Burton sliced up Utah inside with his passing and hook shot. OSU demolished the Utes by 18 points.
However, Thursday night's rematch with Oregon State at the Huntsman Center isn't about revenge for Utah. At least that's what Jason Washburn says. It's about regaining an identity that got lost that night in Corvallis. Losing is one thing. Getting hammered at something you normally do well and surrendering 82 points in the process? That's quite another.
"They scored way too many points on us," Washburn said. "It was something that we talked about. That wasn't us defensively, and we knew it. We have to do a lot better this time around."
Washburn, the 6-foot-11 center, still has two games remaining in his college basketball career. But he's reaching a milestone regardless. His first basket against the Beavers will give him 1,000 points for his career, quite the accomplishment considering how far he's come on and off the court.
But it will be Washburn's ability to defend the paint that will be key against OSU. Time and again in the first game between the two teams, Burton would get position down low and score. Oregon State owned the offensive rebounding. Nelson scored 26 points, many of them coming during a key second-half run.
"We saw what they were capable of," Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak said. "They are capable of hurting you in many ways. They have the ability to score inside and out. They can put together good offensive possessions. It's our challenge to be effective against that."
This will be a different Utes team in a few ways. Freshman Jordan Loveridge is expected to spend at least part of his time at small forward, instead of his usual power forward slot, as the coaching staff wants to see if he can play more on the perimeter.
It's also not known whether freshman small forward Dakarai Tucker will play since he sprained his knee last week against California. Coaches originally feared that he had torn his ACL, but an MRI revealed no severe structural damage.
A win over Oregon State would put Utah in 10th place in the Pac-12. It would also likely ensure that the Utes won't finish last in the league. A fourth conference victory would also top last season's Pac-12 win total.
Twitter: @tjonessltrib
Oregon State at Utah
O At the Huntsman Center
Tipoff • Thursday, 7 p.m.
Radio • 700 AM
Records • Utah 11-17, 3-13; Oregon State 13-16, 3-13
Last meeting • Oregon State 82, Utah 64 (Feb. 6)


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Local businesses seeing effects of Ex-Im Bank impasse
The national Export-Import Bank issue is hitting home in the area
Companies that do business on the Houston Ship Channel are reporting signs of slowing trade nearly three months after the Export-Import Bank lost authorization to issue more loans and loan guarantees supporting U.S. exports.
The impact is particularly strong here, the country's No. 1 exporting area. While many companies wait to see whether Congress will reinstate the bank's lending authorization, several are losing opportunities to bid on new projects and cutting back on orders from suppliers.
The biggest news so far has come from General Electric, which announced mid-month that it will cut 100 jobs in Jacintoport, moving the work of packaging its gas turbines to Hungary and China. At least 100 more jobs that would have gone to Americans will be moved to France based on export financing there, GE said.
"The foreign export credit agencies are having a field day with this," Amegy Bank executive vice president of the international division T.J. Raguso said.
Indeed, GE officials said they are seeking places "where functioning ECAs will support our customers with critical financing."
They said up to 1,000 jobs could be created in the U.K., because of financing from its export credit agency, that otherwise could have been created in the United States. With GE projects moving overseas, there could be jobs lost at the companies GE buys equipment and materials from.
"There's a ripple effect to our suppliers, and our suppliers' suppliers," spokeswoman Meghan Thurlow said.
Others among the 12,000-plus companies that export from the Houston area are delaying business or can't pursue new contracts. But the full effect might not be realized for years, they say.
"At this point, it's a cloud on the horizon. It's not right over our head yet," said Will Gonzalez, director of international sales for Summit Electric Supply.
But he said the company already is getting fewer orders from customers whose work largely depends on Export Bank backing.
The Export-Import Bank, an FDR-era program created as the nation coped with the Great Depression, makes and backs loans for large international projects or for businesses that operate in areas with political and economic instability, among other risky projects that private banks are unwilling to fund.
Supporters say that without these loans, business is more expensive and U.S. companies have a harder time competing internationally. A small minority of U.S. exports rely directly on the bank, but they generate business for the companies they hire and buy from.
Politicians, led by representatives from Texas, blocked the bank's reauthorization in June, calling it a vehicle for crony capitalism and arguing that taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook if companies default. Supporters counter that the bank had a default rate of less than 0.2 percent last year and is able to cover defaults and expenses with revenue from fees.
Last year, the Export Bank reported it supported $27.5 billion in exports and 1.3 million jobs. It also sent $675 million back to the Treasury.
In Houston, Bill Schubert consults companies working on large international projects like building hospitals or refineries overseas. He said Americans are missing out on some $60 billion in such projects that will be backed by export credit agencies.
"They're going to bid, and these projects are going to go forward," Schubert said. "The problem is, they're going to go forward without U.S. procurement."
Industrial Terminals, on the Houston Ship Channel, often ships equipment and parts for such large capital projects. In the past few months, several customers the company was in discussions with have put off signing contracts that will depend on Export Bank financing, said Will Terrill, vice president of Inter-marine, an affiliate of Industrial Terminals.
If the company gets less business, he said, it's likely to move ships, equipment and jobs to the other ports around the world. With less cargo locally, Industrial Terminals would probably hire fewer stevedores and truck drivers.
At Deugro, a logistics company that also works on shipping for large international projects, regional vice president for the Americas Steve Drugan said the company would probably begin to feel the effects of lost business toward the end of this year.
And Maher Touma, CEO of Ceca Supply & Services, said his company has about a year's worth of financing before it will have to turn away business. The company sources oil rig equipment from its 11-person office in southwest Houston and relies on the Export Bank for 95 percent of its sales. Touma had planned to open an office in Dubai, which is now on hold, in addition to its two international offices in Algeria and Tunisia.
Without Export Bank financing - their current agreements expire in June 2017 - Touma said he would have to cut his staff in half and shrink the business to survive.
Though politicians argue that private financing would adapt in the absence of federal support, Touma says private credit would be too expensive. He would have to cut back and post all of his profits as collateral for loans, he said.
"For us, it's not a cheaper source of financing. We're either in business or we're not," Touma said. "For us it's the only financing option."
Ceca's suppliers, he said, could go under if Ceca can't sign more contracts. Some of its suppliers have fewer than a dozen employees here, and Ceca is their biggest buyer.


