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MacBook Air 2012 Keyboard and Touchpad
Unsurprisingly, usability is eminently familiar. The MacBook Air 2012's chiclet keyboard is well laid out even if keys are spaced just a tad too far apart for ideal comfort. Travel is good and there's not a hint of flex, making it mostly a pleasure to type on; only the Lenovo IdeaPad U300 tops it by offering firmer action and ergonomic keys. Adjustable white LED backlighting is the cherry on the Apple-cake.
The massive frosted glass touchpad is still top notch, and though it's been matched on some non-Apple laptops it has yet to be bettered. This is especially true since, unlike Windows 7, MacOS makes extensive use of its multi-touch capabilities in a way that's intuitive and genuinely useful. Mind you, for just moving your pointer about this touchpad is easily matched by the likes of the Samsung 900X3B.
MacBook Air 2012 Screen
When it first came out, Apple was ahead of most 13in competitors with the Air's screen resolution of 1,440 x 900. However, with the 13-inch MacBook Air 2012 we're seeing more and more rivals offering 1,600 x 900 or even Full HD (1,920 x 1,080) at the same screen size. On top of that, while the panel Apple has used is certainly one of the better examples of TN, it's still inferior to the IPS and PLS we're beginning to see in premium laptops from other brands, such as the Samsung Series 9 900X3B and Asus Zenbook Prime.
However, judged on its own merits the screen has good horizontal viewing angles and even looking from above can still get you an acceptable picture. Furthermore you get deep blacks, good dark detailing and rich colours. Our only major negative is reflections from the glossy finish, but these are not as bad as on a glass-fronted laptop.
What all this adds up to is that, while perfectly usable and in fact superior to the majority of slim and light laptops on the market, the 13-inch MacBook Air 2012's screen simply doesn't match up to some of the similarly priced premium competition, and the absence of the high resolution and IPS panel quality synonymous with the Retina branding seriously disappoints.
MacBook Air 2012 Speakers
The hidden stereo speakers are good by 13in ultraportable standards. They offer decent volume levels albeit with slight distortion at maximum. They also manage to project more depth and clarity than we're used to from laptops this slim, though bass is inevitably absent. Certainly, the 13 inch MacBook Air 2012's audio is on a level with the best of the rest.
Apple 13" MacBook Air Mid 2012 - 1.7GHZ Core i5 - 4GB RAM 256GB SSD A1466$338.97 View Item
Apple MacBook Air 13" Mid 2012 Intel Core i5 1.8GHz 4GB 240GB SSD A1466 31 bids$365.00 View Item
Apple 2012 MacBook Air 13" 1.8GHz I5 256GB SSD 8GB MD232LL/A + C Grade +Warranty$426.55 View Item
2012 Apple MacBook Air 13" 1.8GHz Core i5 4GB RAM 128GB MD231LL/A + WARRANTY$499.99 View Item
VALUE 13" Apple MacBook Air Laptop Core i5 1.3 GHz 4GB RAM 256GB SSD Intel GFX$539.00 View Item
"Oh, incidentally, those on their way to Hell may wish to consider purchasing a pair of skates." wtf?! lol
Hehe, where did that come from - Is it one of those phrases put in to make sure we're paying attention?
Such a shame it doesn't have an IPS screen. Still trying to decide if I want a laptop that could be used for some gaming, or a smaller, lighter beast like this...but so far the Samsung still looks like the winner with their Ivy Bridge updates (shame the Series 9 only has 128GB but I guess at least no Bootcamp is needed!)
On the subject of SSDs, I know I've commented on the Pro review, but it's interesting that the new MB Air can be upgraded to 512GB storage, but the base Retina Pro cannot! Apple definitely seem to have a "consumer, do as you are told" attitude, as beautifully made as their kit is.
- Lol, thanks for the comments guys, glad you're paying attention ;)
Just suggesting Hell has frozen over as Apple has actually put USB 3.0 onto its machines. Though I guess that won't truly happen till they add Blu-ray drives (remember, you read it here first!).
Couldn't agree more, with a higher-res IPS screen it would be the perfect Ultraportable (okay, maybe it needs Ethernet & HDMI too).
"Apple definitely seem to have a "consumer, do as you are told" attitude, as beautifully made as their kit is"
- again, totally agree. It's one of the things I dislike most about the company and many of its products (iPad especially). Though to be fair, in this instance at least they're offering the possibility of upgrading bits, which not all laptop manufacturers do...
If it had an IPS screen I'd probably have my credit card out already and not worry about having a laptop capable of gaming!
But then I'm (perhaps excessively) fussy about screens, I've had IPS at home since 2006 and I really notice the difference using TN monitors at work.
Until I can find a buyer for my spare kidney to get the new MBPwR, I guess Apple don't get my cash quite yet. :o)
As an aside, is the Samsung Series 9 SSD user replaceable? (Still find it irritating they don't at least offer the option of a 256GB drive, 128GB would require a lot of space management)
Why on earth would one test battery life on an Apple computer using Windows 7? Is this an extremely common use for the device, therefore making it acceptable to test in this manner? I would think playing some video files or doing a video conversion or playing a heavily video-intensive game, or some other much more common use of the product would be more appropriate, but I guess I am wrong. Devoting 15 Gb of an already small hard drive to a VM installation of Windows 7 doesn't seem to me to be the way most users would utilize this product and make this testing procedure worthwhile. But as I said, I must be wrong.
They will never install BR drives, because YOU the consumer do not use Blu Rays. Do you? If you do, Apple says you shouldn't, so be good chaps and start downloading all your HD content from iTunes instead! ;o)
(with my 1MBps connection I shudder to think how long it would take me to download even an hour of HD TV content!)
SSD in the Series 9 is replaceable. A few users on another forum have already done so with various brands.
Two reasons for this: 1. 128GB not enough for some people, 2. Samsung fit this notebook with a Sandisk U100 not their own model that is considerably better.
You may or may not notice it but the Sandisk model has slow 4k random writes or something like that. It chokes quite easily when multitasking. It's a shame you may have to fork out more money when the laptop is already more expensive than the air.
I am currently deciding between this and the Samsung Series 9.
Pros for the 2012 Air:
- faster and larger SSD
- 8GB memory
- Thunderbolt port (perfect for thin laptops)
Pros for Series 9 13"
- IMO, the Samsung looks better and more professional. Maybe because the Air design has been around a while now.
- smaller and lighter
- better screen (higher res. + good quality matte display for using outdoors)
- Windows 7 (personal preference)
It's a shame Samsung cut corners on its flagship model otherwise it would be an easy decision for me. It is more expensive than the Air so really should match or surpass the Air's specs. But they put in an inferior SSD and some silly proprietary micro-vga port instead of Thunderbolt or DisplayPort.
The biggest thing holding me back from the Air is the BootCamp compatibility. Heard some issues regarding battery life and the CPU getting stuck at one speed.
I'd read that about the use of the Sandisk. Seems weird that they'd use a third party drive that's inferior to the own drives they produce, for one of their flagship machines!
I'd say I agree 100% with this, I played around with a the Samsung in store and it's a nice machine if you're in the market for a W7 based ultraportable....such a shame the storage options are so limited (And as you said, that they used an SSD which is inferior to their own drives!)
Well said, @gdawg304.
You're not 'wrong', but it's because we subject all laptops (and X86 tablets) to the same battery benchmark which gives a like-for-like indication of their actual battery capacity relative to the power draw of their components.
We also tried mixed usage under MacOS (as mentioned in the review) and got around six and a half hours.
RE "an already small hard drive" - you do realize you can go up to 512GB on the Air? Besides which, there are many games and programs that simply aren't available for MacOS, plus Windows users may want the Air for its hardware rather than OS.
Although it is very small and a good traveling laptop. I would not recommend it if youre going to be using this for home. It can be very uncomfortable, just because you must purchase a seperate CD-Rom drive. Also due to the fact it is very slim, the laptop will get extremely hot.
No one uses a CD-ROM drive now! All other UltraBooks do not have a CD drive either. Have you used one of these? They do not get hot in normal use and can be very comfortable on your lap.
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UNDP microloan project in Nepal. Photo credit: UNDP
Late last month, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) launched open.undp.org, an open data portal that tracks its projects around the world. Open data is the idea that certain data should be freely available to everyone to use and republish as they wish, without restrictions from copyright, patents or other mechanisms of control.
In 2011, the UNDP invested $5.8 billion in more than 6,000 development projects in 177 countries and territories. UNDP's new open data portal illustrates where that money was spent, and what projects it funded. You can sort by country, by donor (the United States or the United Kingdom for example) or by sector.
The UNDP developed open.undp.org as part of their commitment to improve their reporting to the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI), an aid transparency initiative that helps make information about aid spending easier to access and use, on the principle that for aid dollars to do the greatest good, governments need to know where it's going, and what results it's achieving. Tracking the money and the progress will help recipient governments plan their own budgets and projects, and tracking results will ensure that we continue to improve projects around the world.
The website is beautiful and useable – with maps and graphs that show where UNDP's projects are. You can zoom to the country level and see what donor is doing the most there through UNDP. But that's the pretty part. IATI is a registry of data that is open to the public, where you can download the datasets that underpin UNDP's new website. There, you can also download the data from the UK's Department for International Development, and hopefully soon that of American development agencies. The US committed to reporting to IATI at last year's High-Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness held in Busan, South Korea.
ONE applauds the UNDP on open.undp.org – as a useful, up-to-date source of data about UNDP's projects around the world. The UNDP's commitment to open data ensures that their data can be downloaded and used. And they're already thinking about how they'll improve.
Beginning in 2013, the UNDP will publish a quarterly update on all ongoing projects. On announcing the website, UNDP Administrator Helen Clark said, "We are committed to working in the open, and we will continue improving the quality, quantity, and timeliness of our reporting so that our partners can monitor their investments in fighting poverty, supporting human development, and securing a sustainable future for all."
Bravo! Check it out here.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Join the live coverage with Mary Vallis and Theresa Tedesco starting 12:15 ET
Lawyers for Conrad Black will
appear in a Chicago courtroom this morning
to make arguments that could secure his freedom.
senior reporter Mary Vallis and chief business correspondent Theresa Tedesco
at 12:15 Eastern as they discuss
the ins and outs of the case. They'll be discussing the major issues at play in the case, analyzing what's being said in Chicago and answering readers' questions.
Susan Berger, a freelance journalist and blogger who contributes frequently to the Chicago Tribune, will be in the courtroom and joining the chat once the hearing is over.
Ms. Berger covered Conrad Black's criminal trial, and this summer, she covered former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich's case.
Join the action.


