text:
Google boss backs subsidized Linuxbooks
Google CEO Eric Schmidt has hinted that his company - or at least its partners - will one day subsidize the purchase of extra-low-cost Linux netbooks in an effort to promote the use of its myriad cloud online services. "What's particularly interesting about netbooks is the price point," Google's Willy Wonka told a room full of …
It is a good idea
I recently bought an eee pc 1000HA and I find it an excellent tool. Laptops have always suffered from having short battery life and being heavy. Netbooks are light, and the eee pc 1000 series demonstrates that battery life can be 5 or 6 hours. The machine can do voip/skype/whatever and it runs a browser and SSH client nicely. Heavy word processors are over-rated, a lightweight word processor is good enough for most purposes.
Way, way, way, way back in the day there was a competition between x86, RISC, SPARC and PPC for the desktop: x86 won then but this is a market where competition could again have an effect and drive the price/performance ratio. Linux has an advantage over Windows in that it runs on x86/x64, also ARM, also pick your CPU. So do the vast majority of KDE & Gnome apps.
Therefore Linux has a competitive advantage in a market - netbooks - where the CPU price is extremely sensitive and (IMHO) there is real reason for competition against Intel & AMD processors. A portable OS applied to heterogenous hardware competing in a fairly common form factor could cause a (I hate to use jargon) paradigm shift.
Netbooks are already extremely successful, it would be very nice if they were adopted as value added marketing tools. Certainly with Linux there would be little likelyhood of vendor/OS lock-in: people would make RPMs or distros for the little beasties. A telco giving me a netbook with an ADSL contract would have a hard time stopping me or charging me for installing GCC, for example.
Problem is, they'll eviscerate the high margin Core2 & Phenom market. Then again, with 32 nm process tech soon ready and the small size of a netbook CPU, margins on netbook CPUs could be high enough to make up the difference.
If that is actually the case, who wants to bet a beer that Intel executes, AMD vacillates, and ARM & Fujitsu (sparc) & co. retrench ;-(
cheap and nasty
just like googles suite of applications and whatever linux distribution itll be running on
it maybe a wet dream for marginal buyers like the poster above but a nightmare for the majority of computer users wholl have little patience for googles half baked programs and linuxs countless problems
spending money?
Every idiot can spend money, but they should start making money anytime soon for a change. Real money not the phoney stuff the FED is printing at the moment. Because our Chinese friends aren't going to give the mericuns a free ride for ever.
Horned Jobs for obvious reasons.
The Big Assumption
A netbook is a very portable computer.
Cloud computing depends on internet access.
There's an obvious problem here.
If a netbook can't do anything useful without access to the internet, it will only be useful in a few places. This idea depends on there being the right infrastucture.
If this doesn't make you wonder about BT's router upgrade apparently turning it into an Openzone access point, you might not be properly awake.
It is not what you've got, its how well you use.
Do not be fooled into thinking that a hardware device is the great white hope answer to present ills. And by a hardware device, I would class any consumer product in that bracket whether it be electronic, electric, mechanical or even static decorative possession. They are merely means of temptation to encourage you to spend Cash and enrich Capitalism and especially those who would have the Currency flow through their System of Banks/Laundries, for whenever you are sitting in charge of the Flow and Currency Distribution, are you able to Invent more Currency and choose to whom it should Flow/Go ........ which was the Old [Analogue] Way of doing Big Business.
Things have Changed Fundamentally and QuITe Radically of Late, as you may have Recently Noticed and the Old Way of Doing things,.......[ with its Usury Banking Systems and Discriminatory and Subjective Discretionary Services in Exclusive Supply of Cash Reserves/Sponsored Credit from Businesses which Easily Print and Mint Money, which is a Public Convenience Used as a Reward/Carrot/Stick to Generate Product and Industrious Energy with Spend/Turnover, which returns the Cash/Credit back to the System for ReUse,..... but with the System ALSO expecting the Return of the Sum Creditted/Spent to be Returned again, together with an Added Sum of Arbitrary Interest, which Creates an Additional Unnecessary Burden on they who are Generating the Currency Flow with their Industry and/or Intellectual Property Conversion into Product for Cash Spend, and which keeps the Banking System alive] .... is Dead in the Water, is it not, as IT has been found to be both Predatory and Cannibalistic and a Self Serving Payola Ponzi Scam?
And I do apologize for the unusual and quite excessive length of that sentence. It does though contain and explain all that is Wrong and Toxic in the Present System, and that which would need to be Quickly Discarded and thrown directly into the Trash, and left behind in the Past for a Dim Memory to Remember as being Recorded in History , in the Future.
The Future is Formed, and such is the Ubiquitous and Smarter Invasive and Inquisitive Nature of Information Technologies and Intelligently Designed Processing Architectures, also Naturally Phormed by what One would do with hardware devices, which are Better Utilised with their Owners Plugged in/Turned On and Tuned In/Connected to Networks InterNetworking in Clouds and/or across Global Intelligent Information Grids, Sharing Ideas for a Greater Mutual Intelligence, which Leads a Following Building the Future by Virtual Means and Intellectual Property Share....... and Currency Distribution and Free Flow rather than Banking Management and Administrative Blockage.
And you can be assured/horrified/informed that the System is being/has been BetaTested in a Running Pilot of the Free Flow Credit ControlLed System to ReGenerate and Energise Economies and Industry.
And More on that, later.
And Paris, because she is a hero to those who haven't a lot but know very well how to use IT to Create a Perception of Definitive Real Advantage ...... to Disadvantage Puerile Indifference and Macho Competition.
And all of the Above is what IT is all about, ma cherie, n'est ce pas?
Hang on a minute.....
Big company bribes resellers to install the O/S of its choice in an attempt to tie the users in to its own software suite and freeze out any opposition sales.
Haven't we been here before?
Hmm, this might need a clue for the hard of thinking......need a suitable icon.....aha!
Initially Money to those who can Spend IT 42 Create DisProportionate Wealth for Novel Distribution.
And for all you Doubting Thomases and/or Moribund Thinkers out there, not thinking and thinking "It is not what you've got, its how well you use." ... Posted Wednesday 4th March 2009 08:06 GMT, is an alien rant, here is something similar from someone you might consider more earthed? ..... http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/239/1051239/eu-president-calls-intellectual-property-rights-rethink ....... except he's quite a bit further behind the Curve and nowhere in Sight of those out in the Front and at Point and on Master BetaTest Pilot Duties. But at least he's got Vision.
Taking over the world
If the cloud apps were up to snuff they wouldn't have to give away anything.
And those problems would be....?
And they compare to Windows' countless problems how....?
I have some problems with the Linux distros I have tried (KDE is unstable...the window managers are confusing...) Some of this comes down to my ignorance whilst I fiddle about and learn. A few are genuine issues (i.e. KDE 4.2 - it is actually rather flakey). But these issues are no more than I experience on Windows on a daily basis.
I have lost count of the number of times on Windows I have had to play "kill the process" or just rebooted to get a USB device to a state where I can unplug it. Very frustrating. Or a file is locked by something and I have no idea what. Or having to manually search for, download and resolve compatibility issues with drivers. Then there's the lock-ups, virii, trojans, bloat, cost.....
I like this idea and I will be interested to see how it pans out. Hopefully it will bring more quality into the Linux arena, which is often still a hobbyists play pen. I guess the main gripe I have with Linux is documentation, or the lack thereof. Actually, scratch that, there is too much. Disparate, unmanaged, uncoordinated and not new-user-friendly.
So sure, Linux has problems but no more than Windows does. And when low-price-point is the target you only have two choices Linux or XP; and as MS will be killing XP soon.....
And just what will be the price?
Google subsidizing the hardware means they will dictate to the manufacturer what is installed.Hello google gears, mail, google docs, search as the home page etc etc. it will be nothing more than a gateway to google services. And yet they still don't think they are a monopoly, or that there is anything wrong with this business practice.
And before everybody pipes in with - but you have a choice, if you don't want to use it install a competitors product. That's exactly the same position as a Microsoft OS. If you don't like the per-installed stuff use someone elses and yet everybody still cries monopoly.
Subsidizing the hardware is no different to Microsoft offering massive software discounts to OEMs. Both serve the purpose of making the inital cost to the consumer cheaper and so getting your product into a dominant position in the market.
Its about time Google moved something out of perpetual beta before trying to shove their half-baked projects down peoples throats. Hopefully it isn't going to be too long before this whole 'cloud' idea disappears again. Should only take 1 or 2 massive outages. It isn't a new idea and it has failed before for that same reason.
RE: And just what will be the price?
AC wrote: "Subsidizing the hardware is no different to Microsoft offering massive software discounts to OEMs."
Except that it is fundamentally different.
You're not going to be paying (anything at all) for the OS. You're also getting discounted hardware.
MS have a different model, you pay for the OS. It might be cheaper than normal retail when included with a new PC but you *do* pay. You don't get discounted hardware as part of the deal either!
...and let's face it, that's a rubbish deal for anyone who is replacing an existing PC, who already has a licence for Windoze or who doesn't want Windoze in the first place.
"Google CEO Eric Schmidt has hinted that his company - or at least its partners - will one day subsidize the purchase of extra-low-cost Linux netbooks in an effort to promote the use of its myriad cloud online services."
Isn't this pushing into new markets using marketing clout, as in, not allowed by the competition commision?
"Laptops have always suffered from having short battery life and being heavy." – not sure how you go about quantifying this one I'm afraid! I find that the big desktop replacement/gaming laptops are big and heavy with short battery lives, but the small ultraportables I use for work when I need to travel to my job are the same weight as your Eee, have as good or better battery life as well, and have superior ergonomics. However, while I won't deny that the price of these machines are 3-4 times that of the Eee, their increased performance does mean I can run anything I like on them without relying on a "cloud" someone else provides across a network that is not subject to other users impacting it in the public domain… you get what you pay for I suppose!
Have to agree with the rest of the posters here about Google positioning themselves as the new evil empire and hoping to dominate the mainframe… errr… cloud computing world. Still yet to find someone to explain to me what this means to the world when the global networks are clogged by 2010 with cloud computing, HD streaming, legal fileshares, etc… why would I want to put my critical infrastructure at the whims of this with a cloud supplier, which would probably require dedicated pipe to said supplier and thus removing the "choice of supplier" advantages that cloud touts as a selling point!
"And before everybody pipes in with - but you have a choice, if you don't want to use it install a competitors product. That's exactly the same position as a Microsoft OS. If you don't like the per-installed stuff use someone elses and yet everybody still cries monopoly."
Here is the difference.
If I don't like FF, I can uninstall it completely and use Opera.
If I don't like Nautilus, I can uninstall it completely and use soemthing else.
If I don't like Gnome, I can I can uninstall it completely and use (say) KDE.
If I don't like...you can see where this is going.
If I don't like IE, I can uninstall...err...wait...no I can't. And why does Outlook Express keep popping up, I thought I had removed that. So with MS, you are stuck with what you are given (whether you think you are using it or not).
As to Google mandating Gears etc, you are probably correct. If they block the removal (or restrict installs/usage as Apple do with the i{hone) then we can cry "monopoly". Until then we'll juts have to wait and see.
Oh, a monopoly also require market share. Linux has barely 4% of the market. it will be a long, long time before and Linux distro (no matter how restrictive) and fall under a "monopoly". And given the heterogeneous nature of the Linux world, it may never happen.
... these things ain't. Think a bit historically. Fridges were originally exclusive, like cars. Phones too. Anyone remember telegrams? Air travel?
Give these developments a decade or two, and only design and deliberate function-based performance alternatives will distinguish the machines. Basic form and function will only differ like radios and landline phones. And broadband & wireless will be everywhere, like roads and road signs.
Basic funding will be radio-style with a central collection system plus advertising (maybe). Unless the state decides that this kind of electronic connection is so fundamental to work and social and cultural interaction that it funds it all out of taxation, so people won't even notice it. Or do you ever hear anyone moaning about VAT, which is a totally unjust single-rate tax on rich and poor alike (worse than Thatcher's repugnant poll-tax).
The arguments between small chargers and free advocates will be like those about ways of funding public transport in metropolitan areas.
(Paris, cos she's a kind of celebrity infrastructure...)
RE: And just what will be the price?
"MS have a different model, you pay for the OS. It might be cheaper than normal retail when included with a new PC but you *do* pay. You don't get discounted hardware as part of the deal either!"
And what exactly happens when vendors offer Microsoft-laden computers at the same price as a Linux version or less? It's well known that software vendors pay to have their crapware pre-loaded (antivirus trial versions and so on), especially on Windows systems. Whether Microsoft plays any role in that directly is another matter, but we can't rule out strategic discounts and other subsidies taking place behind the scenes.
