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Ishara Rupasinghe has been with the firm since 2007 and is a director of the family wealth management team in Canberra. As a Certified Financial Planner (CFP®), Ishara has specialist knowledge in a range of strategic financial advice areas including pre- and post-retirement planning, superannuation and SMSFs, tax-effective wealth building and defined benefit super schemes.
She is also experienced as a media commentator, having featured as a personal finance expert on national TV, radio and print media.
Prior to her tenure at Evans and Partners, Ishara worked for the Commonwealth Public Service in the Department of Finance and Deregulation and the Department of Defence.
Ishara holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours and a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. Post-graduate qualifications include a Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning from Kaplan Professional Australia and a Certified Financial Planner® accreditation from the Financial Planning Association. She also completed the FASEA Financial Adviser Exam in September 2020.


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STOKE CITY’S two official Club stores will close at the earlier time of 4pm today as preparations begin for the launch of the new 2018/19 kit on Friday.
The classy looking home strip, along with the striking purple away and goalkeeping kits will be available to purchase from 9am at the bet365 Stadium and intu Potteries Shopping Centre stores.
Supporters can also purchase online at store.stokecityfc.com from 9am on Friday, June 1.
The kits offer players and supporters the very latest in performance innovation, boasting M-Performance System fabric for increased comfort and moisture absorption.
Meanwhile, the eye-catching purple away kit is a re-emergence of a classic design from the past, with a modern makeover inspired by today’s contemporary fashion trends.
Make sure you don’t miss out and show off your colours through the summer months as excitement builds ahead of the start of the new season during the first weekend of August.

domain: design


WASHINGTON — The Trump administration must give lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union 72 hours notice before transferring a United States citizen imprisoned in Iraq as an enemy combatant for more than four months, a federal judge has ruled.
The man, whose name has not been made public, was captured by a Syrian militia in September and turned over to American forces as a suspected Islamic State fighter, raising a dilemma about what to do with him. He is said to have been born in the United States to visiting Saudi parents, making him an American citizen, but raised in Saudi Arabia, where he apparently also is a citizen.
After law enforcement officials concluded that they had insufficient courtroom-admissible evidence to bring criminal charges against the man, Trump administration officials in December decided to try to transfer him to Saudi custody, according to officials familiar with internal deliberations.
But the eight-page ruling late on Tuesday by the judge, Tanya Chutkan of the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia, ensures that if such a diplomatic deal is reached, the man could fight his transfer in court.
“Absent a showing that the government — for international relations reasons or otherwise — needs to transfer petitioner now, the court does not find that the government’s interests outweigh the petitioner’s right to challenge his detention without fear of his transfer to another country,” she wrote.


text:
Little Red Riding Hood - Online Access
Little Red Riding Hood's mother warns her to go straight to Granny's, but when she meets a handsome gray wolf along the way, she doesn't see the harm in stopping for a chat. Children will relish joining in on the familiar refrain: "What big eyes you have, Granny!" Finely detailed paintings create an enticing world of quirky characters in a dark and mysterious forest.
This new paperback edition includes online access to the audio recording of the story read by Academy Award-nominated actress Imelda Staunton, who is best known for her role as Professor Umbridge in the Harry Potter film series.
“. . .this provocative telling is for young lovers of the gothic" --Kirkus Reviews
Ages 3 to 7 years
Written By: Lari Don
Illustrated By: Célia Chauffrey
Format : Paperback with Audio

domain: library


Ball mill design calculation free download all mill design calculation free download - trackmediahat you can download alot of videos, save and download the audiosongs and video from youtube for free in webm, mp4, mp3, aac, m4a, 3gp formats.
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text:
|KASPAR, KERRIE - Washington State University|
|PARK, JEAN SOON - Washington State University|
|MATHISON, BRIDGET - Washington State University|
|Navarre, Duroy - Roy|
|CHEW, BOON - Washington State University|
Submitted to: American Journal of Advanced Food Science and Technology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/26/2013
Publication Date: 3/2/2013
Citation: Kaspar, K., Park, J., Brown, C.R., Mathison, B., Navarre, D.A., Chew, B. 2013. Pigmented potato consumption improves immune response in men: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Advanced Food Science and Technology. 1:15-25.
Interpretive Summary: Recently the subject of potatoes bred to have higher phytonutrients has been a topic of research. Potatoes with red and purple fleshes have high anti-oxidant capacity. Potatoes with high deeply yellow flesh have compounds that protect the eyes from various maladies. Potatoes have been analyzed extensively, but studes of the health consequences of eating potatoes are still relatively rare. In this study the affects of purple and yellow flesh potatoes were compared to white flesh potatoes. Interestingly certain parameters that indicate funcitioning of the immune system were heightened by consumption of yellow and purple lfesh potatoes. The level of inflammation as measured by C-reactive protein was dramatically lowered by purple potatoes. Other parameters that indicate that immune responses were modulated in a more healthful direction. Consumption of pigmented potatoes has multiple advantages for the those who eat them.
Technical Abstract: Pigmented potatoes contain high concentrations of antioxidants including phenolic acids, anthocyanins and carotenoids; these bioactives have been implicated in the inhibition or prevention of cellular oxidative damage and chronic disease susceptibility. We studied the effects of pigmented potato consumption on immune response in healthy adult men. Free living healthy male participants (18-40 yr; n=12/group) were given 150 g of cooked white- (WP), yellow- (YP) or purple-flesh potatoes (PP) once a day for 6 wk in a double-blinded study. Blood was collected at baseline and wk 6 to analyze C-reactive protein (CRP), inflammatory cytokines, lymphoproliferation, NK cytotoxicity and phenotypes. Participants fed YP and PP had lower (P < 0.08) plasma IL-6 compared to those fed WP. A concurrent decrease (P < 0.08) in CRP concentration was observed in the PP group. Total Tc cells were lower while B cells were higher in PP, compared to the WP group (P < 0.05). Conversely, YP increased Th cell populations. In addition, mitogenic stimulation of B (PWM) and T cells (PHA) was increased (P < 0.05) in YP compared to PP and tended to be higher than WP, whereas there was a decrease (P < 0.05) seen in PP compared to WP. Therefore, pigmented potato consumption reduced inflammation and modulated immune cell phenotype in healthy adult men.

domain: food


text:
The new layout of the Albert metro station has resulted in increasingly crowded and complex pedestrian traffic flows. The architectural project needs to ensure that these run smoothly while providing a sense of security, giving the metro station its own distinctive character and optimising the experience of all its users. Plans are in place to create a number of communal areas, to open up reception, pedestrian traffic and waiting areas, to use transparency and colour to facilitate movement between platforms and levels, to introduce a number of high-quality shops and a secure bicycle storage room, to reduce noise pollution and to use sustainable finishing materials.
Space has also been set aside for two sculptures and some screenprints by artist Jephan de Villiers.
A restructuring of the metro station as part of the major project for a north-south metro link in the capital, involving extensive renovation and modernisation work.


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PURCHASING PRINTS & PAINTINGS FROM BRIGHT
To purchase any prints click on thumbnail image and then click relevant on
For information on Giclee prints from originals please contact via email
Mounted prints are sent protected by corrugated card
to ensure safe delivery and sent 1st class post.
Framed prints are sent bubble wrapped 1st class post.
Orders sent within 14 days of receipt of order.
For purchases outside the UK please contact me for post and packing rates.
A full refund or replacement will be provided if you are unhappy with the
print in any way, provided it is returned within 7 days of receipt in original
condition and packaging.
For information on original paintings, exhibitions and commissions please contact:
Tel: 01209 831252

domain: artistic


text: Another must go, Borobudur Temple is one of the Forgotten Wonders of the World. It is also the largest Buddhist monument in the world. I will not divulge too much information. You gotta see it to be able to fully experience and appreciate the sheer beauty of this structure. For a brief read on the history and technical details of it, go to: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Borobudur. For an even more brief read, go to: http://wikitravel.org/en/Borobudur.

