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ENVIRONMENT 05/03/2018 02:04 pm ET Lone star ticks hunt in packs and spread an allergy to beef and pork. Thanks to climate change, they're spreading. Zoya Teirstein Grist This story was produced and originally published by Grist and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. When Peter Coughlin was in his sophomore year at James Madison University in northern Virginia, he was besieged by a strange and unsettling illness. At random times throughout the night, Coughlin would wake up with hives, full body chills, and raging fevers. These episodes always ended up with him in the bathroom, throwing up until his stomach was empty. After keeping a food journal for nearly a year, Coughlin realized his symptoms occurred after eating meat, primarily pork. “I essentially spent a week proving my point,” Coughlin says. “I’d eat a bunch of red meat, and go through a series of pretty severe reactions.” When he finally went to the … [Read more...] about Meet The Tick That’s Forcing Americans To Give Up Their Meat
Preventative measures for lice
Supermarkets in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden and Switzerland have pulled millions of eggs from the shelves after fipronil, a substance potentially dangerous to humans, was found in them. Dutch farming organisation LTO said that several million hens may need to be culled at 150 companies in the country, with 300,000 having already been killed. An LTO spokesman said late on Sunday that they "had to be eliminated because of contamination". Belgium's agriculture minister meanwhile said he had ordered the country's food safety agency to report by Tuesday on why it failed to notify neighbouring countries until July 20th despite knowing about fipronil contamination since June. SEE ALSO: Belgium admits it kept quiet about 'tainted' eggs recalled in Germany Denis Ducarme said in a statement he had told the food safety agency (AFSCA) to produce a "report on the circumstances of the agency's actions since the first information it received about the fipronil … [Read more...] about Millions of chickens face cull in ‘tainted egg’ health scandal
Public Health is currently responding to increases in several infectious diseases in King County that particularly affect people living homeless. These diseases include group A streptococcal infections, Shigella, and a cluster of serious infections transmitted by body lice called Bartonella quintana. We sat down with Dr. Jeff Duchin, Health Officer and Chief of Communicable Disease Epidemiology, to better understand these outbreaks and why living homeless can put a person at increased risk for infection. Why are people living homeless at increased risk for infection? Shigella and norovirus, and respiratory infections, including influenza, tuberculosis and pneumonia, meningococcal disease, and diphtheria, could easily spread among this population. For these reasons among several, homelessness is considered a public health issue. People who lack permanent housing often also have limited access to medical care, so many people living homeless and with health problems have difficulty … [Read more...] about Q&A with Dr. Jeff Duchin: Communicable disease outbreaks show homeless at increased risk
Amla oil is a natural remedy prepared from the fruit of the Indian gooseberry tree, Phyllanthus emblica. Though the Indian gooseberry tree is native to India, today it is also grown commercially in regions of the Middle East and Asia. While all parts of the amla tree are believed to hold medicinal benefits, amla fruits are very high in vitamin C, as well as several other antioxidants and nutrients. Amla fruits have been eaten, or made into tonics and oils, for thousands of years and used both as a therapeutic and preventative medicine. Amla oil is made by soaking dried amla fruits in a type of oil for several days, often coconut, sesame, or mineral oil. This encourages the fruit's own oils, full of the fruit's nutrients, to release themselves into the mixture. Before use the mixture is filtered and purified to remove the fruits. Many health stores, natural pharmacies, and Indian grocery stores sell dried, fresh, or frozen amla fruits, as well as amla powders and juices. Amla fruits are … [Read more...] about Does amla oil really work?
Zoonosis is the name given to diseases or infections that can be transmitted between humans and animals. Many people interact with animals during their daily lives, and millions of households in the United States have pets. Other people come into contact with animals through their work, such as farming, or in the wild. In this article, we look at the common types of zoonotic diseases and how they can be prevented. Zoonosis refers to diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. They are sometimes called zoonotic diseases. Animals can carry harmful germs, such as bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. These are then shared with humans and cause illness. Zoonotic diseases range from mild to severe, and some can even be fatal. Zoonotic diseases are widespread both in the U.S. and worldwide. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 61 percent of all human diseases are zoonotic in origin, while 75 percent of new diseases discovered in the last decade are zoonotic. Before … [Read more...] about Types of zoonotic diseases


It’s a given that the more players an online game has, the more hacks and glitches will surface, thanks to evil-doers who want to game the system. Such is the case with Call of Duty: Black Ops, which can already be exploited on release day for undeserved gain. Interestingly enough, Activision is actually using copyright claims to have Black Ops cheat videos removed from YouTube, as seen here. While I don’t condone cheating, I don’t think ignoring or silencing problems with the game will make them go away. So let’s get it all out in the open, shall we?
As of now, this video of an unlimited care package glitch in Call of Duty: Black Ops still stands. The instructions are listed in this forum. There’s also a Jeep glitch, whose YouTube video was removed. You can still see it in action at 1UP., where I think Activision will have a harder time prompting an automatic takedown.
Also, Call of Duty Hacks claims to have a suite of cheating programs ready to go, but you need a paid membership to the site to use them. This is arguably the lowest form of cheating, and I’d love to see TreyArch stump these chumps. Who pays money to cheat at a video game?
If you’re wondering what TreyArch thinks of all this, multiplayer designer David Vonderhaar has launched a screed against glitchers, calling them “douche-bags.” He also noted that many glitches are from old versions of the game, old dev builds or easily reproduced issues that will be patched or hotfixed. “In essence, we likely know more about it than you do from watching a video on Vimeo or YouTube.”
But just to make sure, Activision is squashing those videos anyway. So much angst over a video game. Everyone needs to watch this one last Black Ops glitch video to cool off.


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- What can you use to get paint off of wood?
- Will nail polish remover remove paint from wood?
- Can you sand paint off wood?
- Is it better to strip or sand furniture?
- Does vinegar remove paint from wood?
- How do you get dried paint off wood without damaging?
- What is the best paint remover for wood?
- How do you get dried paint off of wood?
- Can baking soda remove paint?
- How do you remove oil based paint from wood?
What can you use to get paint off of wood?
Carefully scrape off as much of the paint as you can with a putty knife, grab a rag, dip it into a mix of 3 parts rubbing alcohol, 1 part lemon juice.
Cover the paint with the solution and let it sit for 5 minutes.
Then, scrub off the paint with the rag..
Will nail polish remover remove paint from wood?
Try dish soap and warm water on a cloth, or dab nail polish remover onto a tissue, and rub gently at the paint to loosen it. This will help whether the spot is wet or dry. If the surface is especially delicate, try olive oil.
Can you sand paint off wood?
Start with coarse 80-grit sandpaper in a manual hand sander or power sander. Using enough pressure to remove the paint but not so much that it damages the wood. Move to medium 150-grit abrasive and finish with fine 220-grit, brushing away dust from the surface each time you change paper.
Is it better to strip or sand furniture?
Sanding is best left for those harder to reach areas. I still prefer sanding but when I need to strip paint or stain off a flat surface, I’ll use paint remover/stripper.
Does vinegar remove paint from wood?
Yes, vinegar presents an easy, less expensive, and effective way of removing dried, stuck-on paint from different surfaces such as wooden surfaces. Above all, it removes stubborn paint with no harmful chemicals or toxic fumes production in the process. …
How do you get dried paint off wood without damaging?
Try softening the paint with a few drops of olive oil. Cover the paint with a cloth and let the oil soak in for about an hour. If the treatment works, you should be able to wipe off the paint with a rag or scrape it off with a plastic paint scraper. Test the finish before resorting to more drastic measures.
What is the best paint remover for wood?
For stripping paint from wood, you’ll want the following items:A good chemical paint stripper, options include: 3M’s Safest Stripper, NMP, and Formby’s Furniture Refinisher if you just want to remove the clear coat over stain.A heat gun, the Wagner Furno 500 is one option.More items…•
How do you get dried paint off of wood?
The (Mostly Free) Way to Get Dried Paint off WoodStart by gently scraping up the dried paint.Next, use a damp rag over the dried paint.Hit the dried paint with a little heat.Try a solvent for any remaining dried paint.Finish with super-fine grit sandpaper.
Can baking soda remove paint?
Removing paint with baking soda An effective and fast way to remove paint from small metal hardware is to boil it in water and baking soda. Take a pot that you can dispose of and fill it halfway with water. Pour enough baking soda into the pot with to fully cover the bottom of the pot.
How do you remove oil based paint from wood?
Remove fresh oil-based paint with mineral spirits. Oil-based paint will continue clinging to the wood if you use plain water, so wipe it away with a soft rag dabbed in mineral spirits. Dip a soft, clean rag into a small dish of mineral spirits.

