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A system for facilitating a commercial transaction by a consumer includes a card or electronic storage device which includes a first number for identifying a financial account of the consumer and a second number, related to the first number, for use in authorizing a transaction involving the financial account of the consumer.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a card;
a first number visibly disposed on the card and associated with a financial account of a consumer with a financial institution, the first number configured to enable a merchant to track a transaction with the consumer using the first number, but not for seeking authorization to fund the transaction with the financial account; and
a storage medium embodied by the card, to store a second number associated with the financial account, the second number distinct from the first number, and for use in authorizing funding the transaction with the financial account, wherein the second number is configured to be unknown to the merchant;
wherein the first number is restrictively associated with the second number to enable deposit of funds into the financial account, but not withdrawal of funds from the financial account.
2. The apparatus of
3. An apparatus, comprising:
a storage medium; and
an electronic wallet stored in the storage medium and configured to store a first number and a second number distinct from the first number, the first number associated with a financial account of a consumer with a financial institution,
wherein the first number is selected to enable a merchant to track a transaction with the consumer using the first number without use of the first number to obtain authorization to fund the transaction with the financial account, and
wherein the second number is selected for use in authorizing funding of the transaction from the financial account of the consumer, and the second number is unknown to the merchant;
wherein the first number is restrictively associated with the second number to enable deposit of funds into the financial account, but not withdrawal of funds from the financial account.
4. The apparatus of
5. The apparatus of
6. The apparatus of
7. The apparatus of
8. The apparatus of
9. A method, comprising:
receiving by a merchant from a consumer a second number as a result of the consumer attempting to enter into a transaction with the merchant, the second number associated with a financial account of the consumer, and the second number received by the merchant in an encrypted form;
the merchant requesting authorization for the transaction, based at least in part on the second number;
the merchant receiving authorization for the transaction;
the merchant receiving a first number associated with the financial account, the first number different from the second number, and not used for authorizing funding of the transaction with the financial account; and
the merchant tracking the transaction based at least in part on the first number;
wherein the first number is restrictively associated with the second number to enable deposit of funds into the financial account, but not withdrawal of funds from the financial account.
10. The method of
11. The method of
12. The method of
13. The method of
14. The method of
15. The method of
16. A method, comprising:
receiving from a merchant a request to authorize a transaction with a consumer, the request including a second number associated with a financial account of the consumer, the second number unknown to the consumer and the merchant, and the financial account having an associated first number;
wherein the first number is restrictively associated with the second number to enable deposit of funds into the financial account, but not withdrawal of funds from the financial account;
authorizing or denying the transaction, based at least in part on the received second number, but not the first number; and
debiting or crediting the financial account if the transaction is authorized.
17. The method of
18. The method of
19. A method, comprising:
generating by an account issuer a first number for identifying a financial account of a consumer;
providing the first number to the consumer for use by a merchant engaged in a transaction with the consumer to track the transaction using the first number, but not for obtaining authorization to fund the transaction with the financial account;
generating by an account issuer a second number associated with the financial account, distinct from the first number, for use in authorizing funding of the transaction with the financial account;
providing an encrypted form of the second number to the consumer; and relating by the account issuer the first number and the second number;
wherein the account issuer allowing deposit into the financial account by restrictively reference to the first number, but not funding of the transaction from the financial account by restrictively reference to the first number.
The present invention relates to a commercial transaction system, and more particularly to a system for allowing the use of credit or debit accounts while increasing the security of the transaction.
Currently consumers who wish to use their credit or debit accounts must use a physical credit card or debit card and/or provide sensitive financial and personal data to a third party to initiate and complete the transaction. The consumer's account number and consumer credit card number are identical and are visible for theft by third parties or employees of third party merchants or financial institutions. As used herein, the term "card" will include both credit cards and debit cards.
Presently cards are constructed from plastic or polyvinyl chloride and contain a magnetic stripe on the back of the card. The cardholder's name is embossed on the front of the card along with the card's expiration date and the actual credit card number. The back of the card contains the magnetic stripe, a signature line, information on how to contact the card issuer and, possibly, the card number printed along with a three or four digit card verification number. The magnetic stripe may store up to three tracks of information, tracks one and two are typically read-only magnetic tracks, and track three is a read/write magnetic stripe. Tracks one and two have standard formatting as specified in the standard ISO/IEC 7813. Track three is formatted according to the standard ISO/IEC 4909.
Track one includes the information that is embossed on the front of the card, the account number, the cardholder's name and the expiration date of the card along with additional information such as the three digit service code (the first digit specifies the type of exchange permitted, the second digit specifies the authorization process required, and the third digit indicates the type of services available to the card), the country code possibly depending on the card number, and discretionary data. A check digit is included at the end of the first track as a verification of the data on track one.
Track two includes the same information as track one, excluding the cardholder's name and the discretionary data that is proprietary to the card issuer.
Track three includes the account number, sometimes the country code, and the card expiration date. Additionally track three may include up to two additional, subsidiary account numbers that may provide fallback authorization in case authorization is refused with the primary account. Track three has fields that may be updated, or written to by certain types of point of sale terminals. Track three thus offers the possibility of storing and updating financial parameters that control the cardholder's spending, or for control uses by the issuer.
Using the existing card methodology of having the same number for both the consumer account number and the consumer credit card number means that, in order to track a sales transaction, the merchant must store the consumer's credit card number. Recently there have been numerous publicized occurrences of merchants' consumer relationship management systems having been hacked by cyber thieves who have stolen consumer's credit card data. This potential for theft from the merchant increases the security risk, and liability, to both the consumer cardholder and the merchant.
In the case of a purchase that is completed verbally over a cell phone, fixed based telephone, IP phone or other means of verbal communication the consumer must orally relay his or her personal information in order to complete the purchase transaction. Transactions conducted over the Internet require the consumer to input the same information as required for a verbal order, which exposes the consumer to the possibility of the theft of the consumer's credit or debit card information and the consumer's personal data. Transactions where the card holder is not physically present are known as "card not present" or mail order/telephone order transactions. These types of transactions also include transactions that are conducted over the Internet.
Card Verification Value which is also known as CVC2 or Card Identification Number (CID) has been in use for over ten years. The system is basically a 3 digit or 4 digit number printed on the credit card separate from the actual credit card number and is not on the magnetic stripe. The merchant, whether via the Internet or telephone, asks for the number at the same time the card number is provided to the merchant. This number is then passed along to the verifying institution, which confirms that the card is in the presence of the cardholder. This method is subject to fraud, such as in the case of a criminal obtaining the credit card number may just as easily copy the verification number. When cards are swiped and thus stolen electronically then the verification number is copied at the time of the swiping and provided to whomever the card number is sold.
MasterCard's recent security enhancement, in response to consumer demand for greater security and privacy in card not present transactions, implemented a system MasterCard named "MasterCard SecureCode". This system requires that the consumer, in an Internet transaction, input a private code (that has been given to the consumer by the bank that issued the card) into a "pop-up" screen that appears on the merchant's web page when the consumer has notified the web page that the consumer has completed the order. The consumer then inputs his/her private code and the authentication value is then passed along to the issuing bank in the merchant's normal authorization process. Using the MasterCard SecureCode system thus eliminates the possibility of "one click" purchasing, requires that the merchant install a SecureCode compliant "plug-in" application on the merchant's web site, and still provides the merchant with the consumer's credit card and other personal data. This method, while improving security over the previously existing system, is cumbersome and does not accomplish the objective of keeping the consumer's card number and personal information hidden from the merchant and improve ease of use by the cardholder. This method does not allow for notification to the consumer of the purchase, nor does it add security or ease of use to transactions conducted verbally using a cell phone or land based telephone.
Visa's recent security solution is called "Verified by Visa" and using Three Domain security (3D or 3D-Secure), which operates by the cardholder inputting a personal identification number (PIN) into the merchant's web site when requested. This solution does not work on telephone sales (as the PIN would have to be verbally given to the merchant's call center employee) and is cumbersome to operate on the Internet.