What we should expect from regulators is them mandating the availability of hardware without an operating system or crapware bundled. If people then demand Windows plus crapware, if this effectively gets them a discount on the price at the cost of having a bunch of bloat and advertising in their face, then they would be able to choose this. But this should not diminish availability of the raw hardware, and pricing should remain transparent.
Netbooks are like electric cars
Everyone thinks they are probably a good idea, but they aren't enough of a real car to replace your real car and they aren't actually much fun to use.
Its a lethal combination.
If you want a real revolution, you'll need a "home hub" with fibre from your telco, SMS, email, voip, media recording/streaming, general server and backup functions and your own private cloud.
Then having a few netbooks around the house might be useful. If eveyone has a similar setup, you could just hook into your friends wifi with enough speed to get back to your own home system at lan speeds.
I realize it isn't the main point of the article, but the following sentence leapt out at me:
"He pointed to a recent snafu where Google's search engine blocked access to the entire internet."
That seems a tad harsh. As far as I know, Google problems like that are hardly "situation normal." Or are they?
P.S. Good to see that amanfromMars is back with his usual refreshing take on reality.
@ffrankmccaffery, big bear
'marginal buyer' - I can't agree. I've got three very nice desktops at home. I just wanted a very light notebook with good battery life and my requirements of a laptop are not heavy. As for Linux, every OS has irritating things - I prefer Linux/UNIX irritations to Windows irritations.
Big bear - Matter of perspective I guess. I had a Macbook Pro, nice machine and it got about 3.5 hours to the battery charge. But it ran MySQL, Apache quite as well as an average desktop for development work and I just don't need that kind of power or it's approx 5 lb in my briefcase. I have network access at work and at home to some fairly heavy iron and most of what I use the eee for is either running ssh sessions or reading the Inq and el Reg. It's not a cloud front end, but it is I guess a front end for better machines. FWIW, I would not trust anything very important to Google or Amazon (or whoever's) cloud - I have no belief they would not at some point attempt to assert ownership, or perhaps mine the files people store on their clouds.
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text:
The Standard Telecaster® Satin guitar casts our workhorse Standard Telecaster model in a whole new light, wrapping it in four radiantly beautiful new satin urethane body finishes.
Other features include an alder body, maple neck with "modern C" profile and satin urethane back finish, 9.5"-radius rosewood fingerboard with 21 medium jumbo frets, dual single-coil pickups with three-way switching, three-ply black-white-black pickguard and black plastic control knobs, and a six-saddle string-through-body bridge. Available in new Flame Orange, Ocean Blue Candy, Arizona Sun and Blaze Gold
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owns this item
owns Fender product(s)
When I first saw this in the guitar shop I was instantly attracted to its unusual colour and the great price, when I was playing it, it's really a matter of what colour suited your taste, it is great for the intermediate player who wants a fender logo on their guitar. It plays well, the tone is fine and it looks great.
I have this guitar in Flame Orange.
I purchased this guitar after playing one at a local mom and pop guitar shop. The one I played was Arizona Sun and it was the only one they had in-store. I ended up ordering mine from a big box store because of the low price and financing. I love the color, as it changes depending on the lighting.
Let me start by saying that the first guitar I received had faulty electronics and did not work. The second one I received had an improperly cut nut, which caused the G string to pop out of the nut when doing bends. It some cosmetic issues as well. The third one was perfect.
After taking it to my luthiers at Top Gear in La Mesa, CA, she plays like a beauty.
The sound to me is as good as any American Standard and I was surprised at how quiet the pickups are. I only wish that the fretboard radius was a little flatter, but that's what my Deluxe Player's Strat is for ;)
I also wish they offered you a choice of either a black or white pickguard. I ended up replacing mine with a Fender 3 play white/black/white parchment pickguard.
I would put this guitar up against any American made Tele. In fact, it plays better than a lot of the American Teles I have played.
NiteGoat owns this item
This is a Mex made Tele, absolutely defect free and with a perfect finish in all details, that I ordered through a web shop. The colour, Arizona Sun satin, took me by surprise when I opened the box, as it is VERY satin, and less orange/ warm than I expected. It is basically a bronze colour, quite unusual for a guitar. Probably if I had seen it in a shop I'd have a second thought, but since the guitar has not defects whatsoever and plays excellently, I decided to keep it.
The satin neck (with rosewood fingerboard) is very playable and smooth. The tuners works fine and smoothly but must not have a high ratio, maybe only 12:1 or max 14:1. The strings are 9-42 which is the size I like but I ended up with dirty fingers after a few hours playing. I will replaced them with coated strings. The set up was fine, no fret buzz, and no excessively high action. The pick up tone is excellent, very Tele and twangy, with a pronounced difference between neck and bridge. The sound is very good, both on the clean channel of my Bugera valve amp, and with a Boss distortion pedal, and makes the guitar very versatile - from country to hard rock. All strings deliver an equal tone (I had a guitar where the high "e" was standing up over the others).
All in all it is an excellent instrument, simple in design and construction - as a Tele should be - and capable of many different styles of music.
Considering the relatively low price, I dare to say it is a highly recommended buy for all, beginners (like me) as well as more experienced players.
FabioStar owns this item
Ordered this as I hadn't got a Standard MIM Telecaster and I wanted a no frills Tele (finish excepted).
These colours are great, probably for the more extrovert player.
I went for the Arizona Sun Satin. Orange. It's the first guitar I don't need to keep polishing my greasy fingerprints off.
As a standard Tele, the pickups are as expected - perhaps a little weak but nothing I can't live with.
I am really happy with my purchase. It's a great guitar, very playable and the Rosewood Neck is a great feature too.
VintageBrit owns this item
|Model Name:
|Standard Telecaster® Satin, Rosewood Fingerboard, Flame Orange
|Model Number:
|Flame Orange
|Body Material:
|Body Finish:
|Satin Urethane
|Body Shape:
|Neck Material:
|Neck Finish:
|Satin Urethane
|Neck Shape:
|Modern "C"
|Scale Length:
|25.5" (648 mm)
|Fingerboard Radius:
|9.5" (241 mm)
|Number of Frets:
|Fret Size:
|Medium Jumbo
|String Nut:
|Synthetic Bone
|Nut Width:
|1.650" (42 mm)
|Position Inlays:
|White Dot
|Truss Rod Nut:
|3/16" Hex Adjustment
|Bridge Pickup:
|Standard Single-Coil Tele
|Neck Pickup:
|Standard Single-Coil Tele
|Master Volume, Master Tone
|Pickup Switching:
|3-Position Blade: Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups, Position 3. Neck Pickup
|Pickup Configuration:
|6-Saddle Standard Strings-Through-Body Tele with Block Saddles
|Hardware Finish:
|Tuning Machines:
|Standard Cast/Sealed
|3-Ply Black/White/Black
|Control Knobs:
|Knurled Flat-Top
|Fender® USA 250L, NPS, (.009-.042 Gauges)
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9 biggest risks your HR function faces—and how to beat them
First in a Human Element Blog series
- |
- Written by Marian Exall
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- Comments: DISQUS_COMMENTS
I'm partial to lists, as you may have noted in past blogs. So, in celebration of the Banking Exchange website's new Risk Channel, here's my take on the top areas of human resources vulnerability.
There are too many for a single blog post, so I'll continue the list next time—possibly even in a third blog.
To devise my list, I started by reviewing notes of training I presented to state bankers' association conferences a decade ago. I was surprised to find that the "Nine H.R. Compliance Nightmares of 2003" are still the matters keeping us awake at night today.
Sure, there are a few new twists. Background checks didn't include E-verify then, and employee privacy issues didn't involve Facebook. But the topic headings remain basically the same.
Hiring the right people
Even back in 2003, the internet had vastly widened the pool of candidates for each job opening. And yet it is as difficult as ever to find the right person.
The final selection stage is usually the in-person interview. The interview is an imprecise tool, but it can be improved if the interviewer is trained to follow standard procedures. These procedures include asking for concrete examples of experience, or posing hypothetical problem situations and asking for solutions, instead of asking yes/no or leading questions.
"Why should I hire you?" or "What are your strengths?" will only elicit a self-serving canned response that is not a predictor of success on the job.
In my experience, background checks are often viewed as a formality, and little time or effort is devoted to them. Even if the bank delegates the chore of credit, criminal, and education record checks to a third-party provider, the HR manager should carefully review the results to make sure the right questions are being asked.
Remember, banks have special obligations under the Federal Deposit Insurance Act (FDIA) regarding the employment of individuals with certain criminal histories.
In recent years there have been moves at both the federal and state levels to restrict credit and criminal background checks because they have a disparate impact on protected groups. Often banks are exempt from these restrictions because of the FDIA provision, and the obvious financial fiduciary nature of the job, but it's as well to check state law and the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act before denying a position based solely on the results of a credit or criminal record search.
Prior employers remain the best source of information relevant to a candidate's likely performance on the job. It's a hard slog to get them to talk to you because of the fear of a defamation or discrimination suit.
I think this fear is over-rated.
The risk of hiring someone based on incomplete information is much greater. But here are two questions that will usually get a response that you can follow up with the candidate if a red flag is raised:
1. Is the candidate eligible for rehire with your company?
2. Please tell me the dates of employment and position held.
Keep a firm grasp on the premise that honesty is an essential requirement in any job. If a reference check uncovers a discrepancy with statements on the application, think hard about hiring this person.
Managing attendance
The bank can't function if employees don't show up for work.
Of course, the bank recognizes the need for time off for illness, vacations, and other valid reasons, ranging from jury duty to bereavement to National Guard training. Hopefully the bank has adopted clear policies covering all types of employee absence.
The aim of these policies is to ensure predictability and consistency in attendance, but even the best-drafted policies can be undermined by the "exceptional" case.
• The employee who frequently calls in sick on a Monday or the day after a holiday.
• The employee who calls in sick on the day a performance counseling session is scheduled.
• The exempt employee who claims to be working from home.
• The manager who would rather turn a blind eye to unexcused absences than confront a performance, conduct, or attitude issue in the workplace.
Since 2003, both the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), the two principal laws affecting employee attendance, have been revised.
In the case of the ADA, the 2008 amendments have the effect of mandating that the bank, the employee, and the healthcare provider engage in a meaningful interactive process to determine what reasonable accommodation will enable a disabled employee to continue to perform the essential functions of the job.
Time off might be a reasonable accommodation. But you should explore other alternatives. These could include adjustments to the workspace, schedule, or duties, which will keep the employee in the active workforce.
New FMLA rules (also issued in 2008) extended the reasons for leave to cover family members of the military, and to clarify the Act's provisions with regard to eligibility for leave, calculation of leave taken, the employee's duty to give notice of the leave, and medical certification. New "General" and "Employee Rights and Responsibilities" notices were published incorporating the changes.
Some of the clarifying rule changes allow the bank to better control FMLA leave. I recommend you familiarize yourself with the now not-so-new notices so that you can adopt procedures in compliance with the Act that may make managing attendance easier.
The exempt-nonexempt divide
Banks have traditionally relied on the so-called "white collar" exemption to classify employees as salaried and not pay overtime for hours worked in excess of 40 a week. There is no white collar exemption!
Instead there are several exemptions that might apply. This is if, and only if, the job meets the very specific tests regarding the duties of the job, and the method and amount of payment set out in detailed regulations for that exemption under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA.)
A few years ago, a perfect storm conspired to flood financial institutions with FLSA litigation.
First, class action plaintiffs' lawyers, having more or less exhausted the possibilities of employment discrimination lawsuits, were attracted by the easy pickings if misclassification as exempt is proved.
In these cases, the employer has not been tracking hours worked, so the plaintiff's allegations of endless overtime hours worked cannot be disproved. Damages are not limited to the individual named plaintiff, but cover all in the misclassified position. Several large banks have chosen to enter into multi-million-dollar settlements, rather than fight it out at trial.
Second, in 2010, the Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Administrator issued an Interpretation that overturned years of precedents regarding the exempt status of mortgage lenders.
Based on a questionable rationale, the Interpretation found that mortgage lenders did not qualify for the administrative exemption from overtime pay.
This sent many bankers into a tailspin, trying to find another exemption that might apply. Others have decided to bite the bullet and reclassify mortgage lenders (and other lenders that deal with individual consumers) as non-exempt, taking cover under all the other recent regulatory changes imposed on mortgage lender compensation.
Although most commentators agree that the FLSA's Depression-era protections are outdated in today's high-tech workplace, and employers and employees alike would welcome more flexibility, don't look for enforcement efforts to ease up any time soon.
Next time
Discrimination, harassment and retaliation, dealing with the poor performer, employee privacy versus employer rights, affirmative action obligations, and pay equity: watch this space.
Tagged under Human Resources, Management, Risk Management, The Human Element, Operational Risk, Feature,