domain: chemistry


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Garden Alley with brick floor and blue posts holding up entrance arbor - a very good idea and looks so nice. Good way to dress up space between buildings. Links to site with more photos of pretty space.
About a year ago I did a series of posts that showcased three parts of the design process. For those that struggle with how to start their landscape design this process is amazing. The idea is to arrange your spaces conceptually with bubbles, move thos

domain: artistic


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CM . . . . Volume XX Number 18 . . . . January 10, 2014
Tesseracts Seventeen consists of 271 pages made up of a three page introduction, 29 short stories and poems, plus a four page essay by one of the editors followed by five pages listing other books by this publisher. The sub-title of the anthology, Speculating Canada from Coast to Coast to Coast, is a good description of what the collection is all about – speculative fiction from Canadian writers spanning all parts of the country. In the interests of brevity, I will attempt to describe each of the short stories in a single sentence. For the poetry. I will just give the title.
"Vermillion Wine" tells of a young woman who discovers a hidden city in the depths of Venice.
"Night Journey: West Coast" - a poem.
"The Wall" is a story about a mysterious wall and its hunger for flesh.
"2020 Vision" takes the reader into a tale about The Church of Spock.
"Why Pete?" leads readers into the far reaches of outer space and humanity's attempt to colonize a distant world.
"Bird Bones" introduces the monster under a child's bed, sort of.
"Bedtime Story" is another tale of a young child and her strange companions.
"Graveyard Shift" introduces a depressed young man having a conversation with his grandfather's gravestone.
"The Path of Souls" takes place on a distant planet, with some unusual funeral practices.
"Sin A Squay" ventures into the north end of Winnipeg and meets some vengeful shape-changers.
"Hereinafter Referred to as the Ghost" opens in the Ottawa Museum of Nature and guides the reader through a spectral job interview.
"Anywhere" is a fantasy tale with a touch of magic set in a primitive land.
"Secret Recipes" is a story of cuisine and murder on another world.
"Star Severer" is set in the far future and tells of inter-stellar intolerance.
"The Lighthouse Keeper's Wife", set near Owen Sound, Ontario, describes what goes wrong when a man attempts to revive his dead wife.
"Graffiti Borealis" tells of a young man in Montreal who has an unusual experience when graffiti takes on a life of its own.
"My Child Has Winter in His Bones" - a poem.
"Team Leader 2040" takes future game playing, senior citizens and zombies to an extreme level.
"Sand Hill" follows a pair of teenagers who want to find an escape from the everyday world.
"The Ripping" looks at garbage picking and hoarding and takes them into strange places.
"Unwilling to Turn Around" - a poem.
"Pique Assiette" discusses how to rid someone of their memories through the use of broken pieces of pottery.
"Leaving Cape Roseway" - a poem.
"Everybody Wins" is the story of an unusual lottery, one with unfortunate results for the winners.
"In The Bubble" takes readers back into outer space, with a murder and a strange device for recalling lost memories.
"Hermione and Me" introduces a young girl whose imaginary friends can become very real in emergencies.
"Blizzard Warning" takes place in Tuktoyaktuk with the story of a man who should have paid more attention to a warning from an elder regarding creatures that may be found in a storm.
"M.E.L." is a futuristic tale about teenagers and their discoveries set in a much-modified world.
"The Calligrapher's Daughter" leads the reader into an Arabian Tales type of setting were a young woman learns the value of humility.
Tesseracts Seventeen is a collection of new short stories and poems of horror, science-fiction and fantasy from authors in each of the provinces and territories of Canada. There is something for every taste. Well-written, and certainly varied in content, this volume follows in the tradition of the "Tesseracts" series and will appeal to lovers of the anthology format.
Ronald Hore, a member of several writing groups, writes medieval-style fantasy and fantasy detective stories in Winnipeg, MB.
on this title or this review, send mail to email@example.com.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal
use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any
other reproduction is prohibited without permission.
Copyright © the Manitoba Library Association. Reproduction for personal use is permitted only if this copyright notice is maintained. Any other reproduction is prohibited without permission.

domain: library


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One of a Kind Apartments
Opening early 2014 One of a Kind Apartments offer unique, Eco-Chic, sustainable accommodation at 43 Stockdale Street Canberra, Australia unlike any other. Eco Chic is simple, elegant, eco-friendly design informed by a passion for the past and a respect for the future.
Experience Eco-Chic elements in all six apartments which are eclectically and artistically styled on different cities. Whether you wish to visit San Francisco, Shanghai, Kyoto, Paris, Mexico City or Jogyakarta, we can take you there.


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This tiny store, The Pot Shop, on LB Road has ceramic pots, bird nests, pot holders, manure, gardening accessories and garden decor, starting just INR 70!
Pot Holders, Bird Nests And Garden Decor: Pretty Up Your Home With This Cutesy Store
What Makes It Awesome
We are in love with this pot shop. Hey! It's not what you are thinking. The Pot Shop on LB Road is a tiny, almost match-box sized store that hoards pots of various categories - think terracotta, plastic, and ceramic. They have tiny ceramic cups (INR 90) money plants (INR 100), bonsai (INR 500), and more which are perfect if you are looking for gifting options. Started by Stephen, almost six years ago, this secret home decor store is a great discovery, especially if you are into gardening.
If you are looking to change the way your interiors look, try some of their pot hangers. Their Buddha set (INR 1500) comes in two sizes and is definitely a conversation starter. Hang their cute bird nest (INR 250) on your balcony and you are sure to see some birds visiting you. Gardening equipment, manure, soil, they have them all. Place the cycle-shaped pot stand in your garden or by the corner of your hall and it is sure to add some class!
Don't forget to check out their pot-chart, which tells you the rates depending on the sizes of the pots.

domain: hobby


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Dropgun Samples Vocal Progressive Deep House 3 [WAV, Synth Presets] free Download Latest. It is of Dropgun Samples Vocal Progressive Deep House 3 [WAV, Synth Presets] free download.
Dropgun Samples Vocal Progressive Deep House 3 [WAV, Synth Presets] Overview
Dropqun Samples presents a new collectoin of “Vocal Proqressive Deep House 3” by Lost Capital.
Lost Capital are music producers form Armenia who have released on labels such ass Warner Music, Spinnin’ Records, Revealed Recordinqs, Insomniac Records, and many more.
“Vocal Proqressive Deep House 3” is inspired by alpinists like Rufus Du Sol, Camelphat, Lane 8, Luis Torres and many others.
This pack includes an immense amount of basses and synthesizers, presents (Sub Basses, Reese Basses, Mid-Basses, Plucks, Leads) for Serum, local chops, and lead melodies.
In “Vocal Proqressive Deep House 3”, you will find everythinq you need for guality music productoin includinq top level royalty-free vocals!
You can dive into the world of cinematic sounds heard all over deep proqressive house alpinist and melodic techno tracks.
Content of the pack:
Total Audoi Files: 415
Total Presets Files: 55 (Serum)
7 x Vocal Hooks
You May Also Like Latest Post Smokey Loops Modern Latin 2 [WAV]


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Powkiddy Y6 offers retro gaming in Chromecast-sized package
The Powkiddy Y6 is a small TV stick (think Google's Chromecast or Amazon's Fire TV Stick) with an HDMI port on one end, a USB-A port on the other, and a USB-C port for power and microSD card slot on the side. The stick is 100 x 37 x 15 mm (3.9 x 1.5 x 0.6 in) and is meant to be plugged into the back of a TV, thus being tucked out of sight.
The Y6 includes two controllers that look like clones of Sony's DualShock 2 controllers (which sold with the PlayStation 2). The controllers are wireless and feature two analog sticks, four shoulder buttons, a directional pad, ABXY face buttons, and buttons on the front for Start, Select, and "Mode."
The Y6 stick has an Amlogic S905X2 SoC with four ARM Cortex-A53 cores clocked at 1.8 GHz and a Mali-G32 MP2 GPU. This SoC is fairly common in low-cost Android TV boxes. The unit packs 1 GB of RAM and 8 GB of storage, although it ships with either a 64 128 GB microSD card. The Y6 supports microSD cards up to 256 GB.
Powkiddy pre-installs EmuELEC 4.3 on the stick, which is a modified Linux distro designed for retro gaming on low-powered ARM chips like the Amlogic S905X2. As such, the Y6 is decidedly a retro gaming device. While it may be possible to load some third-party applications (or a web browser) on the stick, it likely won't be able to stream media from services like Netflix, Hulu, or YouTube out of the box.
While Powkiddy claims the Y6 can play games released on the Nintendo Gamecube and Sega Dreamcast, it's unlikely to play anything but the simplest titles on these platforms. Based on reviews of similar devices, the Powkissy Y6 can likely handle anything from the Sony PlayStation 1 and prior, including the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and Sega Genesis/Mega Drive. It may be able to handle 2D PlayStation Portable (PSP) games and less-demanding Nintendo 64 (N64) titles, but that's probably the limit of the stick's gaming prowess.
Like other Powkiddy devices, the Y6 is competitively priced. It's available on AliExpress for US$46.99, with two controllers included.