text:
RawStory.com Sunday, July 29, 2012 Crime fighters have long used brains and brawn, but now a new kind of technology known as "predictive policing" promises to make them more efficient. A growing number of law enforcement agencies, in the US and elsewhere, have been adopting software tools with predictive analytics, based on algorithms that... »
Archive for July, 2012
Police using 'predictive analytics' to prevent crimes before they happen
Welcome to the World Revolution in the Global Age of Rage
By Andrew Gavin Marshall theintelhub.com July 30, 2012 Those who govern and rule over our world and its people have been aware of the structural and social changes which would result in bringing about social unrest and rebellion. In fact, they have been warning about the potential for such a circumstance of global revolutionary... »
Guns, Guts and Goons
By Sartre theintelhub.com July 30, 2012 Gun ownership in America is the primary reason why the internationalists fear the wrath of an armed citizenry. The destruction of the Bill of Rights is a prime objective of the beltway statists. Conversely, the elimination of the remnants of an American federalist constitutional republic is the key... »
Are Fiat Currencies Headed for a Collapse?…(WOW!! From MSM!)
By: Lisa Oake CNBC.com Friday, 27 Jul 2012 As the investment world eagerly awaits more stimulus, a debate on a previously unthinkable topic has started to emerge – can fiat currencies survive round after round of debasement? Some heavy hitters say the answer is no. A fiat currency derives its worth from the issuing... »
Only Mario Draghi's ECB can avert global calamity before the year is out
Mario Draghi has promised the moon. The European Central Bank's council had better deliver on his pledge this week. If it does not, the crisis will surely escalate out of control in August or soon after. By Ambrose Evans-Pritchard TelegraphUK 29 Jul 2012 We are beyond the point where a quarter point rate cut... »
Sentiment turns positive for Gold, buyers still hesitant: UBS
CommodityOnline.com 30 July 2012 The investor community is starting to pay more attention to gold and the mood toward the metal in the U.S. is the friendliest we'd seen since the metal's sizeable pullback in late February, said Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) in commodities briefing. " The interest in the metal has not... »
Terrified patients flee hospitals in wake of Ebola outbreak
TheExtinctionProtocol.com July 30, 2012 UGANDA – Terrified patients fled from a hospital in western Uganda as soon as news broke that a mysterious illness that killed at least 14 people in the region was Ebola, one of the world's most virulent diseases. Ignatius Besisira, a member of parliament for Buyaga East County in the... »
NSA Boss Wants More Control Over the 'Net
The Internet should be adapted to allow for oversight by the National Security Agency, the organization's boss says. TOM SIMONITE Technologyreview.com The U.S. Internet's infrastructure needs to be redesigned to allow the NSA to know instantly when overseas hackers might be attacking public or private infrastructure and computer networks, the agency's leader, General Keith... »
Excessive demand crashes electric grid in northern India- 370 million left without power in sweltering heat
TheExtinctionProtocol.com July 30, 2012 INDIA – A massive power cut has caused disruption across northern India, including in the capital, Delhi. It hit a swathe of the country affecting more than 300 million people in Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Rajasthan states. Power Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde said most of the supply... »
Kirishima volcano in Kyushu, Japan on high alert level
TheExtinctionProtocol.com July 30, 2012 JAPAN – As our colleague Marc Szlegat reported on Vulkane.Net, the alert level of the Japanese Kirishima volcano (Kirishimayama) was raised last month "orange." This is the third out of 4 warning levels and means that an eruption could occur any time. Last year in March, the Shinmoedake crater of... »


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ThousandEyes extends visibility across corporate networks as well as the public Internet, helping to solve issues from the branch through MPLS links and SIP trunks to service provider networks. Simulate pre-deployment capacity, monitor detailed performance metrics and see how QoS settings impact call quality.Advertisement
Home & Education Software
Simple Compiler
Registration Description: This project is to show people that you can make a compiler using BASIC. Sence this project is for educational perposes only there will be no standerd command set. Compiler my need to be changed depending on CPU...