domain: geography


text:
The importance of a good soundtrack has always been apparent. From the earliest chiptune entries to today’s full orchestral scores, soundtracks have the ability to make a game more than just its component parts. A man who probably understands this more than most, Jesse Harlin has spent the past two decades working on some of the biggest projects out there, and as the staff composer at the hallowed LucasArts he wrote the soundtrack to Star Wars favourite Republic Commando, while also putting together the music for Star Wars: Battlefront II and Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.
Going freelance, Jesse now fronts his own company Submersion Audio, and has continued to work on projects both big and small, with his most recent work appearing in the delightful pinball-vania that is Yoku’s Island Express. We recently got the chance to catch up with him and talk about the world of gaming soundtracks, and how he put his own mark on the wonderful Yoku.
TSA: You’ve had a fantastic career working on soundtracks for games, what originally took you there?
Jesse: Twenty years ago, I was studying film scoring in college. I’d work on my assignments, I’d write my cues, I’d go to my film scoring classes; and then finally whenever I had free time, I’d play games. It dawned on me one day that someone was writing music for them. So I set out to be that someone. It took me about a year of hammering on it before I landed my first PlayStation gig. I’ve been at it ever since.
TSA: Where in the process of Yoku’s development did you join the project?
Jesse: Fairly early. I think the folder I created to house all of the Yoku files on my computer is four years old now. There wasn’t much to see at the outset, so it probably took three years before it was really time for me to buckle down and crank out the final tracks, but I worked on the game in one capacity or another off and on for years.
TSA: Did Villa Gorilla come to you with an overarching vision or were you given plenty of leeway?
Jesse: They asked me to score it however I’d like to, which was a wonderful change of pace from how projects usually go. The only real vision that we talked about early on was the idea that the score would be mixtures of disparate elements, just as the game itself is a mixture of two disparate genres: pinball and metroidvanias. Otherwise, I just got to be as creative as I wanted to be – which turned out to be fairly creative!
TSA: Where do you start with composing for a new project like Yoku?
Jesse: I almost always like to try and start with the main theme for a game first. If I come up with a theme that I like and the team likes, that becomes a touchstone for the rest of the project. Either the melody finds its way into other cues throughout the score, or the piece becomes a guide for production techniques and the general feel of the score. So almost always I try and start with that main theme. With Yoku, my first attempt at a main theme was actually what became the track, “Welcome to Mokumana Beach.” Villa Gorilla liked it, but not for the title screen. They wanted something faster and more charming. They got “Yoku Taidua” in response.
TSA: The main theme immediately captures a relaxed, North Pacific vibe. How important was that, and was there ever any question about that being the backbone for the whole soundtrack?
Jesse: Without running the risk of spoilers, the game starts out fairly relaxing and tropical, and then, let’s say, deviates from that direction. I knew I wanted to do the same thing, establish for the player a false sense of being on vacation before they find themselves having to adjust their expectations and dig into what is basically a mystery adventure. I also knew that, with a small indie title, first impressions were going to be everything. The game needed a hooky, catchy melody that could instantly suck you into the game and make you want to learn more about it. In many ways, it’s almost akin to the old “attract mode” purpose of main menu screens.
TSA: There’s elements of jazz, lounge, and samba, which aren’t often heard in video game soundtracks, and those are some of the most definable elements! Was that ever a concern?
Jesse: Yes! For me, anyway. I honestly was unsure of how the reaction to the score would be. Would people like it? Was it too much? Was it overwrought? Or was it charmingly sophisticated? I hadn’t the faintest idea. After working on it for so long, I’d lost all perspective. I remember meeting with people at GDC in March and trying to explain the game, the score, the approach to it all, and having the hardest time.
When you say things like “It’s an open world, pinball metroidvania set on a tropical island and I’ve blended trip-hop, bebop, chiptunes, medieval music, and the sound of 1980s science class film strips,” people’s eyes glaze over and their eyebrows raise. I wasn’t sure what people would think when it finally came out, but I can also be very self-critical sometimes. I’m very pleasantly surprised that everyone is onboard with all of my wacky creative decisions.
TSA: What were your thoughts behind the types of instrumentation you used?
Jesse: Basically, anything goes in this score. The only real guiding principle was that each track was going to be a mixture of unfamiliar and disconnected elements, in keeping with the idea of the game itself. So I’d often start by finding an instrument that I liked: acoustic guitar, ocarina, vocals, drum programming of some kind. I’d write something that I thought worked, and then I’d try and figure out what was the opposite of that instrument.
The opposite of chiptunes, to me, is a very natural, very acoustic sound. So “Flight of the Space Monks,” which uses the tone generators from an old NES, also has acoustic guitar and a grainy-sounding Brazilian berimbau. The opposite of industrial rock-styled snare drums created from steam bursts was, to me, the zany piano you get in old Keystone Kops silent-era film scores. It was like this throughout, a constant back and forth of 0pposites until I felt like the tracks were balanced.
TSA: When putting together Yoku’s soundtrack how important was your background – your own influences – to how it came out? How much of yourself did you put in there?
Jesse: This score is, basically, 100% me. When they hired me, Villa Gorilla told me to “write whatever you want, and just be yourself.” In order to figure out what “be yourself” meant, I went back and listened to the albums and artists that influenced me to become a musician in the first place.
What were the production techniques that I used to get really excited about? Things like the reversed piano effect at the start of Yes’ “Roundabout” or the synth patches used by electronic music pioneers like Vangelis and Tangerine Dream. How did Portishead use samples to make things feel simultaneously fresh and retro? I thought about some of the newer music I like to analyze the production from, like the sampling work of Pogo on songs like “Wishery” or “Bloom”.
I spent some time writing sounds that I’d then sample and manipulate, creating my own source samples basically. I did that a lot. And by combining NES chiptunes, the strong melodies of The Beatles, the guitar work of Pink Floyd, and Vangelis’ Blade Runner score into a blender, you apparently get both me and the score to Yoku’s Island Express.
TSA: Did you find it more enjoyable working on an indie project compared with a some of your previous work with LucasArts? Or are the two just utterly different?
Jesse: It’s really hard to compare the two, they’re so massively different. Big game studios offer a chance for incredibly collaborative work with a wide variety of disciplines. That can be really inspiring. On the other hand, indies are more like the Old West. On a smaller indie game, you’re not only representative of a much higher percentage of the team, but you also have to figure out a lot of the logistical elements of game production that larger development studios take care of for you. For instance, big game studios have departments entirely devoted to getting word of the game’s existence out into the public. Indie’s don’t, so that’s on you.
TSA: Are there opportunities that you think the videogame arena offers composers that can’t be found elsewhere?
Jesse: I couldn’t have written the kind of score I wrote for Yoku for a film or TV show. It’s too much of a character all its own within the game. TV and film scores are so often about blending into the background to support the emotion of a scene. With Yoku’s score, I was very often right up in the foreground, nudging the player and saying things like “Hey, this crazy bebop trombone you hear? Yeah, that means you’re in danger. Better sort it out!” I think the creativity happening in games, particularly in the indie scene, is just off the charts and that offers tremendously creative opportunities for composers.
TSA: When can we look forward to hearing your work again?
Jesse: After some indie work on Yoku, I’m now working with three different AAA studios on new projects. And, as usual, the NDAs mean that I can’t talk about them! But, it won’t be long. End of the summer, I think, for the first of them. So, very soon!
You can hear Jesse’s most recent work on the sublime Yoku’s Island Express soundtrack, available to stream right now on Spotify, or to buy from reputable digital storefronts.
Source : http://www.thesixthaxis.com/2018/07/18/talking-game-soundtracks-with-yokus-island-express-composer-jesse-harlin/Thank You for Visiting My Website

domain: entertainment


text:
Botswana: A truly unique safari destination
Botswana is a safari destination like no other. Much like its safari counterparts it offers breathtaking wildlife encounters, but it’s the unique way in which you explore its wild and wet landscape that makes Botswana different from the rest.
One of the main highlights of any holiday to Botswana is the Okavango Delta – the watering hole for the world’s rarest mammals. Here you can explore the delta by boat or take a traditional Mokoro journey through the waterways and encounter rare species including black and white rhinoceros, as well as cheetahs and the African wild dog.
The Chobe National Park is another of the country’s wet wonderlands that offers the best chance to see wildlife, especially elephants. The waters from the Chobe River plays host to Africa’s greatest elephant population that roam the area in impressive herds of up to 400. Here, you can also expect to see a spectacular variety of birds including ostriches, eagles and storks.
Exploring Botswana’s waterways is a truly unique way of witnessing some of the most spectacular animals on the planet. Feel the calm of the water as you encounter leopards, elephants, hippos and more. Botswana’s extremely sparsely accommodation will also make you feel like a true safari explorer – unique wildlife encounters without the madding crowds, what are you waiting for?
Ready to go?
Three Rivers from £2730 pp
6 nights travelling in May and November 2015
2 nights Victoria Falls
2 nights The Chobe River
2 nights Okavango Delta
3* + accommodation
Speak to the experts: Visit www.somak.com or Call 020 8423 3000
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domain: travel