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Last month, one of Sweden's most renowned photographers, J.H. Engström,was awarded the Goldene Letter first prize in the Stiftung Buchkunst Best Book Design From All Over the World competition, the Frankfurt-based art foundation's annual review. His book La résidence was selected by an independent international jury from a pool of 540 photo books from 31 countries, during a ceremony organised since 1963 by German Foundation for Book Art, Stiftung Buchkunst. La résidence consists of 29 photographs, all of which were shot in Brussels. Jean-Louis Godefroid, director of Contretype Photographique Espace, said that JH Engström isn't trying to explain, but rather to render a profound experience of the absurdity of the human condition with images that move us into a disquieting part of ourselves: our solitude on earth.
Source: Huh, ApertureFoundation


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Buy it, fix it…with a renovation loan
With over a decade of experience in renovation loans, we can guide you through the process of turning that almost perfect house into the dream home you and your family deserve. At Intercounty Mortgage Network, we offer a variety of renovation loans and construction loans in New Jersey. From the ever popular FHA 203k rehabilitation loan, to a FHA streamlined 203k construction loan, to the FHA 203h mortgage insurance program for disaster victims, to a one time close modular home loan, to the Home Fixer Repair Escrow program, and our HomeStyle Renovation Loan, Intercounty Mortgage Network has a renovation loan program to fit your specific needs.
FHA 203k Rehabilitation Loan
The Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which is part of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), administers various single family mortgage insurance programs. These programs operate through FHA-approved lending institutions which submit applications to have the property appraised and have the buyer's credit approved. These lenders fund the mortgage loans which the Department insures. HUD does not make direct loans to help people buy homes. The Section 203(k) program is the Department's primary program for the rehabilitation and repair of single family properties. As such, it is an important tool for community and neighborhood revitalization and for expanding homeownership opportunities.
Most mortgage financing plans provide only permanent financing. That is, the lender will not usually close the loan and release the mortgage proceeds unless the condition and value of the property provide adequate loan security. When rehabilitation is involved, this means that a lender typically requires the improvements to be finished before a long-term mortgage is made.
When a homebuyer wants to purchase a house in need of repair or modernization, the homebuyer usually has to obtain financing first to purchase the dwelling; additional financing for the rehabilitation; and a permanent mortgage when the work is completed to pay off the interim loans with a permanent mortgage. Often the interim financing (the acquisition and construction loans) involves relatively high interest rates and short amortization periods. The Section 203(k) program was designed to address this situation. The borrower can get just one mortgage loan, at a long-term fixed (or adjustable) rate, to finance both the acquisition and the rehabilitation of the property. To provide funds for the rehabilitation, the mortgage amount is based on the projected value of the property with the work completed, taking into account the cost of the work. To minimize the risk to the mortgage lender, the mortgage loan (the maximum allowable amount) is eligible for endorsement by HUD as soon as the mortgage proceeds are disbursed and a rehabilitation escrow account is established. At this point, the lender has a fully-insured mortgage loan.
FHA Streamlined 203k Construction Loan
FHA's Streamlined 203(k) program permits homebuyers and homeowners to finance up to $35,000 into their mortgage to repair, improve, or upgrade their home. Homebuyers and homeowners can quickly and easily tap into cash to pay for property repairs or improvements, such as those identified by a home inspector or an FHA appraiser. Homeowners can make property repairs, improvements, or prepare their home for sale. Homebuyers can make their new home move-in ready by remodeling the kitchen, painting the interior or purchasing new carpet.
FHA 203h Mortgage Insurance Program For Disaster Victims