text:
Mobile Phone Buying Guide: The best phones this year
Find reviews of the latest Sony Ericsson mobile phones.
02 January 2009
The C905 includes an 8-megapixel camera among its many features but how does it compare against the competition?
19 December 2008
Sony Ericsson's W302 slots in at the lower end of the Walkman range but at what cost?
12 December 2008
Sony Ericsson takes a Walkman phone, a 5-megapixel camera, mixes them together and gives us the W902.
14 November 2008
Sandra checks out Sony Ericsson's W595 Walkman handset and is suitably impressed.
09 October 2008
The T303 is Sony Ericsson's take on an entry-level phone, but is it any good?
29 August 2008
Sony Ericsson's flagship Walkman phone gets the once over from Sandra.
16 August 2008
Can Sony Ericsson's C702 mirror the success of its C902?
07 August 2008
Sony Ericsson's W760 is a solidly built slider, but does it tick all of the boxes?
31 July 2008
If you're on a tight budget and want a handset with decent music playback, check out Sony Ericsson's W350.
12 July 2008
With a no-nonsense design and some neat high-end features, Sony Ericsson's C902 finds favour with Sandra.
26 June 2008
A 3G clamshell phone in 'mysterious purple' - sounds intriguing...
08 June 2008
Sony Ericsson's Z555i has a 'diamond' design that you'll either love or hate. Sandra lays down her opinion.
25 May 2008
With some fancy input controls and a 'hidden' display, does Sony Ericsson's W380i live up to the Walkman brand?
27 April 2008
With a funky colour scheme and an emphasis on web browsing, Sony Ericsson hopes its K660i will stand out from the crowd.
20 April 2008
Sandra thinks it's one of the best Sony Ericsson phones to sport the Walkman brand. Find out why.
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text:
The FA Women's Super League has confirmed that ESPN's next live league fixture will see Arsenal Ladies visit Bristol Academy on Wednesday, May 30.
The match will be Arsenal's fifth game of the WSL season and takes place at Stoke Gifford Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.45pm.
Venue details are as follows:
Stoke Gifford Stadium
Wise Campus
New Road
Stoke Gifford
Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and £3 for OAPs and children. Fans can purchase tickets on the evening from the WISE Reception on Campus from 6pm.
ESPN also produce a weekly highlights show that keeps fans up to date with all the latest action, airing on Tuesday evenings at 7pm.Copyright 2017 The Arsenal Football Club plc. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source


text:
Skip navigation.
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – After trailing for most of the game against Mid-America Christian on Thursday night, the Ranger men's basketball team got within two points of the Evangels, but a 6-0 run by MACU led to a 79-71 loss for Northwestern.
The Rangers fell behind early, but battled back to tie the game at 10-10. Northwestern took a 15-14 lead before MACU closed out the half with a 33-24 advantage. Mid-America Christian jumped ahead by 19 points in the second half, but again, the Rangers came back to close that gap to two points with 1:04 to go.
Brandon Dixon was the Rangers' scoring leader with 19 points, hitting 7-of-17 from the field and adding five free throws. Brandon Brown followed with 11 points, while Thiago Guilherme picked up 10 rebounds. As a team, Northwestern shot 44 percent, including 7-of-24 from three-point range.
Mid-America hit 48 percent and had four double-digit scorers. Brandon Williams led the way with 17 points for the Evangels.
The Rangers (8-8, 3-6) will play Oklahoma City University at Percefull Fieldhouse at 8 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 16.
MISSION STATEMENT: Northwestern Oklahoma State University provides quality educational and cultural opportunities to learners with diverse needs by cultivating ethical leadership and service, critical thinking and fiscal responsibility.


text:
Grosse Pointe Farms, MI, USA < change city >
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I would have NEVER believed LIGHTING could make such a HUGE difference. AMAZING.
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text:
December 15, 2013
UMass Amherst, the University of Massachusetts Foundation and University Trustee Norm Peters invite you to an Alumni BBQ and Patriots vs. Miami Dolphins football game.
December 15, 2013
11:00 am
Sun Life Stadium
An installation made possible by the UMass Arts Council.
November 25—April 2, 2014
Studio Arts Building
What are your thoughts as a graduating senior? Would you like to share them with your classmates, family and friends? If so, you are invited to submit a proposal for consideration as the Student Commencement Speaker at the Undergraduate Commencement on May 9, 2014.


text: Air leakage in ducts has been identified as a major source of energy loss in residential buildings. Thirty to forty percent of airflow leaks in and out of ducting systems in residential buildings, and most of the duct leakage occurs at the connections to registers, plenums or branches in the air distribution system. The seminar reports on a recent study, which is a continuation of previous studies conducted by the Energy Performance of Buildings group, whose objectives are to develop new test methods for duct sealant longevity, evaluate different sealant types (e.g., tape, mastic, aerosol), facilitate the development of consensus standards (e.g., ASTM), and technology transfer. Two high temperature longevity tests were conducted. The first test involved the aging of common "core-to-collar joints" of flexible duct to sheet metal collars, and sheet metal "collar-to-plenum joints" exposed to continuous 200 Deg. F (93 Deg.C), 90 Pa circulating air. The second test consists of baking duct tape samples in a constant 212 Deg.F (100 Deg.C) oven following the UL 181B "Temperature Test" requirements. These tests showed that the duct tape performance in sealing joints depends on the joint's geometrical dimensions; it gets worse as the number of dimensions required to describe the joint increases (1-D to 3-D). 1-D joints are the easiest to seal with duct tape, and thus the least to experience failure. However, these type of joints are rarely seen in installations. 2-D joints, such as the flexible duct core-to-plenum joints tested in this study, are less likely to fail than 3-D joints, as the shrinkage could have a positive effect in tightening the joint. 3-D joints, such as the common collar-to-plenum tested in earlier studies and this study as well, are the toughest to seal, and therefore the most to experience failure. This is essentially caused by the shrinkage of the duct tape backing that results in the peeling of its rubber-based adhesive off the sheet metal. The UL 181B baking test results showed that the failure in the duct tape joints can be attributed to the type of combination of the duct tape and the material it is applied to, as the duct tape behaves differently with different substrates.


text: I sold a pistol 2 weeks ago on gunsamerica. I gave it to a trusted FFL He shipped it on MONDAY THE 23 RD PRIORITY MAIL. The buyer has not received it yet. I went to the post office today and ran a trace on it, nothing showed up It was scanned in at the origin post office and that is the only trace they have of it. I did insure it, The guy I sold it to has been patient but is threating to call the ATF I am legal but do not wont the red tape or loss of time that involving the ATF will bring. I am hoping that it will show up at the destination post office this Monday. If it does not I am going to go thought the post office and try and find out what has happened . I guess if anyone has any info on what I should do next please let me know.


text:
Buy Moon Sequoia & Kings Canyon Camping & Hiking
First Edition, May 2012
Pages: 165
Price: $11.99 USD
Price: $6.99 USD
Moon Sequoia & Kings Canyon Camping & Hiking
Nature lovers Tom Stienstra and Ann Marie Brown invite travelers to experience the deep canyons, tall peaks, and awe-inspiring giant sequoia groves of Sequoia National Forest and Kings Canyon National Park. Stienstra and Brown's expert advice and useful camping and hiking tips make Moon Sequoia & Kings Canyon Camping & Hiking essential for any trip to this high Sierra paradise; and their "best-of" trail and campground lists—including Best Scenic Destinations, Best for Fall Colors, and Best for Redwoods and Sequoias—ensure that novice and experienced outdoors adventurers alike will be able to plan their perfect expedition. Complete with clear directions to each location, detailed destination descriptions, difficulty and quality ratings for each hike, and helpful maps, Moon Sequoia & Kings Canyon Camping & Hiking provides campers and hikers with all the necessary tools to head outdoors.
Ann Marie Brown and Tom Stienstra
For over 30 years, Tom Stienstra's full-time job has been to capture and communicate the outdoor experience. He has hiked 25,000 miles, caught world-record fish, led dozens of expeditions, and is a certified pilot.
Tom is the nation's top-selling author of outdoors guidebooks. He is the outdoor writer for the San Francisco Chronicle and broadcasts a weekly radio show, Tom Stienstra's Outdoors Reports, on KCBS-San Francisco. Tom has been inducted into of the California Outdoors Hall of Fame, been named California Outdoor Writer of the Year five times, and received the President's Choice Award (Newspaper/Website) from the Outdoor Writers Association of America three times.
You can contact Tom directly via the website www.tomstienstra.com. His guidebooks include:
Moon California Camping
Moon California Hiking (with Ann Marie Brown)
Moon California Fishing
Moon California Recreational Lakes & Rivers
Moon Northern California Cabins & Cottages
Moon Northern California Camping
Moon Northern California Hiking (with Ann Marie Brown)
Moon Oregon Camping
Moon Pacific Northwest Camping
Moon Washington Camping
Moon West Coast RV Camping
California Wildlife
Tom Stienstra's Bay Area Recreation
The author of 13 outdoor guidebooks, Ann Marie Brown is a dedicated California outdoorswoman. She hikes, bikes, and camps more than 150 days each year in an effort to avoid routine, complacency, and getting a real job.
Ann Marie's work has appeared in Sunset, VIA, Backpacker, and California magazines. As a way of giving back a little of what she gets from her experiences in nature, she writes and edits for several environmental groups, including the Sierra Club and National Resources Defense Council. For information on Ann Marie's work, visit AnnMarieBrown.com.