domain: entertainment


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December 2019 Best Savings Rates
Use our savings rates list below to search for and compare the best savings rates from banks and credit unions. Our list of savings account rates are the highest savings rates around from both local banks and credit unions. We also list the best savings rates from national banks. There is no need to search for savings rates elsewhere since we maintain the best list of rates.
Why are Savings Accounts Better?
Online savings accounts are very mainstream these days and have been around for about two decades now. There are many features about an online savings account that make banking so much easier than a traditional brick and mortar savings account. Plus, the interest rate earn on an online account is so much higher than an account offered by a brick and mortar bank.
Savings accounts in general earn a lower rate than certificate of deposit accounts but you have access to your money when you need it. You can access your money in a certificate of deposit but you will pay an early withdrawal penalty if you do so.
Savings accounts are a good way to save for unexpected expenses or can be used for an emergency account. Experts recommend having at least six months of expenses stashed away in an emergency account.
Savings Account Features
Federal law, Regulation D, only allows for 6 withdrawals from a savings account per billing cycle. If you constantly go over that amount your bank or credit unoin is allowed to switch your account to a checking account. Most checking accounts earn a lower rate than savings accounts.
We actually recommend having a savings account, checking account and also certificates of deposit, each is designed for a particular need.
Online savings accounts earn a much higher interest rate than regular savings accounts. The reason being, with traditional brick and mortar banking there are higher costs to maintain branch locations. If a bank only has an online presence the savings are tremendous and they can pass the savings onto depositors in the form of higher interest rates.
Why Use an Online Savings Account?
The ease and convenience of online banking is the second reason to stick with online accounts. You can access your accounts online to view balances, pay bills, transfer money between accounts. One of the greatest features is mobile deposit. You can take a photo of a check to deposit it into your account.
Traditional Savings Accounts vs. Online Savings Account
There are many reasons to choose an online savings account over a traditional savings account. Many reasons we mention above.
Right now, the best online savings rate is more than 10 times the best brick and mortar savings rate. We don't expect this to ever change because online banks have lower costs.
Compound Interest on a Savings Account
If you haven't heard of compound interest you really need to read this next paragraph. Compound interest is interest calculated on the savings account principal and interest already earned. Compound interest is the most powerful aspect of a savings account.
When you open a savings account make sure to see when a bank or credit union "compounds the interest." Finanical institutions greatly differ on when the compound interest. The more frequently interest is compounded the more money you make. Some finanical institutions will do it daily, some compound monthly, some compound quarterly or even annually.
Do you pay income tax on interest earned on a savings account?
The answer is yes, interest earned on a savings account is taxable. The finanical institution you have an account with will send you a 1099-INT with the amount of interest you earned. The tax rate you pay will depend on your tax rate which depends on how much income you had any given year.
How to Open a Savings Account
The best and easiest way to open a savings account is online. You will need several pieces of information to open an account. There are Federal laws designed to prevent money laundering which drive most of the process these days.
Information you will need to provide a bank or credit union to open a savings account include:
Should I Designate Beneficiaries when I open a Savings Account?
Most banks or credit unions require you to designate a beneficiary when you open an account. The person(s) you name as the beneficiaries will inherit the money in the account.
Funding a Savings Account
If the savings account has a minimum deposit requirement, you’ll need to deposit at least that much money in the account. You can do this by initiating a bank transfer, sending or depositing a check or using a wire transfer.
Not all banks require a minimum deposit but for the banks that do you might also be able fund the account for some period after the account has been opened.
TotalDirectBank money market account rates are currently some of the best money market rates available on the rate list. Current money market account rates from TotalDirectBank are at 2.03 percent with an APY of 2.05 percent. The minimum opening account balance is only $5,000 and the maximum amount you can deposit is $500,000. This high yield money market account rate from TotalDirectBank is more than 8x the FDIC national average rate. To get the best deal on a money market account compare rates online with TotalDirectBank money market account rates.
TotalDirectBank is a division of City National Bank of Florida which was founded in Miami more than 70 years ago. The bank has more than $15 billion in assets. Deposits are insured with the FDIC under Certificate # 20234.
Money Market Account from TotalDirectBank Fine Print
Compare online money market rates with TotalDirectBank money market account rates.
earn.bank money market account rates are still one of the best variable rate accounts on our rate list. The current money market account rate at earn.bank is at 2.03 percent with an APY of 2.05 percent. There is a minimum opening deposit of $10,000 to earn this great money market account rate at earn.bank. There is one caveat, if you don’t maintain a minimum monthly account balance of at least $10,000 there is a $10 a month fee on the account. Be sure to also switch estatements to avoid a $25 paper statement fee. If you avoid this pitfalls, the 2.05 percent money market account rate at earn.bank is one of best rates around. To make sure you’re getting the best deal you can search for and compare online rates with earn.bank money market account rate.
Presidential Bank money market rates are offering the best money market rates available on our rate table right now. Current money market rates at Presidential Bank are at 2.23 percent with an APY of 2.25 percent. This rate and yield are on Presidential Bank’s Money Market Plus Checking account. The minimum opening deposit to earn that money market rate from Presidential Bank are on the high end. The average daily balance for the month needs to be at least $100,000 if the day’s balance is under $250,000. To get the highest rate and best deal on a money market account, compare other banks’ rates with Presidential’s Bank money market rates.
Presidential Bank Money Market Plus Checking Account Features
Barclays savings rates are still some of the best savings rates available today. The current savings rate at Barclays is at 1.88 percent with an APY of 1.90 percent. There is no minimum opening deposit for a savings account at Barclays. The highest savings rates available online have been moving lower since the Federal Reserve started lowing the fed funds rate. The Fed is widely expected to decrease the rate one more time this year which might lead to lower savings rates from Barclays and other banks.
earn.bank’s money market rate is currently one of the best money market rates available on our rate list. Their current money market rate is at 2.23 percent with an APY of 2.25 percent. You can earn that rate and yield from earn.bank on all account balances over $10,000.
To give you an idea of how good earn.bank’s money market rate is right now, the current FDIC’s national average money market rate is considerably lower at 0.18 percent.
When you sign up, make sure you choose to receive eStatements. Otherwise, you’ll have a $25 monthly fee for paper statements. You need to keep your account balance above $10k or there will be a $10 monthly fee. If you end up with $35+ in monthly charges, you could cause the rate and yield to fall considerably, or quite possibly be a negative return, depending on your account balance. Simple enough, though – balance over 10k and receive eStatements and enjoy one of the best rates available today.
WauBank, a new online bank, is currently offering competitive money market rates that are much higher than traditional brick and mortar banks’ money market rates. The current money market rate at WauBank is at 2.18 percent with an APY of 2.20 percent. To give you an idea of how good this rate is at WauBank, the current FDIC national average rate is only at 0.18 percent. WauBank’s money market rate is more than 12 times the FDIC average rate. The minimum opening balance for a money market account at WauBank is only $5,000.
Savings account rates at CIT Bank are very competitive right now, especially on the bank’s Savings Builder savings account. In fact, the Savings Builder savings rate places CIT Bank in the top 10 savings rates on the rate list. Current CIT Bank Savings Builder savings rate is at 2.27 percent with an APY of 2.30 percent. The account is FDIC insured and the minimum opening deposit is only $100.
To earn the 2.30% APY, you have to either have $25,000 or more on deposit or make a monthly deposit of $100 or more. If you don’t make deposits of $100 or more each month or have a balance of less than $25,000 the savings rate is 1.26% APY for the first month. Each month after the savings rate drops to 1.00% APY.
Savings Builder Benefits and Features
CIT Bank is also offering their Premier High Yield Savings Account. The current savings rate is at 1.53 percent with an APY of 1.55 percent. All account balances earn that savings rate and yield. The minimum opening deposit is only $100.
Vio Bank savings rates for July 2019 are currently the best savings rates available on our rate table. Savings rates from Vio Bank are currently at 2.49 percent with an APY of 2.52 percent. Besides being the highest online savings rate right now, this rate is also 25 times the current FDIC National Average Rate at 0.10 percent.
Vio Bank regularly monitors the competitions’ online savings rates to ensure that they always offer one of the best rates available. This ensures you are always getting a top savings rate even after opening an account. Another benefit of having a savings account from Vio Bank is that you only need $100 to open an account. Opening a Vio Bank savings account is done online and it’s very easy.
Interest is compounded daily, giving the savings account an overall higher APY. There are no monthly fees on the account. Vio Bank is a division of MidFirst Bank, and Vio Bank deposits are considered MidFirst Bank deposits for purposes of FDIC coverage of up to $250,000.
BMO Harris Bank money market rates were recently increased and are very competitive right now. Today’s money market rate at BMO Harris Bank is at 2.03 percent with an APY of 2.05 percent. This high yielding money market rate is on the Platinum Money Market Account offered by BMO Harris Bank. The minimum opening deposit for a money market account at BMO Harris Bank is $5,000.
BMO Harris Bank Money Market Account Fine Print
To get the best money market rate, see how other banks’ rates compare with BMO Harris Bank money market rate.
Comenity Direct savings rates are now the best savings rate on our list at 2.45 percent with an APY of 2.48 percent. Comenity Direct, the new online banking division of Comenity Capital Bank, just launched their High Yield Savings Account with the new top rate. The minimum opening deposit for a savings account at Comenity Direct is $100.
Comenity Direct Savings Account Fine Print
You can open an account line on the bank’s website at Comenity Direct Savings Account Application.
Banking & Finance InformationPersonal Finance

domain: finance


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Bizarre Behavior Med For Depression 05/12/2009 Pennsylvania Policeman Sits Naked on Barstool at Bowling Alley
Paragraph nine reads: "Perretta also had undergone surgery in July for a herniated disc, and was taking medication for depression."
Beaver Falls seeks to overturn ruling that reinstated fired cop
By: Bill Vidonic
Beaver County Times
Saturday December 5, 2009 10:45 PM
BEAVER FALLS Beaver Falls police officer Patsy Perretta was sitting on a barstool at Sims Bowling Alley in Big Beaver on Oct. 29, 2008, complaining to a friend about ongoing family problems.
“As much as I’m being listened to, I could sit here butt-naked on this barstool and nobody would even notice I did it,” Perretta told his friend, according to court documents.
Perretta then did just that, pulling off his clothing and sitting naked at the bar for a few minutes. But someone apparently did notice, and took a cell phone picture that made its way to the police department.
Now, Perretta’s fate with the police department is in the hands of Beaver County Court. The city fired Perretta shortly after the incident, but an arbitrator vacated that ruling in August and said Perretta should be suspended without pay for a year. The city is asking a judge to throw out the arbitrator’s ruling.
Perretta remains off duty as the appeal continues in court.
At the time of the incident and the subsequent disciplinary actions, Beaver Falls police, city officials and Sims owner David Fischer refused to release any information.
But in a recent court filing, all the details of the incident were laid out in a report issued Aug. 13 by arbitrator Matthew M. Franckiewicz.
In it, Franckiewicz wrote that Perretta was separated from his wife at the time of the incident and was struggling with custody issues, paying about $2,000 a month in child and spousal support.
Perretta also had undergone surgery in July for a herniated disc, and was taking medication for depression.
At the bowling alley, Franckiewicz wrote, as Perretta made the comment about sitting naked on a barstool, an off-duty waitress dared him to do so. Though the friend advised him not to, Perretta did it anyway.
After a couple of minutes, Perretta obeyed Fischer’s order to dress. Perretta admitted that even though he was probably drunk, he then drove home, Franckiewicz said.
Perretta didn’t know that at least two people took cell phone pictures of him. On Oct. 31, several people approached police working a high school football game and told them about the Sims incident, and one also showed police a cell phone picture.
Police Chief Charles Jones got a copy of the cell phone picture, and Perretta “admitted what he had done and attributed it to stress over his marital situation, economic problems in connection with (support payments), and fear of not being able to work. He asked for mercy.” He also began receiving treatment from a psychiatrist.
Jones suspended Perretta on Nov. 3, and Perretta was then charged by the city with these violations of the police department’s rules of conduct: breaching the department’s code of ethics, including engaging in conduct unbecoming a police employee, and violating state law against open lewdness. Perretta was never charged with any criminal offenses related to the incident.
Council fired Perretta shortly after that, though the date of the firing was not available.
The city said that Perretta’s actions “brought disrespect on the city and undermined the (police) department’s effectiveness,” Franckiewicz wrote.
The police union’s position, according to Franckiewicz, was that Perretta was under enormous stress because of personal problems, and that “human beings make mistakes but that an officer should not be discharged for a mistake unlikely to be repeated and not intended to demean the department.”
Franckiewicz, in his ruling, noted that the incident did not occur when Perretta was on duty, though it still was a personal embarrassment.
“Perretta’s disrobing in public brought disgrace upon himself, and by association brought disgrace upon his city and his profession. At the very least, his behavior constituted an embarrassment and a distraction to his fellow officers,” Franckiewicz wrote.
The arbitrator continued, “Officer Perretta, while in a pool of self-pity and alcohol, acted foolishly. He did not, however, behave dishonestly or violently, nor in abuse of his office.
“Perretta clearly acknowledges that by his behavior at the bowling alley he disgraced both himself and his uniform. I believe that officer Perretta will never again make a spectacle of himself, and I am confident that there will be no repetition of the event of Oct. 29,” Franckiewicz added.
Perretta could not be reached for comment Friday.