The Section 203(h) program allows the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to insure mortgages made by qualified lenders to victims of a major disaster who have lost their homes and are in the process of rebuilding or buying another home. This program provides mortgage insurance to protect lenders against the risk of default on mortgages to qualified disaster victims. Individuals are eligible for this program if their homes are located in an area that was designated by the President as a disaster area and if their homes were destroyed or damaged to such an extent that reconstruction or replacement is necessary. Insured mortgages may be used to finance the purchase or reconstruction of a one-family home that will be the principal residence of the homeowner.
Like the basic FHA mortgage insurance program it resembles (Section 203(b) Mortgage Insurance for One to Four Family Homes), Section 203(h) offers features that make recovery from a disaster easier for homeowners: No down payment is required. The borrower is eligible for 100 percent financing. Closing costs and prepaid expenses must be paid by the borrower in cash or paid through premium pricing or by the seller, subject to a 6 percent limitation on seller concessions.FHA mortgage insurance is not free. Mortgagees collect from the borrowers an up-front insurance premium (which may be financed) at the time of purchase, as well as monthly premiums that are not financed, but instead are added to the regular mortgage payment. HUD sets limits on the amount that may be insured. To make sure that its programs serve low and moderate income people, FHA sets limits on the dollar value of the mortgage. The current FHA mortgage limit can be viewed online. These figures vary over time and by place, depending on the cost of living and other factors (higher limits also exist for two to four family properties).
One Time Close Modular Home Loan
Intercounty Mortgage Network offers Construction to Permanent loans for new modular homes. Our One Time Close Construction Loan for Modular Homes program provides construction financing, lot purchase and permanent loan, all wrapped up in one loan. Why worry about re-qualifying, re-appraisals or incurring additional costs? Intercounty Mortgage Network provides interim financing and administration for true one-time close staged funded construction-to-permanent loans. Designed for manufactured and modular housing, this programs allows Intercounty Mortgage Network the ability to offer our clients this unique loan product.
Intercounty Mortgage Network will work with underwriting and approve the permanent portion of the loan before the construction begins. The construction portion of the loan is also underwritten and approved. When all conditions for closing are cleared with Intercounty Mortgage Network, other than the final construction related conditions, the closing will be coordinated. Once closed, construction can begin. Because the permanent loan is closed before construction begins, there is no "re-qualifying" the borrower. This is a true one-time close; therefore, the borrowers will not need to return to the settlement agent for a second closing once construction is complete.
Home Fixer Repair Escrow Mortgage Program
Finally, we offer a Home Fixer repair escrow program. This option allows for a short term escrow account to be established to complete minor AFTER we close your buyer's loan. Here are some of the guidelines for the Home Fixer repair escrow program: this option is available for all loans – even investment homes, the maximum amount of the repairs is $5,000. An estimate from a licensed contractor (or other qualified professional) listing all repairs is required and the repairs must be completed within 14 calendar days of closing. This product – very unique to our market – has been wildly successful in getting loans to close, and then having the needed repairs done.
HomeStyle Renovation Loan
A HomeStyle renovation loan combines home purchase or refinance with home improvement financing in one loan with one closing. The HomeStyle renovation mortgage provides a convenient way for borrowers to make renovations, repairs, or improvements totaling up to 50 percent of the as-completed value of the property with a first mortgage, rather than a second mortgage, home equity line of credit, or other, more costly financing method. The funds can be used for any repairs or renovations that are permanently affixed and add value to the property. Eligible borrowers include individual home buyers, investors, nonprofit organizations, and local government agencies.
Fannie Mae does not specify which improvements a borrower may or may not finance. This means that the improvement funds can be used for cosmetic purposes such as landscaping, swimming pools, appliances, and various kinds of remodeling. There is no minimum amount that needs to be spent on repairs. The improvements must be performed by contractors who are licensed, registered, or certified or have the highest level of certification required.
So there you have it. Intercounty Mortgage is proud to offer a variety of construction loans to finance your renovation project. For more information on the renovation loan that fit's your need, fill out a fast quote form or call us at (800) 498-6141.