The Verified by Visa process works in the following steps in an Internet transaction:
The normal credit approval process begins after the authentication process in order for the digital authorization from Visa to be included with the authorization request from the Merchant to Visa or, more likely, the authorization service for the card issuer.
Verified by Visa requires that the cardholder send the purchase authorization request from the consumer's computer to the merchant, who then sends the request to Visa's server, who then sends the request to the issuer's server. The issuer's server prompts for the password from the consumer, who then inputs the password or PIN, sends it to the issuer's server who then sends it to their (the issuer's) authentication server. The issuer's server then sends the approval to the consumer's computer who then passes the approval to the merchant's server. Then the merchant processes the payment for approval in the normal approval process and includes the authentication data along with the approval request to the card issuer for credit approval. Verified by Visa is cumbersome and will not work on telephone orders, and offers little compensation to consumers while taking more time to complete the transaction. Verified by Visa does not add the functionality of auto-filling forms on the Internet Merchant (or other merchants') customer relationship management systems, allow "one-click purchasing', ties up Visa, the merchant and the authorization entity's servers, increases communications between all of these servers, thus increasing the possibility of a communications error or drop, and still exposes the cardholder's data to theft.
Surrogate Card Numbers have been tried by American Express (Private Payments) and by MBNA (ShopSafe). The surrogate card number is basically a system where the consumer uses a software application to generate a one-time use credit card number that has a short validity period (normally two months or less) and a fixed charge value. The surrogate card number is tied to the consumer's "real" card number. This method is cumbersome (the consumer has to obtain the surrogate number and then keep track of it) and prevents the use of one click purchasing. Besides these issues, if surrogate numbers become widespread then, based on the current length of a credit card number (16 digits normally) there would soon be a shortage of numbers available. Of the 16 digits only 10 are available for actual account numbers as the other numbers designate the type of card, etc.
None of the above existing methods provide a solution that incorporates additional layers of security for both verbal and Internet transactions. Nor do any of the existing methods solve the combined problems of security, ease of use, and allow for one-click" purchasing. Nor do any of the existing methods improve the accuracy and speed of the remote sales type, mail order/telephone order, transaction. Several of the above methods require additional hardware to implement and many increase the volume of communications (and thus the possibility for information theft and communications break down).
Other proposed solutions require additional equipment, require that the transaction data be handled differently by either the consumer, the merchant or the financial institution and do not provide the increased security or speed of the sales transaction required by consumers.
Thus there exists a need for either a physical or virtual method of securing and enhancing credit and debit transactions, whether the transaction is conducted in person, on the Internet, over the telephone or via other communications methods available to the consumer.
In accordance with the present invention, a system for providing a secure method for storing and transmitting data required for a transaction between a consumer and merchant is made possible by the providing the consumer with both a consumer number, personal data and a credit or debit account number which may be encrypted. This information may be provided physically via a credit card type device, smart card type device and or virtually via the Internet, SMS text messaging, or other means of communicating with a consumer and his/her communications device. The present invention requires the issuance by the financial institution of two numbers, a credit card number and a related consumer account number.
For a more complete understanding of the present invention and for further advantages thereof, reference is now made to the following Description of the Preferred Embodiments taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawing in which:
The present invention provides a substantial additional layer of security to remote sales type transactions and card present transactions while allowing the use of the current credit, debit and other financial instrument approval process. The present invention provides the consumer with, in the case of a physical credit or debit card, a card identical in size and shape to the current card, with the addition of an additional credit account number to the card's magnetic stripe. The present invention also provides for the existence of an electronic card wherein there may not be a physical card. In the case of a wholly electronic "card" the same information that is provided on a physical credit or debit card is sent via the Internet, SMS text messaging or other method of communication to the consumer's cell phone, desktop computer, PDA, or other communications device for secure storage in a resident electronic wallet.
The additional number in accordance with the present invention replaces the credit card number that is currently assigned to the consumer. The existing credit card number (or a new number, if so determined by the issuer or consumer) becomes the consumer's account number and will be visible on the surface of the card. This consumer account number will be used by the consumer when inquiring about his/her bill, making card payments, making application for credit, and other times when necessary to provide evidence of the account. The merchant will use the consumer account number to track the transaction and activity with the cardholder for product returns, warranty work and other normal consumer and merchant issues.
The additional credit card number, which may be encrypted, is stored on the back of the credit card in the magnetic stripe and is not disclosed to the consumer and is not visible on the surface of the card. In the example of the virtual card, the encrypted credit card number (CCN) is pushed to the consumer's communications device (computer, PDA, cell phone, etc.) and is stored for use. The stored data, which may include all of the data currently stored on today's credit card, is used for online and other types of transactions.
An additional benefit of having two separate but related numbers is that the consumer account number may be used as a reference by the consumer when paying the bill, inquiring about a particular transaction or when following up with the merchant. The merchant is able to use the consumer account number to track the transaction and the consumer without having to have access to the actual credit card number.
An additional benefit of having two separate but related numbers is that the consumer/cardholder may use the consumer account number to provide a third party the information to send the cardholder funds. Disclosing the consumer account number does not open the door to a thief to transfer funds out of the cardholder's account, as the only way to charge or debit the cardholder's account is by using the credit card number, which is unavailable to the third party. The inflow of funds, using the consumer account number is similar to a one-way trap door. Funds are allowed in via the consumer account number but are not allowed out by use of the consumer account number. The only way charges may be made or funds transferred out are by use of the credit card number. Thus the present invention meets the demand of cardholders to safely and securely transfer funds to or from third parties over the Internet. The only requirement is for both the sender and receiver to have a dual account number activated account and to provide the sender with the consumer account number.
The dual account number information is sent to the cardholder via the Internet, SMS text messaging, Wi-fi, Bluetooth, and other methods of communications available to the specific device the cardholder wishes to store the dual account number information on. Thus the cardholder may have his or her dual account number account information stored on the cardholder's cell phone, notebook computer, desktop computer, PDA, and any other device that is equipped to store this data. The cardholder may wish to have a physical card issued to him/her, but the physical card would not be necessary.
When the financial institution that issues the dual account numbers sends the information to the cardholder's device the financial institution may also send the cardholder's name, mailing address, telephone number, fax number, email and other contact information that the cardholder's electronic wallet will store along with the account information. This additional information may be released upon approval by the cardholder to a merchant in an online, telephone, or other type of transaction to facilitate the transaction and eliminate the need for the cardholder to either have to verbally provide the information, in the instance of a telephone sale, or to have to input the data in the example of an Internet sale.
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Other alteration and modification of the invention will likewise become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the present disclosure, and it is intended that the scope of the invention disclosed herein be limited only by the broadest interpretation of the appended claims to which the inventor is legally entitled.
Patent Citations
Non-Patent Citations
Referenced by
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Home » Salad » Nut Salad » Walnut Salad » Crisp Apple And Walnut Salad With Honey Yogurt Dressing
Crisp Apple And Walnut Salad With Honey Yogurt Dressing
5 Aug 2010
|Soft tofu
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|Plain low fat yogurt
|1⁄2 Cup (8 tbs)
|1⁄2 , juiced
|3 Tablespoon
|Barley malt sweetener
|1 Pinch
|Fresh lemon juice
|1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs)
|5 (McIntosh / Other Crisp)
|Celery stalks
|3 , cut into 1/2 inch dice
|Coarsely chopped walnuts
|1⁄3 Cup (5.33 tbs)
|Boston lettuce leaves
|Fresh mint sprigs
|8 (For Garnish)
TO PREPARE THE DRESSING: Combine all the ingredients in a blender and puree.
Pour into a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate until serving time.
TO PREPARE THE APPLES: Combine the lemon juice and 1 cup of water in a large bowl.
Cut the apples into eighths, remove the core and seeds, and immediately place in the acidulated water.
When all the apples have been put into the bowl, add additional water to cover.
At serving time, drain the apples, discarding the lemon water.
Combine the apples, celery, walnuts, and dressing and toss gently.
Place a lettuce leaf on each of 8 salad plates, spoon salad into the leaves, top with mint, and serve.
Recipe Summary
Restriction:Lacto Ovo Vegetarian
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Crisp Apple And Walnut Salad With Honey Yogurt Dressing Recipe