text:
about a month ago i got my 98 wrx tuned. it was done by jason at southern motor works, and from what ive heard and read they do a pretty good job over there.
anyways, my issue is, i got my car tuned to run on two boost settings as it has a 2 stage boost controller. one at 11 psi and one at 14.5 psi. this has been all good up until now, when running the car on 11psi it runs fine and i am actually peaking at around 11 psi, but when i switch it over to 14.5 im only hitting around 8 psi max. it wasnt like this previously and ive only noticed this in probably the last week. what would cause this? is this an issue i should be worried about? or has my boost controller just shat it self?


text:
The GSM Association (GSMA), an industry group comprised of mobile operators, wants to see 3G (third-generation) cellular technologies used for wireless broadband in notebook PCs, but operators will have to change their way of doing business to make that happen.
3G technologies like WCDMA (wideband code division multiple access) provide data at downlink speeds up to 384K bps (bits per second), but advances in 3G technology, like HSDPA (high-speed data packet access), offer speeds of 3.6M bps or more.
Cellular operators have pinned their hopes on these new high-speed technologies to boost their mobile data business. "We're not simply providing voice, we're all going after the data market in a very significant way," said Craig Ehrlich, chairman of the GSMA's board of directors and a director at Hutchison Mobile Communications Ltd., speaking at the 3GSM World Congress Asia conference in Singapore last week.
As part of these efforts, GSMA is working with Intel Corp. to make HSDPA support a standard component of notebook computers, alongside existing Wi-Fi access and planned support for WiMax. "Mobile broadband -- HSDPA -- is becoming and will become a standard feature of notebook PCs," said Rob Conway, the GSMA's chief executive officer.
Others are not so sure HSDPA will be widely used for mobile access.
"Irrespective of what people say, 3G is about voice. There's no question about that," said Ray Owen, the Asia-Pacific director of wireless broadband at Motorola Inc., noting that WiMax and Wi-Fi have important roles to play. "It's not necessarily that cellular technologies will do everything," he said.
The principal problem with 3G and HSDPA is cost. Rates for 3G data services are high in most countries, making the technology ill-suited for heavy data access, with the exception of wealthy customers and some business users.
In Japan, which was the first country to get commercial 3G services, users pay a flat rate for sending e-mails or surfing the Web from their handsets. However, PC users who access the Web over 3G networks pay much more. Computer data access costs roughly ¥0.20 for one packet, or 128 bytes, to download data over 3G networks.
As a result, when notebook users in Japan cannot access a Wi-Fi connection they often rely on PHS (Personal Handyphone System) cards rather than 3G cards for mobile data access. PHS services are charged at a flat rate of ¥12,915 (US$108) per month for 256K bps access or ¥9,765 for 128K bps.
3G data plans are often cheaper in other countries, but these services are not intended for mass adoption. In Singapore, MobileOne Ltd. offers unlimited access with a 3G data card for S$68 (US$43) per month. That service is geared to business users, who are more willing to pay for premium services, rather than the average consumer.
While GSMA is working with handset makers to bring down the cost of 3G phones, the group has no intention of pushing operators to lower the costs of 3G services, Ehrlich said. "The one thing GSMA does not get involved in, for antitrust reasons, is pricing," he said.
There is plenty of incentive for operators to keep cellular data costs high. "If you were to calculate the bandwidth you are consuming on the cell site, compared to voice, you should be charged a phenomenal amount for that access," Motorola's Owen said, citing the profitability of voice calls to mobile operators.
If operators want to make cellular more competitive for data, they will have to rethink their business model. "The voice charging model works very well for voice, but translating that into the data world isn't necessarily going to be as successful," Owen said.
(Martyn Williams, in Tokyo, contributed to this report.)


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James Franco & Seth Rogen Try to Kill Kim Jong-Un in "The Interview" Trailer: Watch Here!
It's a comedy of international proportions, and "The Interview" has just unveiled a brand new teaser trailer ahead of its October 10th release date.
Written and Directed by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, the funny flick stars Rogen along with his "Pineapple Express" cohort James Franco, Lizzy Caplan and Tommy Chong.
Per the synopsis, "Talk-show host Dave Skylark and his producer Aaron Rappaport score an interview with Kim Jong-Un, dictator of North Korea. But when the CIA asks them to kill Kim, they become the least qualified men to ever assassinate."
Check out the trailer below and get excited for more laughs the way only Rogen and Franco can deliver!


text: Theres no need to be stuck in the middle of nowhere with a missing button or an unravelling hem. This handy sewing box is small enough for a handbag or rucksack, so take it everywhere with you for on-the-move repairs. Contents: 4 colours of thread with coloured pins Scissors Safety pins Needle threader and needles Shirt buttons and press studsCheck stock and price


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Scar Model
Scott ShawModel Male Los Angeles, California, US
My Website: Scott Shaw.comMy MM URL: http://www.modelmayhem.com/scottshaw
Mayhem # 315860
About Me
Hi Everyone,
I'm an established author, actor, filmmaker, musician, photographer, and of course model.
As a model I have worked across the globe. I spend a lot of time in Asia, particularity Japan, Hong Kong, and Thailand. So, I'm happy to hook-up where ever the assignment takes me.
I've worked in many aspects of the industry and I always enjoy bringing a new face to a product.
Feel free to check me out at my website or on places like imdb.com. There's a lot of photos of me on both sites.
Obviously, I have representation. So, if you want to work with me, provide me with your information and I will pass it along to my agent and they will contact you.
Sorry, no TFP.
Have you worked with Scott Shaw? Add Credits for Scott Shaw! >>
Credit Notes
Body Glove
Gibson Guitars
Guitar Player
Harley Davidson
Indie Pop Magazine
Vogue Italia
Vogue France
Black Belt Magazine
Inside Karate Magazine
To name only a few...
Scar Model
EBPhotogra... Photographer
lindsayhall Model
Amethyst Fallen Angel Model
Kimasha Model
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How to use this community:
- When you are ready to add a new idea, select the "Submit New Idea" button. You will then have a chance to add a title and choose a topic for your new idea. You will also have the option to add tags to your idea.
- Simply click the up or down thumb to the left of the idea title/description. The best ideas bubble up to the top.
- Click in the box below the idea, and key in your comments in the space provided.
Vision 2025:
Share Your Innovative and Strategic Ideas!
Welcome to the Vision 2025 discussion site of the Social Security Administration. Vision 2025 is our bold vision for where we strive to be in the year 2025. Our Vision would not exist without the invaluable contributions of our employees, managers, unions, customers, and other stakeholders. With the launch of Vision 2025, we welcome your feedback and continued involvement. Tell us what you think and share with us how we can best achieve the Vision over the next 10 years. Thank you for your help in making Vision 2025 a reality!


