text:
I'm Bridget and this is my sewing machine review blog where I have reviewed all the best sewing machines. I think sewing stuff is just about the best pastime ever, and useful too, don't you think? Nowadays with electronic and computerized sewing machines, life is so much easier.
I've been sewing stuff for years and years and used many models of sewing machines; I've had the best sewing machine for embroidery and quilting. I always give the old ones away (they weren't really that old but I outgrew them fast) or trade them in when I upgrade to something new. They can also be sold second hand if they're still in one piece (99 percent are, unless you make a habit of dropping them) and working fine.
How to Choose the Best Sewing Machine
Now, I didn't say it was an easy thing to choose the best sewing machine for beginners. You need to know what you want now, and plan ahead for what you might want in a year or two. It could be that you only want to sew hubby's trousers hems now, but suddenly you find that you want to take up embroidery as a hobby. Bear in mind that you can always upgrade to something fancy later on as long as your budget allows. Here are few important things to think about to help you start in your purchase.
First things first, decide what you want your sewing machine for. I wouldn't recommend buying a sewing machine with all the fancy functions if you aren't going to use them, since the price difference can be large. If you're buying the sewing machine as a gift, find out what features suit the person you're giving it to.
Type of Sewing Machines
- Regular sewing machine – Does your regular sewing jobs, but some models come with embroidery or quilting features.
- Embroidery sewing machine – Some sewing machines are purely for embroidery and they can be expensive.
- Quilting sewing machine – The best sewing machines for quilting will include plenty of quilting accessories.
Type of Work vs Price
- Heavy – If you often sew a lot of heavy fabrics, go for sewing machines above the $250 mark.
- Light – For regular sewing, cheap sewing machines are good enough.
If you plan to bring the sewing machine to sewing classes, get something lighter and more portable.
Read more about how to choose the best sewing machine here.
Best Sewing Machine Reviews 2015
These are the best sewing machines I feel worth recommending to you folks who love sewing, and for those who are just starting out, get the best beginner sewing machine.
- Best Beginner Sewing Machine – Very user friendly, highly recommended as the best sewing machine for beginners.
- Best Basic Sewing Machine – It's basic and it's cheap; this is the best sewing machine to buy for home use – for the occasional hem and buttonhole.
- Best Value Electronic Sewing Machine – Good value for the price! This is the best sewing machine for the money.
- Best Cheap Computerized Sewing Machine – One of the cheap sewing machines with lots of features.
- Best Quilting Sewing Machine – Comes with plenty of good quilting features, definitely choose the best sewing machine for quilting if you're quilting heavily!
- Best Embroidery Sewing Machine – Invest in a good embroidery sewing machine and have all the fun.
For more reviews, click here to go to my Sewing Machine Reviews Blog.
Best Sewing Machine Brands
There were two big players when it comes to sewing machines but now there are three. It is often a tough decision choosing between the two major competitors – Brother and Singer. I personally have used both Brother sewing machines and Singer sewing machines and both brands are good. Janome is a relatively newer brand but it's gaining popularity fast. I myself have just bought a new Janome sewing machine.
Do read my reviews on the best sewing machine brands:
Other Things You Need to Know About Sewing Machines
I have been sewing since my mother taught me how on her very ancient sewing machine. All that experience plus researching each time I buy a new sewing machine must have made me an expert, yes? I'd like to share with you everything about sewing machines that I know, so here are some articles I wrote:
- Types of Sewing Machines
- How to Choose the Best Sewing Machine
- Sewing Machine – Technical Terms Explained
- What Else to Look For in a Sewing Machine
- Different Types of Needles for Different Fabric
- Sewing Machine Cleaning Tips
- Sewing Machine Troubleshooting
Top Sewing Machines List
- Singer 7470 Confidence – The best sewing machine for beginners.
- Brother XL2600i – A good sewing machine you can use at home for regular sewing.
- Singer 7442 – Comes with plenty of good features.
- Brother ES2000 – A computerized but cheap sewing machine.
- Brother CS6000i – Your best quilting sewing machine.
- Brother SE400 – Sewing machine for embroidery.
- Janome 2212 – Entry level sewing machine for beginners.
Read more sewing machines reviews and guide posts in my blog. With all these information and tips I hope you will be able to find the right sewing machine for your needs. Very soon you might even be making clothes for your children's dolls! Happy shopping!


text:
Universal Fit
EarSonics SM3 Universal Fit IEM
"Remember those essays you had to write in grade school? Well I do even if you don't. In honor of that memory, I am going to write: What does the EarSonics SM3 mean to me? Back in March I was going to order the EarSonics SM3 based off the few things I have read about them, even though it wasn't much. But then something stopped me. Could they really be that good, and the shipping cost was as..." --average_joe
EarSonics SM3 v2 universal in-ear monitors
"http://www.earsonics.com/SM3%20engl.htm v2 page. Aside from the cable and new body, my impressions match what I had in my v1 review. http://www.head-fi.org/products/earsonics-sm3-universal-fit-iem/reviews/4422 Otherwise, these sound about the same as v1/the new ear-piece body shape is a lot more ergonomic(seems to be a bit smaller as well, but not as easy to get a good seal... At the same..." --svyr
EarSonics SM64
"THE RATINGS: Highs: 4.5/5 Mids: 5/5 Lows: 4.5/5 (probably would be 5/5 with amping) Bass: 5/5 (swooshy style, though) Value: 5/5 Soundstaging: 5/5 This is all to say that the Earsonics SM64s are perhaps the best IEMs I have ever heard, and I was always a big IEM person. Let's be short about this: It absolutely slaughters the Shure SE530, SE535 line..." --Pepper
EarSonics SM2 v2
"The sound is one of a kind for BA, bass heavy sound signature. These are some of the bassiest BA you can find, with good instrument separation and soundstage. IMO really good for metal music, vocals are a bit far, v shape frequency responds. Build quality for the earphone body is just fine, but cable and tips have lots of flaws. Update: these phones sounds so much better after..." --10shot9miss
EarSonics SM2
EarSonics SM2 are the universal in-ears you need. Thanks to their ergonomic cushions, they provide instant and easy fit to all kind of ears. Their technology is inherited from our EM series, and allows them to attain an audio quality never reached before with universals. EarSonics' "high fidelity" sound for nomads and musicians.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
David Hammer / Eyewitness News
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com | Twitter: @davidhammerWWL
NEW ORLEANS It's been more than a year since offshore oil and gas operators had to have new safety systems in place; more than a year since a revamped federal agency got the power to audit them.
But agency records show that the U.S. Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE) has not conducted a single audit of the safety systems for any of the 120 operators in the Gulf of Mexico.
What's more, BSEE has only directed two Gulf of Mexico operators to conduct their own safety audits based on poor safety records.
It's a staggering revelation, given the way the agency was restructured and safety was re-emphasized following the catastrophic BP oil spill of 2010.
Not only was the well blowout and deadly explosions on the Deepwater Horizon drilling rig a huge embarrassment for the oil industry, it also shone a harsh light on the regulatory agency known then as Minerals Management Service.
President Barack Obama said MMS was 'too cozy' with the industry it was supposed to regulate, and he and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar broke it into three units. The people who hand out federal leases and collect oil royalties were separated from the inspectors and engineers who make sure the oil companies are operating safely.
The offshore drilling industry was shut down for five months after the April 2010 Deepwater Horizon incident, and in November 2010 the government gave its new safety agency teeth with the so-called SEMS Rule.
Subpart S called on oil and gas companies to develop their own Safety and Environmental Management Systems (SEMS) by November 2011, audit those systems by November 2013 and also allowed BSEE to perform its own audits if necessary.
Meanwhile, then-BSEE Director Michael Bromwich got a bigger budget and hired hundreds of new inspectors, engineers and auditors to beef up the agency's oversight.
But no audits had been done when three more workers were killed in another offshore explosion last month, this time on an old fixed platform in the shallow water Gulf.
BSEE Regional Director Lars Herbst responded by writing a strongly worded letter to Black Elk's president, calling the company out for a spotty safety record and directing it to hire an independent third-party firm to conduct a SEMS audit.
Eric Smith, assistant director of the Tulane Energy Institute, said that the 16 people with audit experience on BSEE's staff must not be enough to get the process rolling.
'They're getting stricter, they've got the budget to get stricter and sort of the imperative because of the accident to get stricter, but it still takes time to turn the battleship,' Smith said. 'You need experienced auditors and they don't have experienced auditors.'
BSEE said it wants to let the companies do the audits so they'll 'buy in' to the new SEMS program.
But Don Boesch, a former member of Obama's Presidential Oil Spill Commission, said he's worried about leaving that kind of policing in the hands of the industry.
'It's always necessary to mandate the audits or do them on their own or else why would the industry take the audits seriously?' said Boesch, who is from Louisiana and is also the president of the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.
'They acted quickly and put the process as a rule and implementation, but it's now been two years and of course we'd like to see more progress as far as these audits being completed.
A slide show presented to an industry safety group last month by Jason Mathews, one of BSEE's accident investigators for the Deepwater Horizon incident, indicated that the agency tracks poor safety performance with what's called an 'increased oversight list.'
But when we asked BSEE to produce the list, it said no formal list exists.
The slide show also showed a 'dashboard' that allows the agency to measure companies' safety records and compare them. Each facility gets scored based on how many unsafe incidents inspectors found, as a percentage of all of the mechanical components they inspected
. The average, safe Gulf platform generally has four incidents of non-compliance for every 100 components inspected.
We asked BSEE to run certain reports using the dashboard shown in Mathews report. We also asked how Black Elk scored in relation to the rest of the industry. In both cases, BSEE told us we would have to send a formal request and wait.
Multiple sources told Eyewitness News that several Gulf operators have worse safety records than Black Elk.
We asked to interview Herbst or another agency official for this story and were denied. The only comment BSEE would provide was this statement from spokeswoman Eileen Angelico:
'BSEE continues to work diligently to improve safety and environmental protection throughout the offshore energy program. The bureau approaches enforcement strategically to improve the performance of each oil and gas operator.'
Smith said that after a deplorable history of oversight, BSEE needs more time to ramp up its auditing capabilities. But he also found the agency's tight-lipped response to questions about its effectiveness to be ironic.
'They've always been sensitive to ... the fact that the operators, the people who are actually producing the oil and gas, are not transparent in their reporting,' he said. 'But in this case we've got the government regulator saying, 'I'm not going to tell you what my metrics are for measuring people; I'm not going to tell you where this company stacks up with other companies.' To me that's a little bit of a transparency issue all in itself.'