text:
In the past few years, we’ve seen the list of highest-paid quarterbacks change in a big way. Heading into the 2023 season, let’s take a look at the current top 10 and who sits atop the list of the highest-paid QBs in the NFL.
Who Is The Highest-Paid Quarterback in the NFL?
By agreeing to an extension with the Los Angeles Chargers in July 2023, Justin Herbert became the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. He inked a five-year, $262.5 million that will average $52.5 million per season.
Herbert’s new contract includes $133.7 million fully guaranteed and an injury guarantee of $193.7 million. His total guarantee now ranks second in the league behind Deshaun Watson, while he’s third in fully guaranteed money behind Watson and Lamar Jackson. Herbert will collect $100 million in cash in the first year of the deal, blowing past the previous one-year earnings mark of $80 million.
Highest-Paid Quarterbacks 2-10
2) Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens | $52 million
The Baltimore Ravens initially deployed the franchise tag on Lamar Jackson to retain him this offseason, but they ultimately agreed to a long-term pact with their former MVP quarterback. Jackson received a five-year, $260 million contract that made him the league’s highest-paid signal-caller for several months.
Jackson’s accord came with a $185 million total guarantee and a $135 million injury guarantee. His 2023 and 2024 salaries, 2024 roster bonus, and 2024 and 2025 option bonuses are fully guaranteed for injury.
Jackson is due to collect $51.25 million base salaries in 2026 and 2027, when his cap charges will reach nearly $75 million. However, his contract is essentially designed to be restructured and give the Ravens cap relief at a later date.
3) Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles | $51 million
For a brief time, Jalen Hurts had the mantle as the highest-paid QB. The Philadelphia Eagles signed Hurts to a five-year, $255 million that makes him the highest-paid player in league history on an annual basis.
In addition to his $51 million average annual salary, Hurts will reportedly receive $179.304 million in guarantees and a no-trade clause. He’ll get $110 fully guaranteed and $126.5 million before Year 2 of the deal, while he can earn another $15 million via incentives. Hurts is now under contract through 2028.
Read full post on Pro Football Network

domain: news


text:
Blue Orange Games Celebrates 20 Years in 2020 with 20 New Games!
Blue Orange Games has announced that, in honor of its 20th anniversary, they will be publishing 20 new games in 2020. All of the games are designed to respect the company's history of "creating high quality games that are easy to learn, fun to play, and enjoyable for everyone." Sixteen of the new games will be on display at the Toy Fair in New York City that takes place February 22-25, 2020 at the Javits Center.
The new games that Blue Orange Games is publishing in 2020 include the following:
- Fish Club - for 2 players, ages 5 and Up;
- Snip Snap - for 2-6 players, ages 7 & Up;
- Starlink - for 3-6 players, ages 8 & Up;
- Slam Cup - for 2-4 players, ages 6 & Up;
- Droll - for 2-6 players, ages 7 & Up;
- Cupcake Academy - for 2-4 players, ages 8 & Up;
- Cross Clues - for 2-6 players, ages 7 & Up;
- Talent Show - for 2-10 players, ages 7 & Up;
- Rip Off - for 2-6 players, ages 8 & Up;
- Piece of Pie - for 2-4 players, ages 8 & Up
- + 10 more!!
For further details about the 2020 games that Blue Orange Games is publishing, be sure and check out Blue Orange Games' blog post here. Blue Orange Games will have Booth #103 at the Toy Fair. For information about the New York Toy Fair, please visit their website.

domain: hobby


The track showcases his spiritual vibe.
Jimmy Nevis is back with a new single and video, called “Magenta”. The track, which was released on Thursday, sees the “Remind Ya“ singer going for a more spiritual vibe. Teh music video, which is also available online, features Jimmy and a dancer in the Cederberg mountains against a backdrop of cascading waterfalls and rock pools. Jimmy discusses the inspiration for the song: “’Magenta’ is about reaching that place of euphoria.