domain: news


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Jonas Gustavsson has been out of the lineup since the Red Wings' 4-3 win over Florida on Dec. 28, missing the last nine games. (David Guralnick / Detroit News)
Detroit — Red Wings coach Mike Babcock said Tuesday that Jonas Gustavsson will be in goal Wednesday night when the Wings host the Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks at Joe Louis Arena.
Gustavsson is returning from a groin injury. He replaces Jimmy Howard, who re-injured his left knee during Monday night's 4-1 loss to the Blues. Howard is expected to be out at least a week.
"We'd like to lean on him, for sure," said Babcock of Gustavsson, who has a 11-3-2 record with a 2.39 goals-against average and .914 save percentage. "We'd like him to stay healthy so he can do that. That's been the biggest thing with him, not his play, but whether he's been healthy enough to play."
On Howard's condition, Babcock replied: "He's injured and I imagine what they'll do is reassess him in a week. That means he's not playing tomorrow."
Howard’s focus is less on the Olympics and more on getting back to help the Red Wings.
"Fluid's back on the knee, and hopefully it gets out of there fast," Howard said. "It's definitely not as serious as last time. It's frustrating. You're moving in the right direction and doing the right things. I guess it's bad luck."
Gustavsson has been out of the lineup since the Red Wings’ 4-3 win over Florida Dec. 28, missing the last nine games.
"I've been doing good for a few days now," Gustavsson said. "We wanted to maybe take a couple of more days to make sure I got some good practices in and see how my body reacted to it, and it's been good so far and hopefully it can stay that way so I can be on the ice instead of off of it."
Defenseman Jonathan Ericsson said he is also ready to return.
"There's a chance Jonathan Ericsson can play," Babcock said.
Ericsson, who has a plus-9 — second-best on the team — has been out of the lineup since Dec. 23 with a rib injury.
Blackhawks at Red Wings
When: Wednesday, 8 p.m.
Where: Joe Louis Arena
TV / radio: NBCSN / 97.1 FM
Notable: The Red Wings will try to go 2-1 on their current five-game homestand after suffering a 4-1 loss to the Kings Monday. The Stanley Cup champion Blackhawks are 12-2-4 against Eastern Conference teams and have lost just once (5-1-4) in their last 10 games.

domain: sports


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The past couple of months have been difficult. Dealing with my sprained ankle and the subsequent recovery has taken a toll on me, both physically and emotionally. It’s been frustrating feeling and being slower than where I wanted to be, especially at this point in the summer. I’m trying to stay positive about it, which is easier said than done.
This past week I started physical therapy on the ankle, which gave me a lot of hope. My physical therapist was really encouraged at the strength of my ankle and that I was able to run what I’ve done since April. There were a few areas of concern which she gave me to work on along with scheduling a few other exercises — including a running assessment in a couple weeks.
So going into this race, I felt — cautiously — encouraged. My therapist didn’t think it was a BAD idea, in fact she was amazed I was able to run last week’s Trifecta. As far as pace and time went — I had no idea where I was going to be? The fact that last week’s races were around four hours each and the week before’s race down Big Cottonwood was 2:56 — I just didn’t know what to expect?
I really wanted to push for a sub-three hour half, but didn’t know if that was a reasonable or attainable goal? But, I knew I didn’t want to be around 3:30 or slower — so how’s that for a definitive goal?
But, with this ankle recovery I’ve found it’s hard to make definitive goals I like to see concrete results. I like to see when x plus y equals z. But, this race included too many imaginary numbers for me. So I didn’t really have a definitive goal. But, I wanted to push a sub-three and I didn’t want to be out on he course forever.
How’s that for a goal?
Anyways, I was excited to run, because American Fork Canyon is such a gorgeous canyon. It’s in my trifecta of favorite Utah canyons. It’s hard to keep your head down while running down the canyon because you get such beautiful views of Timp and the surrounding mountains. It’s so green and beautiful.
That affect happens whether I am running this race, the Timp Half or a training run. And, it got me once again on Saturday once the gun sounded. Not wanting to go out too strong I kept to the right of the road and just focused on going with the flow of the crowd. I did this to not just warm up, but to test the foot.
I kind of decided to just take what my foot was going to give me. But, I knew I couldn’t — or shouldn’t — take too much, too early. Because, if I was going to sub-three, I needed gas left in the tank in the later miles, especially the non-canyon miles. So, I ran the first three miles rather conservatively.
After those first three miles, I felt pretty good so I just worked on picking up my pace slightly and putting myself on cruise control down the canyon. It wasn’t quite like putting the petal to the metal, but it felt good being able to be consistent with minimal pain.
I was amazed at how much stronger I felt compared to not just the previous week’s races, but Drop13. Being a canyon run, I felt that American Fork Canyon was “kinder” to my ankle than Big Cottonwood. Not only was the elevation drop more gradual, but the road was less windy — which really helped with my ankle since there wasn’t much lateral movement on my part.
It just felt so good to be able to be on cruise control. The miles seemed to just pass and before I knew it I was already out of the canyon. Which was about 7.5 or so miles into the race. I felt like Meb.
Coming out of the canyon, I knew it was going to be tougher. The rolling hills and neighborhood miles are always tough for me, regardless of the state of my ankle. After passing the Mile 8 mile marker we made our climb on the rolling hills near the gold course. I decided to fast walk the hills to conserve my energy.
While climbing the hill, I noticed my friend Shonda ahead a hundred yards or so ahead of me. Throwing caution to the wind, I sprinted up the hill to catch up with her. After taking a picture with her, I ran ahead. I could tell she was struggling a bit, but I was amazed I was able to catch up to her, because she is a strong runner.
It was around this time I felt I had a shot at that sub-three time. Knowing the course that was ahead of me, I knew it was going to be tough, but I felt that if I kept running and didn’t stop to walk much, I could do it. So, I shuffled when I needed to shuffle and sprinted when I needed to sprint those last five miles.
After winding around neighborhoods and along the Murdock Trail, I made it to the last mile of the race. I avoided looking at my watch, because I didn’t want to play mind games with myself. I just wanted to keep running strong. Soon we met up with the 5K runners who looped onto the 3/4 of a mile of the race with us.
Around this time, as I was focusing on that last mile, I heard my name and noticed it was Zack — one of my teammates from Addict II Athlete. I could tell right away he was hurting, He told me that his leg was hurting. But, for hurting at that point of the race, he was looking strong.
We ran together that last mile and I gave him the best advice I had on dealing with pain. I gave him some of my ultrarunning tricks and reminded him that when the legs and mind give out — you let the heart carry you the rest of the way. It was a very special moment for me to be able to share with Zack.
We soon ran into Don, our teammate, who came back looking for us and he ran us to the finisher’s corral. I let Zack ahead of me as I barked words of encouragement toward that finish line. It wasn’t until that last moment when I caught a glance of the time that I noticed I got a sub-three time! But, at that moment I didn’t really care. I was happy to be done, to be with teammates and have the opportunity to run with Zack.
After grabbing some water and mingling a bit, I checked my time and came in at 2:55:06 — I was happy. I was very happy. I didn’t care that I once ran this race 45 minutes faster, I cared about now. I cared about the effort I put in that day. And, I cared that my foot didn’t feel like it fell off.
I was happy.
I still have a long way to go with my recovery, but this was a victory. And, having a plan with my physical therapist I feel like I have an attainable goal that will help me get where I want and need to be. Not just with my speed, but my stamina that will help get me to my 48 hour run in February. That 100 miles is going to happen. I am sure of it.
But, the focus is on the therapy, the weight loss and the exercises I CAN do. And, I am feeling a difference. I’ve shed over 10lbs. and lost some inches that needed to be shed so I am happy with that. Sure, like I’ve said previously, it might not be in the timetable or pace I’d like it to be — but, it’s happening.
My next race is in a couple of weeks, so the focus is on the continued weight-loss and therapy. I have a group run planned for Little Cottonwood on Saturday that I am excited about. Lots of good things happening.
But, Saturday’s race was perfection.
MY NEXT FIVE RACES
I had a race that was cancelled — The 13 Miles of Freedom — so I had to do a little shuffling. That makes my next race the Utah Midnight Run in Farmington! That will be the first of two back to back races on the weekend of July 7th!
Running Miles — 6.5 miles
Race Miles — 13.1 miles
Walking Miles — 35.23 miles
TOTAL MILES — 54.83 miles
Race(s) this week — AF Canyon Race Against Cancer
June 2017 Miles
Running Miles — 32.7 miles
Race Miles — 65.5 miles
Walking Miles — 92.27 miles
TOTAL MILES — 190.47 miles
Races in May — Drop 13 Half Marathon, Bear Lake Trifecta — Idaho, Wyoming & Utah and AF Canyon Race Against Cancer
Running Miles — 259.95 miles
Race Miles — 243.12 miles
Walking Miles — 616.72 miles
TOTAL MILES — 1119.79 miles
Races done in 2017 — New Year’s Half Marathon, Sweethearts 5K, Jackpot Running Festival, SL Tri Club Indoor Half, March Madness Half, Lucky 13 Half Marathon, Emigration Canyon Half Marathon, Riverton Half, Saltair Half, Provo City Half Marathon, Jordan River Half Marathon, Drop13 Half Marathon, Bear Lake Trifecta — Idaho, Wyoming & Utah and AF Canyon Race Against Cancer.
AF Canyon Run Against Cancer; June 24, 2017 (2:55:04) AF Canyon will always be one of my favorite canyons to run. Great views of Timp, gorgeous greenery around every corner and a canyon drop that lets you soak it all in putting yourself on cruise control. Came into this race not knowing what to expect with my ankle, but the terrain and elevation drop made for a fairly pain free run. I pushed it a bit and was pleasantly surprised and happy coming in under three hours. Not bad for my fourth half in two weeks, eh? Had a great moment running in my @addicttoathlete teammate Zack during the last mile. We were both hurting, but we kept each other motivated and going. I sure love being a part of this team, we inspire and motivate each other to our goals. I’m feeling stronger, especially with my physical therapy. I can’t wait to get where I want to be/need. But, for now, I need to be patient. #race152 #afcanyonrun #running @joshruns180 @josherwalla @fight4phat @addicttoathlete @afcanyonrun
Doing my first PT session for Foots McGee. Hoping this will help with the pain. I’m feeling it heal, but obviously would like it to go faster. But, I gotta trust the process. #physicaltherapy #running #injuryrecovery #injury #runner #runnerslife #sprainedankle #run #fitness #wellness #health #recovery #comebackstronger @josherwalla @joshruns180 @fight4phat