text:
Events Calendar
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Room 142
Contact: Jill Elizabeth • Email
This information session provides details regarding clinical opportunities available to rising 2L students.
Thursday, March 7, 2013
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Room 110
Contact: Kelly Bauer • Email
The Women's Law Forum is electing their new executive board members on March 21st. Come to our informational meeting to learn about positions and the application process!
2:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Knight Library Browsing Room
Contact: Kelsey Provo • Email
The first event in the Wayne Morse Center Migration Project's 2012-13 speaker series "The Borders Within: Immigrants, Race and the Politics of Surveillance and Enforcement in the United States." In this symposium, we will explore the legal and political history of detention policy over the last fifteen-plus years and its relationship to human rights law and principles. We will also consider how detention policies and practices have shaped immigrant experiences, family life and communities.
5:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Room 184
Contact: Marcus Walker • Email
Federalist Society Event
Speaker: Dr. Tibor Machan
- Leading Libertarian Philosopher
Refreshments will be provided
Friday, March 8, 2013
8:30 am - 12:30 pm
Room 241
Contact: Bonnie Williams • Email
This half-day CLE will focus on structural and technological innovations implemented by practicing attorneys. Panel topics will focus on use of new technology in day-to-day practice and formation, billing, and compensation innovations. There will be an ethics portion of the CLE focusing on the use of cloud computing. This event is open to practitioners and law students.
Sponsored by the Center for Career Planning and Professional Development, Law and Entrepreneurship Student Association, Lane County Bar Association, and the Oregon New Lawyers Division.
Register online at:
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Room 175
Contact: Nicole Mortemore • Email
The Honorable David Schuman will visit Oregon Law on March 12, 2013, to provide a preview of the cases to be heard for the upcoming Supreme Court Visit on March 14.
Tuesday, March 12, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in room 175.
12:30 pm - 1:30 pm
Room 141
Contact: Jill Elizabeth • Email
This information session provides details regarding clinical opportunities available for 2L (rising 3L) students.
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
10:00 am - 4:00 pm
Law School Commons
Contact: Nicole Commissiong • Email
Commencement is just weeks away! Order graduation announcements, regalia and diploma frames.
12:30 pm - 1:20 pm
Room 184
Contact: Derek Hopp • Email
Federalist Society Event
Speaker: Professor James Huffman
-Former Dean of Lewis and Clark Law School
Pizza will be provided
Thursday, March 14, 2013
9:00 am - 12:00 pm
Room 175
Contact: Nicole Mortemore • Email
The Oregon Supreme Court will visit Oregon Law on March 14, 2013, to hear arguments for two cases, at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. Overflow seating will be available in room 141 with a live broadcast of the arguments.
Thursday, March 14, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in room 175.


text:
The following arrests were reported by the Lenoir County Sheriff's Office:
Oswaldo Carrillo Silverio, 38, 2796 Eric Sparrow Road, Deep Run, Dec. 31, misdemeanor no operators license. Bond: None. Arresting officer: T. Grady.
Anibal E. Vicente, 23, 423 Newport St., Kinston, Dec. 31, (citation) misdemeanor no operators license. Bond: None. Officer: W. Barrett.
Gavin NMN Hill, 17, 3976 Memosa Drive, La Grange, Dec. 31, misdemeanor larceny, two counts misdemeanor possessing stolen property. Bond: $1,000. Arresting officer: G. Turner.
Landon Scott Allcox, 16, 3412 Bryan Hardy Road, Kinston, Dec. 31, misdemeanor larceny, two counts misdemeanor possess stolen property. Bond: $1,000. Arresting officer: G. Turner.
Leamon NMN Sutton, 49, 485 Ogburn Road, Smithfield, Jan. 1, misdemeanor order for arrest/failure to appear. Bond: $500. Arresting officer: T. Ipock.
Christopher Dean Yater, 20, 3216 Jenny Lind Road, La Grange, Jan. 1, misdemeanor larceny, two count misdemeanor possessing/concealing stolen property. Bond: $1,250. Arresting officer: T. Grady.
Anthony Cornelius Flowers, 34, 2118 Tara Drive, Kinston, Jan. 1, felony order for arrest/true bill. Bond: $120,000. Arresting officer: T. Grady.
Keisha Loshan Williams, 40, 218 Contentnea Drive, Grifton, Jan. 1, misdemeanor assault with a deadly weapon, misdemeanor driving while license revoked. Bond: None. Arresting officer: W. Barrett.


text:
Speeding ticket from New York? Watch out!
Scams and computer viruses have a new angle – traffic tickets. Editor Don Whitten, somehow, was ticketed for speeding in east-central New York a little over a week ago – even though he's never been to New York – and was given a chance to pay his fine by clicking on an email attachment. He declined and explains what additional information he's discovered about this scam. (July 11, 2011, Page 4)


text:
Collins died Saturday of natural causes, Davis, who replaced Collins when she retired in 1997, said in a statement.
"Cardiss Collins was a serious advocate for women and working people," Davis said.
Collins represented Illinois' 7th Congressional District for nearly 25 years and led the Congressional Black Caucus from 1979 to 1981.
"We will no longer wait for political power to be shared with us. We will take it," the Chicago Tribune reported Collins once said at a fundraiser.
She joined Congress after winning a special election to replace her husband, U.S. Rep. George Collins, who died in a plane crash at Chicago's Midway Airport in 1972.


text:
|My Account | View Cart/Checkout | Site Map | All Products | About Us
Copyright © 1999-2009 SecondLove.com All rights reserved.
All trademarks are the sole property of their respective companies. All prices and specifications are subject to change without notice. Second Love is not responsible for typographical errors. All typographical errors are subject to correction.