text:
Dennis went out in the early evening and followed the trails they had so often walked, until he found a place that was right. The memory of the tugging leash was like a phantom limb. “You’ll be wanting the cremation service?” the vet had said, and Dennis, picturing Fergus stored in a freezer until his turn in the fire, immediately answered no. It was October. The green had begun to leach from the trees. Garlanded vines scattered neon-yellow coins upon the pathways. The faces of the Queen Anne’s lace had all caved in to form little balled fists. The vet had asked if Dennis planned a burial in the garden. Dennis just squinted through his sorrow. But after a moment he seized on the idea.
“Yes, that’s right, the garden.” And now, here was the spot.
Next morning before dawn, when there was no risk of curious passers-by, he returned and by the light of his cellphone laid down the shovel. He tilted the wheeled, green bin the city provided for compost to standing. Inside was Fergus’ body, wrapped in a blanket, curled up as if in sleep. In the years since he’d brought Fergus from the shelter back to his apartment, they’d come to the Don Valley every day, wandering the ravines like children. Dennis was not one to break the rules, but some things were more important. This way, Fergus could be in the garden forever.
It took longer than he’d expected to dig deep enough to ensure Fergus’ resting place wouldn’t be disturbed. The earth, hard-packed, gave way to the point of the shovel – thank goodness there’d been no frost. The soil had a clean, mineral smell. The tasselled heads of tall grasses shushed in the wind. Light from a distant streetlamp silvered Dennis’s breath. He lowered the green bin onto its side and slid Fergus out. When he went to pick the dog up, he felt a primordial revulsion at the corpse’s stiff heaviness. Yesterday, Dennis had gently stroked Fergus’ pale-yellow fur – there was nothing more he could do. The dog, ancient and sick, lying on the plaid blanket, had watched Dennis and the vet with dark, liquid eyes. The rhythm of his tail slowed, then stopped.
Now, touching him, even through the blanket, felt taboo. And that thought in turn seemed like a betrayal, like a warning hissed by his mother. It was his parents who had disallowed a dog in the family home – dogs were unhygienic and impractical, they said. But this was Fergus, who snouted for messages inscribed in a sheaf of leaves beside the ravine path, who charged into the lake, then shook a halo of water from his thick coat, who caroused at the off-leash park, muzzle flecked with foamy drool. Fergus, who lay under the kitchen table with his head on Dennis’s foot, who never withheld his love.
He’d already put Fergus in the hole when he remembered what the vet had said: “No non-biodegradable materials – let the earth do its work.” The plaid blanket was 100% recycled polyester. Dennis reached in to pull it off. “I’m sorry,” he choked out, as Fergus pitched in the bottom of the hole.
By the time he trod the dirt down and heaped leaves over the fresh earth, there was enough light to see. He stood back and massaged the blister at the base of his thumb. He hadn’t thought to wear gloves and his hands were also stiff with cold. Nobody coming upon this stamped-down clearing amongst the high weeds would know Fergus was here, he thought. Once the new growth came next spring, even he might have trouble finding the place.
As he rolled the green bin on the sidewalk, the wheels emitted a low rumble that reverberated in its plastic belly. A jogger on the other side of the road looked over as she passed. When he reached his building he opened the bin and took out the plaid blanket, then wheeled it back around the side with the others.
Dennis showered and dressed and went to the kitchen. He tipped beans into the coffee grinder. It had been a thirtieth birthday gift three years ago from Matt, his best friend since university. Matt seemed excited watching Dennis open the gift, leaning forward as Dennis peeled the tape off. “My love of German engineering meets your love of coffee. Enjoy, buddy!”
Dennis suspected it had been costly. The expense was probably nothing to Matt – he was a very successful financial planner. But, to Dennis, it was the thought that counted, that he valued most. Matt pulled down the kind of money that Dennis’ parents would be impressed by. But Matt treated it like a game – the money hadn’t changed him at all. He still cajoled Dennis to come out for drinks, tried to talk him into joining an axe-throwing league. Dennis wasn’t like Matt – he couldn’t have thrived in that career the way Matt did, much as it would have pleased his parents.
The manual grinder was heavy and solid in his hand. Dennis turned the handle and the conical burrs bit into the beans, creating a sensation like the crushing of small, dry sticks. The cracked beans gave off a scent of blueberries and pepper. The pour-over carafe and dripper – a Melita, only hipper – had also been a gift, more modest, from a woman with whom Dennis had had a short-lived relationship. He placed them on the scale and performed a small, deft act of origami on the unbleached paper filter so it stood open, ready to receive the grounds. He noticed Fergus’ empty water bowl then. He bent and picked it up, then stopped and put it back down.
Dennis checked his work email on the cell before leaving the apartment. His boss had sent an invitation for a meeting at one. There’d been rumours around the office of impending cuts. The invite notice offered options – Accept, Reject, Tentative – but the appearance of choice was an illusion. Whatever happened was out of his hands now. He wasn’t sure whether the prospect of being fired felt like a threat or a relief. On the subway on the way to the office, an empty plastic bottle rolled across the floor, then wavered back and forth on its axis, rotating like a compass needle with the motion of the train, seemingly ambivalent. Dennis, too, felt lost.
When he got to the meeting room, a brown 9X12 envelope lay on the table in front of Rod – the rumours had been true. The last quarterly results had been unsatisfactory, Rod explained – company performance metrics had been missed. Now shareholders must be appeased, the flow of red ink staunched, heads must be cut. That was the way of things – nothing personal.
“I’m sorry,” said Rod, “I have no strings to pull. My hands are tied.” Rod placed two fingers on the envelope and hinged his torso forward to propel it across the tabletop at Dennis. “I think you’ll find it’s fair.” Dennis remembered Fergus gazing up at him from the blanket at the end. He wondered if he now appeared that way to Rod.
Rod left and an HR person came in to explain things and, Dennis suspected, follow him to his desk and then escort him from the building like a criminal, or a child. The brown envelope lay unopened on the table. The HR person spoke, but Dennis’ mind was elsewhere. Six months ago, Rod had voluntold him for a new project – a hair-brained scheme, an elaborate solution in search of a problem. The project leader overpromised, missed all milestones, then jumped from the sinking ship to the safety of a more senior role. The orphaned project had become a convenient scapegoat for every corporate failing. And now the team members, tainted by association, out on a paralysed limb, were being axed. It was the way of things, Dennis knew. But no – to be dismissed after ten years’ spotless, loyal service so numbers on a chart could line up in a certain way – he did not find it fair. At least he could tell his parents he’d done all he could.
When he got home, it was still only mid-afternoon. He left the gym bag with the things from his workstation by the door and dropped onto the sofa. Matt would probably call later, and Dennis would tell him everything. But for now he had nothing to do. The scaffolding of his life had all been kicked away. Mounds of Fergus’ hair had accumulated against the wall in tumbleweeds. Dennis hadn’t vacuumed in weeks – the noise distressed Fergus. He got up, went to the closet and pulled out the Hoover, finished the living room and was starting on the bedroom when the indicator showed that the canister was full. He released the transparent canister from the machine and placed it on top of a plastic bag. He extracted a tangle of fur from on top, a knitted-up wad the size of a grapefruit, squashy like a large, yellow, dollar-store sponge. It was a tiny, formless Fergus.
Dennis put the fur ball in his pocket. He took the main path down the ravine that led towards Lakeshore and crossed under the Gardiner and headed south through the Lower Don Lands towards Cherry Beach. Cherry Street was a desolate place with few buildings. Though slated to become part of an ultra-connected smart city of the future, on that day it seemed abandoned. He crossed the two metal lift-bridges that spanned channels of brackish water. At the bottom of Cherry Street near the lake there were sketchy warehouses with fenced, gravelled yards. On the other side of a chain-link fence were construction equipment, graffitied, wrecked delivery vans, and an old stainless-panelled coffee truck.
The truck reminded Dennis of the ice cream vendor that used to come around his childhood neighbourhood. The chimes played a happy tune, or perhaps it was a recording of chimes playing a happy tune. If he’d been good and had finished his homework, his mother gave him change and he ran across the parkette to stand in line beside the truck. The equipment hummed, the scent of warm chocolate drifted out. John, the ice cream man, reached down from his high-up window to hand Dennis a small soft-serve twist with chocolate dip. Dennis had wished he could be John when he grew up.
Dennis walked along Cherry Beach and picked up a piece of the tumbled glass that was abundant there. It was pale blue. The afternoon was fine, with a gentle breeze. Across the sheltered harbour, the boats rocked on their moorings. Without Fergus pulling him along, he felt aimless. He had thought to turn back once he reached the strand, but instead he continued along the pathway that followed the waterfront eastwards towards Tommy Thompson Park and Ashbridge’s Bay.
After a while, the path diverged from the water. The foliage on either side loomed higher than his head. Some of the trees were still green. Others wore their fall colours, while still others were already bare. It was a secluded place with no adjoining trails. He rounded a curve and saw a woman up ahead. Her legs were planted firm, arms raised towards a tall bush beside the path. She wore jeans and Docs and a thick sweater, hair tied back in a thick, brown ponytail. There was a basket at her feet.
Fergus would have strained at his leash towards her, tail wagging and with that goofy expression he had that could not be resisted by anyone. She might have bent down and patted the head snuffling around her knees and said what a beautiful dog, how old is he? And Dennis might have inquired about the basket. But Fergus wasn’t there – all Dennis had was an inert ball of fur in his pocket. He was not a man with a friendly dog, just a man walking by himself along a secluded path that was not the fastest way to anywhere. And yet she seemed unconcerned, perhaps in part because of the pair of secateurs in her gloved hand.
“Rose hips,” she said, turning towards him. “They’re related to apples, you know – same family.”
Dennis stopped. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s been a good year for them – for everything, really. I can hardly keep up.”
“But that’s better than the alternative,” Dennis hazarded.
“It’s true.” She smiled at him as if he’d said something more than just a platitude.
She pushed hair away from her face with the back of her free hand. Her eyes were blue-grey, her face heart-shaped. She had a calm energy that was appealing.
Dennis turned towards her. “What else do you harvest?”
“There’s lots, if you know what to look for – everything we need. Like there.” She gestured with the secateurs at a bush across the path. At the end of each branch was a red, velvety, club-like mass.
“Sumac,” he said. He was glad he knew that much at least. “But isn’t it poisonous?”
“No, that’s a myth. Poison sumac only grows in swamps. This is staghorn – perfectly safe.”
She drew a wide sweep with her arm and rhymed off a long list of plants – common ones like dandelion, crab apple, nettles. Others he didn’t know – burdock, Japanese knotweed and something that sounded like sossifree.
“I never knew there was so much,” he said. “What do you do with it all?”
“Sumac drupes – the red part – I dry and grind for spice. It’s tart – I make za’atar. Or boil them for syrup for lemonade or cocktails.” She nudged the basket with her foot. “I’ll make these into jelly,” and then she said, “I have a stall at Leslieville farmers’ market, with fresh and dried things and baked goods, teas. I harvest everything myself and prepare it. Come on Sunday and see.” She met his eyes with a straight-on gaze. She seemed sincere.
“I’d like that,” Dennis said. And he realized he would like it very much.
She smiled again, then turned back to her clipping. He paused a moment. Then he went in the direction from which he’d come. It might look odd, he knew, but he’d walked enough. If he continued east he’d have another kilometer before he could get off the path and head home.
On the way back up Cherry Street, he passed the coffee truck again. A diamond-shaped, quilt-like pattern was embossed on the stainless-steel side-panels. Sunset burnished the metal skin with gold. In the windshield was a sign he hadn’t noticed before – For Sale. He put his hand in his pocket for something to write with, but found only the ball of fur. He thought of the brown envelope from work lying unopened on the kitchen counter. He had an idea what would be inside, the numbers. Maybe what he had was enough. He read the phone number out loud, then he repeated it to himself.

domain: literature


text:
The Queensland government has denied more public service jobs, including police-related positions, are being cut.
The public sector union Together says members have reported more stealthy job cuts across several departments.
It said the cuts affected jobs in health, the Queensland Police Service, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs, Agriculture, and Fisheries and Forestry.
A spokesman for Police Minister Jack Dempsey says job cuts to the police service were completed by June 30.
"While the QPS is managing some vacancies on the books as per usual no one has been made redundant over what was announced in the budget restructure process," he said.
A spokesman for Agriculture Minister John McVeigh also said any job cuts are part of last year's budget and department restructure.
© AAP 2018


It's time to meet Sam's mommy on Private Practice!
Dee Bennett (Desperate Housewivesand True Bloodstar Alfre Woodard) will come to town in the Tuesday, Oct. 30 episode (10/9c on ABC), in which she seeks out her son Sam's (Taye Diggs) help after her boss Raymond McCray (Shaft's Richard Roundtree) falls ill. TVGuide.com has the exclusive first look at the episode, which also features Lost's alum L. Scott Caldwell as Jillian McCray, Raymond's wife.
The Sam-centric hour will feature the hot doc embarking on a career in reality television, which will shed some light on issues in his colleagues' personal lives. But based on the tense photo with his mom below, it looks like mother and son have some issues to deal with as well.
Check out the photos below:
Private Practice airs Tuesdays at 10/9c on ABC.


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Danny DeVito Says He's 'Working On' Marriage with Rhea Perlman
The actor and his wife of 30 years are "separate, but together," he says
Perhaps it’s not totally over between Danny DeVito and Rhea Perlman after all.
The pair, married for 30 years and one of Hollywood’s most enduring couples, separated this fall. But DeVito, 67, now says it’s not that simple.
“We’re working on it,” the It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia actor says of his marriage in an interview with Extra.
Asked how he’s adjusting to single life, DeVito replied: “It’s not something you adjust to. Rhea and I are really close. Actually, still together – just separate, but together.”
DeVito married Perlman, best know for her role on Cheers, in 1982. They have a son and two daughters, all in their 20s.


Damien Chazelle's epic comedy about silent-era Hollywood is...a lot.
With COVID-19 cases spiking, will TENET have to shift its date again? And if it doesn't, what methods should Warner Bros. use to ensure safety in these uncertain times?
This is my opinion on Spider-Man leaving the MCU...and why I'm kind of excited about it.
Here is my response to a slight disagreement in Lindsay Ellis's new video that mentions the cast of "The Prince of Egypt."
Everything is awesome again!
I'm throwing it back to review 2008's "Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins." Its cast includes Martin Lawrence, Joy Bryant, and James Earl Jones.
For my first Throwback Thursday in a couple of years, I take a look at BLACKBOARD JUNGLE.
The newest Grinch adaptation is just OK, and not much else.
This is basically a list of my favorite animated films of all time.