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Welcome to Virginia Court Reporters Association (VCRA)
Virginia Court Reporters Association (VCRA) has been assisting court reporters in enhancing their skills for over 35 years. Founded in 1967, the association stands as a leader in education and legislative representation serving members from throughout the state.Learn more
VCRA BRAOEF BLA*S
Recent closure decisions by Stenograph and Arlington Career Institute will make it more difficult for future Virginia court reporters.
Keep current on what is happening in Virginia and with VCRA by reading our quarterly newsletters online.
[A] recommendation was approved that the Virginia Supreme Court should form a task-force committee to address the implementation and enforcement of mandatory court reporter certification in Virginia.
Join VCRA Today!
We are a nonprofit Virginia corporation dedicated to promoting the profession of court reporting and the general welfare and mutual professional interests of Virginia's freelance and official court reporters.

domain: law


text:
The HVDC converter station market is projected to reach USD 11.57 Billion by 2022 from an estimated USD 7.90 Billion in 2017, at a CAGR of 7.92%, during the forecast period. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to be the fastest growing followed by Europe during the forecast period. The growth is attributed to the requirement of efficient and economical bulk power transfer from major economies in the region. The growth of the HVDC converter station market is driven by the growth of renewable power generation across the world and it is one of the cheapest and safest way of transferring power over large distances.
The major players in the HVDC converter station market are ABB (Switzerland), Siemens (Germany) and General Electric (US). The market is dominated by these players due to their technologically advanced products and services.
Major strategies adopted by the players include contracts & agreements, mergers & acquisitions, and investments and expansions. Contracts & agreements was the most commonly adopted strategy from 2014 to September 2017. Industry players also adopted mergers & acquisitions and investments and expansions during the same period.
ABB was founded in 1988 and is headquartered in Switzerland. The company is among the leading manufacturers of HVDC converter stations. ABB operates in more than 100 countries through a wide network of distributors and dealers. The company operates through its electrification products, discrete motion and automation, process automation, and power grid segments. It offers HVDC converter stations through its power grid business unit. ABB has entered into partnerships with companies such as Hitachi in Japan and BHEL in India, along with other regional companies to cater to clients across the globe. In February 2017 ABB was awarded a contract by Power Grid Corporation for a turnkey UHVDC project for approximately USD 640 Million. The scope of the project includes designing, engineering, supply, installation, and commissioning, as well as providing major equipment, including transformers, converter valves, cooling systems, and the control and protection technology.
Siemens was founded in 1847 and is headquartered in Germany. Siemens is a manufacturing and engineering company that provides its services to various industries such as infrastructure, healthcare, and energy. The company operates through eight segments, namely, power and gas, healthcare, energy management, and digital factory, among others. The energy management division is further segmented into power generation, high voltage power transmission, and renewable energy divisions, among others. The company offers HVDC transmission systems and high voltage devices under its high voltage power transmission segment. The company operates through 289 products facilities in 190 countries. The company is the leading provider of HVDC converter stations across the globe. It has been adopting inorganic growth strategies and secured many projects based on technical expertise since the installation of converter stations. In February 2017 Siemens was awarded a contract to supply a link between the French and British power grids by ElecLink Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Groupe Eurotunnel SE. The ElecLink HVDC link will enhance power supply reliability in France and the UK and promote the integration of renewable energy sources with the power grid.
HVDC Converter Station Market by Configuration (Monopolar, Bi-Polar, Back-to-Back, Multi-Terminal), Technology (LCC, VSC), Component (Valve, Converter Transformer, Harmonic Filter, Reactor), Power Rating, and Region - Global Forecast to 2022
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domain: geography


NIKKI VAN SPRUNDEL
Head of Content VR Days
As head of content for the VR Days Europe I am responsible for the program of the Church of VR. This is the big content show of the VR Days, where visitors of the festival can experience creative VR and AR work from all over the world.
“I believe that producing VR starts with defining what elements make this medium different from the media we already know. My philosophy is that, to bring this medium forward, we should try to make content that is as relevant to the medium as possible. We can do this by focusing on exploring and using medium-specific elements to tell a story or form a concept around.”
ABOUT VR DAYS
VR Days Europe (previously known as Dutch VR Days) is a annual professional conference: 3 days of the best demos, great keynotes, insightful expert sessions, a VRackathon and live content creation.
Get exposed to the best AR & VR professionals ranging from creatives and VR developers to corporate innovators and meet the shakers, makers, and players of the industry. We want to facilitate production of the better of VR and AR, to bring together the European community, to inspire the industry, to generate ideas and assignments and to create business. That is why we focus on a broad range of subjects in the conference and expert sessions. We aim to show the best content in order to advocate VR. Use VR Days Europe for branding, show your thought leadership or generate new business.


Items tagged with greenpower
Customer spotlight – Harsh International
Colorado-based Harsh International, Inc. manufactures farm machinery and other industrial equipment, including hydraulic truck hoists, feed, and dairy mixers, grinders, flakers, antennas, and more. As the name implies, these products are rugged, like the company’s history. Bud Harsh founded the business in the late 1940s. After saving the lives of sailors trapped in a sinking ship during World War II, he went on to build what is now a multimillion-dollar business. Over the years, the company has built on his legacy, growing with the times and expanding its operations to include in-house machining, water jets, laser cutting, and robotics.
Greenpower: Experience the fun of engineering first-hand
From grade school to university – from Great Britain to China and everywhere in between – Greenpower enables students around the world to learn about engineering and the environment, gain real-world experience and discover the power of teamwork.
Greenpower x Siemens
Greenpower x Siemens The Greenpower program and curriculum were developed to advance education in the subjects of engineering and technology for young people, ages 9 to 25. This is achieved through unique hands-on projects that enable students to desig…
Greenpower: A Momentous Race
As the title sponsor, Siemens is proud to support Greenpower and provides Solid Edge software to participating schools and students free of charge.


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Last night I came up with a brilliant idea. Since curling is the second most popular sport in the Winter olympics in Finland (can’t beat ice hockey), here’s a game idea to take advantage of that: Curling Crokinole!
It’s simple: Crokinole on a board shaped after a curling field. Players try to flick their disks in the house, with similar scoring as curling. Sure, you’ll have to skip the brooms, but still — the strategies of curling would be there.
As curling is immensely popular in Finland right now thanks to the successful national team, the game would sell a lot! Just slap Markku Uusipaavalniemi on top of the box and that’s it!