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Post-Winter Holidays: Hibernation or Depression?
The holiday season is just about over. The presents are unwrapped. The relatives have left. The leftovers are almost gone. Some things went well. Some didn't. There were moments of pleasure and joy and moments of disappointment and frustration. The roller coaster of activities and emotions is sliding to a stop. As you bite the head off the last gingerbread man, you sigh and wonder "Now what?" Coming down from the holidays can feel like a come-down. But it's also a new beginning.
After the many festivals of light in mid-winter (Ramadan, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Bodhi Day, Christmas, Kwanzaa) comes the time of the dark — a quiet time for gathering ourselves for the daylight to come. Not so long ago, winter was a time for lying low, for repairing tools, doing hand work, spinning cloth, and spinning tales. Because the central fire provided the only warmth in colder climates, families gathered around it to entertain children, to catch up on tasks that had been put off or neglected, and to plan for the next season.
In such close quarters, people had to learn get along, to work together and, at times, to respect each other's periodic need for solitude and silence even when huddled together. When spring came, people were rested and ready for the next spurt of activity. As soon as the sap started to run, people and creatures also felt the call to reemerge from their caves (whether literal or figurative) and to get busy.
In a time of central heating, on demand TV, individual computers, and mass produced goods, we mostly ignore the natural rhythm to things. Instead of convening around the fire, we go off to our own rooms. Instead of sharing our time and telling stories to children, we send them off to play and go our own busy ways. Instead of taking a break from our usual work to do needed reflection and to plan, we push on. We have lost an important forum for learning patience for ourselves and tolerance for others. We seem to have forgotten that January and February are for quiet even though something in our spirits still longs for a time of hibernation.
Unfortunately, the tendency in American culture is to make a natural down time into a problem. We give it the clinical name of "depression" or the not-so-clinical name of "the blues." We tell ourselves to snap out of it. We tell others who are pulled more into themselves that they should buck up, get with the program, produce. We may look to medicine to override our inclination to curl up with a book or just curl up. Where did we get the idea that once the holidays are over we're supposed to flip a switch and get back to business as usual? Where did we get the idea that any deviation from full participation and enjoyment of every single minute, regardless of the season, means that something is wrong?
What Is and Isn't Depression?
There's a difference between a genuine diagnosis of depression and the natural wintertime pull to rest and regroup. A diagnosis of a clinical depression requires that five or more of the following symptoms have been present during the same two-week period and present a change from one's usual level of functioning. Please note the "and." Both must be going on. At least one of your symptoms must be a depressed mood or loss of ability to take pleasure in things you usually like. Further, the symptoms must cause significant distress or impairment in social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning.
Symptoms of depression (according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual – IV-R) include:
- Depressed mood most of the day nearly every day.
- Markedly diminished interest or pleasure in all, or almost all, activities most of the day, nearly every day.
- Significant change in appetite nearly every day or a change of more than 5 percent of your body weight within a month.
- Sleeping too much or too little nearly every day.
- Being observably restless or agitated, or being observably slowed down.
- Fatigue or loss of energy nearly every day.
- Feelings of worthlessness or excessive or inappropriate guilt nearly every day.
- Diminished ability to think or concentrate or indecisiveness nearly every day.
- Recurrent thought of death, suicidal ideation, or an attempt, or a plan to commit suicide.
If you truly meet five or more of these criteria, including either No. 1 or No. 2, you should get yourself to a mental health provider for a professional evaluation. Real depression is miserable. It makes it difficult to function at work or in school, to be good to others, and to care about yourself. Fortunately, with a combination of talk therapy and some medication, it can be managed and you can feel better. Really. Most people do respond to treatment. (See the Psych Central's depression resources for a more complete discussion of clinical depression.)


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Sr. Cybersecurity Engineer - WAF
- Ashburn, VA, USA
- Full-time
Company Description
Common Purpose, Uncommon Opportunity. Everyone at Visa works with one goal in mind – making sure that Visa is the best way to pay and be paid, for everyone everywhere. This is our global vision and the common purpose that unites the entire Visa team. As a global payments technology company, tech is at the heart of what we do. CyberSource, a Visa company, has been and continues to be a pioneer within the e-Commerce Payment Management world. Our VisaNet network is capable of handling over 65,000 transaction messages per second for people and businesses around the world, enabling them to use digital currency instead of cash and checks. We are also global advocates for financial inclusion, working with partners around the world to help those who lack access to financial services join the global economy. Visa's sponsorships, including the Olympics and FIFA™ World Cup, celebrate teamwork, diversity, and excellence throughout the world. If you have a passion to make a difference in the lives of people around the world, Visa offers an uncommon opportunity to build a strong, thriving career. Visa is fueled by our team of talented employees who continuously raise the bar on delivering the convenience and security of digital currency to people all over the world. Join our team and find out how Visa is everywhere you want to be.
Job Description
Develop, support, tune, and deploy security solutions with primary job duties involving:
- Web Application Security: Engineering, deployment, and operations of security solutions, as well as integration with other solutions as required.
- Logging, Monitoring, Alerting, Blocking: Enrolling web properties and application log sources, administration, content development, and working with our customers/stakeholders across the globe. Working with on-premise and cloud-based products such as Imperva WAF, Akamai, CloudFlare, Splunk, ArcSight, ELK Stack, IBM QRadar, and Sumologic.
- Security Software Development: Scripting and development in python, shell, and other development in other languages.
Basic Qualifications:
4 years of work experience with a Bachelor's Degree or at least 2 years of work experience with an Advanced degree (e.g. Masters, MBA, JD, MD) or 0 years of work experience with a PhD degree
Preferred Qualifications:
Over 6 years of experience in Cybersecurity space :
Development Experience:
- Well versed in python, Perl, and/or shell scripting. Development experience in C++, Java, Java Script is a plus
- Well versed in using regular expressions for the development of signature based policy rules
- API integration experience especially with the aforementioned commercial and open source products
Web and Application Security:
- Extensive experience and expertise with Web Application Firewall management and policy rules combined with knowledge of process and workflow
- Expertise with Cloud-based log aggregation, correlation, and alerting using commercial and open source tools
- Strong knowledge of open source and commercial application security tools and frameworks, including but not limited to Kali related web application testing tools
- Experience in exploiting web apps and web services security vulnerabilities including cross-site scripting, cross-site request forgery, SQL injection, DoS attacks, XML/SOAP, and API attacks.
- Excellent understanding of the Top 10 OWASP threats
- Excellent understanding of common network and web protocols
- Excellent understanding of DDoS techniques and mitigation mechanisms
- Well versed in system exploits (e.g. Buffer Overflows, PTH attacks, windows authentication framework etc.)
- Knowledge of secure software development life cycle
Additional Information
Educational, Certifications and Other:
- Excellent communication skills
- Excellent team player
- CISSP, SANS GPEN, SANS GXPN, SANS GIAC, SANS GREM, AWS Security (at least some of these)
- OSCP (Offensive Security Certified Professional ) is a plus
- Bachelor's degree in engineering, computer science, information security, or information systems
Work Hours
· Incumbent must make themselves available during core business hours.
Travel Requirements
- This position requires the incumbent to travel for work 10% of the time.
Mental/Physical Requirements
· This position will be performed in an office setting. The position will require the incumbent to sit and stand at a desk, communicate in person and by telephone, frequently operate standard office equipment, such as telephones and computers, reach with hands and arms, and bend or lift up to 25 pounds.
Visa will consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories in a manner consistent with EEOC guidelines and applicable local law.