subset: commoncrawl


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"In [Amsterdam's] central neighborhoods, nearly 60 percent of all trips are made on bicycles...While the sheer number of bicycles certainly makes the cyclists more visible on the streets, the city's bike-friendly planning has put two-wheelers at the top of the transportation pecking order.
"It's the quickest way to move around in the city, even more than a car or public transit," said Ria Hilhorst, top bike planner for Amsterdam's Dienst Infrastructuur Verkeer en Vervoer, which (we have been told) translates roughly to the Department of Transportation. 'It's a very, very important part of our policy to keep people on bicycles and stimulate the use of it.'"
Thanks to Franny Ritchie
Basically, you can't get anywhere interesting in Amsterdam quickly in a car.
So the lesson is we need to fuck up our cities for the car if we want bikes.


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22 Free Crochet Patterns: Afghan Patterns, Crochet Hats, and More
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How to Crochet a Cluster Stitch
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Have you been wondering How to Crochet a Cluster Stitch? Well, you're in luck. With this easy to follow tutorial from Patty Biehler, you can create a fun crochet stitches design with ease! This stitch is great for adding texture and dimension to your project.
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How much should I budget for laptop consumables?
Saturday, March 14th, 2009 | laptops, resources
This question is the same as asking: "How much should I budget for petrol for my car?" It all depends on what model car you are driving; how much driving you do; and what the current price of petrol is.
The same is true of laptop consumables. The cost depends on three factors.
The type of equipment you use has an impact on the cost. Scanners, for example, do not use any consumables. Printers use paper and toner (ink) cartridges. The type of printer determines the cost of the cartridge – it is important to know its cost before you purchase a printer. A cheap printer may use expensive ink cartridges, while a more expensive printer may have a lower running cost. Do cost comparisons before you purchase a peripheral.
The extent to which you are performing certain functions determines the amount of consumables you will use. The more you print the more paper and toner you require.
If you learn to work on-line your need for printing will reduce and the cost of consumables will come down accordingly. When you feel that you simply cannot afford certain consumables, consider whether you could perhaps do without them.
The cost of consumables also depends on where you purchase them. Shop around for the best prices – you will be surprised to see the variation of prices from different outlets. Sometimes items such as data sticks are given away as promotional goods at trade fairs – look out for such opportunities and grab them.
Consider whether the use of all the peripherals available to you is really necessary.
You may be able to afford their initial cost, but the cost of consumables is a recurring one, which you need to budget for.
Click here to find answers to more laptop related questions.
1 Comment to How much should I budget for laptop consumables?
Saturday, 14 March, 2009
I used much more ink and paper in years past and now have tried to change. I've moved my teaching toward a more "green" and environmentally-friendly (cheaper) approach, in which students go to a computer to find resources, read materials that I've put in files for them to read, and complete tasks that I assess online. The only obstacle to this approach is when students don't have access to computers.
One way around that is that I often used an LCD projector to project an image of my computer screen on a wall, showing notes and/or questions for students to answer. No ink or paper is used for this; the LCD bulb is the only "consumable," along with the electricity to power the projector and computer. Students would use their own sheets of paper to take notes and/or write their answers, rather than filling in a readymade worksheet that would have required ink to print and a Xerox copier to run enough copies for every student.


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Many people want to know how to say I love you in Thai language, and there are many answers to that depending on the situation. When foreigners come to Thailand, many of them fall in love with not only Thai culture, but they also find Thai women to be attractive in many different ways. I grew up outside of Bangkok in a city called Nakhon Prathom, and I never believed that I would ever be interested in a foreign man, let alone begin dating one! Little did I know that I would end up writing different publications on the subject and actually living abroad for a few years.
I love you in Thai
Getting back to the subject at hand, Thai women love to hear this phrase as long as it's said to Thai women in the right way. Let me explain. Even if you say the Thai equivalent of, "I like you," or "Phom chawp khun," this can bring on a sense of love, especially for young Thai girls. Thus, one must be very careful about what is said so as to not give off the wrong impression. The strong, 100% clear way of saying I love you in Thai "phom ruk khun." The word "ruk" sounds similar to the English word "rock." Since many foreigners understandably cannot read the Thai language, I will do my best to explain how everything sounds in phonetic English.
Different words in Thai for love:
- Phom chawp khun: This really means that I like you, but some girls will take it more seriously than others. It's usually safe to use in the beginning of a relationship.
- Phom mii kwam chawp mak: This is a very strong like, almost a revelry that is a bit more serious than just chawp mak. It's showing a bit more serious intention with a friend or girlfriend.
- Moot na: In Thai this is spelled มทนะ. Depending on the situation, this could be really good to say to your Thai love.
- Phom ruk khun: Men say this to a woman to really mean I love you in Thai. Some young Thai girls may take this as a step leading towards marriage, so only use this if you are very serious about obtaining a Thai bride.
Thai Love
At www.thaiforlove.com, we do strive to make sure that everyone has a safe and fun online dating experience. For men, meeting Thai women can be an amazing and wonderful experience if done correctly. The same goes for Thai girls that are looking for their perfect western man. There's no need to beat around the bush when it comes to Thai dating, and the best way to find exactly what you're looking for is to get out there and start dating! It can really lead to some wonderful experiences, and honesty will take you very far.
We tend to look at young Thai girls aged 18-25 in many different ways. Some look and act much younger than they are, while others are years ahead of their peers in many ways. As everyone says, "don't judge a book by its cover," and this is very true in this dating arena. After going on a number of dates, you might find yourself ready to tell that special someone, I love you in Thai.


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The relatively new accounts, created for use starting in 2004, allow users of high-deductible health insurance plans to open tax-free savings accounts. The idea is to put consumers more directly in charge of their medical spending by making them financially responsible for more of their care.
NEW COLUMNThis week Your Money begins a new column, The Journey, looking at retirement: preparing for it and living it. As seniors live longer and millions of Baby Boomers approach their 60s, retirement issues are taking on ever-greater importance.
We want to hear your questions, problems and successes. E-mail us at firstname.lastname@example.com or write to Andrew Countryman, Your Money editor, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611.
Jan. 13: Some investors seek foreclosures, tax liens
Jan. 6: Default retirement solution not as solid as providing plan advice
- Military discipline helps couple build strong financial plan
- Credit scores extend well beyond loans
- One-stop shopping overseas is problematic
- Health accounts pale for retirement savings
- The savings game
- The Leckey file
- Getting started
- Spending smart
- Taking stock
- Express-delivery services gear up for holiday rush
- The week ahead
- Finance
- Retirement
- State Budgets
See more topics »
For 2007, singles can contribute a maximum of $2,850 to health-savings accounts, and families can kick in up to $5,650, an increase from $2,700 and $5,450, respectively, in 2006.
Critics of the plans say they are simply another tax break for the rich and healthy, allowing wealthy people to accumulate more tax-advantaged savings while they comfortably afford higher out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Although money not used for health-care expenses is taxed at regular income tax rates (and triggers a 10 percent penalty if withdrawn before age 65), experts say some higher-earning people are starting HSAs to boost savings once they're maxxed out their contributions to other tax-advantaged retirement plans.
But are HSAs really a solid investment vehicle for long-term savers planning for retirement?
Gloria Smith, a Chicago financial planner, has been looking into the plans for herself recently but is finding it a hair-tearing experience.
"The fees can be high, sometimes higher than the interest earned," Smith said. "The upfront tax break is nice, but most people should probably plan to use these accounts for their actual expenses, and if there's anything left over, it's gravy."
Proponents say fees are dropping fast as more financial institutions get into the market. More than 1,100 firms offer HSAs, said JoAnn Mills Laing, president of Information Strategies Inc. in Ft. Lee, N.J., and author of "The Small Business Guide to HSAs" (Brick Tower Press, $14.95).
Of those, about 200 list their account information on Information Strategies' Web site (www.hsafinder.com).
Laing said account fees have dropped in the two years of the plans' existence as more competition came into the field.
Average annual fees in the firm's October survey had dropped to $38, down from $88 the first year, she said.
On average, Laing said, 55 percent of the money in the accounts is being carried over into the next year, indicating people are thinking of these as long-term savings vehicles.
Industry projections showing average account balances growing in the next decade from $1,500 to $20,000 are driving the interest from providers.
"It's about evenly split between savers and spenders," said Nav Ranajee, vice president of health-care-product management for LaSalle Bank in Chicago, which offers the accounts both to retail customers and through employers.
LaSalle's retail product charges no account fees and offers tiered interest rates depending on account size. Once accounts reach $1,500, they are eligible to be rolled into mutual funds provided by a third party, Ranajee said. The bank has an online calculator that lets consumers figure out how much they need to save in order to reach a preset goal for carrying money into retirement (www.lasallebank.com/checking/calculators/hsa_goal.html).
Other major players offering the accounts to retail customers or through employers include mutual fund giant Fidelity Investments, Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase.
The key to selecting a provider has more to do with health issues than investment choices, however, said Kristine McKinley, a 35-year-old financial planner in Lee's Summit, Mo., who chose a high-deductible health plan with a health-savings account because she's self-employed, healthy and has no dependents.
But they're not appropriate for many other savers, McKinley said. Even wealthy investors who have contributed the maximum to their retirement accounts are better off saving in taxable accounts, she said.
Why? Current low capital gains rates are more attractive than the income tax rates that savers would pay in retirement to draw out money from the accounts for non-medical expenses, she said.
"And for many people, the difference in premiums for a high-deductible plan aren't enough to justify the risk of much higher deductibles," she said.
E-mail Janet Kidd Stewart at email@example.com.
Have a retirement question? Write to email@example.com, or via mail at Your Money, Chicago Tribune, Room 400, 435 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611. If your letter is selected, we may include you and your question in a future column.