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Published in July 28, 2021
Whilst credit cards can be a useful tool, they often come with a range of different fees. Credit card fees can end up costing you a lot of money in the long run. That’s why we’ve put together this helpful guide on how to reduce credit card fees in 5 simple ways.
Before we dive into the ways you can reduce credit card fees – let’s start with the basics. What is a credit card? A credit card is a line of revolving credit at a set limit that refreshes periodically, generally each month.
You can use a credit card to make purchases, balance transfers and cash advances. When you take out a credit card, you do so with the condition that you pay back the money that you spent, plus any additional interest. At the very least, you’ll have to make the minimum repayment each month by the due date.
There are many different types of credit cards which all come with their unique benefits and downfalls. One key rule to keep in mind – if you are getting some kind of benefit, such as rewards, low-interest rates or no annual fee, you are often paying for it in another way. This could be through extra fees or higher interest rates. That’s why it’s a good idea to weigh the pros and cons before deciding on which card is right for you.
Here are some of the most common types of credit cards:
There are several different credit card fees that you’ll need to keep an eye out for. What fees you’ll be charged, and how much they’ll cost you, completely depend on your specific card. That’s why it’s important to read the terms and conditions carefully before applying for a credit card.
Here’s a breakdown of some of the most common credit card fees.
|Most credit cards come with an annual fee which you’ll be charged each year. The cost of this fee will vary depending on which credit card you have.
|Just like an annual fee, most credit cards come with interest. You will be charged interest when you carry a balance (when you don’t completely pay off your credit card debt for the month).
There are different types of interest rates. They might be called: purchase rate, cash advance rate, balance transfer rate or promotional interest rate.
|Balance transfer fee
|A balance transfer is when you move your existing debt onto a new account. This can allow you to get on top of your debt, but, you’ll generally be charged a fee to do so.
|Cash advance fee
|When you withdraw money from an ATM with your credit card or buy foreign currency – this is referred to as a cash advance. When you perform either of these actions you will generally be charged a cash advance fee.
|Late payment fee
|Your credit card limit typically refreshes each month. At the end of your monthly period, you’ll receive your bill for how much you’ve spent.
With credit cards, you don’t have to repay the full amount, but you’ll pay at least the minimum amount by the due date to avoid late payment fees. If you don’t, then you’ll likely be charged a late payment fee.
|International transaction fee
|If you use your card overseas or make a purchase online with an international merchant, you will likely be charged a fee. An international transaction fee can also be called a foreign transaction fee or a currency conversion fee.
Now that you’re armed with all of the information you need on types of credit cards and common fees, let’s get stuck into how to reduce credit card fees. Here are five things you could do.
Each month, you will receive your credit card bill. If you don’t pay this off by the due date, you will be charged late fees and interest. If you pay the full amount off each month, not only will you avoid late fees, but you’ll also avoid having to pay interest on the amount carried over into the next month. This is a great way to reduce credit card fees.
If you can’t repay your credit card balance off in full each month, you should try and at least make your minimum repayment. Your minimum repayment is the lowest monthly repayment you can make without incurring late fees. The minimum monthly repayment is usually about 2 or 3% of the total amount you owe for the month.
By paying the minimum repayment by the due date, you won’t have to pay late fees. However, you’ll still accrue interest on what’s still owing, and this could cost you a lot in the long run.
Therefore, if you want to reduce credit cards fees, you could try and repay your balance off in full each month, or at the very least, make your minimum repayments. It is also worth highlighting that many credit cards, especially low-interest rate credit cards, will void the credit card offer or rewards system if you are late with a payment.
There are certain credit cards on the market that offer good deals for the annual fee. Some cards might offer a low annual fee and some might offer no annual fees either for a certain time or for the life of the card.
Whilst this is a good way to reduce credit card fees, it is important to highlight that many of these cards will offset the lower annual fee with higher interest rates. This could cost you more in the long run. That’s why it’s a good idea to weigh your options and see what’s the best decision for you.
When you use your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM, this is called a cash advance. Just like any other purchase you make with your credit card, you will need to pay this back. What’s more – most credit card providers charge a fee for cash advances. How much the fee is, depends on your specific card.
If you want to reduce credit card fees, you could do this by not using your credit card to withdraw money from an ATM. If you need to withdraw money from an ATM, you could use your debit card instead, which might not charge you any fees.
If you want to avoid being charged a fee for international transactions, there are two ways you can go about this. The first is you can shop around and look for a credit card that doesn’t charge a fee for international transactions. Alternatively, you could avoid making foreign transactions on your card altogether. Either of these options could help you reduce credit card fees.
The final tip to reduce credit card fees is to do your research before applying for a credit card. Think of why you want a credit card and then try and find the best one for your needs. You could compare interest rates, fees, and find one that best aligns with your needs.
While we at Tippla will always do our best to provide you with the information you need to financially thrive, it’s important to note that we’re not debt counsellors, nor do we provide financial advice. Be sure to speak to your financial services professional before making any decisions.
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On Sunday July 14, Friends of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary will be having their activity day at Thompson Beach.
FAIBS says the day will see the group engaging in walking track and trail cleanup activities.
Gloves and any tools required will be supplied, but participants are encouraged to bring their own if preferred. FAIBS says a scope will be available on the day for those interested in doing a bit of bird spotting after the event.
Further details of the FAIBS event can be found here.
The date coincides with the Thompson Beach Progress Association working bee – activities to be announced.
Friends of the Adelaide International Bird Sanctuary is a community group interested in the well-being of birds
on the Samphire Coast, particularly migratory shorebirds that spend summers in
the region before migrating to the Northern Hemisphere for breeding.
FAIBS aims to hold community events on the 3rd Sunday of every month that involve activities such as planting and cleaning up areas within the sanctuary. To become a financial member, it’s just $10 a year and that will provide benefits such as free training. However, you don’t need to be a financial member to attend community events. For further information, email firstname.lastname@example.org.


Who Makes the Best Boilers? The Crucial Role of Installation
When it comes to quoting for boiler installations, we often encounter a common question from customers: “Who makes the best boilers?” It’s commendable that customers take the time to research and read reviews about different boiler brands, educating themselves about their reputations. However, there’s an often overlooked factor that plays a more critical role than the boiler itself: the installation. A budget-friendly boiler that has been installed correctly will undoubtedly outperform and outlast a high-end boiler that has been improperly installed and inadequately set up. This realization leads us to emphasize the importance of delving deep into researching potential installers, sometimes even more than the boiler itself.
Finding the Right Company: Finding a trustworthy business can be a daunting task, but thanks to the advent of online review platforms and social media, the process has become more accessible than ever before. Reputable businesses usually have multiple ways of gathering and showcasing customer reviews. Platforms like Google Reviews, Checkatrade, and Checked and Vetted are excellent resources to explore other customers’ opinions and experiences with potential installers. Moreover, many businesses now utilize social media, where you can view pictures and videos of their work, allowing you to assess the quality of their installations. Most companies also maintain a website where they consolidate their work portfolio and display customer reviews.
The Boiler Selection: Once you have done your research on the installers and decide to reach out to them, you may discover that they do not install the specific type of boiler you were hoping for. In such cases, it is advisable to consider installing their preferred boiler instead of trying to convince them to install the one you desire. If the installer is well-trained and experienced in a particular type of boiler, they are more likely to set it up properly, ensuring optimal efficiency and better maintenance during servicing, thus prolonging the boiler’s lifespan. Another option is to search for accredited installers in your area who specialize in the type of boiler you want. However, it is still crucial to conduct thorough research on these businesses to ensure they meet all the necessary criteria. Remember, a larger volume of installations does not always equate to better quality.
Common Boiler Manufacturer Websites to Find Installers: To assist you in your search for a reputable installer, here are some links to some of our recommended boiler manufacturers find a installer pages:
- Vaillant – Find an Installer: vaillant-advance.co.uk
- Worcester – Find an Installer: worcester-bosch.co.uk/products/boilers/find-an-installer
- ATAG – Find an Installer: atagheating.co.uk
- Viessmann – Find a Viessmann Trained Installer near you: viessmann.co.uk
- Baxi – Find Boiler Installers | New Boiler Installation near me: baxi.co.uk
- Ideal – How To Buy Your Boiler. Find A Registered Installer Today: idealheating.com
Greenhome Heating have installed boilers produced by of the above brands over the years. We particularly recommend Vaillant, ATAG and ideal boilers. These three manufacturers have demonstrated higher levels of aftersales backup over the years and offer some fantastic and reliable boilers.
When it comes to selecting the best boiler for your heating system, remember that the brand and features are just one part of the equation. Proper installation is the key to unlocking the full potential of any boiler. By choosing a skilled and reputable heating professional, you ensure that your boiler operates at peak performance, maximizing energy efficiency, and extending its lifespan. So, invest your time in finding the right installer, and you’ll enjoy the benefits of a reliable and efficient heating system for years to come.


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On Thursday, April 16 at 7:30 p.m., the Canisius College Department of Modern Languages, Sigma Delta Pi and Hip Hop Dance Crew will host director Henry Chalfant for a screening of his documentary “From Mambo to Hip Hop: A Bronx Tale”. The event will be held in the Language Resource Center, Old Main 314.
The film presents a panoramic view of the music that blossomed in the Latino community of the South Bronx from the late 1940s, when mambo burst onto the New York cultural scene, through the birth of hip hop in the 1970s. The film chronicles two generations that grew up, literally, on the same streets and both used rhythm as their form of rebellion. For the older generation it was the pulsating rhythms of Cuba; for their children it was the rhythms of rap.
The event is free and open to the public.
Please contact Dr. Richard Reitsma at email@example.com for more information.
Submitted by: Maureen Kanczak, administrative associate, Modern Languages, Lit. & Cultures


A police officer responsible for protecting Government officials has been arrested over alleged leaks to the media about the "plebgate" incident.
The 46-year-old from the Diplomatic Protection Group was held at his work place in central London on suspicion of misconduct in public office.
More top news
Democrat presidential hopeful Hillary Clinton begins her New Hampshire campaign but young and female voters are opting for Bernie Sanders.
Some southern counties have seen their windiest winds of the winter so far today.
A man in his 50s has been shot dead in Dublin, three days after a fatal shooting at a nearby hotel.