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Nothing says "holiday party" like a good metallic. It can be a gilded sweater, embellished mini, or shiny leather clutch. And, lucky for us, Club Monaco got the memo — big time. Just as party season… read
Sure, you could spend this Sunday in bed, but what's the fun in that? Instead, try something that's at once fun and low impact. Our favorite lazy-day pastime? Why, planning our outfits, of course. And… read
The LBD might be a wardrobe staple, but, come summer, it's all about the LWD — little white dress. It's as universal and versatile as its noir counterpart, but way more appropriate given summer… read


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The annual event at Vallejo's Congregation B'nai Israel, 1256 Nebraska St., was made special this year with the showing of a pro-Israel documentary, "The Case for Israel: Democracy's Outpost" screened by the Friends of Israel Defense Force. Another highlight was the presence of Rosemary Schindler, a relative by marriage of Oskar Schindler.
Oskar Schindler was a German credited with saving the lives of thousands of Jews during the Holocaust. His story was dramatized in the 1993 Oscar winning film, "Schindler's List."
Rosemary Schindler is also president of the organization Schindler's Ark, which promotes "understanding between Christians and Jews, to speak out against anti-Semitism, and to bring aid, comfort and support to the Jewish people and Israel," according to its website.
Speakers at the event said Israel is being isolated.
"We are a little nation among a big culture around us," the congregation's Rabbi David White said. "We wish we just had a partner to talk with us."
He also added that he's worried about the growing anti-Israel sentiments he sees in the media and the public.
"People have to look into the mirror when they say they are not anti-Semitic, just anti-Israel," White said.
Schindler said she feels that Israel is getting less support from the United States during the current administration.
However, she added that small communities like Vallejo can also help in their own ways.
"They can support (pro-Israel) organizations, or support their local Jewish communities, so they don't feel isolated like Israel," Schindler said.
The Israel Independence Day fell on Tuesday this year, but the delayed celebration did not stop Sunday's festivities, which included dancing, music, children activities, and a prayer study by Rabbi White.
Contact staff writer Irma Widjojo at (707)553-6835 or firstname.lastname@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @IrmaVTH.