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Waiting on Wednesday 13: Illuminate
Name: Illuminate (Gilded Wings #1)
Author: Aimee Agresti
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Release Date: March 6th, 2012
Okay who doesn't love this cover! It's sooooo pretty!! I really like the colors! What first got my interesting in this book was the plot summary! It sounds very mysterious! And I love Chicago so it will be awesome to see a book take place there!
Haven Terra is a brainy, shy high school outcast. But everything begins to change when she turns sixteen. Along with her best friend Dante and their quiet and brilliant classmate Lance, she is awarded a prestigious internship in the big city— Chicago—and is sent to live and work at a swanky and stylish hotel under the watchful eyes of a group of gorgeous and shockingly young-looking strangers: powerful and alluring hotel owner Aurelia Brown; her second-in-command, the dashing Lucian Grove; and their stunning but aloof staff of glamazons called The Outfit.As Haven begins falling for Lucian, she discovers that these beautiful people are not quite what they seem. With the help of a mysterious book, she uncovers a network of secret passageways from the hotel's jazz-age past that leads her to the heart of the evil agenda of Aurelia and company: they're in the business of buying souls. Will they succeed in wooing Haven to join them in their recruitment efforts, or will she be able to thwart this devilish set's plans to take the souls of her classmates on prom night at the hotel? Illuminate is an exciting saga of a teen's first taste of independence, her experience in the lap of luxury, and her discovery she may possess strength greater than she ever knew.-Goodreads
So what are your thoughts? What are you waiting for this week? Comment below!
13 comments:
- Anna said...
I love this cover too :) I'm a total cover slut so any pretty cover has my vote :) I'm really excited for this one :) Great choice!
- October 4, 2011 at 11:17 PM
- Brodie said...
Agreed, that cover is GORGEOUS!! I'd pick it up without having read the synopsis, but I'm totally loving what I see there too. I'm so intrigued by the mysterious, beautful (and creepy!) people in the business of buying souls. It sounds deliciously good, can't wait!
- October 5, 2011 at 12:17 AM
- Jessica@a GREAT read said...
OOh I think I've seen this one around! The cover is gorgeous and the story sounds good too! Great pick!
Here's my WoW
Have a GREAT day!
Old Follower :)
- October 5, 2011 at 8:24 AM
- Mrs Q Book Addict said...
I loved this cover, and it sounds fantastic!
- October 5, 2011 at 8:28 AM
- elizabethreinhardt said...
The cover is gorgeous, and this sounds fantastic!!
- October 5, 2011 at 10:59 AM
- Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...
the cover is totally gorgeous!
- October 5, 2011 at 2:53 PM
- Kat C said...
The cover is so amazing.I loves it !
- October 5, 2011 at 3:23 PM
- Kat C said...
The cover is so amazing.I loves it !
- October 5, 2011 at 3:23 PM
- Jaskirat@SeeitORreadit said...
OMG I love the cover. Can't wait for this one. Thanks for sharing :)
Check my post:
- October 5, 2011 at 3:38 PM
- AliyaPM said...
I'd never heard of this book before. Sounds good! Nice pick. :)
My WoW: http://astorytolove.blogspot.com/2011/10/waiting-on-wednesday-everlasting.html
- October 5, 2011 at 4:14 PM
- Jaime said...
Looks great. I definitely need to check this out!
- October 5, 2011 at 6:49 PM
- Sonny said...
This was my WOW for last week, and I have to say, every time I see the cover I want it again and again! Great pick!
Thanks for the visit and Happy Reading :D
- October 5, 2011 at 9:49 PM
- TheReadingOwl said...
WOW! That cover is GORGEOUS! I'm still a little unsure if I should add it to my TBR list or not. Guess I'll have to wait and see what the reviews are saying before I decide anything.
- October 8, 2011 at 5:40 PM
Post a Comment
Thank you so much for commenting :) I love reading all comments and they really do make my day!


text: West Monroe, LA - George James Crary Sr., 74, was born November 3, 1938, in Canton, New York, and passed away on September 6, 2013, after a long illness. He was the son of the late Maurice and Gaynell Crary of Crary Mills, New York, and he retired as a construction supervisor from Houston's Brown and Root, now KBR, in 1983. Survivors include his wife of 56 years, Janet Crary; son, George J. "Jim" Crary, Jr. of Houston, Texas; daughter, Marianne Crary Towne of West Monroe, La.; two granddaughters, Krystle Mahoney and Samantha Messina of West Monroe, La.; great-grandson, Braxton Mahoney of Monroe, La.; sister, Mrs. Daniel (Gaynell) Rawley of St. Augustine, Fla.; sister-in-law, Mrs. Lyle (Barbara) Crary of Fulton, N.Y.; as well as many loved nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his sons, Glenn Jay and Gary-John Crary; three brothers, Lyle, Lawrence, and Lloyd Crary; three sisters, Mildred Barkley, Veleta Cuthburt, and Leona Capalario. A private interment of his cremated ashes will take place at a later date. Online Registry / Condolences: www.mul hearnfuneralhome.com.


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Don't double post OP, wait until your post is approved by a moderator.
I just installed backtrack 4 beta on my macbook (NOT pro). The problem is that the entire setup is totally lacking in ANY drivers. I understood that my network card probably wouldn't work, but I was surprised when I plugged in ethernet directly and I was still unable to elicit a response from the OS/at all browse in firefox. Also, it doesn't detect any USB devices or cdrom disks that I insert. I realize these are extremely elementary issues that have probably been asked about and answered, but I have google'd and searched these forums without finding any answers/way to fix this/location to get drivers. I'm not sure how I could even get a driver onto the machine, with it not being able to detect ANY external media as far as I can tell. I checked /dev in between inserting/removing usb devices and cdroms and couldn't find any new entries listed... Maybe that's not how you check, I don't regularly use a CLI, but I know really basic stuff... Any/all help appreciated with these issues,
Don't double post OP, wait until your post is approved by a moderator.
Capitalisation is important. It's the difference between "Helping your brother Jack off a horse" and "Helping your brother jack off a horse".
The Forum Rules, Forum FAQ and the BackTrack Wiki... learn them, love them, live them.
Honestly, it's easier to run backtrack from a vm on a Mac. Some Macs work better than others, they're just different enough from each other that driver support gets broken.


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INGREDIENTS & NUTRITION FACTS: See label image.
ONLINE: Amazon, SimpleSquares.com (20% off purchases on simplesquares.com using code bestowed20)
IN STORE: Store Locator