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Simon Storer, Chief Executive of the Insulation Manufacturers Association (IMA), considers how tighter building envelopes can help counteract climate change.
The UK Government’s Future Homes Standard mandates the end of fossil fuel heating systems in new-build housing from 2025, with an outlook to reduce the average household’s energy bills and help the UK achieve its net-zero 2050 carbon emissions target.
To make this a reality, good insulation is vital if homes and buildings are to become more energy-efficient and sustainable, which will in turn offset increasing energy costs. Installing PIR and PUR insulation will be essential in ensuring the UK’s housing stock keeps pace with the globe’s changing climate.
Meeting the net-zero carbon emissions target will be a tough feat, considering the UK’s 29 million homes account for 15% of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions and many of these use oil and gas for heating and hot water.
The proposed Future Homes Standard 2025 is in line with the recent Committee on Climate Change (CCC) report: UK housing: fit for the future? and should influence the Part L revision later this year. This report confirms what many of us have been highlighting for many years: if we are to create high quality, low carbon and climate resilient homes then insulation has a key role to play. A thermally insulated building envelope installed correctly will achieve high performance, low maintenance, reduced energy bills and provide long-term energy efficiency.
One of the issues is the lack of awareness on the part of as to what energy improvement work needs to be carried out. When installed correctly, insulation is considered to be more sustainable than installing energy saving technology or renewables. Other technologies can play their part and can be added in future, but for many residents additional technology can prove to be complicated to operate efficiently and miss the full potential energy efficiency gains.
Lower U-values in walls, floors and roofs, means less heat loss and enhanced thermal performance. One of the best ways to achieve this is through PIR and PUR insulation products. PIR products are available in a range of forms including boards, blocks and composite panels whilst PUR is used for in-situ applications such as fully filling cavities and as a spray applied solution.
For designers, the growing popularity of PIR insulation has meant it can achieve the highest insulation values from the minimum thickness of material. With lambda values as low as 0.021W/mK, PIR insulation performance can be achieved with less thickness than other commonly used insulation materials. Its exceptional insulating properties, high strength and light weight means it is used widely across residential, commercial and refurbishment projects.
An eye for detail
Attending to details will go some way to ensure homes are sustainable and perform to the standard intended. For instance, it is advised that junctions are appropriately designed and constructed in order to contribute to heat loss. Thermal bridges occur at breaks in insulation junctions and openings causing heat loss or gain, which ultimately leads to a change in internal temperature and an increased demand for heating or cooling. This can increase the risk of surface condensation and mould growth. Good design and workmanship necessitates a proper level of quality assurance throughout design and construction, and good detailing is particularly important for new-build and retrofit alike.
Moreover, to ensure thermal performance is uncompromised, all contractors need to make sure the levels of site supervision are of a good standard, and the manufacturer’s installation instructions are followed and installation instructions around potential cold thermal bridges and awkward details are achieved.
Future proofing is key
Focusing on the building fabric will enable specifiers to future-proof their designs, which can be employed on projects of any size from the largest public building to the smallest domestic extension. A more energy-efficient fabric from the outset can be upgraded later on with improved services, ventilation measures or the addition of renewable technologies.
Ensuring continuous insulation, minimising thermal bridging and achieving high levels of airtightness in buildings all play their part in a well-designed building fabric, which decarbonises our homes. Addressing these aspects of construction means the Building Regulation’s thermal targets can be met or exceeded and those performance levels can be incorporated into the finished building’s performance targets.
Thermally-efficient building envelopes are a long-term solution to a complex issue: climate change. Getting the fabric of the building properly insulated should always be the starting point to assure thermal efficiency and occupant comfort. Using solutions such as PIR insulation will remain the most direct route in helping achieve the net zero target as well as compliance with the energy performance requirements of the revised Building Regulations Part L. Having housing stock which is resilient to a changing climate will put us on the best route to building better for the future.


Search found 7 matches
Search found 7 matches • Page 1 of 1
- Fri Feb 03, 2012 9:57 am
- Forum: Longarms - Shotguns and Rifles
- Topic: lever action madness
- Replies: 25
- Views: 1154
The guys have thrown out some good choices for you to pick from azrael99. I've an 1876 Winchester replica chambered for the 45-60 cartridge that I'm quite fond of. Chose the 45-60 cartridge because I had plenty of 45-70 brass to cut down for it. You'd sure have to reload because you won't find them ...
I want an old school bowie so bad. Nice looking knives. Very classy. Thank you Blackout. Guess this was the wrong place to post pics of traditional stuff though huh? That weeping heart on that long knife has been around for a long time on weapons. Guess a good portion of folks these days aren't awa...
I'm more of a traditional kind of guy with my knives...here are a few. Of course the bottom two see all the action. 1. Kansas Bowie...maker was Ernie Grospitch. 2. French longknife...maker was Billy Watson. 3. Drop point...Ernie Grospitch. 4. Patch knife...Billy Watson. http://img.photobucket.com/al...
- Sat Jan 28, 2012 1:08 am
- Forum: Bug Out Gear
- Topic: Question: how much did gear cost back in the day?
- Replies: 15
- Views: 983
Firearms are a mixed bag I bought my first Mini-14 for $225 (1976) new and a Colt AR-15 was about $750 to $1,000...if you could order one AND get the factory to ship it. I bought a Mini-14 in 1976 for around that price myself. Far as the Colt AR-15's go...my first was $330 in the latter part of 197...


text:
Based on the aggressive underground style they’ve exhibited throughout their Booth career to date, Notes to Self aren’t the first rap crew you’d expect to see kicking it with elementary-schoolers as they perform a record about the importance of following your dreams. On the T-Dot trio’s latest video single, however, they do just that—and sound dope while doing it. Sky Light [InBetween] finds Notes beatsmith BronzeOne and Beatface representative Book serving up a head-noddable synth/sample instrumental (complete with cuts by DJ Dopey) as Roshin and Swamp Donkey send a simple but powerful message to all listening: “You must aim high.” Benjamin Young Hart directs the (adorable) official visuals, co-starring his younger sister’s fourth-grade class. For Sky Light, the recently-featured Popular Music and more, cop the crew’s Target Market [RECOIL] when it drops February 26, via DECON.
Written by richard on 02/8/13
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text:
The United States is easing travel restrictions on Cuba, the Biden administration said Monday evening.
Among other things, consular services and visa processing at the U.S. embassy in Havana are to be stepped up again to allow more Cubans to enter the U.S. to see relatives.
The previously applicable upper limit for transfers of money from the U.S. to relatives in Cuba will be lifted.
This should lead to a slight increase in travel between the two countries.
In addition, the Cuban private sector is to have better access to American internet services and e-commerce platforms.
In a statement, the Cuban Foreign Ministry called the decision a “limited step in the right direction.”
However, this did not change anything about the U.S. embargo against Cuba or the central “economic siege measures” of former U.S. President Donald Trump, the ministry in Havana asserted.
At the end of April, the U.S. and Cuba held direct talks on migration at a high diplomatic level for the first time in four years.
Among other things, the implementation of existing immigration agreements was discussed.
The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs had criticised, among other things, that the United States was not adhering to a bilateral agreement that guaranteed 20,000 visas for Cubans annually.
A senior U.S. government official has now said that this number should be reached as soon as possible.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s administration rolled back a U.S.-Cuba detente introduced under his predecessor, Barack Obama.
Mr Trump stepped up sanctions on Cuba, including a ban on former president Raul Castro from entering the U.S., and limiting remittances to the island.
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TWO labor groups have expressed support to the two-day transport strike on Monday and Tuesday, June 5 and 6, in Bacolod City which will be participated by a group of drivers and operators in Negros and Panay who are opposing the proposed phase-out of public utility vehicles 15 years and older.
Among these is the General Alliance of Workers Association (Gawa) in Negros that showed support for the United Negros Drivers and Operators Center (Undoc).
“We believe that if the phase-out of PUVs will be implemented, it will result to massive unemployment of drivers that will cause suffering and poverty of their respective families,” said Wennie Sancho, secretary-general of Gawa.
He said the government has not offered any alternative to the drivers and operators who will be affected by the phase-out.
“To me this is an added form of injustice to the poor and the masses who are already suffering from hunger and poverty. We strongly condemn the unjust policy of government,” Sancho added.
In Bacolod City, Undoc will hold the transport strike from 4 a.m. on Monday until 2 p.m. on Tuesday.
Diego Malacad, secretary-general of Undoc, said the transport strike will push though despite the opening of classes because it has already been set by its mother organization Pinagkaisang Samahan ng Tsuper at Operator Nationwide and all the papers and permits have been prepared.
“It has been organized and synchronized nationwide. We would like to appeal to everyone to cooperate with us because this will affect everyone if there will be no transport vehicles left on the roads,” Malacad said.
For its part, militant labor group Partido Manggagawa also expressed solidarity with the jeepney drivers who are on strike in Panay and Negros.
“Workers do not oppose modernization and the shift to environmentally-friendly public transportation but the transition must be just. Social justice must accompany social progress. The lives and livelihood of thousands of jeepney drivers cannot be sacrificed in the name of change,” said Elmer Blancaflor, spokesperson for PM-Iloilo, said in a press statement.
“We understand and sympathize with the plight of our fellow workers. The temporary inconvenience of the transport holiday cannot compare with the permanent blow that the phase-out will inflict on jeepney drivers. We hope for the understanding of employees, students and commuters who are affected. The fight of jeepney drivers is our fight too,” Blancaflor added.
The group is supporting a just transition for the jeepney sector, including transition of five years before full implementation of the phase-out; assistance and subsidies to operators for the replacement of jeepneys; ban on the importation of old and surplus engines and second-hand vehicles; and study on the most appropriate alternative to jeepneys such as electric jeeps or hybrid, LPG or Euro4 engines. (with reports from TDE)