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By C. Trent Rosecrans
CINCINNATI -- Sitting on the couch in the visitor's clubhouse, Andrew McCutchen watched himself reach out and send a Logan Ondrusek pitch into center field, scoring the eventual game-winning run in the Pirates' 7-6 victory over the Reds on Sunday.
Behind him, Pittsburgh outfielder Matt Diaz asked him, "Who is that kid?"
"I don't know -- just got called up today," McCutchen deadpanned.
The player on the field Sunday looked nothing like the one that had just three hits in his previous eight games and was hitting .204. The guy wearing No. 22 at Great American Ball Park on Sunday couldn't make an out at the plate (he did get caught stealing), finishing 3 for 3 with two walks and led off the game with his third home run of the season before knocking in the winning run in the eighth inning and corralling the final out for a Pirate victory.
"It was just a mater of time," McCutchen said. "All I could do is laugh about it, because that's not me, it's not what I do. All I could do is laugh, because I knew it was going to turn around eventually and now it's starting to turn around and I feel good and we'll go from here."
In the early season rollercoaster of averaging stats, Sunday's small sample sized helped McCutchen raise his batting averaged .046 points -- "I wish you could do that throughout the season, it'd be nice," he said.
The way math works, though, it can be just as devastating. McCutchen knows that, hitting .389/.500/.833 after his first five games and .204/.328/.367 after 13 games. After the 14th, he was back to .250/.381/.462.
"Time will tell, but it was an awful good day for him," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He's been working hard and battling and believing in himself. Everything starts with a thought, no matter how bad the day, you always try to remember in this game you're never as good as you think you are and you're never as bad as you think you are, and this kid's a good player."
McCutchen led off the game with a homer off of Reds starter Edinson Volquez and Jose Tabata then followed with another homer on the next pitch, marking just the third time in Pittsburgh history that Pirate batters have hit back-to-back homers to start a game.
"I smacked his hand, maybe that helped," McCutchen said. "Maybe it was electric energy or something."
That's exactly what McCutchen is for this Pirates team. He's electric -- if he's on, the team can be on.
The Pirates won three of their first five during his hot start, while they struggled when he saw his average drop from .389 to .196. In the team's six wins, he's hitting .320 with a .433 on-base percentage. The team has also won all three games in which he's homered. In a recent eight-game stretch that saw six losses, McCutchen was hitting just .097/.222/.097.
That leadoff home run on Sunday was just the burst of energy the Pirates needed, adding three more runs in the opening frame.
"A home run, a hit or getting on base with a walk, whatever -- if I can start the game off by helping the team out by not making an out, it definitely makes me feel good about the coming at-bats," McCutchen said.
It also makes his team feel good about their chances.
For more baseball news, rumors and analysis, follow @cbssportsmlb on Twitter or subscribe to the RSS feed.


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Cross Tread Moonlighter Ladder Rack
Product Information
|Our Price:
|Sale Price:
|$215.09 - $278.09
|Now 10% off, hurry limited time offer
|4.4 (6 reviews)
|Truck Rack Finish :
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|Cross Tread Moonlighter Side Mount Ladder Rack | Black Powder Coated Steel
Part # 82502
1 3/4" square steel tubing - Set of 2 (Adjusts from 24" to 36")(Max Capacity 250 lbs)
|Cross Tread Moonlighter Side Mount Ladder Rack | Diamond Plate Aluminum
Part # 62752
1 1/2" X 2" tubing - Set of 2(Carries up to 24" wide loads)(Max Capacity 275 lbs)
|Cross Tread Moonlighter Side Mount Ladder Rack | Extruded Aluminum
Part # 62502
1 3/4" X 1 3/4" Alum Tubing - Set of 2 (Carries up to 24" wide loads)(Max Capacity 250 lbs)
|Cross Tread Moonlighter Side Mount Ladder Rack | White Powder Coated Steel
Part # 82503
1 3/4" square steel tubing - Set of 2 (Adjusts from 24" to 36")(Max Capacity 250 lbs)
- Easy install & removal
- Fitting either side of truck bed
- 2 ladder carrying options
- 4 material options
- Can withstand up to 250 LBS of weight
- Adjustable width.
- Optional multi truck mounts
- Made in the USA - Willow Springs, IL
If you are looking for a side mount ladder rack, we have something for you! Most truck racks are big and bulky, covering up your whole truck bed as well as some of your truck's cab. Cross Tread realized that not everybody needed a full truck rack so they decided to design a side mount ladder rack.
The Cross Tread Moonlighter ladder rack is made of 1-3/4" square, 14 gauge tubing which is coated with a thick layer of black or white powder coat. The powder coat finish helps prevent damage from affecting the steel, keeping it free from scratches as well as corrosion. There are 4 finishes available including extruded aluminum, diamond plate aluminum, white and black. Each rack can withstand up to 250 lbs of sheer weight.
It doesn't take much to mount these truck ladder racks, they are installed and removed in seconds. This uniquely designed ladder rack fits neatly in the front and rear corner of either side of your truck bed, giving you the ability to carry ladders, pipes, lumber and much more. To top it all off these amazing racks will ship in one box, saving not only time, but money!
Additional Features
InstallationThis product offers an easy, at home installation. The installation instruction manual is clear cut and easy to read. For additional information, please call us toll free at 1-866-309-1907 or 701-253-5906.
|Moonlighter Ladder Rack Installation
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Product Reviews Summary
|Ease of Installation
|Price / Value
|6 Customer Reviews
|5 Star
|4 Star
|3 Star
|2 Star
|1 Star
Posted on
|I really like these ladder racks as they look great and are built strong, but I had to make one new mounting bracket. On the front ladder rack, the instructions said to mount the bracket to the side rail in the front forward corner. That was not possible on my truck as my stake pocket is in the front corner and it's interior walls and other reinforcing metals in and around that pocket would prevent me from even inserting nuts not to mention tightening them. Unfortunately, the factory supplied bracket will not attach to the front rail of the truck bed as the bracket only works on the narrow side of the rectangular tubing. (Factory – modify that bracket to work both ways!) So, I fashioned a new bracket out of a heavy U bolt and a piece of steel angle stock all secured to the front rail of the bed. (A round U bolt worked better than a square U bolt.) The bracket is not an issue for the rear mount as I had the room on my 8' bed to move it forward and avoid the rear stake pocket altogether. One other change to instructions on both brackets; flip them upward instead of downward as shown. Mounting them on top of the bed rails is much easier to tighten or loosen the nuts. Another suggestion is to mount the side rail brackets first, then plumb the rack to locate the position of the foot bracket. If you don't want to make a bracket, then another option is to skip the rectangular version of this ladder rack and get the plain looking square tube version. That bracket appears like it will work on either front or side rails. At the end of the day I installed these ladder racks and Delta Pro crossover toolbox and sidemount boxes – all aluminum diamond plate – and they do look and work great.
| the product seems very well built, I did have to cut some off of the bottom of the racks so they didnt sit so tall on the truck. The plastic bag of bolts were all loose in the box, didnt find any missing though.
Other than those few little things, I very much enjoy your product.
|A fine product with some improvements suggested here. Let me first say that the packing of this product was meticulously perfect! The quality of the Moonlighter is superior and it looks fantastic. I'm very happy with this purchase but I immediately noticed some needed improvements.
First off; I needed to cut off about 5 inches of the length/height of both racks because I could no longer pull into my carport or garage. With my full size GMC truck, I was surprised to see this installation resulted in my ladder being suspended nearly 10 inches above the cab. By cutting the height, my ladder now sits about 4 inches above the cab which is perfect - problem solved. Now I can park in the garage or carport AND enter drive-thru windows at banks and restaurants.
A less critical detail is that I expected the top area width (the "U" channel where the ladder lays) to be adjustable - meaning that if you have a skinny ladder, you can adjust the width of the actual "U" channel on the top area. This would be nice be not necessary and is certainly not a deal killer.
Overall, this is a top quality, great looking tool and I like the idea of being able to remove it from my truck. It does produce a substantial amount of wind drag on the interstate, but this is to be expected. Buy this today. You won't regret your decision.


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Use the white and silver Macally 3000mAh Portable Battery Charger to charge your Apple Lightning and micro USB-powered devices when you're on-the-go. This portable charger is equipped with a built-in 3000mAh lithium-polymer battery. An integrated Lightning connector and built-in cable with micro USB connector both fit into notches for easy storage and portability. A dedicated button powers the unit on and off and lets you check the battery level. Additionally, a standard USB port lets you charge USB-powered devices (USB cable sold separately). To charge the unit, simply connect the included micro USB cable.
- Built-in 3000mAh lithium-polymer battery
- Integrated Lightning connector to charge Apple Lightning devices
- Built-in cable with micro USB connector for charging micro USB-powered devices
- Button for power on/off and checking the battery level
- Standard USB port for charging USB-powered devices
- Includes a micro USB charging cable


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Nintendo Wiiu
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Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 380
Re: Nintendo Wiiu
Apple doing something similar also. Need an Apple TV base, go figure.
While they werent technically the first to do it, Firemints Real Racing 2 HD [$9.99] was the first game to officially support full screen 1080p TV-Out on the iPad 2. After the iPad 2 dropped, it was discovered that a few other games also supported this already, but more of by chance and not necessarily as a specified feature. Now Real Racing 2 HD is making sure its the first game to announce support for one of the new features revealed for iOS 5 at Mondays keynote.
When iOS 5 is released sometime this Fall, Real Racing 2 HD will support fully wireless TV-Out via the iPad 2 and AirPlay Mirroring with an Apple TV. Essentially, it will perform the same function as the TV-Out feature did using an HDMI cable plugged directly into your TV but completely wirelessly, though it wont be displayed in full 1080p. It will still run in full screen, but the maximum resolution AirPlay Mirroring can output is 720p. However, that is a very small price to pay to be able to play Real Racing 2 HD on a TV using the iPad 2 as a controller and having it be completely wireless.
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What attribute make a good/great ADV bike
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Joined: May 2012
Oddometer: 6
Originally Posted by
there are no guidelines, never will be either. the bikes are purpose built and tailored to satisfy the builder's criteria, . .
jdrocks, I totally agree with you that each bike is a unique creation of the owners desirers for what he or she wants it to do, but that does not mean there can not be a list of things or guidelines for that rider to look at and consider when planning and building the bike.
The nice thing about 'guidelines' is that you can pick the ones that you want to follow and ignore the ones that do not matter to you. For example a comfortable seat and large gas tank may be important to you because you want to go to Alaska on it, but a bars to taillight seat may be silly. On the other hand that same seat with a narrow lower capacity tank may be just what you need to ride all the trails in your area.
I am in the planning stage of a 'baby adventure bike' based on a GS500 as some here have already built. I have been looking at these and simular builds and I have seen somethings that I would do different and some I will follow. I may be wrong, but at least guidelines will make me think about it.
Happy building!
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Find More Posts by gregoblv