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Google Maps Adds Sharing Feature With Lists
Posted on February 13, 2017
Google Maps has added a sharing feature to Google Maps. The feature lets you track your favorite places and share them with your friends. The feature is available in the Google Maps app for Android and iOS devices.
Google announced the new feature today that lets you create lists of places and share them. Google explains how it works using a BBQ example:
Simply open the Google Maps app and find that BBQ spot you've been wanting to try. Tapping on the place name and then the "Save" icon adds the place to one of several pre-set lists like "Want to Go" or "Favorites." You can also add the restaurant to a new list that you name yourself, like "Finger Lickin' BBQ." To recall the lists you've created, go to Your Places (in the side menu) and then open the saved tab. Icons for the places you've saved to lists will appear on the map itself, so you'll always know whether one of your must-try BBQ spots is nearby.Google says it the lists can be a great tool to help visitors. Google says, "Whenever friends and family come to town, tap the share button to get a link and start flexing your local knowledge muscles." Take a look:
Image: Google


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I'm started on the outer layer of the coat. I found a nice black-patterned bottomweight for the base layer and have cut out the MILLION pieces, so now they are ready to get all artsy.
Laying out fabric like a bawss.
So many pins… so very many pins…
This was my workspace/bed a few days ago…
…and this is it a few days later.
This part of the work is not exactly tedious, but it's this weird, non-verbal sort of brain work. After a day of this I am pretty incapable of coherent speech. I communicate largely through strange sounds and hand gestures. I am pretty much an ewok.
The good thing is I get to listen to a lot of audio-books while I do it, just to remind my brain what words are. So far I've "read" The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman (how appropriate), Telegraph Avenue by Michael Chabon, The Casual Vacancy, by J.K. Rowling, and Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill. Several of these were read by British narrators, so at least my squeaky ewok noises sound posh and classy.
I'm attaching all the strips and scraps with lots and lots of stitching. Ungodly amounts of stitching. I may actually be liking the back more than the front at this moment.
Here you can see the chalk layout for some of the quilting:
Then, because I can't get enough quilting action, apparently, I thought I'd try sewing flame patterns on the bottom section of the pieces. Remember that whole bit about Dream's cloak being all flames inside? I wanted to bring a bit of that to the outside as well, so I stitched in flames in red metallic thread. I don't have a picture of that yet but here's the chalk layouts.
The red thread is much more subtle– you have to really get up close and look before you notice that it is laying out flames. I felt a little torn on putting in so much stitch work that is so subtle, but it's all a learning process, right? If I hate it or it isn't worth it I won't do it again. And in any case I'm taking the attitude that all these details, however subtle, are adding to the overall majesty of the piece. Right? Of course.
That's all for now. It's weirdly hot-yet-cloudy in Boulder today, which I think is a sign that ice cream should be sought. OBVIOUSLY.


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Coming back with a rocking single 'State Of Unrest' since their 2010 album Tangalooma, The John Steel Singers hit all the right notes with this scuzzy, psychedelic number. The bass riff is massive and the drums never miss a beat. Reminds me of UK band TOY. It's a great come back single and I can't wait to hear the new album which is to be released later this year. Check out the video here and do yourself a favour and see them live!
State of Unrest Tour
THU 12th SEPT | BAKERY LANE, BIGSOUND, BRISBANE
FRI 20th SEPT | GOODGOD, SYDNEY w Baptism Of Uzi + The Fabergettes
THU 26th SEPT | NORTHCOTE SOCIAL CLUB, MELBOURNE w Baptism Of Uzi + Dirt Farmer
FRI 27th SEPT | ALHAMBRA LOUNGE, BRISBANE w Babaganouj + Rolls Bayce