In our last blog entry we posed the question “Which Academy Award winning actor filmed scenes in the NYIT Manhattan Library?"
In the year 2003, HBO Films created a miniseries version of Tony Kushner's play "Angels in America." Staring many Hollywood luminaries, including Al Pacino, Meryl Streep and Jeffrey Wright, the miniseries would go on to win both multiple Golden Globe and Emmy Awards, in the process earning Meryl Streep a Golden Globe, Emmy, and Screen Actors Guild Award for her multiple portrayals.
To answer our question, were you to look closely when the character Joe Pitt enters the "Mormon Visitors Center" to greet his mother Hannah Pitt, you will recognize very clearly the exterior of NYIT's main building at 1855 Broadway, and a very astute observer will notice that the scene continues on the inside of what is now, you guessed it, the first floor of the NYIT Manhattan Library.
It is fairly common for the library to appear on both film and television. More recently, associate professor of social sciences Nicholas Dagen Bloom was interviewed in the library by WPIX News (N.Y.) for a documentary about the New York City Housing Authority. You can view the video here (70.7 MB), as well as take a look at professor Bloom's seminal work regarding New York City public housing at the following library locations:
Title: Public housing that worked : New York in the twentieth century
Author: Bloom, Nicholas Dagen, 1969-
Holdings: Manhattan Library & Wisser Memorial Library
Call Number: HD7288.78 .U52 N726 2008


Sarah and Claire from Razzle Dazzle came to sing for us, this afternoon, for our Christmas party. They sang Christmas songs and danced for us. Everyone was smiling, and we had lots of clapping, dancing and swaying, going on. Some of us chose to wear Christmas hats or headbands. The staff went around, holding hands and dancing with us all. We had fun, posing with the selfie hoop too. Stephen was clapping the whole way through and Roy was waving his arms.


Chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee Keith Vaz has been telling us what he is hoping to find out from the Chief Executive or Rotherham Council and the Director of Children's Services when they are quizzed about the abuse of young girls in the area.
More top news
The latest forecast for the Calendar region from Jon Mitchell.
A man from Sheffield has been shortlisted for a national award by charity Sense for his work supporting people with sight and hearing loss.
Police have carried out raids aimed at stopping an escalating feud in the travelling community which saw two skulls being dug up and stolen.


text:
Last summer, a Christian conservative group called The Family Leader asked GOP candidates to sign a so-called marriage vow. The vow is a essentially a pledge to support Christian conservative political initiatives related to issues like marriage and abortion.
Gingrich to sign it, but yesterday sent a lengthy response to the group pledging to support its biggest causes. Among his promises , Gingrich vowed to “defend” marriage by supporting the amendment of the the U.S. Constitution to explicitly ban same-sex marriage, and to be faithful to his wife.
Quoth the Newt:
As President, I will vigorously enforce the Defense of Marriage Act, which was enacted under my leadership as Speaker of the House, and ensure compliance with its provisions, especially in the military. I will also aggressively defend the constitutionality of DOMA in federal and state courts. I will support sending a federal constitutional amendment defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman to the states for ratification. I will also oppose any judicial, bureaucratic, or legislative effort to define marriage in any manner other than as between one man and one woman. I will support all efforts to reform promptly any uneconomic or anti-marriage aspects of welfare and tax policy. I also pledge to uphold the institution of marriage through personal fidelity to my spouse and respect for the marital bonds of others.
In other words, Newt promises that, after a couple decades of well-documented serial adultery, he’s ready to settle down and redouble his efforts to help social conservatives demonize gay people.
USA! USA! USA!

domain: sociology


text:
Ideal for fun and relaxation, Rodeway Inn Salt Lake City is located in the Salt Lake City Center area of Salt Lake City (UT). From here, guests can enjoy easy access to all that the lively city has to offer. A haven of rest and relaxation, the hotel will offer total renewal just steps away from the city's numerous attractions such as Ski Utah Interconnect Adventure Tour, CLA Cars International Antique Auto Museum of Utah, Squatter’s Pub Brewery.
Rodeway Inn Salt Lake City also offers many facilities to enrich your stay in Salt Lake City (UT). Guests of the hotel can enjoy on-site features like 24-hour front desk, facilities for disabled guests, luggage storage, Wi-Fi in public areas, car park.
Hotel accommodations have been carefully appointed to the highest degree of comfort and convenience. In some of the rooms, guests can find non smoking rooms, air conditioning, heating, desk, alarm clock. Besides, the hotel's host of recreational offerings ensures you have plenty to do during your stay. Discover an engaging blend of professional service and a wide array of features at Rodeway Inn Salt Lake City.