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NEW YORK/ZHENGZHOU, November 5, 2008 –NYSE Euronext (NYX) and Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange (ZCE) announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to establish a long-term partnership in developing futures and options markets locally and globally.
Under the terms of the MOU, NYSE Euronext and ZCE will exchange information on futures and options markets, including technology, laws and policies, and assist each other to gain a better understanding of each other's markets locally and globally.
"We welcome this opportunity to partner with Mr. Zhao and his colleagues at the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange," said Duncan Niederauer, CEO, NYSE Euronext. "This partnership enables NYSE Euronext and ZCE to expand their cooperation on derivatives products, business development, IT systems, marketing and training. We are committed to the success of this alliance as part of our long-term commitment to
Garry Jones, Executive Director of Business Development and Strategy at Liffe, the global derivatives business of NYSE Euronext, said: "Liffe is planning a major expansion in Asia this year and
Zhao Zhengping, president & CEO of ZCE, said, "NYSE Euronext, with its realm spreading in both USD-zone and Euro-zone, plays a very important role in the world's financial markets. It has long history in developing both financial and commodity futures and options and owns advanced trading and risk control systems. ZCE, as the pioneer of Chinese futures market, after 18 years of exploration and development, is growing rapidly. ZCE is devoting itself to be a diverse and modern futures market, by researching and developing futures and options of industrial and energy products as well as commodity indexes. I believe that the signing of this MOU will provide both parties a new platform of cooperation."
Being one the four futures exchanges in
About NYSE Euronext
NYSE Euronext (NYX) is the world's leading, most liquid and diverse exchange group. It offers a broad and growing array of financial products and services in cash equities, futures, options, exchange-traded products, bonds, market data, and commercial technology solutions, all designed to meet the evolving needs of issuers, investors and financial institutions. Spanning multiple asset classes and six countries, NYSE Euronext's exchanges include the New York Stock Exchange, Liffe, Euronext and NYSE Arca. With more than 6,500 listed issues, more than any other exchange group, trading on NYSE Euronext's equity markets represents more than one-third of the world's cash equities volume. NYSE Euronext also manages the leading European derivatives exchange by value of trading. NYSE Euronext is part of the S&P 500 index and the only exchange operator in the S&P 100 index. For more information, please visit www.nyx.com.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements, including forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning NYSE Euronext's plans, objectives, expectations and intentions and other statements that are not historical or current facts. Forward-looking statements are based on NYSE Euronext's current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause NYSE Euronext's results to differ materially from current expectations include, but are not limited to: NYSE Euronext's ability to implement its strategic initiatives, economic, political and market conditions and fluctuations, government and industry regulation, interest rate risk and U.S. and global competition, and other factors detailed in NYSE Euronext's reference document for 2007 ("document de référence") filed with the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers (Registered on May 15, 2008 under No. R. 08-054), 2007 Annual Report on Form 10-K and other periodic reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission or the French Autorité des Marchés Financiers. In addition, these statements are based on a number of assumptions that are subject to change. Accordingly, actual results may be materially higher or lower than those projected. The inclusion of such projections herein should not be regarded as a representation by NYSE Euronext that the projections will prove to be correct. This press release speaks only as of this date. NYSE Euronext disclaims any duty to update the information herein.


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Conjure the Italian countryside with this collection of three old-world cheeses, all made in small batches. Hand picked for us by the Italian cheese specialists at Fresca Italia, our collection includes something for everyone.
Two-Milk Robiola: A smooth and creamy blend of cow's and goat's milk from the Piedmont region. Each milk adds its own characteristics for a lush, supple cheese with layers of flavors ranging from fresh cream, yeasts, grasses, butter and hay.
Brunet: A dense, cake-like, creamy pasteurized goat's milk cheese from Piedmont, featuring a bloomy rind and a robust, milky flavor that make it a great match for sparkling wines.
Pecorino di Rocca: This Tuscan sheep's milk cheese has a slightly grassy aroma, a sweet, nutty flavor, and a firm yet moist, crumbly texture.
To ensure freshness, perishable items are shipped overnight from the supplier and are not eligible for rush shipping. Please allow up to one week for delivery.
The shipping rate varies depending on your order total and shipping destination. View Shipping Options and Charges.
At Williams-Sonoma, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction are our priority. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, custom upholstery, items shipped direct from the vendor, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. Final sale items ending in .97 or .99 cannot be returned. View Full Return Policy.
|Flat-Rate Delivery Fee
|Italian Cheese Collection


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Date: 1885-08
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Description: Unexecuted design by Frank Lloyd Wright of Nakoma Country Club, for which the architect received a fee of $5,000.
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Date: 1880 ca.
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on ArtFire
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Welcome to HoneysuckleHouse
Visit and "like" my Facebook page for coupon codes and sale announcements. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Prints-Charming-Graphx/108186779248305 Howdy! Thank you for visiting my store. Browse through my products and if you have any question please don't hesitate to email them to me.


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The first 27 laps of Saturday's Pocono Mountains 125 was dominated by Nelson Piquet, Jr., who held a ten
second lead over fifth place by lap 11. With the Brazilian's dominance the first half of the race was fairly uneventful.
That was not the case for the second half, however.
On lap 28, a caution brought out by Tim George, Jr. bunched up the field. As soon as the field took the green
with just 17 to go, contact between former leader Piquet, Jr. and Todd Bodine sent Bodine's No. 11 Northeast PA Toyota Dealers Toyota into the wall hard.
"It it was the last lap of the race, I could see that. He [Piquet] thinks he owes me one anyway from Kansas, I think it was, but it's a shame."
Piquet, Jr. denied Bodine's claims, saying "there's nothing I could have done. I was never expecting something like that. The move he did was a bit inexperienced."
With just 12 laps to go the field was given the green flag again, and while Piquet, Jr. was able to retake the lead trouble further in the pack bunched the field up once again. Paulie Harraka was sent hard into the wall, collecting Ron Hornaday. In a separate incident, points leader Timothy Peters and Sean Corr also found trouble.
The green flag was given to the field for the final time with just seven laps remaining, and charging three wide for the lead was Richard Childress Racing's Joey Coulter, who took the spot.
Coulter was able to drive away from the rest of the field, while Piquet, Jr. fell out of the top five. Despite his hard charge back to third place, it was Coulter who captured his first career Camping World Truck Series win.
"As soon as the spotter said 'green,' I put the foot on the floor and just let the ECR Chevrolet horsepower do the rest," Coulter said in Victory Lane. "We needed to make moves quick. Track position was really important."
Team owner Richard Childress and teammate Ty Dillon both came to congratulate the 22 year old first
time winner.
"It's unreal," Coulter's mother said, standing next to her son in Victory Lane with her son. "I'm so excited for him. He's worked so hard for this, since he was eight years old he's worked every day.
"I just want to thank RCR for giving him the opportunity."
James Buescher, who led six laps on the day, finished second.
While it was pure elation in the winner's circle, it was bitter disappointment for Piquet, Jr., who led 33 of the race's 50 laps.
"Obviously, we had a fast truck, the quickest one out there. All we wanted to do was win," Piquet, Jr. said after the race.
Rounding out the top five were Matt Crafton and Denny Hamlin. Ty Dillon finished sixth after hitting the wall early in the race, followed by Parker Kligerman.
Despite his wreck on lap 38 and finishing 22nd, Peters leaves Pocono with an eight point lead over Dillon. Buescher is 15 points back in third, Justin Lofton in fourth 18 back and Matt Crafton is fifth, just 33 points out of the lead.
In two weeks, the Camping World Truck Series takes to the Michigan International Speedway for the VFW 200.
Coverage of the race begins on August 18-th at 12 pm ET on SPEED.
Thanks to NASCAR on SPEED, NASCAR.com and Racing Reference for the information, quotes and statistics used in this piece.