text:
January 30, 2008
Scholarships.com Staff
Students who sign up for classes don't always know what they're getting into. Boring teachers aside, the work may be both overwhelming and useless. If that's the case, it may be time to get out before it's too late. Here are some things to remember before making the final decision.
Hope for the Best, Prepare for the Worst Dropping classes may be the best way to avoid unnecessary work or burnout, but it sure is a pain. It takes time, sometimes money, and it nearly always causes stress. That's why it's best to ask around before choosing classes. Find out if any of your friends have taken the class. Is it difficult? Is it interesting? Is the teacher effective in helping students develop critical skills?
Most importantly, figure out if the class coincides with your future goals and current interests. During high school, I signed up for an accounting class thinking it would provide me with practical insight into the business world. Though business was not in my future, I thought that everyone could benefit from some business basics. After a few weeks of scribbling numbers into a never-ending stream of credit and debit columns, I raised my hand and asked the teacher if this class would prepare me for something other than accounting. Turns out, it wouldn't. It's too bad I didn't know that sooner.
Give Yourself a Reality Check Difficulty is a commonly cited reason for dropping classes, and it's a perfectly good reason. It's important to be realistic about your abilities and your schedule. When a class is just adding to your already full workload, rethink it. Being able to drop a class doesn't make you a quitter; it makes you a realistic and mature decision maker, one that values their sanity and health.
Consider Class Importance Before dropping a class, be sure that you can afford to do so. If you're in college, dropping a class may put you below full-time status subsequently decreasing your eligibility for a full financial aid package (both scholarships and federal student aid).
Dropping required college classes may also be troublesome. When students decide to get rid of a requisite, they may be forced to take on a heavier workload in future semesters. A heavier workload may in turn lead to scheduling difficulties caused by core courses that overlap in time.
Sometimes, a class may simply be unavoidable. Once again, be realistic when you judge. If you think you can do without the class, let it go. If you know that dropping the class will only lead to future troubles, just grin and bear it for a while.
Be Cost Conscious If you're in high school, dropping a class will probably save you money (unless you're paying for AP classes ). Once you graduate high school, it's a different story. Most colleges and universities fine students who drop their classes too late into the semester. That's why it's important for students to be aware of the costs involved in taking on classes and dropping them. If you plan to drop a class, do so before the fee deadline. If you're worried about the costs of taking on additional classes, stick with the basics and take enrichment courses once you can afford them.
January 29, 2008
In last night's State of the Union address, President Bush called on Congress to cut down on bill earmarking. Earmarks, often attached to spending bills at the last minute, have been used to designate money to benefit legislators' personal interests. Local and state projects that may not have otherwise been funded are often successfully snuck into an earmark and financed.
Sometimes used as "paybacks" for organizations that donate money to a legislator's campaign, earmarks have received negative attention in the press. However, numerous colleges and universities have also been able to profit from them. According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, $2 billion for research, construction and school projects was earmarked for colleges and universities in 2003. Criticizing the practice, President Bush stated that most earmarks don't even make it to the floor of the House or Senate saying, "You didn't vote them into law. I didn't sign them into law."
If earmarking is curbed, some schools may see a decline in their budgets, and will have to look elsewhere for additional funding. But because Mr. Bush was referring to the 2009 budget, legislators still have the option of bypassing a veto by delaying approval of the spending bill.
January 28, 2008
To help students express themselves on the topic of Alzheimer's disease, the AFA Teen, a branch of the Alzheimer's Foundation of America, has created an annual scholarship. The organization will be offering $5,000 to one college-bound student looking for financial aid to afford their postsecondary education.
The AFA Teen encourages eligible junior and senior high school students to share their experiences and thoughts on the subject of Alzheimer's by applying. Students will need to write a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay about the impact that Alzheimer's disease has had on their lives. A completed application and a short, 200 word biography will also be required.
1. $5,000
1. Applicant must be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident 2. Applicant must enter an accredited four-year college or university within 12 months of the scholarship deadline 3. Applicant must be a current high school student
February 15, 2008
Required Material:
1. An application form 2. A 200 word biography 3. An official high school transcript 4. Four copies of a 1,200 to 1,500 word essay 5. Copy of a United States birth certificate or permanent residency documentation 6. A cover letter with the name, address and essay title
Further information about the application form and about contacting the scholarship provider can be found by conducting a free college scholarship search. Once a student has completed the search, this award will appear in their scholarship list, provided the student is eligible.
January 25, 2008
Your shot at winning the lottery is not particularly high, but playing is so easy that it's simply irresistible. Though students should not hinge their entire financial futures on luck alone, lottery scholarships are a fun and easy way to supplement one's scholarship search. Plus, someone has to win. Maybe it'll be you. But before you go lottery crazy, familiarize yourself with the options, and get the facts on lottery scholarships and lottery-funded scholarships (there is a difference).
Lottery Scholarships: There are two kinds of lottery scholarships, ones that are state-sponsored and ones that are sponsored by outside providers, usually businesses. Company-funded lottery scholarships, also known as sweepstakes, pretty much embody what comes to mind when one hears the word "lottery". Most people are eligible, and the application process is pretty easy; sometimes contact information is the only requirement. Unlike regular lotteries, you don't have to pay to play. If paying is a requirement, don't apply; more than enough charge-free awards are available.
Once the entries are in and the lottery deadline passes, the sponsoring company will choose an applicant at random—think computer generations rather than spinning spheres with name ballots. If you're wearing your lucky socks on selection day, you just might win.
Lottery-Funded Scholarships: Another type of lottery scholarship is the state-sponsored, lottery-funded one. These scholarship prizes are paid for by the big, jackpot of $50 million, kinds of lotteries. A number of states have adopted programs wherein a portion of the revenues received from lottery tickets are used for education programs (both scholarships and school contributions). Not all states participate yet, but it's quite possible that more will jump on the bandwagon. Tennessee, New Mexico, Maryland, Georgia, Florida, Louisiana, New York, South Carolina, Missouri and West Virginia are among those sponsoring lottery-funded scholarship programs.
State eligibility requirements for lottery-funded scholarships vary greatly from state to state, with some states having stricter regulations than others. Usually, students who apply for lottery-funded state scholarships must at the very least attend a high school and college within the state of the program.
Students who apply for certain lottery-funded scholarships must also meet or exceed a particular GPA or standardized test score before applying. For example, only students with a GPA of at least 2.75 may apply for the merit-based Florida Bright Futures Scholarship.
Other states make financial need a requirement. This may partially ease the minds of people who have voiced concerns about lottery-funded scholarships taking from the poor and giving to the middle classes. According to professor of economics Mary O. Borg, a disproportionately large portion of lottery tickets are purchased by low-income customers. These winning are then redistributed largely to middle class students at the expense of the poor.
To find lottery and sweepstake scholarships you may be eligible to receive, conduct a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com. You can also check out our Scholarships.com "Tell A Friend" $1,000 Sweepstakes contest for a chance to win $1,000 towards your college education!
January 24, 2008
Close your eyes and imagine it. You're sitting in math class, struggling to keep your eyes open, calculating how many minutes are left in the day. Then you do some mental math to figure out what percentage of the day has already passed, the only math you plan to do that day.
That is until you're snapped out of you boredom-induced coma by a teacher who tells you that effort pays off, literally. Well it's not a dream. Some students have been getting paid for good test scores, and the trend is slowly spreading. In a number of Texas schools, students have been receiving money for good scores on A.P. exams, and students in Baltimore will soon be expecting the same rewards.
Through the Advancement Placement Incentive Program (APIP), students can earn a few hundred dollars for scoring well on A.P. exams, between $100 and $500 for scores above a 3. One student earned $700 for the tests he took during his junior and senior years of high school.
According to a study put together by Cornell University's C. Kirabo Jackson, 41 schools have taken part in the APIP program so far, and 61 schools plan to adopt it by 2008. The report shows that financial incentives have been an effective tool in getting students to work harder in their A.P. classes. Improvements of about 30% on ACT and SAT scores have also been attributed to APIP.
According to The Baltimore Sun, some Baltimore schools will soon take a similar approach to raising test scores. The Baltimore program will concentrate on improving graduate exams rather than A.P. tests, but the idea is the same; if you do well, you can earn money, up to $110. Like the APIP, the program will focus on assisting and rewarding students who attend low-income, inner-city schools.
Despite positive results and hopes for continued improvements, both programs have been criticized for their approach. Many feel that bribing students into doing well will take away from the purpose of learning and only teach them to expect payoffs for future efforts. More than the Texas program, the Baltimore version has also been criticized for using public funding to pay students. Unlike the Baltimore version, Texas will mostly use money collected from private donations.
January 23, 2008
Faced with government subsidy cuts and a major slump in the mortgage loan market, Sallie Mae has decided to get picky about who they lend their money to. For students, this may be either a scary setback or a much-needed lesson in wise financing. Most likely, it will be both.
Students who don't receive sufficient financial aid from the government will soon find it more difficult to secure the funding they need to cover college expenses. This may force more students to opt for cheaper but not necessarily most desirable colleges and universities. If the problem becomes severe, a drop in the number of students who pursue a college education may be seen.
However, the rising number of student borrowers with overwhelming debt may make the news a benefit in disguise. Many students don't realize the impact debt can have on their post-graduate lifestyles. Students who cannot quickly find high-salary jobs often find themselves either struggling to get by or sacrificing career goals for better-paid, less appealing jobs.
Because of Sallie Mae's high standing in the business, their decision may be an early indication of what's to come. Students who decide to take out loans frequently turn to Sallie Mae for help. The company manages almost $164 billion in student loans for 10 million borrowers and tops the list of most popular lenders. Troubles for Sallie Mae may portend ones for lesser-known student lenders.
This is not the first setback Sallie Mae has faced in the recent months. Over the past year, details of New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo's investigation into illegal actions within the lending industry have placed Sallie Mae in hot waters. Along with a number of other lenders, Sallie Mae has been accused of paying college financial aid officials to place the lender's name on preferred lender lists, lists students heavily rely on when making important and difficult borrowing decisions.
Luckily, loans are not a student's only option. Those who cannot afford a postsecondary education and have not received enough government aid should take advantage of the numerous scholarship opportunities available to them. By conducting a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com, students can gain access to information about more than 2.7 million college scholarships and grants worth over $19 billion. Just about everyone can find awards they will be eligible to receive.
January 22, 2008
Kevin Ladd
The investigation into policies at study abroad offices has deepened as New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo announced his decision to subpoena college officials. Now that codes of conduct and student lender subsidy cuts have addressed the student loan scandal, the attorney general is turning his attention to problems within the study abroad offices.
According to the Associated Press, the total number of schools Cuomo is seeking information from has now reached 15. Among them are notables such as Harvard, Columbia, Northwestern and Brown University. Fears about the effects that financial arrangements between schools and travel agencies have had on students are at the heart of the problem.
The issue was widely publicized last year when The New York Times ran a story about a Columbia student who was denied credit after studying abroad at Oxford University. The student, Brendan Jones, had decided to take advantage of the cheaper travel rates by using an outside travel agency. After completing the course requirements at one of the most prestigious and recognized universities, Brendan was denied his request for a credit transfer.
Concerns that study abroad advisors may be using such tactics to pressure students into traveling with schools have been on the rise. Also under investigation is the practice of awarding study abroad officials free travel opportunities and giving schools marketing funds after a certain number of student travelers have been secured.
January 21, 2008
The Financial Service Centers of America, Inc. (FiSCA) is sponsoring a scholarship for high school seniors who are ready to head off to college—with money in their pockets. Since 1986, this organization has been representing financial service centers from around the country and helping them with the regulations and politics of financial aid.
FiSCA will award scholarships to at least two students from each of five geographic regions in the U.S. The essay requirement is pretty short and straightforward, 100 words max about a person or event that has influenced the student's life. After completing the essay, students will need to fill out a two-page application and send in their transcript along with two letters of recommendation to the regional administrator. That's it!
1. At least ten grants of $2,000 or more.
1. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, national residents or permanent residents. 2. Applicants must be high school seniors. 3. Applicants may not be children or grandchildren of FiSCA employees, officers or owners.
Applications must be postmarked by April 3, 2008
1. A completed application 2. An essay of no more than 100 words about a person or event that has influenced the student 3. A transcript that includes first-semester senior grades and test scores 4. Two letters of recommendation
Further details, including information about applying for the award and contacting the scholarship provider, can be found by conducting a free scholarship search. Once a student has completed the search, this scholarship will appear in their "My Scholarships" section--provided the student is eligible.
January 18, 2008
Tuition hikes and complaints about illegal behavior on the part of financial aid officials and student lenders have put the pressure on colleges to dip into their endowment funds. With new reports showing that endowment returns are on the rise, these pressures are likely to increase.
According to the Chronicle of Higher Education, a recently released statement by Commonfund, an endowment manager for more than 1,900 colleges and nonprofit organizations, has shown that returns were averaging 16.9 percent in 2007, up from 10.6 percent the previous year.
Unlike one-time student scholarships, endowments are used to annually award money to college students. These funds are kept intact by investing the original donation and using the returns to provide students with yearly scholarships.
News of funding bounty is likely to prompt legislators to put additional pressure on schools with large endowment funds. Wealthy colleges, some of which are said to have accumulated endowments in excess of $1 billion, are being criticized for keeping their money locked up during a time when student debt is at an all-time high.
The problem with spending more, argue schools, is a strict endowment use policy. Many scholarship providers donate money on the condition that it be used only to assist a designated group of students. For example, a donor may choose to set up an endowment for the sole purpose of helping female students who play croquet, major in English and have a GPA above 3.5 (okay, maybe that's a bit of a stretch). Point being, schools are legally bound to award scholarships to students that meet particular requirements.
It's hard to argue with that, but perhaps legislators can do something about the whole "legally-bound" part.
January 17, 2008
It's no secret that student lenders have had a rough '07. After an investigation by New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo revealed that student lenders had been forming illegal agreements with colleges that promoted their services, the spotlight was cast on negative aspects of student borrowing.
Even though newly established ethics codes are likely force the lending industry to clean up its act, students are not likely to have better borrowing experiences. The poor housing market has not only affected those looking for mortgages, but also those in need of student loans. To be eligible for loans and loan consolidations, students will soon need proof of greater savings and higher credit scores. According to a CNN report, even students who show promise may see their interests rates increase by an estimated 1 percent.
At the same time, the rewards they receive for paying on time are expected to decrease. After the Higher Education Access Act of 2007 minimized student lender subsidies offered by the government, numerous lenders minimized their student benefits. The savings students were used to receiving for good payment track records are expected to curtail or disappear altogether.
As always, students have other options. Debt can pose a heavy burden on college graduates, so loans should be used as a last resort. Instead, students can use scholarships to diminish the costs of a postsecondary education. By conducting a free college scholarship search at Scholarships.com, students will have access to a database containing information on more than 2.7 million college scholarships and grants. Just about everyone can find awards they are eligible to receive.
Copyright © 1998 - 2015 Scholarships.com, LLC
Scholarships.comTM All Rights Reserved
Scholarships.com, LLC, Publisher