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by Lee Barbier
(Baton Rouge, la, usa)
My niece is getting married. Her Daddy that raised her is her step-father. He and her mother are divorced and not remarried. Her biological father has come back into picture and will be co-walking her down the isle with her step father. I don't know if any other parent is contributing to pay for hosting the wedding except for her step father. How should the invitation read??
Comments for Wedding invitation wording
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Want to Be a Vegan Like Bill Clinton? Here's Some Food For Thought.
Bill Clinton's hamburger days are behind him, he says.
The former president now thinks of himself as a vegan, he tells CNN's Sanjay Gupta, eschewing meat, dairy and eggs. (No word on whether he's traded recipes with fellow Democrat and vegan Dennis Kucinich.)
Clinton adapted a plant-based eating pattern out of concern for …


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FDA Approves New Injectable Painkiller
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has approved a new faster acting injectable drug to treat moderate to severe pain.
The diclofenac sodium solution, produced by Hospira Inc. under the brand name Dyloject, is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) that can be used alone or in combination with opioid pain relievers. Hospira (NYSE: HSP) says Dyloject can be administered in 15 seconds, in contrast to other injectable non-opioid painkillers which can take as long as 30 minutes to administer intravenously in a full dose.
Dyloject is most likely to be used in a hospital setting for postoperative pain. It was approved for use by adults in the management of mild to moderate pain and management of moderate to severe pain alone or in combination with opioids.
"In today's healthcare environment, pain management and patient satisfaction are important to hospitals. As a result, various medical organizations are now recommending a multi-modal approach to pain control in an effort to minimize the use of opioids," said Sumant Ramachandra, MD, senior vice president and chief scientific officer for Hospira.
"As a leading supplier of hospital pain management medication, Hospira's Dyloject will be a complementary addition to our existing portfolio of acute-care drugs, providing clinicians an additional non-opioid option that can be administered quickly and conveniently to treat pain."
Dyloject was approved after two double-blind, placebo-controlled studies of adult patients with postoperative pain after abdominal or pelvic surgery. In both trials, intravenous morphine was permitted as rescue medication in case pain relief wasn't sufficient with Dyloject alone.
In one study, about 63% of patients taking Dyloject took rescue medication with 48 hours of treatment, compared to 92% of patients given a placebo. Similar results were found in a second study.
The most common side effects with Dyloject were nausea, constipation, headache, infusion site pain, dizziness, flatulence, vomiting, and insomnia. As with other NSAIDs, Dyloject is not recommended for patients with a history of cardiovascular or gastrointestinal problems.
Ladies and gentleman, the drug is an NSAID and that means it will not be good for long term use. I don't care where they inject it, it still makes its way through the body just like every other drug.
If you have stomach problems, ulcer or any similar issue then in the long run this drug will not be the answer you are looking for. I know the Dr. might say its OK to take for months but the truth is they don't know yet and I wouldn't want to be the guy that ends up with a bleeding ulcer from this new product.
Non Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs – NSAIDS – destroy the digestive system in the human body when used for long term – meaning more than a few weeks.
Thank you,
By making it harder and harder to get narcotic / opiate based pain relievers has created a huge business opportunity for companies to come up with a product they can claim will help with pain.
Shaq wears a patch so millions go out and buy it. Now the FDA has approved this new injectable drug Dylaject to be used in the hospital post-op. Okay – its another NSAID for pain only this one is injected into the body. We know that NSAID meds can work and we also know that no matter where you put them into the system sooner or later they will do more harm than good. The list of side effects is based on short term studies and I'm willing to bet that long term use will prove to be dangerous.
There are BILLIONS of dollars to be made in the industry of Pain Treatment and with the DEA doing all they can to get OPIATE based drugs off the market the time is right for every Tom Dick and Harry to come along with some new treatment or devise. If there was a product out there that really works for severe chronic pain this web site would not be here.
In my 25 plus years of pain I have tried just about everything to help reduce my pain level. So far there is nothing on the market that works better than opiate based pain meds and that's for short and long term use.
There are new drugs on the market that list side effects that are so horrible I cant believe they were ever approved for human use but the fact is they are not opiates so they are rushed to the public for use only to find out later the drug's side effects are much worse than the cause of the pain.
When something has been in use for thousands of years it must have worked then and it still works now. The DEA and the FDA need to do a better job, but that wont happen as long as they are government run.
Thank you,
Is this approved in Canada yet I wonder? How is it for fibro and arthritis pain?
I take this drug on a daily basis, in pill form. I have severe arthritis in both knees and my hip. Without medication, I can't hardly bring my legs forward to walk.
My doctor put me on the pill form, diclofenac sod 75mg, twice a day and I am pain free.
I don't know about people with Chrohn's desease. I'm sure this is hard on the kidneys.
Did anyone with crohns read the last line? Not recommended for patients with a history of gastrointestinal problems? Is it safe for us then? Feed back.
I am grateful the FDA has approved this, Now for myself I can barley walk some days.. How long will it be for pain Management Doctors to receive this medication or any information.
Please I live in such pain. I need help now not in few years.
Thanks for good article.
I would like to try this because I take opiates and need more pain relief without having to add more opiods or to increase what I already get. Should I ask my doctor about it? Can I inject myself at home with it?
I have Fibromyalgia and my symptoms are progressing. I would like some inform my doctor who has been treating me for years. She's the best. I am very interested in the product.
Thank you