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yeah 2012 was kind of a mess
Subscribe to Mike B on YouTube for more!
Mike B, I've missed you! Welcome back to Tankspot.
Odd how so much went wrong with D3 that I didn't even remember half of it anymore. The list makes me cringe, point-by-point.
In regards to the War Z fiasco Caveat emptor applies as much today as it ever has. However, the seller made material misrepresentations of his product and is therefore liable. Though untangling the web of shell companies will be a mess.
So I'm confused... on the studio38 fiasco. The taxpayers lent the money in the first place. The company defaulted and now the taxpayers have to pay themselves back?? Sounds like politics are double dipping there.
I seriously think I'm the only person on the face of the earth who actually enjoyed Diablo 3. :P Very disappointed about them scrapping PvP. But I still have fun doing co-op with friends, to this day. :/
Every man and his dog are doing top best/worse/controversial vids but MikeB shows all those slackers (bar TB & AJ) how it is supposed to be done and puts them all to shame.
Hilarious and incredibly well written vid as opposed to the boring history lessons I have seen on other channels.
I think MikeB, TB and AJ are miles ahead of everyone else in the business.
Shame about 38, I thought KoA was a good foundation. If they could have put the best elements into an MMO that really would have been something. Sad that it took this video to remind me of KoA given that in terms of time spent playing it was in my top 3 games of the year and yet I had forgotten about it. A game that came within a cats whisker of greatness but by merely being "good" as opposed to "astounding" had such dire consequences for so many people.
So dissapointed with KoA. The game was, well, passable but, R.A. Salvatore's involvement (i have everything he's ever written) was the real reason I bought this game on day 1. I doubt very much that he'll ever sign on to develope another video game after this fiasco.
Oh btw, excellent video Mike B, really top bar stuff.
Miss you Mike B. This was awesome and thanks for the hard work (and good luck with the offspring!)
RIP Stormrage Horde ('05 - '11). Turaylon Horde since 11/11 where there's actually people
GM of Neolutum (always recruiting, PM me)
Good write-up on 38Studios by Reason magazine.