text:
Freeborn CountyCourt Administration411 South BroadwayAlbert Lea, MN 56007
General Information
The Freeborn County Courthouse is located in downtown Albert Lea, at 411 South Broadway. Public parking is available in the lot on the east side of the courthouse, on the street, and in the municipal parking lot northeast of the courthouse.
Click here for Driving Directions:
The Court Administrator's Office is open from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday. The county observes the following holidays: New Year's Day; Martin Luther King, Jr. Day; President's Day; Memorial Day; Independence Day; Labor Day; Veteran's Day; Thanksgiving Day and the day after; and Christmas Day.
Limited English Proficiency Plans
Freeborn County Court Administration Phone Numbers
Phone Numbers for Other Freeborn County Agencies


text:
modern living + innovative design + inspiring ideas
Crystorama Bella 19" Wide Antique Gold Pendant Chandelier
"Antique gold and cut crystals-what an amazing combination!"
- CLM, Freelance Designs
About Euro Style Home
Dwell on Design
Fresh Home
My Modern Met
Blog Policy
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License.
Today we are switching up our normal posting routine and doing something fun... We're participating in the Olioboard Blog Hop! We are super excited to be included in this fun event. We were asked to create a board on Olioboard demonstrating a connection between fashion and decor.
We love modern and who doesn't love chic?... We decided to go with this stylish Kate Moss 'fit for our inspiration image, since bold black paired with metallic is so on-trend. We had fun translating this style into a room by pulling together modern, yet sophisticated pieces. We were able to create a dining room that would host the most amazing dinner parties!
Olioboard is really fun, you can select products from several different brands to include on your board. And in case you're wondering, yes that is our gorgeous chandelier and stylish sconces in the background. Not sure if particular furniture or accessories will look together in one space? Olioboard is great for that! But you can also work with a budget and shop directly from the site... So get on over there and try it, trust us it's fun!
Make sure to check out all the other great bloggers participating in this event:
Erin from Apartment 34
Julia participating on behalf of MaterialGirls
Selma from Selma Hammer
Franki from Life in a Venti Cup
Jane from Embrace Your Inner Snob
Lesley participating on behalf of Lamps Plus
Marilyn from Design Magnifique
Lynda from NYCLQ
Robin from Pocket Full of Color
*After your blog hopping, check out our Euro Style Lighting contest, which is currently happening on Olioboard... We even got Chris Gardner from Curbly to be our guest judge!
Kate Moss image: Fashion Gone Rogue
**This sweepstakes is now over. We announced the winner here.**
Enter our "Product Envy" sweepstakes and you could win a $500 shopping spree!! Visit our Pinterest page to enter our Sweepstakes!
All you have to do is follow us on Pinterest and repin products from our "Product Envy" board. You have until August 31st to repin as much as you want!
Get the details and enter to win via our Euro Style Lighting Pinterest page.
Read our complete sweepstakes rules.
Having kids doesn't mean having to throw in the towel and become a soccer mom. The modern family homes featured above set out to break the stereotype of family living. I personally love the idea of living in a modern home with a handful of kids running around. Growing up in a stylish enviroment exposes children to fashion, design, architecture, and other creative arts.
Designing the main areas in a modern home can can sometimes be easier than decorating kid's rooms and spaces. When designing a modern nursery or kid's room there is a balance between modern furnishings and a kid-friendly, functional design.
Need a few directional ideas for designing your modern nursery or kid's room?
The light fixtures you select for the kid's space can make a big impact on the overall design. Below are a few modern table lamps for the kid's room or nursery. The lamps are modern and fun and will easily transition into a more grown up space as the child ages.
Lite Source Kito Blue Table Lamp (left), Chrome Stack Set of Two Table Lamps (right)
* Post Update 10/24/12: Our Chrome Stack Table Lamps has been discontinued.
Possini White Flower Acrylic Shade Table Lamp (left), Jonathan Adler Carlyle Slide Table Lamp (right)
* Post Update 10/24/12: Our Jonathan Adler Carlyle Table Lmap has been discontinued.
Images: emmas designblogg, Family Living, Apartment Therapy, Apartment Therapy
**This sweepstakes is now over. We announced the winners here.**
We're having a pin party and you're invited! Visit our Pinterest page to enter our Sweepstakes for a chance to win one of three $150 shopping sprees!
All you have to do is follow us on Pinterest, create your own "Modern Hue" board, tag your pins with #EuroStyleLighting and #ModernHue and then provide us with a link to your board. You have until July 8th to complete your board and provide us with your link. It's that simple... and that fun!
Get the details and enter to win via our Euro Style Lighting Pinterest page.
New to Pinterest and not sure what all the hype is about?... Pinterest is the best way to search the web and save your findings with an image and a link!
Start by following other Pinterest users and "repin" whatever inspires you...
Then, select which board you want to repin to (you can create the board as you pin)...
You're done!
Now, you can re-visit your Pinterest page at any time to view all your boards and see all the amazing images you've pinned for yourself...
Now you have all the information you need to get started and enter our sweepstakes....!
It is said that the kitchen is the heart of the home. However, I would like to suggest that it is actually the dining room that is at the center of it all. The contemporary dining room is where the family gathers. Adults and children come together for a meal at the table.
Even creativity convenes at the dining table, likely with coloring books and paints spread about. We do a great bit of learning in the dining room, whether it is from each other or the daily task of homework. And, best of all, conversations are had at the dining table.
Since we spend so much time in our dining rooms, why not make it a place that you and your children love to be? So, let's discuss some contemporary dining room ideas for the family...
There are several elements that create a welcoming gathering place around the table. Although most pieces are obvious and very necessary, others are optional and are there to add interest.
The star piece, certainly, is an attractive dining table. There are many options available and personal preference can play a big part in this decision. But, whether round or rectangular, I always find a rustic table works great for families like in this image above from The Style Files. Not only does it have character and add warmth, but it can, also, handle wear and tear and a million spilled milks.
When it comes to creative dining chairs, the options are endless. But, with little ones it is usually best to steer clear of fabric and go with chairs that can, easily, be wiped clean.
If you are looking to add interest, why not mix chairs and a bench or incorporate all different styles of dining chairs for a playful look (as seen in the first image by Milk Magazine)...?
Lighting can often be overlooked, as it is easy to just leave the standard light fixture in place. However, lighting is what really sets the tone and mood for the family dining room. Don't be afraid to think outside of the box. Arc floor lamps are a great option if you don't want to do traditional pendant lighting over your family table.
Here are a few of my favorite picks to get you started:
Don't forget about the walls. Art places a big part in designing an area for the family to gather. This is where you can really have fun. A favorite idea is to blow up photos of your children, their artwork or their favorite food. I also love the look of a neon sign (pictured above from The Glitter Guide). The look is both modern and playful which translates to fun for both kids and adults alike.
And, to finish, accessorize with an area rug, one that hides spills and cleans up easily. Also, a few beautiful pieces to adorn the table, like greens in a vase, a bowl full of fruit or a tray filled with candles.
When you create a contemporary dining room for the family, you make room for a million memories to be born.
Jamie Young Campaign Silver 30-Inch-H Folding Dining Table, Zuo Anime Transparent Modern Set of 4 Dining Chairs, Possini Euro Arlo Chrome 18-Inch-H Pendant Light
Images: Milk Magazine, Andreas Stenmann via The Style Files, The Glitter Guide
Euro Style Home Blog
Receive the latest offers, promotions, and ideas... Sign Up For Email Alerts!