text:
Lexmark X1150
I Am Unable To Get My Printer To Print.can Anyone Let Me Know What To Do?
I Have Just Installed A New Color Cartridge,i Am Not Using Black,so There Is No Cartridge In For That.
I Have Tried Every Troubleshooting Over And Over Again.it Does Go Into Print Mode,but The Pages Are Blank.
I Have Alligned,cleaned Etc...everything Over And Over.
More Than A Few Times.
Can Anyone Give Any Ideas.please
Glenda Sharman
You may have to spend bucks on a black ink cartridge and try again . Or simply trash the piece of crap.
I swear, no matter the cost, my next copier is toner based.
Does it print nothing at all on the test page? Not even any of the colors?
You *did* remove the tape covering the print head on the cartridge right? Beyond that, can't help you LOL Speaking from experience hehe
your printer problem
Your settings might be set on print in black only in which case your pages will come out blank. When I ran out of ink and only had color I would make sure it was either set on color or automatic and make sure that the font in what ever I was printing such as a letters was in color and not black until I was able to install a black cartridge.
maybe you inserted the cartridge wrong... wild guess!! it might help..
printer ink cartridges
I have had this problem before myself and had to uninstall it and reinstall the cd that came with it
Or You could take Your cartridge to Walgreens and they can reset it electronically
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"Blind Boy" Paxton and Mamie Minch
Common Ground Concerts
Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM (EDT)
Who's Going
San Francisco, California
London, United Kingdom
Florence, Italy
Event Details
Meet Jerron Paxton, a modern day songster, minstrel and bluesman.
His name is Jerron (say Jer-Ron, giving it two distinct Rs) Paxton, but apparently you can call him "Blind Boy" if you want to. Jerron Paxton is truly the living embodiment of the true blues in the 21St Century, but he plays it all in the true songster tradition: ragtime, hokum, old-time, French reels, Appalachian mountain music and blues and more – and whatever he plays sounds great . The young bard was born in 1989, but his vast talent rivals the greatest in the genre. He is the whole package. He's witty, fast rhyming, poetic, fun, exciting, wonderfully skilled as a musician and a fine singer, he is the continuation of a proud tradition, literally and figuratively.
Jerron Paxton comes across not as a young man in his early twenties, but he impresses with incisive understanding and wisdom far beyond his age. "I am a songster. I am not limited to the blues. I sing and play ballads, banjo tunes, fiddle tunes, rags and more." he told thecountryblues.com. "For me, music is not an academic experiment. I play it the way I feel like it, because it should be an expression of how I see things. I am just learning to have a good time so that the audience can have a good time. Music shouldn't be forced. It's upsetting to me that so much music is technique, just skill and not enough feeling. I am happy to play so that the audience feels like I am in their living room. I want people to be enjoying themselves."
Jerron Paxton has been blind since age 16,with peripheral vision problems that allow him some sight. He cannot drive and is legally blind, but has enough sight to get around and he can see enough to seem unaffected by his vision problems. The charismatic songster bluesman, reports that he hails from an African American Jewish family with mixed Creole /Choctaw Indian ancestry – transplanted Louisiana sharecroppers who moved to South Central Los Angeles, but Jerron now lives in Queens. In other words, he is a true American.
Sharing the bill with Jerron will be Mamie MInch. Mamie Minch first appeared in the NYC live music scene as an acoustic guitarist and singer with a voice and sensibility well beyond her years. One listen to her and you'll understand- there is music you want to sing, and there is music you were meant to sing. Mamie found her voice in reviving -and writing- antique blues songs, even though whe's now just over a quarter century old.
Minch's father played fingerstyle guitar on his vintage Martin- he taught her the Mississippi John Hurt and Rev. Gary Davis songs that started her excitement about fingerstyle guitar and became her musical bedrock. She culled DIY aesthetic influences from her teenage exposure to punk and garage bands in her hometown in Delaware; she liked the parallel unself-conciousness in the approach of these musicians and traditional American folk musicians.
Around this time Mamie also started exploring Bessie Smith, Sarah Martin, and Memphis Minnie- their unabashed sensuality and the winking, confessional nature of their songs was to become a major influence in her performing and songwriting style. Upon coming to New York Mamie's fascination with early recordings found a community of kindred spirits. Some of her first connections were with a group of 78 collectors who would throw listening parties for their rarest finds.
She shortly co-founded The Roulette Sisters, a popular all-woman retro quartet that performed originals and covers of blues, country tunes and early girl group harmony peices by the like of the Boswell and Andrews Sisters. She kept growing musically, spending a summer travelling through europe with an Italian anarchist street band, and busking extensively in New York City as part of Music Under New York.
Upon leaving the band in 2007 Mamie has been working on her own material as a songwriter and performer. She has played residencies at Brooklyn's world music mecca Barbes and the 68 Jay Bar in Dumbo, and shared the stage with Dayna Kurtz, Jolie Holland, Bliss Blood, and loads of other talented friends. Her debut solo CD, the Razorburn Blues, is a limited edition handmade item.
When & Where
Common Ground Coffeehouse at the First Unitarian Society of Westchester
25 Old Jackson Avenue
Saturday, May 31, 2014 from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM (EDT)
Add to my calendar
Common Ground Concerts
Common Ground Community Concerts is a grassroots music production and event planning organization based in Westchester County NY. For the past 15 years, Common Ground has produced its flagship Common Ground Coffeehouse series, sponsored by (and hosted by) The First Unitarian Society of Westchester, in Hastings-on-Hudson NY. Common Ground is also an arts partner of Irvington Town Hall Theater in Irvington NY, where we host about four additional concerts a year.


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UEFA technical director, and former Scotland national coach, Andy Roxburgh, watched from the stand as Pauline Hamill's side continued their recent winning run, following two victories over Sweden in March.
Carolina Richardson put Scotland in front in the 33rd minute. A through ball caused confusion in the Russian defence, and the Hamilton Academical forward nipped in to knock the ball into the net.
Zoe Ness - who scored a double in last month's 4-2 win over Sweden in Livingston - extended the lead after the break when she collected the ball on the edge of the box and beat the goalkeeper with a low shot.
Ness turned provider for the third. Her free-kick rattled off the underside of the bar, and Elizabeth Arnot was there to follow up.
Saturday's other match between Wales and Bosnia & Herzegovina ended in a 1-1 draw after extra time, with Wales winning 7-6 on penalties.
Scotland and Wales now face each other on Tuesday, with Russia taking on Bosnia.
UEFA U-17 Development Tournament
Scotland v Wales
Tuesday 17 April, kick-off 2.30 pm
Colovray Stadium, Nyon, Switzerland
Source - scottishfa.co.uk
She Kicks - the online news service for women's football


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SMOKING SAMBO Stand TIPP FIREWORKS "Cigar" Cigarette
- Sold for: Start Free Trial or Sign In to see what it's worth.
- Item Category: Ethnic, Folk & Native American Art
- Source: eBay
- Sold Date: Mar 22, 2007
- Channel: Auction House
Description Payment Info Shipping Return Feedback About Us Other auctions
Image Gallery SMOKING SAMBO Stand TIPP FIREWORKS "Cigar" Cigarette
Powered by Image Logik Hosting Technology. Click to learn more. Item Description SMOKING SAMBO TIPP FIREWORKS STAND This is an ORIGINAL piece and more unique that the typical "SMOKING SAMBO" cigarette standees. Our piece is from TIPP FIREWORKS INC and is not a cigarette/cigar display stand! The writing on the back reads: DIRECTIONS FOR USE Push "Cigar" into Sambo's mouth at perforation, fused end to the front. Open easel, and adjust "Cigar" so the figure will set firmly upright on level ground. LIGHT FUSE AND - GET AWAY To a safe distance. The "Cigar" will first burn red, then emid a dense volume of smoke, and end up with a lout report which blows off Sambo's head. DO NOT PICK UP OR APPROACH SAMBO AFTER LIGHTING. Manufactured only by THE TIPP FIREWORKS CO. TIPPECANOE CITY, OHIO -Piece is made of cardboard and measures approx. 10-1/4" X 5" -Color is still VIBRANT! -Some creasing/storage wear -HEAD HAS NEVER BEEN BLOWN OFF (obviously) :o) -Please reference our photos for more details -Questions? Please message me -Check our other auctions for more Black Americana -We happily combine shipping at auctions' end! PLEASE SCROLL ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE BOTTOM TO USE THE SHIPPING CALCULATOR! ... read more