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We're sorry but you can't collect Welcome Rewards™ nights at this hotel
We do not have Hotels.com photos for this hotel.
The Inn by the Sea Preferred Bouti is located in Cape Elizabeth, Maine, United States of America
Voted one of the Worlds best by Travel and Leisure Magazine in 2011 Inn by the Sea is Maines premier luxury beach destination. All guest rooms suites and cottages have been designed to pamper you with comfort in a sophisticated palette of deep red-cognac and charcoal with maple furnishings and locally commissioned artwork. Inn by the Sea defines coastal luxury. We offer a full-service SPA where you can unwind and be soother by luxurious facials-massages and treatments. And while you gaze at the spectacular untouched beauty of Crescent Beach our restaurant-Sea Glass- presents an authentic Maine culinary experience prepared from the freshest local ingredients. Come surround yourself with every creature comfort. And all of this is just minutes away from historic downtown Portland-named among the top 12 *surprising thriving and emerging world travel destinations for 2007* by Frommers Travel Guides and Frommers.com. The Inns high service standards and friendly well-trained staff earn the highest praise from the fact that our cherished guests return year after year.
This hotel does not offer any accessibility features. Please select a different hotel if you are interested in booking a room with accessibility features.
Rates displayed are for single or double occupancy per room per night based on the number of adults requested. Please note that extra people, children, rollaway beds and incidentals may be subject to additional charges at check-in.
Rates are subject to availability and may exclude additional taxes and charges imposed by the hotel. Some rates may require special identification.
We have included all charges provided to us by this hotel. However, charges can vary, for example, based on length of stay or the room you book.


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yes, there's still heroic BiS items on the BMAH
also, how can you think that the corrupted ashbringer should not be on the BMAH and you dont mind the t3 is there...? i'm pretty sure people who allready had the old t3 set is feeling very butthurt that it is now available, even though people is having to drop 25k a piece of the set for a total of 200000 gold. i would imagine your ashbringer would be brought to at least 400k on most servers.