text:
One that is worshiped, idealized.
An image of a supernatural being; an idol.
A material object that is worshipped as a god.
Applied figuratively to one who wields great or despotic power.
The principal object of faith and worship in monotheistic religions.
The perfect, omnipotent, omniscient originator and ruler of the universe.
A person or thing deified and honored as the chief good; an object of supreme regard.
A man of such superior qualities that he seems like a deity to other people; "he was a god among men"
The Supreme Being; the eternal and infinite Spirit, the Creator, and the Sovereign of the universe; Jehovah.
Any supernatural being worshipped as controlling some part of the Earth or some aspect of life or who is the personification of a force.
A being conceived of as possessing supernatural power, and to be propitiated by sacrifice, worship, etc.; a divinity; a deity; an object of worship; an idol.
A being of supernatural powers or attributes, believed in and worshiped by a people, especially a male deity or patriarchal deity thought to control some part of nature or reality.
God's were originally conceived of as entities which took the guise of an animal or which expressed themselves as natural phenomena. God's were entities which were thought to control some incremental part of nature or reality.
Eventually as humans realized that all of nature was interconnected these beliefs were transformed into a belief of God taking the form of pregnant women, a Mother Goddess, who embodied the creation of life and who brought prosperity upon a culture. The theory of God as a Mother came about when the hunters and gathers settled down to become farmers and shepherds.
Later, as humans filled and overburdened the ecological niche they had originally settled in, these theory's of the nature of God were transformed into one in which the template for the conceptual image of God was based on the alpha male, the head of the tribe. This conceptual image of God is clearly intended for a warlike people who will be blessed by God when they are driven by the reining patriarch to gain control of an adjacent ecological niche which will allow the further expansion of the tribe.
As God is not easily described it is easy to understand that a conceptual image of God by necessity would take the form of familiar objects that already exerted an influence over the coarse of human existence. Throughout the evolution of the human conceptual image of God humans projected onto God and image of power they understood in their conceptual image of reality.
The Old Testament story of the Creation clearly states that man was created in the image of God but the God of the Old Testament is clearly modeled on the patriarch of a tribe. God has the same emotions as a mortal man in the Old Testament and is judgemental as the patriarch of a tribe would be by necessity. Perhaps that Old Testament story should be rewritten to say "In the beginning, man not understanding the Earth or the nature of God created the concept of God in man's image."
The Hebrew word jehovah, the only other word generally employed to denote the supreme being, is uniformly printed in small capitals. The existence of God is taken for granted in the Bible. There is nowhere any argument to prove it.
He who disbelieves this truth is spoken of as one devoid of understanding (Ps. 14:1).
The arguments generally adduced by theologians in proof of the being of God are:
The a priori argument, which is the testimony afforded by reason.
The a posteriori argument, by which we proceed logically
from the facts of experience to causes.
These arguments are:
The cosmological, by which it is proved that there must be a First Cause of all objects, for every effect must have a cause.
The teleological, or the argument from design. We see everywhere the operations of an Intelligent Cause in nature.
The moral argument, called also the anthropological argument, based on the moral consciousness and the history of mankind, which exhibits a moral order and purpose which can only be explained on the supposition of the existence of God. Conscience and human history testify that "verily there is a God that judgeth on the Earth."
God acts solely by the laws of nature.
God's attributes are spoken of by some as absolute.


text:
In the wake of a brilliant World Cup, Juan Smith remains the Springboks' most hardened warrior at the frontline.
The dull thunk of rock meeting metal reverberates in the background. Over the phone, it really does sound as if the Cheetahs' team bus is under attack. A metronomic thump greets my every word as I shout down the receiver to Juan Smith, who's clearly on a different planet. Six months ago, Smith lapped the Stade de France clutching a shiny new addition to the Springbok family. Right now, he's bouncing along a gravel road on the outskirts of Kimberley. I feel like asking him what he ever did to deserve this.
Smith, typically, is never one to complain. The archetypal hard man is likened to Springbok legends André Venter and Gary Teichmann, men who've always prized walking the walk over talking the talk. Both featured prominently in the Nick Mallett era when the Boks won the Tri-Nations and equalled the world record of 17 consecutive victories. Both were grafters whose performances inadvertently secured reverence reserved for legends of the game.
Is Smith in the same class, and at 26, is the comparison premature? Smith absorbs the question as the bus ploughs through another pothole minefield. A World Cup-winner's medal sits on the mantelpiece in Bloem, and there are plenty who believe the Man of the Tournament accolade should rest at its side. However, the mere mention of Venter and Teichmann shatters this image, taking Smith back 10 years to when the two Springbok loosies were gods in the eyes of a young JBM Hertzog student.
'I always looked up to Gary Teichmann and André Venter,' he gushes. 'They weren't all that talkative, but their actions spoke loudest. I was privileged enough to play alongside André at the end of his career. He's remarkably self-disciplined and his attitude is a real strength. I still look up to him, even more so given everything that's happened [Venter was confined to a wheelchair in 2006 due to a crippling virus]. He remains positive no matter what the situation, and if I can adopt that attitude, it's going to make me an even better player.'
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské played hooker for the 1998 Bok side and is well qualified to elaborate on the Teichmann comparison.
'The players followed Gary out of respect,' Drotské recalls. 'He led by example. When the guys see Juan dishing out a big defensive hit, it inspires them in a similar way.
'Juan's grown a lot in the last three years and I wouldn't be surprised to see him going on to lead the Boks. Personally, I like a captain who's physical. I prefer a man who'll do all the talking through his actions on the field.'
Smith is already recognised as a leader in the Springbok structures and has skippered the Cheetahs for the past three seasons. But is he truly a candidate at Test level? It would appear it's a responsibility he's reluctant to take on.
'I can't say I'd turn down an opportunity to lead my country, but I've never seen myself as a captain,' Smith explains. 'I'm enjoying the responsibility at Free State, but to be absolutely honest, I don't think I have what it takes at the highest level. You look at a guy like John Smit who has all the great qualities of a Test captain. We were fortunate last year to have seven or eight senior guys in that World Cup-winning side. I would love to continue in that sort of role, helping the captain on the field as a senior player.'
Former Bok and Cheetahs prop Ollie le Roux is aware of Smith's reluctance, but he also realises why coaches prefer him in a position of power.
'He was never groomed to be a leader; he was thrown into the job,' says Le Roux, who's also captained Free State. 'John Smit's captained at all levels, but it wasn't like that for Juan. He leads by example and expects others to follow.
'For instance, we had a terrible captain's practice ahead of a big game last season. The guys were absolutely diabolical, dropping balls and getting everything wrong. I'm a believer that the captain's practice doesn't necessarily impact on the game, so I wasn't too worried.
'But Juan called the guys together. He was clearly pissed off and shat them out. After training, I spoke with him privately and asked him why he reacted that way. He told me he demanded excellence in training. That was the way it was for the Springboks, and he expected the same from the Cheetahs.'
Modern media seems to favour the glamour over the grit, as the thousands of pages dedicated to players such as Dan Carter and Gavin Henson attest. Thousands of Bryan Habana posters adorn the walls of teenagers everywhere following the World Cup. Dust aside this superficial layer and you'll obtain a clearer rugby view that allows the unsung heroes to come into focus. Nobody can accuse Smith of deferring any of the dirty duties he's afraid to take on himself.
'He's such a determined person,' says Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie. 'When he injured his knee in the Blues match this year, he could barely walk, but he refused to leave the field. Most players would have thought about Springbok selection at the end of the Super 14. Naka was trying to get him off and so was the team doctor, but being the kind of person Juan is, he waved them away. The younger guys see this and they can't help but admire him. There's no doubt that attitude will rub off.'
Springbok rugby is entering a new era. Bill's safely stowed in the Saru trophy cabinet and with the appointment of Peter de Villiers, there are bound to be changes in personnel and playing style. The Bok coach would be a fool to neglect Smith, but the Cheetahs blindside is willing to earn his keep.
'It's an exciting time for South African rugby. We had an awesome season last year, but for me, it's an honour every time I run out for the Boks. As a player, I'll just look to keep doing what I did last year.'
At the time of writing, Smith's future with the Cheetahs was less certain. Both the Stormers and the Sharks are scrapping for his signature, while financial minnows Free State are praying he remains loyal to the union that gave him his big break.
Teichmann played in a different era, but as captain of dominant Bok and Sharks teams, he understands the demands of self-motivation. Smith could stagnate if he remains at the Cheetahs when he should be building on the superlative form seen at the World Cup.
'There'd be a public outcry if Juan left Bloem, but the reality is a top player wants to play in a winning team,' Teichmann says. 'For a guy like Juan, he needs to be on the front foot to realise his potential. It's very difficult to shine if you're getting pounded in other areas of the game.
'I'm quite honoured to be compared to a player like Juan. Looking in from the outside, he seems the type of guy who puts his head down and gets on with it. His work rate is excellent and he carries the ball strongly. Unlike a lot of loose forwards, he also has the ability to read play exceptionally well.'
'Juan is one of the best ball-carriers in world rugby, as his tremendous strength allows him to stay on his feet,' remarks Drotské. 'It's hard to highlight one attribute as he is such a gifted player; one of the best loose forwards in the world. He really has no real weaknesses.
'His performance in the line-out has come a long way since the early days, and he's now a sure thing at the back. On defence, he's learnt to read the opposition and has fast become one of the strongest contesters for opposition ball.'
Teichmann reckons Smith could still be a force at No 8 such is his natural feel for the game. But it's at blindside where Smith has few peers in world rugby, although it is widely known he relishes a bruising confrontation with the All Blacks, and with Jerry Collins in particular. Teichmann says Smith's versatility makes him potentially a better player than the belligerent Collins.
'They are two quality players, but they are two different players. Jerry uses his strength to get across the advantage line at close quarters. Juan has more impact when he's out in the backs. The reason for this is that he has the pace and skill to compete with backs of international quality.'
Getting older has taught Smith many things. He's no longer the brash youth who'd initiate a bar brawl or drink his peers under the table. He's become the quintessential family man, a model for the youngsters both on and off the field. It's been a steep learning curve for Smith, and he's only too keen to impart any hard-earned advice to the new wave of budding Springboks.
'The role of the senior player is more demanding, but that in turn gives you more confidence. I can honestly say my own game has improved because of this leadership role,' he says. 'I don't want to take too much credit, but when Duane [Vermeulen] arrived from
the Pumas, he was never a line-out option.
I tried to help him in winning his own ball and in the contest, and at the moment he is one of the best jumpers in our team. That's my job; a senior player is always expected to help the youngsters.'
He is the first to admit pain comes with the territory. The rugby spotlight is no place for men of his nature, but those in the know will always raise a glass in acknowledgement to his efforts at ground zero.
Smith has already ascended to the pantheon occupied by Teichmann and Venter, but the next chapter of his career should determine whether he goes on to rise to even greater heights.
By Jon Cardinelli
– This article first appeared in the June issue of SA Rugby rugby magazine.