text:
Real Estate Wholesaling: A Beginner’s Guide to Get Started
If you want to become a real estate investor, but don’t have finances to buy or hold, or the desire to fix and flip, real estate wholesaling might be perfect for you.
Your first impression of the term “real estate wholesaling” is probably wrong. When you think about wholesaling, you’re probably thinking about retail wholesaling, where a wholesaler sells a high volume of a product to a retailer, who then sells the product in smaller quantities for a higher price.
In real estate wholesaling, the wholesaler acquires a contract from a motivated seller and finds a potential buyer to take it over.
In this guide, we’ll show you everything you need to know about the basics of real estate wholesaling, including:
- What is real estate wholesaling?
- How wholesale real estate works
- The pros and cons of wholesaling real estate
- Wholesaling vs house flipping
- Is wholesaling real estate legal
- The numbers: how to analyze a wholesale deal
- How to start a real estate wholesaling business
- Tips for becoming a successful wholesaler
Feel free to jump down to any section you’d like!
Let’s get started…
Page reviewed by Jamil Damji, expert panelist on the BiggerPockets On the Market podcast. Jamil Damji is an internationally renowned real estate investing/wholesaling expert with 18 years’ experience. He is the Co-founder of KeyGlee, the #1 wholesale company in the world with over 75 franchises.
What is Real Estate Wholesaling?
Wholesaling real estate isn’t a hard concept to grasp, and it could make you tens of thousands without ever buying or selling a property. So what is wholesale real estate?
Real estate wholesaling is when a person (the wholesaler) gets a property under contract and then markets that property at a higher price to an investor. An investor is still willing to pay the marked-up price since the wholesaler only targets homes that are under market value. This could mean that the home is in disrepair, needs an expensive upgrade, or has been neglected. Wholesalers are the matchmakers between investors and under-valued properties. They aren’t agents or brokers and often don’t carry a professional license. This makes wholesaling real estate one of the best ways to get into real estate investing without ever having to buy or sell a property. Even better? Real estate wholesaling requires your time, not money, so you can start from zero, no matter what market you’re in.
Jamil Damji, who owns one of the largest wholesaling operations in the country, KeyGlee, explains it best. Jamil got his start when he accidentally wholesaled a property for $40,000 profit. Now, he’s trying to help every aspiring wholesaler build higher-quality relationships with the buyers and sellers they’re working with.
How Does Wholesale Real Estate Work?
The trick to wholesale real estate is to find motivated sellers who own distressed properties that have some value-add potential and are willing to trade this “potential” for speed and convenience. Often, these sellers are trying to sell it themselves to no avail, or don’t think they can because of its condition. In other cases, the seller needs to sell their home quickly because they’re relocating for work, divorced, or having financial challenges.
Initiating an Agreement
By initiating an agreement, you’re offering to purchase the property from them. The terms of this agreement are outlined in a wholesale real estate contract, where you agree to buy their property during a set timeframe and specific minimum price.
Wholesalers rarely end up owning the property. Instead, the wholesaler is assigning the rights to buy the home from the owner. Once the wholesaler and the seller agree on the terms, they enter into a purchase and sale agreement or PSA. Once the wholesaler finds a buyer they assign their rights to purchase by drafting an Assignment of Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement.
When creating this agreement as a wholesaler, make sure the contract clearly states that you have permission to “assign” or “sell the contract” to an end buyer. Once you do, you’re absolved from all responsibility as far as the property is concerned.
Example of Wholesaling
For example, Cameron and Raj are wholesale real estate investors, and Harry lives in a property he’s been trying to sell for $190,000 for six months. Cameron and Raj know of several buyers looking for property in Harry’s neighborhood, so they approach Harry and tell him that they can purchase his home for a minimum of $190,000 in three months. Harry agrees, and the men sign a contract stating Cameron and Raj can purchase Harry’s property for $190,000. If Cameron and Raj can find a buyer above that contracted price, they can keep the difference.
The Pros and Cons of Wholesaling Real Estate
No real estate investing strategy is perfect. All of them have pros and cons.
Pros of Wholesaling
Your upfront costs are minimal
Wholesale real estate investing doesn’t require you to purchase the property. You don’t need to own any property, have a real estate license, or even good credit! Your only upfront investments include your:
- Marketing efforts
- Earnest money (depending on your contract)
You’re assuming less risk
You don’t fund the purchase of a property as a real estate wholesaler, so you don’t have to worry about losing money on it. Your only investments are those mentioned above.
Wholesaling isn’t entirely risk-free, however. It requires you to understand the legalities of wholesale real estate contracts, and what you can and cannot do. More on the legal stuff later.
You can earn profits quickly
You can turn real estate wholesaling into a lucrative business if you:
- Educate yourself about best practices
- Can identify motivated sellers and undervalued or distressed properties
- Build a strong network of buyers, real estate investors, and connectors
- Have buyers and investors in your network already ready to acquire a contract
If Cameron and Raj already had Jessica lined up to become the new property owner for Harry’s home, they could close the deal and have their $10,000 in hand within 30 days or less! If they average one wholesale real estate deal per month at that rate, they’d gross $120,000 for the year.
You’ll gain invaluable investment property knowledge
Real estate wholesalers must learn and use skills that help make other real estate investments. You’ll learn how to identify deals, network, market, negotiate, stay organized, write contracts, and what legal documentation is needed to get a deal done. If you find an investor willing to help you get started, you’ll also learn the tricks of the trade and what mistakes to avoid.
Cons of Wholesaling
Your profits are less
Wholesaling can be easier and have faster turnaround times. It also has lower profit margins compared to other real estate investment strategies. BRRRR and flipping usually yield higher returns per property over a longer period of time
You’ll lack a steady cash flow
Wholesale investors are (at least somewhat) at the mercy of the real estate market. You could go months without finding a motivated seller or the right property. You may also lose out on a deal if the buyer or seller has a change of heart or is unable to complete the purchase. Also, sellers in distress typically have other mitigating factors that often complicate deals making them harder to get across the finish line.
You’re dependent on others
Being successful in wholesale real estate requires knowing the right people at the right time. This is especially true for your buyers. Your buyers list may be constantly changing, and many of them could get preoccupied with other investments. Market fluctuations also can affect your profit margins and buyer demand
Beginners often have unrealistic expectations
Wholesaling real estate isn’t as easy as it first seems. Some wholesalers may boast about how much they make on social media, but what you’re not seeing are the years of hard work and incomplete deals. People also often neglect to share the length of time they go between deals and the time and money spent on acquiring or finding the motivated seller.
Even if you get lucky and your first few deals are seamless with decent returns, you shouldn’t expect that from every deal. Be grateful for those deals, but then get back to putting in the hard work, soaking up knowledge, and thinking long-term. You also need to keep a steady pipeline of potential sellers full in order to create a consistent wholesale business.
Wholesaling vs. House Flipping
Wholesalers and house flippers have a few things in common:
- Both make a profit investing in real estate
- Each usually involves value add or distressed properties
- House flipping involves the selling of property, wholesaling involves the selling of a contract.
However, that’s where the similarities end.
House flipping involves buying a property, making repairs and renovations to boost its after-repair value (ARV), then selling it months later for a profit. Since house flippers purchase property, they’re responsible for paying property taxes, monthly mortgage payments, utilities, homeowners insurance, and other bills associated with homeownership.
Wholesalers never have to worry about these bills, because they don’t purchase or rehab a property. While they may include earnest money in their contracts, wholesalers only need a fraction of the capital required for flipping houses.
Also, because wholesaling doesn’t involve the timely process of making modifications to a property, the timeline from contracting to selling is shorter. House flipping often takes several months, while wholesalers who already have interested buyers can close a deal in around 30 days – sometimes sooner.
House flipping professionals can generate a higher ROI on average compared to wholesalers, but wholesalers can close more deals and make smaller, more frequent returns. Both investment strategies can be very profitable, depending on your skill set.
The Numbers of Real Estate Wholesaling: Is It Worth It?
Wholesaling houses may sound too good to be true at first. You get a property under contract, find a buyer, and then walk away with a fee. Can it really be that easy? Wholesaling real estate isn’t just possible but profitable. So profitable that some investors focus on wholesaling as their entire investing strategy.
3 Ways to Make Money Wholesaling Real Estate
Here’s how wholesale investors make a profit in real estate:
Contract assignment fees are the fastest, most common way for wholesalers to earn money, and it can be done at no cost to you. Assignment of contract is the method we’ve been referencing throughout this post. The process is as follows:
- Find an investment property and a motivated seller
- Agree on a purchase contract
- Submit the contract
- Line up a buyer
- Assign the contract to the buyer
- Get paid your assignment fee
For example, if you obtain a contract from the seller, agreeing to purchase their property for at least $135,000, and then you line up a buyer who agrees to pay $150,000, your assignment fee is the difference, or $15,000.
A double close occurs when two real estate transactions happen simultaneously. Basically, instead of agreeing to sell the contract, the wholesaler purchases the property from the seller at a discount, then immediately resells it to an end-buyer. The first close is between the wholesaler and the seller, and the second close is between the wholesaler and the buyer.
As with assignment of contract, check with a licensed real estate attorney before attempting a double close to ensure you’re following your state’s rules and regulations.
Double closings are often used in states that limit contract assignments or do not allow them. The cost of double closing can be substantially more so ensure your sale contract will cover closing costs and still have a profit left over.
The wholesale profit sharing method is usually the least desirable of the three. It involves the wholesaler teaming up with the buyer to share the profits or receive a stake in the property. Then, if the buyer flips the property or turns it into a short-term rental, the wholesaler will receive a proportionate share of the profits after operating expenses are paid.
You could make more in the long run using this method, but it also involves extra variables that many wholesalers prefer not to deal with.
How much money do you need to get started?
Technically, you don’t need any money to start wholesaling. You’re not purchasing property, so you’re not assuming any financial risk. You’re merely acting as the middleman. That said, there are a few costs associated with wholesaling real estate, including:
- Earnest money and other fees associated with a contract
- Marketing costs
- Access to a network of motivated buyers and sellers
- Real estate investor groups
- Wholesale real estate coaching or mentorships
- Real estate license (if you need or want one)
How much do wholesalers make?
Wholesale real estate investors can make anywhere from a few thousand to six figures per year, depending on their experience, business model, connections, and more. Since they don’t receive a traditional salary, investors can find their yearly cash flow can vary greatly from year to year, depending on the market and countless other circumstances.
According to ZipRecruiteor, the national average salary for a real estate wholesaling is $77,905/yr. In California, the average is $85,349/yr, with the top 8% averaging just under $150,000/yr. The top 1% of wholesalers can make millions of dollars with an organized business structure.
How much should you expect to make per transaction?
The average wholesale assignment fee per transaction is around $10,000. If you close a deal every other month at that rate, you’ll earn $60,000, which isn’t an unreasonable salary for a new wholesale investor.
As a newbie, you should aim for at least $5,000 per transaction
How to calculate the maximum allowable offer (MAO)
If your buyer wants to flip and fix a property, you’ve got to figure out how much they usually pay for it. The MAO helps investors maintain their desired profit when determining their asking price. The formula is:
(ARV x .70, or 70%) – Rehabbing – Assignment fee = MAO
For example, Alex is a wholesaler who frequently makes deals with Jaoquin, a house flipper. Alex finds a distressed home with an ARV of $160,000, and Jaoquin estimates it will cost him $25,000 to rehab it. If Alex wants to make $10,000 as a wholesaler, he needs to figure out what his MAO is before approaching the seller.
($160,000 x .70) – $25,000 – $10,000 = $77,000
At most, Alex should offer to sell the property for $77,000, and then offer the contract to Jaoquin for $87,000 ($77,000 + $10,000 assignment fee).
Start analyzing your wholesale deal today
A good investment begins with a solid plan built upon solid math. Quickly and efficiently analyze a potential real estate investment using BiggerPockets’ Wholesaling Calculator. We’re here to help you maximize your profit while lowering your risk—no matter your strategy.
Is wholesaling real estate legal?
Short answer: yes, usually.
That said, there are rules and regulations you have to follow, and they vary from state to state. Look up the laws of your state before getting started. We also recommend consulting with an attorney, so you have a clear picture of what you can and cannot do. For example, since the seller is usually in a stressed or complicated situation, avoid language that can be misinterpreted when marketing the property to potential buyers.
Do Wholesalers Need a Real Estate License?
Short answer: no, usually.
In many states, you don’t need a license to get started. However, you should consider getting one if you want to scale a wholesale business. It may help you establish more credibility when interacting with motivated buyers and sellers.
The reason why wholesalers don’t need a real estate license is because they’re not selling properties, they’re marketing the rights to buy them. As such, they have a contractual interest in the purchase and sale agreement. Since their involvement is limited to a contractual interest, they don’t need a license.
In some states, licensing can be a gray area. According to KKOS Lawyers, California defines a real estate broker as “someone who sells, buys, or negotiates for another with the expectation of compensation.” Looking for buyers to acquire a contract can be considered negotiating, so you should consider getting a license just to be on the safe side.
Sound complicated? That’s because it is.
How do you start a wholesaling real estate business?
Getting into the business isn’t complicated. The process is as follows:
- Educate yourself on the industry
- Create a list of buyers
- Secure financing
- Understand contracts
- Start looking for wholesale properties
- Grow your business
1. Educate Yourself
Learn as much as possible about wholesaling real estate. If you know people in the industry, ask them for advice or see if they will mentor you during your first few transactions. Get a good idea of what to look for in properties and in people looking to sell or buy them. Also, because it’s worth repeating, consult a real estate attorney about your state’s rules and regulations. The more prepared you are, the less likely you are to make newbie mistakes.
So you want to become a real estate wholesaler? Great! Here’s a 60-day action guide to wholesaling your first property.
2. Understand Contracts
One of your most complicated tasks as a wholesaler is understanding what needs to be included in a wholesale contract—and sometimes more importantly—what shouldn’t be. Rules and regulations are different in each state, so consult with an attorney before getting started.
Here are a few items you need to include in your wholesale contracts:
- Buyer and sellers names
- Property address
- Terms and conditions
- Inspection period
- Earnest money deposit (depending on your state)
- Signatures and date
Include a Contingency Clause
Sometimes deals fall through. Even the most experienced wholesale real estate investors may fail to meet the terms of their contract agreement. What would happen to Cameron and Raj if Jessica backed out of the deal and they can’t find another buyer in time?
Reduce risk by including a contingency clause. A contingency allows the wholesaler to get out of a deal if they’re unable to meet the terms of the contract. However, merely putting a contingency clause in your contract isn’t enough. Courts usually require you to put in a good faith effort to meet the clause. If Cameron and Raj signed with Harry, but didn’t bother inspecting the property, they could be in breach of contract and risk a lawsuit. If their contract included earnest money, they’d lose that too.
3. Create a List of Buyers
Before you start searching for deals, you need investors who are looking to make them. You can find the perfect property to wholesale, but without a buyer in mind, you have little to offer a seller.
You can get connected with buyers by:
- Joining networking groups
- Attending real estate events
- Interacting with other investors in the BiggerPockets forums
- Joining real estate groups on LinkedIn and Facebook
- Email marketing
- Getting your friends, family, and followers in real estate for introductions
4. Secure Financing
Securing financing is hands-down the easiest step in the process. You don’t need much to get started. We recommend setting aside some money for marketing, hiring a contract attorney, and joining real estate-related groups, but that’s all you’ll need.
5. Start Looking for Properties
Now that you know how to wholesale, have a Rolodex of prospective buyers, and starting capital, you’re ready to look for properties.
Since “location, location, location” is the mantra of real estate, begin by looking locally for distressed properties in your market. Search for these properties on real estate sites like Redfin, Zillow, and Realtor.com. All of these sites use the multiple listing service (MLS), so they can get a little competitive, particularly in popular areas. Also, while it doesn’t use MLS, don’t rule out the Craigslist “Housing” section.
Search the public records in your area and look for cases where someone recently inherited a property they may want to just get rid of. Also, build close relationships with real estate agents. When deals fall through, owners can get distressed. If you have an interested buyer, that’s your chance to come to the table.
6. Grow Your Business
The most successful real estate investors never do it alone. As you become more competent and confident in your processes, start building your power team. When chosen wisely, your wholesale team will make your business more productive and increase your profit margins.
Here are a few positions you should consider adding to your power team:
These specialists evaluate prospective deals, determining whether they should be acquired. They have keen knowledge of financing, offers, and exit strategies.
If your buyers are predominantly fix-and-flippers, your general contractor can determine what repairs are needed and how much they’ll cost. This will help you calculate MAO. Sometimes, this falls under the duties of the acquisition specialist.
Selling specialists focus on building and maintaining your buyer list.
Processors focus on the contractual side of your wholesale business, bringing them from close to sale.
Your marketing manager focuses on building brand visibility through a series of ad and content marketing campaigns. Depending on your needs and marketing scope, it may be advantageous to work with a marketing team.
Your office assistant handles the daily tasks that are essential, but not your priority. These tasks can include: answering phones, checking the mail, and running various errands.
Real Estate Agent
Agents have access to the MLS and can help you identify comparable home sales. They can also connect you with distressed clients who are having difficulty finding buyers. Find out more about the benefits of having an investor-friendly agent on your team.
Find an Agent in Minutes
Match with an investor-friendly real estate agent who can help you find, analyze, and close your next deal.
Streamline your search. Tap into a trusted network. Leverage market and strategy expertise.
Tips for Becoming a Successful Wholesaler
Now that you know the basics, here are a few tips to help you thrive!
- Build a website: Your website is your virtual storefront. It establishes your brand, thought leadership, and helps drive traffic and generate quality leads. Also, the National Association of Realtors found that 51% of today’s home buyers find their properties online, so they should find you there too.
- Have a positive mindset: Successful wholesalers see obstacles as opportunities. They’re dedicated, consistent, and always rise to a challenge.
- Take advantage of tech: You don’t have to be a tech wizard, but you should use modern tools for your day-to-day, like the cloud, mobile-friendly applications, and customer relationship management (CRM) software.
- Know fair market values: Pay close attention to how much money properties sell for in the neighborhoods you’re prospecting. Knowing this will help you identify undervalued homes.
- Know the value of your time: Savvy wholesalers know when it’s time to outsource or delegate specific projects or tasks. When you build the right power team, you’ll minimize mistakes, increase efficiencies, and close more deals.