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Queens Park Rangers' fight for survival in the English Premier League takes them to Stamford Bridge on Sunday where they meet Chelsea.Impressive home form - QPR have won their last four fixtures at home, including wins over Arsenal and Tottenham - has seen Mark Hughes' side move out of the relegation zone.
D. Sturridge 1'
1 - 0
2 - 0
Fernando Torres 19'
(assist by S. Kalou)
3 - 0
Fernando Torres 25'
4 - 0
Fernando Torres 64'
(assist by Mata)
5 - 0
F. Malouda 80'
6 - 0
6 - 1
|P. Čech
|A. Cole
|J. Terry
|Paulo Ferreira
|José Bosingwa
|F. Lampard
|M. Essien
|Fernando Torres
|19' 25' 64'
|S. Kalou
|D. Sturridge
|Coach: R. Di Matteo
for Mata 67'
for S. Kalou 73'
for José Bosingwa 81'
for A. Buzsaky 65'
for B. Zamora 78'
|Brown extends Celtic contract
|Maidstone United 2 Stevenage 1: Seventh-tier outfit spring Cup shock
|Sheffield United retract Evans offer
|Blanc confident on Ibrahimovic fitness
|Bayern Munich v Hoffenheim: Gisdol not expecting advantage from Lahm absence
|FIFA widens access to Ethics Committee report
|Brandao appeal rejected by FFF
|Struggling Bulgaria sack Penev
|Wigan sponsor quits after Mackay appointment
|Chelsea v West Brom: Leaders out to maintain perfect home record
|Falcao still two weeks away from return
|Arsenal v Manchester United: Van Gaal unsurprised by Welbeck impact
|Lazio v Juventus: Marchisio ready for tough trip
|Castan set for brain surgery
|Paderborn v Borussia Dortmund: Breitenreiter hoping for off-colour visitors
|Lambert ´annoyed´ by Senderos injury
|Leicester City v Sunderland: Pearson eager to ´reignite the confidence´
|Stoke chairman Coates charged with misconduct
|Manchester City v Swansea City: Monk takes no heart from Pellegrini injury woe
|Barcelona v Sevilla: No divided loyalties for on-loan duo
|Blind sidelined by knee injury
|Verratti unavailable for Metz visit
|Monaco dealt Kurzawa injury blow
|Bony rumours will not stop - Monk
|Pearson confident Leicester can turn their form around
|Indian Super League Preview: Herbert seeks home comforts, Garcia urges Kolkata focus
|League One Preview: Ferguson buoyed by McLean return, Bristol City host Preston
|Newcastle United v QPR: Redknapp out to end hosts´ winning run
|Bundesliga Preview: Dortmund look to build form, Bayern host Hoffenheim
|Serie A Preview: Mancini reign to begin with Milan derby
|Reus fit for Paderborn clash
|Giroud could be back to face United
|Milito: Mancini can inspire Inter revival
|Everton v West Ham: Martinez faced with injury concerns
|Moussi pledges salary to charity after joining Birmingham
|Van Gaal questions Coach of the Year nomination
|Eredivisie Preview: Difficult run continues for struggling Dordrecht
|Alcacer returns to Valencia with hamstring injury
|Stoke City v Burnley: Dyche urges bottom side to play with freedom
|Reid contract delay ´probably down to money´
|Downing has not blown England chance - Allardyce
|Ribery not intimidated by Reus rumours
|Eibar v Real Madrid: Leaders eye 14th win in a row
|Buffon and Chiellini pen Juve extensions
|Redknapp: Austin can be great like Ferdinand
|Moreno targets attacking contribution
|Martinez dismisses Keane ´nonsense´
|Lahm undergoes successful ankle surgery
|J.League Preview: Gamba out to deny Urawa title, Cerezo face Vegalta
|Atletico Madrid v Malaga: Jimenez targets domestic run after Mexico brace
|No January transfers for Real, says Ancelotti
|Pardew compares Newcastle to Bayern Munich
|Wenger not keen on deeper role for Wilshere
|Pellegrini not giving up on title
|I have learned my lesson, says Smalling
|Mourinho good for Oscar, Willian - Ronaldo
|Copa Argentina Review: Rosario Central, Huracan poised to meet in final
|A-League Preview: Winless Wanderers eyeing Jets
|Ecuadorian Primera A Review: Independiente del Valle still in control
|Zamora 2 Caracas 1: Costly loss for visitors
|Atletico Nacional 1 Sao Paulo 0: Ruiz puts Colombians in box seat
|Sporting switch right option - Nani
|K. League Preview: Sangju Sangmu desperate for win
|Barca ´just another game´ - Deulofeu
|Ligue 1 Preview: Marseille face Bordeaux amid off-field chaos
|Aldershot 1 Portsmouth 0: Former winners out in first round
|AFCON Qualifiers Review: Holders Nigeria crash out, Egypt fall short
|Neuer boost for Bayern
|Nigeria 2 South Africa 2: Defending champions fail to reach AFCON finals
|Kick It Out calls for FA response to Mackay appointment
|Ghana 3 Togo 1: Wakaso shines as Black Stars seal AFCON spot
|Bony pens Swansea extension
|League Two Preview: Leaders Luton visit Hasselbaink´s Burton SUBBED SEND THURS
|Atletico hit by Miranda injury blow
|Sturridge suffers fresh injury setback
|Chennaiyin 3 Pune City 1: Hosts go top despite Elano, Mendoza injuries
|Championship Preview: Mackay begins with tough Boro test
|Ukraine sanctioned by UEFA for crowd disturbances
|Metz v Paris Saint-Germain: Champions look to crank up pressure on Marseille
|Dortmund, Galatasaray fined by UEFA
|Fletcher fitness boost for Sunderland
|Wigan turn to Mackay
|Lennon running the rule over Gudjohnsen
|Pulis: Shawcross should commit to Wales
|Thohir: Inter objectives the same for Mancini
|Sinclair hints at City exit
|Sandro: QPR are a different team
|Sammer signs Bayern extension
|England to face France and Germany
|Bergara pleased with Moyes impact
|Western Sydney Wanderers 0 Central Coast Mariners 0: Stalemate in Parramatta
|Alonso surprised by Neuer quality
|Valbuena happy with positive French year
|Shaw hopeful of facing Arsenal
|Martino: Difficult for Messi to leave Barcelona
|Conte wants change in Italy preparations
|La Liga Preview: Moyes, Sociedad visit Deportivo La Coruna
|More to Rooney than goals, says Hodgson
|Club before country for Sydney FC marquee Janko
|I chose to give Silva armband - Neymar
|Klinsmann: USA have to be ´nastier´
|Panama 0 Canada 0: Hosts hold on despite red card
|Peru 2 Paraguay 1: Ascues inspires nine-man hosts
|Bolivia 3 Venezuela 2: Arce ends long wait for win
|Chile 1 Uruguay 2: Gonzalez gives visitors late win
|Deschamps: 2014 positive for France
|O´Neill praises debutant Christie
|Low revels in perfect finish to 2014
|Varane pride after captain´s contribution
|England´s intensity ´spooked´ us - Strachan
|Dunga plays down Miranda injury
|Di Maria, Martino play down injury fears
|Spain are in transition, says Del Bosque
|Rooney hails England character in Scotland win
|FA Cup Review: AFC Telford set up Bristol City clash, Southport surprise Dagenham
|Conte happy with effort but not with Italian clubs
|Santos pleased to recover after poor start
|Cahill adamant Australia on right track
|France 1 Sweden 0: Late Varane header seals victory
|Scotland 1 England 3: Rooney double seals victory over ´old enemy´
|Spain 0 Germany 1: Late Kroos strike seals friendly win
|Argentina 0 Portugal 1: Guerreiro wins it late
|Italy 1 Albania 0: Debut goal from Okaka proves the difference
|Parma expect points deduction
|Republic of Ireland 4 United States 1: McGoldrick stars on international debut
|Scotland 1-3 England: Rooney at the double to close in on goal record
|Republic of Ireland 4-1 USA: O'Neill's men return to winning ways
|Wigan to interview Mackay
|Austria 1 Brazil 2: Late Firmino goal preserves winning run
|Belarus 3-2 Mexico: Late winner secures surprise win for hosts
|Belarus 3 Mexico 2: Nekhajchik secures surprise win for hosts
|Cologne dismiss talk of Podolski return
|Slovenia 0 Colombia 1: Ramos goal extends winning run
|Monchi rejects Krychowiak speculation
|Muriel suffers thigh injury
|Slovenia 0-1 Colombia: Ramos goal extends Cafeteros winning streak
|Gomez confident luck will change in front of goal
|Zigic training with Birmingham
|Messi coy on Barca future
|FIFA confirms criminal complaint over World Cup bids
|United unlikely to do business in January window - Woodward
|Iran 1 South Korea 0: Late Azmoun strike seals victory
|Conte warning for Balotelli
|Spain 0-1 Germany: Kroos fires world champions to victory
|Italy 1-0 Albania: Azzurri leave it late against minnows
|Yanga-Mbiwa sustains thigh injury
|Portugal 1-0 Argentina: Guerreiro steals the win for Seleccao
|UEFA opens Italy and Croatia disciplinary proceedings
|France 1-0 Sweden: Varane secures win for dominant Bleus
|Austria 1-2 Brazil: Firmino earns Selecao sixth successive win
|Thailand 2 New Zealand 0: Hosts finish ASEAN preparations with victory
|Lahm facing three months out
|Manchester United suffer fall in revenue
|Crespo ready to lead Parma if required
|Japan 2 Australia 1: Asian Cup holders strike psychological blow
|Modric ruled out for three months
|Shanghai SIPG unveil Eriksson as new head coach
|De Gea relaxed over Valdes competition
|Baines on track with hamstring recovery
|Totti has eyes on coaching role
|Republic of Ireland-USA Preview: O'Neill to test new recruits at Aviva Stadium
|Benitez confirms Napoli contract talks
|Injured Modric difficult to replace - Kroos
|Rooney warns of ´intimidating´ Celtic Park atmosphere
|Title not yet in the bag - Courtois
|Di Maria drought not a concern for Argentina boss Martino
|Argentine Primera Division Review: River Plate slip up again
|Peruvian Primera Division Review: Cristal capitalise on Lima inactivity
|Paraguayan Division Profesional Review: Leaders Libertad held
|Santos: Portugal not caught up in Messi mania
|Dunga defends Silva decision
|Croatian FA calls for action against ´hooligans´


text:
Red Sky Solutions is the complete IT specialist that helps you Accomplish More.
We design, build, deliver and service innovative IT solutions that integrate and elevate your current systems with the latest technology. We increase efficiency, improve effectiveness, optimize information systems, and maximize your capabilities. At Red Sky, our mission is to be the resource of choice for our clients' technology needs.
Across the U.S. or the globe, clients in Commercial Enterprises , Healthcare, K-12, Higher Education, Service Provider, Data Center, and the Municipal, State and Federal verticals rely on Red Sky as their trusted partner to deliver vital IT solutions. At Red Sky, we are committed to helping your organization accomplish more.
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Kent G., VP IT
Healthcare Solution Provider