text:
Simulcast Schedule
Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino is the place for simulcast horseracing. Open everyday, our simulcast areas offer relaxed seating to view and bet your favorite track in the country. Sunland Park is also the place to catch all the big stakes races of the year like, Breeders Cup, Kentucky Derby and everything in between.
The Simulcast Calendar information is Subject to Change
In addition, our Sunland Park races can be watched in approximately 800 sites throughout the US, Canada and Caribbean.
Please click the PDF icon below to view our current schedule
Play Responsibly, Helpline 1-800-572-1142


text:
As the aftermath of Isaac continues to come into focus, state and federal governments are offering financial assistance to storm victims. Here is information on FEMA assistance, unemployment help and the expected food stamp registration process.
President Obama has approved individual disaster assistance for people in south Louisiana affected by Hurricane Isaac.
The individual disaster assistance declaration now coversthe followingparishes: Orleans, Jefferson, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, St. Tammany, Ascension, Lafourche, Tangipahoa, Washington, Assumption, St. Helena, St. James, Terrebonne and Livingston parishes.
The funds cover a wide range of areas, including housing, home repairs or replacement, disaster-related personal expenses (clothing, household and other items), cleanup items and disaster-related damages to vehicles.
The process, which is familiar to thousands of Louisianians affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, begins with applications which are taken online at disasterassistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA.
The Louisiana Workforce Commission announced that people whose jobs have been lost or interrupted because of the disaster in the parishes eligible for FEMA's individual disaster assistance as a result of Hurricane Isaac also are eligible for Disaster Unemployment Assistance (DUA).
Those parishes are St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Lafourche, Livingston, Ascension, Orleans, Jefferson, St. John the Baptist and St. Tammany.
Those eligible must file DUA applications by October 2, 2012. The DUA program, federally funded but administered by the LA Workforce Commission (LWC), is now accepting claims and will continue until the end of the 30-day filing period.
The LWC is accepting all unemployment insurance claims at www.laworks.net. People without internet access or who experience trouble filing online can call 1-866-783-5567.
To receive DUA benefits, individuals must provide their Social Security number, proof of wages, and proof of employment, including the name and address of the last employer to the LWC. Proof of employment must be received within 21 days from the filing date of the claim. Self-employed individuals must provide their business and financial records, including federal income tax returns for 2011.
The Disaster Food Stamp program has been approved with Hurricane Isaac, all low- to moderate-income Louisianians should pre-apply now online or by phone. Current SNAP recipients do not need to pre-apply and would receive disaster benefits automatically if they are not already receiving the maximum allotment for their household size.
Click here for more information.
To apply online, http://www.dss.state.la.us/ or call 1-888-LAHELPU (1-888-524-3578).


text:
Media Inquiries: For all MAVA media inquiries, please contact us at 703-506-9300 or email email@example.com.
Check back regularly for news, coverage, and announcements about MAVA.
Columbia Capital has raised $28.75 million of a $33.75 million offering for "Declarative Holdings Inc.," taking in the amount from six investors, according to an SEC filing.
The raise appears to be connected to an investment Columbia Capital made in New York-based software-as-a-service provider GlobalOne.
Last August, GlobalOne announced that it secured more than $25 million from Columbia Capital to be used towards expansion and market coverage.
Columbia Capital principals Jason Booma and John Siegel are named in the SEC filing, as is GlobalOne CEO David Northington.
Columbia Capital invests in the wireless, broadband, media, and enterprise industries, with BroadSoft (Nasdaq:BSFT) and Millennial Media - which recently filed to go public - as representative investments.
With offices in Alexandria, Va. and Waltham, Mass., Columbia Capital, founded in 1989, closed its most recent recent venture fund of $441 million, Columbia Capital Equity Partners V, in 2010, brings its total dollars under management to over $2.5 billion.
GlobalOne is a cloud solution provider providing strategy, implementation, and support services with focus on client management (CRM), cloud computing (development and strategy), and social business.


text:
DE Racing ""Borrego"" 2.2 4WD Front Buggy Wheel (2) (ZX5) (Black)
With your purchase, receive at no cost:
This is a set of two DE Racing "Borrego" 2.2 1/10 4WD Buggy Front Wheels. Born from the grueling demands of the Baja 1000 and forged by the wheel to wheel action of Crandon, DE Racing brings the RC world the "Borrego" buggy wheel. Constructed to satisfy the most discriminating racer while offering scale realism that has never before been available for 1/10 buggies, the "Borrego" wheel is sure to be a favorite for many drivers.
- Realistic scale appearance of a beadlock wheel with mud cover
- Advanced structural design for strength and durability
- Roar legal widths and 2.2 diameters
- Made in the U.S.A.
- Choose from black, white, silver or yellow
This product was added to our catalog on April 29, 2013.
Super Saver Shipping!
In Stock!
This item is eligible for Super Saver Shipping Learn More
This item earns up to 4 VIP Reward Points Learn More


text:
Thankful for the sun ten days from Winter Solstice, I took the annual pictures of the December greenhouse. We are very lucky this year to have had eggplant and habanero peppers right until Thanksgiving. We pulled those that weekend and seeded some Radicchio and Peas to see what they would do. Here is the roundup:
We had not been able to grow Lettuce all year this year (we only used seeds we had from previous years and germination was not good this year), but finally it is growing in the greenhouse.
We have Swiss Chard,
Red Beets,
and Leeks.
The Chives have been cut back inside the greenhouse. There are still harvestable Chives outside – these will grow throughout the winter.
Italian Parsley has germinated and should grow the rest of the winter.
and my prize every December – my Greek Oregano is doing fine.


text:
Meg Farris / Eyewitness News
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com | Twitter: @megfarriswwl
You have probably heard a million reasons why exercise is good for you.
But now, research finds another reason to exercise that you might not have thought of.
You already knowexercise makes you look younger,feel betterand live longer. Iteven produces new brain cells and a stronger immune system.
Research now finds it could help yoube a safer driver into your senior years.
'We tend to really discount the driving task as only vision or maybe only reaction time, but it's really a comprehensive training of the entire body, mind and body,' said Dr. Joseph F. Coughlin, the Director of theMassachusetts Institute of Technology AgeLab.
More than 10 years of research atThe Hartford Center for Mature Market ExcellenceandM.I.T's AgeLab, found that specific exercises for strength, range of motion, flexibility andcoordination had an impact on driving skills.
'The participants reported a greater ease of turning their heads and bodies to compensate for blind spots that they were able to rotate to scan the driving environment and to be able to do right hand turns just a little bit better,' Dr. Coughlin noted.
Half of people older than 50 don't know that exercise will help with drivingand with aging baby boomers,the number of senior drivers is on the rise. Experts saydriving can beessential to emotional well-being.
'Driving is certainly important in independence but it helps usbring pleasure in our lives,' explained Jodi Olshevski, Executive Director of The Hartford Center for Mature Market Excellence. 'It helps us to do the things, not only that we need to do, but (what) we want to do, stay connected withothers, run out for a second and get an ice cream at the spur of the moment, run to the bank to get something that you need, '
And when there are warning signs that an elderly person should stopdriving, Olshevksi said tohave several, supportive conversations with the driver.
'We know from older drivers that they would rather hear from an adult family member than anybody else,' Olshevski said. 'And most often, if they have had a conversation, they're pretty likely to listen to what that adult child or relative says.'
She said family members should pick the person best suited to do the talking.
To get a free guide for those exercises and to watch a video demonstration go to www.thehartford.com/lifetime


text:
Printer not working....not a basic fix
by t_rockney - 11/21/12 3:04 PM
Okay so here it goes.
1. My HP PSC 750 (printer) is not working in Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.
2. My print spooler will not turn on regardless of what I try.
3. I have a windows application error always occurring at the admin section when I first log on. No other log-ins have this error...just the admin.
4. One of my USB ports keeps failing
5. I have an unidentified device I cannot uninstall from my computer.
6. I can provide more info if necessary but I think all of the issues stem from one root problem that I cant identify.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.