domain: finance


Popular British actor, writer and animator Stephen Fry has urged Britain to be “chic” and return the Parthenon sculptures, aka “Elgin Marbles”, to Greece, The Times reported.
Fry, who made the comments at the Hay Festival, reportedly said taking the ‘Elgin Marbles’ from occupied Greece was like an American taking the Eiffel Tower from Paris when the city was under German occupation and mocked the British Museum that the sculptures had been acquired. legally:
“We got it legally from the Turks. . . who were an occupying force.
“It would be as if our Stonehenge and Big Ben and the Stone of Scone all in one disappeared from our country for hundreds of years and finally returned to their place,” Fry told the Hay Festival.
Fry went on to say, which he mentioned several times, that returning the ‘marbles’ to Greece “would be an act that uses a word that we haven’t been able to use lately about acts of Britain: That Would Be Classy’ in stark contrast to Lord Elgin’s original act of vandalism:
“He ordered saws and literally hacked them,” Fry said. “If he had permission, the only evidence of any permission was that he could take traces of it to make casts, make molds and pick up anything that was already on the floor. But he brought saws and hacked huge elements, and took them to Britain.
“Even if he did, it was an occupying power, not the Greeks themselves, who granted it to him,” Fry said.
“It’s like an American saying, ‘Yeah, in 1941, I bought the Eiffel Tower from the German occupiers in Paris at the time.’ And when the French say can we get it back, ‘No, I just got it and bluntly, it’s mine.’ That’s what the British Museum said: it’s ours, we got it legally – from the Turks, who were an occupying force.
Fry, 64, added: ‘The British Museum has come up with all sorts of excuses, none of which are good enough. Firstly that they are entitled to it, secondly if they hadn’t taken care of it they would have been in a worse state, which may be true but that’s still no reason to keep it.
“If your friend has a fire in his house and you take his painting so it doesn’t burn, you can’t say I’m keeping them forever because if I hadn’t kept them they would be burned – they may as well have been burned at that time.