text:
Genuine U.S.-made Fender Stratocaster® guitar left-hand maple neck features a comfortable "modern C" profile and 9.5"-radius rosewood or maple fingerboard with 22 medium jumbo frets and rolled edges. Also includes Bi-Flex™ truss rod and pre-slotted synthetic bone nut. Tinted satin urethane finish on back for smooth feel, with gloss finish on maple fingerboard and headstock face.
This replacement neck is for a Fender or Squier® by Fender guitar.
Specifications and Features:
Each nut is pre-slotted with "pilot" string location grooves to make spacing a breeze when performing the final string slot filing. (Please note: Final string slot filing and nut shaping modification is required to ensure proper fit and performance.)
Peg Hole Diameter - .404" (10.26 mm)
Headstock Thickness - .540" (13.71 mm)
Thickness at the 1st Fret - .820" (20.82 mm)
Thickness at the 12th Fret - .870" (22.09 mm)
Recommended Tuning Machines:
Locking Guitar Tuning Machines (p/n 0055306000)Standard Guitar Tuning Machines (p/n 0073119000)
Click here to view the 1-year Neck and Body Warranty
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text:
Arya Global Cuisine
Online Reservations
Our Front room seats up to 40 guests. It has beautiful windows facing the front lawn and has french doors, perfect for seminars and meetings. We also have a screen and projector if needed.
Our back room also has great windows and can seat up to 45 guests. This room we can do both a long table or rounds or an L shaped table as well. Both projection and screen can be used in this room as well.
Our lounge and bar seats up to 45-50 guests
We also have a beautiful fire place and bar to make any event or cocktail reception a big success!
Our main dining room can set up to 150 guests we have a stage, dance floor and screen if needed.
Seats up to 45 guests. Great for group dining.


text:
Expert commentary and streaming video as vice presidential candidates Paul Ryan and Joe Biden face off tonight.
VP debate Oct. 11
City's 'ugly' Christmas tree prompts public outcry
READING, Pa. (AP) — A Christmas tree that might make Charlie Brown think twice is getting kicked to the curb a little early after residents of a Pennsylvania town complained it was too ugly. Full Story
(Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP)
Shifting attitudes at play in Cosby allegations
Tamra Wade struggled mightily over whether to go to the police more than a decade ago, when, she says, a trusted professor forced himself on her in an empty classroom. Full Story
George Clooney rep denies adoption rumors
Spokesman for star calls rumors "100 percent fabricated"


text:
Terry Anderson, Gary Libecap 06/17/2014
Environmental Markets is the inaugural book in Cambridge Studies in Economics, Choice, and Society, a new interdisciplinary series of theoretical and empirical research focusing on individual choice, institutions, and social outcomes.
Terry Anderson 05/13/2014
Seeing environmental problems as opportunities.
Terry Anderson 12/04/2013
Restoring Indian Dignity
Andrew Morriss, Fr. Michael Butler 11/15/2013
Policy recommendations from theologians and Church authorities have taken the form of pontifications, obscuring many economic and public policy realities. Butler and Morriss offer a new contribution to Orthodox environmental theology by Church teaching but also by sound economic analysis.
Laura Huggins 10/10/2013
In this innovative book, Laura E. Huggins finds path breaking entrepreneurial solutions to difficult environmental challenges in some of the world's poorest areas.
Terry Anderson 09/03/2013
Nobel laureate Ronald Coase has passed away at the age of 102. Coase's work provided the intellectual foundation on which free market environmentalism is built.
Terry Anderson 02/07/2013
Step away from the blackboard
Terry Anderson 01/03/2013
Dubbed the "First Nations Property Ownership Act," the legislation would allow Canadian bands (tribes as they are known in the United States) to vote on whether to give individual Indians the right to own their land as private property.
Roger Meiners, Pierre Desrochers, Andrew Morriss 09/16/2012
Widely credited with launching the modern environmental movement when published 50 years ago, Rachel Carson's Silent Spring had a profound impact on our society. As an iconic work, the book has often been shielded from critical inquiry, but this landmark anniversary provides an excellent...


text:
Welcome to
Azure Holidays Latest Travel News website. We pride
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If you are looking for a villa in Quinta Do Lago, you will find
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We aim to provide a quality villa holiday experience and part of
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text: HP Seeks To Give Amazon Competition with a New Public Cloud Service For several years now, Amazon has held sway over the cloud computing heap, especially in IaaS. HP, in contrast, though being one of the largest traditional IT infrastructure players, had been slow to jump onto the cloud computing bandwagon. However, over the last


text:
Imagine a setback thermostat programmed at the factory that the consumer couldn't modify. Who would want this device? You could give the customer a big enough discount to get her to accept the...
Green Price Stability
New approaches account for the economic benefits of renewables.
Because utility costs are bundled together, all generation resources are combined to create a utility system mix of generation. In other words, utilities normally don't distinguish between individual generation sources for their customers. Therefore, an equivalent mix of the utility's generation resources and purchased power is provided to each customer.
For green power programs, utilities and regulators are interested in separating the specific costs related to securing green power. In this way, green power products are unique, differentiated electricity products. Since customer participation is voluntary, only those customers that choose to sign up for these programs pay the incremental costs. Green power program participants typically pay the higher cost of renewables in the form of a premium on their monthly bill. There are four main components to the determination of the green power premium: 22
1. The cost of the green power source: This includes the total cost of electricity and environmental attributes from all renewable resources used in the product, whether from wind, solar, geothermal, biomass, or another source, and whether owned by the utility or acquired through a power-purchase contract. The cost of the green power sources are captured through the specific power-purchase agreements for renewable energy or renewable energy credits (RECs), or through the regulatory approval process for utility-owned renewable projects. As long as these are tracked separately from the rest of the generation mix, the appropriate renewable generation costs can be determined. One challenge in determining generation costs results from the uncertainties regarding how many customers will enroll in the program and for how long they will participate.
2. Program implementation costs: Any additional costs attributed to implementing the green power program, including administration and marketing. It is relatively straightforward to determine a program budget. First, the cost of program administration directly is linked to the staff, equipment, and other resources used to administer the program. Second, the marketing costs can be estimated based on the marketing methods used to publicize the program ( e.g., bill inserts, participation in community events). The challenge for determining the level of marketing expenditures lies in determining the appropriate amount of resources needed to attract a sufficient number of customers to the program.
3. Ancillary services costs: The additional costs incurred to integrate variable output resources, particularly wind, into a utility's system. Ancillary services guarantee the reliability and security of the electric system by responding to constantly changing electric grid conditions. They are the set of activities and functions that electric system operators and market participants perform in order to: 1) balance electricity supply and demand on a minute-by-minute basis; and 2) prepare for longer-term changes in supply and demand over time. 23 Some renewable energy generators, such as those based on wind and solar, have variable output—they cannot be turned on or off to meet changing demand. Moreover, their output can fluctuate over a matter of a few minutes or hours. Managing these fluctuations can add costs to the system. These costs largely depend on the level of penetration of the variable-output renewables.
4. The cost of displaced utility generation


text: Find some of the best prices on Therapy Balls and Yoga Balls right here. All our Therapy Balls and Yoga Balls help you improve core strength and functional movement while developing muscle tone and flexibility. The Power Yoga-Pilates Weight Balls unique handle design offers freedom and comfort while performing exercises and can be used for toning legs while performing floor work. Slim Olive Weight Balls feature an ergonomic shape that fits your palm - an ideal item for arm strength training and rehabilitation.