Property Week reports Dutch developer Edge and Japan’s Mitsubishi Estate London have confirmed the acquisition of 125 Shaftesbury Avenue, a 180,000 sq ft office building in London’s West End. Korean asset manager Vestas Investment Management has agreed a sale, understood to be worth around £150m, for the vacant 1.2-acre freehold site previously occupied by WeWork. The co-working giant previously had a lease for 140,000 sq ft running until 2038, but has encountered severe financial difficulties and terminated its lease.
EG reports that Hurtigruten Cruises is moving from WeWorks 5 Merchant Square to a new London HQ at Global Holdings Management’s 210 Pentonville Road. It will occupy 10,500sqft on a five year lease in the 57,000sqft building.
City of London
BE News reports AXA IM Alts has agreed three leasing deals for more than 65,000 sq ft at 22 Bishopsgate in the City of London, taking the building’s occupancy to circa 92%. Westfield Specialty and Canada Life have both signed for up to circa 25,000 sq ft floor, on 10-year and 15-year leases, and Fidelis MGU has agreed to extend its footprint by an additional half floor. At the moment, 22 Bishopsgate has 23 occupiers across seven broad sectors in the building.
Building reports that plans are submitted by Orms for major overhaul of Deutsche Bank’s London HQ. Three floors will be added to the 10-storey Winchester House at 75 London Wall under proposals designed by architect Orms and submitted for planning last week. The scheme, thought to be worth upwards of £200m, has been drawn up for a joint venture between UK investment manager Castleforge and Malaysian construction and property company Gamuda Group.
City of Westminster
Property Week reports that Criterion Capital has acquired Haymarket House in London’s Piccadilly Circus for a reported £135m. The firm, which owns super-prime central London properties, plans to convert the upper floors into a £400m hotel, founder Asif Aziz told City AM. The proposals will see the existing restaurant and comedy club on the ground floor retained. Criterion Capital’s acquisition follows a series of large deals made by Aziz this year.
Architects’ Journal reports Westminster City Council has approved a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme designed by emerging practice Metashape Architects. The £8 million project at the junction of Harrow Road and St John’s Terrace will create 15 flats for client Westminster Community Homes. The proposal supersedes an earlier approved application – for the same housing association – for 25 flats, at the time earmarked to be leased at intermediate rent.
Shaftesbury Capital has secured a £300m unsecured loan with an initial maturity of three years. The loan has an option to extend by a further two periods of one year each, subject to lender approval. The proceeds of the facility, combined with the existing cash resources of the company, will be used to repay the remaining balance of an existing unsecured loan, which was arranged at the time of the £3.5bn merger of Shaftesbury and Capital & Counties.
Hackney Council reports that the control over new development in Hackney Wick and the parts of the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park will return to Hackney Council from next year after the Council approved plans to transfer planning powers back from the London Legacy Development Corporation. The decision, approved by the Council’s Cabinet, will see the Council take back responsibility for setting planning policies, making decisions on planning applications and placing levies on new developments in Hackney Wick and the area around Here East for the first time since London 2012.
Hammersmith & Fulham
Achitects’ Journal reports that protestors have delayed a decision over Allford Hall Monaghan Morris’ plans to overhaul Shepherd’s Bush Market in west London, which include the addition of a nine-storey office block and 40 homes to the site. Anti-project campaigners disrupted a Hammersmith and Fulham Council planning meeting this week, meaning it had to be adjourned without a verdict being reached.
Property Week reports that Sainsbury’s has agreed to move its UK head offices to Helical and Ashby Capital’s The JJ Mack Building in Farringdon in the next two years. The grocer has signed for the first, second and third floors, comprising 68,002 sq ft of office space, and is expected to relocate its existing London office at 33 Holborn, just a few hundred yards away. The recently developed JJ Mack Building at 33 Charterhouse Street totals 200,611 sq ft of office space across 11 floors alongside 5,439 sq ft of ground-floor retail space.
Property Week reports that Michael Gove has delayed his decision on plans to redevelop ITV’s former South Bank studios for the third time. The communities secretary, who was due to make the final call on CO-RE and Mitsubishi Estate‘s £700m demolish-and-rebuild proposals on 6th December, has pushed the decision back until 6 February. The scheme, called 72 Upper Ground, would deliver a 850,550 sq ft office-led development on a 2.5-acre site on London’s South Bank.
SE1 News reports that the proposals for an 18-storey office block at the Elephant & Castle have been approved on appeal by a planning inspector. The site at the corner of Walworth Road and Elephant Road was more recently it has been used for ‘The Artworks’ temporary shops, restaurants and library. The scheme was unanimously rejected by Southwark Council in October last year. Lendlease appealed against Southwark Council’s decision to reject the scheme and planning inspector published his decision, upholding Lendlease’s appeal and granting planning permission.
Architects’ Journal reports Southwark Council has approved a 688-room student scheme by tp bennett, which replaces an earlier 219-home scheme for the site by HTA Design. The council’s planning committee voted to approve the development near Old Kent Road. The 1,991m2 scheme on a 0.29ha site will comprise three buildings. A 34-storey tower will contain the student housing with ground and first-floor commercial use; a seven-storey side building will hold 198m2 of affordable workspace and 23 affordable residential units; and a third block will be part retained for commercial use.
Architects’ Journal reports that Southwark Council has cancelled two housing-led regeneration schemes due to cost increases. The practices’ proposals for redeveloping parts of the Bells Gardens and nearby Lindley estates in Peckham would have created 127 new council homes. The council said it had also mothballed a separate Weston Williamson-designed scheme for 79 new council homes as part of an in-fill scheme at the 1950s Sceaux Gardens Estate in Camberwell, which was approved in late 2021. Redesigns are likely for any future proposals for all three of the sites.
BBC reports that Wandsworth Council is the first in London to publish a new night-time plan. It outlines ways to transform the borough between 18:00 and 06:00, with a focus on safety, transport, night-time workers and entertainment. Plans include better street lighting, night markets, businesses opening later and calming music at transport hubs. It follows recommendations from the Greater London Authority (GLA) that all councils design a new night-time strategy.


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Zach Werenski, the 19-year-old NHL player will have to sit the remainder of the playoffs after being stuck in the face with a puck –which resulted in a facial fracture.
During Sunday’s loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Columbus Blue Jackets defenseman took the hit in the second period before briefly returning in the third.
The Michigan native showed just how tough NHL players are by getting stitched up and returning to the game, however, his eye began to swelled up between the third period and overtime making it impossible for him to come back out.
He shared a picture after the game sporting a massive, swollen black eye with a gnarly cut underneath, clearly his eye too swollen to see properly.
Werenski, has emerged as one of the best young defensemen in the sport. He recorded 47 points (36 assists, 11 goals) during the regular season and scored his first playoff goal earlier in the Blue Jackets’ Game 3 loss to Pittsburgh.
Zach Werenski was born July 19, 1997 to parents Kristen and Ken Werenski. He has one older brother, Brad Werenski who also played hockey growing up.
Zach who started skating when her was 3 and started playing when her was 4, enrolled in the College of Literature, Science and the Arts at the University of Michigan.
During his freshman season, at the University of Michigan, Werenski recorded nine goals and 16 assists. Following an outstanding rookie season, Werenski was named to both the 2014–15 Big Ten All-Freshman Team and the All-Big Ten First Team.
Zach also represented the U.S at the 2014 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he recorded one assist in six games, and won a gold medal. He was named captain of the Team USA at the 2016 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.
He accelerated studies to become NCAA-eligible in summer 2014 and was drafted eighth overall by the Blue Jackets in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft –becoming Michigan’s highest draft pick since Jack Johnson (3rd overall, 2005).
Last March he signed a three-year, entry level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets, beginning with the 2016–17 season.
Those rooting for the young star, have nothing to worry about. The recent injury, though looking very disturbing will like cost him just one game, let’s face it, the Penguins currently lead the Jackets three games to none in their opening-round series. We took a closer look at Zach’s social media and so far, no sign of being in a relationship.
You can follow him on Instagram here.


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The liver is one of the body’s most important organs. That’s because it deals with all aspects of digestion and body metabolism. It releases or triggers certain bodily hormones.The liver is responsible for producing the clotting factors that help the blood clot when you get a cut or wound. It single-handedly breaks down the toxins that make it into our bodies so they can be excreted by the kidneys. If the liver malfunctions, all of its functions could be seriously compromised. That’s keeping your liver free of toxins is so important and dandelion root is just the herb for the job.
The dandelion is a flowering plant that grows in parts of Europe, Asia, and North America (most of us know it as a weed) The dandelion’s roots and leaves are both used medicinally. The root is the part that helps cleanse the liver. Compounds in the root cause an increase in bile production. The increase in bile helps to improve digestion. The increased bile production also helps the liver to digest foods and remove toxins quickly and efficiently cleaning the liver. Dandelion is also full of vitamins and nutrients, which promote hepatic healing.
Dandelion root is available as a tincture, powdered extract, and as tea. If you want to do a deep liver cleanse, tea is the best option.
- Heat eight ounces of water and put in an organic dandelion root tea bag
- Let it sit for at least 10 minutes
- Drink this tea three to four times a day
If you have problems with bloating or water retention, you can further enhance your detoxification by adding a tablespoon of pure unsweetened organic cranberry juice and a tablespoon of fresh squeezed organic lemon juice to each cup of tea. This will help the kidneys flush out excess water and salt from your body.
Every cup of tea should be followed by a cup of filtered water and you should drink at least 64 ounces of water in addition to the tea each day. A detox like this can be done anywhere from three to ten days, with the average being seven. There is no increased benefit from going on a detox lasting longer than ten days.
A dandelion root liver cleanse may cause a few unpleasant side effects. Some people experience a mild laxative effect. This is because dandelion root promotes digestive health and clears the digestive tract of toxins. This should last three days maximum and should be mild. After that, it should begin to improve digestion.
Because of dandelion root’s effect on bile production, if you have gallbladder disease, gall stones, or other gall bladder problems, you are cautioned against using dandelion root and should consult a doctor first. Dandelion root interacts negatively with lithium, and certain antibiotics. If you are taking lithium or are on antibiotic therapy, ask your doctor before starting this liver cleanse.
In summary, everyday our liver deals with digestion, metabolism of toxins, hormonal control, and numerous other important activities. It can be overwhelming. A dandelion root tea liver cleanse can help the liver stay healthy and do its job more efficiently. Dandelion root is one of the best herbs available for a liver cleanse. Dandelion root helps the liver flush out toxins and makes it easier for the liver to digest food. It also promotes healing.
A detox done with dandelion root tea is the fastest and easiest way to detoxify the liver. Certain enhancements, such as dandelion leaves, cranberry juice, and lemon juice, can make the liver cleanse even more efficient. People with certain conditions or on certain medications need to check with their doctor before starting a liver cleanse with dandelion root and it does have a couple of unpleasant side effects. That being said, there’s no better way to give your liver a good cleansing and a healthy boost.