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Whidbey Island Real Estate Information
Updates, news and information about Whidbey Island Real Estate.
Choosing to Improve Your HomeMay 28th, 2013 at 3:16 pm by Rick Schutte
If you want to make improvements to your home, you may want to take a second look at Houzz.com. Cited as a source for inspiration and collaboration and research for home owners everywhere, Houzz is also a source for hiring local contracting professionals, too.
With more than sixty categories of home related projects to choose from, including interior remodeling contractors and outdoor living space professionals, Houzz is more than just a place to get great ideas for your home. Houzz is also a great source for you to find the interior designers, architects, and landscapers for your home who created and constructed those designs in the first place!
Increased home values often result in homeowners deciding to make changes in their homes, whether due to a potential sale or just a quality of life improvement, and technology makes this process so much easier.
"Homeowners and professionals alike are telling us that they are moving forward with more building, renovation and design projects this year," said Liza Hausman, VP Community at Houzz. "Houzz provides homeowners with the absolute best resource to find the right professional for their project."
As a homeowner, ideas for improving your home may come in many forms, but Houzz.com is definitely a resource to be considered. Another resource to consider when determining whether a home improvement will add to your home value is your local real estate expert.
Determining the Landscaping for Your HomeMay 1st, 2013 at 12:48 pm by Rick Schutte
Improving the landscape around your home is not just about good looks. Home value can also increase with fine-tuned and maintained landscaping. Before hiring a landscape designer to reconstruct your home, it's helpful to compile a list of questions. You may share images of design styles and verify license and insurance, as well. The right landscaping combines local elements and weather conditions, as well as energy efficiency.
Your outdoor landscaping can also serve as a sound or visual barrier. Many options are available from furniture placement to the planting of tall shrubs along a home's border.
According to Better Homes and Gardens, the Top Trends for Your Home in 2013 Include:
- Fragrance Producing Gardens
- Variation in Color of Flowers & Greenery
- Bulb Gardens
- Vegetable & Fruit Combination Gardens
- Grocery Gardens
- Old Fashioned Looks
- Paver Designs Incorporated in Gardens
- Garden Seating
- Herb Gardens
- Butterfly Gardens
- Hanging Plant Gardens
- Texture Gardens
Whether you are in a new home and just beginning your gardening plans or are in the home you've had for years, many of these gardening ideas may appeal to you. As you consider your home and the landscape style that will surround it, consulting with a professional landscaper may give you additional perspective and save you from a expensive mistake.
National Open House April 20-21April 12th, 2013 at 10:58 am by Rick Schutte
Many local Whidbey Island Realtors will be participating in the Realtors National Open House event Saturday and Sunday, April 20-21. This is always a great time to get out and see some of the beautiful homes that are for sale on Whidbey Island.
Check your local newspaper for information or Whidbey News Times online.
Buying Your Home – Is the Time Right?March 4th, 2013 at 3:41 pm by Rick Schutte
Wondering about the possibility of buying your home in the current housing market?
The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Opportunity Index (HOI) released this week confirmed other recent reports of growth in the real estate market. Spurred on by historically low interest rates in the final quarter of 2012, home buyers saw more housing affordability and relatively stable home pricing throughout the United States, making it possibly the right time for you to buy your home.
According to the HOI, gains in home affordability rose from 74.1 % to 74.9% in the final quarter of 2012, making homes affordable to median income earners in the United States. The current median income is $65,000.
North Carolina Home Builder and NAHB Chairman Rick Judson explained why this was good news for potential home buyers. "The most recent housing affordability data should be encouraging to many prospective home buyers," Judson said. "Because it shows that homeownership remains within reach of median-income consumers even as most local markets appear to be on a recovery path." Judson also shared results of the recent NAHB/First American Improving Markets Index which noted that 259 out of 361 metro real estate areas qualify as improving.
NAHB Chief Economist David Crowe also remarked on this news, saying, "It is noteworthy that affordability remains historically high thanks to favorable mortgage rates even as national home price indexes show some rise in values." Crowe shared that the median price of new and existing homes in that same quarter was still up, at $188,000.
The top housing markets for affordability included Ogden-Clearfield, Utah; Dayton, Ohio; Indianapolis-Carmel, Indiana; Lakeland-Winter Haven, Florida.; Syracuse, New York; Fairbanks, Alaska; Cumberland, Maryland; Springfield, Ohio; Monroe, Michigan; and Mansfield, Ohio. As you consider your home buying options, these areas may be of interest to you.
Find out more and see housing market updates online at the National Association of Home Builders.
A Realtor's Most Asked QuestionJanuary 14th, 2013 at 4:55 pm by Rick Schutte
Contributed by Gil Daigle – Coldwell Banker Koetje Real Estate
When I am at work, I always wear a nametag, and often I will wear a Coldwell Banker golf shirt or vest, it is just what I do when I'm when I'm working. In my daily travels, people see the nametag and logo shirt realize, I'm a Realtor®, and invariably ask, "How's the market?" It's like meeting someone and asking how they are. My response is always a form of what prices are doing. I might say, "Prices are down over 7% from last year." This got me thinking, maybe I should let my friends know how the market is doing.
When discussing real estate, the major thing to keep in mind is that real estate is very local. Network news likes to quote National Association of Realtors® statistics for the whole country. Those statistics may be valuable for an economist but they don't mean a thing to you and me locally. So, here is my state of real estate report for you.
The total number of sales (residential, condo, and homes in parks) on North Whidbey Island in 2012 was 360. This number is down ever so slightly from 361 the previous year and down significantly from 942 in our peak year of 2005. In 2012, the average sales price of a house was $217,400, which is down 7.12% from last year. It took an average of 153 days to sell that house and the final sales price was 90.85% of the initial list price. In other words, the seller needed to lower the initial asking price by 9.15%.
In Central Whidbey, the total number of sales (just residential) was 102 which is up from the 88 sales in 2011 but down from the 173 sales in the peak year of 2005. The average sales price was $280,500, which was down from 2011 by 7.84%. This typical house took 164 days to sell and it sold for 11% less than the initial list price.
Okay but what does it mean. To me the significant numbers are the total sales. The housing market is driven by sales. In North Whidbey, we had one less sale than in 2011, and in Central Whidbey sales increased by 14. I think this is a good indicator. The way to turn the housing market around is to sell houses. When people get their confidence back, sales will happen. When sales increase, prices will increase and we will be on the road to recovery.
The truth about wealth for most Americans is that nothing they will do in their lifetime is likely to make them as much money as buying a house and living in it. Investment in my house has secured my retirement. True that investment has lost ground since 2005, but I'm still ahead of the game. America needs the housing market to recover and it will. There has never been a better time to buy. Interest rates and prices are as low as they will ever be.
Flip Your Home Through 2014December 12th, 2012 at 4:03 pm by Rick Schutte
If you are considering investing in real estate in the new year or in selling your home that was recently purchased, you'll be excited to know that the Federal Housing Administration has agreed to a temporary extension on the waiver on home flipping.
At one point in time, home owners were required to hold title for more than 90 days before selling their property. Now, however, you can buy your home, fix it up, and resell it without time restrictions, per the original policy put into place in 2010 by the Obama administration. Since 2010 the extension has been granted on a yearly basis, but this announcement extends it for two years.
The renewal of this policy, announced at the end of November, will remain in force until December 31, 2014 to allow security to buyers and lenders who wish to engage in these practices. The waiver is subject to certain restrictions, and may result in an increase in available home inventory.
According to Carol J. Galante, Acting FHA Commissioner, the extension was granted to increase resales of foreclosed properties in struggling neighborhoods. He said, "FHA remains a critical source of mortgage financing and stability and we must make every effort to promote recovery in every responsible way we can."
Learn About How the Extension Affects Your Home and Neighborhood
To read the actual waiver and restrictions placed on anti-flipping regulations, such as the need to show renovations and an inspection to support a sales price increase of greater than 20%, click here. If you are interested in learning more about investing and how this change can impact your home, give me a call.
Home Mortgage Rates Continue to DipDecember 3rd, 2012 at 3:24 pm by Rick Schutte
2012 has seen consistently low mortgage rates, but according to the Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) recently released, those rates have gotten even lower this week!
With the 30 year fixed averaging at 3.31% and the 15 year fixed averaging at 2.63%, qualifying home buyers have increased opportunity to purchase the home of their dreams, possibly even your home. These rate averages include points (.7 on a 30 year loan and .6 on a 15 year loan), but are still lower than any other week compiled this year by Freddie Mac. Lower rates mean that a home buyer can buy the same amount of home for a smaller monthly mortgage payment and/or possibly qualify for more home than previously expected.
According to Frank Nothaft, vice president and chief economist at Freddie Mac,"Fixed mortgage rates continued to ease somewhat this week to record lows and should help the ongoing housing recovery." Nothaft continued, "Already, new construction on homes was up 3.6 percent in October to the strongest pace since July 2008. In November, homebuilder confidence rose for the sixth straight month to its highest reading since June 2006 according to the NAHB/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index. And existing home sales increased 2.1 percent in October to an annualized pace of 4.79 million, exceeding the market consensus forecast."
When home buyers have more buying capacity and inventory is low due to increased home sales, home sellers are likely to see increases in home prices and multiple offers. If you are interested in selling your home, these trends make it worth your while to contact a real estate professional to learn specifics on selling your home. Read more about mortgage rate trends by clicking here.
Now Is A Unique Period in HistoryNovember 13th, 2012 at 4:11 pm by Rick Schutte
This article is written by one of our experienced agents, Gil Daigle.
I got a flu shot last week. Because it was a workday, I was wearing my nametag, which advertises me as a Realtor®. The nurse who was giving me the shot started to talk about real estate. The conversation started out like all of these conversations do with the nurse asking me "How's the market?" I gave my stock answer that it could be better and then went on to say what a great time it is to buy real estate. I talked about the depressed prices and the low interest rates. When I was finished, he told me a story.
A Remarkable Story
Last November he and his wife started to invest in real estate. Between November 2011 and April 2012 they purchased four condominiums in Kirkland for $300,000 cash. He went on to tell me that all four are rented and they generate $4,000 a month. After condominium fees and other expenses, the monthly net is $2,500. A very quick and basic calculation indicates this is a 10% return on his investment per year. You might be asking yourself "so what?" The simple answer is where else can you get 10% interest on an investment that will increase in value.
What Other Investments Are Available?
I searched the Internet and discovered the best interest rate you can get for a certificate of deposit is 1.1%. The big catch is you must deposit $25,000. The stock market might be the answer. Unfortunately, the average gain of the Dow Jones Industrial average since 2000 is only 2.57% with the big catch being its wild fluctuations. In 2003, the Dow gained 25.32%; however, in 2008 it lost 33.84%.
Do we all have $300,000 cash on hand to invest? I'm guessing the answer to that is no. However, interest rates are very low even on investment properties. Check with your banker for rate information. Talk to me about the availabilities of property. Whatever your circumstances it make good sense to think about investing in real estate.
If you are a renter, take the plunge and buy. If you have a good credit rating, there are multitudes of financing opportunities available. Talk to your banker and see what works for you. Then talk to me, I'm sure I can find you something you will like.
We Are In A Unique Period of History.
We are in a unique period of history. Since World War I interest rates have been this low only once, between 1933 and 1950. Remembering your U.S. History that was the Great Depression and World War II. Currently the US economy is down and the government is doing everything it can to bring about a recovery. These real estate conditions will not last. Get your piece of the American Dream while is it at its most affordable!
Top 10 'Turnaround' Housing MarketsOctober 31st, 2012 at 10:44 am by Rick Schutte
Top 10 'Turnaround' Housing Markets
Western states continue to dominate, showing some of the fastest paces of recovery in the nation's housing markets. With inventories falling, national median list prices increased 2.54 percent year-over-year during the third quarter, Realtor.com reports. Whidbey Island is experiencing some of the same tendencies with decreased inventories.
The site released its rankings of the top 10 turnaround towns, based on third quarter housing data of median list price increases, inventory levels, and employment rates.
- Oakland, CA
- Sacramento, CA
- San Jose, CA
- San Francisco, CA
- Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, WA
- Bakersfield, CA
- Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Lompoc, CA
- Phoenix-Mesa, AZ
- Fresno, CA
- Miami, FL
What is exciting about this is that with the Seattle/Bellevue market improving, it has a ripple effect and will help the real estate market here on Whidbey Island.
Do you want to sell your home before Christmas?September 13th, 2012 at 4:05 pm by Rick Schutte
September is upon us and if you want to sell your home before the year's end, there are a few things you should know!
Get a Great Agent - Oddly enough, I happen to know one, so can help you with this step. Call me for the inside scoop! However, if you DO want to shop around, keep in mind that you need a real estate agent who is highly visible if you truly want to sell your home. I would encourage that you ensure that your agent is a Realtor, a member of the National Association of Realtors.
Marketing is not just done with signs, classified advertising and open houses anymore. Nowadays you need someone well-versed in social media, listing syndication, and internet marketing. In fact, if you have a Facebook page, you can even post your home for sale to your profile to gain as much exposure as possible. Combine those technical details with THE most informed agent in your town, and you are sure to have a winning combination.
Do your research and ASK why you should choose to be represented by the agent you interview – and make sure you like the answer.
Know Your Pricing & Price to Sell - Your real estate agent should be able to advise you on this, but if you are in a hurry, don't be afraid to ask a little less. Listing at 10% below your "wish" price could get more offers in record time and actually increase your sale price to what you would have originally hoped to list at. You'll also waste less time having to negotiate counter offers from buyers who think they can "talk you down." Also, when considering offers, remember to take the one most likely to lead to a sale (your real estate agent should advise you on this, as well).
Curb Appeal - Make your home beautiful on the outside and on the inside. It is much easier to sell a home quickly if it looks well-maintained and CLEAN. Do not scrimp on gardening or maintenance at this time. Your home for sale needs to be in tip-top shape!