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Overall, others give this:
Reviewers may have received a benefit, like a sweepstakes entry or rewards program points, in exchange for writing a review.
Those benefits were not conditioned on the positive or negative content of the review.
Most Helpful Reviews
Chicago, IL
I have had this coffee maker for about a year. It is great when we have a large group over for brunch. My favorite feature is the timer. I would highly recommend this coffee maker.
Clay Center, KS
My Mr. Coffee is always reliable and dependable. I set the timer and I have fresh coffee ready and waiting for me each and every morning. Makes me ready for a busy day's work!
Enola, PA
I've had my Mr. Coffee for several years now and am very happy with the performance and it's ability to produce the kind of coffee I like. The only problem I've had is figuring out how to work the programmable feature.
los angeles, CA
this thing is awesome....... makes coffe in minutes! i was amazed at how fast it brews. definatly a must have. so please tell ya friends,family and EVERYBODY! and most importantly tell starbucks they can kiss your bucks good bye!!! who's with me ????
The reviewer indicated they received a sample of this product.
Clawson, MI
Mr. Coffee 12 cup coffee maker is just what I expected. Very impressed. Mr. coffee never lets me down. The product is stylish, and very affordable. Makes great coffee, whether 2 cups or 12 cups. Mr. coffee brews in a timely matter. I love this product!
Canton, OH
Absolute great value. Lookalike and works perfect.
Mishawaka, IN
I love my Keurig for coffee, but I use this Mr. Coffee maker exclusively for making iced tea. I use a one gallon tea bag and 12 cups of water. Since I use this for only tea, there is no coffee taste to my iced tea. I just pour tea into a gallon container, add one cup of sugar, cold water and ice. Perfect iced tea!
Cashiers, North Carolina
I manage Vacation Rentals and found the Mr. Coffee and hoped that it would be the perfect replacement coffee maker with an upscale look and features without the designer price. However out of the three that I purchased two have developed problems. On one it just would not turn on and the second one turns off within 10 minutes of brewing. These problems began about 3-4 months after purchase. The third however seems to be working well and I've had no complaints as of yet. Since they are not even used on a daily basis I would not recommend this as a durable long term product.
Joliet, IL
I love the Mr. Coffee brand. I always have trusted the brand and have purchased many others simply due to cost. Cost should not be considered as Mr. Coffee Coffee Makers are reasonably priced; i'm not sure why I have purchased others. It is dependable and long lasting. Other brands last for less than a year; Mr. Coffee outlasts all the other competitors.
Axton, Virginia
It makes good coffee in a reasonable amount of time and it is still going after 2 years. That is alot because we drink a lot of coffee.
Smyrna, Delaware
Good price - easy to clean - great coffee and its hot -great style - and when you fill your cup it does not drip everywhere i m very happy with this coffe marker
Port Washington, WI
Nice coffee maker with pretty good features for the price and size. I like that you can chosse from strong or normal brew mode. Easy to use easy to fill and easy to program.
Leicester, North Carolina
This makes good coffee although it takes a while for the coffee to brew. It works well for me.
This makes good coffee although it takes a while for the coffee to brew. It works well for me.
Wooster, AR
It delivers as it said it would. Morning are important around here and having a good cup of coffee waiting on me is important even when the alarm clock won't. Thanks Mr Coffee
It delivers as it said it would. Morning are important around here and having a good cup of coffee waiting on me is important even when the alarm clock won't. Thanks Mr Coffee
Greenville, SC
I used the Mr Coffee for almost 6 years before it started to show age. Coffee tastes good and it is easy to use.
I used the Mr Coffee for almost 6 years before it started to show age. Coffee tastes good and it is easy to use.
Milwaukee, WI
Twelve-cup programmable Mr. Coffee coffeemaker's sleek design looks great on your counter top, and is easy to set up and program so that your favorite brew will be ready and waiting for you the next time you want it. Mr. Coffee's reliability means you can count on a great start to your day, without the cost or bother of a stop at that specialty cafe.
Twelve-cup programmable Mr. Coffee coffeemaker's sleek design looks great on your counter top, and is easy to set up and program so that your favorite brew will be ready and waiting for you the next time you want it. Mr. Coffee's reliability means you can count on a great start to your day, without the cost or bother of a stop at that specialty cafe.
Charleston, WV
I must have been lucky. I've gotten ten years of usage out of my Mr. Coffee, and it's still going strong. I love the programmable feature. I hate getting up in the morning, and the smell of fresh coffee coming from downstairs helps. I always set it the night before; because I stumble around half asleep until I've had a cup of coffee from it. It is fool proof, easy to clean, and presents no problems. I love it.
I must have been lucky. I've gotten ten years of usage out of my Mr. Coffee, and it's still going strong. I love the programmable feature. I hate getting up in the morning, and the smell of fresh coffee coming from downstairs helps. I always set it the night before; because I stumble around half asleep until I've had a cup of coffee from it. It is fool proof, easy to clean, and presents no problems. I love it.
, Pennsylvania
I'm a coffee lover and was excited when my fiance bought this coffee maker for me at Christmas almost 3 years ago. It ran like a charm, went off when it was supposed to and the best feature was that it shut off by itself! It just recently broke and I'm heading to the store to get another one. I would reccomend this coffee to anyone asked.
, Mn.
After using a Mr.coffee for 3 years and it began to show signs of slowing down despite regular cleanings.We decided to purchase another one. The new one worked about 1 mo. Since I did not have the sales slip we ate the loss and purchased another one. That also worked no longer than a month. The water sputters and spurts but will not run though. If you allow it to stay on and give it more time to work, it gets very hot and steams hot steam out of the top. I feel it is dangerous. My cupboards above the coffee maker filled with steam,and ruined all of the spices kept there. I kept the receipt for the last one so they gave us our money back. We are still out the cost of the first faulty one and would sure like to find a way to be refunded for that one. Meanwhile I am back to the one I purchased a few years ago. I guess quality control was better at that time.
, Maryland
I have owned a half dozen high end coffee makers with multiple features most costing well over one hundred dollars. They all broke after 2 years of use. That seems to be the life of a coffee maker in my home. A friend recommended Mr. Coffee. I thought for the price... why not try one. I have found that Mr. Coffee makes the best cup of hot coffee. I am going out now to buy my third Mr. Coffee in 5 years. The comments made by others regarding the behavior of the dying coffee maker: leaking, not making a full pot.... I have also noticed as my old pots enter their last days. My coffee pot is on everyday and often brews several pots. Needless to say, it gets a lot of use. I have always been impressed with the quality of the coffee brewed. I am a picky coffee drinker. I grind my own beans. I drink my coffee black and I like it strong. I appreciate the brew selection feature on this maker. I would recommend this model and this brand highly. You can't beat it for the price.
My husband bought this for us around Christmas time. Not even a month later it just stopped working, it also had been leaking slightly from the bottom. We returned it and got another, that one didn't make it 3 weeks and the bottom was leaking and the pot. We emailed Mr.Coffee and they nicely sent us a 3rd one right to our home. That was not even a month ago. As of yesterday it was only filling to 4 cups and stopping, I have to shut it off and turn it back on again to get another 4 cups brewed and again to get the final 4 cups brewed. I am done with this! I will be buying a different brand today. The company did try to make it right, but I do not want another one of these machines, 3 was plenty.
Fort Smith, AR
I actually own the FTX23 version, but the reviews here seem fairly consistent with my experience. Therefore, if my model is a predecessor to the FTX25, then Mr. Coffee apparently haven't resolved any of these issues. Shortly after purchase, the silk-screen labeling on the faceplate came off during a routine wipe-down with nothing more than a damp dishcloth (no detergent added). I went to the Mr. Coffee site, lodged a complaint and to their credit, they sent a brand new unit. No questions asked. Didn't even ask me to return the defective unit, which I continued to use, gifting the replacement to someone. Two days ago this almost 4 year-old coffee maker, without any indication, ceased to brew. Upon reflection, I failed to notice that the coffee maker did not brew the previous day's full amount. Sometime during that session the unit simply quit, leaving a half-full reservoir of water. Nothing happens. The hot plate does not heat up. Water is not heated and pumped through. Nothing. Regardless of the age of this coffee maker, I think a device as simple in construction as this should possess at least a tad more longevity. There are virtually no moving parts. Most certainly nothing as complex as those used in a major appliance such as a dish washer or clothes dryer. Granted, there are components that undergo heating and cooling cycles, which over time exact wear. Be that as it may... What pains me more is that this is still a perfectly good unit, but is probably cheaper to replace than to fix. I will see if Goodwill or the Salvation Army will accept and repair it for donation. I can't stand the thought of simply tossing it in the trash. What a waste.
, virginia
Recieved first one as a gift, absolutely loved it, lasted about 1 1/2 years. One day it just wouldn't brew the coffee. So I went and bought another, same one. So far no problems, I have had this one for about 6months now. I have noticed that on the back there is a little hole that, if you dont pour the water in slowly, water will come out and all over the counter. After reading all the reviews, I dont think I'll buy another when this one dies!!! Not worth the money.
Fraser, MI
I had this coffee maker for 2 years and loved it. Then one day out of the blue I went to make a cup of coffee and the water I put in to make the coffee all leaked out of the bottom of the coffee maker. I called the manufacturer and it was out of warranty - of course. I think a coffee maker should last longer than 2 years. I only used it maybe a couple times a week and both weekend days and only made 2 cups of coffee each time. I could see if I made a couple of pots of coffee each day, but that wasn't the case.
Lawrence, KS
We bought this coffee pot to replace an existing coffee pot about 8 months ago and the actual coffee maker leaks. we have to keep a towel under it to use it and towel is soaked after one use.