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Photo: Pictured Left to Right: TCL Foundation Chairman Randy Dolyniuk; Cyndi and Steve Duvall; TCL Commission Chairman Gen. Art Brown; and Dean of TCL Health Sciences Dr. Glenn Levicki.
The Technical College of the Lowcountry recently unveiled the Steve and Cyndi Duvall Lecture Theater in the Health Sciences Building on the Beaufort Campus. The naming recognizes the Duvalls' generous gift establishing the Steve and Cyndi Duvall Health Sciences Fund at TCL.
"I am so grateful for the Duvalls' support," Health Sciences Dean Dr. Glenn Levicki said. "This gift will benefit our students and in turn the hospitals and health care facilities they go to work in. The Duvalls are helping elevate the college and the community we serve."
The Fund supports the purchase of much-needed equipment to update and enhance the training and education of TCL Health Science students in the Nursing, Physical Therapist Assistant, Radiologic Technology, Surgical Technology, Massage Therapy and Medical Assisting programs.
Steve has been an active member of the TCL Foundation Board since 2013 and is the Executive Vice President for Strategic Client Development at EviCore Health Care. His wife Cyndi is a certified public accountant.
Statement of Non-Discrimination: The Technical College of the Lowcountry is committed to a policy of equal opportunity for all qualified applicants for admissions or employment without regard to race, gender, national origin, age, religion, marital status, veteran status, disability, or political affiliation or belief.


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Tuesday, September 11, 2012
When are you Considered a Best-Selling Author?
It's a legitimate question. I have been published since May 2011. I was lucky my first release TIMELESS HEART (Evernight Pub) did fairly well, even cracked the top 100 in a category at Amazon.com.
Have I done it since? Nope.
So with one release under my belt, I didn't feel I had the gravitas to go around and brag I was a best-selling author. To me at that time, best-selling meant making those big boy lists, like the New York Times and USA Today.
Besides, I cracked the top 100 on Amazon for little more than 36 hours, if that. Didn't seem like a long enough time to brag. So I didn't.
A few releases later, I visited a fellow author's blog and I saw she had all her books listed and the achievements listed directly under it. So I did the same. Check HERE under MY BOOKS. (I made the publisher best seller graphics myself!)
Once I started listing them, I realized every single one of my releases reached some sort of best-selling list. Whether it was at the publisher's website or third party site, or category lists within those sites, I really did have best sellers.
Now, does this mean I sold a ton of ebooks? Nope. Some of these lists you really don't have to sell a lot to get on. Especially if your book falls under a lesser known sub-genre. Getting a silver star at ARe (All Romance) is easier to get in Romantic Suspense than in the huge, honking Contemporary category. Does that lessen the thrill of getting one of these stars slapped on your forehead? Hell no! Brag!
I know I got silver stars on two of my paranormals (Blackthorne Clan, Evernight Pub) at ARe because they were in the Suspense category. I am kind of proud of the Timeless Heart one. It took a year to get and I had to sell a lot more to get it.
My latest release, My Vampire Cover Model, (Decadent Pub) hit the top 30 for MF at Bookstrand. First time I ever did that. It was on the list for over three weeks and reached #12.
It has taken me 16 months to get to that place in my head where I feel comfortable enough to call myself 'a best-selling author'. Some never feel comfortable, others embrace it after one book hitting any best-selling list. Everyone is different. Were you on a list? Even if it was a few hours or a few days or weeks, blow your own horn! Display it at your site!
Hey, Ma! I'm a best-selling author! ;D
8 comments:
Great idea! I've been wondering about that question myself. And the reality is that you wrote a book and people enjoyed it. Regardless of how many other books are in that genre yours was still one of the best so yes, it matters and be proud of it :).ReplyDeleteReplies
Exactly Caitlin! Doesn't matter how many books sold or how long on the list, the fact is—you have a best-seller! It ALL matters, cheers for stopping by!Delete
You are all ready a Best Selling Author to us girl!! Don[r ever under estimate yourself!!!ReplyDelete
Awww, thanks so much!!!Delete
Yes, now embrace it and change that banner ;)ReplyDeleteReplies
LOL! Chacelyn, wish I knew how. I changed it on facebook though! :) Cheers for stopping by!Delete
Great Post! I'm new to this whole game, and I've wondered about this as well. Embrace your best-selling status :)ReplyDeleteReplies
Exactly Laurel! Embrace it! No matter where it comes from. Thanks so much for re-tweeting and stopping by!Delete