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Council Pushes Bill for Housing Fix
The New York City Council wants to crack down on do-nothing landlords. Members unanimously approved a bill Wednesday aimed at forcing owners of approximately 100 buildings with a history of violations to make repairs or face fines.
The buildings will be identified at the discretion the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). Under the law, HPD can order a building owner to repair "underlying conditions," like a damaged roof, within four months, as well as submit documentation to prove the work has been completed.
HPD already issues violations for observed conditions like water damage, mold, or lack of heat and hot water.
Council Speaker Christine Quinn said this bill builds on the success of other clean-up programs in the city and would allow the agency to take efforts even further.
"Landlords are going to get pretty hip to skip and are going to start cleaning things up," said Council Speaker Christine Quinn, who first proposed the legislation in her 2012 State of the City address. "They don't need a whole bunch of HPD legal enforcement all over them."
An owner who fails to comply faces fines of a minimum of $5,000 dollars per building, plus an additional $1000 per unit.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to sign the bill into law.


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Series: Peter T. Flawn Series in Natural Resources
293 pages, Tabs, maps
Finding "streams in the desert" has never been more urgent for the peoples of the Middle East. Rapid population growth and a rising standard of living are driving water demand inexorably upward, while the natural supply has not increased since Biblical times. Ensuring a fair and adequate distribution of water in the region is vitally important for building a lasting peace among the nations of the Middle East. Addressing water needs from a geographical perspective, the contributors to this book analyze and assess the impact of scarce water resources in the Jordan River basin countries and territories (Israel, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine, and Syria) as these long-time antagonists work toward peace. After geographical and historical overviews, the authors envision the future - what the water issues may be when Israel and Syria begin negotiating, the "hydro-security" needs of each nation, and the difficulties of planning for uncertainty. Without proposing any one ideal scheme, they discuss the possibilities for cooperative sharing of water resources, while honestly acknowledging the political constraints that may limit such projects. The final essay speaks to the needs of the one party so rarely represented at the negotiating table - the Jordan River itself. Hussein A. Amery is Assistant Professor of Geography at the Colorado School of Mines. Aaron T. Wolf is Assistant Professor of Geography in the Department of Geosciences at Oregon State University.
I believe this book will be a major contributor to the continuing Middle East 'Peace Process.' --William A. Mitchell, coauthor of The Euphrates River and the Southeast Anatolia Development Project
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