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Gay brings home medals from Special Olympics On Friday, June 13, police and Transportation Security Administration agents escorted 61 athletes and 18 coaches from around the state through the halls of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport as they began their journey to the 2014 USA Games fo...Read More
Special Olympics
The Special Olympics North Branch community team competed in the Special Olympics Minnesota State Summer Games on June 21-23 in Stillwater. All athletes competed in a variety of events, with 17 athletes in track and field, 10 athletes in tennis and 14 athletes in gymnastics. The venue was enjoyable,...Read More


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Herman L. Weber
From MagicPedia, the free online encyclopedia for magicians by magicians.
(Redirected from Namreh)
|Herman L. Weber
|Herman Ludwig Weber
June 17, 1900
Allentown, Pennsylvania
|February 23, 1953 (age 52)
|Books by Herman L. Weber
Herman L. Weber (1900 - 1953) performed as Namreh (Herman backwards).
He began performing professionally in 1921, specializing in The Chinese Rings and "Fun-Magic". Other names he performed under were "The Wizard Weber" and "Mr. Hocus Pocus".
Weber was a member of S.A.M. and I.B.M. and wrote articles for the Sphinx.[1]
He later toured the United States with a Spook Show from 1941 until 1943.
- Namreh's Lincoln Rings (1932)
- Adventures of Diamond Jack (1926)
- Jack, An Escapade in Manchuria (1927)
- Money from Magic (1935)
- Out of the Spook Cabinet (1947)


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I'm 37 weeks preggo tomorrow, and all I can think about is getting this baby OUT. I'm sore, I'm waddling, I can barely move, and I can't sleep ... I just want it to be OVER. However, all logic says that she will come when she's ready and the longer she's in there, the better off we both are. But I don't care!! I'm done!
Someone make me feel better and talk me down from the ledge!


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Viewers: in countries Watching now:
Discover the industry secrets to recording crisp, rich instrument tracks and vocals in any type of recording environment. Join renowned audio engineer Bobby Owsinski as he walks through the process of miking and tracking a complete song by Underground Sun recording artist Iyeoka and A-list session musicians in a top-of-the-line studio—in a way that is applicable to any recording space and musical genre. Learn how to select the correct microphone and polar pattern for each instrument, with hundreds of revealing listening examples for drums, acoustic and electric guitar, piano, keyboards, and more. These professional techniques offer critical insights for those just getting started in the recording process, and a trustworthy reference guide for more seasoned engineers. Bobby also demonstrates how to monitor and sculpt EQ settings, why and when to process your input signal, and how to choose the right outboard gear for the track. This course employs 360-degree, 3D visualizations that provide an unprecedented perspective of the equipment, players, and microphone placements discussed. Plus, with the raw audio files provided, you can critically listen to every recorded example at home with your DAW of choice at full 24-bit resolution.
The easiest way to get the best performance out of a singer is to make the environment comfortable. Sometimes even a seasoned pro can't do her best unless the conditions are just right. So consider some of the following suggestions before entering a vocal session. Ask the vocalist what kind of lighting they prefer. Most singers prefer the lights lower in the studio when performing, but ask them first. A comfortable temperature is important to a good performance. Ask them if they like it raised or lowered. Try lowering the lights in the control room, so they can't see you.
Some people think that you're in there judging them when you might be talking about something completely different. Make sure they have something to drink. Ask them whether they prefer warm water, hot tea, or something else before the session begins. Keep talking with the vocalist between takes, leave the talkback on if possible. Long periods of silence from the control room are a mood killer. If the take wasn't good for whatever reason, explain what was wrong in a kind and gentle way, something like that was really good, but I think you can do it even better.
The pitch was a little sharp, this goes for just about any overdub, since players generally like to know what was wrong with the take, rather than be given a to do it again, blanket statement. Always keep smiling, it helps to keep the vocalist calm and at ease.
There are currently no FAQs about Audio Recording Techniques.
Access exercise files from a button right under the course name.
Search within course videos and transcripts, and jump right to the results.
Remove icons showing you already watched videos if you want to start over.
Make the video wide, narrow, full-screen, or pop the player out of the page into its own window.
Click on text in the transcript to jump to that spot in the video. As the video plays, the relevant spot in the transcript will be highlighted.


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You can now invite anyone to meet at your favorite Starbucks.
Limited-time feature
40 year old woman | Tracy, CA, USA | Seeking men 37-42 within 50 miles
Hmm.... Some People Are Strange
I must admit that I love reading some of the profiles on here,. Some of the profiles are really sweet, some of them make me laugh and some made me think about what it is that I might want. I'll start with the basics. I'm divorced, have 2 kids, work full-time doing web stuff and a romantic at heart. I love SUSHI (usually eat it once a week), like to ski (love them green runs), camping, traveling, Disney(land, world, Villains), reading, the gym, the beach, and learning to ride a motorcycle. Most of the time I'm pretty casual, jeans, shorts, tank tops, no make-up, but I do like to get ready and go out and can be pretty girly at times. Why am I here? To meet someone I might never have known. I don't care if you make lots of money, but you must have a job and be able to take care of yourself. Speaking English is required because as much as my father hates it, I am not bi-lingual. What am I looking for ? I tend to be serious and logical, so guys that make me laugh and bring out my silly side are my favorites. I seem to been drawn to people that balance out my personality, rather than be exactly like me. You definitely need to be someone who knows their own mind. I'd much rather hear what you think, instead of what you think I might want to hear. I'm a big believer in you can't always agree and that's where compromise or agreeing to disagree comes in. I also don't read minds and suck at getting subtle hints, if you want me to know something please tell me. While I am an 'independent woman', I still believe guys should be gentlemen, if you don't like to hold a door open I'm not for you. Also, I'm scared of dogs. So if I haven't bored you to death and your interested - send me an email.
Coffee and conversation , Business networking , Cooking , Dining out , Fishing/Hunting , Movies/Videos , Music and concerts , Exploring new areas , Playing cards , Playing sports , Travel/Sightseeing , Wine tasting
Aerobics, Billiards / Pool, Bowling, Dancing, Running, Skiing, Swimming, Walking / Hiking, Weights / Machines
I exercise 3-4 times per week.
Don't display my sign
Middle of the Road
not big on the bar scene, but once and while its ok, like bbq's, the beach, the gym
Food - Sushi Color - Pinkish/Purple Hopefully riding my bike Raining - Either play in it or cuddle in front of a fire TV Shows - Dexter, 24, Supernatural, Desperate Housewives, Law & Order
bubble bath and a glass of wine at the end of a long week, the sound of water (beach or lake) practicing riding my bike laughing with friends but my favorite thing to do is watch my kids laugh and smile
Wireframes for projects at work
Z{{Cta}} {{#if HasMoreInfo}} ?{{CtaSecondary}} {{/if}}
|What she is looking for
|5'4" (162cms)
|5'9" (175cms) to 8'11" (271cms)
|Body type:
|About average
|Slender, About average, Athletic and toned, A few extra pounds
|Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Green, Hazel
|Dark brown
|No preference
|No Way
|No Way
|Social Drinker
|Never, Social Drinker
|Technical / Science / Computers / Engineering
|No preference
|I'll tell you later
|$50,001 to $75,000, $75,001 to $100,000, $100,001 to $150,000, $150,001+
|Never Married, Widow / Widower, Divorced
|Have kids:
|Yes, and they sometimes live at home (2)
|No preference
|Wants kids:
|No, but it's OK if my partner has kids
|Not sure, Probably not, No, No, but it's OK if my partner has kids
|Latino / Hispanic
|Latino / Hispanic, Native American, Pacific Islander, White / Caucasian
I am mostly panamanian and portuguese. My father is originally from panama and my mother is portuguese with some german and swedish.
|Christian / Catholic
|No preference
|Some college
|No preference


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Venan Entertainment
Ninjatown: Trees of Doom!
Do you have what it takes to impress Ol' Master Ninja and reach the lofty pinnacle of the Trees Of Doom!? Enjoy the fun, action-packed climbing game that Destructoid.com said "may consume your life", now for it's best price ever! FREE! In addition to the gameplay you've...