text:
James L. Davidson age 82, passed away Saturday, February 9, 2013, at his home, in West Point.
James L. Davidson was born July 4, 1930, in West Point, to the late Essie Hazlewood and Jesse Thomas Davidson. Mr. Davidson worked in the Accounting Department at Babcock & Wilcox Company for 40 years. He was a member of the First Christian Church. He loved to hunt, and killed an eight-point buck last year's season. He loved spending time with his grandchildren. He was a Veteran of U.S. Army National Guard having served during the Korean War. James L. Davidson married Judy Wright Davidson March 3, 1956, in Columbus, Mississippi.
Funeral services were Monday, February 11, 2013, at 2 p.m. at Calvert Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Kirby Loyd officiating. Burial will follow in Palestine Cemetery Montpelier.
Calvert Funeral Home of West Point is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include his wife Judy Wright Davidson of West Point, one daughter, Marsha Lynn Langford (Richard) of
Tupelo, one son, Charles T. Davidson of West Point, his daughter in law: Kay Thompson Davidson of Pheba, two grandchildren, Jacob Thomas Davidson and Amber Michelle Langford, one sister, Dena Beth Lawson (Bobby) of
Woodstock, Ala., one brother, Jesse Donald Davidson (Charlotte) of New Albany. His son Mark Davidson preceded him in death.
Pallbearers were Lynwood Prescott, Tommy Henley, Dennis Lang, Billy Young, Robert D. Lawson, Tracy Davidson, Benny Clark, and Barry Sansing.
Honorary pallbearers were Norwood Clark, John Lester, John Ralph Hazelwood, Wiley Lang, Ron Schmidt, Harold
Keller, Charles Orman, Dr. Andrew Wartak, Dr. Andrew H. Kellum, Dr. T. N. Braddock, Dr. Charles G. Pigott, Dr. Robert Howland, and the Hardee's Breakfast Group.
Memorials may be made to Palestine Cemetery Care Fund, c/o Jim Murray, 18515 Hwy 46, Pheba, MS 39755 or to First
Christian Church, P. O. Box 208, West Point, MS 39773.
Friends may leave an online condolence at www.calvertfuneralhome.com [1]
[1] http://www.calvertfuneralhome.com


text:
War of Words: Getting to the Heart for God's Sake
(These are notes taken during the session, not a manuscript.)
There are three things I know about you:
- You talk. Every day of our lives and every relationship is filled with talk. Words are God's idea, and they belong to him. So when you hear the word "talk" you ought to hear something that is high and holy and important. Let us never regard talk as something that doesn't matter.
- Both the saddest and the most celebratory moments of your life have been accompanied by talk.
- Your world of talk is a world of trouble.
This last point is defeating, but the redeeming love of God is extremely zealous. And because of that we can have the courage to look at this difficult area.
What is the trouble of our talk?
For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, 44 for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. 45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:43-45)
Christ teaches us in this passage that we live out of our hearts. What does the Bible mean by the word "heart"? It means the causal core of your personhood. It is your directional system, your steering wheel. Your behavior isn't caused by the situations and relationships outside of you. It's caused by the way your heart reacts to those things.
Word problems aren't vocabulary or technique problems. They are heart problems. Christ uses the example of the tree. Apple trees are apple-istic all the way down, a principle of organic consistency. We want to think that our problem is outside of us rather than inside of us. But that is a very dangerous heresy, because when you can convince yourself of that, you quit being a seeker after the transforming grace of Jesus Christ. You must come to admit that you are your greatest communication problem.
Much of what we do in our attempts to change communication is nothing less than trying to nail apples onto a fruitless tree. You may get it to look authentic and good for a little while, but those apples will soon rot and the tree will be fruitless again next year.
It's only when you stand before your Redeemer and are humbly willing to say, regardless of the flawed people you live among, "I am my greatest communication problem," you are heading in a direction of fundamental change.
What is the war for the heart?
It is most briefly summarized in a little phrase in 2 Corinthians 5:15: "[Jesus] died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." Sin is fundamentally antisocial. It makes myself the primary focus. It is all about "I want, I want, I want, I want, I want." Apart from Christ we are vats of desire and entitlement. Notice Paul's warning in Galatians:
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, watch out that you are not consumed by one another. (Galatians 5:13-15)
We must never say that harsh, proud, unloving, ungracious communication is ever OK. It's not OK. God has invested words with power and Paul says that people can be destroyed by what you say. Sin dehumanizes the people in our lives. It makes them either into vehicles that help me get what I want or obstacles that get in the way of what I want. If they help me get what I want, I speak kindly to them. If they're in the way, I speak harshly to them.
God didn't give us grace to enable us to serve our own kingdom. He gave us grace to enable us to serve his kingdom. The entire law is summarized in a single command: love your neighbor as yourself. Why is that a summary of all that God calls me to? Because it is only when I love God above all else that I'll ever love my neighbor as myself. You don't fix language problems horizontally. You fix them vertically.
What kind of kingdom is the kingdom of God? It's a kingdom of boundless, glorious, powerful, personal, transforming love. The center event of that kingdom is a shocking sacrifice of redeeming love. You know nothing about his kingdom unless you understand that it is a kingdom of love. And it's when our hearts are taken up with the mystery of that great love that our words become words of love and peace and healing.
True love is not propelled by duty. It is propelled by gratitude. We love because he first loved us (1 John 4:19).
What is this thing called love that is to drive my world of talk?
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. 10 In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God abides in us and his love is perfected in us. (1 John 4:7-12)
You don't define love through a set of abstract concepts. You define love according to what God did. Love is willing self-sacrifice for the redemptive good of another that doesn't demand reciprocation or that the person being loved is deserving.
But as long as sin still lives in me I get lured into the desires of my claustrophobic little kingdom of one. I try to get satisfied with the little glories that will never really satisfy me, and I need the saving grace of Christ.
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:3-4)
If you are God's child the power to live according to love is already in your storehouse. This is not a future "will be." It's a redemptive present "is"! He has given us everything we need for life and godliness so that we have access to it today.
O that we would live out of that identity! Instead we live in the poverty of inability when we have been enabled by Christ.
What are the gifts of our redemption?
- Forgiveness of our sins by the blood of Christ
- Empowerment to do those things that he calls us to do, and
- Ultimate deliverance from every ounce of sin in our hearts.
The glorious kingdom of transforming love is ours for the taking. "Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32). Why would you enter once again the claustrophobic confines of your own little self-centered world?
What kingdom rules your words? Whose kingdom do you speak in service of? The claustrophobic kingdom of self or the big-sky glory-infused kingdom of God? For most of us this is mixed, and so we still need the redeeming grace of Christ.
Three ways to pray each morning:
- God I am a man in desperate need of help this morning.
- I pray that in your grace you would send your helpers my way.
- I pray you would give me the humility to receive the help that comes.
© 2015 by the Author. Distribution Guidelines
Share the Joy! You are permitted and encouraged to reproduce and distribute this material in its entirety or in unaltered excerpts, as long as you do not charge a fee. For Internet posting, please use only unaltered excerpts (not the content in its entirety) and provide a hyperlink to this page. Any exceptions to the above must be approved by Desiring God.
Please include the following information on any distributed copy: the author's name and the source: desiringGod.org