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Craig Heist, wtop.com
VIERA, Fla. - Ross Detwiler made his last start before heading off to the World Baseball Classic, Chad Tracy hit a two-run homer and Ryan Zimmerman went 1-for-3 with an RBI single in his first appearance of the spring as the Nationals beat the Cardinals 7-6.
Detwiler gave up one run on four hits and struck out four over two innings of work. He had a high pitch count throwing 51 during his stint, 31 for strikes on a cold, windy day.
"Obviously, the load falls on [Craig] Stammen's shoulders there," Detwiler said. "He came out and did well but it was a factor of the wind. I was missing up today but we got through it. This is just, make sure you are strong and make sure you are ready to go."
Detwiler was working mainly on his off-speed pitches as he has said along he wants to work more on his progression of off-speed pitches.
I think I threw more off-speed pitches today in two innings than I did all year last year," Detwiler said with a smile. "Suzuki said he was actually surprised it was actually pretty decent because I didn't throw it at all last year."
Despite the pitch count the results of his pitches were what mattered most to him before he heads off the WBC.
"Off-speed was looking good," he said. "I threw one change-up that was really good and it was called a ball. I think it was a little low, but that's where you want to miss."
"I thought Det threw the ball really good. It was very tough out there, windy, getting a feel for the ball," manager Davey Johnson said. "We were going to have him throw over 50 pitches and he managed to do that in two innings."
Zimmerman contributes
Ryan Zimmerman made his first appearance of the spring. He hit clean-up as the designated hitter and went 1-for-3 with a bloop RBI single to right in the third inning off Jamie Garcia.
Zimmerman will be used as a DH until about the 18th of the month when he will start to see action in the field as he continues to recover from his surgically repaired shoulder.
Ramos also debuts
Nats catcher Wilson Ramos made his first plate appearances of the spring going 1-for-2 with a double in the ninth which started the Nats game winning rally. Ramos was not going to be allowed to participate in a game until he could convince doctors he was okay to run the bases on his surgically repaired right knee and more importantly, slide into a base.
"It feels good," Ramos said of his knee. "I couple of weeks ago I was a little bit scared about my knee to slide but after I did, I felt my knee was strong and there was no pain or sore. That's the reason I said to everyone, I'm ready to go."
Johnson was also impressed, but had a feeling for some time that Ramos was ready to go but had to wait for him to be cleared by the medical staff.
"I was worried when he chopped that ball to third and was running real hard to first I was like, 'Wil don't run so hard,'" he said jokingly. "Then he looked good. There was a gale blowing in and he turned that around and he looked good running the bases. Thank goodness he hit it so far he didn't have to slide."
Walters comes through
Infielder Zach Walters came through with the RBI single which plated Sandy Leon with the game-winning run in the bottom of the 9th. Walters has four hits in 17 at bats and to get a walk off is just as big a thrill in a spring game as it is during the season.
"Any win feels special, especially a walk-off," Walters said. "That's what every kid things about when he's six years old in his back yard. You know, bottom of the ninth, two outs and for me to do it in spring training is no different than if I would do it in the season."
Nats send four pitchers to minor league camp
The Nationals reassigned left-handed pitchers Bill Bray, Brandon Mann and Will Ohman and right-handed pitcher Tanner Roark to minor league camp. That puts the Nats roster at 50.
"Once your pitchers basically go through a couple of time through the rotation you just start getting limited innings," Johnson said. "In all their cases, and in Bray's case, we felt like he could work out some of the mechanical problems under a less stressful situation and more regular work."
Off day
It is for both the Nats and me on Monday. See ya Tuesday.
Follow @CraigWTOP and @WTOP on Twitter.


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Rubio and Ryan in political spotlight
Washington (CNN) -- Two rising stars in the Republican party, each of whom may run for the GOP presidential nomination in 2016, give much anticipated speeches Tuesday night at a conservative gathering here in the nation's capital.
Sen. Marco Rubio, the freshman Republican from Florida, and Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, the House Budget committee chairman and Mitt Romney's running mate on the GOP ticket in this year's presidential election, both share the stage at the Jack Kemp Foundation's award dinner at the Mayflower Hotel.
The foundation, named after the famous conservative congressman, cabinet secretary and GOP vice presidential nominee, will honor the 41-year-old Rubio with the Kemp leadership award. Ryan, 42, won the same award last year. This year he gives the keynote address at the dinner.
Rubio will use his post-dinner speech to talk about ways to grow the economy and make creating jobs easier, about reducing health care costs for middle class families, and about the impact of societal breakdown, according to a Rubio adviser who asked to remain anonymous in order to speak freely.
The adviser also told CNN that Rubio will discuss education and giving people the skills to earn middle class wages in the 21st century. Rubio will emphasize early childhood education, school choice, and tax code reform and incentives in education. The adviser said Rubio will further address the rising costs of college, mention reforming federal loan and grant programs, and will highlight his own experience with college loans, which the senator just recently paid off.
Ryan's pre-dinner speech will partly focus on reducing poverty through education and will detail his thinking on how people of different income levels can improve their standing, according to a Republican source.
There are more than a dozen Republicans who may be considering 2016 bids, but political strategists say that Rubio and Ryan would be near the top of any potential lists.
The next presidential campaign is still a long way away, but because of Rubio and Ryan's star power, the Kemp Foundation awards dinner is firmly in the political spotlight.
™ & © 2012 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.


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Nice. Now lets wait and see how they gonna ruin it. Taking bets on "A successful dodge or parry will reduce the cooldown on Revenge by 5%. Stacks up to 10 times."
Now a legitimate concern. Can this result in "hostile pet" for revenge generating purposes type of situation? This could potentially have some drastic effects on our OT DPS.


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Original Post Located at:A Voice Of Reason - by Sherry Petro-SurdelOrginal Author: ssreasoningsGandhi: �I will not let anyone walk through my mind with dirty feet.�
LANSING � Coldwater veterinarian Dr. Kristin Knirk was recently named to the 2014 board of the Michigan Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA).
Something to Talk About
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Israeli tank shells slammed into a crowded U.N. school sheltering Gazans displaced by fighting on Wednesday, killing 15 and wounding 90 after tearing through the walls of two classrooms, a spokesman for a U.N. aid agency and a health official said.
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Join the cute little lamb as he goes to nursery with the other little animals, and learns how to make friends and create new things.
Find support, help and advice on parenting and childcare for your babies, toddlers and early years. Learn how CBeebies shows, fun games and activities can help your kids learn through play.