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The best part about fiction, in any medium, is the escape it provides from real life—whether it's through a television show, a movie, or a book. I'm not the biggest television watcher and I'm far from being a movie buff, but I do love me some books. There's just something so wonderfully interactive about them. You take what the author provides, but then the rest is up to you. The characters are described, maybe in great detail, maybe not…but how do they really look? It's pretty much a guarantee that the way you "see" them won't be the way the author "sees" them. When I read a book, I'm directing a movie. I've always seen it that way; I've always thought that connection came naturally. Strange…or not?
When I write a story, I still "see" it as I go along. I can't help but think, "If this were a movie, what would the next scene be? Would it flow with the one before or would it be jarring?" Sometimes, I may want the transition to be jarring. It's all about effect. Well, effect while still making sense! It's a blast coming up with a world you hope readers can escape to, if only for a limited time. Most of my stories take place in a connected world of sorts…a shared universe, if you will. What exists in one (e.g. stores, restaurants, offices, agencies) exists in others is basically what I'm sayin'. Why? My mind just works that way I suppose.
One of my favorite things about creating a world in which readers can escape is bringing the characters to life. They're real enough in my head, but there's something really cool about putting them on paper—or, um, on the computer screen anyway. Since there seems to be an unwritten rule out there somewhere that says I'm not allowed to outline, like, ever, the characters and the things they do come as a nice surprise to me. In that way, writing and reading provide me with the same exhilaration of the unknown. What's going to happen next? When reading, I don't know. When writing… Hell, I still don't know. There's beauty in that there symmetry if you ask me. Now, on to what is probably my favorite thing about reading and writing fiction: Dialogue. I'm crazy in love with the stuff. I'm an insanely auditory person so the words the characters speak have to feel right; they have to sound right in my head. And I definitely hear them in my head. Always and without fail. Weird…or not?
Romance is an escape. Real life romance, fictional romance… It's a thing of wonder, of magic. I try to do my part in providing a little bit on the fictional end. The world needs more love! And what's cooler than love you read about, but can still see play out in your head? When I write, I'm providing a lot of what my "movie" needs. When you read, you're doing the rest. You're directing, you're casting, you're doing a bang up job as cinematographer—you're just awesome basically. My "movies" would never be truly complete without readers.
Comment on this blog and others for a chance at some amazing prizes–a $100 Amazon or B&N gift certificate and two $50 ones! You can find the other participating authors on the list below.
Have a happy blog hop, y'all, and good luck!
1. Sharon Clare 2. K.M. Jackson 3. Lynn Cahoon 4. Tessa Berkley 5. Black Creek Burning 6. Erin Richards 7. Shay Lacy 8. M. J. Schiller 9. Terri Herman-Ponce 10. Sylvie Fox 11. Ashlyn Mathews 12. NLSScribe/Scribbles 13. Carol Ritten Smith 14. Beth Yarnall 15. Peggy Bird 16. Rowena May O'Sullivan 17. Suzi Love 18. nora snowdon 19. Tara Mills Romance 20. Vristen Pierce 21. Embrace the Shadows 22. Alicia Dean 23. Heather Thurmeier 24. Rena's Ramblings 25. Dare to Read 26. Denyse Cohen 27. Pam B. Morris Blog 28. Becky Lower Author 29. Nikkie Locke 30. Nicole Flockton 31. Rionna Morgan 32. Elizabeth Boyce 33. Amanda L. V. Shalaby 34. Meline Nadeau 35. Kate Fellowes 36. Lola Karns 37. D'Ann Lindun 38. Jerri Drennen 39. Kristina Knight Romance Author 40. Morgan O'Neill 41. Shelley Wall Blog 42. Holley Trent 43. Karen Sue Burns 44. Patti Shenberger 45. Tamara Gill


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We are almost through the month,
Autism Awareness Month, and the Month of the Military Child
For those of us Military Families, Raising a Military child with Autism,
when the month of April end, the daily battles, the awareness, continues,
we live it 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year….
We juggle Training, Deployments, and the Military way of "semper Gumby" (Always Flexible),
Play the game of "Hurry up and wait" while also having to maintain rigid schedules for our children ,
We tackle meltdowns, celebrate the smallest of accomplishments,
and often live miles , even states away from our support structures,
and yet, we continue to press on
supporting and loving our Military,
advocating for our children,
looking for the simplest blessings….
Today's Montage…
To the simple things…
A Rare moment…A Quick Hug
"I Love you"
To Board Games…
To a Treasured Gift
To Hayrides…
To Watermelon….
To the love of a favorite book…
We Cherish the small moments…
The Glimpses into His world…


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Navy Leather Moccasins
This item is currently being restocked to our main warehouse! Please expect shipping to occur 3-4 weeks after order date!
Gorgeous Navy Leather Mocs with Buckle, Velcro Fasten
Comfortable & Durable Design
PU Material
Approximate Size Guide
Care Instructions:
Colour sealed so it will never run or change colour during washing to ensure a longer life for the garment.
- We strongly recommend a gentle hand wash.
- For lasting colour, wipe outside of shoes.
- Hang or Flat dry / do not tumble dry.
- Do not bleach
Differences in screen resolution may result in colours appearing lighter, darker, brighter or duller.