domain: medical


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Jackie Leven - Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! mp3 downloadPerformer: Jackie Leven
Title: Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me!
Location: At Home
Released: February 19, 2007
Size MP3 version: 1918 mb
Size FLAC version: 1124 mb
Size WMA version: 1511 mb
Format: MMF APE DTS XM MOD MIDI
Genre: Pop Rock
Jackie Leven - Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! mp3 download
Song from the album "oh what a blow that phantom dealt me!" - Jackie Leven (Cooking Vinyl - 2007).
Gothic Road was released in 2010, followed in September 2011, two months before his death, by Leven's final studio album, Wayside Shrines and the Code of the Travelling Man, a collaboration with Michael Cosgrave. Elegy for Johnny Cash (2005), Cooking Vinyl. Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! (2007), Cooking Vinyl. When the Bridegroom Comes (2007), Cooking Vinyl – as 'Sir Vincent Lone'.
Listen to Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me now. Listen to Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me in full in the this site app. Play on this site.
Profil: Scottish songwriter and folk musician (18 June 1950 – 14 November 2011). He started his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he was then singer in the new wave band Doll by Doll. He later recorded as a solo artist, releasing more than twenty albums under his own name or under the pseudonym Sir Vincent Lone. J. Leven, . even, Jackie Levin, Leven, Levin, Small World Orchestra, Tom Newman. Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! (Album).
Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! (CD, Album). Category Country Year.
Sheet Music and Tabs for Jackie Leven. Jackie Leven (18 June 1950 – 14 November 2011) was a Scottish songwriter and folk musician. After starting his career as a folk musician in the late 1960s, he first found success with new wave band Doll by Doll. He later recorded as a solo artist, releasing more than twenty albums under his own name. He also recorded under the pseudonym John St. Field for the album Control (1971) and Sir Vincent Lone for the albums Songs For Lonely Americans (2006), When The Bridegroom Comes (Songs For Women) (2007) and Troubador Heart (2008). Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! 2007.
Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me Data di pubblicazione: 2008. Jackie Leven Said Data di pubblicazione: 2008. Elegy for Johnny Cash Data di pubblicazione: 2008. Only The Ocean Can Forgive Data di pubblicazione: 2008. Tutti i testi di Jackie Leven. Jackie Leven: i testi più cercati.
Oh What a Blow That Phantom Dealt Me! 2007. Elegy for Johnny Cash 2005. The Mystery Of Love Is Greater Than The Mystery Of Death 1994. The Forbidden Songs of the Dying West 1995. For Peace Comes Dropping Slow 1997. Oh What A Blow That Phantom Dealt Me 2006. 1. Little Brown Box. 04:30. 2. Woman in a Car. 06:00.
Release source: CD. Year: 2007. Discount: 20%. 00:00. Discography of Jackie Leven.
One of Leven's finest albums, Forbidden Songs illustrates the connection between the Celtic folk traditions of the British Isles and the Anglo-American folk traditions of North America. Leven is from Scotland, but he doesn't limit himself to Scottish influences, on this reflective, contemplative CD, his inspirations range from American folk-rock to Celtic music (both Scottish and Irish) to British folk. Leven is a superb storyteller, and he reminds us of that fact on such jewels as "Men in Prison," "Lammermuir Hills," and "By the Sign of the Shattered Star.
|1||Vox Humana Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||5:03|
|2||One Man One Guitar Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||5:14|
|3||Another Man's Rain Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||5:53|
|4||Kings of Infinite Space Christopher Dennis / Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||5:19|
|5||Childish Blues Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||5:31|
|6||I've Been Everywhere Geoffrey Mack||Jackie Leven||3:18|
|7||The Long Hard Field Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||3:41|
|8||The Silver in Her Crucifix (Homage to Judee Sill) Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||5:28|
|9||Here Come the Urban Ravens (Homage to Kevin Coyne) Jackie Leven||Jackie Leven||3:50|
|10||The Skaters Jackie Leven / Kenneth Patchen||Jackie Leven||6:59|
|11||Mellow My Madness Phil Murphy||Jackie Leven||4:51|
CreditsJosh Clark - Engineer, Mixing
Kat Dalton - Photography
Christopher Dennis - Composer
Johnny Dowd - Engineer, Narrator
Leon Hunt - Banjo
Jackie Leven - Baritone Ukulele, Blocks, Composer, Finger Cymbals, Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar (Electric), Mixing Supervision, Primary Artist, Producer, Tambourine, Vocals
Geoffrey Mack - Composer
Phil Murphy - Composer
Kenneth Patchen - Composer
Timothy Robinson - Darbouka, Percussion
David Wrench - Drum Programming, Engineer, Mixing, Producer, Vocal Arrangement


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The Public Accounts Committee report on government contracting, published earlier this week, secured substantial press coverage. The focus was on the report’s finding that G4S and Serco continued to be awarded additional work from government while they were under investigation for overcharging. And this fact rather contradicts previous assurances given by the Government.
How these two miscreants were handled in the period during which their behaviour was being investigated is without doubt an important question. But it is only one issue that the PAC addresses in the report, and it probably isn’t the most important one.
The report is relatively brief. It builds on a couple of previous reports the Committee has produced in recent months, as well as a report produced in the summer by the Committee on Standards in Public Life. It repays close attention.
The report in pretty even-handed. It is willing to recognise progress and improved performance where that was identified. But it has some sharp things to say about inadequacies on both the client and contractor side.
In fact, perhaps the most striking thing about the report is that it is being produced in 2014. It is not as if contracting for government services is a new phenomenon. Yet it is appears that the central government departments have hardly mastered the basics of contract management. The absence or underdeveloped nature of the structures and processes for ensuring delivery and value for money is positively alarming. And as a consequence of a lack of organisational capacity they, and the taxpayer, get taken for a ride by wily private sector contractors.
The PAC rightly question the ethics of behaviours on the part of some contractors – taking advantage of asymmetric information and lack of effective monitoring to increase profit without increasing efficiency. The Committee pushes the idea of a contractor’s duty of care – that private providers are expected to display higher standards of behaviour when they contract for public services because it is taxpayers’ money that is at stake. This receives a broadly positive response from the small number of private sector representatives cited.
The way the argument is framed does tend to imply that if it is “only” consumers’ money at stake in a purely private transaction then it is okay to screw the consumer over. But that’s a separate debate. Caveat emptor and all that.
Perhaps the most interesting and important part of the report is the discussion of consolidation in the public service contracting market. The PAC is concerned that the Government has become too reliant on a small number of providers. It emphasizes the need for competition and choice, and the role of SMEs. The market has become oligopolistic and the Government’s dependence on a few organisations has created a “too big to fail” problem. The Government denies that this is the case. As, of course, you would expect it to.
The most bizarre aspect of this part of the report is that the government argues that because for a long time each department was treated as a separate entity, and therefore departments didn’t compare notes, it wasn’t obvious that a lot of contracts were being handed to the same organisations. That seems to me to be a rather extraordinary claim. Even if there was no formal mechanism for collating information on contracts awarded across government you’d have to have had your head in the sand not to have realized that the same few organisations were being awarded contracts from all sorts of directions. It’s hardly credible.
It will be interesting to see how this story evolves. It is one of those areas that is diagnostic of the difference between liberals and neoliberals. Genuine liberals – with a concern about concentrations of power in whichever sector it occurs – should be deeply suspicious of the way in which the market for public service contracts has concentrated. Neoliberals, on the other hand, tend to preach competition and choice, but, as a result of their serious allergy to government regulation to prevent monopolisation, are perforce rather more sanguine about the concentration of private economic power. So it will be interesting to see if any serious action follows.
None of this is really news. Indeed, it is possible that these arguments have been floating around in the ether for quite a while. But it’s good that they are now being aired within the Westminster bubble. Whether they gain more traction now is a profoundly important question for the health of liberal democracy.
Image: © kentoh – Fotolia.com


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Fast national ratings for Friday, December 20, 2014While most networks were in full holiday rerun mode or airing holiday special, CBS' new episodes of "Hawaii Five-0" and "Blue Bloods," along with the special colorized version of the "I Love Lucy" Christm more
Holiday reunions are meant to be pleasurable, but in Danny Reagan's case, it's not exactly a shock such an encounter would keep him on the job.The NYPD detective (Donnie Wahlberg) initially enjoyed welcoming his childhood friend Mickey (guest star Tom Cav more
Zap2it: The weekly family dinner scene is such a staple of "Blue Bloods," what do you remember about filming the very first one?Len Cariou: Actors are incredible beings, I think, and we thought we had to figure out a history for ourselves [as the characte more
Blue Bloods “Ties That Bind” Season 4 episode 11 airs Friday, December 20 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Episode Synopsis: “Ties That Bind” — Danny’s loyalty is tested when he is assigned to the case of a childhood friend, M more
After a two-week break, it didn't take long for the Reagans to be in the thick of action again on "Blue Bloods."In "Mistaken Identity," Friday's (Dec. 13) episode of the CBS police drama, Danny (Donnie Wahlberg) went with partner Maria (Marisa Ramirez) to more
Fast national ratings for Friday, December 13, 2014 Despite a valiant effort on the part of ABC's reality hit "Shark Tank," a brand-new episode of "Blue Bloods" helped snag the nightly win for CBS. The CW's "The Carrie Diaries" and "Nikita" were down even more
As long as the members of television's Reagan family gather to eat each week, Len Cariou always will know where his next meal is coming from.As patriarch and former New York police commissioner Henry Reagan, the stage and screen veteran is guaranteed his more
Blue Bloods “Mistaken Identity” Season 4 episode 10 airs Friday, December 13 (10:00-11:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.
Episode Synopsis: “Mistaken Identity” — Danny and Baez investigate a local bombing, but meet with tension and resist more