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Maintain Your Privacy by Manually Accepting and Rejecting "Cookies" (nV News)
The Internet is a great place to hang out. As users, we are concerned about our privacy.
One way to maintain your privacy, by finding out who's trying to store information on your computer with a "cookie", is to manually accept and reject them.
Configure your favorite browser to process cookies manually. If you "trust" the web site, accept the cookie once, and you'll be good to go. If you choose not to accept the cookie, then reject it.
If you change your mind later on, you can manually edit the accepted and rejected web sites in your browser settings.
This is a simple way to feel better about browsing the Internet.
Please pass this information about cookies on to your friends.
Thanks and have a great Sunday!
Re: Maintain Your Privacy by Manually Accepting and Rejecting "Cookies"
Evidon's in charge of policing the Internet.
The US Government told them to because we can police ourselves and they have more important business to attend to.
If you're interested in learning more, please read about a program called Ghostery:
Re: Maintain Your Privacy by Manually Accepting and Rejecting "Cookies" (nV News)
As far as cookies, set your browser to default third party cookies to session only. Don't block them outright as it breaks a lot of websites and just leads to frustration. You don't ever have to worry about any prompts or broken websites, and the cookies you do want will remain intact. I am only aware of how to do this with firefox, but as soon as you close your browser almost all useful tracking information is gone.
The remaining useful tracking information comes from flash cookies. However if you configure your browser to default to not play flash content (e.g. noscript, flashblock) then this isn't a problem unless you go out of your way to play flash ads.
Ghostery is also a good addon.
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[splitpost intro="true" numbers="true" position="both"]
After exploding onto the scene in 2007, Ashbury Eyewear soon became well known as one of the most affordable, stylish and high-tech goggle brands out there.
From a dingy old garage to goggle domination, this brand has come a long way and they seem to have progressed even further with next year's stuff. You only need to check out their team to be persuaded… Jed Anderson, Louif Paradis, Justin Bennee….
We managed to take a few sneaky snaps, at the ISPO in Munich, of their goggles for next season and it seems that have gone massive with some of the designs! Check them out…


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Ephedra-free formula designed to enhance fat burning, increase energy and gently elevate the body's metabolism.SEE DETAILS AND BENEFITS
Most Helpful Review:
" Good product "
I've been ordering these for a few years - it does give me energy without making me jittery. If I ate better maybe it would work for the weight.
Product Details
Andrew Lessman's Energy & Fat Metabolism Factors is designed to enhance fat burning, increase energy, gently elevate the body's metabolism and provide a sense of well-being without the use of the potentially dangerous ephedrine-containing herb, Ma Huang.
The fat burning components ensure optimum levels of the nutrients necessary for, or related to fat metabolism, including high levels of the B-complex vitamins, chromium, vanadium and most importantly, carnitine, which is essential for the transport and burning of all the fat you seek to lose. In addition to high levels of carnitine, we also include lysine and Vitamin C to further support your body's internal production of vital carnitine. We add 300 mg each of standardized extracts of guarana and green tea, containing natural caffeine-related alkaloids with a history of traditional use in many cultures for promoting energy and a sense of well-being. The cellular activators and thermogenic herbs in this formula help to compensate for the natural slowing of our body's metabolism and the fatigue that occurs when we diet and reduce our caloric consumption.
To further combat fatigue, and to also promote a feeling of well-being while dieting, we include standardized extracts of of the adaptogenic herbs, Panax (Asian) ginseng, eleutherococcus (Eleuthero), ashwagandha and rhodiola. We also include the branched chain amino acids leucine, isoleucine and valine because of their role in preserving lean muscle tissue when strenuously exercising.
Energy & Fat Metabolism Factors from Andrew Lessman supplies the nutrients and herbs to safely help you maximize your fat burning and weight-loss potential when you need and deserve it most - when you have made the commitment to a sensible program of diet and exercise to lose weight.
What You Get
Made in USA
Good to Know
- This product contains herbs which deliver a small amount of natural caffeine-related alkaloids (the equivalent of 1/2 cup of coffee per capsule). It is not for use by those individuals with high blood pressure unless you are accustomed to caffeine or it is approved by your physician. Like any herbal supplement, do not use if you are pregnant or lactating.
- This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.
Healthy Metabolism
Weight Management
- For thermogenic effects and fat-burning support throughout the day, consume 1 or 2 capsules 30 to 60 minutes before exercising, before eating your morning or mid-day meal, or as directed by a health care professional
- As with any weight-loss product, this formula is most effective when used in conjunction with a sensible program of diet and exercise
Supplement Facts
For Added Benefits
CarniSlim 1250 with Fat Burning Factors - 30 Servings
Secure Complete Meal Replacement - 10 Servings
Essential-1 - 30 Capsules
CarniSlim-250 - 30 Capsules
Urgent Energy - 30 Capsules
Everyday Eating with Muriel and Andrew Cookbook
Andrew's Favorite Soups & Veggie Cookbook Bundle
For more than 30 years, Andrew Lessman has been a leader in the development of advanced natural supplements that today he creates in his state-of-the-art 100% solar-powered facility in Henderson, Nevada.
ProCaps Laboratories is unique not only for the 100% pure, additive-free supplements it produces, but also for the purity of the power used to create them.
When to Watch:
Get the scoop on Andrew Lessman products, events and more.
See details Privacy policy


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These are all the badges you've unlocked. We've listed them in the order in which you've unlocked them (newest first).
June 10, 2011
April 27, 2011
You're not in Kansas Anymore
February 19, 2011
January 28, 2011
Download foursquare for your smart phone and start exploring the world around you!


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- per page
African Mango Meltdown | Fenix Nutrition - For Natural Weight Loss. African Mango Meltdown's blend is an all-natural weight-loss formula that provides a safe and natural way to consistently lose weight and keep the weight off.
Green Lean Coffee Bean 60 vcaps | Fenix Nutrition - Coffee Beans naturally contain a compound called Chlorogenic Acid, which is the active weight loss compound
L-Arginine Complete 10.5 oz | Fenix Nutrition - Arginine is an Amino Acid that produces Nitric Oxide which supports the Heart and Cardiovascular System.
Raspberry Ketoned 60 caps | Fenix Nutrition - Raspberry Ketone is an all natural compound that comes from from red raspberries. Extensive research has revealed the incredible fat burning capacity of Raspberry Ketones
Renew Body Cleanse 90 caps | Fenix Nutrition - Promotes weight loss. Gentle full body cleanse
- per page


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" Brand: Russell Hobbs / Sandwich press "
* Prices may differ from that shown
Everyone loves a good cheese toasty and I am no exception. This is a machine that I bought at university as it solved a very pertinent problem. My mum kept saying to me, "Make sure you get a hot dinner. You need something warm." Well this solved those problems; a cheese toastie was a hot dinner! Bingo. It was a good solution. The toasted sandwich maker worked well for around 6 months and then went kaput.
This machine is covered by the warranty for 12 months however as I did not have any documents or receipts; I could not be bothered with the hassle. I used the toaster regularly prior to the problems and it was fine and easy to use. The problem stemmed from the grill, one day the top half just stopped heating up.
The grill is a fundamental part of the toaster so unfortunately I could not use it after this. The toaster is a silver machine with a black metal grill inside, it has a lock to squeeze the two grills together. The idea is that as you pull on the handle and lock the grill, the sandwich is sealed inside and the ends of the toast are actually squeezed together and sealed closed. You can put a number of items in the machine and make a variety of meals.
After this awful machine broke down, I acquired a Diablo which is a manual grill and you can toast a sandwich or other things on the hob, therefore you will never suffer a malfunction. If you prefer this model of machine then I will give you a brief insight into how to use it. Firstly butter two slices of bread and lay the first on the bottom of the grill, this is shaped like two triangles. Then you need to add your cheese and other bits and lay the bread on top with the butter side face up. Once you have done this, pull on the handle and pull down the grill. This then cooks the sandwich and in 5 minutes you will have two sealed triangles of toasted sandwich. The cheese is melted inside and they taste delicious.
The grill was quick to fire up and cook, until the day that only half of it worked. Since having the Diablo, I came to realise that these machines are pointless as they are bulky and take up too much room. They also can break down quickly too as the Diablo is not electric this is not a problem. This machine can still be bought for £14 which is cheap but as it broke after 6 months I would not recommend it.
Sandwich Maker Cuts and Seals 4 Rounds of Sandwiches


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The GamePad acts as a high-tech scanner in "ZombiU" that can analyze a player's surroundings in a version of London overrun by zombies. It pumps up the terror by drawing players' attention away from the horrors lurking around them.
Will gamers who've grown up with their eyes glued to the TV and hands gripped on a controller adapt to glimpsing at another screen? The Wii U edition of "Call of Duty: Black Ops II," for example, invites players to customize their arsenal on the fly on the GamePad, as well as engage in multiplayer matches without needing to split the TV in half.
Nintendo expects 50 games will be available for the Wii U by March 2013. There will be 23 games released alongside the console when it debuts Sunday, including the platformer "New Super Mario Bros. U," karaoke game "Sing Party," an "armored edition" of "Batman: Arkham City" and the Mickey Mouse adventure "Disney Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two."
"New consoles come along and nobody exploits their full capabilities for the first two to three years," said Warren Spector, creative director at "Epic Mickey 2" developer Junction Point Studios. "It's only after you've had two or three projects that you fully understand what the hardware is capable of doing. We're going to be experimenting with it more."
Fils-Aime said he's already envisioning ways that developers will innovate with future games. He pointed to some of the console's features that aren't on display in the launch line-up, such as the ability to play with two GamePads at once or utilize the console's near-field communication technology to interact with other gadgets in the room.
"I think that developers and consumers are ready for new experiences," said Fils-Aime. "More than anything else, I think that's what is driving excitement for Wii U. They've experienced what this generation has to offer. They're ready for something new."
Follow AP Entertainment Writer Derrik J. Lang on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/derrikjlang.