text:
Paper Maps
Maps available for viewing and/or purchase
There are several maps available for viewing and purchase at the GIS & Mapping Services office. Complete details of the maps available from our Front Counter are listed here. A visit to our Front Counter will allow you access to these maps and many more products and services. Please note that several of our maps and geographic datasets are available electronically through applications found in the Fairfax Geoportal. Consult the price list for the cost of the maps outlined below.
|Published Map Books
Price List for Paper
Maps & Digital Data
Poster-sized "Wall Map" Products
Map Books
Official County of Fairfax map books have been published on an annual basis since 1961. Recent books have the County's jurisdiction divided into 444 map grids, with one grid per page. Several types of map books have been published with various themes which are explained below. Please note that Digital Map Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book pages in addition to historic versions (as far back as 1961).
Property Maps
In an effort to map the county for the Department of Tax Administration, a grid was established that divides the county into 444 numbered sections. These sections are commonly called base maps, property maps or tax maps. Every property in the county has a unique property identification number. This several digit property number begins with the tax map number and is followed by a subdivision or acreage number, and a lot or parcel number. With the exception of the County Wall map series, all of our thematic maps are tied to the tax maps. In other words, the boundaries of the maps are determined by the tax map grid.
Property maps include:
> Boundaries: State, County or Corporate, Subdivision, Block Division, Property
> Legal Rights of Way: State or Interstate Highway, Railroad, Public Street, Private Street, Outlet Road, Unconstructed Right-of-way, Parking or Pavement limits
> Easements: Approved Flood Plain, Recorded Flood Plain, Storm Drainage, Conservation, Ingress-Egress, Major Public Utility
> Drainage: Streams, Creeks, Rivers, Ponds, Lake Banks, Concrete/Steel Dams, Earthen Dams
> Districts: Agricultural and Forestal District, Special Tax District
> Unique Identifiers: Double circle and number - Acreage or Subdivision, Single circle and number - Block designation, Uncircled number - Parcel or Lot number
> Features and Symbols: Addresses, Address Grid, Address Grid Ticks, Subdivision Name, Split Parcels, Consolidated Lots, Questionable Property cut, Buildings, Control Monuments, Churches, Cemetaries, Schools, Firehouses, Parkland, Nature Conservancy, Marine Clay
Currently all property information is captured and maintained digitally. Property maps are updated daily and published in book format yearly. In addition, all 444 grid sections have been compiled in PDF format. The Property map set is available for sale as well (see price list for details). Our reference collection of property books dates back to 1961. Current and historic property maps can be viewed at the GIS and Mapping offices, though electronic versions of the map book pages are available online using the Digital Map Viewer application.
Source materials for property maps include site plans, deed descriptions, subdivision plats, and acreage plats. A plat is a detailed drawing taken from the survey of a property boundary. A few of the many features included on a plat are: Bearings and Distances of lot lines, Utility Easements, Area, and Curve Data. The collection is comprised of paper plats which vary in size, scale, number of pages, and condition. Most subdivison plats may be viewed at the Fairfax County Land Development Services.
Zoning Maps
All land in Fairfax County is zoned into residential, commercial or industrial districts. The permitted density in each zoning district and the uses allowed in each district are described in detail in the County Zoning Ordinance. The location and boundaries of the zoning districts established by this Ordinance are illustrated on official zoning maps. These maps illustrate all of the property map information as well as the zoning districts.
Zoning maps include:
> Residential: 5 acres - Agricultural, 10 Acres - Preservation, 5 Acres - Conservation, 2 Acres - Estate, 1 Acre - 1 DU/AC (Dwelling Unit per Acre), ½ acre - 2 DU/AC, 3 DU/AC, 4 DU/AC, 5 DU/AC, 8 DU/AC, 12 DU/AC, 16 DU/AC, 20 DU/AC, 30 DU/AC, Mobile Home Park
> Commercial: Low Rise Office, Limited Office, Office District, High Intensity Office, Neighborhood Retail, Community Retail, Highway, Super-regional Retail
> Industrial: Institutional, Light Ind. Research, Research, Light Intensity, Medium Intensity, General, Heavy
> Planned Units: Planned Development Housing, Planned Development Commercial, Planned Residential Community, Planned Residential Mixed-Use
> Overlay Districts: Airport Noise Impact, Highway Corridor, Historic, Natural Resource, Sign Control, Water Supply Protection, Commercial Revitalization
> Other Categories: Boundaries of Public & Semi-Public Lands, Planning Area Designation, Pending Zoning Cases
Currently all zoning map information is maintained digitally. Zoning maps are updated daily and published in book format yearly. The Zoning Map book, as well as, individual grid section maps at a scale of 1" = 500' are available for sale. . All 444 grid sections are available as a map set in PDF (see price list for details). Please note that Digital Map Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book pages in addition to historic versions (as far back as 1985).
Contour Maps
A contour map illustrates ground surface elevation with lines that join
points of equal elevation. These maps illustrate all of the property map
information as well as contour lines. The contour interval is 2 feet over
the entire county. The date of the aerial photography used to determine
the ground elevation is 2009. It should also be noted that the 2009
source contour maps have their elevations stored in the North American
Vertical Datum 1988. The contour map series is not published in book
format, however, all 444 grid sections are available for
sale in PDF format (see price list for details).
Please note that the Digital Map
Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book
pages as new contour data are created, with the latest being from
2009. The Digital Map Viewer may also be utilized to view and
download the 2003 Contour maps; these maps include property features
from 2003 and elevation contours from 1997. In addition, historic contour
maps at a scale of 1" = 500' derived from aerial photography dated 1972
and 1984 may be viewed and photocopied at our Front Counter.
Topographic Maps
A topographic map illustrates ground surface elevation, as well as, natural and human-made features on the ground surface. The features on this map series includes building outlines, roadbeds, parking lots, bridges, water features, as well as other features. These maps also include a surface depiction with colored elevation changes and a hillshade to depict shadows in hillsides. This information was derived from 2009 aerial photography. The contour interval is 2 feet. It should also be noted that the 2009 source contour maps have their elevations stored in the North American Vertical Datum 1988. These topographic maps do not show property map information. The topographic map series is not published in book format, however, all 444 grid sections are available for sale in PDF format. (see price list for details). Please note that the Digital Map Viewer application provides the most recent updates to the map book pages as new contour data are created, with the latest being from 2009. The Digital Map Viewer may also be utilized to view and download the 2003 Topographic maps; these maps, created in 2002, include planimetric data and elevation contours from 1997 aerial imagery.
Soils Maps
These maps illustrate soil types, soils problem areas, and soil symbols that describe ground surface characteristics. There are two soils maps available: the 2011 official soils map and the 1990 soils map. They both show property information, but vary in their depiction of soil types. The 1990 soils maps were published by the County's soil office and, at the time, about 40,000 acres of unmapped land remained. The soil's office was closed in 1996, and since there were still significant areas of the County unmapped, the County requested the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to complete the maps. A combined effort between Fairfax County, NRCS, and the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District (NVSWCD) led to the publishing of the official 2011 soils maps. Any construction, building or site plans submitted to the county for permitting that require soil identification must now use the 2011 soils map. For general information purposes, either map may be used.
More information regarding the official 2011 maps may be viewed online in the Description & Interpretive Guide to Soils in Fairfax County , or through the Map Legends section of the Digital Map Viewer. More information regarding the 1990 maps may be viewed online in the Soil Ratings guide, or through the Map Legends section of the Digital Map Viewer. All of the maps may be viewed and downloaded online through the Digital Map Viewer application. The complete 1990 edition of the soils map book may be purchased at our Front Counter.
For more information about soils in Fairfax County, contact the Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District office at (703) 324-1460.
Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas Maps
In 1988 the Virginia General Assembly adopted the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Act. As a result, local governments were required to incorporate general water quality protection measures into their comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances, and subdivision ordinances and to establish programs, in accordance with criteria established by the Commonwealth, that define and protect certain lands which are called Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas.
The Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area maps illustrate all of the property map information as well as Resource Management Areas (RMA) and Resource Protection Areas (RPA). A RMA is that component of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area comprised of lands that, if improperly used or developed, have a potential for causing significant water quality degradation or for diminishing the functional value of the RPA. [See Fairfax County Code, Ch. 118, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.] A RPA is that component of the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area comprised of lands at or near the shoreline or water's edge that have an intrinsic water quality value due to the ecological and biological processes they perform or are sensitive to impacts which may result in significant degradation of the quality of state waters. In their natural condition, these lands provide for the removal, reduction or assimilation of sediments from runoff entering the Bay and its tributaries, and minimize the adverse effects of human activities on state waters and aquatic resources. New development is generally discouraged in an RPA. [See Fairfax County Code, Ch. 118, Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance.]
You can read the full Chesapeake Bay Preservation Ordinance for more infomation. Chesapeake Bay preservation areas maps display the boundaries of the RPAs adopted by the Board in 1993 and the additional RPAs adopted by the Board in 2003. All of the maps may be viewed and downloaded online through the Digital Map Viewer application.
Flood Plain Delineation Maps
During the 1960's and 1970's the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) performed a flood plain study for most of the area of Fairfax County. A cooperative agreement between USGS and Fairfax County established a project to study the effects of basin development on floods and to delineate flood boundaries on specially prepared maps of stream valleys. The results of this study include a series of USGS Open-File Reports.
The Open-File Reports include water-surface profile data, flood profiles, and topographic maps with flood boundary delineation. As stated on each map, the map shows the extent of inundation for floods of 25-, 50-, and 100-year recurrence intervals. As applied to flood events, a recurrence interval is the average interval of time within which a given flood will be equaled or exceeded once. No periodicity is implied. In addition to the flood-delineation lines, each map also includes topography with a 2 foot contour interval for the area around the stream.
The Open-file Reports and the Maps can be viewed at the Front Counter.
Photocopies of the 1"=100' scale mylar film overlays can be
purchased. See price
list for details. Photocopies of associated water-surface profile
data tables from the open-file reports are included free by request with
the purchase of blue line prints of the photocopiess. Flood plain studies
of Dogue Creek basin, Little Hunting Creek basin, the upper tributaries
of Cameron Run basin, and Tripps Run and Holmes Run above Lake Barcroft
were performed by Massey Engineers Consultants. The results of this study
are a series of Drainage Reports. Drainage Reports include a flood
profile for a 100-year recurrence interval discharge and a topographic
map of the stream valley with a 2 foot contour interval and the 100-year
flood boundary delineation line. The map scale is 1 inch = 100 feet.
Drainage Reports can be viewed at the GIS Front Counter. Photocopies of
the mylar sepia report can be purchased. See price list for
Fairfax County Wall Maps Series
A series of large printed countywide wall maps is available for purchase at the Front Counter. These maps include products created by GIS & Mapping Services in addition to those compiled by other County agencies. See price list for details. Many of the wall maps are available to view and download for free in the Wall Map section of the online Map Gallery.


text:
Notify Me! The product you are searching for is out of stock. If you wish us to notify you when the product is in stock please submit your name and email.
|The Vestal Heirloom features a premium Japanese analog quartz movement with a 18mm wide fold stainless steel surgical grade band. Desgined simply for comfort in mind making it lightweight and water resistant up to 100 meters.


text:
Plant: Many hardy varieties of ornamental plants do well when planted in fall. Do this while the ground is still warm and there's time for adequate watering. Be sure to water new and young plants during winter dry spells, too.
Lawnmower: Prepare the lawnmower and other small-engine equipment for winter storage, following the owner's manual. This prevents the number one cause of small-engine repair: old gas left in the tank.
Mice: Nip the annual rodent problem in the bud by setting out mousetraps as soon as the nights turn cold. The type of trap or relocation hotel is up to you.
Source: http://www.networx.com/article/fall-home-maintenance-checklist